Meadow Step, Princess of Serenity

Far away from Equestria, on the other side of the world, stood a vast forest. This forest was called the Animated Woods, named after the strange beings that lived there. Tall, tree-like creatures that tended to the nature, called Treants. Ponies lived in these woods as well, but it was not in peace. Generations of ponies grew up fearing these aggressive plant monstrosities, fighting to keep their homes and crops from safe.

One such pony was Meadow Step, an Earth Pony, born to High Peaks and Valley Spring on a potato farm. During the day, Meadow and her parents would work the land tirelessly, while trying to avoid the attention of the Treants. At night, High Peaks would warn his daughter of the dangers the Treants posed. How the Treants would use their magic powers to turn ponies very livelihoods against them, causing massive damage with overgrown produce and vines.

Meadow Step was always skeptical of her father's stories, thinking they seemed more meant to scare than teach. Whenever Meadow asked why the Treants attacked, her father could never give her a good answer. While ponies hid from the Treants and stayed in small groups to lower chances of being found, Meadow wanted to meet a Treant! Her father spoke of the beasts littering their battle grounds with multicolored plants he called flowers. She could only imagine what those were like, as the ponies of the Animated Woods were forbidden to grow flowers of any kind, which seemed silly to Meadow.

One day, the young filly's curiosity overtook her. One of her father's friends had been driven from their land by Treants recently. Meadow had to see the flowers left by the Treants! She snuck out of the house, carefully and quietly making her way to the now overtaken farm.

The old stone building had crumbled under the weight of massive vines that flowered with tiny pink petals. Moss thrived on stones that looked like they were placed there years ago. It was mesmerizing to take in all the colors of the blanket of flowers that stretched to the horizon. It amazed her that only a day or two ago, this place looked much like her own home. The little filly giggled and couldn't help but to run towards the flower bed, frolicking in them and taking in the sweet scents. It was nothing like she'd ever seen before! Potatoes aren't much to look at, even if they were tasty. But this was something completely different! She watched bees flutter around from flower to flower, butterflies landing on delicate petals, it was everything she ever dreamed flowers would be!

But suddenly, a loud thumping rang out. Meadow's flight instinct took over and she quickly scurried to find a hiding spot. A crumbled arch with more of those pink flowering vines hanging from it made a perfect spot. She ducked past the vines and hoped whatever was approaching wouldn't find her.

Meadow cowered behind the crumbled bit of stone for a few breathless moments, until the stomping stopped. She waited a bit before poking her head a little past the vines, and there was one of them. Tall, dark bark that dwarfed her in size, but not as much as she expected. Green leaves sprouting from the branches on it's head and small vines hanging down with petals scattered about them. Even if she'd never seen one before, she knew what this was in an instant. It was a Treant. But... It seemed small. Meadow's father was a big pony, even for an Earth Pony, but he would always describe the Treants as larger than him. This one looked like it was about the same size as her father.

Meadow watched as it plucked a few flowers from the ground before placing them in it's branches. The Treant seemed pretty discerning, going for specific flowers. It seemed to really like the Iris flowers. Meadow kept watching as it grabbed more flowers and threw then in the air, making it rain petals. Was the Treant... Playing? Maybe... Was this one a child like her? She had a growing urge to get closer.

Meadow took a step forward and heard the loud cracking of a stick. She froze up as the Treant shot it's gaze towards Meadow. It froze too, almost like it was surprised by Meadow back. The beast made the first move. It stood up, slowly approaching as flowers started to blossom from it's leaves. Small arrangements of Lavender started to overtake the green leaves on the creature's head as it closed the distance.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt. You... You have some really pretty flowers~" Meadow stuttered, as she stepped out from behind the vines.

The Treant didn't respond. The only reaction was growing more Lavender from it's head. Meadow examined the creature more, eyes were clear as day to see but anything else resembling a pony face just didn't exist. Clearly it must be able to hear. Maybe it couldn't speak?

The Treant was getting closer, Meadow had to think quick. She quickly gathered up some of the Iris she saw it collecting before. The Treant paused as the small pony presented the bouquet.

"H-Here. You like these... Right? Maybe we can be friends?" Meadow gave the Treant a hopeful smile, still holding the flowers out.

After a few seconds contemplation, the Treant took the flowers from the small pony. The Lavender that was growing in it's leaves started to fall from it's branches. It held the Iris there, observing it, almost like it was judging the filly before it.

"I saw you picking that one before. Do you like it~?" The filly's eyes twinkled with innocence and admiration for the beautiful creature before her.

The Treant reached a branch out to Meadow, placing it on her head. Meadow felt magic surge through her as a strange sensation enveloped her. She felt... Trust, hope and a wisdom beyond her years.

When the Treant pulled it's branch back, the feeling left. Meadow looked to the Irises again and something clicked. "Is that... What those flowers mean? Trust?"

The Treant gave her an answer, but not in the way she was expecting. Goldenrod started to sprout from it's leaves. It plucked a stem of Goldenrod and presented it to Meadow.

Meadow's eyes widened and she quickly took the flower in her hooves. A feeling of encouragement and good will radiated from it. Meadow understood now.

"You guys... Speak with flowers, don't you?" Meadow immediately wanted to know more, but she heard voices calling to her. It was her parents! She turned towards the calls, worried what they'd do if they found her new friend. Luckily, that wouldn't be much of a concern. When she turned her head to warn the Treant, they were already gone.

It wasn't long before Meadow's parents found her. After assessing her for any injuries, she was promptly scolded for running off like that. Meadow didn't tell her parents about her new friend. They'd just get too worried and probably ground her for even longer than they already were.

There was one more bright side to this encounter. Once Meadow's parents had calmed down, they noticed a certain mark that hadn't been there before. Valley Spring was the first to point it out to the little filly.

"Meadow dear... That mark you have...?"

Meadow turned to where her mother's hoof was pointing and she saw it, a cutie mark! A small grey cat head with a little halo above it. Meadow squealed and giggled and she bounced up and down. Her cutie mark! She finally got her own cutie mark. And she had a feeling she knew why. Her curiosity and kindness was what made her an impossible friend that day. And a curiosity to learn more about the Treants and how they communicate. If she could make friends with one Treant, maybe she could be friends with all of them! Then they wouldn't need to fight anymore!

Meadow left that pedaled battleground galloping, too excited about finding her friend again to learn more. She was so excited that she never even noticed the grass growing longer with each hoof step she took.