Solarwind rolled out of bed. He glanced around and spotted the clock hanging up on the wall. “Man its dark out. Why is it so dark?” He opened the curtains and saw the moon still high in the sky. “What!? What kind of shenanigans is this!?” He flipped on the light next to his bed and looked up at the clock again. “Six forty five, why in Lunas name would I be up at six forty five?” He remembered a conversation he’d had the night before with Fluttershy, the mare across the street. “Tonight is the night, the baby bunnies are due to be delivered. But no way will I be able to go out alone that late… I need someone to come with me otherwise I would be to scared to even go outside!” Solarwind could almost hear her quiet voice, ringing in his ears. “And of course, I volunteer. What was I thinking getting up before Celestia herself and watching rabbits give birth!?” He sighed and decided there was no getting out of it now. He went to the bathroom to fix his mane and put on his jacket before finally walking out the door and crossing the road towards the small cottage.
Solar was a very lazy pony. His bright spiky orange and yellow mane, combined with his light golden coat always contradicted his personality. He was an Alicorn and a member of the royal family although no one would guess just by looking at him.
He could fly well and was able to scrape by on magic skills but his mane talent was for machines. He could construct robots, radios, and even a metal replica of Celestias pet phoenix philamena. The same bird was flying in front of him with its soft orange glow to light the way to Fluttershys cottage. “Heatstroke, come on back now. We don’t wanna disturb any pony else this late at night.” The metal bird circled around and landed on Solarwinds back. Solarwind winced in pain as the metal claws gripped his skin, he had forgot to put the tamers pad on which stopped the claws from going through his plain black hoodie. The bird ignored his pain and went on grooming its feathers and picking at Solarwinds black and red bead necklace. Finally Solarwind saw the soft lights emanating from the cottage and he was relieved as he made his way up the path.
Fluttershy was already at the door before he had knocked. Her long pink mane was tucked behind a black hood and hoodie that matched Solarwinds own.
“Not bad. I like the new style!” He teased Fluttershy giggled a bit and gestured for him to come inside. Solarwind followed her up the path and stopped as a small white rabbit blocked his path. “Oh hey there angel! Do you want something?” Angel bunny tapped his foot on the ground and stared up at Solarwind. “Oh, you want this huh?” Solarwind pulled a long carrot out from his saddlebag and waved it over Angel. The small rabbit smiled and leapt up to grab it. Solarwind handed the bunny the carrot and patted its head as he walked by. “I really wish you’d stop spoiling him like that. Every time your over here he expects a carrot now.” Fluttershy said softly. Solarwind just shrugged and replied in a calm voice. “Then I’ll make sure I always bring him one!” Fluttershy shook her head and turned away. “So remind me again why the bunnies want to give birth at this hour?” Solarwind said as sarcastically as he could. “They don’t want the sun to damage the babies fragile eyes, that’s why we had to find them a hole last week.” Solarwind sighed and looked around at the cottage. It was full of animals and plant life. So much that he could hardly count it all. “How’s Heatstroke? Are you giving him his daily cup of diesel and oiling his feathers every day?” Solarwind laughed, “Of course. You know I can handle my machines.” Fluttershy opened the back door and trotted out. “Well then lets get going. The sooner we help the babies the sooner you can fix the refrigerator!”
She spoke in a mocking tone, Solarwind never quite understood why she would tease him and be so quiet around every pony else.
Fluttershy picked up the last bunny and put him into the nest. Solarwind finished rigging up a small solar powered heater just to keep them warm throughout the winter. “That should do it! I don’t know why they choose to have them in the winter, but this heater should stop them from freezing!” Fluttershy smiled at him and took the hood off letting her pink mane fall out of it. “Well then, what now? Do you wanna go save some bats, or make me build an automatic birdfeeder?” Fluttershy giggled and said softly, “Why don’t we go pick up angel and Heatstroke then head up to Sugar cube corner for some muffins!” Solarwind piped up happily, “I like muffins!! Fine but I’m paying.” Fluttershy blushed and flew back up to the house. Solarwind stretched out his own wings. The yellow inside the orange glowed in the morning light and he took to the sky.
Once they got to Fluttershys porch they circled down and went inside. The first thing they noticed was the mess on the ground. The animal food was everywhere and most of the critters were hidden away in their little homes. “What happened here?” Fluttershy said. She was in total awe at what she was seeing, as was Solarwind. “Heatstroke here! Show me the video feed from your surveillance vision over the last fifteen minutes!”
The bird flew down and perched upon Solarwinds shoulder. It opened its beak and a projection shot onto the wall. It showed Fluttershy and Solarwind leaving then a few minutes after showed seven ponies enter in through the front door. They ransacked the house and grabbed angel bunny. Shortly after Solarwind saw one of them writing a note, then placing it on the counter. “Fluttershy go check the kitchen!” The yellow mare flew into the other room to read what had been written.
“To whomever it may concern,
We have taken your rabbit.
Do not bother coming to look for him, as he has been taken away far beyond your reach.
If you pursue us there will be trouble! I suggest you forget about us and go on with your lives as you were.”
~Sticky fingers
Solarwind read the note twice over. “What? Who goes out of their way to kidnap a bunny!?” He was furious and he looked over to where Fluttershy was sitting.
She was crying heavily, she was clearly very upset over this. “Don’t cry… We’ll get him back! We can go right now over to Sheriff sure star and get this fixed. Fluttershy wouldn’t buy it. “And do what? Tell him my bunny has been taken? He’ll think we’re
Crazy!” Solarwind hugged her. She did have a point. He could only think of one more solution and it wasn’t one he had been eager to suggest. “What if I went with you?
Together I’m sure we could get him back!” Fluttershy looked up. Her eyes were red and she had marks where her tears had stained her coat. “You mean it? You’d really do that to help me?” Solarwind nodded but on the inside he was thinking to himself “What have I gotten myself into…” Fluttershy stood up and brought him outside. “We have to go get a team! A team to get back Angel! We can do it I know we can!” She said happily she tightened her hoodie straps and grabbed Solarwinds hoof. “Where are we going!? Do you have a plan?” Fluttershy didn’t answer. But instead kept pulling him along by his hoof.