Chapter 2 ~A Small Kindness~
November 20th
10:45 am
The Friendship Express
Ventus Stormwing
I knew I couldn't take on Celestia now. My revenge on her would have to wait; I am far too weak. If I had made my presence known to her immediately, she would have blasted me off the face of Equestria. In the meantime, I now knew about one power that also would have been a thorn in my side.
The Elements of Harmony. I know them as powerful magical artifacts, each only useable by the mare who embodies that particular element. If Celestia found out about me, she'd have them get on my tail if she couldn't. However, from studying recent books about their victories, particularly against Discord, I knew their simple flaw.
All six elements must be present to use them. If even one is gone, they are all completely useless. So, if I aim to take on Celestia, I must take them out first. Not all of them; that would arouse too much suspicion. I also didn't need to kill or ponynap one of the mares, either; I just needed to steal the element itself.
Sunset Shimmer and her endeavors proved that the Element of Magic was out of the question for this. I had to examine each of the others, now. I know that all of the Elements are with their respective bearers, since Twilight wore hers as her royal crown. Celestia didn't want the elements too far away from each other since, as previously mentioned, they only worked when they are together.
That left me with my current goal; befriend one of the element bearers, and steal her necklace. I didn't want to just take it; too suspicious. I'd get to know them, become a supposed ally- and then make them useless. Twilight now knew who I was from Celestia, although she was never given a description. I'll have to refrain from using magic around her.
"We will be arriving shortly." I hear the conductor say. Good, time to get off this stupid train. When I arrived, I quickly levitated my saddlebags onto my back. No others were in the train car with me, so I felt I could use my power a little.
I recapped my story should anypony ask. I'm a forest-green pegasus stallion, with a lighter shade of the same color streaked with lemon yellow in my spiky mane and tail. My cutie mark (Why must it sound so feminine?) looked like a gust of wind, albeit a dark one. This signified my supposed job- weather management. I'm from Canterlot, and I've decided to move somewhere more rural for a change of pace.
My name, if anyone asked, was to be Highwind. I'd take my father's name, as Twilight knew mine from Celestia. Plus, I didn't want word of my actual name to reach Canterlot somehow. Not likely, but one must be cautious.
Everything looked good. To explain the various magical artifacts in my bags, I'd say that a friend gave them to me, to deliver to Princess Twilight, the expert on magic here. It's good that nopony asked. I'd hate to have my cover blown that easily, so I'll have to come up with a better excuse when I can.
When I arrived in the town proper, I inhaled the sweet air. It wasn't stuffy, like in Canterlot, but crisp and clean. I soon smelled cotton candy, or rather, something similar. Soon my world was pink as a mare tackled me. "Who are you? Are you new to Ponyville?" I was asked.
"Yeah…" I said, sounding annoyed. "I wasn't expecting to be tackled on my way in…" The mare got off me, looking dead-set in my eyes.
"Sorry, I just get really really excited when I see a new friend!" She said, bouncing around. "What's your name? I'm Pinkie Pie!"
The Element of Laughter herself was in front of me. I can see why she got that title. "My name is Highwind. Junior." I said in a bored monotone.
"Why so glum? I hope you won't be late to the party!"
"…Party?" I asked. This mare was crazier than I thought.
"Your 'welcome to Ponyville' party, silly! I give everyone one of those!" She bounced off, probably to attend to the construction of this party. I scoffed. Looking around, I saw City Hall not too far from me. When I entered the building, I saw a simple office, and Mayor Mare at the main desk.
"Oh, hello," She said. "Excuse me a moment, I just need to fill out the rest of this paperwork."
"No need to stop for me, I just needed a map of town." I answered, taking such a scroll from a bin labeled as such, and placing three bits on the counter. I exited Town Hall after, unrolling the map. To my west was the Golden Oaks Library, where Twilight would be living until a castle was built for her; Cadence already got the Crystal Empire, from what I've heard.
North of myself was Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was the Element of Honesty, if I recall the books clearly, and she'd see through my lies in a heartbeat. She was out of the question as much as Twilight was.
That leaved four I could choose from. No, two. I doubt Pinkie could hold a rational conversation for long, so I'd choose her as a last resort. Rainbow Dash was also out; as the Element of Loyalty, she'd never betray her precious princess.
That left Rarity, Element of Generosity, and Fluttershy, Element of Kindness. Both of them seemed like an ideal mare to sway and trick into leaving their element exposed, but I had no idea which one to go to first, or even how to approach them without seeming too suspicious.
Fate was on my side that day. As I thought about it, I was walking to the East, towards the area where both their homes happened to be. The Everfree Forest was in sight- and I could see odd shapes walking at the perimeter. Looking closer, I could tell they weren't of the pony kind. I hurried over, praying to the fates that this could be my lucky break.
As I approached, I saw the shapes for what they were, even in the late afternoon sun. Timberwolves, three of them. Nearby, I spotted a small cottage, surrounded by moss and various animals, a butter-colored pegasus mare included. When she saw the Timberwolves, she froze in place.
The monsters drew closer, obviously anticipating a meal. I wouldn't have that. I picked up a long stick from the ground nearby, and jumped in between the mare and the wolves. The three creatures glared at me, but the front one attacked. I jumped over his paw swipe easily, burying the stick in its side. I pulled, and the creature burst apart, becoming shards of wood and little more than that. The other two looked at me carefully, then thought to avenge their comrade.
The one on the left attacked first, and I jumped over his paw. The right one anticipated this, and slashed out, causing a good sized gash to materialize on my flank. Angered, I struck out with my weapon, felling one of them in a similar manner to the first.
"AHH!" I heard in a whisper that was somehow loud. The mare was backing up, the last Timberwolf about to pounce. I jumped on its back, and with an unexpected battle cry, shoved the stick into its back, straight through its sappy heart. The creature fell, and broke apart when it hit the ground.
"You okay, miss…?" I said after regaining my composure.
"Y-Yes… I'm Fluttershy… Thank you…" She said. I just saved her- that's good. I could use this to my advantage. "Oh, you're hurt…"
I looked at my flank. The wound was gushing blood, and it felt stiff. "It's better than it looks. I'll be fine."
"Nonsense!" She said. "You saved me from those Timberwolves; I'm going to patch you up. I mean, if you don't mind…"
I nodded. "Thank you, Fluttershy." I followed her, limping off my back hoof, into her home. She told me to lay down on the floor, the injured flank facing up. She came over to me with a medical kit, and started to wash out the wound with alcohol.
"So… if you don't mind me asking… what's your name..?"
"Highwind." I responded. "As for what I was doing, I'm a little new to town, and was walking around to get to know the place." I grunted in pain when she started pressing gauze to the wound. "When I was walking by your cottage here, I saw you in trouble. I had to help."
"Thank you, again Highwind… I don't know what I would have done if you haven't showed up… Timberwolves don't listen to me much…" She finished applying some tape to the gauze to keep it on, and I gingerly sat up.
"And I thank you for cleaning up that scratch." I dipped my head to show thanks.
"You said you were new in town, right?" She asked. "Do you have a place to stay?"
I shook my head. "No, I was planning to head on over to the inn…" I stood up, but then grunted in pain when I stepped on my hind leg. Now the pain wanted to set in.
"Oh, no!" Fluttershy said. "You're much too injured to leave, and it is getting late. You can stay here- I have a guest room."
"I couldn't, I-" Another grunt of pain when I stepped on my leg again.
"I insist. One act of kindness deserves one in return." She propped me up with her wing, and I could see a blush o her face as she tried to hide behind her pink hair.
"…Thanks, then…" I said as she led me to the guest room. I flopped onto the bed, saying goodnight to my hostess. After she left, I began thinking. This was very fortunate indeed. I'll try to find where the Element of Kindness is, then. But, in a few days. I can barely make a getaway on my hooves as I am now, after all.
Closing my eyes, I carefully drift off to sleep.
~Canterlot, eighteen years ago~
"Who is he?" a voice said. It belonged to Princess Celestia.
"He is my son. I want you to look after him, Princess." A stallion said. Highwind.
"Why me? I know our families are close, but this… I'm not sure if I-"
"Please, princess! He's my only family now, after Caramel died. And I don't want him to get hurt, I'm afraid of what was threatened against me." I looked to my father, I was just a small colt back then.
"Very well. I shall take him in." Celestia said. My father hugged me, and left. After that, Celestia took me in, and put me to bed like she would a child of her own.
I never saw my father again after that.
~End of Chapter~
