Angel of Nature: Defender of Equestria
Chapter 10: Element of Kindness

Hi. Hello, yes, remember me? The author who hasn't posted in a while? Yeah, I'm back! I was never truly gone though, just busy trying to wrangle my University studies. So here's me saying I'm still around.

While Everfree was off dealing with the King of Griffons in Griffonstone, the day in Ponyville was off to a great start for Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash.

They had just successfully pranked Spike. Pinkie's idea was to surprise him, scare him really, with a loud thunderclap and had recruited Rainbow Dash to help. By moving a cloud into a certain position where Spike would walk by only to have Rainbow jump on the cloud, issuing a very loud thunderclap.

Spike jumped several inches into the air, burping out a gout of flames that turned all the scrolls he was carrying into wisp of magic that flew off towards Princess Celestia, who very quickly had many scrolls surrounding her. Whilst this was occurring, the two mares laughed at Spike's misfortune as he grumbled about something.

"You know, you're not as annoying as I thought you were, Pinkie. Not to mention I never took you for a prankster!" Rainbow Dash said once she calmed down enough.

"Are you kidding? I love to pull pranks because it's all about the fun!" Pinkie responded.

Holding out her hoof, Rainbow smiled at Pinkie. "Then how's about we hang out and have some more fun?"

Pinkie put her hoof to Rainbow's in agreement and the two were quickly off, searching for potential targets.

"I can't believe the audacity of that Griffon." Everfree grumbled to himself.

He was flying back in the direction of Canterlot, having just recently crossed back into the lands of Equestria. He felt that his first port of call should be to inform the Princess on what had occurred and what he was tasked with.

As he saw the town of Ponyville come into view, he altered his flight so that he ascended further into the air, hopefully making himself appear like a bird. On the ground below him, he could see many of the ponies going about their normal days, some stopping every now and then to chat with a friend or just to be friendly in general.

The Nature Angel however, failed to notice two other ponies, a pink one and a blue one, who had spotted him and had indeed mistaken him for a bird. Although, given the length of his wing span, how long his body was, how he was moving slowly and that he was looking down upon the town caused an action he would never have suspected.

"What is that thingy?" Pinkie asked.

Rainbow simply shook her head. "I've no idea, Pinkie, but I don't exactly feel safe with it moving like that and not to mention it looking down at the town as if looking for something."

"It looks like a birdy."

"That's no bird I've ever seen. I'd feel better if it were no longer in the sky."

A moment later there a loud bang! that came from Rainbow's immediate right. She jumped and yelped in shock, dropping down low as she looked at the source. It was Pinkie Pie who had her party cannon aimed up at the thing and had just fired it off.

"What?" She asked.

Everfree had faintly heard the loud bang and looked around to locate the source of it but Pinkie and Rainbow were already behind him. After being unable to find the source, Everfree simply shrugged his shoulders but soon furrowed his eyebrows as he stopped and hovered in place.

He strained his ears as he tried to hear a sound he thought he heard. He quickly found that he hadn't thought he heard something.

Very quickly, he heard the sound of something cutting through the air but before he had the chance to react, he felt a sharp, searing pain in his right wing, temporarily disabling it. With his wing disabled, Everfree quickly begin falling to the ground below him.

He knew that if he didn't find a way to slow his fall, a disabled wing would the least of his issue. He may be an Angel, but he still took a long time to recover from injuries when he wasn't in Heaven. The worst part was that getting injured away from Heaven prevented him from returning until he was, for the most part, fully healed.

The falling Angel looked around, trying to find something to help but it was of use, there was nothing in the immediate vicinity and he was too far from any kind of tree in enact his powers. Everfree closed his eyes as he prepared for the worst.

Thankfully, 'the worst' never came as a very large flock of birds began to suddenly cluster under him, slowing his fall more and more as the flock grew. Baffled but this stroke of luck, the Angel couldn't help but wonder where all these birds had come from.

"Everfree!" A soft voice called out to him.

Looking from behind him, he now understood where all the birds had come from.

"I suppose I have you to thank for this Fluttershy." He said, a smile creasing his face. "Things would have been a lot worse had you and your friends not been nearby."

The birds carefully maneuverer in a way that allowed them to gently place Everfree on the ground. Fluttershy was quickly at his side looking him over to make sure he was alright.

"I'm alright, Fluttershy." Everfree assured as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"But your…your wing…it's injured." She responded as tentatively moved a hoof to it.

Everfree flinched slightly at Fluttershy touching his wing. He didn't like others touching his wings and not to mention Angelic wings tend to be a bit sensitive to touch. Fluttershy for her part was amazed with how soft the wing was.

"Your wing is feels softer than even a fluffy cloud."

"We Angels pride ourselves on our wings." A frown made its way onto Everfree's face. "Although, this one has been hurt it seems."

Fluttershy moved closer and studied the wing closely, noting very quickly what happened and she would need to do.

"Come with me, Everfree, I mean, if you want to. I can see to your wing if you would like." She suggested shyly, moving her long, pink mane in front of her face.

"I would, but would we not have to go through the town?" Everfree asked as he slowly stood up, nursing his injured wing.

Fluttershy nodded. "That is the quickest way yes, but there is another way we can go."

"Lead the way then."

After what Everfree would guess to be about ten or so minutes, Fluttershy's cottage finally came into view. The sense of peace that overcame him as he approached was welcoming and reliving.

The yellow Pegasus quickly ushered the injured Angel inside, asking him to take a seat on the nearby couch. As he did so, many of the critters that took up residence within Fluttershy's home began crowding around him, voicing their concerns.

Everfree smiled. "I am well, little ones. Besides, I know I'm in good hooves."

Fluttershy moved about her home, gathering up what supplies she had to treat injuries before moving back to her guest. She started by moving onto the couch next to Everfree, placing her supplies between the two of them.

"May I see your wing please?" She asked gently.

Slowly, Everfree opened up his wing, wincing in pain as he did so but he managed it. Fluttershy gently took the wing in her hooves, again causing Everfree to flinch. She gently poked and prodded around the area she believed to be injured and when she heard Everfree hiss in pain, she knew found the right spot.

"Sorry." She said quickly. "I believe you have some brusing on the muscles near the joint."

Fluttershy quickly went to work. She worked quickly enough that Everfree could barely keep with what she was doing. The speed and efficiency with which she worked amazed the Angel.

No…I hope this isn't what I think it is He groaned internally.

There was that slight flutter in his emotions as he watched the Pegasus mare work. Having had already dealt with this before and having had it confirmed, there was no doubting it this time.

Why is this happening to me now? After centuries and centuries of time and control…why now? First it was the Princess expressing love towards me...now me to Fluttershy?

Everfree was brought from his thoughts as Fluttershy finished what she was doing, ending with bandaging his wing lightly. She then gathered her unused and used supplies, disposing of the used ones and returning the unused ones to where she found them.

"I would ask that you please don't use magic to change your form while you let your wing heal. While I'm not as great at magic as Twilight, I do know that it would cause more damage to your wing." Fluttershy explained when she returned to Everfree's side.

"Very well. I trust your judgement on this." Everfree said as he bowed his head. "Thank you for your help Fluttershy."

Everfree stood to start heading for the door, but Fluttershy was quick to stop him, placing a gentle wing on his hand.

"If you would like, you can stay here while your wing heals, that is, if you want to." She offered.

Everfree was surprised at what Fluttershy offered. Sure he knew that she was fond of him, being the Angel of Nature and all, but he wasn't expecting such a kind offer. Although…

Kind…kind…kindness…Element of Kindness.

It all made sense as everything fell into place, explaining why Fluttershy was being kind enough to allow him to stay. It would be rude and foolish of him to decline such an offer from one who embodies Kindness.

"I would be honoured, Fluttershy. Thank you."

Everfree spent the rest of his day just outside Fluttershy's cottage, primarily by the small river that flowed past her house.

"Kind Fluttershy…" Everfree murmured to himself, "you have done so much for me already. It's about time I return the favour somehow."

Never before had he been shown such kindness. Being an Angel simply did not allow for it and more often than not, he never revealed himself to a populace. Only when he had to integrate himself did he reveal himself, such as when he first came to Equestria.

"Everfree?" A voice tentatively asked from behind him.

He turned around to see Fluttershy standing not far from him, her head tilted slightly to the side. He hadn't heard the Pegasus mare approaching and was now curious as to why she was out here.

"What can I do for you, Flutterhsy?" He asked in return.

"I just wanted to ask if you wanted to join me as I go around feeding many of the critters that live here."

An idea suddenly came to his mind. "I'd be delighted to."