http://tootootaloo.deviantart.com/#/d3i1tqr Warden of the Everfree Forest by ~tootootaloo Ponyville was a quiet town located in the center of Equestria. Founded and mainly inhabited by earth ponies, all three pony species and even non-ponies have found a peaceful and worry-free environment to call home. Ponies went about their lives without giving a second thought to the less-friendly fauna that co-inhabit their magical principality. However, not all regions of Equestria can boast such security. Lying just to the west of Ponyville was the dark and mysterious Everfree Forest. Once home to a temple dedicated to the Regal Sisters, the Everfree Forest was now completely overrun by nature. This feared woodland was home to a great variety of horrible creatures from cockatrices to manticores to the legendary Ursa Major, a terrifying translucent bear-like creature the size of Ponyville itself. Unlike the rest of Equestria, which was governed by the laws of magic, the Everfree Forest was free of such mystical manipulation and grew on its own without the tender guidance of ponies. It was a region defined by the vicious fight for survival its denizens faced daily. Only a few courageous ponies had ever ventured into its shadowy borders and only with great reason. Anypony in Ponyville would agree living in or near the Everfree Forest would take a great amount of foolishness or an even greater amount of bravery. --- While earth ponies made up the majority of its residence, Ponyville was considered home by others as well. Among these were Twilight Sparkle, a purple unicorn, and her assistant and roommate Spike, a purple baby dragon with green spines. The violet pair were newcomers to the town and although they had adjusted to the slower-paced lifestyle of Ponyville, they still had an outsiders-looking-in point of view. Used to life in the more cosmopolitan Canterlot, Twilight and Spike noticed subtle oddities Ponyvillians took for everyday life. "Hey, Twilight," Spike said from atop the mare, "did you ever notice something?" "You'll have to be more specific than that, Spike." Twilight responded with a smile as she walked along the main road towards Ponyville. "I notice a lot of things." "Well, you know, back in Canterlot there were a lot of guard ponies walking around the streets." "Of course, silly. They were Princess Celestia's Royal Guards. They also patrolled the streets and kept the city safe." "Yeah but look around here," Spike said pointing down the road towards the center of town. "There aren't any guards here." Twilight Sparkle stopped as Spike pointed this fact out. It was true, there were not any guards in Ponyville, royal or otherwise. There was not even a police force or militia in case of dire need. "Maybe they're all on break?" Twilight suggested although she did not believe this herself one bit. "But I've never seen a guard in Ponyville," Spike replied. "Ever!" A look of concern crept across the unicorn's face. While they had not been here long enough to know the inner workings of this pony community, the lack of something as commonplace and vital as security was a tad alarming. Twilight and Spike looked at each other, each knowing what the other was thinking. "The Princess must hear about this!" Twilight exclaimed, taking off in a gallop. Spike, clinging desperately to her neck, tried to reason. "Wait, Twilight! Princess Celestia has been to Ponyville before. I'm sure she knows about this already." "Then why hasn't she done anything about it?" Twilight responded without slowing. "I don't know. Why don't you ask the mayor?" Spike said, willing to suggest anything that would cause his friend stop running and allow him to regain his balance. Slowing to a trot, Twilight said, "That's a great idea, Spike! We'll ask the local government. They'll know what's going on for sure." Spike regained his composure as Twilight adjusted her course for Town Hall. "Just try to not knock me off before we get there." Located along the river that ran through the center of Ponyville was town square. Many shops and stalls lined the road encompassing the square as it was the busiest part of town. Dominating the area was the Ponyville Pavilion, the largest building in the surrounding region. It was the location of the town's major events and festivities and where the mayor spent most of her time. Always opened to the public, the mayor granted an audience with anypony who wanted to speak with her. Walking up the steps leading to the front doors of the pavilion, Twilight noticed a lack of guards here as well. Surely a location as important as this would have somepony keeping watch. The investigating pair were welcomed by two large wooden doors propped open with potted flowers as to not turn away anypony wishing to enter. The interior of the building was much larger than the exterior would suggest. The center room was large enough to hold every citizen of Ponyville comfortably as it often did for celebrations. A variety of banners and ribbons hung from the many balconies that extended from the upper level giving the massive room a sense of grandeur. Twilight headed for the second story where the mayor's office could be found. A quick knock on the door was greeted with a polite yet authoritative voice. "Please, come in." Twilight opened the door and walked into the office. The room was neatly organized but surprisingly homely compared to the main room of the pavilion. The mayor stood behind the desk with a welcoming smile. "Excuse me, Ms. Mayor," Twilight began, "my friend and I had a few concerns regarding the security of Ponyville." The mayor's soft expression turned cold. "Oh dear, are you here to report a crime?" "Oh no, nothing like that," Twilight reassured. "But we've noticed a lack of guards here in Ponyville." "Oh, well that's-" The bespectacled mare began. "Um, of course there's-" Both unicorn and dragon stared blankly as the mayor tried to find her words. "You both needn't worry about that. Ponyville doesn't need any guards," The earth pony finally said. "Everypony is perfectly safe. We haven't had any problems as long as I can remember." "I find that hard to believe," an arms-crossed Spike said. "Spike, mind your manners," Twilight scolded. "He does have a point though. How can there not have been any problems? I mean, the Everfree Forest is so close. All it would take is one monster to wander into town before a disaster would occur." "I don't know what to say," the town's leader offered. "We haven't had town guards in over twenty years. We have also not had any monster attacks in just as long." "There's definitely something going on!" Spike said with a finger pointed. "I agree. This doesn't make sense. There has to be something else in this equation," Twilight said looking back at her friend. "And it's up to us to find out!" The baby dragon declared. "Thank you for your time, Ms. Mayor," Twilight said as she turned to leave the office. "We'll let you know if we find anything." --- Settling down for lunch, Twilight and Spike sat around their favorite table at Ponyville's Cafe. Munching on some hay fries crisped almost to the point of being burnt, Spike stared in Twilight's direction as she ignored her sandwich in favor of scribbling in a notebook. "So, uh, Twilight. What are you doing?" Spike asked as he finished the last of his lunch. "I'm taking notes," she replied without breaking her gaze from her work. "If we're going to properly investigate this, we need to be meticulous about our observations." "Uh, huh," said Spike, eyeing the unicorn's untouched sandwich. "I'm writing down what we already know." "What do we know?" he inquired as he snuck a hand towards Twilight's plate. "Weren't you paying attention? The mayor said there haven't been guards here in over twenty years. There also haven't been any sort of monster attacks in that time either." "Maybe the monsters just don't like Ponyville," Spike offered as he quietly slid the plate towards himself. "I've been in the Everfree Forest enough times to know that monsters don't keep to themselves. Also, what are the chances of nothing happening in two decades?" "I guess you have a point there, Twilight," Spike said as he lifted the sandwich to his lips, "but what are we supposed to do about it?" "We investigate! We ask around. There has to be ponies who lived here for more than twenty years. We can also check the library for records. Something as major as a monster attack has to have been recorded." "Uh huh. Inwesdigade," Spike said with a full mouth. "No, Spike, investig-" Twilight glared at Spike once she realized what happened.. Spike gave a sheepish smile and blushed. "I didn't want it going to waste." Twilight sighed. "Come on, Spike. We've got work to do." --- The first on Twilight's list was Sweet Apple Acres; more specifically, Granny Smith, matriarch of the vast Apple Family. Granny Smith was among the oldest residents of Ponyville and has lived on her family's farm on the outskirts of the earth pony settlement her entire life. She has no doubt seen and experienced more than most ponies. Twilight had only met Granny Smith once and even then it was a very brief encounter. Fortunately, she was a close friend of her granddaughter, Applejack. "Hello, Applejack, thank you for having us over." Twilight greeted Applejack at the front gate to the Apple Family's stead. "You're always welcome at the Apple Family's, Twi, ya'll know that!" The orange earth pony grinned as she opened the gate. "An' howdy ta you too, Spike." "Actually, we were hoping to speak with Granny Smith." Twilight said as she followed Applejack to the house. "Is she home?" "Of course! Granny always loves ta have company over. 'Always be neighborly ta yer neighbors,' as she always says." The three walked into the house and were met by the family's eldest son, Big Macintosh. "Eeyup," the red stallion greeted with a nod. "Hey, Big Mac," his sister started, "is Granny home?" "Eeyup," he replied with a nod towards the kitchen. "Thanks, big brother," Applejack said leading the way. The Apple Family kitchen was quaint yet had all of the conventional flair of a modern kitchen. The room was filled with apple themed decor, much like the rest of the property. The aroma of apples was strong on the air without being overpowering and just a hint of cinnamon to accent the whole experience. "Eyah, soup's up." The elder pony mumbled to herself while tending a pot with a heavenly fragrance rising from it. "G'afternoon, Granny. Guests here ta see ya," Applejack said as she walked up to her grandmother and placed a kiss on her wrinkled cheek. Almost as if she knew there would be guests before hand, the old mare turned towards the purple duo with two bowls of fresh soup expertly balanced on one leg. Twilight eyed the soup hungrily as Granny placed a serving in front of her. Spike took his place at the table beside the unicorn as the elder hoofed him the second bowl. Applejack walked over from the counter with two more bowls; one for her grandmother and one for herself. As the four began to drink their soup, Twilight stopped and looked at her hosts. "Thank you for both the soup and for your time, Mrs. Smith." Granny Smith took a sip of her soup. "There's no need ta be so formal 'round these parts. Please, call me Granny." Twilight blushed as she was not used to being so informal with an elder pony she hardly knew. "Okay, Granny. Actually, we were hoping to ask you some questions." "Mmm, soup's good today," replied the elder with a pause. "What kind of questions?" "Questions about Ponyville's history." "Doin' a school report, are ya?" "Er- um, yes! A school report." Applejack raised an eyebrow as Twilight was too old to be a schoolfilly. Twilight shrugged and continued. "More specifically, questions about Ponyville's town guards." "Eyah, town guards... Fillydelphia has some nice town guards. Was there for the Equestria Expo back in... when was that?" The old mare seemed to lose herself in thought. "Er, yes. But what about Ponyville? There aren't any guards here." Coming back to the present, Granny Smith replied with a smile, "Don't need 'em. Ponyville is the safest town ya'll ever find in all of Equestria." "There has to have been something that has happened in the past. We're so close to the Everfree forest, don't monsters ever wander over here?" "Oh no. That never happens. The Warden makes sure of that." Twilight's ears perked up at this discovery. "Warden? Who and what is the Warden?" "Don't they teach ya'll anything in school these days?" the elder asked as she finished her soup. "The Warden's the one who keeps Ponyville safe from monsters." "I've never heard of the Warden before. Who is the Warden?" Granny Smith yawned, "Used ta be, er, what was his name... Archer? No, that was the one before... who was it?" "Do you know who the current Warden is?" Twilight asked becoming slightly impatient. "Beg pardon. I get a bit sleepy after I've had ma soup. Sleepy an' forgetful..." The old mare trailed as she began to nod off. "Sorry, Twi," Applejack said. "Granny ain't as young as she used ta be." Twilight sighed. "It's alright. Sorry about the deception earlier. I didn't want to have to try and explain myself." "Why are you doin' this, anyhow?" "You don't find it odd that we don't have any guards keeping Ponyville safe? Or the fact that there are almost no disturbances from the Everfree Forest? And what about this Warden?" "I, uh, never thought about it." "Spike and I are going to get to the bottom of this. There's something going on and the Princess needs to know about it." "Jes don't get too carried away. Sometimes ya jes shouldn't go messin' with somethin' that works." "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks again, AJ," the purple pony said as she walked out of the kitchen. --- The bell rang outside of Ponyville Elementary as a dozen foals ran excitedly from the schoolhouse. Twilight could not help but giggle at the spectacle as she waited patiently by the front door. After all the colts and fillies made their way home, Twilight walked inside. Sitting at the front desk was the mulberry-colored teacher pony and the next on Twilight's list. "Good afternoon, Cheerilee," Twilight said with a smile. "I hope I'm not interrupting your work." Cheerilee looked up from the pile of papers she was correcting. "Oh! Hello, Twilight Sparkle! No worries, I could use a break. Those foals, I love them so but they'll turn my mane grey in no time." "I was hoping I could ask you a few questions about Ponyville's history." "You've come to the right place. I am a teacher after all," she replied in her usual cheery voice. "What's on your mind?" "How long has it been since we haven't had any town guards?" "That's an interesting question," the teacher said looking upward in thought. "I've been here since I was a little filly and I don't recall ever having town guards." "Have you ever heard of the Warden?" Cheerilee's eyes opened in surprise." I haven't heard that word mentioned since my parents used to tell me bedtime stories. The students' text books don't even mention the Warden any more." "Why so secret? Is this some sort of cover up?" Spike asked suspiciously. "Oh no, nothing like that!" the teacher pony said with a laugh. "It's just... a forgotten art for lack of a better phrase." "Forgotten art?" Twilight inquired. "Oh, here I've gone and given you both the wrong impression." Cheerilee cleared her throat. "The job of the Warden has always been a quiet one. Neither seeking fame nor fortune, the Warden would go about his business alone behind the scenes until he found a suitable apprentice to teach his trade to. Because of the solitude, not many ponies knew exactly what the Warden does. After a while, the whole thing was forgotten and the safety provided by the Warden is now taken for granted. It is a thankless job; just as the Warden would prefer it." Twilight looked up from her rapid scribbling in her notebook. "You're quite knowledgeable on the subject." "That's just from the stories my parents told me as a little filly. Unfortunately, I can't offer you any more information than that." "You've been the most help we've received all day long," the unicorn said in a disappointed tone. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you more." The earth pony's eyes lit up with an idea. "Aren't you the town's librarian? Why don't you check your collection? I'm sure there's a book or two with information on the Warden." In her interviewing Twilight had completely forgotten about the library. "Of course!" Twilight said with renewed hope. "Thank you so much, Cheerilee! I'll let you get back to your work now." "Good luck!" the teacher wished the pair as they left the schoolhouse. --- By the time Twilight and Spike returned to the library, Princess Luna had already begun to raise the moon. The setting sun behind the library illuminated the massive tree with a warm orange glow. Twilight could not help but feel the allure of her home after a long and busy day. As they entered the building, Spike closed the door behind them and ran off to one of the bookshelves. "My, aren't you an energetic one. At this hour you're usually asleep," Twilight teased the dragon. "There's no way I can sleep now," said Spike as he began searching the shelves. "I want to know more about this Warden. He sounds like a total action star!" "Cheerilee's story really got you going, eh?" Twilight said starting her own inquiry on the opposite side of the library. "Yeah! Just think about it. A mysterious superhero protecting the unknowing citizens of Ponyville. That's ten times more awesome than the Royal Guard!" "Oh, now the Warden is a superhero?" Twilight pestered. "What else could he be?" "Oh, I don't know. Maybe he's a fence-builder who set up a wall around Ponyville to keep the monsters out." The unicorn playfully rolled her eyes at the thought. Spike gave Twilight an unamused look. "Really, Twilight? A fence-builder?" "I'm just saying it's equally possible with all we know about the Warden." "That's not interesting at all. The Warden has to be amazing! I just don't get what's up with all the secrets. If I were him, I'd tell everypony! I bet the chicks dig a guy like the Warden." Spike stopped and flexed. "Hey ladies, yeah I'm the Warden. I'm the guy who slays monsters and saves the town. Oh what's that? I'd love a kiss." "You're just letting your imagination go wild." "And you're not letting your imagination go wild enough!" Spike argued back. Seeing that the small dragon was getting flustered, Twilight said, "Alright Spike. Just don't start whining when you find out the truth isn't what you expect." Both unicorn and dragon returned to their research. Hours passed and the full moon was high in the sky. Piles of books lay strewn across the library floor. The pair were almost completely silent, focusing entirely on finding more information. Spike yawned deeply and rubbed his eyes. Twilight noticed and walked over to him. "I know you're excited to find out more but maybe we should call it a night. You're just a baby dragon and babies need their sleep." "But we haven't found anything yet!" Spike complained. "I know but there's always tomorrow." "We haven't even come across a book that might be close to-" Spike stopped mid-sentence and his eyes grew. "Twilight, look!" Twilight looked upward to where Spike was pointing. Sure enough on the very top shelf was a book titled 'Wardens of Everfree: A Brief History'. Dumbfounded with how easy that was, Twilight's horn shined with a pink glow as did the dusty out-of-reach book. She lowered it in front of herself and her partner. Spike, once again forgetting how tired he was, inhaled sharply and blew the dust from the long untouched book. "I- I don't believe it," Twilight said as Spike gently opened the book. "Heh, I do. Let's get reading!" he said excitedly. The two began pouring over the tome. "The Warden exists as the caretaker of the Everfree Forest. The land is unaffected by pony magic and is untameable by ponykind. Animals struggle to survive as the laws of nature that govern the land are harsh and unforgiving. It is the charge of the Warden to care for and aid the animals of the forest." "The Warden exists as a defender of ponyfolk. Many strange and dangerous creatures inhabit the Everfree Forest. These monsters result from animals changing to better endure the conditions of the forest. Monsters are vicious and consume others with no regard to preservation. Occasionally a monster will leave the forest and endanger the lives of ponyfolk. It is the charge of the Warden to defeat any monster that threatens the forest or ponykind." "Ah ha!" exclaimed Spike, finally hearing what he wanted to hear. "A defender of ponyfolk! Sounds like a superhero to me." "Don't get too excited, Spike. There's still more to read" "There is to be only one Warden at any time. The Warden will take on an apprentice when he finds a suitable young pony that shows the proper traits. Once the Warden feels the apprentice is ready, the apprentice will take the Warden's place and resume the duties of tending to the forest's fauna." "A suitable apprentice must have a modest disposition; the task of protecting the forest and other ponies is the desire of the Warden, not profit nor glory. An apprentice must treasure all life but understand it is sometimes necessary to end a life for the greater good. Above all else, the apprentice must have a natural affinity with animals. Magic cannot be relied upon within the forest. Only a pony's special talent can successfully overcome the challenges of the forest." Both Twilight and Spike's eyes grew as they looked at each other. "You don't think-" Spike began, accidentally bumping the levitating book with his hand. The bump knocked loose a folded slip of paper tucked behind the last page. Both pairs of eyes stared at the sheet as it drifted to the floor. After a moment of silently staring, Spike leaned forward and picked up the paper. Inside read: "I have found a possible apprentice. My decision is unorthodox as all past Wardens have been earth ponies. However; I feel the potential held by this young pegasus is worth the breaking of tradition. Her love for animals is strong and her shy nature will make adjusting to the lifestyle easier. I will approach her tomorrow morning." --- Twilight could not sleep well that night. Her mind was racing with what they had read. While Spike had been convinced he knew the identity of the Warden since they found the book, Twilight did not believe it; she could not believe it. As much as she tried to tell herself otherwise, the facts from their research kept looming in her mind. The letter tucked away at the end of the book is what bothered her most. It was unnamed and undated; it could have described anypony. However, it did not describe just anypony. It perfectly described one of her dearest friends. Twilight turned in her bed for the umpteenth time and stared out her bedroom window. In the distance she could barely make out the treetops of the Everfree Forest. Such dangerous creatures lived lurked within. How could just one pony, one pony close to her heart, fend them all off by herself? The morning sun soon peeked into the library. Twilight blinked her eyes as the first drop of daylight graced her cheek. She was able to fall asleep after all, despite the many thoughts and worries that had tried to prevent her from doing so. She remained motionless under her covers not feeling entirely rested. Spike, however, had no trouble sleeping and sprang from his small bed. "Twilight! Wake up!" Without moving, Twilight responded, "I am awake, Spike." "Well what are you waiting for? Let's go talk to Fluttershy!" Twilight stayed in her bed feeling conflicted. She dearly wanted to confront Fluttershy about the whole ordeal, if for no other reason than to prove to herself the letter was wrong and she had no reason to worry for her friend's safety. However, if everything was true and Fluttershy was the Warden, she'd never forgive her for intruding on her sacred task. Unfortunately for her, life would not allow her to dwell on her conundrum all morning. Spike threw open the curtains, flooding the room with light causing Twilight to tightly close her eyes to adjust. He climbed onto her bed and pulled away her covers. If the purple unicorn was planning to stay in bed all day, her assistant just made sure she could not. "No Spike, we shouldn't." "Aww, what?" the baby dragon complained. "Why not?" Twilight avoided looking into his disappointed eyes. "We should respect Fluttershy's privacy. It's not our place to be sticking our noses where they don't belong." "What about yesterday? We stuck our noses all over the place and you didn't have a problem with that." Twilight could not respond. She felt ashamed for her hypocrisy and for getting Spike's hopes up for nothing. She remained silently looking down at the floor. "Besides, what if Fluttershy needs help?" Spike continued. "I mean, that pegasus is afraid of her own shadow! What if she's gotten herself into something she can't handle?" Twilight looked up at the thought. Concern began to outweigh restraint. She was not one to leave a friend in danger. "You're right Spike! We can't let our friend risk her life!" "Atta girl, Twilight!" Spike said with a swing of his fist. "But, we still can't invade her privacy," Twilight said pondering the situation. "She's really sensitive and even if she's not who we think she is, barging in on her asking questions would hurt her feelings." "You have a point there." Spike tapped his chin. "I know! What if she never knew?" "It's kinda hard to ask a pony questions without her knowing," she responded cluelessly. "No! We watch her without her knowing. That way, when she does something Wardeny, we'll be there!" Twilight wanted to protest against such a deceitful suggestion but could not think of a better option. She sighed. "Alright Spike, we'll go with your idea." "Yes!" Spike shouted before he ran off to gather supplies. --- The walk to Fluttershy's cottage felt longer than usual. Twilight couldn't help but question the morality of her decision. She wanted to protect her friend, but was she making a mountain out of a mole hill? How would Fluttershy react if she caught them spying on her? If Fluttershy turned out to be the Warden, would she be able to keep it a secret? Would Spike be able to keep it a secret? What if there was no such thing as the Warden and this was all a crazy myth? A half hour of walking yielded the grass-covered roof of Fluttershy's home appearing on the horizon. Twilight and Spike stopped and moved to the side of the road as to avoid being seen. Twilight took off her saddlebag and rummaged through it. She still retained quite a sizable amount reconnaissance gear from when she tailed Pinkie Pie to discover the truth behind her premonitions. This time she would use the same items to covertly observe Fluttershy. Donning her safari hat and ghillie suit, she prepared for an up close inspection while Spike, using binoculars, would watch from afar. Twilight pulled a book from her bag titled 'Telepathy: How to Make Your Friends Think They Are Crazy' and flipped through it. After finding the page she was looking for, she placed the book on the ground and her horn began to glow with a magical pink aura. "Testing, testing," Twilight mentally projected. "I hear ya quiet and clear," she heard Spike's voice in her mind. "Perfect. Communication is the key to any secret mission," the purple mare silently relayed. "Roger that." With a nod the pair moved into their positions. Along the river that divided Fluttershy's cottage from the rest of Ponyville were two trees. These would serve Spike as the perfect place to observe from. Binoculars securely around his neck, he shimmied up the trunk and found a leafy branch that would serve as both a seat and hiding place. He lifted the binoculars to his eyes and found he had a perfect view into Fluttershy's home that offered him access to multiple rooms. "Violet Mirage, this is Prickly Crow, do you read me?" Spike mentally transferred. "What in Equestria are you talking about, Spike?" "No, I'm Prickly Crow. We're on a spy mission. We need to have cover names." Twilight sighed and hoped her spell allowed Spike to hear it. "Whatever, I'm getting close to her house. Is the coast clear?" "Affirmative, Mirage, you have the green light to proceed to the perimeter." "Just talk normally, Spike," Twilight thought as she moved up to the front door. "Fine. But I'm keeping the nick names." Twilight peered her head over the bottom half of the two-part door and saw nopony was inside. As silently as she could, she reached over and unlatched the door. Hoping to Celestia the hinges weren't squeaky, she opened the door and slipped in. "Alright, I'm inside. Do you see her?" "Negative, no visual." "I don't hear anything either. I'm going to check the kitchen." The unicorn moved as carefully as she possibly could. Fluttershy's house was filled with many dwellings for small animals. It was also adorned with an impressive amount of furnishings for a pony who kept to herself most of the time. Trying to avoid disturbing anything, Twilight eventually made it to the door leading to the kitchen. The kitchen was clean, tidy, and devoid of Fluttershy. Small burrows and birdhouses decorated the walls much like the previous room. The shelves stored more food for critters than for ponies. The backdoor on the opposite wall was closed and undisturbed. "I've reached the kitchen. No sign of her." "Still nothing on this end," Spike informed her. Twilight left the kitchen and made her way to the bathroom. Like the rest of the home, the bathroom was quite beautifully decorated; also like the rest of the house, it was lacking Fluttershy. "She's not in the bathroom either." "Check upstairs." Twilight had purposefully avoided going upstairs to check. She knew there was only one way in and one way out; it was a tactical mistake waiting to happen. She inhaled and moved towards the stairs. A glance up the steps revealed a clear path. Twilight wondered why a flying pony would even need stairs in her house as she snuck up to the second story. The unicorn slowly stepped into the pegasus' room. She felt a sigh of relief when the room was revealed to be empty and she could resume her search downstairs. "Mirage, come in, Mirage! We have a code red! I repeat, we have a code red! Golden Bird has returned to the nest!" "What?" Twilight said aloud before she quickly covered her mouth with her hoof. As she frantically ran to the window, she realized her mistake of going deeper into the one-way trap. She saw Fluttershy land at the front door and quickly dropped to the floor. Her mind raced through several scenarios as she realized she had no way of getting out without being noticed. She prayed to Celestia that the yellow mare was just stopping by to drop something off and would then would be on her way. The Sun Princess must have been preoccupied because Twilight heard flapping coming her way and Fluttershy's voice echoing up the stairwell. Panic washed over Twilight. She looked around quickly trying to find a hiding place. The unicorn grabbed a potted plant and magically threw its contents out the window. Not quite thinking her plan all the way through, she took off her hat and climbed into the pot. "I guess it's time, Angel." A soft voice came from the door. Fluttershy and her pet bunny entered the bedroom. Angel hopped across the floor as the pegaus sat on her bed. "I know you worry and... I know I don't want to... but it has to be done." The yellow mare got up, oblivious to her unseen guest's existence, and walked over to her closet. Angel, however, noticed the odd looking bush in the corner of the room. He hopped over to the strange plant and began to sniff it. Twilight kept as still as a statue and hoped she would not be discovered. Fluttershy sighed and opened her closet. Neatly arranged inside were a variety of dresses, many of Rarity's design. Twilight eyed the collection with some envy. To her surprise, the pegasus shoved them all to the side, knocking some off the rack. Beneath the dresses a large wooden chest was revealed. Twilight tried her best to see more but the angry little bunny began to kick the pot she was sitting in, clearly noticing what Fluttershy did not. "But, um, if you really don't want me to go, I could always stay. After all, watching over animals is part of the job too," Fluttershy offered, hoping to be given a reason avoid the task ahead. Angel turned to get the pegasus' attention. Twilight quickly cast a spell that sealed his lips and stuffed the rabbit into a pillow case. "No?" Fluttershy sighed. "You're right. I can't keep putting this off." Free from Angel's pestering, Twilight was able to pay full attention to what Fluttershy was doing. The pegasus opened the chest and began to remove items from within. A loud clang almost made Twilight blow her cover. Lying on the floor was a variety of metal plates held together with durable-looking cloth. More items joined the heap. Twilight was able to discern from among them pile of chain, a quiver, and a sword? The unicorns eyes widened. "No," she thought to herself, "this has to be some sort of coincidence. Maybe she's trying out for the Royal Guard?" Twilight tried to come with any explanation to avoid admitting to herself what she already suspected. Fluttershy finished putting on the barding. It was lighter than the armor Twilight was used to seeing on Princess Celestia's guard pegasi. The outfit consisted of greaves for all four of her legs, bronze shoulders plates, a peytral similar to that which was worn by Princess Luna, and a chain mail skirt that fit over her back and flank. A brown cloak was draped over the whole ensemble, giving Fluttershy the appearance of the adventurer ponies from tales of old Twilight used to read when she lived in Canterlot. The unicorn could not help but stare in awe as Fluttershy slung the weapons over her back; she truly was reminiscent of a hero from yore. The yellow pegasus gave a dreary sigh and lowered her head. She slowly walked towards the door, her armor rustled as she moved. Twilight waited until she could no longer hear the sound of metal before she jumped out of the pot. "Spike! Spike, come in! You're not going to believe this!" "I think I might. Fluttershy is leaving through the backdoor. What in Equestria is she wearing?" "Follow her, Spike! Don't lose sight!" Twilight ran down the stairs and through the kitchen. She met up with Spike in the backyard just in time to see Fluttershy enter the Everfree Forest. The two of them ran after the pegasus. The sunlight dwindled as the pair moved deeper into the woodland and all traces of daylight seemed to vanish. Under the dark canopy, the unicorn and dragon felt as though they were leaving Equestria all together. Sounds bounced between the trees, shadows seemed to grow and move on their own and the air felt thick and cold. Yet, despite all these details that would turn away anypony with a sense of self-preservation, Fluttershy pressed on. Twilight and Spike maintained a distance as to remain hidden. As far away as they were, the could hear still the sound of metal plates vibrating against each other; Fluttershy was trembling as she slowly made her way into the unknown. Twilight was baffled. The yellow mare was obviously terrified yet continued to go deeper into the forest. What was it that drove her to act so out of character? Between the whistles of wind passing through branches a yelp was heard. Fluttershy's ears perked up at the sound and she changed her direction to locate the source. She had eventually found what had made the noise. On the ground in a clearing was an orange fox laying on its side. As the pegasus moved to tend to the critter, Spike climbed up a tree while Twilight moved in closer with her leafy disguise. "There, there, everything's going to be alright." Fluttershy comforted the small animal. The fox's left hind leg was broken and required care it would not have received if Fluttershy had not ventured into the woods. The critter sniffed the winged pony as she bandaged its leg but did not resist in any way. "That's Fluttershy being Fluttershy," Spike projected to Twilight from the tree he was in not but fifteen feet away from the pegasus. "Aside from the getup and creepy location, nothing seems strange about this," Twilight responded. The duo continued to watch as Fluttershy finished tending to the fox. "There you go. All better." Fluttershy gently kissed the fox's bandaged leg. "And a kiss for good luck." The fox yipped in thanks but then suddenly started to growl at Fluttershy. "Huh? What's wrong? Are yo-" The pegasus realized the fox wasn't growling at her but at something behind her. She began to turn when she heard a whiz through the air. She reactively jumped to the side just in time to avoid a long sharp tongue. The fox, however, was not as fortunate. The stretching appendage hit the small animal and it instantly fell lifeless. The tongue retracted as Fluttershy spun around. Looking at her dead in the face was a ferocious six-legged reptilian monstrosity with a sharp horn on its nose. "Twilight! Look, a basilisk!" "I see it, Spike, we need to save her!" Fluttershy continued to stare directly at the monster, her gaze unrelenting. Her pupils dilated as she prepared to unleashed her legendary Stare, a hypnotic glare that had the power of controlling even dragons. Before the Stare could take its effect, however, Twilight leaped from her hiding place both distracting Fluttershy and gaining the attention of the beast. "You leave her alone!" the purple unicorn demanded, her horn glowing with an amethyst fury. "Twilight?" the bewildered pegasus asked. "Wait no, stop!" It was too late. Twilight had fired a magical beam at the monster. Just as quickly as the spell had left her horn, it reflected off the of creature's scaly hide and rebounded back at the startled mare. The beam struck Twilight directly in the chest and knocked her ten feet back into the tree Spike was hiding in. "TWILIGHT!" Spike dropped down from the tree and grabbed the unicorn. "Twilight! Say something!" "Ungh..." she moaned. Spike was relieved to see his friend was still alive, but the feeling was fleeting. Now directing its attention his direction was the basilisk, its mouth agape ready to launch its poisonous tongue. All Spike had a chance to do before the beast spat its dreaded organ towards the purple pair was close his eyes. Waiting for the deadly blow, he opened his eyes when he heard a loud twang. An arrow had hit the monster's nose causing the tongue to miss and impale the tree behind them. Spike looked in the direction the arrow came from. To his disbelief he saw Fluttershy, bow in hoof, string still vibrating. The horrible reptile roared in anger as it tried to free its tongue from the trunk of the tree. "Leave my friends alone! NOW!" Fluttershy screamed in an uncharacteristically stern voice. The basilisk paid no mind to her command and finally succeeded in liberating itself. Fluttershy responded by nocking another arrow. Turning away from Spike and Twilight, the lizard turned its attention to its assailant. Once again, the beast shot its tongue at the pegasus. She deftly flapped her wings hard, propelling herself into the air as the sharp point passed beneath her. As fluidly as she became airborne, Fluttershy let loose an arrow downward, pinning the tongue to the forest floor. The creature gave an ear-shattering roar that shook the bark from nearby trees. Fluttershy landed beside the arrow. "I'll give you one last chance, leave me and my friends alone and I will release you." The beast looked at her with murderous intent as it chomped down on its own tongue, severing it from its mouth. After a second roar of pain it charged towards the yellow pegasus. She pulled a third arrow from the quiver on her back but was not fast enough. The monster's nose collided with her body, throwing her back. A quick flap of her wings stabilized her landing but she had lost her grip on the bow. The monstrous lizard, more intelligent than most animals, saw this and stomped one of its six clawed feet onto the weapon, turning it to splinters. The sound of metal scraping along metal and a glimmer through the dark forest revealed a sword as Fluttershy unsheathed it. Gripping it firmly in her mouth, she charged at the monstrosity using her wings to help her maneuver. She lithely avoided the creature's snapping jaw as she slashed at a leg. Her actions were met with a howl and a tail swipe, which she too dodged. Spike could only watch as the shy pony battled the basilisk. He held tight to Twilight with tears in his eyes. She had since passed out from the shock of her injury. "Come on Twilight, it'll be okay. Stay with me. Stay with me," he repeated. He lowered his head to hers trying not to think what would happen should Fluttershy fail. Fluttershy let out a squeak as a razor sharp claw cut into her side. Had she not been wearing armor, the blow would have been fatal. Her sword flew from her mouth and landed blade-first in a stump. She landed on the other side of the clearing and grabbed her bloody side with her hoof, panting for breath. The beast may have wounded her but she had managed to damage it as well despite its thick scales. Bleeding from a variety of gashes in its hide, the monster held off on its attack for a moment. The two combatants stared at each other from across the open space, both trying to find a weakness in the other's fight. Fluttershy exhaled slowly, her warm breath forming droplets against the cold forest air. She was no match for the raw strength and size of her foe and she was now unarmed with no way to harm its thickly armored body. The lizard's nostrils flared as it charged towards the pegasus with unforgiving power. As death barreled towards her, her eye glimmered with an idea. She dashed towards it with just as much speed. Right before the two met, she banked suddenly to the left as the beast kept going. Her smaller mass allowed her to better control her movements. The basilisk slammed head first into a tree, uprooting it up from the ground. Taking advantage of the temporarily disabled enemy, Fluttershy flew over to the stump that held her blade. Grabbing it with both hooves, she pulled with all her might. However, all her might was not enough to dislodge the weapon. The monster slowly came to its senses and noticed what the mare was doing. It reared up with a bellow and plowed its way towards her with its head held down. It wanted to thrust its horn through the little pony and watch her die right before its eyes. A malicious grin crept across Fluttershy's face. The beast had given up its advantage in its blood-thirst. With a quick pull downwards she was able to loosen the sword. Channeling all of her strength she forced the blade upwards and flung it into the air with one motion. She waited a moment to make sure her actions were unnoticed and then leaped into the air towards the monster. Both the blade and pegasus flew through the air as the beast continued on its path. The blade reached the highest point of its trajectory and began to fall. The lizard had lowered its head which revealed a crease in the armor along its neck. It had not noticed the sword was now free from the stump and was falling towards it. Fluttershy timed her descent to match perfectly. Spike watched from afar as steel, pony, and monster converged on a single point. Fluttershy grabbed the sword as it appeared midair in front of her and drove the blade into the beast's spine as she landed on its head. The sheer speed at which the lizard was running kept it flying forward but Fluttershy had no doubt she dealt the killing blow. As both pony and basilisk collided with the stump, her momentum kept her moving. Still gripping the sword, the sudden jerk caused the blade to sever the beast's head from its body, consummating her victory. Spike, seeing the danger was over, gently lowered Twilight's head to the ground and ran to check on Fluttershy. He could not help but cheer excitedly as he rounded the corpse of the massive creature. However, once he discovered what was on the other side, he stopped. Sitting amongst the bloody ruin was Fluttershy; the sound of crying disrupting the silence. "Fl- Fluttershy?" Spike called out meekly. She remained motionless, her back to the baby dragon, tears now intensifying. He walked around to her front and knelt before her. "I- I understand now." The pegasus looked up, her face stained red save for where the tears had washed away the blood. "I understand why the Warden lives a life of secrecy," Spike said. "I understand why you can't tell other ponies who you are or what you do. I understand why it is important for one pony to make the sacrifice for the sake of others." "It's so hard." Fluttershy stopped crying, the gentle timidness returning to her voice. "It's so hard to do this. I always try everything I can to avoid having to take a life. But sometimes... sometimes some lives are worth taking a life for." Spike leaned forward and hugged the pegasus. "Thanks, Fluttershy." After breaking the hug he helped her up. She grimaced as the adrenaline wore off and her ability to feel pain returned. He reached down into the pool of blood and retrieved the sword that had slain the basilisk. Together, both dragon and pegasus returned to Twilight. The unicorn had awoken just in time to witness Spike run out to Fluttershy. Having heard what they spoke about through her telepathy spell, she began tearing up as she blamed herself for everything that had transpired. "Oh Fluttershy! I am so sorry!" she cried as she forced herself over to the pegasus despite the severe pain she was in. "I never should have followed you! I never should have stuck my nose where it didn't belong! This is all my fault!" After a pause, Fluttershy embraced Twilight in a hug that spoke of forgiveness more than any words could. Spike joined them in the hug and the three held each other as the sun peeked through the canopy above. Fluttershy felt no anger towards the two. All she felt was the love of her friends that she would do anything to protect.