lonewolfprincess

Act One: The Promise

            A long time ago, there lived a merchant and his three daughters. All three of them were beautiful, talented, and very kind young ladies. Elegant Rarity made fine jewel-accented gowns for her father to add to his wares, but also made equally fine winter clothes to give the poor when she traveled into town. Pinkamena was a fount of merriment and made delicious sweets and pastries that lifted the spirits of all she met. And the youngest daughter, Fluttershy, had a gentle soul and was skilled in handling any manner of creature.

            One autumn the merchant had to leave on a long business trip. As he bid them goodbye, he asked each of his daughters what he should bring them as a present.

            “Oh, Father, I can’t possibly think of anything I want, save your safe return,” Rarity said. “But if you happen to come across any diamond white silk that would be the perfect accent the wedding gown I’m making for the Thatchers’ daughter, I would be so grateful!”

            “Ooh! Dad! There’s a BUNCH of new recipes the Cakes are teaching me that use pearl sugar!” Pinkamena chirped. “It’d be GREAT if I could have some so I can practice them at home, please! I’ll make liege waffles for breakfast when you get back!”

            The merchant smiled at his eldest daughters, then looked to his youngest.

“And you, Fluttershy, what would you like?”

            “Oh! Um, i-it’s all right, Papa, I… I really don’t need anything…”

            “Come now, Fluttershy, it’s all right,” her father coaxed, for she lived up to her name a little too well.

            “Well… y-you don’t have to buy me anything …” Futtershy’s smile warmed before she spoke again, nuzzling the white rabbit she held in her arms. “But if you see any sweet little animals that are sick or injured or need a little extra care on the way back, you could bring them here so they have a nice, warm place to spend the winter until they get better.”

            “Consider it done, my dears.”

            And with one final hug the merchant set out with his servants.

            The business trip went quite well, and he made more than enough profit to purchase Rarity’s silk and Pinkamena’s sugar. But as autumn began to turn into winter and he and his servants travelled onwards, they could find no animals in need of aid.

            “I suppose Fluttershy will be pleased that the creatures of the forest are doing well, but it feels unfair to bring gifts for her sisters and not for her.”

            But no sooner than the words left his lips did one of his servants cry “Look, master!” And point to the base of a nearby tree. In the snow there lay a small brown lark. It had broken its wing and would hop into the air to take flight, only to fall to the ground and cry out.

            “That poor thing,” he mused. “Fluttershy will make you well again. Lad, catch that bird and bring it to me, but be careful with it.”

            So the servant slowly made his way over to the struggling lark with a very soft cloth and a birdcage. The lark saw him and began to raise such an alarm and would not be consoled no matter how much the servant tried to shush it.

            He managed to throw the cloth over the bird and was about to gently place it into the birdcage when a voice roared throughout the forest.

            “HALT!”

            A lion burst out of the woods and charged at the servant, knocking him to the ground with his presence alone.

            “This is a springing lark! Alauda cantas! There are only about a hundred of them left in the wild, and this one’s injured! You can’t just decide that makes it your pet! How would you like it if someone found you hurt on the side of the road and decided to take you away from your family?”

            Now neither the merchant nor any of his servants had ever met a talking animal before, let alone a furious talking lion, and were understandably more than a little frightened by his presence. That last sentence in particular made the merchant’s fear-addled brain think the lion meant to imprison them for their crime.

            “Please, Master Lion, we meant no trespass!” the merchant begged, kneeling at the lion’s paws. “We merely meant to take the lark for the winter, no longer! I’ll give you gold, jewels, any material thing I own, just spare our lives!”

            Now it was the lion’s turn to hesitate.

            “Whoa! Hold on, I didn’t mean it that--”

            “Please!”

            The lion was a gentle soul, and it was clear that this poor man was adamant about making restitution for the incident. But since he was a lion he had no need for the things the merchant was offering as ransom. After a pause, he found a suitable compromise.

            “All right, if you insist. I’ll let you all go if you send me… the first thing that greets you when you come home. I’ll even let you take the lark.” Certainly if this man cared for animals so much, he must have had at least one other pet at home.

            The merchant froze, but then nodded.

            “Y-yes, Master Lion. Thank you very much.”

            And the merchant and his servant immediately stood and returned to their caravan.

            “Oh, what will I do?” the merchant lamented. “Any of my daughters could be the first one to--”

            “Or one of the house staff, or the dog, or even some bird in the tree as you pass. All will be well, sir; there’s no need to assume the worst.”

            And all the merchant could do was pray that his servant was right.