“Good morning Rarity!” Sweetie Belle called as she walked into the kitchen. “Hey, can you please teach me how to shoot laser beams? What if it’s my cutie mark? What if it’s the most fantastic cutie mark in th-“

“For the last time, no. If I had to wait until I was ready, then you certainly do. Though, if you want me to teach you magic, there’s another spell I could have you learn…”

“Is it awesome!?”

“It’s what allowed me to find you so quickly. A spell for familiar unicorns to find each other. You’d be able to come and find me whenever you found yourself in trouble.”

“Oh. Well, that sounds pretty neat.” Sweetie said, as a daisy and potato pancake found it’s way onto her plate. And honestly, she thought as she dug in, she could see how that spell would be useful. Even if she couldn’t fire laser beams, Rarity could. Really well.

“It’ll have to wait, though. Nurse Redheart cautioned me to keep your magic usage to a minimum for a few days. Nothing more then light levitation until I tell you otherwise. Though, it’s not like you really used your horn much before now anyway…” Even if that was true, the very knowledge that she wasn’t allowed made her feel restricted. Sweetie groaned.

“None of that now. Be lucky I’m allowing you levitation. Otherwise, you’d have to use your mouth to carry this back up to your room.” Rarity said with a slight smirk. And the opal that Sweetie had found yesterday floated it’s way over and rested on the table.

“Oh hey, I forgot to get that back from Ivan!”

“He didn’t forget though. He gave it to me as he was helping to unload the gems yesterday evening. I’m actually surprised he didn’t accept the extra bits I offered for the added services he provided. I’m beginning to think that under that gruff rocky exterior beats the heart of a-“

“A totally awesome superpony? I mean yeah, he’s not as cool as Rainbow Dash, or you…” Rarity didn’t bother quashing that radiant pride that welled in her chest. “…but he’s still pretty amazing. I mean, I didn’t see that explosion he made, but it sounded huge.”

“Applebloom said the tunnel was blocked. The blast Ivan fired was enough to clear what I assume was the aftermath of a rockslide. It appears that horn of his isn’t just for show…”

“Hey, Rarity? I’m feeling a lot better, so could I go out and play?”

“Oh? Yes, of course, just remember to take it easy dear. You’re still on the mend.”

“Yes mom.”

“Be safe Sweetie Belle.” And the little unicorn ran up the stairs, opal floating behind her. Moments later after, Rarity supposed, she had hidden the gem she ran back down and out the door.

“Ah, to be young again…”

--

“Hey!” Sweetie Belle yelled as she found her friends.

“How are ya doin’ Sweetie?” Applebloom asked, looking the bandages on her body over.

“I’m fine. Just gotta take it easy on the magic. Where’s Ivan?”

“We’re looking for him now.” Scootaloo said. “Times like this make me wish I could fly for more then five seconds…”

“Good morning my little ponies!” interrupted a familiar voice, and the crusaders turned to see their schoolteacher trotting up to them.

“Good morning miss Cheerilee!” they chorused, smiling their ‘we’re not up to anything you’d frown upon’ smiles, more out of reflex then anything else.

“And what are you up to on such a beautiful day?”

“Lookin’ for our new friend.” Applebloom said. “Have you seen him?”

“Seen who?”

“His name’s Ivan. He’s green, wears this black coat and hat…”

“Well I don’t mind helping you look!” She said, eagerly anticipating meeting a new little colt.

--

“…this is Ivan?” She certainly wasn’t expecting the crusaders to lead her to a grown stallion.

“Yup! Hey, wake up Ivan!” Scootaloo shouted, jolting the stallion out of his slumber.

The evil eye he gave them was somehow completely visible from behind the hat’s brim.

“This is Ivan Hooves. Ivan, this is our schoolteacher Miss Cheerilee!” Sweetie Belle introduced, stepping back so the two could size each other up.

Ivan got to his hooves, and nodded politely at the schoolteacher. She found herself wondering why he hid his eyes, and wondering what in the world he was doing spending time with three little fillies when he probably hadn’t been in town long.

She took note of the broken leg he had in a sling and wondered if there was a story there. He couldn’t have come into town with it…

“How long have you known the girls?”

“Brief.” He said while stretching the kinks out of his back. He shook the remaining sleep out of his head and regarded the fillies silently.

“Hey, Ivan, what’re we gonna do today?”

“Probably won’t be as awesome as yesterday.”

“What happe-“ Cheerilee was cut off, as Sweetie Belle shuddered.

“Yesterday was not awesome.”

“Oh… sorry Sweetie…”

“Well Ivan? What’s the plan?” The three looked expectantly at him, and he looked back for a moment wondering what he had done to convince them that hanging around him would guarantee good times…

He remembered Rarity telling him what the crusaders were over an evening cup of tea when they had returned to the boutique. He supposed that whether he liked it or not, he was one of them.

That didn’t mean he didn’t have more important things to do though. If they wanted to tag along, so be it.

“Work.”

“…really?”

“Need.”

“…well Ah guess ya do… so we’ll help!”

“Applebloom, he’s going to work!”

“Cutie marks come to point ponies toward their best suited jobs!” Sweetie Belle stated. “So if we help Ivan out with his work, we might get ours!” Scootaloo pouted, but didn’t argue further.

“So we need to find a job to do then?”

“Sure do!”

“So we’re…” The three locked in a huddle for a few moments, whispering things that the bewildered adults couldn’t quite make out.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders: Career Councillors! Yaaay!” they crowed when the huddle broke.

“…you don’t mind watching after three overactive fillies?” Cheerilee asked skeptically of Ivan when her ears stopped ringing. Ivan shrugged.

“Don’t care.” Cheerilee had trouble believing that.

“So where should we take him? He probably doesn’t know where anything is, so he’ll have trouble finding work…”

“…maybe Fluttershy?” Applebloom suggested. “She’s gotta need a hand once in a while takin’ care of all them animals.”

“Then it’s settled! Come on Ivan, she lives over this way!”

Ivan watched the three fillies go, before sliding on his bags and following at his own pace.

Cheerilee stood there, thinking hard.

A grown stallion drifter spending extended amounts of time alone with three fillies he just met. He could be a bad influence or worse…

For the sake of her students, Cheerilee would evaluate his character to determine whether or not him watching the crusaders would end in disaster. She galloped to catch up with the group and started up a conversation. For starters, what had allegedly happened yesterday piqued her curiosity like nothing else…

--

“An’ then Ivan blew up the rocks in our way, and it’s like ‘what the moon was that’, cause he just fired off that blast like it weren’t no thang,-“

“He was still driving the cart too! I know I’ve never gone that fast before!”

“And Rarity was still shooting lasers, didn’t care there was a huge explosion or anything, and those dogs finally backed off when we ended up outside-“

“Well there was that one that tried to get the drop on us after.”

“Rarity got that one good though…”

From there, the crusaders’ attempt at storytelling devolved into general reliving of the thrills of the encounter and escape. Despite the hardship, and her attitude earlier, Sweetie Belle seemed just as eager as the other two.

“Rarity told me that he didn’t let her pay him more for the help underground too! He’s a crusader to his bones!”

That last statement from the little unicorn blew whatever mercenary image she was building of Ivan out of the water.

“Is that true?”

“Yes.” He said evenly, betraying nothing of what he was thinking. She wondered, still somewhat paranoid of the stallion, if he covered his eyes to help keep his thoughts a secret. It was easier to lie if your expression couldn’t be seen.

“You, with a broken leg, just ran to the rescue of three unrelated fillies because you were asked to?”

“Would’ve anyway. Common courtesy.” Well he honestly had her there. If their positions had been reversed, she would’ve run to Rarity’s aid in a heartbeat.

“Yeah! That’s what crusaders do!” Scootaloo cheered, gesturing for a high hoof. Ivan very pointedly looked at the cast, and then at the one hoof remaining that was holding the front of his body upright.

“Oh… right.”

“How did you break your leg Ivan? If you don’t mind my asking?” Ivan could tell the schoolteacher was after something, and the tone of her constant questions was starting to piss him off. General self control kept the assembled ladies from becoming aware of his steadily darkening mood.

He noticed Scootaloo though was quite expressive compared to him. She had immediately gotten a look like she was staring down an oncoming train. Cheerilee’s attention was on him, so she hadn’t noticed.

“Fell.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. He did fall.

“…you fell?”

“Accident. Clumsy.”

“Seems a little small to cause such an injury.”

“Unexpected.” he conceded, and Cheerilee seemed to accept it. It wasn’t as if it were unbelievable. Since she seemed to be taking everything he said with a grain of salt though, it was the best he could expect.

Scootaloo smiled her thanks, and he grunted his acceptance.

Cheerilee meanwhile was considering letting go of her skepticism. The vision of a villainous vagabond who swept into a community to harm its children was starting to feel a little ridiculous when measured against somebody who could be considered a hero given the circumstances.

She considered the stranger in a new light. A good pony who’d help others in need without expecting compensation…

Regardless, she would still have to learn more. First impressions in her experience weren’t the most accurate. He didn’t seem like the sort that would raise a fuss if she wanted to talk either. Though… he didn’t seem like the sort to raise a fuss over much of anything.

Might require him to say more then two words at a time, she thought with a stifled giggle.

“Hey, we’re here Ivan!” Applebloom called back to the drifter and pointing a hoof at a rather large cottage on the edge of a forest, at the bottom of the hill they were standing on.

“This is where Fluttershy lives. There’s probably some kinda job she’s got for a big strong unicorn like you.” Sweetie Belle said. Cheerilee, despite the story of Ivan’s feats of magical strength, had almost forgotten what he was. She wondered why he didn’t just alter the hat so the horn would show. It would probably make using spells easier as well, since he wouldn’t have to move it out of the way before aiming.

…come to think of it, she owned a hat like that at one time. At least he had good taste in concealing clothing.

The crusaders descended the hill first, Scootaloo arriving at the gate in great leaping bounds thanks to her wings. Ivan spied a yellow pegasus coming around from the back of the cottage, dragging a large basket in her teeth. When she noticed the fillies at her gate, she left the basket where it sat to greet them, smiling kindly down at them.

“Hey, Fluttershy, havin’ trouble with that?”

“Oh, it’s no trouble, really. How are you today? Coming for a visit?”

“Not quite! We’ve come to make you an offer you can’t refuse!” Scootaloo said, stepping aside with the other crusaders and pointing up the hill.

And Fluttershy followed that gesturing hoof to…

Clouds drifted on a sudden strong breeze, dampening the sun’s light and causing his long coat to flap and flow dramatically as he descended the hill with a slow, purposeful gait.

She couldn’t see his eyes through the brim and shadows of his hat, but she knew they were looking her over. Judging her.

Large saddlebags that could hold anything.

A plainly injured leg that he might’ve received from his last victim.

…

“…meep…” the now cowering Fluttershy meeped as Ivan reached the gate and looked down at her, head slightly cocked to the side in general confusion.

“…always?” He muttered to Cheerilee, who had been just behind him.

“Pretty much. She’s the best of mares though.” She assured, wondering what exactly about Ivan was that intimidating.

“Ivan, this is Fluttershy. Fluttershy, this is Ivan Hooves, your new best friend!” Ivan severely doubted that. In fact, he doubted he was going to find a job at all here if his boss was going to be this quivering slip of a mare.

“…meep…” His point proven, he considered turning and leaving right there, but the fillies were looking at him expectantly, and maybe playing nice with the pegasus would make the schoolteacher lay off of him for a while.

So he stepped forward, cleared his throat, and opened his mouth to attempt to make his case.

“Ahck!?” Then a bunny sprinted forward, put itself between him and the paralyzed Fluttershy, and whipped a half eaten carrot clear down Ivan’s throat.

Any further attempts at conversation were impossible as he was now choking to death.

“Ohmygosh, don’t worry Ivan! Ah’ll save ya!” Applebloom did just this by bucking him in the stomach hard enough to nearly crack his ribs, launching the carrot out his mouth and into a nearby tree, obliterating a birds nest and dropping the bird inside to the ground, unmoving.

The only noise for the next few seconds was Ivan’s violent coughing.

“Oh my goodness!” Fluttershy exclaimed, fears forgotten as she flew to the fallen bird’s side. “Are you alright?!”

She scooped the stunned bird into her hooves and started examining it for injuries.

“Hey, Ivan’s kind of-“

“Oh, you too sir, I’m so sorry for what just happened, Angel bunny apologize right now to this stallion!” The bunny responded by pantomiming a cowering Fluttershy and a glowering Ivan, and stomping it’s foot repeatedly.

“He wasn’t going to hurt me Angel! At least… I think he wasn’t… maybe… No, that’s not the point, you must apologize to him! He could’ve been seriously hurt!” The bunny turned his back on the pegasus and folded it’s little arms as petulantly as it could manage.

“Angel, right this instant or…” She trailed off awkwardly as she noticed the five assembled ponies in front of her staring at the scene unfolding.

“…would… you all like to come in for tea… erm, please…?”

--

After about thirty more stuttered apologies from the flustered Fluttershy and a hastily served round of tea, Ivan was feeling a little better about his life on the whole. Despite being brought low by a little bunny rabbit with an attitude problem.

…he told himself over and over again that given another second or two, he could’ve reached the carrot with his magic and extracted it that way. He was not nearly killed by a bunny.

That did not happen in front of the pretty but judgmental schoolteacher or the set of fillies that would probably tell that story to everypony.

…another sip of tea did little to soothe his wounded ego, despite how delicious it was. Though he was more then satisfied the furry demon was standing and facing the corner where he belonged.

“A-and you’re sure you’re-“ A loud and telling clink of the teacup returning to the saucer cut the still fussing Fluttershy off before she could make sure he wasn’t going to suddenly keel over again.

…this day was turning out to be almost as bad as the one that broke his leg.

“Alright Fluttershy, focus!” Sweetie Belle said, deciding that the ball needed to start rolling post haste. “You don’t even know why we even came here in the first place!”

“Oh, s-sorry-“

“Anyway.” Applebloom interrupted. “Ivan here’s a stallion for hire! And with the way you were draggin’ that basket, you sure look like you could use him!”

“…for hire?”

“Yeah! Don’t let that fantastic hat of his fool you, he’s a unicorn that can magic like whoa.”

“I saw him lift a whole cart! Full of gems! It took like, zero effort. I bet he could clear up any heavy lifting in ten seconds flat!” Scootaloo said, attempting to climb Ivan’s chair to take off his hat as if somehow showing off his horn would seal the deal instantly.

“Oh, I couldn’t impos-“

“Well you’d be hiring him, so it wouldn’t be imposing at all, would it?”

Cheerilee watched the exchange, wondering idly if it was bad that the only reason she was still there was that Fluttershy served the best tea imaginable.

Her contemplation was interrupted by a knock at the cottage door.

“Please excuse me.” The pegasus said as she went to answer.

“Hiya Fluttershy! Delivery!” Ivan heard as the door opened, revealing a gray pegasus flapping in place and presenting a package.

“Good afternoon Ditzy. I think I have a muffin for you somewhere…”

“I can wait!” Ditzy replied eagerly. The following moment was a tad awkward for the guests as Fluttershy put the package aside and hunted through her kitchen for the baked good in question.

“Thanks!” Ditzy explaimed, eating the whole thing in a single bite when Fluttershy returned. “Oh, blueberry…” Ivan swore she was almost moaning as one of her eyes seemed to drift toward the ceiling.

…were he a lesser stallion, he might have laughed at the effects of what had to be the greatest muffin in the universe.

“Thanks for that. So how are the rabbits?”

“Oh, they’re due any day now.” Fluttershy said.

“Great! Can I bring Dinky by to see them when they’re born?”

“Oh of course you can. I think she’ll love that.”

“I know she will. I’ve gotta go now, see ya later!” Ditzy saluted, eyes still doing whatever they felt like, and zipped off into the air, presumably to deliver more packages.

“…hey, what was that about rabbits?” Applebloom asked as Fluttershy returned to them.

“Oh, the new bunnies are going to be born soon. There’s going to be so many this year…” She drifted off, no doubt fantasizing about the fuzzy little bundles of joy.

“Hey, can Ivan help? That sounds like it might be a lot of work! Sounds like you could use a helping horn!”

“Oh… well, it might, um… maybe…?”

“Come on! Ivan could be a huge help!” Scootaloo turned to the stallion who was just finishing his tea. “Quick, Ivan, do something impressive!”

Ivan set his teacup down, looking around at the ponies now training their attention all on him.

He sighed, and gathered his magic.

The teapot, sugar bowl, cream, and his teacup and saucer all started floating and spinning wildly in a tornado that made Fluttershy fear for the state of her tea set.

And after a few moments, they finished, and set down in the exact positions they had started in. Ivan took an experimental sip of his now full cup, and nodded in approval.

“…well?” Sweetie Belle asked, turning back to Fluttershy.

“…I, um… okay?”

“Mission accomplished!” The crusaders chorused, before craning their necks to check their flanks.

They were, predictably, unchanged. The fillies slumped in disappointment.

After that, Cheerliee decided it would be best to take the fillies home so Fluttershy could explain the job to her new employee. Ivan thanked them as they left, making them beam with pride in a way that made him feel that all the trouble might’ve been worth it.

The pegasus treated him to a satisfying lunch as she explained to him what exactly he would be required to do to assist in the arrival of the newborn bunnies. After that, Ivan busied himself with moving the basket from earlier, as well as anything else that needed lifting but the pegasus lacked the muscle to do anything about (which was quite a bit, actually).

After moving the last full bag of birdseed into place, Ivan was informed that he’d need to check in regularly to see if he was needed, since birth was often an unpredictable thing.

Fortunately, at about noon the next day, Ivan came to call and was immediately put to work attending to the newborns. By the end of it, Fluttershy could even talk to him without stuttering (mostly).

--

“Hey Ivan, where’ve you be-“ The unicorn shushed them as he gestured to the large basket of sleeping bunnies floating behind him. He lowered it so they could get a closer look when they walked over to see.

“They’re all so… little…” Applebloom whispered, looking at the impossibly cute critters. The other two didn’t say anything, and after a few more seconds, Ivan lifted the basket again and took it into the cottage where several others were sitting.

Row upon row upon row of basket filled the sitting room, bunnies of every color slumbering under little blankets and on tiny pillows.

Ivan set the basket down with the others and settled into a chair to supervise the crusaders as they tip-hoofed from one basket to another.

Fluttershy entered a little while later, and smiled at the fillies.

“Make sure you’re quiet. Being born is hard work. They need their rest.” They agreed eagerly, and Fluttershy left them to it.

“Ivan, you’ll look after them, won’t you? I wanted to go get Ditzy now that they’re here.” Ivan nodded, and the pegasus left.

The next half hour or so passed in blissful, calming silence, and Ivan found himself almost nodding off. He might have if he wasn’t convinced that one of the fillies was going to buck it all up somehow.

Then Fluttershy returned with two other ponies. Beside Ditzy was a little unicorn with similar coloring. Dinky, he presumed.

The little filly took one look at the baskets of peacefully snoozing baby bunnies and said;

“Oh my Celestia they’re so cute I could die!” …Well, really, it was more like she screamed it at the top of her little lungs.

Ivan facehoofed.

Every last one of the bunnies woke up, and made for the open door in a panic, swarming over all in their path, but leaving it completely unharmed.

Ivan couldn’t shut the door because it would’ve crushed Fluttershy. The demure pegasus was begging the bunnies not to run away and trying to assure them that everything was alright. It didn’t work.

Since he couldn’t shut the door, he busied himself with stopping what individual bunnies he could, levitating what few he could catch into the air and keeping them there.

Within seconds, the cottage was nearly devoid of bunny. Ivan managed to stop and trap two baskets worth, but the other twenty or so were gone.

After Fluttershy had at least managed to calm the bunnies that Ivan managed to catch, she took a deep breath to banish her anxiety, and tried to outline a plan for possibly catching the rest.

“Um, excuse me, where’s Dinky?” Ditzy asked, flitting about the room, eyes roving somewhat wildly.

“…the crusaders are missing too…” Fluttershy noted, going to the door.

The millions of tracks the fleeing bunnies left behind veered into Everfree Forest.

Ivan sighed, predicting that they had probably tried to help by chasing the bunnies down, and slipped into his saddlebags while offering healthy curses in the name of the sun and moon.

“Ivan, wait!” Fluttershy called as Ivan was passing the gate. “You can’t go in alone, Everfree Forest is incredibly dangerous! Terrorizing beasts are everywhere in there!”

“My little Dinky went in there?! Oh sun, no!”

Ivan paused for a moment, staring at the pegasi, before turning and headbutting the fence post next to him with an exasperated thwack.

Hadn’t he suffered enough? Did things like this happen every day at Ponyville? Or was it just him?

Buck it all.

“Prepare.” he said, and Fluttershy wasted no time bolting back inside to put together a set of supplies for venturing into the forest.

Ditzy had slumped to the floor, clutching her head in her hooves on the verge of tears.

And Ivan worked on compiling a list of why he shouldn’t murder the fillies himself when he found them.

“Ivan? What’s going on?” He looked up to see Cheerilee walking towards him, probably wondering why there was a mailpony in the doorway having a nervous breakdown.

Ivan very pointedly gestured to the evidence of the stampede.

“Guess.”

“…oh no…”

--

“Alright.” Fluttershy said, very not used to being the one in charge. “Cheerilee, you go back to town to get help. Ditzy, you come with me into the forest, and we’ll see if we can find the missing fillies… Ivan, will you come too?” He grunted an affirmative and started towards the forest’s edge. He heard Cheerilee wish them luck, and Ditzy and Fluttershy caught up with him quickly.

“Ivan, you’ve never been here before, right?” He figured that was obvious by this point, but nodded anyway.

“F-Fluttershy, my daughter will be alright, won’t she?”

“She’ll be just fine Ditzy. They haven’t been in the forest long, and if the crusaders are with her, they’ll look after her… they know this place is dangerous.”

“Oh Celestia… I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to her…”

It was as if existence itself was telling him not to screw up. Despite having to protect two mares, find four hyperactive fillies, something like a hundred missing bunnies, and then get them all out of the killer forest unharmed.

All the cards were coming up Ivan lately. Fantastic. He hung his head in defeat, but noticed the ground as he did.

“Look.” He said, gesturing to the tracks. The bunnies didn’t scatter when they entered the forest, or at least they hadn’t yet. The trail was easy to see.

“Oh… I suppose they went this way then…” Fluttershy said, taking the lead and following the trail.

And they did that, sidestepping harmful flowers, avoiding bottomless cliffs, and dealing with an oddly affectionate manticore, until the sun was setting over the horizon.

The trail seemed to lead in random directions. Ivan conjectured that it was due to the crusaders perhaps trying to herd the blighted bunnies they had run in after.

“Oh… oh my moon, no.” Then they came upon the clearing, and Ivan witnessed a sight that would be burned into his memories forever.

They found the bunnies and the crusaders.

They were littered throughout the clearing, and they had obviously tried hard to escape whatever had caused their current state.

Little statues of terrified bunnies and panicked fillies.

“Fluttershy.” Ivan said, grabbing the pegasus’ attention before she could break down and cry. “Explain.”

“A, a c-cockatrice… they live in the woods, and… and looking into their eyes…” She didn’t need to finish. The nightmare in front of them was telling enough.

“Saved?”

“Y-yes… if we can find the cockatrice that turned them…”

“…close…” Ivan mused. It was likely that the herd of bunnies had encroached on the beast’s territory. It was probably still close by…

As if in answer, the cry of a beast that Ivan had never heard before echoed through the clearing. Followed by a filly’s scream. The three ponies realized in a moment of horror that there were only three pony statues in the clearing.

Dinky was still unaccounted for.

Ditzy was off like a shot, shrieking her daughter’s name like a mare possessed. Fluttershy and Ivan weren’t far behind.

They burst into a second clearing, and found a cowering Dinky pinned by the foot of what Ivan correctly guessed was a cockatrice.

A body shaped sort of like a chicken’s, but apart from the head, covered in green scales and sporting a long tail. On top of that, it was huge. Thrice the size of him, easily.

Dinky was already slowly turning to stone. An enraged Ditzy flew into action.

The cockatrice had just noticed them, and turned its gaze away from the struggling unicorn. It staggered backwards off of Dinky as the roaring mother kicked it in the face with the force of a speeding train.

The advancing stone on Dinky’s body vanished when the cockatrice was knocked aside, and Ivan pulled the confused filly onto his back with his horn and covered her eyes with his hat.

Horn now exposed, the glow of magic gathering on it lit up the whole clearing as Ivan got ready for a fight. Ditzy flew backwards, hammered by the cockatrice’s tail, and was caught by magic as she passed the stallion. If the blow injured her, it didn’t show, and she moved to stand beside him, plumage ruffled and stance promising pain.

Ivan didn’t fire right away, not knowing how agile the beast actually was, and waiting to see what Ditzy would do. If she shot forward without warning, she would get caught in the crossfire, and whatever Ivan used on a monster that size would do more then singe the pegasus’ feathers.

None of them moved for a few moments, as the cockatrice locked them with her gaze, and Ivan suspected that the feeling creeping up his back hooves was the petrifaction at work. All he had to do was break the gaze to make it stop, so he leveled his horn and-

…almost killed Fluttershy when she shot in front of them and flew right up to the cockatrice’s face.

“Did you do that?” She demanded, and Ivan’s jaw dropped at the absurdity of the situation. Did she think talking to it would really work?

…though the beast in question froze up entirely, seeming to shrink away from the pegasus’ glare.

“Did you?! Did you petrify three little fillies and countless newborn baby bunnies?!”

“…No...” Ivan said in disbelief. Ditzy seemed to be reacting much the same way. Dinky too, now that he could feel her looking over his head.

“How could you?! How could you, a mother, do something so unthinkable?! How dare you take happy lives with full futures ahead of them and condemn them to an eternity of stone while time leaves them behind?! Bunnies and fillies that haven’t harmed you at all! What excuses this?! What did you tell yourself to make this a good idea?! Answer me!”

The light cast by Ivan’s horn faded as he observed the huge cockatrice that had been reduced to a quivering mess by a mare he previously thought was spineless.

“Change them back. Right now.” Fluttershy ordered with authority that probably rivaled the princess of the sun’s. Against his better judgement, Ivan looked back at the other clearing and away from the cockatrice.

The statues were turning back to living creatures.

He turned back to see Fluttershy was starting to ease off.

“You never need to petrify. Least of all to anypony or anything that isn’t trying to hurt you. Never do anything like this again.” The cockatrice took this opportunity to hastily agree, and hurriedly stomp away, tail between its legs.

“…Oh Celestia, Dinky!” Ditzy cried, lunging toward Ivan and scooping the surprised unicorn off his back, hugging her to her chest in tears.

“Hey mommy! I found the bunnies, see?”

“Dinky, what you did was bad. I thought you would get hurt, or… or worse…”

“But I’m fine! You and that dude and Fluttershy saved me! Please stop crying mommy…”

Ivan turned away from the mother and child (who was still wearing his hat) cuddling in mid air, and walked back to where the crusaders were shaking off whatever sensations being stone had left with them.

“Oh, hey Ivan, thanks for pullin’ our flanks outta the… fire… um…” Applebloom trailed off when she saw the furious look in his eye. It was their first time seeing angry Ivan and it was scary.

All three decided they preferred his glares when there was a hat in the way.

“…uh… I guess… Cutie Mark Crusaders Search and Rescue didn’t work out, huh…?” Scootaloo said, smiling sheepishly.

“No.” He said. The fillies flinched.

“You’re… not going to tell my sister, are you?” Sweetie asked, almost trembling.

“No.” He said.

“Aw, yeah, Ivan I knew you were cool!” Scootaloo cheered, pumping a hoof in the air.

“She will.” Ivan said, gesturing to Fluttershy, who was now trying to gather the bunnies into one group.

“Oh moon, that’s worse…” Any cheer the fillies had was now obliterated.

Fluttershy had finished gathering the bunnies, and they were all now obediently following her as she made her way back to the forest entrance. Ditzy, still holding her daughter, started following.

Ivan glanced at the three crusaders, still angry and brooking no argument. And they didn’t give any when they fell into step behind him.

Not one of them said a word until they were out of the forest.

--

They had met up with the assembled search party as they exited the forest, and Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were immediately smothered by their sisters, and taken home.

Dinky and Scootaloo got to help Fluttershy put the bunnies to bed, while Ditzy thanked him over and over for helping them. When he tried to say that he didn’t really end up doing much in the end, she pointed out that he was right there beside her, with a broken leg, ready to blast the monster with some spell or another while keeping her daughter safe on his back.

With nothing else to say, he coughed awkwardly and accepted the thanks. Dinky walked up to them after that.

“Hey, mommy, Scootaloo said they’d let me join their club! She said Ivan’s in it too!” Ivan somehow, without his hat, managed to not look like this information troubled him. It was his greatest victory yet.

“That’s great!” the pegasus answered, grinning just as wide as Dinky was.

“Oh, here, this is your hat right?” Dinky said, trotting up to him and offering it off of her head.

“…hey… what are these scribbles? Mommy?”

“Oh, when a pony has a cast, that pony’s friends sign it to help it get better faster!” Ditzy said, moving to get a better look.

“Can I sign it too?” Dinky asked excitedly, enthralled by the idea of helping Ivan heal.

“Well? Can we?”

Not really having much in the way of options (the way Dinky looked at him had nothing to do with it), Ivan floated his pen out of his bags and offered it to the filly.

“Um…” he heard Fluttershy start, and Ivan sighed, offering her the pen too after Ditzy finished.

“Oh… and if it’s not too much trouble…” She began while she wrote, “…would you mind taking Scootaloo home?”

“Sure.”

“Oh, thank you very much… and, um… if you come by tomorrow, we can discuss your… payment…” She trailed off as she finished, turning back to go get Scootaloo.

She probably thought Ivan was going to charge an arm and a leg for that episode in the forest. He almost wished his conscience would let him.

…he paused, wondering why there was still a scratching of pen against cast, and looked down.

That bunny, (Angel, Ivan recalled) from earlier was handling the pen awkwardly, writing in something barely better then chicken scratch. When it had finished, it glared up at him, gestured at it’s eyes, and then jabbed a paw at him menacingly. Then escaped as Fluttershy returned.

“Goodnight Scootaloo, Ivan. Have a safe walk home.” And she trotted back to her cottage, leaving Ivan alone with the smaller pegasus.

Scootaloo seemed to be avoiding his gaze. Probably thought he was still mad.

He couldn’t deny that he was.

“Lead.” He said, and Scootaloo started back on the path to Ponyville. The moon was high overhead, and the walk was as quiet as could be. Ivan found himself looking forward to bedding down for the night.

The whole day had been tiring.

--

“Well… here we are…” Scootaloo said lamely as they arrived at the place where she lived. Ivan looked the building over, and noticed a sign.

Ponyville Orphanage

Whatever questions he had about why Scootaloo hadn’t been picked up by anypony were answered. He looked back at the pegasus, standing there awkwardly as if wondering what to say next.

“I’m sorry.” Seemed to be what she settled on. The first apology of the day that actually meant something.

“Why?” He asked. He knew why she should be sorry, he really did, but he wanted to keep the pegasus talking. Something seemed wrong about just letting her go to bed with the mood she was in.

“I… We messed up. Just… we saw Dinky run after the rabbits, and we ran in after her because we wanted to keep her from getting hurt, and we wanted to herd the bunnies back, Applebloom said she could, so…”

“…Not like yesterday.” Ivan said. Scootaloo looked back at him, and noticed that he had settled onto the lawn so they were eye to eye. His hat was out of his eyes too.

“Huh?”

“Kidnapped. Nothing wrong.”

“Well, yeah, of course.”

“Everfree’s dangerous. You knew.”

“Y-yeah…”

“We were there. Should’ve talked. Would’ve helped.”

“.I-I’m sorry…” Scootaloo said again, now on the verge of tears.

“Next time…?” Ivan asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Next time… I’ll ask you for help.”

“Or somepony older.” Ivan stressed. He wasn’t going to be around forever.

“Yeah… yeah, I’ll do that.”

“Don’t forget.”

“I won’t.”

“Promise.”

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

“…what.”

“It’s uh… Pinkie promise. Um… yeah…” She trailed off sheepishly.

“…Feel better?” He asked, deciding not to touch the other question he wanted to ask. He got a feeling he didn’t want to know.

Scootaloo didn’t say anything at first, instead trotting forward and putting her front legs around Ivan’s neck. He let her, not knowing what else to do.

You’ve known me for three days. I’m still a stranger to you. Why are you hugging me?

…don’t you have anypony else to hug?

“I’m… sorry.”

“Fine.” He assured.

“Um… yeah, I feel better. So… goodnight.” Scootaloo said, backing off, looking completely lost. Ivan nodded and got to his hooves. He noticed her staring at his cast, guilty. He lowered his hat’s brim again.

“Goodnight.” He said before she could apologize again. And he stood there until she had climbed the few stairs to the door and went inside.

Ivan left before somepony saw him and started asking questions. It had been a full day, and he was willing to skip dinner to get some rest. He’d eat in the morning.

“Sweet dreams.” He said, wondering why he bothered saying it out loud. She couldn’t have heard him.

…Ponyville was probably driving him crazy.

--

Thanks for bringing me all these friends! I’ll be there for you too!

-Dinky Doo

Celestia watch over you.

-Ditzy Doo

Thank you so much for findin not leav being so ni everything.

-Fluttershy

I’m watching you.

-Angel