There was a bird yelling into her ear.

Part of her wondered what would have the bird so panicked. She didn’t think she knew the bird in question, only that it was there, telling her that they were surrounded by-

“Salad!” Fluttershy hissed, now wide awake. Thankfully, the other pegasus was a light sleeper and took note of the panic in her voice.

“What?”

“T-timberwolves!”

“Where?”

“We’re surrounded!”

“The tree!” Salad barked, already jumping.

Fluttershy wasn’t far behind. And perched in safety, they saw the wooden animals crawl from the shadows.

There were at least a dozen, circling the tree.

“…they’re not stupid.” Salad said. “They know I can’t fly. It’s the only reason they’re even trying at this point.”

“…what do we do?”

“Well.” Salad began. “This is why I didn’t take off my bags to sleep.” A second later, Fluttershy saw the glint of something on Salad’s wing.

“W-what-“

“I’d tell you to go on ahead, but the cure and harp are both down there. Can you tell me which one’s the alpha?” Fluttershy didn’t even think about the question, and quickly scanned the pack.

“T-that one.” She said, pointing a shaking hoof at a wolf holding his head a little higher then the rest.

“Turn away, and close your eyes. You don’t want to watch this.” The clearing brightened, and Fluttershy noticed that a cloud had moved away from the moon. Her eyes, barely adjusted to the darkness before, could now see clearly.

Salad had removed her bags and slung them over a branch. And with a bayonet on her wing, she was poised to attack.

She was about to attempt to kill the entire pack.

“Y-you can’t!” Even besides an entire pack of animals getting slaughtered, there were so many things that could go wrong for Salad, it couldn't have been worth the risk.

“You can just fly away from this. I can’t. And timberwolves can wait for days.” Salad said. “This isn’t even about you. It’s them or me.”

“I’ll get a cloud!” Fluttershy stammered. “A-and I can fly you out of here!”

“Bucking moon, we don’t have time for thi-“

“We have days you said.” The vet continued, calming down as the reality dawned on her. They couldn’t be touched up here. The wolves would wait.

“…You’re going to cloud-taxi me out of here?” Salad said in disbelief. “Really?”

“You don’t have to hurt them. Or risk getting hurt or killed. This is the best way.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, there is a pack of wolves down there, and the cure and harp are at the base of the tree we’re trapped in. Are you saying we leave them behind?”

“…I-if… I…” Fluttershy took a deep breath.

…What would Rainbow Dash do?

“You have five seconds to convince me not to go down there and make some kindling.”

“If… if I can scare them… could you get the harp and bags?” Fluttershy asked, looking up at the surly mare.

“…you’re serious.”

“Yes.”

“You couldn’t scare a-“ Salad stopped there, thankfully. Though Fluttershy could feel how ashamed she was of the unintentional admission.

“…I can.” Fluttershy said, keeping an even rhythm of breathing. Her nerves started to calm. “Or… I can at least make a diversion.”

“What are you going to do?” Salad asked. “If you’re going to try something, I might as well sit here and get ready for it.”

“I’m going to get a cloud.” Fluttershy said. “Wait here.”

“…go before I change my mind.” Salad hissed, stowing her blade.

Fluttershy took off from the tree and flew up high.

Happier memories came to mind as a younger Dash flew to her cottage every day she learned something new and tried to teach her ‘how to be a more awesome pegasus’.

Something she had previously thought was scary would possibly save Salad’s life. Or at least keep her from getting injured.

Fluttershy landed on a collection of clouds and got to work.

--

Salad was almost ready to get her blade out again. Staring at the alpha for the better part of a couple hours had got her more than ready for action.

All she had to do was land one good blow out of the tree. With the alpha dead, the others would be shocked and brainless. Disorganised. And while she’d still be surrounded with ravenous wolves, she’d already be starting on thinning the ranks. And maybe work on intimidating the rest once she was covered in wolf blood.

It wasn’t the perfect plan, but she didn’t see any better options available. Once Fluttershy tried her hoof at scaring a group of vicious predators, hopefully she’d realize that Salad knew what she was doing and would just let her get on with it.

“I’m… I’m back.”

“Bucking finally, what took you so lo-… whoa.”

Fluttershy was perched on a thunderhead roughly the size of a small house.

There was also a smaller white cloud nearby. Salad presumed it was for her.

“…alright.” Salad said. “I admit this is a good plan. But that’s too much.”

“Um… what?”

“Look at that thing. Just… just look at it. That’s like trying to skip stones with a boulder.”

“O-oh. Um…”

“Can you break it up? Something smaller? Even I know controlling lightning is hard work. If you buck that thing, you might end up hitting me or our stuff.”

“…I, um… I don’t think…”

“…Alright, look. Just, fly it out over there. A good distance away.” Salad said, exasperated. “Give it a few bucks. I’ll get the bags and harp, and sit on that other cloud over there. Then we can get out of here like a couple of tree hugging pacifists.”

“…okay.” Fluttershy said, looking unsure of herself. The imposing stormcloud drifted over, a decent distance away.

For the most part, the wolves ignored her. Salad was the only meal they were sure to get, so it was natural.

Salad secured her bags and got ready.

The first cracking discharge was like a starting pistol, Salad thought as she dove from her branch.

Fluttershy couldn’t have aimed the bolt, the shot was so perfect. It arced and struck right between the alpha and another wolf, and suddenly the entire pack was in a panic.

Salad nearly groaned when she heard the other pegasus apologising for the near hit. Though the shot was perfect, even if unintentional. The harp was slung over her back, and she had just enough precious seconds to grab Fluttershy’s bags in her teeth and jump before the jaws of a nearby wolf snapped at her.

The weight made the jump awkward, but she landed neatly on the cloud.

Fluttershy tentatively approached, fidgeting with her hooves. Salad slammed her eyes shut and tried to offer the bags. She had been forced to keep holding them in her mouth since she couldn’t set them down on the cloud.

With yet another apology, Salad had her speaking privileges back as Fluttershy secured the bags to her back.

“…So.” Salad started, eyes still closed.

“…um… yes?”

“Why are we still above the angry snarling pack of timberwolves?”

“…good point.” Fluttershy said, and she took a minute to get her bearings.

And then she started pushing the cloud towards their destination.

--

Fluttershy was… actually a little proud of herself. The plan she had come up with worked. Nopony got hurt! (well those wolves almost did, and Salad almost took a wound or two when she grabbed the things but…)

Over the horizon, the tell-tale signs of impending sunrise were making themselves known. And she was now aware how much sleep the ordeal had made them lose.

She chanced a look over at the top of the cloud to see if Salad was grumpy (or more grumpy than usual) but instead found her snoozing. She had evidently fallen asleep during the ride.

Fluttershy found herself studying the mare for the first time. She hadn’t looked directly at her since the one day she had first tried the Stare.

Salad was resting on her back, harp clutched to her chest. Something Fluttershy was thankful for, since the harp, special though it was, would’ve fallen like a stone out of the cloud. And though they weren’t very high off the ground, twenty feet at most, Fluttershy wasn’t keen on finding out just how durable magical artefacts were.

Even at rest, Salad’s face seemed locked in a scowl. Fluttershy thought back to something her grandmother had said about how sad and angry little fillies that didn’t know how to cheer up would look like that their entire lives.

Of course, her grandmother had been joking, and had normally tickled her to get her laughing again. It was something that happened often whenever her mother had… disciplined her.

She shook the morbid thoughts from her head, instead turning them back to the sleeping mare.

Her side was covered in ugly scars. Fluttershy knew this already, but from what she had heard, Salad responded with threats at best whenever anypony took too long looking at it.

She wondered when it had happened. Rarity let slip once that she knew the circumstances behind whatever had claimed the angry mare’s wing, but hadn’t elaborated. And if Rarity wasn’t willing to talk about it, it was normally something serious.

Fluttershy looked again at the harp, wrapped in black cloth. And pondered something.

When Celestia had presented the harp to her, and talked about the magics it possessed, she had mentioned it was once used to help heal minds.

Given the creature it called, Fluttershy could believe this. The sound of it when Celestia had first played it for her evoked feelings of security. She had felt as if she were resting at home, in bed.

Salad wasn’t insane. But Fluttershy was sure there was pain that could be eased.

…she wondered if a lullaby would be appropriate if Salad was already asleep.

…I want to help her. Even if it’s something as small as this.

Salad wasn’t holding the harp very tightly. And by some miracle, she didn’t wake up when Fluttershy gently took it from her sleeping grasp.

The cloth fell away, revealing the polished golden hue of the wood. And Fluttershy managed to get comfortable on another cloud she had grabbed, positioning the harp so the weight didn’t bother her.

The first few notes were like greeting a friend. And Fluttershy smiled as she picked a song and began her experiment.

She played as softly as she could, but there wasn’t any doubt the music reached Salad’s ears.

Her face lost the minute tension that Fluttershy hadn’t even noticed until it was gone.

A breathy sigh as Salad turned on her side and made herself comfortable.

…the revelation that Salad’s guard was down almost made Fluttershy stop playing entirely. The song continued as the mare stared transfixed at the sight.

This wasn’t something she had the right to see, but she couldn’t look away. She wanted to see this side of a mare who had only ever looked on her with dislike.

I can help you. I’ve found a way.

Was it a paradox? To want to help a pony so badly it became selfish? Salad had made it clear she wanted nothing to do with her.

I will not let this be.

Regardless of the reason, Fluttershy had harmed her. She had done something on a level that she could only guess at.

…but she knew, oh did she know, what that fear felt like.

And now, even if Salad wasn’t here for her sake, she was looking after Fluttershys well being. Big Mac had said the thing that had convinced her was that there was a life at stake. Salad was here because she believed it was right.

You deserve this.

There was a good pony underneath the sarcasm, glares, insults, and hate.

“A pinch of kindness, dear, is sometimes all that’s needed. Sometimes more than a pinch, but I digress.”

Her kindly grandmother’s life lessons came back to her, and with them, a bit of hope.

“If there is even the barest possibility that it will work, than it eventually will. Time and patience, and it will all be worth it in the end. And you’ll see that kindness returned.”

Fluttershy idly wondered, as her spirits started to lift, if she would ever see that face of Salad’s when she was awake.

--

Salad slowly woke, though it took her a little while to realize she had.

She had dreamt of formless contentedness, and she lay baffled as to where it came from and what it meant.

One of the reasons she wasn’t sure she was quite awake was the fact that she still felt the sensation of idle soft drifting.

She remembered that, yes, she had eyes, and opened them.

She was still in the cloud, and another had been placed above her to shield her from the sun.

Fluttershy, Salad thought. And then she realized that the mare in question wasn’t anywhere to be found.

…a slight humming met her ears. A tune that rung a bell in her head, but she couldn’t place it.

Fluttershy was below, and Salad could hear the sizzling of a skillet. Peering over the side of the cloud, she saw the other pegasus next to a fire, cooking up an omelet and a few strips of hay bacon.

A glance to the sky said the time was about ten o’clock.

A bit late for breakfast…

Salad noticed she was still wearing her bags. They were a little damp from sleeping in the cloud, but her bags were waterproof anyway. The harp was down with Fluttershy. Everything accounted for, Salad leapt from her bed.

Fluttershy jumped at Salad’s sudden appearance, but managed to keep the food from falling or burning.

“Good morning.”

“Or what’s left of it. We lost a lot of time, why didn’t you wake me?”

“Oh, um… we actually covered a lot of ground.”

“…huh?” Salad asked as she gave the area a once over.

“I made sure we were far away from the timberwolves before I stopped pushing your cloud.” The mare explained. “So we’re still on schedule. Could you please get a plate? This is just about finished…”

“It’s your food. Get it yourself.”

“U-um…”

“What?” said Salad as she brushed the droplets of water off of her bags.

“It’s your food, actually…”

“…what?”

“I’ve already eaten.” Said Fluttershy, timidly. “And I-I thought that if I had breakfast ready for you when you got up… we could start moving again sooner? If that’s alright with you, of course…”

“You made me a full breakfast because you’re impatient?”

“You… don’t really seem to like it when I’m nice.” The vet replied, growing quiet. “So I thought… if I were practical…”

Salad blinked.

“…still no?”

“…fine.” The pink mare sighed in defeat, flipping open one of her bags and fishing out a plate. The eggs and bacon smelled like just what the doctor (Oh ha ha, brain, nice one) ordered, and Salad had to really try and be nonchalant about digging into it.

­…why does this have to taste so good?

She could hear cheer in the way Fluttershy hummed and busied herself in cleaning up, and wondered just what put the mare in such a good mood.

Not that Salad actively wished misery on her or anything, but her prancing around with a pep in her step would make it that much harder to pretend she didn’t exist.

“Did you sleep well?” Fluttershy asked while she was packing up.

“No more than usual.” A lie. Salad had never slept better in her life.

“Hmm.” Fluttershy somehow knew that was a lie. Could the witch read minds now? “I hoped last night wouldn’t make it too hard to sleep.” And now it was ambiguous. Was the yelllow mare playing games with her?

“I’ve had worse then a pack of wolves.” Salad said, hoping the other pegasus would just shut up.

“Oh?”

“Yeah.” Fine, she would shut up. Conversations couldn’t happen with one pony.

…well they could, but they normally weren’t good signs. Salad remembered this one pink earth pony from town that seemed to do it from time to time. Something about that one was unsettling. Salad took special care to avoid her.

With Salad refusing to elaborate, the conversation ended. And Fluttershy re-wrapped the harp (when had it been unwrapped?) and slung it to her back.

Checking a map and nodding to herself, Fluttershy turned back to her.

“Ready?”

“Yeah.” Salad replied.

--

It was around two when Fluttershy mentioned lunch. The demure mare had offered grilled cheese sandwiches, and by the look of them, they were made relatively recently.

“…when did you make these?” Salad found herself asking.

“Before I started on your breakfast.”

“…I’ve got apples.”

“I made too much for me.”

“…you didn’t sleep, did you?” While Fluttershy was in high spirits, she was obviously tired. It made sense.

“Um…”

“So what, you were scared of getting attacked again, so you just stayed up and cooked? What else did you do?”

“I… might’ve practised for a while…” Fluttershy admitted, nodding to the harp now leaning against a tree.

“…for that long?”

“I like playing it.” It would explain why the harp had been unwrapped when Salad awoke. Hay, if she liked playing it that much, maybe it was why she was in such an insufferably good mood so far.

Weird mare.

Salad reluctantly accepted a sandwich, if only so it wouldn’t go to waste. She could just snack on the apples later. Now if only the mare wouldn’t look so blighted happy about it all…

…oh buck me. I’m making her think this is working.

Fluttershy accidentally put her to bed in a cloud, and then spent her own sleeping time making food for her, and…

…and she was trying to friendship her.

Salad was already halfway through the (buck, still delicious) sandwich, and the revelation almost made her drop the thing.

Alright… options.

Salad did not want this. Just up and shattering all the mare’s presumed aspirations though would make her super sad or something though, and that’d make Red mad.

She could just… not accept any more attempts? Though…

The mare was being crafty about it now. Practical. ‘I made food so you might as well take it instead of wasting time making more’. Well, that was a paraphrase, but…

And Salad didn’t have any reasons to just say no aside from ‘Buck you and everything you stand for’ and that just wasn’t good enough. Especially not now that she was forced to not-turn-her-back-and-jump-for-greener-pastures.

…the only option really open was to just grit her teeth and endure it until the end. Then avoid the mare like the plague to cement the message. So, basically, her original plan from the beginning.

Red couldn’t be mad at her for that. Ivan probably wouldn’t have any problems either. And that was pretty much all her concerns addressed right there.

She’d pass the time thinking up counters to anything the mare tried on her. Even if she couldn’t outright win, she could still put up a fight.

--

Salad had managed to make dinner for herself by insisting she cook first and suddenly become too busy and involved to really pay attention to Fluttershy’s protests.

So Fluttershy took off to find a nice fluffy cloud to offer, since she thought it might be harder for Salad to say no if it was already in front of her.

By the time Fluttershy had returned though, Salad was already settled underneath the tree and getting ready to go to sleep. Somehow, the meal and cleanup had been wrapped up in the short span of time the flight had taken.

Salad, already settled, mentioned she preferred the ground. And Fluttershy knew that was a lie, but calling her out on it would be rude.

The surly pegasus was trying everything to resist Fluttershy’s attempts to make nice, but the vet knew there was one thing she couldn’t refuse.

By the time she had finished cleaning up after her meal, Salad was already sleeping. And though Fluttershy was very tired from the meagre amount of sleep she had gotten the previous night, having flew them onward, played the harp, and cooked the rest, this was a chance she couldn’t ignore. Just ten minutes or so wouldn't hurt matters.

She was about to start the song when a muffled groan caught her attention.

--

“Goodness, look at you.” The voice jeered, and Salad could see a thin disturbing grin in the darkness. “All caught up with nowhere to go.”

She wanted to leave, but couldn’t. One of her wings was a chain, attached to the ground. She couldn’t fly or run.

“It’s not so bad only having one, right? It’s a pegasus’ worst nightmare to lose a wing. But now that you have, what’s left to be afraid of?”

The voice wasn’t adjusting in volume, and the grin hadn’t moved. But something inside said she needed to go. Danger was getting closer.

“Can’t you think of anything?”

A pair of eyes opened above the unflappable smile, and suddenly Salad could barely think of anything at all.

“Maybe there’s nothing. Even if you’re not really a pegasus anymore, you no longer have anything to be afraid of. Isn’t that amazing? I envy you.”

She couldn’t even tell what was happening anymore. She felt cold. The chain was still there, secure, even though the idea of running away seemed impossible.

“What do you have left?” The voice asked, and Salad felt breath tickle her ear. “You can still run. Would you be afraid of losing that?” Something sharp she couldn’t see pressed against one of her forelegs.

Whatever spell was cast on her let her retain enough awareness to scream when the blade began to draw itself back and forth.

“Soon you’ll be without that fear.”

She struggled, she couldn’t do much else, but she still felt herself unable to break contact with those maddening eyes.

“Would you be afraid to lose your voice?” A few sharp points started dancing around her throat. “You probably didn’t give much thought to foals, but I hear most mares don’t like the idea of losing that choice.” Something wet trickled down one of her hind legs when something jagged bit into her abdomen.

“You spent years looking for him. Would you be afraid if he died?” Between one scream and another came a third that wasn’t hers.

“Oh you’re going to love it when I’m done. So many-“

Salad was left a shattered mess on the ground as the voice died away, and it took her a moment to realise she was whole (or as whole as she normally was) as she attempted to pull herself together.

Soft music found her as the edges of her vision softened and the cold faded. Tension vanished and she fell forward into nothing, cradled by the dulcet notes of a harp.

She reached with her hooves, trying to return the embrace she felt, but nopony was there.

Strange. Who was holding her?

--

She wondered when their roles had reversed. Once Salad was asleep, Fluttershy took up vigil at her side to protect her from the nightmare.

It felt… empowering, being able to protect somepony. Did Rainbow feel this way? She hoped so. Seeing Salad relax and stop that cringing and whimpering was just… great really. Spectacular even.

…unfortunately, Fluttershy didn’t know how long she’d have to play the harp for to make sure the nightmare didn’t come back. Could they come back?

It was fine, she supposed. She could go without sleep.

She wondered what she should make for breakfast tomorrow. Salad wouldn’t be in a position to refuse, after all.