There was a pounding in her head, and her whole body ached. Sweetie Belle lay on the cool ground, trying to make sense of her current situation. Slowly, she lifted her head off the grass and gently moved her limbs. She was in pain but nothing seemed broken, as far as she could tell. Gently sitting up, she attempted to look around, only to find that one of her eyes had very poor vision. She poked at her right eye and winced, must be bruised. She moved in a drowsy manner, feeling as if she were dreaming. Examining her body she found several scrapes, the fur and some skin gone from the wounds. As soon as she saw it, she felt the red and raw wounds burn. Despite all this she felt oddly grateful, she was alive. So focused on her wounds she didn’t notice the sound of hooves on dirt approaching her.
”Excuse me?” Came a soft voice. Sweetie Belle jolted and looked to the source of the voice, then she screamed. Standing right in front of her was a unicorn foal’s worst nightmare, a pegasus. Said pegasus gasped and shrunk away from Sweetie’s scream.
“Oh my, please don’t be afraid little filly, I won’t hurt you.” Came the pegasi’s gentle voice. Sweetie found that her head ached worse when she screamed, so she quieted down for her own sake.
”Please don’t eat me!” Sweetie whimpered, skittering back and away from the yellow monster.
”You don’t have to be afraid, I only eat fish. I could never eat another pony.” The pegasus mare assured with a soft smile. Sweetie was not entirely convinced, and began looking around for her sister.
”Rarity? Rarity help!” Sweetie cried out. The pegasus frowned and scanned the trees around them.
”Shh, please be quiet, I won’t hurt you but there’s a pegasus in this forest that will.” The yellow mare whispered. Sweetie looked at her in horror. “I know you don’t believe me but you can trust me, I caught you when you fell. I wouldn’t hurt you.”
“You saved me?” Sweetie asked quietly. The pegasus nodded, smiling. Sweetie was conflicted. She knew pegasi were dangerous, but this one seemed oddly nice. She winced as she shifted, her scrapes and head still burning and throbbing. The pegasus took notice.
”You’re very hurt. I don’t mean to be too forward, but, would you like to come with me to my home? Your injuries need to be taken care of or they’ll get infected.” The pegasus spoke, seeming concerned. Sweetie didn’t know how to answer, so she weighed her options. She could try to climb back up the mountain, but she’d have to pass through pegasus territory to do so. She could go with the yellow mare before her and risk being eaten, then again maybe she was being genuine and she’d treat her injuries. Or she could stay out in the forest and wait for her sister to save her, and risk being attacked and eaten by whatever mystery pegasus was hiding in the trees. All scary options, but one seemed less frightening than the others.
“I-I’ll go with you miss.” Sweetie replied quietly.
”Don’t worry little filly, I’ll keep you safe.” The mare said with a reassuring smile. Sweetie staggered to her hooves, keeping her head down submissively.
”I’m Fluttershy, what’s your name?” Fluttershy asked politely as she led the filly to her home.
”I’m Sweetie Belle.” Sweetie whispered.
Some ways away a pair of glowing eyes watched from the trees.