//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3 
// Story: Heart of Gold 
// by CartoonNerd12 
//------------------------------//

Fluttershy was sound asleep on the pile of straw and the bright sunlight from the tiny windows of the tower beamed through, waking her up. She got up and noticed the golden straw next to her as she expressed.

"I thought I was dreaming but it was true, a strange creature named Discord came to me and helped me turned the straw into gold. I know he said he was doing it for selfish reasons but what he did last night saved me and my family from banishment. Selfish or not, I'm grateful for what he did."

Then came a sound of a door unlocking and she turned to see the lavender unicorn she saw yesterday walking in. The unicorn gapped at the gold that was next to the pegasus.

The unicorn inquired, "You did this?"

Fluttershy bit her lip until she recalled what Discord told her and answered, "In a way."

The purple unicorn shook her head in astonishment before clearing her throat and introduced herself, "I'm Twilight Sparkle, the royal vizier of this castle. His Majesty is sorry he couldn't be here but he was up late last night filling out paperwork and he needed the rest."

Fluttershy nodded, "I understand." if anything she was glad the king was asleep, her meeting with him yesterday may have been a success but the rumors about him were true, he was controlling and crude. The deal she made with him was her only chance to escape should she never come to love him.

Twilight pointed to the gold, "Our king will be most pleased by this. For he has become fond of you and wishes for you to stay, in fact, he has left it to me to make sure you have the best accommodations in the castle."

"Accommodations?" Fluttershy questioned.

The unicorn nodded, "You are to have your own room while you're here to turn the straw into gold." she motioned her to follow.

Fluttershy was led out of the tower but not before turning to the mice there and waved them goodbye. They waved back. She then resumed in following Twilight as the vizier asked.

"I don't believe you ever told us your name, what is it?"

"Oh, it's Fluttershy…" she quietly responded.

"Fluttershy?"

The butter-cream mare nodded.

"That's a very sweet name. And it fits you too." Twilight complimented.

Fluttershy meekly replied, "Thank you…"

Twilight could see how uncomfortable the mare was and stopped walking to face her and began reassuring her.

"You have nothing to fear from me. I will make sure you will be look after in only the best care."

The pegasus told her, "It's not you I'm afraid of…"

Twilight inquired, "The king?"

Fluttershy nodded.

The unicorn sighed, "He has been known to be demanding and pushy. And I can't promise that you'll like him and I certainly could not blame you for wanting to leave as you'll spend time with him."

"You don't believe I could love him?"

"Truthfully? No, I don't."

Fluttershy was surprised to hear that but a part of her knew deep down that it was going to be hard enough to fall for the king especially how he treats his subjects and Twilight implied greatly that he treated his servants just as horribly if not worst. Unless the king could prove himself there was more to him then just being a meanie, she would never love him.

Twilight then resumed their walk and led her down to a hallway filled with beautiful tapestries and Fluttershy noticed a white unicorn with a purple curled mane in maid's attire was magically cleaning them. Twilight cleared her throat and the maid turned their way.

"Oh! Twilight, darling! I didn't see you there."

The lavender unicorn chuckled, "That was obvious. I thought you cleaned all the tapestries this week?"

"I only cleaned some of them, darling. Rainbow was supposed to do the rest but she was… preoccupied at the time…"

"Ah…" Twilight said in understanding.

Fluttershy was confused and asked, "What do you mean?"

Forgetting that she was there for a moment, Twilight quickly replied, "It's nothing for you to be concern about, it's just castle business. Anyway, Fluttershy, this is Rarity the head maid of the castle staff, and shall be serving you during your time here."

Rarity curtsied, "It is an honor to meet you, darling."

Fluttershy shyly said, "It's… nice to meet you too."

Rarity faced her and told her, "Although, I do wish it was under better circumstances. I understand that you have to do something for the king in order to be his queen."

Fluttershy looked to Twilight who was shaking her head, telling her that no one knows about her turning straw into gold. She said to Rarity, "Well yes, but the king and I also have a deal that if I cannot love him, he would let me go."

The white unicorn exclaimed, "In that case, while you're here you'll be treated like a princess before you leave this place."

Fluttershy inquired, "Does everyone in this castle believe the king cannot be loved by someone?"

Rarity then let out a loud laugh that nearly made her fall to the floor. That was all the answer that Fluttershy needed and found herself frowning. When Rarity calmed down she said.

"Someone loving the king? It can't be done! No one in their right mind would ever love him."

Fluttershy lowered her head, "That's so sad…"

Rarity motioned, "Sad? There's nothing sad about it, the king doesn't want to love so no one loves him in return."

Twilight nodded, "It's true."

Fluttershy didn't know what to think, she didn't want to love the king but if no one else was going to… She just didn't know what she should do.

Twilight addressed Rarity, "I have to get back to the throne room soon, could you escort her to her room?"

"But of course! It'll give us a chance to get to know each other better."

"And I'll see what's keeping Rainbow."

"Please do, she was supposed to be here by now."




She felt a trail of kisses behind her neck as she groaned from her slumber, "Soar… it's too early for this…"

She heard his cheeky reply, "Too early for a husband to kiss his wife?"

She turned around to seeing his smiling face, she glared, "I will hurt you…"

He smirked, "Sure you will…"

She smirked back, "I can and I will…"

"A challenge then? Like a joust or a duel?"

"Trying to sharpen my skills, uh?"

"Well if we're going to make you into a knight like me…"

She turned away with a sigh, "Like that's ever going to happen…"

Soarin' looked at her with a sad smile and nuzzled her back as he said, "Hey, you'll get there, I promise."

"You can make all the promises you want Soar, but we both know that the king won't allow it."

"Well we'll just have to prove him wrong then."

"Prove him wrong how Soarin'? He's totally against mares becoming knights."

"I'm not giving up, Rainbow Dash. You are as good as any stallion in the ranks, and I want you by my side whenever adventure calls."

She smiled back at him, "How is it you know what to say to me?"

He grinned mischievously, "I'm your husband. It's part of the job."

She smirked again, "Well then… it's my job as your wife to tickle you senselessly." She raised her hooves and pounced on him from underneath the sheets.

Soarin' mocked, "Oh no!" hardly putting up a fight as she attacked him and chuckled deeply.

Neither of them heard or saw the purple unicorn entering their quarters.

"Rainbow Dash! I've been looking all over for you! Rarity has been waiting a long time for you and the-" she was cut short when a pillow got chucked at her.

Dash exclaimed while keeping the covers close to her, "Hello! Ever heard of knocking?! Or privacy?!"

Twilight smacked her forehead, "Ugh, it's no secret you two are together, in fact it's a miracle in itself that the king is the only one who doesn't know!"

Rainbow crossed her arms, "And we like to keep it that way. For all we know he could say I was distracting Soarin' from his duties and banish us both from the castle!"

Twilight retorted, "You'll be banished anyway if you don't get to work!"

"Okay, okay, I'll be there. Sheesh."

When Twilight left the room, Rainbow got up from the bed but felt slightly dizzy and held her head.

Her husband noticed and inquired in concern, "You okay?"

"Yeah, just got up too fast." She assured him.

"You sure?"

"Believe me, Soar, it's going to take more than a dizzy spell to bring me down."

He smiled, "I don't doubt it. You are one tough mare."

She kissed his cheek, "And don't you forget it."




"Voila! Your very own room!" Rarity exclaimed as she flung the double doors open revealing a very large suite fit for a princess.

Fluttershy gasped in amazement to such accommodations. A large canopy bed, a large closet filled with dresses, a vanity filled with jewelry and perfume, a private bathroom, and there was even a walk-in closet full of shoes!

Rarity mentioned, "You're really quite lucky, my room is no bigger than this closet and I have to share it with my little sister and one other mare and her sister. Now then, you stay here while I go fetch you some breakfast, you must be starving!"

Fluttershy could hear her stomach growling and admitted bashfully, "I am, a little…"

"Say no more! I'll be right back!" she made her way out of room.

Fluttershy looked around the room some more when suddenly a cyan mare with rainbow hair rushed in while apologizing, "I'm sorry I'm late, Rare, I was with Soarin' and-" she stopped when she saw the butter cream mare and gapped at her who in turn also gapped. "Fluttershy?"

"Rainbow Dash?"

Both mares exclaimed, "It is you!" they squealed and embraced in a tight hug.

Fluttershy pointed, "I haven't seen you since you went off to become a knight! Have you achieved your dream?"

Dash replied, "Uh, sort-of, I met a knight that's at the top of his game and he has been training me on the side so when the day comes I could become a knight! But I doubt it'll happen anytime soon so I'm content for now as Rarity's assistant. But wait… why are you here? Unless..." her eyes widen in fear, "Oh no… Are you the mare that the king wants as his queen?!"

Fluttershy blushed and meekly answered, "Um, yes…?"

"No!" Rainbow yelled in worry, "No! I won't let you be saddled by that heartless jerk!" she started grabbing for her friend's hoof, "Oh, I'm so getting you out of here!"

Fluttershy interjected, "Wait Dashie! Calm down! I made a deal with the king and he has agreed to let me go if I cannot love him!"

Rainbow stopped in her tracks, "Oh. Well… since I know there's no way you could ever fall in love with someone so mean, I got nothing to worry about."

Fluttershy asked her, "If the king as mean as you say he is; why do you and the rest of the castle workers serve him?"

Dash stated, "We had to sign long-term contracts with him. Plus, he has traps around this castle so no one can get in or out."

Fluttershy questioned, "So you're practically prisoners here?"

She nodded.

"How awful!"

Rainbow told her, "That is why you have to follow through on your deal with the king and declare that you don't love him so you can get out unlike the rest of us." Then asked, "Now tell me, how exactly did you get into this mess?"

"Well it all started when my father and Zephyr were on their way to the castle…"