“Okaa-san… is everything alright? ...Please tell me I’ll see you and Otou-san again…” a young Butterfly whimpered, talking with her mother on the phone.
-...I don’t know, Butterfly-chan… hopefully soon.- her mother responded, -Until we find you, don’t tell anypony where you came from… the Equestrians are getting sort of… racist, so to speak.-
“...Okay,” Butterfly nodded, “I love you… please… come back…”
-Tsuyoki mono dake ga kitto, sekai mo hakanai negai mo mamoreru hazu to, (I’m sure the strong will be able to protect the world, and fleeting wishes there.)-
The phone line began to fritz a bit, but Butterfly could hear her mom still.
-...I love you, Butterfly. Be strong… my little angel...- her mom told her before the connection went dead.
---
Fluttershy awoke, tears dripping down from her eyes, remembering the last time she ever spoke with her mother.
“Okaa-san…” the pale yellow pegasus whispered before Applejack walked in, the farm pony already dressed.
“Mornin’ Sugah Cube. H…” AJ began before she noticed the sad look on her shy friends face, “...Sugah cube, what’s wrong?”
“I… dreamed of… the last time I ever spoke with my mother…” Fluttershy informed, wiping the tears away from her face.
“...Y’all miss her, don’t you?” AJ asked as she walked up to the shy mare’s bed and sat next to her.
“...I hardly knew my parents…” she sighed sadly.
“...Guess that puts us in the same boat…” Applejack sighed, “...Ah lost mah parents not long after Applebloom was born. Ah was actually the one who gave her the name ‘Applebloom’, actually.”
"R-really?”
“Yeah,” AJ nodded slightly as she took her stetson off and looked at it, “It was one of th’ things mah gave me before she and pa…”
“I’m sorry…” Fluttershy apologized, pulling Applejack into a hug, “But…. you have a giant family. I don’t know of any other relatives apart from Posey.”
“...Well what about yer cousin’s parents?”
“...I honestly don’t know where they are. Posey doesn’t really talk about them much anymore. I’ll have to ask her about it…” Fluttershy admitted, “...My mom used to have a saying… Tsuyoki mono dake ga kitto, sekai mo hakanai negai mo mamoreru hazu to, which means ‘I’m sure the strong will be able to protect the world, and the fleeting wishes there’.”
“Ah see… Yer ma’ must’ve been quite a mare.”
“...She was,” Fluttershy nodded, a sad smile on her face.
“...Mind me tellin’ ya a little apple secret? The farm we have back in Ponyville… it got it’s name from mah ma’. Sweet Apple,”
“Eh? Really?” Fluttershy blinked a bit as she looked at her friend.
“Mah pa’ showed it ta her the day he asked her to go steady,” Applejack informed, “Honestly, Ah wish Ah could find that… special somepony. But… who would like somepony like me?”
“...That Kota fella?” Applebloom’s voice spoke, the younger Apple sibling walking in.
“Gah! A-Applebloom!” AJ yelped a bit in surprise, blushing a tiny bit, “...How long were y’all listenin’?”
“When ya were talkin’ about ma’,” Applebloom replied as she walked over and sat next to her sister.
“...So… you like that ichigo farmer?” Fluttershy blinked.
“...Ah...ah don’t know what y’all mean,” AJ tried to deny, but the blush on her face increased a bit.
“Then why y’all blushin’, sis?” Applebloom pointed out.
“...No offense Applebloom, but Ah don’t think Ah’d want to tell ya about my romantic life, given what you tried to do for Big Mac…” Applejack responded.
“Don’t remind me. Ah’m not tryin’ to play matchmaker, Ah just want you to be happy,” Applebloom responded, “And ‘sides, Big Mac and Cheerilee are… kinda close nowadays.”
“...Huh. Now that Ah think of it, Big Mac’s usually gone most of th’ time after we’re done with chores and such,” Applejack admitted.
“Honestly, I don’t know what sort of romantic life the Ponies of the Beginning have in mind for me, but I’ll wait and see…” Fluttershy admitted as she got off her bed, “I’m going to go get ready. Posey wanted me to meet her somewhere before she left last night.”
After Fluttershy left for the bathroom, the two sisters exchanged a confused look.
“‘Ponies of the Beginning’? Who in the hay is she talkin’ about, Celestia and Luna?” Applebloom wondered.
“Ah’ll ask her later…”
---
A bit later, Fluttershy (now fully dressed) was walking down the main hallway of the hotel she and her friends are staying in before she spotted her cousin sitting on a bench near the entrance.
“Itoko-chan!” Posey waved, “Good morning!”
“Good morning, Posey,” Fluttershy waved back as she walked up to her cousin and sat next to her, “So...ano, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?”
“A dinner.”
“Eh?” Fluttershy blinked at that, “Ano...it’s morning, and you’re already thinking of dinner?”
“No. I mean, set something up for tonight,” Posey clarified, “Remember that fancy place that your parents and my parents used to take us to?”
“Ano… what was the name again?” Fluttershy blinked, trying to remember it.
“The Star Blossom. Remember? It was made by a pair who saw this rare star cherry blossom?”
“...Oh! I remember that place, “Fluttershy gasped, “Demo… it’s so expensive. I don't think we have the money to eat at a place like that.”
“Remember how my mom worked their part time? ...I do that, along with my photography, I can get you there…” Posey giggled.
“Y-you can?!” Fluttershy gasped, earning a nod from her cousin, “Wow...”
“So, tonight at 8:15 work?”
“H-hai” Fluttershy nodded as she got up, “I’d better pick out what I’m going to wear then...hopefully Rarity-chan can help me with that.”
With that, Fluttershy headed back to her room while Posey giggled a bit.
‘And thus, Operation: Get Itoko-chan and Silver Hawk Together is in motion,’ Posey thought.
---
“Hey Fluttershy. Wh-” Rainbow Dash began before the shy pinkette walked past her, “?”
“Can’t talk right now,” Fluttershy informed quickly.
---
Applejack simply relaxed a little bit before she heard her phone ring. She looked over to the caller ID and saw it was Kota, causing her to blush a little bit before she shook it off. She took a deep breath before she answered the call.
“Hello?”
-Hey there Applejack- Kota smiled, -How are ya?-
“Well, ah’m doin’ alright,” Applejack replied, “How y’all and yer sister doin’?”
-She’s doing good. Lot better since the Searchers moved out of that alleyway and into a treehouse. So… are you… going to be busy tonight?-
“...Uh...no. Ah got nothin’ planned tonight. Why y’all ask?”
-Do you… wanna hang out? I’m going to be doing this sort of myth reading. I’m going to read some Neghiponese myths. So...what do you say?-
“...Sure.” Applejack nodded.
-Great. See you soon-
---
“So, both of you are going on a date tonight? Oh that is spectacular, darlings!” Rarity smiled happily.
“I-it’s not a date, Rarity. Me and K-kota are just gonna do some readin’,” AJ clarified, using her hat to try and hid the blush on her face.
“And I’m just going with my cousin…that just sounds like one of those boring novels that came from the Griffons… First Impressions, was it?” Fluttershy stated.
“Oh...I see…” Rarity noted before clearing her throat a little, “Well then, even though it’s not technically dates you two are going on, I’m sure I can find or make something nice for you two to wear.”
“Alright,” they nodded.
---
“Why are you so nervous Onii-chan?” Timid asked her brother, who was now wearing an azure colored dress shirt, a pair of dark grey pants, and black dress shoes.
“Gomen, Timid. Demo...even though it’s not a date or anything, I haven’t really gone to somewhere as fancy as the Star Blossom,” Silver replied as he adjusted his shirt a little.
“Plus it’s Posey, you never know what she’s gonna do,” Timid added, “I remember that one time where she came dressed in that black outfit… what did she say it was called? Dominatrix or something like that…?”
Silver Hawk paused for a moment before clearing his throat, “I-I’ll tell you when you’re older, Timid.”
“Bu-”
“When. You’re. Older.”
“Hai, hai, hai…” Timid nodded a little, rolling her eyes.
“...Now look Timid, while I’m gone tonight, you be good while staying over at your friend’s place, okay?”
“Ok, Onii-chan,” Timid nodded.
---
Posey saw that Fluttershy had arrived first, the shy pinkette currently wearing a silver dress with a pale rose ribbon on the front, and her hair done up in a stylized, yet elegant ponytail, a small bang hanging off her face as it covered her left eye a little.
“You look great, itoko-chan,” Posey giggled before she took out a blindfold, “Now put this on.”
“Eh? Ano...what for?” Fluttershy blinked before her cousin wrapped the blindfold around her eyes, “H-hey!”
“A surprise…” Posey giggled as she walked inside and sat her cousin down at a nearby table. She then walked out and saw Silver Hawk walking into the resteraunt, ‘Perfect.’
“Where is she? She told me to meet her here,” Silver pondered to himself as he looked around for Posey. He saw a pinkette nearby, but could only see part of her hair peeking out from the corner, ‘There she is.’
‘Here he comes,’ Posey thought with a small giggle, looking from her hiding spot as she saw Silver Hawk approaching her cousin.
“Posey, you certainly look nice. if I didn’t know any better, I would think it’s… you know who,” Silver Hawk informed as he sat down.
“Huh?” Fluttershy blinked for a moment behind her blindfold, ‘You know Who’...Wait. Posey?’
“...Why’re you wearing a blindfold?” Silver asked, “And when did you let your hair grow out, Posey?”
“That’s not me~” Posey’s voice giggled in a sing-song voice.
“Eh?” Silver blinked at that as he looked over his shoulder to see Posey poking her head out from behind a pillar. She walked over and took the blindfold off of Fluttershy, making her gasp and blush.
“...Masaka…” Fluttershy gawked.
“Silver Hawk… Butterfly Heart. Itoko-chan, Silver Hawk,” Posey introduced the two before both pegasi’s eyes widened in surprise.
“...B...Butterfly-chan?” Silver Hawk gasped, “I...is that really you?”
“...Hai,” Fluttershy nodded slowly, her hands shaking a bit as small tears began to form in her eyes, ‘I...It’s him...it’s really him...’
“...Posey?” Silver Hawk blinked as he looked at Fluttershy’s cousin.
“She’s been here a few weeks now. I wanted to set something special up for you two,” Posey giggled.
“And you offered both of us a dinner here at the Star Blossom, me thinking Butterfly-chan was you?”
“Hai,” Posey nodded with a small giggle.
“...You clever girl,” Fluttershy smiled.
“I know. Now…” Posey began as she began to leave, “Have fun you two~”
---
Applejack soon arrived at a library, the blond wearing a white shirt under a bright red vest, blue jeans, and a pair of white shoes. She then began to look around before she saw Ai sitting in a chair, reading something.
“Howdy, Ai,” Applejack greeted as she walked up to the pegasus filly.
“Oh, hi Applejack.” Ai giggled as she looked up from her book, “Onii-chan was waiting for you.”
“Ah know. Mind tellin’ me where he is?”
Kota then walked over, a few books in his hands as he took a seat at a nearby table.
“Hey,” AJ waved.
Kota turned to her and blushed a bit before shaknig it off.
“H-hey, Applejack-san,” the pegasus stallion waved back as the blond took the book across from him, “You..ahem. You look nice.”
“...One of my friends insisted Ah… look nice,” Applejack replied with a small blush. She then shook it off a bit and cleared her throat, ”So uh… how’s yer business doin’?”
“Good.” Kota smiled, as he looked through the myth book.
“...Is there a myth about some ‘Ponies of the Beginning’? Mah friend, Fluttershy mentioned them earlier…”
“Oh? The kami-sama and megami-sama of the world… well, there’s rarely any books on them but…”
“...But what?”
“It’s said because of them, we exist now,” Kota explained.
“Huh?”
“From what is known, our world was once barren…but they brought life to it,” Kota explained, “But..not much else is known really.”
“...Ah see,” AJ noted, “...Maybe Ah can ask mah friend Twilight about it. She’s bound t’ have a book or two about it back home.”
“Maybe.”
“Hmm… any other myths?”
“There are two other ones that always interested me. One is based around the holiday Tanabata, and the other is the tale of Amaterasu.”
“Ah see...mind tellin’ me about those fer a bit?”
“Sure thing.”
---
-Back at the restaurant-
“Butterfly, you honestly look so… stunning,” Silver admitted, blushing a bit.
“...A-arigatou,” Fluttershy blushed, “Y….you look nice as well, S-Silver-k...s-san.”
They just smiled at each-other, still blushing a little.
‘...Come on, Silver. say something else!’ Silver Hawk mentally berated himself, “So uh...how’ve you been?” ‘Dang it! Why’d I start off with a question like that?!’
“Ano...well, I’m doing fine,” Fluttershy replied.
‘...Roll with it,’ Silver thought, “That’s good to hear. S-same here. Been helping out at the hospital and such.”
“Oh? You’re a doctor?”
“Yea, and I’m really good at it,” Silver nodded, “What about you? What kind of job do you have?”
“Oh..well, I take care of animals...but from time to time, I volunteer at the local vet and hospital,” Fluttershy answered.
“Soka(I see)...Heh. We have such similar paths in life…” Silver chuckled.
“I guess we do,” Fluttershy giggled a bit before blushing a little, “...I missed you while I was away.”
“Same here. I mean, sure I have my sister and my job… but…” Silver paused.
“...But what?”
“...I lacked somepony like you…” Silver admitted, making Fluttershy blush heavily, “G-gomen! I didn’t mean to s-”
“I...it’s fine…” Fluttershy answered, blushing still.
---
“Man… that’s a sad story,” AJ stated after hearing one of the stories Kota told her about, “...Separated and only allowed to meet once a year?”
“Yea…It is,” Kota nodded, “The sad story of Altair and Vega, separated by the great river, but meet once a year, on the bridge of Deneb. ...you know, some people say, this myth is easily paralleled in real life, given the whole shebang with Equestria and Neighpon.”
“I guess so. But… Ah wouldn’t peg Celestia to declare war on another nation,” Applejack admitted.
“Same here with the empress,” Kota admitted before he turned to the page of the Amaterasu legend/myth, “So… shall I tell you this one?”
“...Go ahead,” AJ smiled.
---
“So… where are we going now?” Fluttershy asked as they had soon left the restaurant to go and do something.
“...Butterfly, let me ask you something. Have you… seen your parents grave?”
Fluttershy stopped at that before she looked down sadly.
“...I’m assuming you haven’t?”
“...Never.”
Silver Hawk put his arm around her shoulder, making her blush a bit.
“Come. We’re gonna go see them,” the snow-white pegasus said to her as he began to lead her somewhere, the path slowly becoming familiar to Fluttershy.
“...Posey told me the sacred tree was lost, and the place where many ponies were buried is around that area…”
“...It’s true…” Silver nodded sadly, “From what I can remember, your parents were buried next to where the sacred tree once stood,”
The two soon arrived at a graveyard. Fluttershy slowly walked forward, knowing the path to well. She came to a stop, looking at two stones by the ground, near the remains of a burnt tree.
Here lies Lana Heart
Mother
Librarian
A proud thinker
Here Lies Passive Heart
Father
Aerobolt Member
Dream chaser
“Okaa-san… Otou-san… Kaito-san…” Fluttershy whispered, tears beginning to pour down her face as she knelt down in front of the graves, “I… I’m home. I… I… I miss you all...”
Silver Hawk walked over to her side, kneeling next to her as he placed a hand on the pegasus mare’s shoulder.
“Butterfly-chan… I’m sorry… you-” Silver began before Fluttershy pulled him into a hug, the pegasus stallion blushing a bit as the shy mare cried into his shirt.
“...Hey,” Posey greeted, making Silver Hawk and Fluttershy turn to see her, some bouquets of flowers in tow, “...I came to see Auntie Lana and Uncle Passive…”
“That’s more flowers than for just two places…” Fluttershy noted before she realized something, “...You lost your mom and dad too, didn’t you?”
“...I...don’t want to talk about it…” Posey responded sadly.
Neither Fluttershy or Silver said anything as Posey walked past them, stopping in front of a pair of tombstones before placing the flowers before them,
“...Mommy… daddy… I’m okay. I promise I’m alright… I miss you… a lot… But, I have itoko-chan and her friends… so… so I… I… I…” Posey couldn’t finish as she began to cry, tears pouring down her cheeks, “...Why did I have to lose you? Why am I all alone? ...why?!”
“Itoko-chan…” Fluttershy whispered, releasing the hug she was giving Silver before she walked over to Posey, “You’re not alone… you have me.”
Posey didn't say anything as she took in what her cousin said, the tears still pouring down her face a little.
Eventually, Posey was able to stop crying long enough to hand flowers to Fluttershy, who walked over to the two tombs of her mom and dad.
“...Okaa-san… Otou-san… I have a great life in Equestria… I made such great friends… I wish you could meet them. Twilight, Rarity, Sunset, Pinkie, Applejack… and Rainbow Dash...she’s like my big sister,” Fluttershy told the tombs, placing the flowers down, “...And I still have itoko-chan and Silver Hawk…” She then looked at the last bouquet of flowers and at the remains of the tree, “Kaito… you… I don’t know what to say. You… were such a great friend when I was a little filly…whenever I felt sad… you would be there for me… you were one of my first friends… and I’ll never forget you…”
She put the flowers down, before she saw a special sign by the tree, albeit, covered in a bit of dust.
Here lies Kaito.
A dear friend.
A true companion.
Best friend forever...
“Kaito-san… I’ll promise you something. When I get married and I have kids, one of them… I’m naming them Kaito,” Fluttershy added, a small yet sad smile on her face as she got up. She then turned around to face Silver, “Silver Hawk...I can’t thank you enough for bringing me here...to see my parents and Kaito-san one more time.”
“...You’re welcome,” Silver smiled softly before Fluttershy hugged him once more, the snow white pegasus blushing a bit before he returned the hug, holding the shy pinkette close.
---
“So… because of this Amaterasu and her siblings, our world has the sun, the moon, the seas and the sky?”
“That is correct,” Kota nodded as he finished telling Applejack the story of Amaterasu.
“That’s kinda neat,” Applejack smiled before she looked over to Ai, who was fast asleep, “...Ah think ya might wanna git er home…”
“Yea… hey… thanks for the time of day AJ…” Kota smiled.
“No prob, Kota. Ah had a good time here,” Applejack nodded with a small smile. They headed out, Kota carrying Ai on his back. Before he left Applejack, he smiled at her and planted a quick kiss on her cheek. Kota then ran off as fast as he could, Applejack totally stunned by this, but blushed and smiled, holding the spot Kota kissed her on.
---
“I had a good time today,” Fluttershy smiled as she and Silver arrived at the hotel, “If it wasn’t for my cousin… I… .I…” she paused as she blushed, “I wouldn’t have had a chance to see you again…”
“...Here,” Silver informed as he pulled out the ribbon from before, “I believe this belongs to you.”
“My… my ribbon,” Fluttershy gasp softly as she took it from him, “Y-you’ve kept it… after all this time…”
“I did, “Silver nodded before blushing, “I… kept it with me… hoping you would come back someday, Butterfly-chan.”
“...Silver-kun...I...I don’t…”
“...You don’t wh-” Silver began before Fluttershy planted a quick kiss on his cheek before she ran into the hotel, leaving the pegasus frozen on the spot as he blushed like crazy.
---
“You kissed him?!” Rarity gawked as Fluttershy told them what she had done that evening.
“J-just on the cheek,” Fluttershy replied, her entire face redder than a tomato right now.
“I think he just might be the pony you’re destined to be with,” Rarity added.
“He does something bad to you, I’m gonna grind him into dust,” Dash stated.
“Isn’t that a bit overprotective, Dash?” Twilight sweatdropped a bit at that.
The rainbowette giggled for a moment, “Well, Fluttershy doesn’t have a sister, so I gotta play that card. But seriously, I was exaggerating a bit… but if he does hurt you, tell me, and I’ll make sure he pays for it.”
“Oh come on, Dashie. He can't’ be that bad,” Pinkie giggled as she picked up Fluttershy’s ribbon, “I mean, he was holding onto Fluttershy’s ribbon for a long while! If you ask me, that sounds like that… uh… Ribbon of Fate thing I heard about.”
“That’s thread of fate, Pinkie,” Twilight corrected.
“I do have to agree with Pinkie Pie here…” Rarity spoke up, “For Fluttershy and Silver Hawk, it is more the Ribbon of Fate...in fact, it almost sounds something out of a romance novel!”
“Oh geez...Rarity’s gone romance nut on us,” Rainbow facepalmed.
“Hey girls,” Applejack smiled as she walked on inside, “...That was… something.”
“How was your date, AJ?” Dash asked.
“Again, not a date,” Applejack corrected before blushing a little, “But in honesty, it was pretty nice. Learned a couple of things and such.”
“...Did you give him a kiss?” Fluttershy couldn’t help but ask.
“No…” Applejack blushed, “Rather he… ahem, me kissed. But just on th’ cheek and such.”
“Ooh~ I think somepony else found their special somepony today,” Pinkie giggled.
“Ah knew it! Ah knew ya liked him!” Applebloom’s voice squeaked, with Rarity opening the connecting door, causing the Crusaders and Spike to fall over, “...Uh… hi.”
“...How long were you listening in?” Rarity asked with a slight frown.
“Since we saw Fluttershy run back inside,” Scootaloo informed.
“But in our defense,” Applebloom began.
“It was Sweetie Belle’s idea!” both Scootaloo and Applebloom shouted as tey pointed at their friend.
“Eh?!” Sweetie gawked.
“...Sweetie…”
“Okay...it was my idea. But I was curious why Fluttershy’s face was all red and such when she came running into your guys’ room,” Sweetie Belle stated.
Everypony simply rolled their eye for a moment, before sighing.
---
Later that night, Fluttershy was still awake, just a bit nervous about something. She slowly crept on over to Applejack.
“...Applejack… you awake?” Fluttershy whispered, nudging Applejack a bit.
“Huh...wha-?” Applejack blinked a bit, yawning as she turned over, “What is it, Fluttershy? It’s like 1 in th’ mornin’..or afternoon… however night time works here in Neighpon.”
“I wanted to talk with you…” Fluttershy informed quietly, motioning for Applejack to follow her out to the balcony.
“...Alright,” Applejack nodded, yawning once more as she got out of bed, stretching a bit before following her shy friend outside, “What is it y’all want t’ talk about? Somethin’ about those batpony dreams?”
“No. I haven’t had those for a while now thankfully…” Fluttershy informed, “...But, it’s a matter only we could speak of. We… both have romantic feelings for a stallion native to Neighpon.”
“...Y-yeah…” AJ blushed before shaking it off, “But what does that have t’ do w-”
“...We’d both be in a long distance relationship.”
“...That is true…”
“Yes but…” Fluttershy began before small tears began to form in her eyes, “I… I don’t want to be away from him. I… I just found him and… the thought of being away from him once more…”
“But we can’t just up and leave Ponyville… and they can’t leave t’ be with us…” Applejack sighed.
“Exactly! I...I don’t want to lose him, Applejack…” Fluttershy whimpered as the tears poured down her face, “I really don’t…”
Applejack just hugged Fluttershy, the blonde trying to make sure her tears stayed on the inside.
“Shh shh. It’s okay, Sugah cube… Ah’m sure there’s a way we can both be happy..” Applejack assured her shy friend, 'Ah really hope so...'