> Key to her Heart
>  by CaptainSalmon54
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> Chapter 1: Sticking to First Names
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


This story has been roughly planned out, but I'm unsure how long it will be before the next chapter is finished. So please remain patient. (Hopefully, it will be worth the wait!)


Along the winding path that cut through the mysterious Everfree forest, a darkened stallion slowly meandered into the countryside surrounding the beautiful village of Ponyville. The area around him was very serene, it kept him calm and peaceful. The midday sun glared onto his light grey fur, his long black mane flowed calmly in the wind. Over his back hung a tan knapsack. In the distance, a young bird of some kind could be heard singing a delightful tune. He stopped in his tracks, lifted his head and gazed into the valley beneath him. He could make a small cottage just on the border of visibility, it appeared to have a chicken coup attached to it. 

He decided that he would approach the home and ask for directions to Ponyville. He sighed at the distance presented ahead of him between him and his target. The rolling hills and soothing breeze subdued his rage; the only thing that relaxed him was the harmony of nature. As he slowly drifted across the hills in front of him he thought only about his past, his dark and miserable past. He referred to himself as Valerio, although this wasn't his real name, it was a name he stuck to. He created this name to aid in the escape of his history. 

Valerio was a unicorn originating from Canterlot, his hooves were a deep black and his fur was a clear grey. He intended to move to Ponyville to start his life afresh as his past life wasn't exactly normal. A fresh, yet deep, cut lay over his right eye, it caused him agonising pain every time he blinked. "Bastard!" he uttered between his gritted teeth as the familiar pain struck him again. He looked up from the ground, the cottage was closer now. He began to speed up, eager to see his new home. 

Within minutes he had reached the front door of the illusive cottage, he gently tapped his right fore-hoof against the door. He heard a quiet shuffle coming from inside; somepony was home. A yellow pegasus with a filly-pink mane answered the door. 
"Hello?" she asked in a shy, but friendly tone.
"Hi, my name's Valerio. I was wondering if you could direct me towards Ponyville?" he spoke in a polite and formal manner.
"Umm... sure," she finally responded. The mare suddenly jumped to attention. "Oh my! That cut on your head, it's infected!" she remarked in astonishment. Valerio recoiled in shock. "Please come in," she beckoned. She lifted a hoof and directed the stallion towards her living room.

Valerio obeyed and entered the pony's home, inside there was a silver table raised high above the ground. "Please take a seat," she insisted. He lifted himself onto the table. The mare entered the room carrying a selection of bottles, pills and tools. She moved hastily towards the injured unicorn. "Sorry for startling you, but I really need to clean up that cut," the pegasus explained. She held her hoof out, it contained two small, white capsules. She continued "This'll help to fight the infection." 
"Thanks," Valerio remarked. He was uncomfortable in this situation, he was finally getting the attention he had long since been rejected. He took the pills and forcefully swallowed them.

Moments passed, the once-shy pegasus continued to tend to his wound. "So, do you often patch up strange ponies?" he asked, trying to make conversation. 
"Yes, I'll help anypony in trouble." She maintained the kind tone that Valerio had come to appreciate. It relaxed him as much as the summer winds he had encountered earlier. "What's your name?" she asked, "If you don't mind, that is."
He grinned at the fact she showed interest in his life, "Not at all, it's Valerio."
"I'm Fluttershy," she maintained her timid murmur, "I'm afraid that I'm going to have to open that wound. Is that alright?" Valerio thought of his swollen, puss-ridden wound and kindly responded "That's fine, thanks." She nodded her head. 
"Now this may sting a little," she stated. Fluttershy lifted a pristine scalpel to Valerio's forehead, he braced in preparation. The scalpel's thin blade pierced Valerio's wound, gently forcing it open. 

Valerio felt the pain in the usual place, although the pain itself was unfamiliar. He beared his teeth to cope with the pain, this worried Fluttershy. She immediately pulled the bloody blade back, "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you!"
He grinned, "That's quite alright, Fluttershy." The coy pegasus smiled in return and prepared another cotton bud. She felt the injury first, inspecting the nature of its seriousness. She slowly raised a second cotton bud, covered in a surgical liquid, to Valerio's cut. Within minutes Fluttershy had cleaned his wound and was busy inquiring about his life.


"How did you get that cut, Valerio?" she asked, looking into his eyes.
"I was attacked by a...a...a Manticore," he tensed up, knowing that his hesitation was suspicious. "I don't want to talk about it," he added. Monments of silence passed.
"What brings you to Ponyville, Valerio?" she asked in her pleasant tone.
"I've come to Ponyville to retire." This was his third lie, but he couldn't risk informing her of his true past. He gazed around the room, inspecting each aspect individually. Fluttershy conjured a puzzled face. "You've retired? But you look so young." Valerio immediately broke eye-contact with the inquisitive mare. He knew that he would have to leave before she asked any more questions. "I retired on reasons of mental health. I'm sorry, but I've got to leave before it gets late."

He swiftly rose to his hooves and promptly left the room. Fluttershy ran after him, determined to see him out of her home. "Thanks for helping me, Fluttershy." Valerio opened the door with his alterative horn and slid out. Fluttershy chased him, "Wait, you don't even know the way to Ponyville!" Valerio paused and faced the shy mare.
"I'll find the way," he responded.

Valerio raced over the rolling hills and, after a prolonged search, finally found Ponyville. He immediately found an inn and rented a room indefinitely. Upon entering his room, he immediately slammed the door shut and examined the room's traits. He checked under the bed and behind the cabinets for alien objects that may reveal his position, after all, he is a wanted stallion. He laid his knapsack on his new bed. He scanned the room for a suitable place to store his goods. Eventually, he decided to place the knapsack's contents under his bed. He could see the sun setting out of his window; it was the day's end. Valerio collapsed onto his bed, thankful that his true identity was safe with him.