Loyal began to follow Applejack back to the barn.
"Are there any chores I can do, by the way?" He asked. He found it funny that he actually wanted to do chores. Normally, he despised doing them.
Applejack thought for a moment. "Well, I suppose you could help Apple Bloom with pickin' up the stray apples that fall on their own."
"Ok ,ca ya point me to where she is?"
"I think she's over that way." Applejack pointed into the orchard, towards what seemed to be an unmarked path. "You'd really be helpin’ her out, 'cuz she's got a meeting with her little friends comin' up in a few days. It's gonna be their first one since gettin' their Cutie Marks!"
Loyal nodded gratefully, and headed over to where Apple Bloom was.
"Hey AB...you need any assistance?"
Apple Bloom looked up from the apples she was lifting into a bucket and smiled awkwardly. "Uh... yeah, that'd be great actually, but... um... You're not... mad?"
"No."
"Oh... Well, uh, I'm just kinda busy pickin' up all the apples on the ground... We can't sell 'em, and me an' AJ usually make a game out of it, but she's been elsewhere this mornin'..."
"She went on a stroll with me...sorry.."
"Ah, it's no trouble. AJ does so much around here I don't blame her for needing' a break every now an' then, y'know?"
"Yep...so, ya want any help?"
"Sure! Sweetie and Scootaloo had to go take care of their chores. We want to have as little as possible going on in the next couple of days 'cuz we're having a meeting in the treehouse, and it's kind of big for us."
"Because it's the first one since you go your cutie marks?"
"Yep! I'm actually kind of excited, 'cuz I was afraid we'd have to close down the CMC's when we got our Cutie Marks, but as it turns out, findin' Cutie Marks is our special talent. So now we can keep the name!"
"Isn't it still a bit ironic that your special talent is finding Cutie Marks?"
"I guess on some level. It's funny if you think about it... We're good at helping others find their Cutie Marks or understand theirs... But the Cutie Marks we could never find were our own. Well, until a few weeks ago, that is...."
"Well, it's still nice you got yours."
"Me and my best friends got them at the same time! It's nice knowing that no matter what happens, we have a special link that'll keep us together. I just wish my other friends could be a part of it, too..."
As Loyal began collecting the bad and rotten apples, he realized something. "AB< how is it you're young, but till can do chores? It's kind of...odd."
"Well, I've lived on this farm my whole life. Growin' up, I had AJ around to encourage me. I know I've still got a lot of growin' to do, but I am 13, y'know. Applejack might act like I'm still a little kid, but I can take care of myself if I have to. Unless there's a chimera attacking me in a flaming swamp, apparently... And even then I'd be okay if I could hang on until somepony showed up to help me..."
"Well, even if she's not around, you have another protector.."
"Well, gee! That's awfully nice of you to say!" Apple Bloom smiled at him as she tossed a few apples into the air, which landed into a bucket.
"Well, that's a reason my name's defender, after all.."
"Defender? So, what, you're like a Royal Guard or something?"
"No. Just a literal name.sort of."
"Huh. Kinda sounds like the name you'd expect of a Royal Guard. I mean Twilight knows a couple of 'em personally - and I'd hope so on one of 'em considering he's her brother - but their names are Flash Sentry and Shining Armor...
But, then again, I suppose you can't exactly expect our names to go along with our special talents a hundred percent of the time. I mean, do 'Apple Bloom,' 'Sweetie Belle,' and 'Scootaloo' sound like names for Cutie Mark Therapists?"
"In a perfect world, yes. Unless that's not implied.."
Apple Bloom giggled. "I rarely imply a perfect world. I used to think Equestria was as safe as can be, but ever since the whole Nightmare Moon fiasco last summer, I've realized that, even though we have it pretty good here, this world is far from perfect. It's why we need ponies like the Royal Guards, and Princess Twilight."
And myself."
"Right, right, and you!" Apple Bloom gave Loyal a smile. "The world feels a lot safer already! 'course, what I need protecting from the most at the moment is bees..."
"As long as you don't wear anything incredibly colorful, they won't do a thing to oy....nd if you stand perfectly still and back away."
Apple Bloom stared at Loyal for a minute before coughing awkwardly and gesturing to herself. "I'm yellow, and my hair is red. I'm pretty sure both of those colors attract bees. I'm not even talking about needing protection because I don't like 'em. I'm allergic."
"Oh...why not use a bee suit?"
"Well on some level that works, but it can only do so much, y'know? If one of 'em gets me somewhere where I'm not covered, or manages to break the suit somehow..."
"Ah, right...well, I don't know how that feels, because I'm not allergic to anything."
"Ah, it's not a big deal. 's not like it's going to be an issue in my personal life in the future, right?"
"I wouldn't bet on it..I've come close to death several times..."
Apple Bloom chuckled, tossing more apples into the bucket. "C'mon, like my friends are ever going to want to do something with bees."
"In all my life, not once have I been stung."
"Well, me either. Considering we live and work around apples, I'd consider that lucky..."
Moments later, Loyal and AB had, before they knew it, picks up all the good and bad apples.
"Well, guess that's done!"
AS Applebloom began taking the basket of apples inside, Starlight came up from behind Loyal.
"Hey there! What's up?" Starlight asked, with a smile.
"Other than bonding with Apple Bloom, nothing much. Glad to see you could make it!"
"So, umm, what did you want me for again...?"
"Oh, I want that,as in I'm glad to see ya! DOn't expect ya to visit so soon, but still good to see ya!"
"Oh! Well, alright then. So, things busy here today, or...?"
"Depends on if there's more for me to do otherwise, I'd b busy napping behind the barn.."
"I'm gonna go ask AJ is there's more to do. Be right back." Loyal said. He looked around, and saw AJ pulling a cart of apples into the barn.
"Hey, AJ? Anything else for me to do? Or are most of the other chores incompatible for my own doing?"
Applejack smiled. "Actually, come to think of it, I'm sure we're about done with the chores today. You're welcome to go do anything you've been thinkin' of doin', but right now I've got to get to thinkin' about what's gonna be for lunch."
"Okay." Loyal replied, walking back over to Starlight.
"Star wanna go for stroll? Just the uhh...*ahem* two of us?"
Starlight smiled. "I don't see why not."
"Great! And if anypony jokes about this being romantic, thy get a pebble to the back!"
Starlight snickered a bit at that. "Agreed."
"You're thinking of making a romance joke, aren't you?"
"What? No. I'm just agreeing with you, silly!"
"Yea...." Loyal replied.
"You know, it's kind of a shame AJ didn't have many chores for me. You'd have been able to see me and my big guns gettin the job done! Believe me, I've got enough Muscle to.....to.....let's just say I've got muscle. Which reminds me: Does a Unicorn's magic vary on the length of its horn?"
"Not that I'm aware of, no. Unless the fact that alicorns tend to have longer horns and stronger magic counts, but I'm sure the longer horns are just because alicorns are bigger in EVERY respect. ...No, really, have you seen how much larger Twilight's wings are than Rainbow Dash's? And Twilight's still young. If you've seen CELESTIA'S wings, they're HUGE!"
"Good point...all about the size. It's no wonder that--"
Loyal was soon interrupted by a small meow. Loyal turned around to see a small orange tabby cat with white spots approaching him. It rubbed up against his leg, purring...
"I don't know this cat." Loyal admitted. "But it seems t really like me."
"Heh, okay." Loyal replied as e started on the trail and Starlight followed.
"Well, I haven't seen that cat either, but it does seem to like you. Looks to be actin' a lot different than Rarity's cat at least." Applejack chuckled at that.
Just then, two more cats appeared, approaching Loyal.
"Okay, what is going on here?"
"No idea. This certainly seems... out there..."
Loyal noticed an odd smell, and sniffed his shirt.
"Cat kibble?" He hadn't remembered putting cat kibble in it. The only time he gave his shirt was to.........
"Rainbow Dash....of course...it figures she'd prank me....." Loyal Replied, backing away, but the cats followed.
Moments after that, tree more cats appeared.
"Rainbow pulled a prank on you? Oh boy, that doesn't sound good. Her pranks sometimes go a little too far..."
"Far.....which is where I'd better go...." He said, before quickly taking off running down the sidewalk, all the cats chasing after him.
Several morecats approached Loyal, all meowing.
Applejack called after Loyal, "See if you can get to Fluttershy's house! She's an animal expert, she'll know what to do! She lives on the edge of the Everfree Forest!"
Which is what Loyal did. He rushed up to Fluttershy's cottage, cats nt too far behind, when
he panickly knocked on the door..
Fluttershy answered the door shortly afterwards. "Oh, hello there! Is there something I can help you with?" The yellow Pegasus gave a patient smile.
"Long story short: Rainbow pranked me by utting kibble in my shirt's denim, and I need to get in to prevent a wave of cats from getting near me!" Loyal said, frantically looking behind him.
"Oh, cats, you say? It's no trouble, they're probably just hungry. Get upstairs and do something about that and I'll take care of the cats when they get here, okay?"
"I pray to God you can handle forty of them.." Loyal said, rushing upstairs, justas the cats arrived.
As Fluttershy started out the door, many food dishes and a bag of cat food with her, she let out a giggle. "Forty of them? Well this out to be a big fur ball for a while."
All of the cats stopped right in front of fluttershy.
"Hello, little kitties! I'm so sorry about my friend, someone played a prank on him by putting kitty kibble in his shirt. But don't worry, I've got plenty of food to go around." Fluttershy began to hum as she started laying out the food dishes and filling them with food for the cats to eat.
Minutes later, the cats, not happy and satisfied, all dispersed, no longer having interest n Loyal. When Fluttershy went back in the hours and upstairs, she heard something in the closet..
Loyal was hiding in the closet, praying for his life.
"Are they gone?" He asked.
Fluttershy smiled. "Yes, they've all gone home now that they've had a midday meal. Cats are very habitual animals, so I have the feeling all those cats are used to being fed around this time."
"I do not appreciate being pranked like that.....I'll have to be sure Rainbow learns that...."
"Oh, yes, Rainbow can be a little overzealous about her pranks from time to time, can't she..." Fluttershy rubbed the back of her neck with her hoof. "I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it, though..."
"How could she not mean anything by sneaking kibble into my shirt?"
"Well, she probably though one or two cats would follow you meowing. She couldn't have known there would be forty cats outside this afternoon. Unless she planned it that way. Which seems unlikely. She's more of a tortoise kind of Pegasus."
"Do you mind if I relax here for a few hours? I've had a ot to deal with for right now..."
"Hmm....I guess you're right...she wouldn't go that far..." Loyal said, coming out of the closet (NOT LIKE THAT, YOU SICK CREEPS!)
"Why of course! Make yourself at home, and if you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask!"
Loyal nodded gratefully, and headed downstairs.
Ad he sato n the couch a small white rabbit hopped onto Lloyd's lap and settled down comfortably.
As Fluttershy came downstairs, she looked over to Loyal to see the rabbit sitting on his lap. "It certainly looks like Angel has taken a liking to you already. That's not exactly usual... It took him a long time to get used to Discord..."
"Well, I'm naturally an animal magnet.....but it's sure not kibble that attracted him." Loyal joked.
Fluttershy giggled in response. "Maybe he's looking for attention. Or maybe he's hungry. Or maybe he's just feeling friendly today. He does have his on and off days...
"You seem to know a lot about animals...were you born with the natural talent of caring for them?"
Fluttershy nodded. "That's what my cutie mark means. One day, I fell off of Cloudsdale during a race between Rainbow Dash and some bullies, and was saved by a cloud of butterflies. Not long after, Dash did a Sonic Rainboom and scared a lot of the poor animals, so I took it upon myself to help them calm down. That's when I realized I've got a talent for caring for and understanding animals."
"Wow....I guess you're very reliable when there's an animal emergency, right"?
"Well, yes, you could say that! When Applejack's farm was being overrun by vampire fruit bats, I was able to help her out! I got transformed into a vampire bat pony, though, but still..."
"You know....I told AJ the same thing, but you all seem like the best friends I could ever have. You all care about me so much."
"Well of course we care about you. You're a great person and seem to get along well with Starlight and Diamond Tiara, and you're oh so helpful when we need you. Besides, is there such a thing as having too many friends?"
"I know there's such thing as having no friends....I'd known that feeling for three years...."
Fluttershy gasped. "Oh, dear... No friends? Really? But how could that be? You're such a great person!"
"After my parents died, I gave up on making friends, because they'd all pass on eventually....so, why live with someone who wouldn't be there forever?"
"Oh, dear... Umm, well, I can't exactly claim to understand, since I'm not like Celestia and Luna, but they've been around for a long time... I'm sure they might understand better at least... But why avoid it entirely? Isn't it better to enjoy time with your friends while you have them...?"
"Yeah, it's kinda hard to think about..."
Neiter said a word for about 5 minutes, until...
"You don't mind if....*ahe* I....sleep, do you? It'll probably help clear my mind and forget everything that happened."
Loyal saw visions of Twilight getting hurt, the rest of the mane six losing to the villain, and Loyal going homee.
Fluttershy smiled. "Oh, no, if you want to take a nap that's fine!"
Seeming prepared, Angel whipped out a medium blanket from nowhere, and places it onto Loyal, as he lay down. Within moments, he was OUT.
Fluttershy hummed a soft melody as she went about taking care of things that needed to be done around her house, leaving Loyal to his nap.
As Loyal dreamed, he dreamt of...a future vision.....Equestria Ruined, and one hero standing.....one hero fallen. One villain with one eye shot out."
Fluttershy left a pot of water to boil while she began digging through her cupboard for some tea leaves.
After the water had finished boiling, Fluttershy placed it on the counter and carefully placed the leaves within it.
An hour later, Loyal finally woke up.
"Oh, you're up! Did you sleep well? Would you like some tea?"
"I would like some tea, yes...but I don't know if I got good sleep or not....I had future visions...terrible ones."
As Fluttershy poured Loyal a cup of tea, she asked, "Future visions? Like magic? I think Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have those sometimes..."
"It was terrifying...you and the others were all beaten up...Equestria was ablaze......I was dow....ad a mysterious pony was standing up against a villain...but I dunno who...
Fluttershy stopped what she was doing and nearly dropped her own cup of tea. "Oh my... That does sound frightening... Umm... M-Maybe you should talk to Celestia or Luna about this..."
"Would they believe somepony like me would have future powers?" Loyal asked, sounding like he had a good point.
Fluttershy placed her hoof to her muzzle in thought. "I don't know... But if they did believe you, they might be able to help...."
Loyal took a sip of his tea. "Perhaps....but that's if they believe me...you know, you've been very nice to support me on this....no matter how crazy I sound."
Fluttershy smiled at Loyal. "I don't really think anypony sounds crazy. Even when Twilight was having a freakout a few years ago about an overdue assignment, I didn't think she sounded crazy as much as I thought she was overreacting...
"Thank you, Fluttershy.....even if things go wrong, I know I could count on you to help somepony out."
"Well, kindness is my thing. That's my Element, and who I really am: A tender heart who's out to help others in any way I can."
Loyal smiled. "You know....I'm glad I could get to know a friend like you." He said, and embraced his friend.
"And I'm glad I could get to know a friend like you!" Fluttershy returned the embrace.
Like magic, another heart appeared over Fluttershy and Loyal, then vanished.