//------------------------------// // Maple // Story: Country Ponies // by TwiPON3 //------------------------------// Just inside the everfree forest in the middle of the night, while Fluttershy and her animals were asleep, there was a noise in the forest, and a pony spawned out of nowhere. The pony was a white unicorn mare with a two-toned mane and tail (red and white), with ruby eyes, and a red maple leaf for her cutie mark. She spoke with an accent and was bilingual in English and French, so she could understand the other ponies. "What happened, eh?" she said. Meanwhile, Fluttershy, being the light sleeper she was, woke up. "O- oh my!" she said, pulling the covers over her as some of her animals came and comforted her. Angel Bunny shrugged his shoulders. "What do you think it could be?" Angel acted out that it could be another pony, but he wasn't sure. "Are they nice?" Angel took Fluttershy outside, much to her fright. Back in the forest, the red and white pony had began searching for civilization, and was now carrying a maple leaf in her mane. "Eh?" she said as she heard a tree branch snap, "Anyone there?" "Eep!" "Sorry!" A moment later, she saw a rabbit hop over to her and motion for her to follow. "It's not safe out here, eh, rabbit? I get the chills just from standing here." The rabbit nodded and began hopping back out, so the mare followed. "A- An- Angel?" Fluttershy called, "Are you okay?" Angel nodded and pointed at the mare with the leaf. "I'm Maple," she said, taking the leaf from her mane and offered it to Fluttershy, "It's nice to meet you." "O- oh," Fluttershy replied, taking the leaf and putting it in her own mane, "I'm... I'm Fluttershy." "That's a nice name," Maple complimented. "Let's go inside," Fluttershy said, showing Maple to her cottage. Inside, they both sat down on her couch. "Can you tell me about yourself, Maple?" "Well, I guess I'm a form of Canada, eh, which is pretty weird. I can speak two languages, which may be good if some of the other countries came along." "Oh, well, I take care of the animals here in Ponyville, and I'm the element of Kindness." "I could see it when you let me in. Anyway, what do you like to do?" "Oh, well, I do spend time with my friends, and help keep Equestria safe. Maybe my friend Twilight Sparkle can help you get back home." "I do like being alive, though," she said, only realizing her mistake when she looked at a shocked Fluttershy, "No, I don't mean it like that, I mean it like it feels nice to be a living creature that can walk and talk." Fluttershy calmed down at hearing this. "I thought you meant you were dead." "No, more like a spirit, eh?" "Oh. l... guess that's okay...?" "Knowing that so many people are glad to have you is good, but to see what it's like to be one is... it's phenomenal." "I guess I can understand the feeling. I mean, being the element of Kindness is similar, right?" "Maybe." "Heh, maybe." "So, what's it like being an element of kindness, eh?" "Oh, well, it is a part of being one of Equestria's defenders. Not too long ago, we stopped Discord from turning Equestria into a land of chaos." "You are a living element, eh?" "I guess I am," she said, smiling at Maple, "Anyway, how does it feel to be a pony now?" "It feels nice." "That's good," Fluttershy said with a yawn, "Oh, excuse me!" "It is a bit late, and I'm sorry that I woke you up." "No, it's okay. The couch is the best I can give you, unless you want my bed, of course." "I couldn't." "Well, in that case, could I get you something to drink before bed, like a cup of tea?" "That sounds nice," Maple said as Fluttershy got up, "Say, have you ever put honey in your tea?" "No," she said, stopping and facing Maple again, "I've never tried that before." "It makes it taste sweet." "Oh, okay," she replied, going into the kitchen and coming out with tea and honey. "Is there anything I can do to help out around here?" Fluttershy sat the tea down on her coffee table and took her seat next to Maple, "It's fine." "You do have a lot of animals here. Maybe I could help out with them." "I guess they have been wanting to see another pony for a while." Another yawn escaped both of them. "Oh, it's getting late," Maple said, "And I'm not running you out of your bed." "Okay," Fluttershy replied, getting up and getting a blanket and pillow, "Here you are. Would you like me to tuck you in?" "I was just about to ask you the same thing, eh?" "Aw, I couldn't ask that of you." "No, I woke you up in the middle of the night. It's only right that I do." "Well, if you insist." Maple followed Fluttershy to her room and tucked her in for the night. "Good night, Fluttershy," Maple said as she closed the door behind her and went back to the couch and laid down. Minutes later, they were both sound asleep. The next morning, Fluttershy woke up to the smell of pancakes. "Maple?" Fluttershy said, walking into her kitchen. "Morning, Miss Fluttershy," Maple said, setting the table for breakfast, "How are you feeling?" "Oh, I'm feeling fine," she replied as the unicorn pulled her out a chair, "My... thank you." "Oh, it's no problem, eh?" They both sat down to a pancake breakfast, complete with butter, milk, and (her absolute favorite), maple syrup. "Later, after breakfast, we can go see Twilight, if you want to try and get home." "That would be nice," she replied, "Now, let's dig in before they get cold."