//------------------------------//
// Perfect Gift 
// Story: The Prince Returns 
// by Shadowslash101 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 6
Perfect gift

“Do you think he’s alright?” Applejack’s voice fuzzily came into hearing. Helpful tried to open his eyes, but they were too heavy.
“I hope so.” Fluttershy’s comforting voice also became audible. Helpful finally opened his eyes.
“Look; he’s waking up.” Twilight said. Helpful’s sight at first was blurry, but then it came into focus and Helpful could see Pinkie Pie’s big blue eyes up to his.
“Hi, Helpful!” Pinkie shouted excitedly. “You’re up!” 
“Yeah, Pinkie Pie.” Helpful replied. “What happened?”
“Well, last night, Twilight received a letter from Celestia and it said that you were coming here to Ponyville, and I was like,” Pinkie dramaticly gasped. “So I came up with an idea of having a house warming party at your place.”
“How many did you invite, Pinkie?” Helpful asked hesitantly. 
“Oh, just all of Ponyville!” Pinkie shouted as she steps away from Helpful so he could see all the ponies that shouted ‘surprise’ earlier. Helpful stood up off the couch, shocked and surprised.
“How did you all get in here?” Helpful shouted freaking out.
“Uh, through the front door.” Rainbow Dash answered obviously. Helpful twitched his eye; making Applejack uncomfortable.
“Please don’t be mad at us, Helpful.” Applejack pleaded. “It took us almost all night to fix up this mansion to make it nice and pretty. So please don’t be mad.” Helpful looked slowly around the room. It was clean and repaired; most of the manor was replaced. The room had comfortable looking furniture, above him hung a chandelier made of gold with quartz. It hung very high above him, and under him laid a red carpet with silver lining that covered most of the floor. Wooden stairs lead up to the top floor at the center of the first wall you see. Then his gaze landed on Rarity; who seems quite curious. “Well, Helpful?” Rarity asked. “What do you think?” Then Helpful started to laugh softly, but it then grew louder until he fell on the floor; laughing away like somepony gave him laughing gas. Everypony exchanged looks of confusion. “I don’t get it.” Spike told Pinkie. “What’s so funny?”
“It must be the squeaky floorboards.” Pinkie answered bouncing up and down on the floorboards making them squeak loudly. Spike rolled his eyes.
“Helpful, what are you laughing at?” Twilight asked almost laughing herself. Helpful calmed himself down and stood up.
“It’s just the fact that I got scared over nothing.” Helpful explained joyfully. “I’m thankful for having such thoughtful friends. The laughter you heard was the laughter of thankfulness.”
“So y-you’re not mad at us?” Fluttershy asked.
“Why would I be mad at my greatest friends in Equestria?” Then, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy all hug Helpful; surprising him. Rainbow tried to stay out of it, but they pulled her in with them. Spike grew jealous.
“Lucky.” Spike complained, but then was pulled in by Twilight’s magic.
“C’mere you!” Twilight laughed along with everypony. Pinkie then let go of her hug and turned on the record player.
“Enough of this!” Pinkie shouted. “Let’s get this party started!” As the music played from the record player, some of the ponies there start to dance, others played games, and a few enjoyed the refreshments. Helpful joined the few ponies drinking juice and eating cupcakes. Once he got there, he watched a pony named Lucky eat a Sour Sweet Swervy Split cupcake in one bite, but then he immediately made a sour face and fell to floor; twitching. “Don’t worry.” Helpful assured him. “It’ll wear off soon enough.” Then Pinkie walked up to Helpful with a Sour Sweet Swervy Split in her hoof. 
“Isn’t this great??” Pinkie shouted. “I got the Cakes to make all the cupcakes for the party into Sour Sweet Swervy Splits! They’re just the greatest sweets that ever hit Ponyville!” Pinkie bites into the cupcake and swallows it. “I learned only to eat it slowly. If I eat it in one bite I’ll end up like Lucky again.” She ate the last of her cupcake. “Sure it may be dull to eat it slow, but at least it’s worth it.” Then she felt a sudden urge to eat another whole. Pinkie grabbed another cupcake. “Ooooh! I can’t resist eating it all!” She ate it in one bite and the sourness of the cupcake caught up the next second. She fell on the floor again; sour-faced. Helpful rolled his eyes and found Lucky standing back up. He looked really tired from his experience with the sour cupcake. Helpful held up another Sour Sweet Swervy Split to him. “Want another?” Helpful asked politely. The stallion shook his head and continued to party somewhere else. Then, Rarity came by to get a drink from the punch bowl. “So are you enjoying your party, Helpful?” Rarity asked as she filled up her cup using her magic.
“You bet!” Helpful answered, and then he takes a bite from the cupcake he held. Rarity filled another cup and gave it to Helpful using her magic. 
“Punch? It’ll help you wash down the cupcake.” Helpful accepted the drink.
“Thanks, Rarity.” Helpful took a sip from the punch.
“That’s great to hear, Helpful. You won’t believe how hard it was to fix this place, but now it’s more beautiful than before. I somewhat envy you, but, anyway, I was wondering.”
“Yes, Rarity?”
“Would you come to Fluttershy’s birthday party tomorrow? I’m sure you being there will brighten her day.”
“Why do you say that?” Helpful drank the last of his punch and allowed Rarity to fill it again. 
“I don’t know. It’s just a feeling, but, since you’ve gotten here, she’s been more talkative than usual. It’s strange really.” Rarity answered thoughtfully.
“But, well, I don’t have an invitation, I mean, without one; it’d be rude of me to enter uninvited.” Pinkie jumped back up off the floor with an invitation in her mouth and gave it to Helpful.
“I almost forgot.” Pinkie replied cheerfully. “You’re invited to Fluttershy’s birthday party.”
“Great. Uh, thanks, Pinkie.” 
“Don’t forget to bring a present!” Pinkie shouted as she bounced away on the squeaky floor. Helpful returned his attention to Rarity.
“Well, that’s covered, but I don’t have a present.” Helpful thought for a minute, but then an idea popped into his mind. “Oh. Wait right here.” Helpful dug into his bag and pulled out the box Celestia gave him. “You think Fluttershy will like this?” He opened the box, revealing the Wind Emerald inside; astonishing Rarity.
“Is that a Wind Emerald??” Rarity gasped. “That must be at least thirty carrots.”
“Yep. Will she like it?”
“I know I do.” Rarity said admiring the gem, coveting it, but then Helpful closed the box; cutting Rarity off from the precious gemstone, making her disappointed.
“Great! Then this’ll be her birthday present!” Helpful stuffed it back into his bag, but then he was surprised to hear Fluttershy’s voice behind him.
“Who’s birthday present, Helpful?” Fluttershy asked him smiling. Helpful spun around to greet her.
“Fluttershy!” Helpful exclaimed in surprise. “I, uh-.”
“It’s a present for you, Fluttershy.” Rarity told her calmly, but then Pinkie popped in-between them seemingly cross.
“Shhhh!” Pinkie Pie silenced Rarity. “Don’t tell her! What’s the fun in that??”
“I wasn’t going to tell her. I was only going to say ‘it was hers.’” Pinkie’s expression turns bright.
“Oh, okay. Why didn’t you say so?” Rarity growls irritated at Pinkie.
“Okay. I guess it’ll wait till tomorrow.” Fluttershy replied walking away. Once she was gone, Helpful turned his gaze back to Rarity.
“Okay. You’re gonna have to promise not to tell anyone.” Helpful told Rarity; who seemed offended.
“Since when have I never kept a secret?” Rarity asked him. Pinkie took a deep breath of air, but Rarity stopped her. “Don’t answer that question.” Pinkie released her breath.
“Okay!” Pinkie shouted. 
“You promise?” Helpful asked again. Rarity sighed.
“I promise.” Rarity assured, but turns uncomfortable once Pinkie got little closer to her. “Pinkie Promise?” Pinkie Pie asked. Rarity sighed again.
“Cross my heart,” Rarity began by rubbing a hoof across her crest. “And hope to fly,” Then raised her arm high. “Stick a cupcake in my eye.” Rarity finished by putting a hoof to her eye. Helpful and Pinkie laugh.


The next day, Helpful cleaned the last of the trash left behind from yesterday’s party. As he dropped a paper plate into the trash bag, he was startled to hear a knock on his door. “That’s strange.” Helpful thought. “Fluttershy’s birthday party doesn’t start till later today. Who could that be?” He opened the door and found a purple baby dragon much like Spike, but its comb was yellow, as were its eyes. It shivers in the morning cold; hugging itself to keep warm. “P-Please sir.” The baby dragon stuttered from the cold. “C-Could you spare some food…and maybe a blanket or two?” Helpful was shocked by seeing such a young dragon alone with nopony to take care of it. His conscience couldn’t allow such a torture. “Oh my gosh!” Helpful exclaimed in shock. “You must be freezing in this weather. Come. Come inside. Hurry.” Helpful pulled in the dragon. It sat on the couch and Helpful quickly gave it the blanket Rose gave him from the party and a warm cup of tea that Zecora showed him how to make. “Here ya go. The tea’s recipe was given to me from a friend. She said it could make others feel better in an instant.” The dragon sipped the tea and felt a little refreshed. She felt a lot of graciousness toward Helpful.
“Thank you so much for your generosity.” The dragon thanked Helpful. 
“Think nothing of it.” Helpful replied proudly. “My name’s Helpful the Selfless, but everypony calls me Helpful. What’s your name?” The dragon continued to enjoy her tea.
“My name is Sunny.”
“And where ya from, Sunny?” Sunny sipped her tea again.
“I’m not from anywhere I believe. You see, I’m a wanderer and I have nowhere else to go. I’ve been wandering in Equestria for some time. Months maybe.”
“Wow. That sounds pretty bad.” Helpful thought out loud.
“Oh, trust me. Bad is an understatement when you’ve been chased by a bear, hunted by Timberwolves, and almost froze to death on Mount Forevergreen. So don’t talk to me about ‘bad.’” Sunny snapped back at Helpful; who was surprised that she has such an attitude. Sunny then sighed calmly. “If only I had someplace to call home.” Then an idea hit Helpful like a ton of bricks. 
“Oh, I got an idea! You can stay here!” Helpful shouted with glee.
“You… you really mean it?” Sunny asked almost not believing him.
“Of course you can!” Helpful continued. “You can stay here as long as you want, wherever you want. Besides, I have many bedrooms.” Helpful then turns his expression to thought. “And bathrooms, and a kitchen, and a living room, a-.” 
“Okay, okay, I get it!” Sunny interrupted Helpful, then she sighed. “Thank you so much. In fact, I’m going to make up for it. I’ll clean the mansion. Clean the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, living room, basement, attic, and whatever else needs cleaning.” Sunny counted on her fingers, and then her stomach growled at her. She rubbed it and laughed uncomfortably. “Say, Helpful, do you have anything for me to eat. Being a wanderer in Equestria, food is scarce and since I’m not anymore, could I have something to eat?” Helpful looked around. 
“Well, I don’t know if I have some gemstone lying around.” Helpful then remembered the Wind Emerald he was saving for Fluttershy. He walks to the shelf and pulls out the box that holds the gem and gives it to Sunny. “Here this was going to be a gift for somepony special, but you need this more than her.”  Sunny accepted the emerald and looked at Helpful questionably.
“You sure you want to give me this?” Helpful nodded assuring Sunny. “Well, if you say so.” Sunny ate the gemstone in one bite and then swallowed it up. She jumps off the couch and took a deep breath. “Okay. My first act of business is to help you find a present for this ‘specail somepony.’” Sunny made quote marks with her fingers and laughed.
“No, you don’t have to.” Helpful protested kindly. “Really.”
“No. No, no. It’s a start and I’m stickin’ to it!” Sunny shouted proudly. “Now, where do we start?” 

Sunny then found herself riding on Helpful through Everfree Forest. She is very curious on why they are going through here. She knew they are walking through Timberwolf territory. Where are they even going? “Helpful?” Sunny grabbed Helpful’s attention.
“Yes, Sunny?” Helpful asked.
“Where are we going? I mean, I thought we were looking for a gift for Ms. Specail Somepony?” Sunny asked teasing Helpful; who rolls his eyes. 
“You’ll see.” Helpful answered. “We’re almost there anyways.” Sunny began to grow impatient. She knew wherever Helpful and she is going would have the present for whoever Helpful dubbed ‘specail somepony.’ Soon, Helpful and Sunny make it to their destination. Sunny climbed off of Helpful and looked up and was shocked to see the feared Ursa’s Lair. Her jaw drops and Sunny turned her attention to Helpful; who noticed this. “What?” Helpful asked curious. 
“You’re joking, right?” Sunny shouted bewildered. 
“Look, Sunny, I’ve been told that there’s tons of gems in there,” Helpful explained. “And they’re not even close to where the Ursa’s sleeping.” Helpful walks into the dark cavern. “We gotta get the perfect present.” Sunny watched as Helpful disappeared into the Ursa’s Lair alone. She soon feels guilty of herself not following him.
“Me and my big mouth.” Sunny sighed and ran after Helpful. The pitch black darkness was not a problem to Sunny’s dragon eyes; she could see every little detail in this cavern, but then she accidently bumped into Helpful from behind. 
“Sunny, is that you?” Helpful asked. 
“Yeah.” Sunny answered.
“I can’t see a thing.” Helpful complained, but the remembered his flashlight he left at home. “Shoot. I forgot my flashlight.”
“Why need a flashlight when you have a dragon?” Sunny picked up a root off the ground and blew fire onto it. It caught the fire; illuminating the cave like a torch allowing Helpful to see better now. They walk through the cave for some time then find an illuminated chamber that Dashie described before, but it had no sapphire inside; like it disappeared. Sunny looked up toward the ceiling and spotted the giant shining crystal above her lighting up the chamber. “Wow. What is that?” Sunny asked Helpful amazed. Helpful looked up to see the huge celestial rock. 
“I have no i-.” Then something hit Helpful like a truck. Somehow the crystal made him feel like he has always known it, but then the gem flashed white light blinding Helpful and Sunny for a second. Once the light ceased the chamber grew dark. All that illuminated the chamber was the torch that Sunny held. Helpful scanned around the chamber and then spotted the sapphire that Rainbow Dash described a few days back. Unfortunately he forgot about the scary experience she had with the gem and ran up to the large gem excited. “This is great!” Helpful exclaimed in eagerness. “Just as beautiful as Fluttershy.” 
“So the specail somepony is named Fluttershy, huh?” Sunny teased him again; making Helpful turn around blushing uncomfortable.
“I, uh, um, well-.” Helpful stuttered to protest.
“Mm-hmm.” Sunny crossed her arms and looks at him mischievously. “So she is! Don’t worry. I can keep a secret.” 
“Thanks, Sunny.” Helpful calmed down then he tries to move the yard wide, blue gem off the stone stand, but it would not move no matter how strong he was. “Sunny, this sapphire won’t budge.” Helpful strained. “Would you lend me a hand?” Sunny then pulled Helpful out of the way so she could try to move the jewel.
“Leave it to the females to get the tough jobs done.” Sunny scoffed. She dug under the stone stool half-way with her sharp claws and leaped to the side for the gem to fall off the block. It hits the floor with a bang. Helpful and Sunny then checked the gem for cracks, didn’t find any. Helpful then felt really eager. “Great! Now all we need to do is take this to Fluttershy’s Birthday Party!” Helpful exclaimed in eagerness; but then was surprised to hear rumblings shift through the chamber making the statues fall off of their stands and shatter into fragments. Helpful recognized these vibrations. “Uh-oh.” Helpful said as he and Sunny spotted long black claws break through the wall above the entrance of the chamber and opened it wide to reveal the terrifying Ursa Major. It must have heard the sapphire hit the floor and awakened. No doubt back for revenge from their last encounter. It raised its huge starred claw and batted the blue jewel before them; which rolled away at a very destructive speed under then Ursa and through the rest of the cavern. Sunny climbed onto Helpful’s back and kicked him. “Hi, ho, Helpful!” Sunny shouted. “Away!” Helpful reared unintentionally and dashed under the Ursa Major before it could slice them into pieces. He caught up to the sapphire and made sure it wouldn’t roll away from where it needed to go. 
The Ursa Major; after realizing what happened, stampeded after them with blistering fury, and grabbed Helpful and Sunny and then stopped its mad dash; leaving the sapphire rolling free, and held the baby dragon and Pegasus up to its face. It growled at them; making them very scared. Helpful could swear the Ursa could have swallowed them, but then Sunny breathed in several times deeply and fast and then she sneezed fire into the Ursa’s eyes. The monster immediatly released its grasp on them and roared in unbearable agony. Helpful landed on the ground safely and caught Sunny on his back. The dragon didn’t care if the Ursa was in pain; she just wanted to get out of its Lair now, but then, before Sunny could kick Helpful again, the whole cave started to rumble and stalactites fall from the ceiling. Helpful didn’t need that kick from Sunny to make him dash as fast as possible. 
He dashed in seconds before the Ursa Major stopped its uproar and chased half-blinded after Helpful and Sunny even more infuriated. “Helpful, what should we do?” Sunny shouted over the cave tremors. Helpful scanned around him and notices that the entire cave was collapsing above and they were running out of time quickly. “We get out!” Helpful shouted while dodging a stalactite, and then Sunny noticed a light coming from the outside. 
“Helpful, do you see that?” Sunny asked him.
“I see it alright!” Helpful answered, but then he was shocked to hear the Ursa Major roar in agony again and look behind to find it being buried in rubble from the cave collapsing. It wouldn’t bother them or anypony again. The tan Pegasus ran out the cave after the renegade jewel, and they chased it through Everfree forest and out straight toward Ponyville. They tried to catch up to the gemstone, but it kept gaining speed; as if it had a mind of its own. “That rock is heading straight toward Ponyville,” Helpful explained obviously. “Who knows what it could do once it hits there.”
“Especially if it breaks.” Sunny added thoughtfully. “Wouldn’t Fluttershy be so…disappointed?” Something snapped in Helpful once he heard that; and his expression turned to thought. 
“Fluttershy…disappointed?” Helpful thought then he felt something unusual. It felt more like a burning fire in him, no, an inferno; anger. The type of anger that would be used for the correct purpose and not destruction. “Never!” Helpful growled as he spread his wings out wide, making Sunny curious and surprised, then they flew up faster than the runaway sapphire to the edge of Ponyville. Helpful lands before a bridge and raised a hoof of defiance toward the blue celestial boulder. “Stop!” Helpful shouted at the top of his lungs, but, instead of the sapphire stopping at Helpful’s outstretched hoof, it rolls Sunny and him over into paper, rolls off the bridge like a ramp, and breaks into tiny pieces. Helpful and Sunny dashed to the crash site and then the Tan Pegasus began to panic. “Oh-no!” Helpful complained in sorrow. “This was supposed to be Fluttershy’s perfect present, but now look at it; broken into unappreciative pieces. Now how am I gonna get the perfect present for Fluttershy?” 
“Gift exchange?” Sunny shrugged. Helpful sighed sadly.
“It’s no use.” Helpful moped. “Probably be best if I didn’t go.” 
“Now, Helpful, I’m surprised at you!” Sunny scolded crossly. “You went smack dab into Timberwolf territory and almost got us out of that collapsing Ursa’s Lair to get that present for Fluttershy! Now you have the present right here, but you’re saying ‘you shouldn’t go’!’” Sunny continued. “Nuh-uh! That is not what I expected from you Helpful! You’re gonna take that present and give it to Fluttershy!”
“But it’s broken.” Helpful sniffed. 
“Who cares if it’s broken? It’s the thought that counts.” Helpful felt better than before and hugged Sunny; who seemed surprised. “Thanks.”
“Uh, don’t mention it,” Sunny laughed uncomfortably then she turned stern. “Ever.” Helpful let go of his hug and Sunny gave him a box. “Here use this.” Helpful accepted the box and filled it with the sapphire shards.
“Thanks, Sunny.” Helpful balanced the box on his back. “Come on. We’re late for the party.” Sunny climbed onto his back and patted him in sympathy. 
“Good to see you’ve smartened up. Now let’s go.” Helpful and Sunny left the area; unaware of the puddle that was left behind by the sapphire crash. Soon, they make it to Fluttershy’s quiet cottage. The area was filled with animals everywhere and had a small river flowing under a natural bridge. Birds of all common kinds flew above head into trees or birdhouses. Around back was a shed, a small chicken coop, and many other homes for animals. Helpful walked to the front door of the cottage. He swore he could hear laughter inside. “I hope I followed the directions right.” Helpful told himself.
“Don’t worry, Helpful.” Sunny assured. “You did.” Sunny knocks on the door, and then Pinkie Pie opened the door immediatly; looking excited. 
“Oh, hi, Helpful!” Pinkie shouted and then noticed Sunny. “You’ve brought a friend.” Pinkie pulled them both inside the cottage and closed the door behind them, and then she shook Sunny’s hand excitedly. “Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie and you are?” Pinkie greeted Sunny. 
“I-I’m Sunny.” Sunny answered her shaken by Pinkie’s rough hoofshack; she let go of Sunny and walked away. 
“Hope you enjoy the party!” Pinkie left them to the rest of the party. Helpful could see the cottage was filled with steamers and party décor like he saw at his mansion, but he mostly saw many other animals, toys, and homes. He also noticed the rest of his best friends: Twilight and Rarity at the punch bowl, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy eating cake, and Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Spike dancing to the music. Sunny begins to grow curious. “Say, Helpful, who’s Fluttershy?” Sunny asked, and then pointed to Twilight. “Is she Fluttershy?” But then she pointed toward Rarity. “No, her! She’s got to be her! I like her.” But then Helpful pulled her arm down.
“Sunny, she’s not her.” Helpful explained.
“Then which one is it.” Sunny said irritated. “I would like to know.”
“Well, it’s…” Helpful pointed to Fluttershy. “Her.” Sunny noticed Helpful’s expression of what seemed to be like he is watching the most beautiful thing he has ever seen and giggled impishly. 
“Well, what are you waiting for? An engraved and neatly polished invitation?” Sunny pushed Helpful toward Fluttershy. “Go talk to her.” 
“Talk to her?” Helpful repeated hesitantly. “But what do I say?” 
“Just compliment her on how she looks today and start off from there.” Sunny answered.
“But what if I mess it up?”
“You won’t. Trust me. It’s fool-proof.” Sunny assured.
“Well, okay.” Helpful took a step toward Fluttershy, but he then pivoted the other way. “Maybe there’s some punch left.” But then Sunny pulled down his ear hard and painfully. “Owowowowow!” Helpful exclaimed in pain.
“Now, listen, and you better listen good.” Sunny whispered crossly. “You’re gonna go over there to Fluttershy and talk to the little lady, ya hear me?” 
“Yeah. Yeah, I hear ya.” Helpful grunted painfully, and then the dragon let go of Helpful’s ear; snapping it back in place.
“Good, and to make sure you don’t mess it up, I’ll go with you.” Sunny told him gladly, but then Pinkie stepped into the center of the room.
“Oh, I almost forgot to announce this!” Pinkie gasped. “Hey, everypony! Helpful’s here!” Then everypony surrounded Helpful and Sunny in a concurrent chatter. 
“Welcome back, Helpful.” Twilight greeted warmly. “What took you so long?” Before Helpful could answer, Sunny did it for him.
“Bad traffic.” Sunny answered; making Rainbow Dash look at her curious.
“And you are?” Rainbow asked. 
“The name’s Sunny.”
“And where ya from, Sunny?” Applejack added.
“I’m not actually from anywhere, you see, I’m a wanderer.”
“A wanderer?” Spike asked Sunny curious.
“Somepony who doesn’t have a home and lives by walking from town to town alone.”
“So did you bring the present for Fluttershy, Helpful?” Pinkie asked excited. 
“Oh, yeah!” Helpful remembered. “Happy Birthday, Fluttershy.” Sunny walks up Fluttershy with the box in her hands, but then was surprised to be excitedly hugged by her tightly; almost making it hard for her to breathe.  
“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, Helpful!” Fluttershy exclaimed excitedly. “I always wanted a talking baby dragon to take care of!” Sunny tries to pull herself out.
“I’m sorry, Miss…, but I’m not the present.” Sunny tried to gasp for air, but Fluttershy hugs her tighter. 
“But of course you are! Why else would Helpful bring a talking baby dragon?”
“Maybe the same reason he’s here.” Sunny answered almost wheezing in mid-speech, and then Fluttershy’s expression turned to realization of Sunny not being her present. 
“Oh.” Fluttershy let go of Sunny; who gasped for air, and looked around confused. “Then where’s the real present?” Sunny gave her the box of gem shards, and she accepted it and opens the present, and then she gasped surprised. “Helpful, this is the absolute-.” 
“I know.” Helpful replied sadly. “Worst present ever.” Fluttershy looked at him with a great smile.
“No, no, Helpful. It’s much more than that.” Fluttershy then pulled out a sapphire shard roughly shaped like a heart with wings. “It’s the most beautiful gift I’ve ever received from anypony.” Everypony, except for Helpful and Sunny; who seemed surprised, gasped amazed at the sight of the beautiful gem shard.
“You simply must come to my birthday party next time, Helpful!” Rarity shouted amazed and excited. Fluttershy walks up to Helpful with the sapphire shard in her hoof. 
“Helpful.” Fluttershy began. “ I-I don’t know how to thank you.” Helpful smiled at her.
“Just say it.” Helpful answered for her.
“Okay, um.” Fluttershy took a minute to think, but then she gave Helpful an unexpected hug of gratitude. Everypony looked surprised as Fluttershy gave her hug, including Helpful. Sunny’s jaw dropped with a clang surprised as well. “Thank you.” Fluttershy whispered into Helpful’s ear.
“D-Don’t mention it.” Helpful stuttered mostly because of being surprised. This is the first hug he ever received from Fluttershy and he would never forget this moment; even if he lost his memory again that’s for sure, and then Fluttershy let go of her hug onto Helpful and they both laugh uncomfortably and blush. “So, if you two ‘Lovebirds’ are done, can we proceed with the party?” Sunny asked teasing them. Helpful turned his gaze to Fluttershy. 
“Well, it’s your call, Fluttershy.”
“Yes.” Fluttershy answered; quite fixed into Helpful’s eyes. 
“Finally! Thank you!” Dashie shouted in relief. “Now we can eat.” Pinkie pushed a large cake that said ‘Happy Birthday, Fluttershy!’ and it was a yard high and had three cakes on top of one another; making Helpful confused on why they needed so much cake.
“Here’s the cake, Fluttershy.” Pinkie Pie pointed out. “Okay, everypony. Ready?” Everypony takes a deep breath of air except Helpful; he did not know what everypony was doing. 
“But, Pinkie, the candles aren’t lit.” Fluttershy pointed out; making Pinkie stare at the unlit candles surprised.
“By golly you’re right, Fluttershy.” Pinkie Pie wondered where the matches went. Rarity began to grow curious about Helpful not bringing the Wind Emerald, but instead brought a sapphire. 
“Say, Helpful?” Rarity grabbed Helpful’s attention. 
“Yes, Rarity?” Helpful asked.
“What happened to the Wind Emerald you planned on giving Fluttershy?” Helpful turned nervous.
“Uh…” Then they were spooked by Sunny burping fire and lighting the candles on cake. Rarity realized that Sunny ate the Wind Emerald and glared at Helpful annoyed; making Helpful laugh uncomfortably toward Rarity.
“Now they’re lit!” Pinkie shouted excited. “Ready everypony?”
“Happy, Happy Birthday from all of us to youuuu!~” Everypony sang cheerfully. “We saw you when you were smaller and then you grew, and grew!~ Hey! Happy, Happy Birthday from all of us to youuuuu!~ We sing the rest of this verse on these old kazoos!~ ” Everypony; except Helpful and Sunny, pulls out a kazoo and plays the theme of the song for a verse. “Hey! Happy, Happy Birthday from all of us to youuuuu!~ Now we’ll give you this cake and you’ll soon know what to do!~ Happy Birthday, Fluttershy!” 
“Okay, now you can blow out the candles and make a wish, Fluttershy!” Pinkie explained cheerfully. Fluttershy blew out the candles and closed her eyes, making her wish; making Helpful curious on what her wish was so he decided to ask. “What did you wish for, Fluttershy?” Helpful asked her.
“Helpful!” Pinkie shouted sternly toward him; making him uneasy. “She’s not supposed to tell you; if she did, her wish would never come true!”
“S-Sorry.” Helpful apoligized.
“It’s okay, Helpful.” Fluttershy assured comfortingly. “Besides I think I really have everything I ever wanted right here.” Fluttershy and Helpful stared into one another without blinking, but then Pinkie broke the moment. 
“Okay everypony! It’s time to play Pin the Tail on the Pony!” Pinkie announced ecstatically.
“Oh! Me first!” Rarity shouted.
“I think Helpful should be first. After all, he is our new best friend.” Twilight reasoned. Rarity tried to question Twilight on her thought, but Helpful replied before she could say anything.
“Okay then!” Helpful agreed as he followed his friends outside. Spike, on the other hand, stayed inside; curious of what else was in the box Helpful gave Fluttershy. He dumped the box on the floor spilling gems to and fro and stared at the shards amazed. “Whoa!” Spike exclaimed in astonishment. “Where’d Helpful get so many sapphire shards?” Spike asked himself, but then his stomach growled and he began to droll. “And they look so tasty.” 
“Spike!” Twilight’s voice shouted behind him as she pulls Spike to her by the ear using her magic; surprising him. “Spike, those are Fluttershy’s, and if you eat them you’ll be in big trouble, mister.” Then a shadow from the spilled sapphire shards escaped; undetected by Twilight or Spike and hid under a chair. 
“I’m sorry, Twilight.” Spike apoligized sadly. “I guess that dragon side of me gets pretty strong sometimes.”
“You’re forgiven, Spike.” Twilight smiled assuring him. “Now come on. We’re about to play Pin the Tail on the Pony.” Twilight walked to the door and Spike ran after her.
“I’ll be right there!” Spike shouted as they closed the door. The shadow exited its hiding place and flowed out from under the cottage door and continued its venture to the puddle of water left from the sapphire crash. It entered the puddle of water, and then, after all the ponies left, an Alicorn clad in gray armor up to his wings and face raised from the puddle of water, he also had six gems embedded in his leg armor, helmet, and chest plate. Once he stood at full height the water disappeared from under him and the Alicorn looked up to the sky. “Blue sky.” The Alicorn observed raspy, and he then observed the ground below him. “Green grass. I’ve…returned, but how? Bah! It does not matter. For what does is that I’m back and I will return to rule this land, no, the world for I, Envious, Ruler of Darkness, am king!” Envious laughed darkly as he transformed into the form of a shadow and flew away in a second.

The next morning, Helpful walked out the front door and breathes in the crisp morning air and breathed it out slowly. “Heh. Seems like a great day.” Helpful told himself, but then he hears clanging from the backyard; making him curious. He walked around to the back and finds Sunny chasing crows from a barrel of apples. “Shoo! Shoo!” Sunny shouted scaring the crows off. “Shoo, you pesky crows!” As the crows fly off, Helpful walked over to Sunny curious. 
“Good morning, Sunny.” Helpful greeted. “What’s up?” Sunny turns to Helpful surprised.
“Oh, good morning, Helpful!” Sunny greeted back. “I was bringing these apples from the market then those stupid crows attacked.” Sunny then walked over to the shed and opened the doors and turned her gaze back to Helpful. “Since you’re here. Why don’t you make yourself useful and take those apples and put them in here?” Helpful loaded the barrel on his back and walked into the shed. 
“Sure thing, Sunny.” Helpful settled the apples inside the shed and walked out closing the doors, and then Sunny tossed him a rake; surprising him.
“Here rake the yard up while I clean the rest of the mansion.” Sunny ordered Helpful. He saluted to her and started to rake up the leaves from the many seasons of fall. As Sunny walked to the backdoor of the mansion she stopped in mid-stride and felt something in her stomach rising, and then she burped out fire and from the flames appears a letter in mid-air. It fell into her hands and she ran back to Helpful. “Helpful!” Sunny shouted, stopping in front of him; making Helpful confused. 
“What is it, Sunny?” Helpful asked her.
“It’s a letter. Now, who in Equestria would send me a letter? I haven’t received a letter in years.” Sunny explained as she opens the message. “It’s from Celestia.” 
“What’s it say?” Helpful urged. Sunny cleared her throat and began to read.
“’Dear, Helpful the Selfless.’” Sunny began. “’Return to Canterlot Castle immediately. This is an emergency. I have already sent a message to Twilight for her to report to the castle as well. I will be waiting for you both and your friends at Canterlot Castle.’ Helpful this sounds important.” 
“You think. We gotta be there now.” Helpful agreed. “Climb on!” Sunny climbed onto Helpful’s back and they both fly away toward Canterlot Castle.