Chapter 6
Doubt
Applejack and the fillies felt them selves coming to a stop as they cleared the edge of the forest, they looked back to see nothing but trees. Applejack helped the fillies off the wolf and began to turn around when Twilight and the others came rushing up to them.
“There you guys are! We’ve spent the last two hours trying to find you.” Twilight said as she looked at the group. “Wait, where’s Cross?”
“He stayed behind to keep the timber wolf busy while we escaped.” Applejack said reluctantly.
“You just left him there!” Fluttershy yelled.
“No ah wanted to stay and help but he made Ace take us back.”
“We have to go help and-” Rainbow was cut off by some rustling in the bushes. Cross stepped out with a messed up mane and a few scratches on his body.
“I don’t think a rescue is necessary.” he said with a grin. Fluttershy quickly rushed over to him and wrapped him in a hug. “Ah! Easy Fluttershy, kinda bleeding here.” Fluttershy let go and started to blush. Applejack then went over and slapped him in the face.
“Don’t ever do that again, you hear!”
“Calm down I’m fine.” he said as he brushed himself off. Twilight then noticed that the scratch marks on his body were beginning to heal.
“Y-you’re healing.” Cross then looked at the shrinking wounds.
“I’ve always been a fast healer.” he said as he walked past the group of mares. “C’mon didn’t Pinkie invite you guys to a party?”
“Y-yeah but you’re-”
“I’m fine, relax.” he said as he walked past the mares. “Besides didn’t Pinkie tell you about the party?” the pink mare then shot up.
“RIGHT THE PARTY! C’mon we’d better hurry.” she said as she galloped back towards the town.
“Um....I think I’m just going to head home.” Fluttershy said in a timid tone.
“You sure?” Cross asked.
“Yes..I need to feed Angel and the other animals anyway.” she said with a weak smile.
“Well okay if you’re sure.....I’ll be back later than.” he said as the mare trotted home. The ponies then trotted into town with Pinkie leading the way. Twilight, AJ and Rainbow kept eyeing the grey stallion.
“What?” he asked as he looked back at the mares.
“How did you take on a timber wolf and barely get a scratch?” Rainbow asked.
“Well one, I wasn’t tired this time and two, I’ve had experience with them before.” he said in a flat tone.
“Yeah but still-”
“I’m tougher than I look Rainbow.” he said in a flat tone.
“I know you’re tough it’s just that-”
“You’re creeped out how I can take on a timber wolf bare-hoofed and come out without a scratch?” Rainbow was about to protest but just gave a nod. “Thought so. Look girls I don’t blame you, sometimes I’m scared of what I can do.” he said in a low tone. “Trust me I’ve done things that will haunt me forever. I know how to handle myself and I’ve been perfectly fine on my own.”
“How long have you been on your own?” Twilight asked.
“Since I was around eight.” he said in a flat tone. The ponies looked at each other in astonishment.
“That long? All on your own?”
“Well not all the time I’ve made a few friends in my travels and client’s I still keep in touch with.”
“Like who?”
“Umm......what was his name.......Soarin? Yeah that’s it!” Rainbow’s jaw dropped.
“YOU KNOW SOARIN!” she said as she flew in front of the stallion.
“Yeah.”
“How did you meet him?”
“I was hired to find his pet dog, we ended up hitting it off and I met the rest of the team.”
“What was it like?” Rainbow asked in anticipation.
“We went to a few bars.....the rest is a blur after that.” he said as he scratched his chin. “Sorry, but those guys know how to party.” With that final thought the ponies entered the bakery that was filled with almost every mare and stallion in Ponyville. The mare’s suddenly fell silent as Cross entered the room, he was catching mixed glances of lust and jealousy from the crowd. He and the five mares sat down at a booth, and began to relax. Cross was approached by at least five mares with sheepish grins, he looked back at his friends with an aggravated tone. “Ugh! These mares are killing me!”
“Well considering what you did with that dragon today, it’s kind of expected.” Twilight said as she shrugged.
“All I did was talk to him. I didn’t fight him.”
“Still it’s pretty impressive how you handled that situation.”
“I really don’t see the big deal, Fluttershy talks to animals all the time.”
“But not a dragon! No-pony has ever gotten that close to one without getting roasted.” Rainbow interjected.
“Fine, but the whole thing is just a pain in my flank.” he said as he sipped his drink.
“So Cross...do you have your eyes on any pony for the competition tomorrow?” Rarity asked.
“What like a mare I’d want to go out with?”
“Yes.” she said as she bit her lip.
“Well I was considering Fluttershy but-”
“Really!?” Applejack yelled in excitement.
“Yeah I’d figured it would be the best way to start paying her back-”
“Hold on, what do you mean start paying her back?” the orange mare asked.
“Um, she saved my life. The least I can do is take her out for a nice dinner.” he said as he raised an eyebrow.
“Oh....right.” she said as the other ponies let out a sigh of relief. Cross looked at the group with a suspicious look on his face.
“Plus all I have to do is keep my tag until the end of day right?”
“Um....yeah but how are you going to dodge almost every mare in Ponyville for the whole contest?” Twilight asked.
“Oh trust me Twilight, I have my ways.” he said with a smug smile. The mares looked at him in confusion. “But c’mon this is a party, let’s not worry about the competition until it get’s here, it starts at 8:00am tomorrow right?” Twilight nodded. “So I’ll worry about it then.” he said as he walked out of the bakery and headed for home. Twilight turned back to her friends with a worried look on her face.
“Okay how is he going to handle almost every-mare gunning for him?”
“I guess we’ll find out.” Twilight said in an uneasy tone.
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Outside in the street’s of Ponyville Cross and Ace made their way back to Fluttershy’s cabin he stopped on all of the places he marked on the map he got earlier that day from Twilight. He arrived back at the rustic cottage of the yellow mare. His horn began to glow and ten copies of himself materialized in front of him.
“Alright boys you know what to do.” the stallions smirked and then dispersed back into town. Cross trotted inside and laid down on the couch. Cross pulled out an alarm clock and set it for 6:00am, he leaned back,and tipped his hat over his head and drifted off to sleep.
Upstairs Fluttershy was struggling to find sleep as he heat cycle started, she shifted in her covers and tried to push Cross out of her mind unsuccessfully.
Oh....This is worse than last year! Why?
Because there’s a hunk of a stallion sleeping in your house go get him!
No..I couldn’t.
Why not? I bet he’d love it and so would you.
Oh..I don’t know.
You won’t know unless you try! Would you prefer it if another mare got him tomorrow?
Well.....no.
Then get down stairs and tell him how you feel! with that final thought Fluttershy got to her hooves and crept out of her room. Her face became bright red as she approached the sleeping stallion, her breathing became heavy and lust filled she gently took his hat off so that she could achieve her goal. One kiss.....that’s all I need one kiss and....I’ll tell him how I feel tomorrow. She began to lean her head in, she could see his well built chest rising and falling, her blush brightened. Her lips were inches away from his. I can’t do it. she thought as she began to trot away from the stallion, she accidentally stepped on Ace’s tail who let out a sudden bark in pain. The yelp made Cross jump to his hooves in surprise.
“What? What?” he said as he looked at the surprised pony. “Fluttershy? What are you doing down here?”
“Um......I was....Never mind....I accidentally stepped on Ace’s tail. Goodnight.” she said as she rocketed back up to her room.
“Okay? well...Good night.” he said as he got back onto the couch. As soon as she was out of ear shot the wolf let out a small bark. Back upstairs Fluttershy had locked her door and started to cry on her bed. Her pillow became wet with tears.
I can’t believe I almost did that! I’m such a fool.
You’re not a fool you’re just.....nervous.
No, I’m an idiot for trying....I- she was cut off by a knock at the door.
“Fluttershy? You okay in there?” Cross asked as he put an ear against the wooded door.
“Y-yes. I’m fine.”
“Well.....if you’re sure....See you tomorrow.” he said in an uneasy tone. The yellow mare listened for his hoof steps to fade, her eyes proceeded to water.
Calm down Fluttershy, keep yourself together.
How?..He’ll never see me as anything more than the pony who saved him. I probably shouldn’t even go tomorrow.
No! You have to go, Twilight and the others will be there to help you out tomorrow.
I don’t know.......okay fine I’ll do it for them.
Good and who knows, you might get lucky and get his tag!
Doubtful. she thought to herself as she drifted off to sleep.
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Back in the Everfree Forest the zebra Zecora had ventured out of her hut in search of some medicinal ingredients. She had almost everything in order until she came to a clearing, she let out a gasp at the sight of a carcass ripped to shreds and almost un recognizable. She guessed from the remains that it was from a timber wolf, judging by the pieces of fur. Blood was smeared along the trees and grass, it looked as though the creature was slashed with a pair of claws. Zecora examined the area and found a clump of white fur, she tucked the sample into her bag and trotted back to her hut.