//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: settling in // Story: The Value of Trust // by Phantomslayer230 //------------------------------// I was a bright beautiful Saturday morning in Ponyville. Prism walked to the Ponyville Clinic on the lovely cloudless day. Today was the day Flare Blitz got released from the Clinic and Prism volunteered to help him get settled in since he couldn't fly until his wing healed. Upon arriving at the Clinic Prism walked in so he could find Flare. As Prism entered the Clinic Blue Cross was sitting at the front desk ready to greet him. "Hello Prism. What brings you here?" "I'm just here to get Flare." "Oh that's right, your going to show him around town" "Yup, so where is he? I bet he's eager to get out of......." Before Prism could finish his thought he was nearly thrown to the ground as Flare ran up to him. He seemed frantic and even a bit panicked. "Oh thank Celestia your finally here. You have no idea what I've been through." After a few moments a familiar voice came from the hall where Flare had come from a minuet earlier. "Awwww, leaving so soon dear?" Nurse Red Heart stood in the hall looking out at the two stallions. Before Prism could react Flare was frantically pulling him out the door. "Please you have to get me out of here, these mares are insane." Prism turned to Red Heart. "What did you two do to him?" "We'll tell you later dear." Red Heart said while trying to stifle a laugh. Prism was still very confused but nonetheless he had things to do. So he lead Flare outside the clinic and the two stallions began walking down the roads of Ponyville. They walked for a few minutes in silence but Prism couldn't take it anymore. "Soooooo, how was it in the Clinic?" "Ok buddy, before we go any further lets get one thing straight. If I say I don't to talk about something. I won't, no matter what. With that said, you will never mention that hell hole of a hospital ever again." "Ok whatever you say. So where are you from? what do you do?" "I don't want to talk about it." "Is there anything you do want to talk about?" "I want to talk about where we're going." By this time Prism and Flare were outside Ponyville, and they were approaching a small cottage on the edge of the Everfree Forest. It was a relatively small place with many beautiful flowers and countless small critters running around. As the stallions walked up to the door, Prism explained where they were. "Well Flare, I remembered how much your bird seemed to mean to you, so thought you would like to see it." "Wait you mean...." "Yes, your bird is here." With that Prism knocked on the front door.A few seconds the door opened to reveal a pale coated unicorn with a light green mane and green flower for a cutie mark. "Annie, what are you doing here?" Annie giggled "Prism you know I can't resist helping my mom out. She sent me a letter yesterday asking if I could help her out with an injured animal, so I rushed down as soon as I could." "Well that's nice. So where is your mom?" Prism was interrupted as Flare jumped up to Annie. He was frantically and excited. "Where is my bird?" Calmly Annie pointed into the main room. "She's in there." Flare ran into the living room of Fluttershy's home. Nearly knocking Annie over in the process. When he reached the main room he saywa light yellow Pegasus mare with a long pink mane sitting on the couch. There was a brightly colored bird perched on the arm of the chair and the two of them seemed to be having a conversation. That is before Flare interrupted them. "Nova!" The bright red and orange bird looked up. Only to fly over to flare at blinding speeds, and perch it's self on him back. "Aw Nova I missed you so much. You not hurt to bad right?" Nova let out a loud squawk that only Flare and Fluttershy seemed to understand. "Oh, that's a huge relief. A sprained wing isn't as bad a broken one." Flare told Nova, motioning toward his bandaged wing. "Ms.....Fluttershy, was it? I can't thank you enough for helping out Nova. It really means a lot to me." "Oh it was problem at all. I love helping animals, and ever since Princess Celestia came to town with her pet Phoenix, I didn't think I would ever get to meet another." "Well, for what it's worth. Thank you." "Of course. Feel free to bring to me if you ever need anymore help." "Ya, don't push your luck." Flare expression shifted from relived and happy to blank and emotionless as he turned and walked out the front door. As Fluttershy's timid nature returned to her, and Annie went to comfort her mother, Prism took off after Flare. Prism found Flare not far down the road, with Nova still perched on him back. With a quick flap of his wings, Prism bolted to Flare with blinding speed. Catching him in seconds. "What the buck was that!" Flare look at him slightly confused. "What?" "Fluttershy just did you a huge favor out of the goodness of her heart and give her a simple 'thank you' and stormed off. What kind of pony does that?" "Well excuse me for not trusting easily." "Well, you seem to trust me just fine." "Well I trust you for two reasons and two reasons only. One, you probably saved my life by getting me to the hospital. Two, your the only one willing to help me get settled in this town until my wing heals." Prism was shocked. The only reason Flare was showing any trust in him was because it benefited himself? Prism never thought he would meet a pony who thought like that. Being raised by his mother he was always told that trust is one of the most valuable things you could have, and it is one of the hardest things to achieve. Flare brought Prism back to reality with a long sigh. "Look buddy, I didn't mean any disrespect. Really I didn't. I just don't trust very easy and I really enjoy being on my own for the most part. Right now I just want to get settled so I can spend some quality time with Nova." "Fine. There's a hotel just outside of town, let's go get you settled in." **************** Prism spent the start of the afternoon helping out Flare. Once Flare was checked into the hotel, Prism said goodbye and went back into town. as he was walking he heard someone calling his name. It was a mares voice. Kind of high pitched. He could hear the energy in her voice. And she didn't stop screaming. Prism knew exactly who said mare was. As Prism turned around and walked up to Sugar Cube Corner, he saw exactly who he thought he would see. Cotton Candy, a long time friend of Prism was standing at the door waving to him. Once Prism was close enough he called out to Candy."Hey there Candy. You need something?" "Yup. Windy, Del, Annie, and T are all here. You want to come chat?" "Sure, that's sounds great." Candy led Prism into Sugar Cube Corner, and toward a booth that was filled his some of his best friends. As he sat down next to his wife, Candy gave a quick kiss to her coltfriend Del and trotted off the kitchen. Prism turned his attention to Annie and T before starting a conversation. "Hey Annie I forgot to ask this morning, When did you and T get back into town. Last I heard you were up in Trottingham." "Well we were, but I got that letter from my mom asking for help. So T and I got right on a train and came down as soon as we could." "Well that's nice. What about you T? What have you been up to?" "Just spending time with family. It's nice to come back home every now again. Although, considering how my mom acted when I got back. I may have to visit more often." "What did your mom do." "She got really clingy. She hugged me and didn't let go for about twenty minutes. She nearly bit my dad, and after he pried her off, she tried to hit him with a chair." everything fell silent. as the group of friends looked at T in awe. "Dude." Whirlwind said breaking the silence. "I knew your mom can be a drama queen but.......wow." "Yeah." T said nodding his head slowly. Silence once again fell on the group until Candy broke it by dropping a tray of cupcakes on the table with a loud crash. "HOLY BUCKING CELESTIA!" Prism shouted. "Candy why did you do that! you know I'm easily startled!" "Sorry Bolty, I just thought it was to quiet when I came over. So what were we talking about" "T's mom" Prism replied as he rubbed his temple with his hoof as he tried to calm his racing heart. "Oh ya that's a funny story, but I've heard it already. So Bolty, what have you been up to?" "I spent this morning with a Pegasus I met last night." "Oh is that who was with you when you came to my mom's this morning?" Annie asked Prism nodded his head, and Annie continued. "That guy is a jerk. How do you know him?" "Well you see.." Whirlwind took the liberty of recounting what happened to Prism and herself the night before. From how they found Flare, to how they brought him the clinic. It took Whirlwind a good ten minutes to finish the story. And she spared no details. Once she finished everyone was quiet. However Candy soon broke the silence......again. "You mean to tell me that there is a new pony in town?" "yup" Prism said nonchalantly. "And he's hurt and has to stay in town for a while?" "mm-hmm" Whirlwind replied. "And he probably has no friends?" "Pretty much." Prism said nodding his head. "WHY DIDN'T ANYPONY TELL ME!" "Geez Candy, whats the big deal?" "Ya'll know just what the deal is." Del said. speaking for the first time since Prism arrived. "The big deal," Candy continued "Is that there is a pony in town with no friends. I am the daughter of Pinkie Pie. And since the torch has been passed, I will do whatever I can to befriend this stallion." "The torch hasn't actually been passed yet Candy." Pinkie Pie sang from the kitchen. "Mom don't ruin the moment." "Sorry Candy, it's already done." "*hmmph* Well no matter. I Cotton Candy, eldest daughter of Pinkamena Dian Pie. Shall not rest until the stallion known as..............what's his name?" Candy asked Prism. "Flare Blitz." "Until the stallion known as Flare Blitz has at least one friend in Ponyville." "And how do you plan on doing that?" Prism asked genuinely curious. "I have no idea." Candy replied excitedly. T leaned over and whispered into Del's ear. "This should be good." "mm-hmm." Del replied cracking a smile.