//------------------------------// // Friends // Story: Family and Friends // by conTROLLER234 //------------------------------// Family and Friends Chapter 5 Friends Everypony stared at Andrew, and Andrew looked back once he sensed this. He suddenly gasped, and so did the rest of the ponies. Andrews eyes grew wide, and no one spoke a word, though Fluttershy’s eyes were wider. Even though she had never seen something like Andrew before, she knew well enough not to scare him. But before she could make a move to calm him, he quickly moved underneath the bed beside him. The 5 girls went to look under the bed, though Twilight quickly stood in front of them. “Leave him alone!” Twilight didn’t look in the mood to move any time soon, though that didn’t stop Fluttershy from trying. “T-Twilight, please… I c-can help…” “She’s right!” Pinkie Pie told, everyone turning to her. “Fluttershy’s great with calming animals!” “Andrew, is NOT an animal!” Twilight growled, angrily stepping towards them, not noticing Fluttershy sneak by her. “Then what is it?” Rainbow said back, hovering in the air. Twilight couldn’t answer. He obviously wasn’t a pony, and she had never seen anything like him before. She didn’t know how to answer. Fluttershy slowly looked under the bed, and Andrew saw her and moved further away from her, scootching under the bed. “Shh shh, it’s okay.” Fluttershy whispered, holding out a hoof to him. “You can come out, I wont hurt you. Nopony is going to hurt you.” Andrew heard her soft voice, and almost calmed down completely. It reminded him of when he was younger and Twilight would talk to him like that, it always made him feel warm and relaxed inside. Andrew relaxed more, then slowly reached out towards her hoof. He gently took her soft, yellow hoof and crawled out of his hiding place. The second he was out, Fluttershy couldn’t help but hug him tightly, wrapping her hooves around his body and nuzzling him. Twilight turned around and gasped as she saw, then went to walk over to the hugging two. Andrew quickly held his hand out to stop her, hugging Fluttershy back. “It’s okay mom.” “MOM?! Did it just?!-” Rainbow threw her hooves up, but Rarity suddenly covered Rainbow’s mouth with a hoof, so she didn’t ruin the moment. “I’m Fluttershy. What’s your name?” Fluttershy then slowly pulled away from the hug, though still held Andrew in her hooves. Andrew turned to look at Twilight for permission to answer, and she sighed. Well, this isn’t really how I thought he would make friends, but it’s a start… Twilight nodded to him. “M-My name is Andrew.” He smiled. “I like your name.” Fluttershy blushed lightly. “Oh, thank you. I-I like yours too.” Twilight’s anger slowly subsided into a smile as she watched this scene unfold before her. The touching moment was suddenly interrupted by Pinkie Pie. “Yay! New party member!” She hopped over to Fluttershy and Andrew, grinning at the boy. Andrew didn’t run or hide this time, instead smiled back at Pinkie and giggled. Twilight’s shoulder was suddenly tapped on my Applejack’s hoof, who waved over to a corner. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” Twilight gulped as she knew what was coming. It was obvious that Andrew wouldn’t stay a secret forever, but the day before he was to be revealed? He was caught. The only thing she can hope for now is for these new girls to keep it a secret until morning. But she barely knew them. Twilight followed the farm pony into a quieter part in the room, and AJ didn’t hesitate to throw questions in Twilight’s way. “Who is that? What is that? Where did it come from? How long have you had it? Does Princess Celestia know?!” “Yes! She knows!” Twilight gulped and looked at Andrew, who was still occupied with the rest of the ponies and sighed. “I don’t know where he came from. I’ve had him for about five years. I stayed with him in the Canterlot castle, and yes Princess Celestia knows. During the Summer Sun Celebration she was going to introduce Andrew to the town. So he can make friends and go outside. He hasn’t gone outside for five years!” She whispered and looked down. “Look, he may not be a pony. But he acts like a young colt. He deserves this.” Applejack listened to her talk, watching Andrew the entire time. When Twilight finished AJ sighed, and looked back at her. “And this is the truth?” Twilight nodded seriously. “Yes, it is.” “So, you’ll need us to keep this a secret until the Celebration.” AJ asked. “It, would really help, yes please.” Twilight looked at Andrew and smiled at him getting along with the ponies. She already had a good feeling that he would have fun with a lot of other ponies, though she was worried that other ponies wouldn’t get along with him. Even with the Princess telling the town that he would be here and he’s not dangerous, it may not change somepony’s minds. AJ sighed. “Alrighty then. I’ll let the other girls know.” The two mares walked back to the group. “Girls, can I talk to ya’ll for a minute?” Aj called out to the rest of the girls, who then turned back to AJ. “Aww, come on Applejack!” Pinkie turned away from Andrew, then followed the rest of the group. Fluttershy slowly lifted up Andrew off her lap and stood. “I’ll be right back Andrew.” Andrew nodded, then Fluttershy headed out the door to downstairs with everyone else. Twilight and Andrew looked at eachother. “Well that was, strange.” Spike hopped down from the windowsill and walked over to Twilight and Andrew. “I like them.” Andrew smiled and turned to Twilight. “Do you mommy?” Twilight ginned to him. “They seem like nice ponies.” “Barging in like that?” Spike grunted, hopping up on the bed. Andrew suddenly yawned, which caught onto Twilight. Twilight looked over at the clock. “I think it’s time we got some sleep. I know I could, and Andrew too.” She looked down at Andrew, who suddenly crossed his arms. “I’m not t...tired…” Andrew yawned again, making Twilight giggle. Spike frowned. “But there’s a party going on downstairs! Don’t you wanna join them?” Spike headed for the door. “I think Andrew and I are going to sleep. You can go though.” Twilight smiled gently. “Yes!” Spike looked as if to punch nothing in front of him, then hurried downstairs. Twilight closed the door behind Spike, then climbed into bed and levitated Andrew up onto it. “But I wanna go with Spike.” Andrew whined, though once he felt the mattress against his back, he immediately fell asleep. Twilight giggled once more, and nuzzled his head as she curled up beside him. “Good night Andrew.” Twilight yawned, and went to close her eyes, when the door suddenly opened again. “Hey Twilight! Pinkie Pie's starting pin the tail on the pony! Wanna play?” Spike ran in the bedroom with a lampshade on his head. Twilight frowned at him. “Spike, not now. And keep the music down, some ponies are trying to sleep!” “Everypony has to stay up, or they'll miss the Princess raise the sun!” Spike explained. “You really should lighten up, Twilight. It's a party!” He then left back downstairs. Twilight grunted and lied back against the bed, but had too many things on her mind she couldn’t fall asleep, or even close her eyes. She looked out the window to see the moon, with a dark unicorn imprinted on it, with 4 stars closing in on it. She got up and gaze at it out the window. “Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about everlasting night." Twilight said quietly out loud to herself. “I hope the Princess was right... I hope it really is just an old ponytale..." She worried, and suddenly Spike barged into the bedroom again. “C'mon, Twilight, it's time to watch the sunrise!” - - - - - Twilight had managed to get there a bit earlier than the rest of the ponies, so she could get Andrew to the back of the stage where Celestia would be to show him to the ponies. Strangely enough though, she was nowhere to be seen, which made Twilight worry even more, though she was sure that the Princess would show up. The guards didn’t let Twilight stay back there with Andrew, so she had to go into the crowd of ponies. Thankfully Andrew was fine with this, but he was still scared. But nowhere near how scared Twilight was. Pinkie suddenly rushed to Twilights side, making Twilight frown at her as she began her fast talking. “Isn't this exciting? Are you excited, 'cause I'm excited, I've never been so excited- well, except for the time that I saw you walking into town and I went *GASP* but I mean really, who can top that?” The sudden sound of birds singing took Pinkie and the rest of the crowd’s attention towards the platform, where a spotlight had shone onto the mayor of the town, Mayor Mare. “Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!” The crowd cheered, though Twilight didn’t as she continued thinking about Nightmare Moon, Andrew, the Princess… “In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year!” The mayor continued talking, And Twilight turned to look outside and at the moon. The stars around it suddenly collided with the moon, and the picture of the unicorn disappeared. Twilight gulped and her ears flattened. “Princess Celestia!” The mayor introduced as the curtains opened and the birds sang, but Princess Celestia was nowhere to be seen. Everypony gasped and started talking to eachother. “This can’t be good.” Twilight worried. “Remain calm, everypony, there must be a reasonable explanation!” The mayor tried, and attention was drawn to Pinkie. “Ooh, ooh, I love guessing games! Is she hiding?” Pinkie started looking around. Rarity came out from behind the curtain. “She’s gone!” Everypony gasped in fright again, but Pinkie widened her eyes. “Ooh, she’s good..” She suddenly yelped as some dark, blue smoke appeared on the balcony, then separated, forming a tall, black and navy blue alicorn. “Nightmare Moon…” Twilight shrunk, and Spike fainted off of her back. “Oh, my beloved subjects. It's been so long since I've seen your precious, little sun-loving faces.” Nightmare Moon growled with an evil grin. “What did you do with our Princess?!” Rainbow Dash yelled angrily, about to fly after her, but was stopped by Applejack biting her tail. “Whoa there, Nelly!” Applejack muffled. Nightmare Moon laughed devilishly. “Why, am I not royal enough for you?-” “Who are you?! Where’s Princess Celestia?!” A voice was heard from behind the stage, Taking everypony’s attention including Nightmare Moon. Twilight gasped as she recognized that voice. “Andrew!” Twilight yelled, and the alicorn laughed as she levitated Andrew up in front of her, showing him to the crowd as she did so. “I don’t remember you being present when I was here.” Nightmare Moon showed Andrew to Twilight. “Do you know this thing?” Andrew cried as he couldn’t move in Nightmare Moon’s magical grasp, and the crowd gasped. “Put him down!” Twilight turned around, and saw Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash glaring at the alicorn, who then guffawed at the group of mares demonically. “Oh, and what are you going to do about it?”