//------------------------------//
// Part II: Chapter 4 
// Story: Emerald Chronicles 
// by Dandereshy 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 4: Progenitor

"Thanks." Emerald said to the bank teller after he'd received his bits for his paycheck. He also pulled out his savings. Emerald was excited for the raise, and he'd run all the way to the bank after work just to get the money. He left the bank with his saddlebag full of jingling bits and a grin on his face. "Oh, how I just love payday." He went to the local jeweler. The unicorn greeted him as he came in, turning friendlier when she heard the bits he was lugging around.
"What can I do you for today, good sir?" She asked, her eyes glued to his saddlebag.
He walked casually over to the glass displays. "Well, I plan on proposing to my marefriend, but I don't know what to get her as far as the proposal ring, since she has no horn. She's a Pegasus, like me. And I don't know what kind of gems she likes. I'm not sure if I can do this…"
The jeweler steered him towards the proposal section. "Nonsense. I have plenty of other options." They came up to a huge display of tiaras and crowns. "Will one of these do?"
Emerald scratched his head. "I-I don't think she'd be up for wearing a crown…"
"Okay, how about these?" She pointed him in the direction of the bracelets and bangles.
"Well, I suppose that would be better than a crown." He began looking at each one, carefully scrutinizing each and every one silently, until he came upon the perfect one – a pink butterfly on gold. "Yes! That's it! That one! It's…1,500 bits?" He pouted. "I don't have that much…"
The jeweler saw his sorrow and offered him a better deal. "Okay, well, how much would you be willing to pay?"
He opened his saddlebag and looked back into it, still pouting. "For her…every bit. And I have 1,000."
"Deal." She said expeditiously, carefully removing the bangle from its place amongst the others. "I'll let it go for that low just because she's the luckiest Pegasus alive if you're willing to spend all your money on one piece for her. I sincerely hope all goes well for you."
He gave her all the bits he had, breaking a sweat thinking about if she doesn't say yes. "I do too." He took the bangle and set it in his now empty saddlebag. With a final heavy sigh, he left and headed home to hide the bangle and think of a way, place, and time to set up the proposal.
On the way home, he ran into Rainbow Dash, who was boldly and sternly admonishing Scootaloo for some silly dangerous stunt she'd just pulled on her scooter.
"So next time, make sure you do that a little further from town, okay?" Rainbow Dash said, pointing away from town towards the Everfree forest.
"So the Everfree forest is somehow safer?" Emerald criticized her, coming up beside the two and grinning.
Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo both swung their heads in his direction.
"Oh, hey Emerald." Rainbow greeted him, suddenly sounding a bit more benign. "Watcha up to?"
Emerald shrugged. "Same old, same old. What happened here?" He asked, seeing the ponies behind them in the distance cleaning up debris.
Rainbow Dash redirected her stare to Scootaloo once again. "Scootaloo happened, that's all. We got it sorted out. Run along now, and be careful."
Scootaloo saluted. "Yes ma'am!" She sped off on her scooter.
"Kinda motherly, don't you think?" Emerald said as the two of them started walking in the direction Emerald was previously going.
Rainbow waved a hoof dismissively. "Pfff…I keep an eye on her, that's all. She's like me, admittedly. Always needing some watchful eyes to keep her out of trouble, or get her out of it."
"Rainbow Dash admitting to needing help? Where's the real Rainbow Dash?" He joked.
"Hey, that's what friends are for, huh? When you need help, right?" She countered, elbowing him in the ribs.
Emerald nodded. "Good point. You're absolutely right. You guys have helped me out of so many situations, I've lost count. But like you said, that's what friends are for."
"Yep. And the best part is, when a friend helps you out, you get the chance to help them, you know, cause you kind of owe them?" She replied, smiling strangely.
Emerald gave her a sideways look and raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I know where this is going, frankly."
Rainbow Dash sighed. "I won these two tickets to the Wonderbolts show and nopony else can go. They're all too busy with something. And I did kinda teach you to fly again, so…"
"Oh, I see. You're guilt tripping me and bribing me." Emerald said.
"Yes…I mean no! Well, kind of… so you'll go?" She asked hopefully, fluttering in the air in front of him and giving him puppy eyes and the duck lip.
"Me and Flutters have plans, Rainbow. You know I can't just ditch her." Emerald said, trying not to look at her face. He was feeling a bit guilty. "Are you sure the others won't go?"
Rainbows' face fell and she pouted. "No. It's all good." She turned and started fluttering away. "I guess I won't go at all…"
"Sorry!" He called out to her, but she kept flying. "Dang."
He turned and continued on home.
Fluttershy was feeding the animals lunch when he came in the door. "Hey, Emerald. How was work? You're home early." She noticed, giving him a hug.
"It was okay. I got off early for something entirely different. Not important, but anyway. Hey, Rainbow Dash asked me to go with her to the Wonderbolts show tonight. I told her you and I had plans. The poor girl can't find someone to go with her."
"We didn't have any plans, actually. At least, you didn't tell me if we did. Why don't you go with her?"
Emerald followed her into the kitchen as she continued tending to the animals. "Because… it'd feel like a date. And that would be weird."
Fluttershy smiled amiably at him. "Oh, silly. I know you wouldn't do that to me. I'm okay with you going to the Wonderbolts show with her. I trust you."
Emerald sighed. "…I don't know…"
"Go with her as a friend. You are her friend, you know." Fluttershy told him, getting fresh water for the animals eating in the living room.
"Yeah, but I feel awkward taking her. It's what couples do." Emerald went on, looking out the window at the forest just out of reach of the cabin.
"Emerald, me and Rainbow Dash have done many things together, and we still do. Does that mean we're a couple?" She asked, giving him a thoughtful stare.
"I hope not," He responded, worried. "I can't be replaced."
Fluttershy moped at him. "I think you're being unreasonable. Just go with her, Emerald. I trust you. I know you and Rainbow Dash wouldn't do anything. She doesn't like you like that, anyway. Just go with her. I don't want to see her all sad again."
Emerald sighed. "Are you sure?"
She put a hoof on his cheek and kissed him, then pulled away and looked him in the eyes. "Yes. I'll be fine. I have to help Discord at his new place, anyway. He got his first real house! I'm so excited for him."
Emerald smiled faintly. "Okay. And I'll assume you and Discord won't do anything?"
"Emerald! How could you?"
He threw his hooves up. "Just making sure. Sorry."
"Now, go find her and tell her you've changed your mind. I promise it'll be okay." Fluttershy told him, returning to her daily animal routine.
"Sure. Hold on." He rushed upstairs to the bedroom. He pulled the bangle out and admired it. "Boy, she'll love this…" He hid it in his work chest, since Fluttershy never went in it. Before he shut it, though, the stone caught his eye once again. He gave it a few seconds of his time before he made a decision. He grabbed his drill and made a hole near the top going all the way through. Then he ran a string through the hole and made a necklace out of it. "Don't know why, but I think I'll keep you with me from now on." Then he turned and left.
________________________________________
"I can't believe Fluttershy forced you to go to the Wonderbolts show with me. That's so awesome." Rainbow Dash said excitedly for the fifteenth time. They were at the Cloudeseum in Cloudsdale, making their way to their up front seats. Emerald was keeping his distance, but Rainbow Dash kept flying closer to him every time he flew further away.
Emerald sighed with distaste. "She didn't force me, for the fifteenth time. She suggested it."
"That's not what you told me the first time, lover boy. You said she booted you out so she could help Discord." Rainbow Dash pointed out.
"Ugh."
"Hey, at least we got the best seats in the house. Am I right?" She asked as they got to the closest seats to the airfield.
"Yeah, they're friggin' wonderful." Emerald said sarcastically.
Rainbow Dash noticed this and called him out on it. "Ya know, you didn't seem this unhappy when we left for Cloudsdale earlier. What's your problem?"
"Nothing." He said quickly, looking away from her.
"Oh, I know that look. Something's bothering you. Come on," She put an arm around his shoulder. "Tell Dash what's up."
Emerald rolled his eyes but gave in. "Well, if you must pester me profusely for my biggest fear, I'm worried about Fluttershy."
Rainbow was silent for a moment while she considered her next response. "Uh, what do you mean? Discord ain't gonna hurt her."
"That's not what I mean. Fluttershy and Discord, at his house… alone? I'm just concerned, that's all."
"You're joking, right? You think Discord would make a move on Flutters? Get real, dude. She loves you, not him." Rainbow said, punching him lightly in the shoulder.
He rubbed it where she just hit him. "You say that, but how do you know? I mean, you're not actually there, so how do you know?"
Rainbow sighed with mental exhaustion. "Just ease up, Emerald. Try to enjoy this. The Wonderbolts will make you forget all about your silly worries."
"I doubt that…" He muttered under his breath.
It wasn't long before the Wonderbolts were streaking across the sky, performing spectacular aerial displays, cause everyone in the stadium to cheer – except Emerald.
With every passing moment, his paranoia grew, bigger and more spectacular than the show the Wonderbolts were putting on. He couldn't help but think about it.
Maybe I'm just being too protective, he told himself finally. I'm just going to stop thinking about it.
The show was over not long after, so Emerald didn't hesitate to make his way out of the stadium. Rainbow Dash rushed up beside him. "Hey, you're leaving? There's an after party. You should totally stay and join me at it."
"No. I'm going to check on those two." So much for not thinking about it.
"Seriously? For once, you hang out with me and you still can't keep your mind off Fluttershy? Come on." She said, irritated.
Emerald shook his head as she flew in front of him and cut him off. "I said no. I'm going home. I came here with you, what more do you want from me?"
She pointed a hoof at his necklace. "Hey, I did that, too!" She showed him that she was wearing a necklace of hers as well.
"Why?" Was all Emerald had to say.
"It shows we think alike. Now we definitely should go to that party."
Emerald stomped a hoof, startling her. "For the last time, no! I'm going home." He started to fly off but Rainbow Dash blocked him.
"Wait! Please, just one more thing…"
Emerald tried to go around her, but she kept him at bay. "Dash? Move. Right now."
"Just… please…" She grabbed him roughly and kissed him on the mouth.
Emerald shoved her away. "What the hell Rainbow Dash?!"
She looked sorry. "I'm just…"
"Now I know why I'm here." He turned and flew away as fast as he could, leaving a confused and broken Rainbow Dash all alone.
When Emerald finally made it home, he was surprised to see all the lights out, and thoughts that he didn't want to think crossed his mind as he hurried upstairs. Upon opening the bedroom door, he discovered Fluttershy already asleep under the covers. All of the stress from earlier melted away at that very sight, and he couldn't stop a smile from forming on his face. He quietly climbed into bed beside her and removed the necklace, setting it on the nightstand.
"You're back? That's good…" Fluttershy murmured and snuggled up to him.
He turned back to her and kissed her forehead. "Don't mind me, just lay your pretty little head back down and go back to sleep, girl. I'm going to do it myself."
"…mmmhmm….okay…"
But as he put his head on the pillow, he kept thinking about the Cloudeseum incident, until his thoughts faded away as he drifted off to sleep.