"I bet you're going to love Ponyville." Fluttershy smiled at Shadow. Shadow looks at Fluttershy and shrugs, well tried with out tripping. Fluttershy nuzzles him.
"You'll get to make so many friends." she said.
"Well, i didn't have many friends back home." he said.
"Well, I'm sure you'll make plenty here because most ponies here are nice and very accepting." Fluttershy pointed out.
"Ehh, the last peo- err... ponies I have met... where not that nice to me, and the ones who were tried to use me. Only a couple of ponies I could call my friends...moved on..." Shadow sighed.
"Awww, I'm sorry." Fluttershy leans into him a little to comfort him. A tear fell down from shadows face as he leans closer to Fluttershy.
"T-That's not the worse part." Shadow said.
"Y-you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." Fluttershy nuzzled him once more. Shadow sniffs as another tear falls from his face as he nods. Fluttershy stops and pulls him into a hug.
"I'm your friend, okay?" She asked softly. Shadow's eyes widen in surprise as more tears appeared in his eyes.
"You're going to make lots of friends here." Fluttershy said softly. Shadow sniffs and lays his head against her as tears fell from his face.
"B-Back home, I-I was abused..." He sniffed. Fluttershy gasped.
"No....those people are mean, then..." She said as she hugged him tighter. Shadow cried softly against her.
"I-I...was abused for....seven years...by my stepdad..." He said.
"Well, you won't have to worry about that anymore." Fluttershy said calmly, resting her chin under his. Shadow sniffs and hugs her tight, not noticing that he has turned back to his normal form. Fluttershy could careless, being held up in his arms, nuzzling his cheek. After what seemed to be a while, Shadow seemed to stop crying and felt better, much better than he has before.
"It's gonna be alright." She said softly.
"Thank you..." Shadow sniffed. Fluttershy gets comfy as he holds her in his arms. Shadow blushes as he looks down at Fluttershy in his arms.
"Y-you don't have to put me down...I'm quite comfy." Fluttershy said, hugging him gently around the neck. Shadow blushes even more.
"O-Ok." He said. Fluttershy rests her head against his chest.
"Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap! I am holding a girl, though its a mare, it's still a girl!" Shadow yelled in his head. Shadow thought he could hear Fluttershy purring like some sort of cat as he held her.
"F-Fluttershy, weren't you s-supposed to give me a tour?" He asked.
"Oh!" Fluttershy realized, blushing madly. "I-I'm sorry." she said as she climbed down. Shadow chuckles lightly and turns back into his pony form.
"Let's get going, then, shall we?" She asked, smiling at him. Shadow smiles back and nods.
"Sure!" He said.
"This way then." Fluttershy said, leading the way towards the town. Shadow nods and follows her. As they get close to the town, Shadow gasps at how quaint and beautiful it is.
"Welcome to Ponyville!" Fluttershy said, nuzzling him. Shadow smiles as he stares at the town, before running off towards it with the widest smile he has ever had. Fluttershy giggled a little, watching him. Shadow continued to run through town with a wide smile, avoiding ponies, getting confused looks and glares as he ran as he ran around a corner, causing Fluttershy to lose sight of him. He suddenly feels hooves wrap around him as he is pulled inside a building, causing Shadow to yelp as he is pulled into said building. He finds a unicorn with a curly purple mane measuring him. Shadow was confused as to why he was being measured.
"Um..." He said.
"OH yes!" The mare exclaimed. "Just perfect!" the mare yells as he finds himself being shoved into a tuxedo. Shadow coughs slightly as the tuxedo fits, though it's a bit tight on him.
"Oh it looks marvelous!" she cooed. Shadow looks at the mare and notices it was one of the mares that chased him through out the forest.
"Hey, you're one of the mares that chased me throughout the forest." He said.
"I know, darling." she giggles. Shadow raises and eye brow and looks at the tuxedo.
"Why did you put me in a tuxedo?" He asked.
"Because I felt it'd be a perfect fit! It looks simply stunning!" her horn lights and a mirror from across the room moves in front of Shadow. Shadow raises an eyebrow and looks in the mirror. The tuxedo matching his coat as it looks very cool by his standards.
"I have to say, it does match me very well, but there is one problem, I have no money, nor do I think that this will fit me when I turn back." he said.
"Oh, darling!" Rarity giggled. "I made it for you! Take it as a welcome to Ponyville gift." She said, smiling. Shadow was even more confused.
"But why though. I-I can pay you back in someway, I don't deserve such a generous gift." He said.
"Oh, it's alright!" Rarity said, smiling at him. Shadow sighs and shakes his head.
"No, I-I have to pay you back." He said.
"Absolutely not!" Rarity shook her head. "It is a gift." She said. Shadow sighs in defeat.
"Okay..." He said. Rarity was confused.
"What's wrong, darling?" She asked.
"I...don't deserve such a nice suit..." Shadow said.
"Well, maybe. If you say so. But I feel you MUST have it!" Rarity said, her eyes glimmering. Shadow sighs and nods.
"All right." He said.
"Great!" Rarity yelled happily. "Would you mind if I tried some other outfits on you?" She asked. Shadow nods, then gets an idea.
"Ooh! How about making some suits for my normal form?" He said.
"Hmmm, sounds like fun!" Rarity nodded. Shadow nods and tries to take the tuxedo off, but has trouble. Rarity lights her horn and the suit slips right off.
"Thanks." Shadow said as his body distorts and he returns back to normal.
"Now then!" Rarity smiled. Shadow found Rarity pull out some measuring tape and began to measure him, when he heard some hoof steps coming down what sounded like stairs. he look over and saw a small unicorn filly stop and look at them, mostly at Shadow as her eyes widen.
"Um...hi?" Shadow said. The filly simply fainted. Shadow blinks as he looks at her.
"Um... a filly just fainted on your floor..." He said.
"Oh that must be Sweetie Belle." Rarity trots past Shadow and over to the filly. Shadow steps off the pedestal that Rarity was measuring him and followed her. Rarity picks up the filly with her magic.
"Stay down here, please, while I lay her in bed." She said. Shadow nods and walks around the store, looking at the dresses and suits that where on the pony mannequins. What looked like a red Hawaiian button-up with orange and white flower decorated into it, caught his eye. Shadow walks up to it and picks it up, when his ears perk up at the ring of the bell above the door. He turns around and sees another unicorn mare, but this one had a mint green fur and a lighter green mane with a lyre type mark on her flank. Both Shadow and the mare stare at each other. The mare waves a little. Shadow blinks and waves back.
"Um...hi?" he said for a second time. The mare simply walks backwards out of the shop. Shadow scratches the top of his head and looks back at the shirt, shrugging. He tries on the shirt and finds out it almost fits him, the shirt being just a little tight on him. Rarity trotted back down the stairs. Shadows ears perk up a second time today as he turns around, still wearing the shirt.
"Oh, my! That looks simply marvelous on you!" Rarity trotted over with a smile.
"Well, I saw it sitting there and well...decided to try it on." Shadow said. Rarity spins him around with her magic.
"Although, the red is a bit much. Would you prefer an orange one? You've got red in your fur and this shirt does over-do it a bit." She said. Shadow's eyes spun a little as the spinning stopped.
"Whoa...dizzy..." He said. The shirt suddenly slips off and a similar one, orange with white and red flowers in a different pattern appears on him. Shadow looks over himself in the mirror.
"What do you think?" Rarity corrects the color and does the top button.
"It does look nice on me." He said.
"Of course it does! Ooh! I wonder how you'd look in PINK!" Rarity smiled. Shadow's eyes widen as he raises his claw.
"Oh, no, I am not wearing any pink." He said.
"Oh, nopony is going to see you!" Rarity giggled. "Well, except me. Shadow shakes his head and backs up.
"Still no, I am not wearing pink, not that I have anything against it." He said.
"Oh, just one shirt? Pretty please?" Rarity stands on her hind legs, leaning her back into him as she gazes up at him with pleading eyes. Shadow sighs in defeat.
"Fine..." He said.
"Great!" rarity said, nuzzling him. He looks down at her. She mmmms a little, but realizes what she's doing and pulls away, blushing madly.
"Oh! I'm very sorry!" she apologized. Shadow had a almost deadpan look on his face.
"You're not the only one who did that." He said.
"Who else?" she tries to get the attention off of her.
"Fluttershy was the other one." Shadow said.
"Oh... now then!" she slips the shirt off and a plain blank T-shirt slips onto him.
"Hmmm, what do you think?" Rarity asked as she looked up at him.
"It's nice but I can tell that you're after something with more, of a flare, yes?" He asked back. Rarity nods.
"Yep!" She replaces the shirt with a pink tuxedo. Shadow growls and glares at Rarity, flashing her some sharp teeth. She only nuzzles him.
"It looks nice on you!" She said.
"Besides that, give me one good reason why I should tear this off? I don't like wearing pink." He said.
"Oh hush, you look great!" She smiles at him. Shadow deadpans, just as he hears the bell above the door again and looks over to see Fluttershy walk in.
"There you are!" She said as she trots up to him and sees Shadow wearing the pink tux. "You're wearing pink..." She giggled. Shadow looks away, blushing and mumbling as he crossed his arms. Fluttershy giggles and hugs his arm. Shadow blushes and looks down at her.
"Y-you look nice in that." She says softly. Those words cause him to blush even deeper.
"I've been having him try on outfits." Rarity beams.
"And I keep telling you I don't like wearing pink, other colors I don 't mind, but pink just makes me feel, girly." Shadow said.
"Oh, alright." Rarity said as she removed the suit. Shadow sighs in relief.
"Thank you." He said.
"Would you like to try anything else on, darling?" Rarity asked.
"I would like to see!" Fluttershy said. Shadow blushes and looks at Rarity.
"S-Sure." he said.
"Well, let's get looking then!" Fluttershy smiled. Shadow nods and looks around. Fluttershy accompanies him. Shadow looks at the clothing on the stands.
"Do you like it in Equestria so far, Shadow?" Fluttershy asked. Shadow nods.
"I do, it is better than my last place. Much more peaceful and quiet" He said.
'Well, at least until everypony starts singing." Fluttershy said. Shadow was confused.
"Singing?" He asked. Fluttershy nods.
"One starts, then the whole town becomes a chorus." She said. Shadow stifles a laugh.
"It's like yawning, I suppose. One does it, the others follow." Fluttershy said. Shadow burst out laughing.
"Oh, Shadow!" Rarity calls from the other side of the boutique. Shadow looks at Rarity.
"Come here please!" She yelled. Shadow was confused at what Rarity wanted and went over to her.
"How about THIS!?" she giggles, presenting a ballerina gown which was pink with glitter. Shadow's eye twitches, then he runs out of the building screaming.
"Nope! Nope! Nope! Nope! Nope!" He yells. As he ran everypony saw him. Shadow ignored the screams of everypony as they ran from him as he ran away from the boutique. The ponies who hide came out of hiding, confused as to what just happened. Shadow continues running as he came upon a field of trees that were full of apples, until he tripped on a rock and slammed against the ground with a loud thud. There was a scream nearby. Shadow raises his head, his vision blurry as everything seemed to spin as he looked at where the scream came and saw a small pony, a filly, wearing a bow in her hair as it seemed she was looking at him.
"A-Applejack!" She turned and ran. Shadow mmphs as he stood up, staggering as the world spun around him even more.
"Gah! Stupid, got up too fast." He mumbles. He could see the filly running from him. Shadow watches the filly run in into a small house. She comes back out with a familiar orange mare. Shadow tilts his head and then remembers the mare as another one who chased him.
"What in tarnation!?" The mare could be barely heard from that distance. Shadow leans against one of the trees as he tries to stop the world from spinning.
"Shadow?" The mare asked as a swirly hoof waves in front of him.
"Why..is there two..of you?" Shadow asked, his eyes spinning slightly.
"What are ya doin like that out here?" She helps dust him off. Shadow shakes his head.
"Running away from the mare that wanted me to wear...pink..." Shadow said, shuddering.
"Rarity, I reckon?" The mare asked.
"That's her name? Anyway, she dragged me in and put different suits on." Shadow said.
"That's Rarity fer ya!" Applejack pat his shoulder. Shadow chuckles and feels something poking him. He looks down and sees the smaller pony with the bow in her mane poking him.
"Hmm?" he asked.
"Applebloom don't do that, you'll make him feel uncomfortable." The Applejack said. Shadow chuckles and bends down.
"Hello there." He said.
"How does mah sister know you?" The filly asked, tilting her head.
"Well, she chased me through that forest over there." Shadow said.
"Why?" She pokes his leg. Shadow chuckles again.
"Well, at first I think you thought I was evil, right?" He asked.
"M-Maybe..." Applejack said. Applejack chuckles softly.
"Well, since you're here, Shadow, why don't ya stay a while?" She asked. Shadow shakes his head.
"I don't want to be a bother." He said.
"It'd bother me if ya didn't." she pokes his chest playfully with a hoof. Shadow sighs and nods.
"Ok, but shouldn't I be a pony, just in case?" He asked.
"Nah, your fine." Applejack said, waving her hoof. Shadow nods and follows Applejack.
"So, this here is mah sister, Applebloom." Applejack points a hoof at the yellow filly. Shadow tilts his head as he looks down at Applebloom.
"Sister? I thought she was your daughter." He said. Applejack laughed.
'HA! Yer funny!" She hawlered. Shadow only blinks.
"Come on, now! You gotta met the family!" Applejack said, trotting down the path.
"Well, wait up for me!" Shadow said. Applejack laughed again.
"If you can catch up!" She said. Shadow ran to catch up to her. Applejack sped up.
"Haha! You can't out run me!" She yelled. Shadow was about to try and run faster, when a sharp pain seared through his leg, causing him to yelp and trip, causing him to slam onto the ground. Applejack heard and turns around.
"What's wrong!?" She asked, worried. Shadow didn't say anything as he held his hurting leg as pain shot through it.
"Shadow!" Applejack runs back over to him and helps him up. Shadow hisses in pain as he leans against Applejack.
"What happened Shadow?" She asked.
"My...leg..." He said.
"Oh, ah'm sorry." She said. Shadow mmphs as he looks at his hurting leg, which seemed to be a little swollen.
"Eeee, we should get ya'll to the hospital." Applejack said.
"I knew..I shouldn't..have ran..on a...healing...leg.." Shadow said.
"Yeh that probably wasn't good." Applejack pointed out as she helps support Shadow. Shadow winces every now and then, then hears a gasp. He looks up and sees Fluttershy. Fluttershy rushes over.
"What happened!?" She asked.
"My...leg...It hurts.." Shadow whined.
"Oh, we need to get it looked at!" Fluttershy said in concern. Shadow nods and hobbles over towards Fluttershy. She nuzzles Shadow gently.
"I'll take you back to my cottage instead and I can care for you there, okay?" She asked. Shadow nods and leans against Fluttershy for support. She smiles warmly at him as she leads him to the cottage. Shadow winces with each step he took as they enter said cottage. She sits him on the couch and nuzzles him gently. Shadow looks at his injured leg and hisses slightly from the pain. Fluttershy gets a bandage and wraps it around his leg, blushing as she did. Shadow winces as Fluttershy wrapped it.
"You're going to be okay." Fluttershy said to him softly.
"It just..hurts...very badly..." Shadow hisses slightly.
"I know it must. I'll get you an ice pack." She said as she turns and leaves for the kitchen. Shadow nods and lays on the couch, staring at the ceiling. Fluttershy comes back soon with the ice pack and sets it on his leg. Shadow winces a little, then relaxes. Fluttershy smiles softly and nuzzles him. Shadow blushes and pulls Fluttershy into a hug.
"Thank you." He said.
"No problem, Shadow." Fluttershy said, hugging back. Shadow smiles and closes his eyes. His breathing began to slow as it seems he has fallen asleep. Fluttershy gets a blanket and lays it gently over him. Shadow smiles gently, then in his sleep, he grabs Fluttershy and begins to hold her close. Fluttershy squeaks a little but comes to curl up on top of him in his arms, blushing. Shadow mumbles something in his sleep and nuzzles her. She nuzzles him back and closes her eyes. As soon as Fluttershy nuzzles him back, he seemed to hold her a little tighter. Fluttershy smiles softly as she falls asleep as well.
TO BE CONTINUED