> A New One > by The Real Darkness > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I walked down the path in the Everfree, all the time I spent here really has shown me what I could do and so I set my heart on fixing the Everfree, it was tainted and I had my sympathies to the forest dwellers who live in it with so much danger. As much as my roommate hated it, I was safe here with my blade from my mother, the timberwolves also respected my asserted dominance over all of them and backed down from me quite quickly, especially with my show of Discord. This was just another normal day and I returned home to Fluttershy's, failing once more in my quest for the source of corruption in the Everfree. She always greeted me nicely, but this day, she was sleeping in a9nd so I remained quiet in the cottage. Angel interrupted my movement to my bedroom, battling the darkness of the Everfree is tiring and I was in no mood for the bunny's needs. "Get your own carrots...I am only sympathetic to the lonely bed right now." I spoke to him, picking him up and introducing him to the couch face first. I walked up the stairs, ever so sneakily and collapsed on my bed upon my arrival, sweaty, but onlg caring for my sleep, which arrived quickly. I awoke by the sound of a voice I knew all too well. "Amos, get up and listen." A deep feminine voice echoed from all around me and forced me to stand from my floating bed that was high above the Everfree. That sounded a bit like... I turned to my right and saw a floating Luna in the skies with me. I instinctively walked towards her. "This is the first time you have been in my dreams...so something has to be wrong." I said, oddly pessimistic, maybe caused by my sleep depravity as of late. "But you are wrong my dear nephew, everything is very right. You have done so well trying to return the Everfree back to normal, attacks from its corrupted creatures have gone down tremendously. Celestia is very proud to have you as a son." She spoke in an echoing tone. I love being complimented, gives you that feel good attitude and then makes other ponies get the same attitude around you. "What would you expect from an element bearer? I made my task and I intend to do it." I said quite noble. "And I am impressed, nobody has tried such a hard missionnto do, but this is not why I visit. I have seen your dreams that yiu have been having foten...you have feelings for your roommate." Luna just smiled when she saw the crimson on my cheeks. "You better not tell Flutter..." The only words I had, good job me. "Do not fret, you have my word that I won't distribute your secrets." She still had that smile. "But she is lonely and has been dreaming of a special somepony...you can have your chance." "Is this all you came to tell me?" I inquired, surely she couldn't be here just to help my single problem. "Wise, just as my sister. I did come to also remind you...Celestia is visiting tomorrow to check up on her beloved son." At that moment, my heart stopped, I had completely forgotten about her visit. Luna was quickly pushed away as I woke up. I already found myself cleaning my room, even though it is neat, and mopping, vacuuming, sweeping, scrubing, and every other verb that pertains to cleaning to every inch of the house. I had forgotten about one detail though. "Amos...why are you cleaning at 4am?" An adorable, sleepy, bedhead Fluttershy was standing at the bottom of the stairs while I was scrubing the floor. I found myself staring at her cuteness and blushed, going back to work. "My mother is visiting today and I want the place to be squeaky clean." "Okay...What?!" She stopped halfway up the stairs and began to help me clean, we had had too many crazy nights sometimes with hard cider and left the place in a bit of a teenager's mess. Fluttershy was so kind... And caring... And helpful... And sweet... And cute... I shook my head, my cheeks now a brighter shade of red. This is going to be fun. > Chapter 1: Advice > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- So after Fluttershy's and me cleaned for four hours, we had the distinct stench of cleaning supplies and had to wash up really well. And now we are sitting here, 9am, eating our nice salads for breakfast. "Sorry for waking you." I decided to make small talk since I am suuuuch a romantic. "I had to get up some time and this place did need a clean." Fluttershy smiled to me...so nice. "Still, you work hard and you deserve your sleep." I was wearing my famous smile, it oddly had a way of making her blush sometimes... "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine." "But best friends always worry about each other, we are roomies and we do care." She blushed more at my words. "O...okay." She hid behind her mane, so cutely. And so we ate in silence, soon finishing. We sat on the couch side by side, her fur barely grazing me, she kept it very healthy and very soft. I decided to remember Luna's words and while she was watching her little animals scutter about, Angel munching on his carrot, I reached for her hoof, intending to hold it, I grazed it gently... A knock came to the door and Flutters stood, walking over and opening it, bowing before my mother. Mom simply told her to rise and she entered humbly. I stood and gave her a hug, her neck going around me and her right hoof hugging me. "I missed you, Amos." She spoke, kissing my cheek and I gave the same response. "I missed you too, mom. I wish we could spend more time together." "We will soon again...I hear from Luna that you are making the creatures fear you and pushing them back." We all moved to the kitchen table to talk, sitting around the circle piece of polished wood. "Yes, he has done amazing, Princess. The timberwolves do not even come near my cottage or Sweet Apple Acres, all of them fear him." Flutters spoke, smiling. "I can already feel the evil magic dwindling. I'm proud of you, Amos. Equestria will surely be in your debt if you push and push and eliminate the evil creatures and liberate the Everfree." Now Celestia was smiling my way. "It is the least I could do since you ponies gave me another chance at life." I joined the smiling. After a while of smiling like dopes, we all shared a lauh and mother asked if I could take her to walk in the Everfree. Of course, I said yes and we ended up walking a dirt path I made, my sword sheathed on my left side. The timberwolves were there, I was adept at sensing their evil magic now, and they were very afraid, running and hiding. "I am very impressed...very impressed. It is actually peaceful here." My mother commented on my work. "Would you expect anything less of your son? I...do have a real question for you." I spoke in a serious tone and she obviously sensed something was amiss and we halted our movement. "You can ask me anything, hone-wait, you hate it when I call you that-Amos." "How...do I win over a mare's heart?" I was already blushing. My mother began to act like a little filly, trotting her hooves in excitement. "Oooooh, my little Amos has a crush! Who is it?! Do I know the lucky mare?!" She was very excited...too excited... I just stayed silent this round, she was ranting anyway. "Wait! Don't tell me! It is Fluttershy, isn't it?!" "Yes..." Slap a bit sign on me and make me into a sandwich, this tomato is very ripe. "Ooooooh, I knew it! I need to be going now, do not start anything until I have Cadence visit again!" My mother quickly flew off, leaving me dumbfounded. And so I walked back to the cottage, finding Flutters and we just sat and poayed many games of chess. "When is Princess Celestia supposed to be back?" She asked simply while she was thinking of her moves. I had taught her some strategies, but not all, I did learn how to play this well, it was mother's and aunt Luna's favorite game. "Soon I hope...she and Cadence are going to talk with me." She looked a bit sad when she made her move, quickly shaking it off. "Oooh, who is the special mare?" She teased, this was the real Fluttershy here. I swear that everypony in Equestria will tease me. "Can't say..." I passed the turn to her. "Pleeeease." She pleaded. "No..." She moved her rook into a bad position. "Fine, be that way." I took that rook with my bishop. "You won again...I am just bad at chess." She spoke, saddened. I stood and walked to the kitchen. "I was terrible too...you will get better if you practice more." I hugged her on the way, pouring myself a cup of tea, relaxing. Yet again a knock came to the door and Cadence let herself in, Celestia no longer there. "There is my little brother!" She raced to me and I quickly put the cup down, hugging her tightly. "I missed you, Cady!" Yes, that is what I nicknamed her and she was treated like a sister to me, for anybody's knowledge, we practically are brother and sister. "To the Everfree, now!" She demanded, pulling me along with her romance obsessed grip. And once again, we found ourselves in the Everfree like we were three months ago together. "It is more peaceful here...so...Fluttershy, huh." She smiled, all too knowing. I once again had my blade on my side. "Yes...so, what do I do?" I asked, blushing. "She does like you...but she has only seen romantic movies, so do something like that and you should be able to get her fully. This will be her first time, so be nice." Cady teased, bumping me. "You know i am nice!" "I am going to bunk with you guys for a couple days, take a break, make sure you do not mess up, and be able to hang out with my brother." She smiled to me, hugging, she got her hug returned well and we began to walk back, another two hours gone. > Chapter 2: Sibling Spying > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- We spent the way walking back to Fluttershy's cottage talking, catching up on what has happened to each other over the last three months. She was mostly interested in hearing about the Everfree. When we did arrive back at the cottage, Cady began to settle in my room, I let her have it and I would take the couch for her stay. She said she did not have a departure date. I decided to get some time to clear my mind and called up Rainbow to jog with me through the Everfree. So, there we were, jogging at a pretty decent rate through the Everfree. "I heard about it." Rainbow decided to start a conversation. "Heard about what?" I asked, looking at her as we ran. "You liking Fluttershy. Princess Cadance told me. She knows that Fluttershy and me are good friends and thought I deserved to know." "Well, any advice?" I asked, beginning to blush. "Be gentle or I'll be after you. But I really can't say anything. I've never been down that road with anypony." She replied, looking at me. "Well, I guess I'll go with Cady's suggestion." "Which is...?" "Do something cheesy from romance movies..." "It's somewhere to start." We finished off our jog in silence, returning to the entrance and saying our goodbyes after an hour. I returned back to the cottage for a bit of lunch. After the small meal, Cady left to head to Twilight's and spend time with her. Fluttershy and I were once again left awkwardly on the couch. "So, how are all the animals doing? I had to bring back another one of your chicken's from the Everfree again." I questioned. "Oh, they're fine. They never give me trouble at all, they are all precious little darlings." She beamed to me. This was one of her key topics to talk about. "They are quite well-behaved. I'm glad they are finally used to me being around." "When they weren't was the only time they ever gave me trouble. They were pretty scared of you until you stopped those timberwolves." "Yea..." We quickly returned to the awkward silence for a couple hours until an idea came to my mind. I slowly reached my hand over to Fluttershy's hoof...