New Beginning

  In the next few days since both Snowflake’s and Spirit’s birthday, it's been going well for our little family. Snowflake and Spirit were trying to find their cutie marks with the Crusaders with their new friend, Dinky Doo, throughout the new days, failing and having fun with their long time babysitters.

  Dinky's mother is a little… interesting to say the least, but if the encounter with her in the party says anything, is that she loves her daughter greatly. She seems to really love muffins as well and thus, calls her daughter, "My Little Muffin".

  Money was still pouring in to Fluttershy’s bank and from what the letter said, that was sent to me from the president of a toy making company, "Tricycles and similar designs are selling everywhere!". We were rich, but we haven’t really done anything ‘big’ with it. We might go and take a short vacation to Filly Delphia to visit Fluttershy’s parents and bond with Shy’s new baby sister, Angel Bell, who’s only a few years younger than our little siblings by the way.

  I was a loving father and a husband to my little family. I granted their wishes as often as possible and made sure to keep them happy, healthy and safe from anything that presented any danger. But it seemed Fluttershy was already happy of what she got, and by that I mean, she got me; a big, loving, living teddy bear to hug and love whenever she wanted.

  In the early morning, I yawned and stretched my arms and legs on the soft bed, being woken up by the rays of light cutting through the window. I lightly smacked my lips and looked to my right, still feeling a little tired, but when I saw Fluttershy sleeping peacefully on my shoulder, my lips curled into a smile. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her a little closer to me as I nuzzled into her pink mane, smelling her sweet scent.

  She made an adorable coo and positioned her head under my chin, snuggling up to me while she rubbed her cheek on my neck. Her gentle breath and beating heart were still very relaxing to me, and as always, teasing me to get back to sleep like a gentle lullaby echoing into my ears in the gentlest tone.

  Then all of a sudden, before I could rest a little more with the sleeping mare, the door to Fluttershy’s room swung open and two of our kids scurried up to the bed. They both get themselves up with little grunts and pulled on our bed sheets.

  "Wake up! Wake up!" Snowflake shook both of us to our right.

  "It's morning!" Spirit jumped up and down on the bed but suddenly falls in a heap with a little grunt beside his sister.

  I heard Fluttershy sigh. I looked down and saw her smiling lovingly with closed eyes, "Good morning…" she moaned out as she opened her eyes, leaned up and placed her soft lips onto mine, reclosing her eyes as well as me for the moment to feel nothing but our loving pouring into one another.

  "Eew! Come on, not in front of us!" Snowflake said and both siblings cringed in disgust and covered their eyes with their hands.

  We both lightly laughed and sat up on the bed with the mare on my lap. Fluttershy yawned and stretched her fore hooves high in the cool, morning air, "Okay, we're getting up." she said tiredly and looked at them with a gentle smile.

  I looked at them, "Ready to visit Aunty Luna and Celestia?" I asked them both and they nodded their heads so fast, I thought they were going to fly off their bodies and roll around on the floor. I looked at the time on the little alarm clock as I slither my arms around the mare, she returning it in kind with a little hum, "Luna should get here in an hour." I said and sat on the edge of the bed with Fluttershy still attached to me, continuing to rub her cheek on my chest with closed eyes. "Let's make breakfast, feed the animals and you two get ready to go for a little field trip." I said and the two yelled, "Yay!" in unison. When they left the room in a hurry, I looked down at the mare and hugged her, planting a kiss on top of her head, “Sleep well, sunshine?” I whispered.

  “Very…” she replied in the same quiet tone. We both just sat there, enjoying each other’s company for a few more minutes before she stirred, leaned up and pecked my neck, causing me to chuckle. “We should get ready.” She spoke and nuzzled into my neck.

  I chuckled a little more, “Sure. We’ll get more time to ourselves in an hour, anyways.”

  She kisses my chest, where my heart was thumping in a gradual pace, “Yes we will.” She said with a little giggle. I hesitantly let her go and she hops off, now feeling a little empty without her in my arms.

  I look at the little table and saw my new journal just laying there, where I left it. I grabbed it and looked at the black, blank cover for a moment before Fluttershy spoke up.

  "Are you coming?" Fluttershy asked from the threshold.

  "I'll be down in a minute, Shy. I have to update my journal first." I said to her and grabbed the quill from a jar of ink.

  "Okay." she replied and started going down, her hooves echoing into the room.

  I spent fifteen minutes writing on my journal and finished with a final period. "There…" I said to myself and put the journal back on the table with an open page to let the ink dry. I finished one third of the journal by now and wrote on it when something interesting happens during the day, or just want to write in general, really.

  I still wondered where exactly I threw my original book into. I know I threw it in a portal to my home, but I can't remember how my home looked and where it was. But there was a good reason I didn't go back and I chose to follow what I lead myself into. It was a bumpy road for a few months, but with the kind help of Fluttershy, Luna and the others, I somewhat recovered from my somewhat depression, but still somewhat thought about home and a somewhat more happy way. Somewhat anyways.

  I slipped on my clothing and zipped up my pants. I got to the open door and looked back to see my shield hanging on the wall above the bed, light reflecting off it like a proud suit of armor.

  I smiled at it for a moment and started going down to the living room to get something to eat.

  I went down the stairs, I saw the usual morning routine playing out; Snowflake and Spirit feeding the animals, filling their little bowls; Snowflake scooping up the animal food from their bags while Spirit dragged them along with some difficulty and puffed out cheeks.

  I looked up and grabbed the empty bird feeder and filled it with a few scoops of different, mixed seeds. I hung it back up and birds fluttered over and started eating away with a few chirps.

  I went over to the kitchen and saw Fluttershy cooking at the stove to my right, a pink apron wrapped around her front. It was her turn to cook, it's something we agreed on and got used to over the years we were together.

  So I walked over to the cupboards and started taking out items from it. I put the plates down on the table, as well as cups and silver wear, but then felt both of my legs being embraced. I looked down and smiled at Snowflake and Spirit looking up at me, hugging my legs with both their arms and legs, their little wings sprawled out in excitement as they looked up at their father with big smiles. I wobbled over to each seat, lifted one leg at a time as they ‘Wheee!’d, pecked each of their foreheads as I gently handled them from under their arms and seated them on their rightful seats, sitting beside one another.

  When breakfast started with Fluttershy putting out her cooking to us, the two ate their breakfast pretty fast, almost like a hungry vacuum cleaner.

  "Um, not too fast, sweetie. You might get a tummy ache." Fluttershy said to the two with slight concern for our little ones as she casually ate her salad.

  They both swallowed, "We'll be okay." Snowflake said and both hopped off their seats and ran up the stairs without another word.

  With a little chuckle and a shake of my head, I grabbed both their somewhat empty plates, mine as well and started washing them in the sink.

  After half an hour, Snowflake and Spirit wore their vests by the door with giddy smiles and whispering to one another. They also had bracelets Luna gave them on their birthday. They were icy blue, smoothed out oval shaped crystals with Star Sapphires as the main piece.

  Then there was a knock on the door and the kids went ecstatic. I walked over from the couch, where Fluttershy rested on her side, opened the door and smiled, "Good morning, Luna, just in time. They both couldn't wait any longer." I said to her.

  She giggled, "Well, they are visiting the capital and castle with their Aunts. Who wouldn't be happy?" she said with a smile.

  The siblings forced their way between my legs both hugged their aunty on her for hooves, "Hi, Aunty Luna!" they both greeted her in unison and nuzzled her coat affectionately.

  Luna smiled and leaned her head down to them, "Good morning, you two." she nuzzled both their cheeks. She leaned back up and levitated them both onto her back, Spirit gripping onto her neck while Snowflake held onto her brother. "I will take good care of them. Don't you two worry." she said to both me and Fluttershy at the door.

  "Have a good day at the castle you two. Listen to Luna, okay?" Fluttershy said to the two on Luna's back with a worried smile. They both nodded happily.

  "Have a nice day, you two." Luna said to us both and started going back to the carriage with the two.

  "Be safe!" Fluttershy waved and the two waved back.

  The carriage door closes and flew off towards Canterlot. Fluttershy sighed and hung her head a little, "I hope they'll be okay." she worriedly said, more to herself then at me.

  "I'm sure they will, Shy. They’re with the two most powerful ponies in Equestria. And besides, Luna is like their second mother to them, so they’ll do whatever she tells them to, like they do with their real mother." I picked her up with a little yelp and face her to me as she blushed, "How about we take a little stroll around town and visit a few friends, hm?" I said to her and ran my right thumb onto her warm, blushing cheek, my other arm wrapped around her rump to keep her up.

  She smiled, "Um, h-how about…" her blushing increased and leaned into my ear, "We take a day off… and… you know…" she said to me and looked at me with adorable, somewhat sultry eyes.

  I smiled, forming my own blush and returning the sultry expression to the mare, "As you wish, m'lady." I said to her with a little nod. I carried her back in and closed the door with my foot as we kissed, her fore hooves wrapped around my neck and shoulders.

  After spending the whole morning in her room and ate some lunch, I went to my shed to work on a little project I’ve been wanting to finish. I closed the darkened, ashy double doors, put on my thick leather apron, gloves and metal face mask and started up the fire pit with a smile.

  Just when I flipped on my mask while starring at the fire pit, I heard a frantic knocking on the doors. I looked back at it for a moment in confusion and walked on over as another set of frantic knocking came. I opened the doors and flipped up my mask and saw Rainbow Dash hovering in front of me, "Winter. We-ah… kinda need you." she said to me nervously and fiddled with her fore hooves and scarf.

  "Okay, so what is it?" I asked and adjusted my gloves.

  "We… found someone in the forest and… she’s kinda freaking out. And I mean Freaking out." she answered, putting emphasise on the word.

  "Okay, so who's the pony?" I asked and walked back in, started to take off my things and put them back where I found them.

  "She's, ah, not really a… pony." she answered again.

  "No? Then what is it then?" I briefly looked back at her as I walked over to the fire pit to put it out.

  After a moment pause, she spoke and slightly gestured to me with one of her hoof, "One of you." she answered nervously.

  I froze, trying to process what she just said to me and slowly looked at her, "Ah… did I hear you right?" I stepped closer to her.

  She slowly nods, "Y-yeah. She's a-a… hoo-man…” she tried to say, making a ridiculous face as she did, “and I'm pretty sure she's about to have a mental breakdown pretty soon. So if you don't mind, can you go and calm her down?" she said to me.

  "Ah, okay, so where is she?" I asked, took out the fire, grabbed my Stetson hat from a little hook on the nearby wall and closed the door from the outside, locking it.

  "In the library." she answered.

  I dragged out my bike from the side of my shed and got on it, "Okay, thanks, Dashie." I thanked her and we both started racing towards the library.

  We arrived to the tree-made-town-library and saw Twilight, Spike, Rarity, Pinkie and Applejack outside the doors with worried looks, but Spike looked like he’s about to be frozen on Twilight’s back.

  I rode up to them, "Okay, I got the news. So where is she?" I asked and propped my bike on the side of the building, near the door.

  Twilight went up to me, "Inside on the couch with some tea… I think." she answered, unsure of herself as clattering teeth rang out from Spike.

  I stood in front of the entrance and slowly opened it. I peeked in out of caution and couldn't find the visitor anywhere. I looked back and raised my hand to let them know to stay out till I say so. They all nodded and Pinkie zipped her mouth, dug down in the snow and ground, pretended to thrown something in, buried it back again and sat on the spot with a big smile like an adorable, loyal, pink dog.

  I slowly got myself in and closed the door silently with a little click. I started looking around the warm library, looking for its new resident at the door, "Hello?" I quietly spoke out and tip toed towards the couch and a coffee table. I saw the tea pot and a filled cup, steam still rising from the cup itself.

  I stood up straighter and adjusted my hat a little in thought, but just as I did, I heard a crook behind me. I swung my head to my left and saw a glimpse of the person docking back in the kitchen. I held up my hands, "Oh, hey… It's okay, it’s just me." I said gently and took off my hat and set it down on the coffee table, "I'm human just like you. Nothing to fear." I said and started slowly walking towards the kitchen threshold.

  The peeked out and figured to myself the new human of Equestria was a female. As she stared at me, her eyes started to slowly widen in surprise and awe.

  "J-James? Is… is that you?" she started to step out, her voice quiet and shaky as her eyes started to sparkle with the beginnings of a tears.

  "Aah…" I thought for a moment in confusion and started looking around the room for some answers, but then all of a sudden, she ran to me and hugged me tightly around my waist.

  "It is you! I missed you so much!" she buried her face into the crook of my neck.

  I looked out the window and saw the five mares looking at me expectantly; I only lightly shrugged in confusion.

  The woman had some thick clothing on, grey thin jacket with a black vest over it, black wind pants, blue shoes, and pair of gloves in her pocket, pocking out and sagging. Her brown hair was a little short, only reaching down to her shoulders and had a pair of chocolate brown eyes.

  I managed to calm her down by hugging her back and caressing her head carefully. After a few moments of silence, I lead her over to the couch and sat down on it. "Where are we?” she let me go and wiped her eyes and sniffled, than started looking around anxiously, “Are we dead?" she asked me, "And what are those things outside?" she pointed towards the door.

  "Ah, first of all, nice to meet you. Second, we're in Ponyville. Thirdly, like it not, you're not dead and lastly, those things are called ‘Ponies’." I answered with a straight face.

  "Wait… you don't know who I am?" she gestured to herself.

  "Aaah…" I was thoughtful, "All I can remember is my time being here for the past couple years." I said to her.

  "You're kidding me, right? You don't know who I am?" she chuckled nervously with a crooked smile.

  I stared at her blankly and blinked a couple of times, "I can't say I don't." I answered.

  Her smile started to crack, "I'm your best friend, how can you not know me?" she said and gently grabbed my wrist.

  I stared at her again, "Sorry, but I can't remember who you are." I answered again and looked at her hand grasping my wrist.

  Her smile slowly fades away and replaced by shock, "You can't remember me?" she said sadly and started to tear up with quivering lips.

  "Look I am sorry, but I can't remember my original home, my parents, my friends, or anything from our universe.” I grab her shoulders and drew her to me, hugging her as I did, “All I know is that my journal had all of my history and I threw that back to my world. But please… I don’t know why, but please don’t cry. It hurts me too." I said to her.

  She looked thoughtful for a moment, and seemingly enjoying the hugging, snuggling up to me for a brief moment before she reached into her coat, "I… have your journal." she took out a book, "Your parents gave it to me sense I was your closest friend. They didn't want to keep it because it hurt them." she stared down at the book for a moment, pain very evident in her expression, but then she shows it to me.

  I grabbed it and skimmed through it. It was interesting, certainly my hand writting but nothing came back. I got to the last page and it was written by someone else and I smile.

  I looked out the window and saw Fluttershy peeking in like the others. I smiled, pointed at her and waved her to come in. "I'd like for you to meet someone." I said and the door started to open slowly.

  The timid pony started to come in slowly, cautious of the girl. The door suddenly closes and she jumped and yelped in surprise with an adorable squeak.

  I looked at the girl and she started to slowly curl her lips up at the pony's reaction. I looked back at Fluttershy, "Hey, Shy. Lookie what I found." I showed and waved the book to her.

  Her eyes widen, "Oh, y-you got your journal back." she said quietly with a smile and started going towards me with her head hung a little low.

  "It still has your writing in here." I said to her and skimmed to the last page to show her as she got up behind the short table.

  "Her? It was her?" the girl asked and pointed at the pony hiding behind the table.

  "This last page is the only thing I can remember about this journal." I said to her. “And it held a moment in my time here that we’ll never forget. My supposed ‘Last day’.” I looked back at the timid pony again, "Come on over, Shy. Don’t be a stranger." I said to her with a smile and a little wave. She gently sinks down in fright, looking at the second human in the room, thinking this over before she slowly started going over to me while still trying to hide behind the small table. When she got close enough, I picked her up with a squeak and set her down in front of the girl. Shy curled herself up in a ball and gently shook in fear.

  I wrap my arms around her to calm her shaking body, and a second later, Fluttershy gradually peeked out and smiled nervously and waved a hoof at the girl. The girl waved back. I smiled, reached out, grabbed my hat and set it down onto the mare, earning a heart warming giggle. Fluttershy looked back at the girl with a timid smile and a little blush.

  "H-hi. I'm Fluttershy." she introduced herself quietly and pulled my arms a little closer to herself.

  The girl gently giggled, "Hi, Fluttershy. I'm Kathrine." she said next.

  Subconsciously, I started making a list of mental nicknames quickly like a computer, checking off every nick-name and ‘Ding!’d when I found the right one. "Okay, Kat,” She seemed surprised at that for a brief moment, but smiled right after, “just to warn you, the other ponies are a little different from her. There's a pink pony called Pinkie Pie. The laws of nature don't always apply with her and she's a little… chaotic and energetic, so be ready for anything." I said to her.

  She started to look a little nervous, "Aah…" she said.

  I smiled, "Just relax and greet them like you do with new comers. They’re all nice and friendly to every visitor that comes by." I said to her.

  I looked at the window once again and nodded at the lavender face. Twilight looked at the others around her, her mouth moving as she spoke to her friends. After a moment they started coming in and Applejack closed the door with a light kick of her hind leg and shook their body side-to-side to get rid of the cold and snow that clung on their coat. Spike on the other hand, was practically frozen on Twilight's back; his body shimmered as he shook like a filly with a sugar rush.

  Then all of a sudden, and as predicted, Pinkie popped out of nowhere and stood in front of Kathrin with a comical grin, "Hi! I'm, Pinkie Pie!" she squeaked out a greeting.

  The girl jolted back on the couch, startled by the law defining pink mare, "I… ah,I-I'm Kathrin." she said to the pink pony as her chest rose and fell quickly. Pinkie gasped in midair and bolted out the library, leaving a cloud of pink smoke shaped like the party mare herself.

  Twilight went up to her next as she waved the cloud away with a little scrunch of her muzzle, "Hello. My name is, Twilight Sparkle." she greeted next and smiled kindly at the woman.

  "Oh… Kathrin." she introduced herself once she calmed down with a sigh of relief.

  "Kat-thr-EEn." They all started to try and pronounce her name, making funny faces as they did, Fluttershy as well, but a little more quietly while looking down at the couch with a more neutral expression.

  I chuckled, "Just like the last time with my name, though I can’t really remember what they were trying to pronouns." I said as I scratched my head.

  "Aah… Kat's good enough." she said to the little group.

  I looked at her, "They call me, Winter. Winternight." I said to her, "And I don't mind starting over our friendship, if that’s okay, Kat." I brought out a hand while the other was around Fluttershy.

  Her smile widened and we shook, "Okay then, Winter.” She giggled before composing herself once more and sat up straighter, “A pleasure to meet, you."