Descending to Equestria

The morning had begun to repeat its daily routine, ascending steadily as the moon drew closer to a close.

The sun's luminance touched the land, awakening the residents of ponyville. Ponies had begun to rise from their slumbers, and to their hooves as they readied themselves for their daily routines.

Speaking of which, we return at the edge of ponyville in Fluttershy's cottage, where Leo lied peacefully in his comfy bed. He had a content smile on his face, his breathing soft as he nuzzled a foreign object in his sleep. He began to stir as the smell of hay bacon and pancakes had snuck its way into his nose. His eyes began to slowly crack open, the dark blurriness had slowly left Leo's sight as he stretched his legs, letting out a deep yawn. He clicked his mouth a few times as his gaze followed down to what he was holding tightly on his chest.

It was one of the pillows from his bed, he stared at curiously for a moment, he hummed thoughtfully as he replayed the night before his sleep.

He remembered listening to music and taking his dose of cigarettes. After that, it was sleep, but there was a feeling he couldn't shake off as he pondered his slumber. He could have sworn he felt something crawl onto him, and latched tightly to it for comfort.

It was soft, gentle, and had a nice smell of strawberries. It felt so real that he just had to hold onto it tightly so it wouldn't leave him. He could've sworn it was another living being trying to ease him. But before him on his chest was just a pillow, a plain old pillow filled with feathers. His stare was upon it, his heart trying to search for that comfort he had felt during last night.

But nothing.

He didn't feel anything from the soft cushion. His grip tightened, soon followed by his hand throwing the pillow aside across the room, hitting the wall and landing on the floor with a pomf.

He glanced at the assaulted pillow, a motionless look upon his eyes, his stare nearly going right through it.

"Just a dream." He whispered.

Leo begrudgingly rose from his bed, taking a deep sigh as he made his way down stairs to the kitchen where the smell of breakfast was originating.

Leo peeked over the entrance, his hand over the frame as he saw none other than Fluttershy, readying breakfast. She continued on with her preparations until she had finally noticed Leo watching her.

"Oh, good morning Leo. Did you sleep well last night?" She asked with genuine curiosity, a soft smile on her face.

"Yeah..." Leo scratched his chest, the thought from before still lingering in his mind. "I think I did...how about you?"

"Oh I slept just fine, in fact, the best I have in years." She smiled. "You should get dressed Leo." She said as a small blush made its way to her cheeks, her glance shying away from him.

His mind processed her motions until he finally realized he was only in his boxers. His eyes widened as his hands had sped to cover his crotch section in habit.

"Oh crap, I'm sorry Fluttershy!" Leo's feet blurred in speed, his footsteps sounding loudly and rapidly through the house as he made his way upstairs to his room to retrieve his attire.

Fluttershy couldn't help but giggle at Leo's shyness as she continued to stir the haybacon. Goodness, he was almost as shy as her when it comes to nudity.

With different species who are prone to wearing clothing.

Her thoughts drifted as she began to reflect her actions of last night. The memory played slowly as her gaze wandered absentmindedly. She slept with Leo last night. She snuck in and lied on him in an attempt to give him comfort. Her blush reddened, she remembered how she nuzzled on his chest, enjoying the exotic feel of his skin against her coat. Why did she do something so bold, it wasn't like her.

She didn't know it, but Leo had brought out a new side of her. A little more bold, and assertive with her friends when they scorned him. She wondered how odd it was her mood changed whenever she was around him, or thought of him.

It's quite intriguing how certain sentient beings made others nature change obliviously. Fluttershy shook the thought away, dismissing it as nothing more but a phase. She emptied out both pans on her two good plates, setting them on the table. She walked over to her seat where her tea steamed in place, gently taking her seat as she delicately reached for her cup and began to take small sips, waiting for her guest to return from covering his shameful nudity

Leo had just about finished sticking his arm through his right jacket sleeve, he brushed his hair back from the neck of his jacket, and shook his head as his hair waved from side to side.

He turned to his bed and saw the chaotic mess he had left behind. Being Fluttershy's guest, Leo had felt himself obligated to at least make his bed before starting his day. He began with tossing the blanket aside and went around to retrieve his pillow against the wall. After he placed said pillow against the bed post, he began with placing his blanket on his bed and smoothed out the wrinkles.

His movement halted as he felt something get caught in his fingers.

His eyes shifted as he brought his arm up only to see a pink hair strand caught between his fingers.

"What the..." he inspected the strand before him, his thoughts wandered to the one being who had pink hair in this house. "But this is..."

His mind had immediately projected an image of Fluttershy.

Her strand of hair was on his bed, but why was it there in the first place? He remembered something last night. That feeling, of warm, soft protection that embraced him.

Could it have been from...

"No..." Leo shook the thought away. "It couldn't have been her." He thought rubbing his forehead down to his chin. "It probably got there when she laid my clothes out." He chuckled as he made his way out. He felt embarrassed to have such a thought cross his mind with a smirk on his face. "Stupid." He scolded himself as he made his way down stairs to join his host for breakfast, and hopefully, truly make a new start for his new home. Though he had wondered how he would get back home, but every time he did, the thought faded as he remembered an important fact.

What does he have left on earth worth going back to?

Nothing came to mind, the only thing he had was his adoptive mother. But she was gone now.

It was time to move on. It was now time to start his new life in Equestria.

As soon as Leo and Fluttershy had finished their breakfast, they headed out to start their day.

Fluttershy however, had plans for the both of them. She mentioned during their walk about fixing Leo's image to the public. Despite his rampage that frightened the locals, Fluttershy was sure she could convince them that Leo was good if they let him explain himself.

"Which is why we're going to the town hall, to speak with Mayor Mare to allow you do a public speaking." She smiled. "So you can apologize for what happened, even though it was Twilight who caused it." Her gaze wandered to down the path. A look Leo noticed in her eyes, she was troubled, and frustrated.

If Leo had to ponder a guess, her frustration was most likely coming from what Twilight had done. Her furrowed eyebrows were a dead giveaway, with a side of a frownie face.

"Looks like she's mad at her friend..." Leo held his chin for a moment, till his quizzical look was was replaced by a devious smirk. "So, she's mad at Twilight, huh..." he chuckled out loud, not realizing he had caught Fluttershy's attention.

"What are you laughing at Leo?"

Leo's hand shot up to cover his smile before she noticed. "Oh, nothing! I was just remembering something funny. " Leo said, continuing his way to the town, trying his best to return his facial expression back to what it was. But the thought of Fluttershy scolding Twilight for her forceful study on him was just too good. It made him feel a small glee to know one of Twilight's friends was mad at her. And that was all he needed to feel like today was going to go like an otter in a lake.

Swimmingly.

After finally reaching the town hall, Leo and Fluttershy let themselves in with little resistance from the ponies who worked there, which by the way ran out the moment they saw Leo. Soon after, they both had let themselves in to the mayor mare's office. Who are the moment was too busy to notice Leo and Fluttershy had entered her office, reading over the paperwork she needed to go through.

"Almond crisp, you're finally here." She spoke nonchalantly, her gaze still on her paperwork. "I was wondering when you were coming back." Her voice shifted to a disapproving tone. "You can't tell me it took that long to bring an espresso." Her gaze had finally tilted upward as she spoke. As her eyes met Fluttershy's, her gaze wandered to the tall figure that stood before her, her eyes went wide as she aggressively recoiled backwards with her hoofs tucked into her chest.

"W-what...what are you doing here?!" She shouted, her gaze going back to Fluttershy. "Fluttershy, I know your forte is to tame wild animals and bring the good in them. But this thing is too far gone! It wreaked havoc upon the town market!" She yelled with a racing mind as she began to sweat were she sat.

The words Leo heard bounced off him as he could only reply with one word. "Rude." Leo said as he casually made his way to the guest seat and sat down followed by Fluttershy.

"Miss Mayor, Leo here may be a lot of things but he's certainly not a wild animal." Her hoof hit the desk with a soft clop. The mayor began to calm her nerves a little, but her guard remained on alert.

"Th-then what is he doing in my office?" Her reply came out with a hint of impatience as she was not too keen in having a foreign species in her office.

Fluttershy had straightened herself out, clearing her throat before she could speak. "I just would like to say before we start, I'd like to explain that Leo's 'rampage' wasn't triggered by animal instinct, because he's not animal." Fluttershy's expression was serious, her eyes never leaving the mayor's. Her shy nature once again tucked away. "I really don't want to tell on a friend, but I feel like this is well deserved. Twilight performed some experiential actions on Leo to discover more about his species. Leo refused, and Twilight went against him anyway without his approval. Spike told me that whatever she did to Leo had triggered something to throw Leo in a frenzy." She continued as Leo sat silently by her, her memory of his adoptive mother running through his mind has clutches his pants on his thighs. "So you see mayor, it was Twilight who caused it."

The mayor did not say anything, she just sat there silently as she moved closer to her desk. Her thoughts on the incident that transpired yesterday were now seen in a different light.

"I see." She looked over to Leo, who was just facing down, his hands still clutched tightly on his pants. "So you're telling me that he was just provoked by one of Twilight's crazy experiments?" Fluttershy nodded, the mayor hummed thoughtfully, her gaze drifting to the wall, then back to Fluttershy. "Then why bring him to my office after all of that?" She asked.

"I brought him here because he wanted to do a public apology. He didn't mean to attack the town market and ruin Carrot Top's stand. He was just in distress and didn't know what to do. So I'm asking you Mayor Mare, would you allow him to so a public speaking, with me by his side so I can vouch for him?" She asked, her emotions softened.

The mayor had recoiled back slightly from Fluttershy's request. A public apology? Should Mayor Mare let the human who had terrorized the ponies of her beloved town do a public apology.

The scale in her mind had tipped to denying the forward request. Yesterday's incident was enough to enforce her reasons.

But her thoughts had dared to wonder if turning him down would be the right thing to do.

In all honesty, it would not be fair to the human who is trying to apologize for his misdeeds. Unlike the griffin that Rainbow Dash had invited who showed no remorse for her behavior.

But the ape that sat across her desk was not the griffin. Judging by his averted expression on his face, he wanted to make things right.

Her thoughts had inevitably reached its verdict as she sighed and scooted closer.

"Fluttershy." She broke the silence. "I understand your request comes from the goodness of your heart, but to let your Leo do a public apology shortly after terrorizing the market section of town would be a hasty decision to allow." Leo's gaze remained averted from Mayor Mare's eyes and clenched the fabric of his pants as Fluttershy's look followed Leo's mood.

"However," both Leo and Fluttershy's gaze were lifted. "It would be heartless as mayor to turn away a creature that wishes to apologize for the way he had acted. I will allow your Leo to do his public apology, but not now." She rolled her seat towards the filing cabinet behind her, rummaging her hooves through the assorted papers. "The ponies of this town need their time to recuperate." She slid the paperwork to Fluttershy as she scooted closer to her desk. "These papers will help you with what you are requesting, just turn in the forms the day after and I will schedule a date for your Leo to do his public speaking."

Fluttershy smiled as she took the forms and thanked Mayor mare for her kindness and understanding.

"Thank me if the public speaking goes without a hiccup, I am putting my reputation and job on the line for you." She said calmly but with a hint of seriousness. "Do not make me regret this decision."

"I promise Mayor mare, you won't." Fluttershy exclaimed happily, greatful for the mayor's understanding.

After Leo too gave thanks, they had decided to take their leave and on to their next objective for the day.

Mayor mare watched the two depart from the building as their image shrank off into the distance. She sighed as she reached for her desk drawer for her alcohol relief as her mind kept pondering the outcomes of public speaking.

"What are the consequences for the actions I have just done." She shuddered the thought as she down an entire mouthful of her 'prance's spirit' wine. "Please let my mercy not be in vain." She uttered under her breath.

As both Leo and Fluttershy had continued their walk Leo was oblivious to where Fluttershy was talking him as he realized that they had begun leave town, and not back the way they came.

"Um, hey Fluttershy I noticed we're not going back to your house? Are we running another errand or something?" Leo asked as he subtly scratched his nethers.

"Well, I wanted to go and see if Bic Mack was doing fine after he ran into tree back at the orchard. I hope you don't mind that." As glanced to her left she noticed Leo wasn't right beside her till she turned her head and saw Leo was a few feet behind her.

His eyes opened a little wider than they should be, his skinned shimmered from the nervous sweat Leo's body secreted.

"Leo what's wrong?" Fluttershy walked over to Leo.

"Oh like you don't know. You left out the part where I made that happen." Leo pointed out as he sank behind the trees.

"But I'm sure Big Mac has let the incident go since Applejack might have cleared things up." She pawed the ground slightly. "At least half I think..." She muttered.

"Yeah, well that's one half too little Fluttershy and besides, this week alone has been one big disaster. We're doing damage control right now, so last thing I want is have a big red behemoth starting what he can't finish." Leo stated. "Although, the reason I beat him was because I threw sand in his eyes and made him run into a tree, but we're not in the school ground so anything goes." Leo thought.

Flurttershy sighed from Leo's Alright reluctance. She knew she wasn't going to be able to get Leo took come, he did have a point though. Over the past few days when Leo has tried today make a better impression of himself, there was always something around the corner that set everything down hill.

"Alright Leo, I understand. I won't make you do anything you don't want to, but at least promise me you'll stay out of trouble."

"Consider my promise kept Fluttershy." Leo said as he leaned and slid down against the tree. "I'll stay behind this tree under the shade. I'll wait here for you till.you get back." Leo assured.

Fluttershy was not sure today just leave him there so close together the path behind a tree but it would have told do. She had reluctantly left to her friend's orchard to discuss the important matter.

So was Leo left alone with his thoughts as he signed relaxingly as he placed his hands behind his head and closed his eyes.

The only things that caught Leo's attention without his sense of sight were the noise of nature. It was all nearly enough to drift him off today sleep. That was until he felt something in his bare chest. It was too light for discomfort but it irritated Leo's flesh very slightly.

He opened one of his eyes only to lock eyes with the bug eyed grasshopper staring right at him. His antennas moving slightly as the rest remained motionless, his look transfixed to Leo. He couldn't but chuckle slightly at the funny look he gave him, after a moment Leo realized the insect was not going anywhere. The bug had overstayed its welcome and it was time for it too be gone.

"Fuck off grasshopper." Leo waved a hand over the insect, shooing it away as it took its leap of fate into the ocean of grass blades where it had belonged.

Leo resumed with his relaxation, dismissing the past and any future inturuptions.

That was until he heard the branches above him snap and crack as the leaves descending on him.

"Pero que chingados?" Leo muttered he tilted his head upwards as three small objects fell from the tree, all accompanied by loud yet small yelps. "Ah crap." Leo uttered.

The walk to Applejack's home was fairly long as it took longer than expected due to her thoughts drifting over her attempts to drag Leo's image from the mud.

She had wondered if her attempts were futile. She understood that her species was weak minded to some degree when encountering something from beyond the abyss.

Fluttershy may be over cautious, but she had what most of her kind didn't. That was understanding. At first glance the unknown may have an ominous vibe, but that's because it is just misunderstood.

And that's what he was, misunderstood. Her mission now was to show Leo in a better light to her kind.

She finally had arrived to the apple family's orchard after she passed the gate opening, but there was no one there. Perhaps her friend might be off in the orchard bucking apples. She flapped her wings and quickly took off above the orchard to scout for her friend.

A small moment of searching she found Applejack with her brother Big Mac. It was a good thing he was so big and red, it made them easier to spot.

Fluttershy descended with her trademark elegant gracefulness to the ground.

"Hi Big Mac, hi Applejack." Fluttershy greeted as she trotted to her apple bucking friend who had been startled by her sudden appearance.

"Jumping willikers Fluttershy! Ya scared me half to death." Applejack exclaimed as she retracted her hooves from the tree she was busy with. "How are ya by the way?"

"Oh, I'm just fine. How's your brother?"

Applejack gave Fluttershy a quizzical look as she motioned her friend to her brother who was standing right behind her.

"Why don't ya ask him yourself?"

Fluttershy turned to see Applejack's brother with a gauss wrapped around his head, his neutral look etched on his face.

"Oh, how's your head Big Mac?" She asked, a little nervous though as she wondered in the back of her mind however mad he was.

"It's fine ah suppose." A long awkward silence followed, both not sure what to say, so Applejack had decided to intervene.

"So! Uh, how you been doing Fluttershy? Taking good care of Leo ah hope?"

"Oh yes, very. We decided to go out this morning to do some damage control as he said. I'm trying to clean his reputation as best as possible, things haven't been easy for him since he came." He mind wandered to her guest.

"Yeah ah hear ya." She felt a pang of guilt as she remembered her assault on Leo. "So what kind of damage control are ya trying to do anyway?"

"Just having some paperwork filled out for a public speaking. I figured if Leo did a heartfelt apology, ponies in town wouldn't be so quick to shun him."

Applejack understood what she was aiming for, but she couldn't help but wonder if her attempts would be successful.

"Ah do understand what you're trying to accomplish, but do ya really think it'll work?"

Fluttershy had also wondered that too, though she was true to try and accomplish her goal, she was worried her attempts would fail.

"I'm not sure Applejack, but I have to try. We're his only friends, I can't just turn my back on him, I just can't." Her gaze sank downward.

Applejack could see the heartache in Fluttershy. She really did care for him, Applejack didn't necessarily feel the same way, but her good nature told her to stand by her friend.

"Don't ya worry a bit Fluttershy, ah know how much this critter means to you then I'll be right behind ya." She placed an assuring hoof on her. "Ah swear it."

Fluttershy smiled brightly from Applejack's supportive words. With her by her side she knew she could accomplish her mission.

"Thank you Applejack! I'm so glad I have you to help me. Oh! Which brings me back to the reason on why I came in the first place."

"And what's that?"

Fluttershy turned her gaze away as she began to paw the ground. "I know it's sudden but..." her nerves were overwhelming her as she tried to build up her courage. "...would it be alright if Leo worked here in the orchard?"

Applejack cocked her head back as though she was swatted on her face. She did a double take, her eyes open wide, her mind having trouble processing the request.

"Pardon?" She asked.

"Wait, wait, wait, so the reason you three tailed me and Fluttershy this whole morning was to capture me because you thought I was a monster?"

Leo asked the free young fillies that were sitting in front of him. Their little crudely hoof made net next to the trio, ripped to pieces.

"Well yeah, I mean you did terrorized the market, threatened Rainbow Dash and scared Twilight half to death." The young filly known as Applebloom said as she leaned closer to Leo, her fascination getting the better of her.

"So we thought if we caught you we'd get our cutie marks for monster trapping." The other little filly known as Sweety Bell said as she too leaned close to inspect the bronze ape. She was very intrigued by his hair. Yes it was plain black and a little messy but she just wanted to touch it.

"You're either very brave or just plain stupid to attempt to catch a monster with such a crude method." Leo stated with a dead pan look.

"Hey! That wasn't a nice thing to say!" The young orange filly known as Scootalo shouted as she got in a defensive stance.

"I wasn't trying to be nice, I was being honest."

"Ah am gonna have to stop ya right there mister." Applebloom stood as she paced back and forth while speaking. "But honesty isn't what ya just displayed." She spoke like a teacher giving a lecture to her dimwitted students. "Honest is when ya tell the truth by being nice about it. Take it from me, the sister of the element of honesty." Her stance changed of a proud one as though she herself had accomplished the feat herself.

Leo's thoughts from her "statement".

"What a crock..." he thought. "So basically what you're saying is that you have to sugar coat things when you're telling the truth?"

Applebloom was taken back from Leo's feedback, she wasn't expecting that at all. She thought she'd get a different reaction.

"Well, no, ah mean-- that's not what ah meant!" She began to get defensive.

"Not what you meant? What did you mean then." Leo was amused how the little filly was reacting.

"What ah meant was-- you--" She tripped on her own words.

"Okay, someone's getting angry." Leo stood as he dusted himself off.

"Where are you going?" Scootaloo asked.

"I'm going to go to a spot where there aren't any annoying fillies ruining my silence." Leo looked over a random direction. "Oh look, there's one now." He said as he walked over to the other side of the dirt road and relaxed behind the tree sitting there.

The trio all felt the same pang of annoyance as they furrowed their eyebrows and puffing their cheeks.

"Hey! That wasn't very nice!" Applebloom shouted.

"Good deduction..." Leo said not caring.

"We meant it!" Scootaloo yelled as she jumped from the grass to the dirt road. "Don't you know who we are!?"

"Annoying?"

"No! We're the Cutie mark crusaders!" She shouted their trademark group name.

Leo's eyes snapped open from the last three words that left Sweety bell's mouth. He pulled peeked behind the tree he sat on with a most irritated yet shocked look.

"Que?"

"She said we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders." Applebloom repeated in Sweety Bell's place.

Leo's 'thought processor' had begun to catch smoke as his left eye twitched irritably. His mind could only process short crude word which began to depart his word hole.

"That...has...got...to...be...The most...stup--"

"Sweety Bell! There you are, you worried me sick!" Rarity, who had made her sudden appearance, catching the four unawares. "Who are you talking to behind that tree!" She turned only to eyes with the ape behind the tree.

"Que onda?" Leo said dryly.

"What are you doing here near the orchard!?" She shrieked, her trademark panicky thinking began to kick in. "Did you stalk my Sweety Bell and her friends here to pounce them unaware?!"

"No."Leo spoke in the same dry tone.

"You did! You must have why else would you be behind a tree while my sister and her friends are out in the open!"

Leo's annoyance had begun to spike as his brow twitched irritably again from her accusations.

"Que no!" Leo snapped. "I don't want anything to do with you or your 'pinche' sister or her friends! So why don't you do me a favor and leave my radius of scent because I can smell your cheap perfume from behind this tree!"

Rarity reeled her head back in pure shock as though she snaked across her mussel.

"H-how...how dare you! I'll have you know that the perfumes I purchase are shipped from Prance from a highly respectable--"

"I'm sorry could you get back to me after my nap? Afterwards you and I can continue our conversation never."

Leo left Rarity's line of sight as he leaned back on his tree, making snoring sounds.

"Wah! I! You! Well I never! You have to be the most appalling ape I have had the displeasure of meeting! Really, I've meet one Fluttershy's chimpanzees who were more civilized than your dark brown plot!"She shrieked, her annoyance of the human getting to her causing her to act un-lady like in font of her sister and her friends. If she had stopped to notice, they were all giggling uncontrollably. "And they're certainly much more attractive than you and keep a better hygiene!" She stomped.

Both last phrases about his physical appearance and hygiene made Leo’s eyes snap open with shock and anger.

He stood from his tree and got right up in Rarity's face with a vicious glare.

"You know what white bread! Why don't you blow me! At least afterwards your mane would match your coat!" Leo yelled, his breathing heavy, his eyes locked on Rarity's who just recoiled back from Leo's retort. "'Me vale mierda' whether you think I'm attractive or not! Besides, what stallion would find your tacky ass attractive, eh!?! If they had a decent sense of smell like I do, they'd turn the other way!"

Leo's barrage of words had struck her like an arrow to a target practice board. Her eyes darted left and right to try and think of a retort. Her ears shot upward with an idea that would counter Leo.

"Well, if you'd follow me around ponyville, you'd see how many stallions gawk at my glorious body, and if you don't believe me there is one thing would speak for my claim." Her expression become smug as though she was certain to win.

"Tss, and what's that?" He said crossing his arms.

"My little assistant/servant...Spike." She uttered.

The words Spike struck Leo's core like a needle, his eyes shot open. The pure shock would allow him to utter only one word.

"What?" He said coldly. His gaze slowly falling to her like a menacing bird of prey leering down a helpless mouse who doesn't know when to stop.

"So you see Mr. Lea." She mispronounced his named purposely. "I'm one attractive mare."

Leo's jaw clenched beneath, the flesh bulging as his eye began to twitch like before. His mind throbbing in anger, the danger of a verbal assault ready to fire upon Rarity. He stopped himself however as he glanced behind her, Leo's look had gone from anger to a mischievous smug grin.

To Rarity's shock, Leo ran past her as he let out a wail of sobs. He gaze followed him running to Fluttershy who was accompanied by Applejack.

"Leo what's wrong? Why are you crying?" She asked, completely confused to the situation.

"Fluttershy! Rarity was being mean to me! She called me ugly and insulted my hygiene!" Leo said as tears left his eyes, his sobs coming out choked"

Fluttershy's gaze locked to Rarity's in an ice cold stare to the point where it was nearly elevating to 'the stare'. Rarity was once again in shock, more than before though. Her mind was trying to process the appalling action the human took in an attempt to tarnish he image in front of her friends.

She shook her head out of her shock, finally regaining her senses.

"Now wait just one minute!" She yelled. "I did not such thing, I was merely looking for my sister and found her and her friends in the midst of that ape! Surely you can't believe he didn't have anything sinister planned." She mistakenly stated.

"You see Fluttershy, she's accusing me of trying to hurt those fillies!" Leo choked out sobbing, really selling his 'merchandise' like diamonds and pearls.

"Oooh, you filthy impudent ape! How dare you make me look like the bad--!!!"

"STOP IT!!!"

Fluttershy shouted, causing everyone around her to jump, including the Cutie Mark Crusaders who had just scampered away from the intense conversation.

Rarity's neck was arched back a bit from the sudden outburst. The shock still sinking in, slowly, like an rock in tar.

"F - Fluttershy...you can't possibly be taking this ape's side!" Her voice cracked, her hurt very apperant. "He's obviously lying to you!"

"No Rarity, he isn't! Last time in Twilight's house you insulted the garments he wore without taking the consideration of his condition!" She fumed. "So excuse me if choose not to buy into your claims!"

She stated finally, stomping her hoof to assert herself.

Leo did feel guilty about taking advantage of Fluttershy's trusting nature. But he didn't feel at all bad about making Rarity look bad. After what she said about Spike, he knew she had coming.

So now it was time for the cherry on the icing.

"Oh Fluttershy, thanks so much!" Leo said as he feel to his knees, turning Fluttershy around to embrace her in a hug. "I'm so glad you trust me enough to believe me over your friend. I might just cry again, but in joy!"

Fluttershy was more than happy to return the hug he had given her as his face was buried in her shoulder.

Rarity could not believe it, the ape that won her friend's favor, currently hugging her had be played right into Leo's trap he just made up. She was furious, beneath her leer.

As she stared she noticed Leo lift his head upward, gazing at Rarity, his mouth might have been covered with Fluttershy's thick mane but she knew he had a smug smile beneath, his half lidded eyes were more than a dead giveaway. What really made her fume was the action he took next.

He gave her a wink.