Intentions

Chapters

Prologue
Teaser Tuesday
Wobbly Wednesday
Throbbing Thursday
Feeble Friday
Skittish Saturday
Saturating Sunday
Meanie Monday

Prologue

It was a late summer morning when Twilight Sparkle was studying outdoors by a giant apple tree. She had to get a change of pace from the stuffy old library as Spike cleaned it up. Out of nowhere, a giant flash of light broke her silent focusing on the levitating book in front of her. She quickly looked behind her only to find an orange unicorn stallion passed out on the ground.
- Hello? Are you alright? Wake up!
Twilight gave the unicorn a soft nudge to his side. No reaction.
Hmm... maybe I can use a wake-up spell.
Twilight slightly lowered her horn and was about to begin channel her magic as the orange unicorn let out a soft moan.
- Mmmhh... wh-what? Where am I?
The orange unicorn slowly lifted his head and looked around himself.
- Oh goodness! You're awake! I was starting to get a little worried there.
Twilight smiled at the confused unicorn in front of her.
- Who are you? Where am I? WHY do I have such an intense headache?
The unicorn rubbed his forehead with his hoof.
- Well, I don't know who you are or the cause of your headache, but my name is Twilight Sparkle and you are just outside of our quiet peaceful little village we call Ponyville.
Twilight pointed her hoof at the direction of Ponyville.
May I ask what your name is?
The orange unicorn looked down on the ground.
- ''My name...? I-i can't remember my name...''
The orange unicorn thought to himself as he wrinkled his face due to the immense headache. After a while he looked up at Twilight Sparkle who was standing in front of him, looking, as if examining him.
I don't know what my name is.
The orange unicorn was looking slightly confused, but not as confused as Twilight Sparkle.
- You don't know you own name?
Twilight raised an eyebrow at the statement she just received.
- No.
The unicorn shook his head slightly, only to be interrupted by his pounding headache.
Argh! My head, it hurts so much.
- Come, let's get to my house, I think I can get something together to at least help you get rid of the pain in your head.
That said, Twilight Sparkle and the orange unicorn began walking towards Ponyville and into her library. The two unicorns made a huge discovery about the amnesia stricken orange unicorn. After numerous failed attempts, it seemed obvious the orange unicorn could not use magic. Not even capable of the most simple levitation spell, rendering him unable to do anything more than an earth pony could. Twilight was dumbfounded by this and wrote a letter to Princess Celestia about the matter. Twilight quickly received a reply saying the princess, as well as her sister, would come to Ponyville and examine the matter further by themselves.

After a few hours of waiting, a flying carriage could be seen flying towards Ponyville from Canterlot. The carriage was pulled by two unicorn stallions in shining gold armor. On the carriage were two ponies that clearly were bigger than other ponies. One was white with a multicolored mane and tail which seemed to float by itself. The other one, slightly smaller than the white but still bigger than other ponies, was blue and had a blue mane and tail which also seemed to float by itself.

The two alicorns discussed the matter with Twilight Sparkle while the orange unicorn was just sitting quietly a small distance away, watching and listening to their conversation. After yet an hour of intense discussing they finally reached the point of a solution. A spell. A memory recall spell combined with a magic transfer spell that was so advanced and difficult to do that the two princesses along with Twilight Sparkle had to co-operate in order for it to work.

The three ponies readied themselves for this spell by gathering in front of the orange unicorn who only sat still and watched what was happening. The white alicorn initiated the spell as her horn brightly began glowing yellow. She was soon followed by the blue and purple shimmer from the others as their magic combined and shot towards the orange unicorn who barely got time to blink from the surprise.

The massive amount of energy surged around and throughout the orange unicorn as he suddenly began to levitate on the spot he earlier sat on. The intensity grew as papers and books began to circle along with the extreme flow of energy. Everything ended as the energy sphere around the orange unicorn exploded, knocking books out of their shelves. The orange unicorn slowly levitate back down to the solid floor. He looked at the other ponies with a wide grin of excitement as his eyes suddenly began glowing from purple energy, shifting to blue, then to yellow as it faded away.
- Ahahaha! It's working! I can feel it. The power is flowing through my veins.
The orange unicorn stood up on his hind legs as his horn began glowing. Enveloping him in a yellow sphere, transforming him. The orange unicorns appearance changed drastically. His spine suddenly cracked loudly, making it straighter than normal as well as longer. His hind legs grew thicker and longer as the front legs became thinner. All of his four hooves mutated as additional body parts grew out from his changed front and rear hooves. His tail vanished, his mane shrunk, leaving only hair atop and at the back of his head. His coat faded away, revealing most of his body bare skinned with few instances of hair here and there. As a final change, his horn shrunk back into his head.

Everything subsided when the transformation seemed complete making smoke slowly rise from the orange unicorns new appearance. The changed unicorn looked at himself.
- Yes... this looks familiar. Wait! Familiar!
He suddenly shone up, ignoring the presence of the others as he began talking to himself.
Hah... haha... hahaha! My memory! I can remember! I remember everything now, my entire life. Kinder garden! My friends! My family! Everyone I've ever known!
Reaching his higher positioned limbs into the air as he screamed.
I REMEMBER WHO I AM! HEAR ME WORLD! BECAUSE I! AM! SHIIIIINE YELLOWSOUL
Twilight Sparkle looked confused and scared as she tried talking with a trembling voice.
- Who-who are you? What happened to the unicorn? Most importantly, are you alright?
Shine calmed down and sighed loudly.
- I AM that unicorn. Or should I say, that unicorn is me. This is my true form. Yes, I am alright. A tad happy, is all.
Shine smiled widely as he changed back to the appearance of the orange unicorn. One of the unicorn guards entered the room and approached the white alicorn and whispered a few words in her ear. She then approached the two unicorns with her wings spread wide.
- Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student. I am happy me and my sister Luna could help your friend. But royal duty calls and we have to depart.
Twilight Sparkle bowed deeply as the two alicorns left the library. The two remaining unicorns discussed what they should do next. After a while, Shine decided he wanted to settle down with a house of his own in Ponyville. Twilight Sparkle promised she could vouch for him so that he could get an honest job over at the Sweet Apple Acres.

The months passed and eventually Shine was getting quite popular around Ponyville, being the only pony who could shape-shift into an entirely different creature.

Shine had during the almost complete year he spent in Ponyville made many new friends. Among these, beside Twilight Sparkle, were Rainbow Dash the brave blue pegasus, Pinkie Pie the energetic pink earth pony, Rarity the fabulous white unicorn, Applejack the hard-working orange earth pony and Flutter Shy the timid yellow pegasus.

Since Shine had been very busy setting up an entirely new life in Ponyville, he had precious little time to spend on anything else than to get food on his table each and every day. But eventually he managed to get used to his daily routine including his very first real job.

After a month or so of planning he finally managed to set a schedule that would enable him to get to know his new friends a bit better. Little did he know that his new friends wanted to get to know Shine even better than he could ever imagine in his wildest dreams.

Teaser Tuesday

The second day had begun and the second friend on the list was honest Applejack. The thought of what Fluttershy tried the day before still lingered in Shines memory. He violently shrugged his head and it was if the thought fell out through his ear as he suddenly heard Applejack talk to him.
- Sorry Shine, ya've been workin' so hard that ah can't afford to pay ya for a whole days 'o work.
Applejack shouted to Shine who tried to approach his regular posting at the Sweet Apple Acres.
- Aw, well, that's too bad.
Shine looked a little disappointed when he suddenly shone up slightly.
How 'bout I work for free today? I'd rather not change a planned schedule.
- Alright then, yer apple cart's in its usual place, get buckin'.
Applejack was happy at Shines suggestion and pointed her hoof at the side of her barn where an orange cart was parked. The day went on, Shine was bucking apples out of the trees on the farm while Applejack helped Big Macintosh with the rest of their chores. Around mid-day Applejack called out to Shine.
- Shine! Where ya at? It's time for a break.
Applejack scouted the area with her eyes that she had told Shine to buck apples in. After a while Applejack heard heavy panting coming from her side.
- Huff, huff.... here I.... phew... am...
Shine was dragging a heavily overloaded cart full of apples with the last bit of his strength.
- Woah! That's a might more than ya use to fill the cart. How many trees did ya buck?
- Hnnnngggghhh... I lost the count... after five...
Shine kept pulling the cart past Applejack and into the barn where he was told to always unload his cart. But this time Shine didn't have any strength left to unload the cart. Instead he just collapsed as he stopped, making a lot of the apples from his cart fall over him, completely covering him, except for his tail. Applejack couldn't help but laugh at the scene. When she settled down she slowly walked to the pile of apples with a tail and began pushing away the apples, revealing a heavily exhausted and sweaty orange unicorn stallion. Applejack lay down beside Shine and looked at him with a slightly tilted head.
- Heh... why'd you overdo it like that for?
- I wanted to make a good impression.
Shine had recovered enough to finally be able to speak normally.
- No need for it.
Applejack smiled at the tired looking pony in front of her.
Ah know yer a hard worker. None of the strongest ah've seen. But ya've got more will to work than a lot 'o others ah've seen.
- I guess that counts for something.
Shine managed a strained smile as he wriggled away from the harness of the cart and lay down on his right side on a stack of hay he used to rest on between loads of apples. Applejack dragged a bale of hay across the inside of the barn to lie down next to Shine who was too exhausted to notice at first.
- Ah guess it does. But ya shouldn't overwork yerself, done that mistake mahself.
Applejack blushed a little and noticed Shine gave her a tiny nudge as he stretched his limbs out to relax. Applejack almost impulsively put one of her front hooves on top of Shines closest front hoof.

Without looking, Shine put his other front hoof on top of Applejacks hoof, making it look like Shine is holding her hoof. Applejack bent her head close to Shines head and looked closely at the stallions closed eyes. It looked like he was fully asleep. Applejack slowly bent her head even further forward. Their heads were so close now they could feel each others breath, almost taking turns inhaling and exhaling. Applejack tried to move her lips closer to Shines, but just as their lips were about to make contact, Shines eyes flung open, observing what Applejack tried to do. Looking unaffected of what he saw, he quickly got up to his hooves as if he never had been tired at all.
- Enough resting, those apples aren't gonna buck 'emselves outta the trees.
Applejack looked a little angry for failing at her little attempt. She quickly ran for a rope hanging on a long rusty nail on the barn wall and threw it a Shine, giving it a violent tug, tripping Shine and tie him up by the hooves. She leaned her head above Shine who looked rather shocked at what just happened.
- Ah think Big Macintosh can take care of the apple harvestin' for the rest of the day.
Applejack gave Shine a naughty grin.
Work, work, work an' no fun can make ya go crazy, so now it's time for some fun.
- Fun?
Shine raised an eyebrow while looking lazily into Applejacks eyes.
Well, fun sure is fun, but I'm a bit worried what ''fun'' you got in mind. So, what DO you got in mind?
Applejacks smile widened into a huge grin, still with a naughty touch.
- Sumethin' like this.
Applejack lowered her head and softly began kissing Shine on his neck.
- Well, enough of that!
Shine yanked his upper body away from Applejack just as his horn began glowing which he used to untie himself. Applejack got very surprised by this and slowly began walking backwards towards the slightly open barn doors.
Going somewhere?
Shine looked at the very nervous Applejack as he once again used magic to close the doors shut, gently slamming the handles into Applejacks flank.
- Sh-shine? Whatcha goin' to do?
Applejack began looking a little terrified.
- Not much.
Shine lazily looked at the rope laying on the ground that earlier had him tied up.
Not much, except teaching this naughty mare in front of me a little lesson.
Shine pointed his horn at the rope which he then levitated over to Applejack which tripped her and tied her up, just like Shine was. Shine lay down on the ground next to Applejack, just like she did to him. Applejack began to panic slightly from Shines naughty smile she couldn't avoid seeing.
- Hnnnghh! L-lemme go, please. Ah'm sorreh, a-ah didn't mean to do anythin' ya didn't wanna do.
As Applejack calmed down she shut her eyes to prevent Shine from seeing the tears forming in her eyes.
- Well, me neither.
Shine tilted his head slightly, still looking at Applejack who slowly forced her eyes open, revealing her big green teary eyes.
- Whu-whadda ya mean?
A single tear had been built up in Applejacks eye which slowly began traverse down her right cheek.
- I never intended to do anything more than this to you. I just wanted to say a few things to you, and like this, I knew I'd get your full attention.
Shine used his magic a final time to untie the rope from around Applejacks hooves. Applejack who still was slightly trembling in fear didn't budge the slightest from where she was laying. She just kept still, laying on her back with her hooves in the air.
You gotta understand this. You are a great friend, but I don't wanna take our relationship any further, it might interfere with our friendship with the others. Besides, my heart has already chosen a special somepony.
Shine helped Applejack get up to her hooves.
I hope I wasn't too harsh in the way I wanted to tell you this.
- Nah, don't ya fret 'bout it. Ah was the one bein' rude.
Applejack blushed with an apologetic face expression.
Ah wanna make up for wha ah almost did to ya. How 'bout ah treat ya for dinner?
As Applejack finished her sentence, both of the orange ponies' stomachs rumbled in response.
- I guess that's a yes. Shall we depart?
Applejack nodded as she went ahead and opened the barn doors the two orange ponies then went through.

Wobbly Wednesday

Shaken but not stirred from the unexpected events of two of his friends acting so strange, Shine continues his list with number three, the elegant white unicorn Rarity. As he arrives to the Carrousel Boutique he opens up the front door and calls out;
- Rarity? Hello? Are you home?
Shine shouted as he walked into Raritys boutique.
- Oh, Shine. You are early. Please, have a seat while I make myself ready.
Rarity shouted from a room far from the entrance. Shine looked around the room for something to sit on. After a short while he saw a pile of cushions laying bellow a shelf with many different kinds of fabric in varying colors. The minutes passed and Shine began feeling restless. Just as he was about to get up and approach the half open door Rarity shouted from, the door quickly swung open as Rarity walked out and into the entrance room. Her coat was sparkling more than ever since she had put on slightly more make-up than usual. Shine gave Rarity a quick scanning look before he shrugged as he stood up from the cushions.
- You seem to have liked the cushions I made for a client.
Rarity giggled a little as she looked at the purple cushions now lightly stained with dirt.
But uhm... didn't you wash up before you got here?
Rarity sounded a little uncomfortable. Shine gave Rarity an awkward smile as he scratched the back of his head.
- Whoops, sorry. I guess I must've forgotten to wash up after my work at the Sweet Apple Acres, but I worked so hard yesterday I guess I was so tired I instantly fell asleep when I got home.
- Oh, don't worry about it, I can always clean them... OH MY GOODNESS!
Rarity shouted as she looked at a clock hanging on a wall.
- What now? Have I stepped in something.
Shine quickly began checking his hooves. Nothing there besides a thin layer of dirt.
- No, not that. I am late for my luxury treatment at the spa, you have to book a month ahead to get a treatment like this.
Rarity began running around the shop, putting back small scraps of fabric to their intended place that was laying here and there.
I'm so sorry, but I think we have to move our plans to another day, I simply can't miss this opportunity.
Shine stood in the way of Rarity, looking into her eyes.
- Well, if it's that important to you. Well... uhm...
Shine sounded a little nervous.
Perhaps... I-i could... come along with you and have a treatment myself. I'll pay for my own treatment, of course. Just... what I had in mind what we should do today wasn't any specific activity, just that we should get to know each other a bit better. This might be the perfect opportunity since I surely would need a bath anyway.
Shine laughed a little. Rarity was chocked at Shines request since she never could imagine that Shine, out of all ponies in Ponyville, would want to follow her to the spa and have a treatment along with her.
- Whu-well. I guess that would work out for both of us. I-i would be glad if you would come along with me.
Rarity blushed slightly since a stallion had never before asked to go with her to a place that she wanted to go to.
- Well then, it's settled.
Shine walked up to the doors of the entrance and held them up with a chivalric expression and pose.
After you m'lady.
- Why, thank you good sir.
Rarity couldn't help but giggle once more. The two ponies went outside the boutique and walked into Ponyville and passed the town square in order for them to get to the spa building. Once they arrived they were greeted by an pink mare with a blue mane.
- Oh, miss Rarity, it's an honor to have you here. The usual?
The pink mare slightly bowed her head.
- Not this time, I'm here for my special treatment, I've been waiting forever for it.
Rarity gave the pink mare a gentle smile.
Oh, let me introduce you to Shine, he wanted to have a treatment himself.
- A pleasure meeting a new acquaintance.
Shine reached out his hoof and waited for the pink mare to do the same, then he looked at his hoof and quickly withdrew it.
Darn! Sorry, I quickly forget that others might be bothered by stuff I ain't bothered by.
Shine scratched the back off his head, making a very faint cloud of dust lift off from his mane.
- My name is Aloe, don't worry, we are used to having quite a few dirty customers.
The pink mare looked back at Shine with a professional grin on her face.
- Well then, now that you two know each other, why don't you go to the counter over there and order whatever treatment you want. I'll pay for it this time.
Rarity gave Shine a little wink.
- Super! I can't wait to get spoiled away.
Shine quickly walked up to the counter and rung a bell standing on it. Shortly after, a blue mare with pink mane showed up from a doorway that led to an other room not visible from the entrance.
- How can I be of service?
The blue mare asked with a smile on her face.
- I'd like one of your luxury spa treatments.
Shine couldn't help but have great excitement in his voice.
- Which one would you like?
The blue mare tilted her head slightly.
- Well... uhm... hmm..
Shine blushed slightly as he once again scratched the back of his head making another cloud of dust lift from his mane.
You see... this is sorta my... ehm.... f-first time at a spa and I'm not quite familiar with what kind of treatments that are available.
- Oh, a first-timer, certainly not a problem at all. Let me just get the list.
The blue mare picked up a paper from beneath the counter. On the paper was a long list with lots of different treatments.
Very well, which treatment would you like today, sir?
On the list was all kinds of treatments; mud-masks, hot baths, massage, hoof-and-horn care and many more. Shine scanned the list from top to bottom, bottom to top. But the longer he scanned the list the greater the worried look on his face grew.
Is there a problem, sir?
The blue mare changed the tilt on her head from left to right.
- Uhm... yeah. There are quite a lot of these treatments I'd like to have, but I can't decide for just one.
Shine lifted his focus from the list up to the blue mare on the opposite side of the counter. The blue mare giggled a little and straightened up her head as she looked back at Shine.
- You can always combine a few treatments. But due to our lack of staff today, I'm afraid you would still have to settle for a maximum of five treatments.
Shine shone up and looked down at the list of treatments again.
- Really? Yay! Then I'd like to have treatment number 3, number 7, number 5 and number 19, in that order.
The blue mare cleared her throat as she put on a professional look on her face.
- Then it's decided. One steam-room treatment, a massage treatment, a hoof-and-horn care treatment finished with a hot herb bath.
The blue mare picked up a pencil from a mug standing next to the bell on the counter and made a few notes on a separate paper.
That will be thirty bits please.
Shines excited face shattered as his eyes narrowed and his face turned pale.
- Th-th-thirty? That much? Woah... I-i know Rarity said she would pay for my treatments but I can't ask her to pay THAT much...
- W-wait! Did you just say that you know Lady Rarity?
The blue mare looked shocked but Shine didn't face her, he just looked down in disappointment and nodded.
Wait right there, I-i have to go check something.
Shine sighed as he looked at the blue mare who walked away from behind the counter and towards the pink mare who was giving Rarity a mud-mask. After some time, the blue mare approached Shine again.
You can have your special treatments, it's on the house.
Yet again, Shine shone up.
- Really?
A wide smile went across Shines face.
- Yes, really.
The blue mare tilted her head more than last time with a warm smile.
So, shall we begin with the steam-room treatment, sir?
- Yes, and please call me Shine, everypony else does.
Shine followed the blue mare past the counter and into a large saloon like room. They crossed the large room only to approach a wooden door with a small glass window so that one could peek in, as well as out. The blue mare opened the door and handed Shine a towel which Shine put on his shoulders as he entered the steam-room. Shine passed the heat unit in the center and climbed up to the highest bench furthest from the door.
- Since this is your first time at a spa treatment, perhaps you should consider sitting closer to the door as the temperature can get awfully high in a steam-room.
The blue mare closed the door and sat down on a small stool close to the heat unit in the center. But Shine merely shook his head.
- Nah, I think I can withstand the heat. You could say that's all I've been doing so far this week.
The blue mare was confused by Shines statement but didn't bother to ask as she had learned through the years that she was better off not knowing. Instead she filled a ladle in a bucket next to her with water and poured it on the heat unit in front of her. The heat unit loudly hissed as a huge amount of steam rose to the ceiling and spread out like a flower until it reached the walls and crashed down upon anyone sitting on the highest bench, like in Shines case.
- Ahh! That's the stuff! More please!
Shine sighed at the relaxing hot steam showering his body. The blue mare did as she was told and poured more water onto the heat unit. Another steam cloud built up and crashed down upon Shine who just sat there with a dreaming expression on his face, oblivious to the pain cause by the drastic temperature change. The silence grew as the hissing from the heat unit calmed down and the heat dissipated until a certain level. After a few minutes Shine snapped out of his dreaming and looked at the blue mare with the ladle in her mouth.
I've got an idea. This treatment was on the house, right?
The blue mare nodded slightly in response.
Which means that you are paying for it. So, I was thinking, why aren't you also enjoying this treatment?
The blue mare put down the ladle into the almost fully filled bucket beside her.
- I-i don't think I understand what you are trying to say.
The blue mare looked a little confused.
- Very simple, why don't you get up on one of the higher benches and let me do the pouring.
As Shine said this, he used his magic to levitate the water bucket next to him.
Well, what are you waiting for? Get going, there's plenty of steam for both of us.
The blue mare hesitated but eventually she climbed up to the bench in the middle, not too high, not too low.
There you go, now, just sit back and relax.
Shine used his magic to fill the ladle to the brim and pour it all over the heat unit. He repeated the process twice.
- Huff... don't... you think you are pouring... huff... pouring a bit too much, Shine?
The blue mare was panting from the extensive heat. However, Shine only sat there once again dreaming away in his silent bliss. A few minutes passed when Shine finally responded.
- Hahh... such wonderful heat...
Shine wiped the sweat away from his face with both of his front hooves.
I thought that you would be able to withstand more heat than the ''first-timer''.
Shine had a teasing tone in his voice. The blue mare kept panting but still brushed up from the taunt.
- Oh... oh yeah? Well... huff... I bet I can... can stay longer in here than you.
Shine was surprised by this sudden challenge and opened his eyes to look at the blue mare.
- Oh, so you think so. Well, I accept your bet. How much do the winner get?
The blue mare bit her lip and tried to gather her thoughts in the extreme heat.
- H-how about... ten bits?
- Let's say fifteen and we have a bet.
Shine had a self confident expression on his face.
DEAL!
The blue mare rose her head quickly as she screamed, almost loosing her balance due to the lack of focus from the heat.

-*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*-

- Oh my, I don't remember the steam-room treatment taking this long, do you deary?
Rarity looked at the pink mare who was taking care of Raritys hooves.
- No, Lady Rarity. Could you please wait here while I go and check so that nothing bad has happened?
The pink mare looked at the door to the steam-room with a little worry in her eyes.
- Go on, deary. I'm not going anywhere. I would ruin all your effort you just put on my hooves if I did.
Rarity said while glancing at her right front hoof. The pink mare let go of everything she was doing and walked up to the wooden door. But just as she was about to open the door, the door swung open itself. The pink mare jumped back a few hoof lengths. Steam crashed out from the steam-room. The pink mare tried to look into the steam-room but the steam was too thick to even see ones nose in front of yourself. After a few seconds, heavy panting could be heard as well as clopping of hooves on the hard floor followed my a dragging sound. The pink mare got worried and called out into the steam-room.
- Is everything alright? Lotus? Shine? Are you in there?
As the pink mare finished, a gesture could be seen through the steam. It was the blue mare who was crawling out of the steam room.
Oh my goodness! Lotus! What happened?
The blue mare was panting too much to be able to answer.
- You got one stubborn colleague there.
Suddenly, Shine walked out of the cloud of steam. He wasn't panting, more like continually taking deep breaths, far more unaffected by the draining heat.
- Wh-what did you two do in there?
The pink mare looked more worried than ever at her sister laying on the floor, soaked by sweat and water.
- She challenged me to an endurance competition.
Shine pointed his hoof at the blue exhausted pony laying in front of him.
I encouraged her to quit, multiple times. But as I said, she is very stubborn. She insisted to stay and attempt to beat me.
- Thank goodness you finished it in time before something worse happened.
The pink mare was tending to her sister by trying to give her some water to drink. Looking oblivious to what happened, Shine used his magic to levitate the water bucket from the steam-room next to his head.
- Mweh... I could have stayed for a lot longer, but we ran out of water.
Shine put down the now empty bucket next to the pink and the blue mares. The pink mare looked into the empty bucket with huge eyes.
- What!? You mean that you used up, AN ENTIRE BUCKET OF WATER? And still you don't seem that tired at all. I can barely manage to empty half of it before I start feeling dizzy.
Shine began laughing heartily.
- Hahaha. This may be my first spa treatment. But it is really not my first time in a sauna. At my first time I was too young to even walk, so my mother had to carry me into our sauna at home. After that, I have regularly been to our sauna. Each time hotter than the other.
Shine changed his face from the gloating face into a more regretful face.
But I should have known better than to push her so far. I've hear a story of when two others tried beat each other in an endurance competition in a sauna. They had to abort it since one of them almost died while the other fell unconscious due to dehydration. Speaking of which, can I please have something to drink, I'm feeling a bit thirsty.
- Certainly, but please allow me to take care of my sister first. You can have a seat next to Lady Rarity while you wait.
Shine looked around the large room until he spotted Rarity still admiring her shiny hooves. He then quickly trotted over to her.
- What was that all about Shine?
Rarity looked at Shine, still trying to look at her hoof.
- Ah, nothing. So, how has your day been so far?
- Simply divine!
Rarity smiled widely.

-*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*-

- Oh man, I seriously got to got to the spa more often.
Shine was looking very content as he walked beside Rarity who was looking just as content.
- You simply must, I never knew you had so much gossip to share.
Rarity smiled at Shine who in return couldn't help but smile.
- Heh, yeah. One has lived a fair couple of years. Sometime you gotta pick up something interesting.
The two unicorns walked silently next to each other until they arrived at Raritys boutique.
Well then, I guess this is it, thanks again for an awesome day, Rarity.
Shine turned around to begin walking to his own home when Rarity quickly ran in front of Shine, blocking his path.
- Wait! Uhm... well... do you have to go already?
Rarity looked around to come up with some kind of excuse.
Y-you said that we were supposed to spend a day together and there is quite a lot of hours left until midnight. So uhm...
Rarity began to slightly groom her mane with one of her front hooves.
- ...and?
Shine looked at the nervous Rarity with a slightly raised eyebrow.
- A-and why don't... you come inside for a cup of tea. I-i don't have any urgent orders to fill out for a couple of days. I'd like to hear some more of your... gossip.
Rarity tried her best to keep a straight face. Shine hesitated at first but shortly just shrugged and entered Raritys boutique. Shine had a look around before he asked Rarity.
- Hey, I had quite a problem with this earlier today, but exactly where are we gonna sit down?
Before Shine had time to turn around Rarity had tackled him, making Rarity stand with her front hooves on Shines back.
Oof! Hey, Rarity! Why'd you do that for?
Shine grunted slightly. Rarity only giggled as she leaned closer to Shines right ear.
- Oh, I thought we could have a, ''heated'' discussion.
As Shine realized what Rarity was talking about he clenched his hooves to his face as he grunted to himself.
- Oh, for the love of- This AGAIN!?
- What was that darling?
Rarity was now talking normally. Shine removed his hooves from his face and spoke with authority in his voice.
- Rarity? Could you PLEASE get off me? You are messing up my coat with your dirty hooves.
Rarity did as she was told and stepped off Shines back. As Shine was getting up to a standing position, Rarity had walked up to the dirty purple cushions Shine sat on earlier that day. She looked back at Shine with a naughty look in her eyes.
- Oh, so you want it dirty? I'll give you dirty.
Rarity used her magic to rub the cushions in her face which put clear stains on her cheeks and forehead.
- R-rarity? Are you OK?
Shine looked shocked at Raritys actions since he was used to her being careful of being dirty. Rarity didn't answer, instead she ran up to Shine and gave him a huge kiss, putting her right front hoof behind Shines head. Shine forced away the lips of the white unicorn by putting his hoof in between their mouths.
Woah! Hold it right there Rarity, I'd just wanna tell you that I- mmmphh!
Rarity interrupted Shine by giving him yet another kiss, this time making her tongue intrude into Shines mouth.
Shine was struck by shock at how pushy Rarity was acting. He knew that the slightest spark from his brain could make him lose his mind in this battle of instincts. But Shine kept his own territory by preventing their tongues to make contact by keeping his jaw shut. As Rarity realized a direct assault would be futile, she seized the siege by withdrawing her tongue.
- Oh, Shine. I love you too!
Rarity took a step back only to give Shine another tackle, causing the stallion to fall onto his back, hitting his head hard into the floor.
- Ow, that hurt!
Shine saw that Rarity was about to make another attempt for a kiss when he reached out his front hoof to interrupt.
Rarity! Listen to me! There's something I gotta tell you!
Frustration could be clearly visible in Shines eyes.
- Yes? What is it? Speak up, I want to proceed.
Rarity looked very demanding with lust shimmering in her eyes.
- Come in closer, I don't want any passers-by to hear it.
Suddenly, Raritys eyes began shimmering even more as they widened at their maximum capacity. Rarity thought that Shine finally was about to give in. So she leaned her head as close as she could without bending her knees. That was not the case. Shine opened his mouth and swallowed as much air as he could. Shortly after he made a huge belch right at Raritys face, causing her to start coughing and stumble backwards until she hit a shelf.
- I'm not the pony you are looking for!
Shine quickly got up from the floor and rushed out of Raritys boutique. Once Rarity had gathered her thoughts she began thinking to herself.
- ''My, my, playing hard to get, huh? Well, I have played that game before.''
Rarity looked at Shine running away from the boutique with a wide grin on her face.

Throbbing Thursday

After yet another of Shines friends acting all weird he had built up an enormous amount of compressed feelings which he knew he would have to get out before he hurts somepony he cared for. That's why number four on the list made Shine so excited since he and Rainbow Dash had agreed to spend their day working out and doing other physical activities down at the local gym in Ponyville.
- 21, 22, 23,
Shine was sitting on a bench, working out with three different weights. One in each of his front hooves and one wrapped in his tail.
24... 25... 26...
Shine was looking fully focused, completely ignoring the presence of Rainbow Dash just a few meters away form him, making sit-ups.
27..... 28..... 29.....
Shine began sounding very strained as beads of sweat began appearing on his forehead.
30!
With a loud grunt Shine lifted all three weights as high as he could. He was panting heavily from all the exercise. After a few moments he lowered the weights and began working on them again.
- Woah, Shine!Why are you overdoing it like that?
Rainbow Dash shouted at Shine but he didn't seem to react at first, focusing on the weights.
- 31... because, 32... I have so much, 33... pent up energy I, 34... that I need to get rid of, 35...
- Pent up energy? What have you done this week? Or should I say, what have you NOT done if you got so much spare gas in the tank, so to speak.
Rainbow Dash switched from sit-ups to doing push-ups. Ignoring his friend, Shine continued working the weights.
- 48!
Shine was beginning to drool slightly due to the heavy workout.
49!
Blood veins were clearly visible throughout Shines face, pumping so hard one would think one of them could burst at any moment.
50!
Shine once again raised the weights as high as he could, this time with an even louder and longer moan than last time. Shine froze for a few seconds, still with his front hooves and tail in the air. He then lowered the weights as much as he could without them touching the floor. Shine then used his last bit of strength to as quickly as possible raise the weights a final time into the air.
Aaand one more for the sake of it.
Shine let go of the three weights at the same time, making each of them fall to the floor with three separate loud bangs. Drained of energy, Shine lay down on the sweat covered bench he sat on.
- Yeah... like I said, why do you have so much spare energy, Shine?
Rainbow Dash hovered above Shines head. Shine wiped the sweat from his forehead and the drool from his mouth, still panting.
- Ah... whew... that's some workout.
Shine sat up and began stretching his forelegs. Ignoring Dash' question, Shine stood up on slightly shaky legs.
Dash, how 'bout we go for a jog? It'd be prefect to wrap up this workout.
A small spark could be seen in Rainbow Dash' eye at the mentioning of a speedy activity. She immediately landed next to Shine and got into a sprint-ready position.
- A race? Sure, where to?
- Calm down speedy. I said a JOG, not a race. Which means, faster than walking, slower than running.
Shine put his left hoof to Rainbow Dash' wing, making her completely withdraw it. Shine could feel the muscles in Rainbow Dash' wing still being tense.
Heh, why so tense? Got some pent up energy?
Shine had a smug face and a teasing tone. Rainbow Dash blushed and took a step to the side, making Shine get too far away to hold her wing down.
- N-no... it's just...
Rainbow Dash turned her face away for a moment. Eventually she turned her head back with her usual competitive face and looked at Shine.
...forget about that, now, where to?
Shine couldn't help but laugh at how obviously Rainbow Dash tried to hide something.
- Hahaha! How 'bout to the Sweet Apple Acres and then to the clearing just outside the Everfree forest?
- Got it!
Rainbow Dash quickly ran ahead of Shine a great distance. Shine just laughed and shook his head.
- Hey! I said SLOWER than running, Dash!
Eventually Shine caught up to Rainbow Dash and they ran all the way to the Sweet Apple Acres just as they agreed. As they approached the farm, Shine could see Applejack and Big Macintosh being busy bucking apples. Shine also saw that Applejack noticed them as he looked straight at Applejacks slightly sad face. They made a sharp turn and ran towards the Everfree forest.

-*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*-

As they were closing in to the entrance of the Everfree forest, both of the running ponies began slowing down until they both were at a walking pace. Shine being the most untrained of them quickly lay down on the ground while panting heavily. Rainbow Dash wasn't even close to tired but even she lay down beside Shine, just for the sake of company.
- Woah! Tired already?
Rainbow Dash looked slightly shocked at Shine who only could respond by giving her a tired glare back.
Sorry, didn't mean to step on your hoof, so to speak.
Rainbow Dash lay her head down on the warm spring grass. The fresh green straws tickled her throat all the way up to her cheeks as she became more and more relaxed by the soothing slightly warm winds. By now, Shine had recovered enough to talk again, looked at Rainbow Dash who looked a little like she was asleep.
- Here I thought I was exhausted. But seeing you fall asleep like that, I guess I was wrong.
Shine had raised his head and was looking down at Rainbow Dash who flung her eyelids open wide at the finishing of the sentence.
- I'm not sleeping...
Rainbow Dash let out a deep sigh as she stretched her limbs out, feeling the light bliss from the gentle tickle of the grass trying to wrap itself around her body.
I'm just.... hah... resting a little. Guess I was more tired than I thought.
Shine shrugged a little as he couldn't help but let out a major yawn, slowly turning to lay on his side with his legs stretched out, facing Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash noticed what Shine did and she soon followed, mirroring his exact pose. They looked into each others eyes for what to Rainbow Dash felt like eternities. Eventually Rainbow Dash broke the silence but still keeping eye contact.
Uhm.. Shine?
Shine responded by blinking his eyes twice in quick succession.
Wanna play a game?
Shine broke the eye focus and raised an eyebrow.
- A... game? What sorta ''game''.
- I can show you, I promise it isn't difficult.
Rainbow Dash moved a little closer to Shine with a slight giggle. Shine instantly reacted to this and quickly backed away as he sat up.
- OH! ''A game''. I can see where this is going. I know what ''game'' you are talking about.
Shine turned around with an angry face.
- Great, then I don't have to show you the ropes.
- But I don't wanna be part of this ''game''
Shine violently shook his head clearly showing his determination despite not looking at the excited Rainbow Dash who once more giggled as she shortly after had walked up to Shines right side. She began muzzle slightly in his brown rugged mane.

Shine did nothing. He didn't urge her to continue, nor did he try to prevent anything. He just sat there, unflinching, like a statue. His heart was beating a mile in a minute and he was breathed heavily. It was a war-zone inside Shines head, a massive conflict between his instincts telling him to mercilessly pounce Rainbow Dash and give her everything he got, facing off against his emotions raging on about sane decisions and rational thinking as well as staying loyal to the one he truly loves. His mind was a zone of utter chaos. But amid all this, Shine managed to keep a straight face, unwilling to do even the slightest thing to minimize or maximize, for that matter, Rainbow Dash' intense tempting.

It took a while for Rainbow Dash to discover Shines passivity. She walked up in front of Shine, giving him a slight thud on his right shoulder with her flank as she passed him. Still no reaction. She looked deeply into Shines blue eyes, looking for some kind of reaction. It was a futile attempt as Shine kept sitting perfectly still, ignoring Rainbow Dash' attempts of seduction as well as to communicate. Rainbow Dash tried an old trick that always used to work on those stallions who were harder to get than the others.

She began walking around Shine very slowly at a fair distance. Each time she passed behind Shine, she walked a little closer to him. On the fifth lap or so, Rainbow Dash was less than a quarter of a hoof length from Shine, slower than ever walking in front of his face, raising and lowering her body so that it would be on a somewhat equal altitude as his nose. As the root of her tail passed the tip of Shines nose, Rainbow Dash purposely swayed her tail so that it softly began rubbing Shine on his nose.

As Rainbow Dash finished her temptation by turning around, she saw that Shine began wrinkling his face as his eyes slightly began filling up. He inhaled quickly and exhaled even quicker with a loud sneeze, resuming his staring contest against the thin air in front of him. Rainbow Dash' anticipatory facial expression crashed into pieces as she let out a loud sigh of defeat as she sat down herself.

After a long moment of almost complete silence for the exception of the wind rustling the treetops, Shine finally opened his mouth.
- Who are you?
Shine kept his head straight forward still with an empty look in his eyes. Raindbow Dash was confused for a moment by this strange sudden question.
- Who I am? C'mon Shine, you know me. I am the fastest flier in Equestria, you know that.
Rainbow Dash stood up and raised her right front hoof in a victorious pose.
And my name is Rainbow Dash the...
Shine interrupted Rainbow Dash
- NO! That's where you are wrong!
Shine yelled straight out just as if Rainbow Dash was standing in front of him. Rainbow Dash lowered her hoof down to the ground and tilted her head, once again confused.
- Excuuuuse me? What did you just say? Of course I am Rainbo...
Shine interrupted once more, this time turning his head towards Rainbow Dash with anger flaming like an inferno in his eyes.
- WRONG! You are not the Rainbow Dash I got to know. The Rainbow Dash I know is tough, awesome, cool, loyal and overall awe-inspiring for anypony looking up to her, including myself. A true pony I like to call my friend.
Shine turned his head back, staring straight ahead again, this time with a sad expression.
You are more or less the opposite. You are desperate, inconsiderate, pathetic... you're a... a... A SLUT for even attempting what you just did. Letting your primitive instincts cloud your mind and judgment, disgusting!
Rainbow Dash' mood crashed as tears began showering her cheeks.
Oh, does it sting? The truth, I mean. Hehe, cry as much as you want, today I won't feel any pity for you.
Shine stood up on his hooves and slowly began walking away from the scene.
Think of what happened here the next time you try to subdue someone with enough brains to resist.
Shine began walking quicker, leaving the sobbing blue pegasus behind in the dim lights of the setting sun.

-*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*-

Later that night, Shine was writhing in his cozy bed as visions of him physically abusing Rainbow Dash in the most gruesome, inhuman ways imaginable. He wakes up with a scream, drenched in sweat.
- NOOO! I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO IT! I'm sorry... I-i'm sorry...
Shine looked around his dark room, feeling wide awake for a short moment. Transformed to his human form, he rubs his tired, blood-shot eyes as he slowly gets up from his bed, scratching his bum. He stumble in the pitch black room to turn on his water boiler, clumsily evading all possible obstacles he knew the exact position of, despite having his eyes shut tight. He sank down on a wooden stool, just like he had done three times this night. He leaned on the table the water boiler was standing on, almost instantly falling asleep.

In his dreams he can see himself in his human form, standing with clenched, bloodied fists above the heavily assaulted Rainbow Dash laying on the ground, crying tears that mix with the blood leaking from her mouth and nose.
- C'mon Shine... give it a chance...
Rainbow Dash coughed between her words. Looking furious, Shine placed his right hand around Rainbow Dash' neck, feeling his victims spine with his fingertips and holding her Adams apple steady with his thumb, holding lightly at first as he looked deeply into his victims small pupils.
- I said no! Why do you never listen? FEEL MY WRATH!
With great anger in his eyes and revealed teeth like a snarling dog, he slowly begun squeezing harder and harder. The harder he squeezed the more Rainbow Dash began struggling. Shine began trying to dig his fingers into the very skin of Rainbow Dash as he squeezed as hard as he could. Rainbow Dash' eyes rolled back into her head and with a small twitch by Shines hand, a loud crack could be heard.

Shine woke up from the sound as he realized it came from the water boiler next to his head which slowly quieted down since it was done boiling the water. He poured the hot water into a white cup standing next to the water boiler and mixed it with some dried herbs he had gotten from Zecora a long time ago. A rhyme he learned from Zecora when he received the herb came to his mind.

''Mix this with water if you ever gain great fatigue,
this is probably what your body need.
It can also help you sleep
as it silences a foal whom constantly weep.''

Shine crushed the rest of the herb he had in his palm and added it to the mixture. As he was blending the two ingredients he gave a loud ''Ouch!'' as he realized he had used his right pointing finger to stir the mix. He sucked on his finger to ease the pain as he picked up the spoon next to the cup with his left hand which he then used to properly mix the herb with the water.

He softly blew away some of the hot steam coming from the cup and took a small sip. The hot liquid made a sharp but quick pain on the tip of his tongue as the temperature quickly lowered to the same as his body. The liquid quickly traversed to the back of his mouth as Shine began swallowing excessively to ensure that each and every drop of the tea he drank would be properly consumed.

His eyelids grew heavier than before and the scenes of his earlier dreams turned into simple images. Images revealing that very last moment of life in Rainbow Dash' eyes before her neck snapped. Shine was stunned by this image and just sat there on his wooden stool, blankly staring into the darkness shrouding his house. The silence seemed to last forever until Shines body forced him to breathe, causing him to snap out of his memories. With a grunt Shine shook his head and drank more of the tea. The long moment he was lost in his memories the tea had been given enough time to cool down to a more lukewarm temperature, enabling Shine to almost empty the cup if it wasn't for his mouth already being filled to the brim, making small drops seep out from the corners of his mouth. He slammed the almost empty cup hard to the table in front of him as he swallowed down the rest of the tea in his mouth. He gasped loudly a few times as he hadn't drawn a breath since he began filling his mouth.

Shine let go of the cup and rose up from the wooden stool he sat on and began zigzagging back to his bed, this time also with his eyes shut. He let his body fall down on his bed without caring if he was turned to lay on the pillow or if his feet was laying on it instead. He was too tired to care of such insignificant things. Hugging whatever he was laying on to form a pillow he shortly after began letting out soft murmurs sounding like deep breathing, indicating he had fallen asleep.

Feeble Friday

Plagued by his haunting dreams during the night, Shine is doing his best in order to stay awake as he tries to focus on his task set before him; to spend a day with the fifth pony friend on his list. The purple, magic wielding unicorn Twilight Sparkle. A task during the circumstances as such, proving to be quite a difficult one.
- Shine! Wake up! You've nodded off again.
Twilight used a big book to slap Shine in the face, waking him up.
- Ow! Oh... sorry Twi... I haven't slept that well last night.
Shine yawned loudly as he walked up to a bag he had brought with him to Twilight Sparkles house. He opened and peeked his tired head into it, emptying it behind his back as he rummaged through the items.
No, no, not that one. Neither that one. Argh, don't tell me I forgot it. Twi, have you got any Hearts Desire to spare?
Shine looked behind him to see Twilight Sparkle sitting with the very plant he was talking about upside down on her face.
- Do you happen to look for this?
Twilight had an annoyed look on her face as she used her magic to levitate the plant back to Shine. Shine rubbed his eyes with his hooves and focused intensively at the plant floating a hoof length or so in front of his head.
- Hmm... oh! It's the one, I didn't know you were growing them too, can I have it, please?
Many questions in Twilight Sparkles head wanted answers, but knowing how a tired pony can act, she quickly swatted them and gave a slight nod to Shine who gave a big, tired smile in return.
Oh, thank you. You are an angel!
Shine used his magic to take control of the plant in front of him and carefully plucked a petal with his teeth. The rest of the flower was put back into his bag.
- Wait! I thought you didn't like to eat flowers!
Twilight Sparkle was chocked at for the first time see Shine eat something that wasn't some kind of produce. Shine closed his already half-closed eyes and began focusing magic into his horn.
- I don't.
Shine replied as he raised his head as the yellow glow from his horn grew slightly. Twilight Sparkle kept staring at the stallion in front of her, noticing Shine put great effort in swallowing something. The yellow glow grew even larger to the point of it giving off a quick flash of light as a porcelain cup with a black steamy substance in it appeared. Shine lowered his head back to a normal position and slowly forced his eyes open, only to reveal two large sparkling bead-like pupils, glancing at the hot liquid in the cup. He softly waved the cup in front of his nose, inhaling and exhaling with huge sighs. A very small tear crawled out of the corner of Shines right eye as he slowly opened his mouth.
Oh... such aroma...
Shine sighed deeply.
Hah... what magnificent scent.
Shine dipped the tip of his tongue in the cup. His eyes rolled slightly backwards into his head for just a short moment. After another short moment of complete silence, Shine snapped out of his trance.
Well, down the hatch!
He emptied the content of the porcelain cup, bottom up, without a single drop missing his wide open mouth. He closed his mouth without swallowing, tumbling around the liquid in his mouth. His cheeks was slowly shrinking back to their normal state as Shine began swallowing the liquid little by little. Shine rapidly shook his head and looked at Twilight Sparkle with his usual facial expression, just as if he wasn't tired at all. The porcelain cup dissipated into a rain of yellow sparks that vanished before they touched the wooden floor.
- Whu- what was that all about? What did you just drink? Did you just eat that petal? Why...
Shine interrupted the purple shocked unicorn by putting his right front hoof on her head.
- The answer for your questions is as following in this order; A spell. Coffee. No.
Twilight stuttered a few words before shaking her head.
- Ah, never mind. Where have you learned that spell?
Twilight looked like she had a million questions in her mind, waiting to get an opportunity to slip out through her lips.
- From this.
Shines horn began glowing as well as his bag behind him as a brown ragged old book hovered out from the yellow bag who went down to the floor with a thud the moment the bottom of the book left the bag. Twilight focused her eyes on the cover on the book as she read the title of the book loud.
- ''Herbal magic for uneducated unicorns; Special edition.'' Where did you get this dusty old book?
Twilight leaned her head past the book in front of her face to look at Shine sitting behind it with a smile.
- Zecora found it in her hut after she had cleaned it up after a moth infestation or something. I got it as a way of thanks. She gave me it with a catchy rhyme;
''Oh, what is this old book, here Shine, maybe you should take a look?''
- Yeah, she always talks that way.
Twilight took control over the book and slowly began flipping through the old fragile pages.
- I just don't get how she can come up with all these rhymes without seeming to need to think them up first.
Shine walked up to and sat down next to Twilight to also look in the old book hovering in front of the two unicorns. Twilight kept flipping the pages, faster and faster for each page.
- I don't get how you can understand any of this, I don't understand a single word.
- What are you talking about? I have no trouble at all reading this. Have you forgotten how to read Swe...
Shine interrupted his own sentence. Instead he scratched the back of his head and cleared his throat.
So.. uhm... I had forgotten I used a translation spell, I'll just break the spell on the book.
With that, Shines horn lit up along with the words in the book. With a rain of sparks from Shines horn, one for each letter, the book was re-translated into its original language.
- Impressive how much magic you have learned in such a short time.
Twilight kept switching her focus between the book hovering in front of them and Shines self-confident face. Shine transformed into his human form and grabbed the book, breaking the weak levitation spell. He flipped the pages to the very first page where he began reading the table of content.
- Mweh... I guess I'm a quick learner. I'll show you something I've been working on for some time.
He used his right pointing finger to trace the letters he read with quiet whispers.
Lets see... no... no... nju-uh... there... recite magic... page... hmm...
He closed the book and quickly grabbed all of the pages with his fingertips, rapidly browsing the pages until he is more or less in the middle of the book. He traced with his finger a few sentences on the top of the left page before he lifted his head which had sunk quite a bit down from reading the book.
Ok, here goes.
Shine cleared his throat as he held the book with his left hand and kept his right hand next to the book with his fingers upward just a few inches above the the book.
''Hear me, goddess of defense, protect my flesh from the harm of my enemy, shield me!''
Suddenly, a blue light coated Shines right hand, all the way down to his elbow. Shine smiled at the development and looked back into the book.
''Hear me, goddess of offense, bestow a spark of your might upon me, aid me!''
A purple light suddenly began shimmering in Shines palm as a small purple flame shortly after burst out.
Hmm... intriguing.
Shines eyes were sparkling with excitement as he manipulated the shape of the flame with his fingertips before looking into the book once more.
Onto the finale; ''With the goddess of offense and defense in my grasp, I call upon the depth of my mind, hear me, obey me!''
The purple flame soon after got coated by a similar looking force field like the one coating his arm, only this time the force field was yellow. Shine closed the book and put it down beside him. He locked his eyes on the yellow coated purple flame. Shortly after, Shine closed his fingers around the flame, making the small yellow coated purple flame peek out from the two small holes on each side of his hand. Slowly, the purple flame began changing into a new shape, the flame extended barely a hoof length to the left side of his hand while the flame made a small knob on the right side. The flame stopped changing, leaving a small yellow coated purple dagger firmly in Shines grasp. The yellow force field slowly faded away.

Shine turned his head, focusing on the bag he had put down beside the entrance door. The whites of his eyes turned yellow as a thick wooden block, coated by a yellow force field, hovered out of it and in front of Shine. The block was a little thicker than then length of the dagger, which could be clearly seen as Shine stabbed the blade into the block. He looked at the opposite side of the block. A small purple smoldering light edged by charred wood was clearly visible. Shine held the block firmly with his left hand as he slowly dragged the dagger downwards with just as little effort as if he was cutting butter with a hot knife. As he dragged the dagger all the way down and out of the block, he raised the dagger above his head and shouted;
- Dissipate!
The dagger evaporated into purple sparks that showered down along his arm until they fell to the floor and vanished. The blue force field around his arm soon after faded away.

-*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*-

Twilight was dumbfounded my the colorful display of magic that occurred around Shine. She had never seen anything like it from someone so inexperienced.
- How did you do that? I never thought that you could use such magic after such a short time. How is this even possible?
Shine laughed at the rambling unicorn as he picked up the book and showed the first page of the book to her.
- Read this.
- ''Herbal magic for uneducated unicorns; Special edition.''
Twilight continued reading on the next paragraph.
''In this book you will read everything you need to know about herbal potions, recite magic and magic that needs herbal potions.''
Twilight looked confused as Shine flipped a bunch of pages as he began reading himself.
- ''Chapter 2; Recite magic. Recite magic is a brand of magic that can be used by any creature capable of deep mind activities.''
Shine lifted his focus from the book to Twilights astonished face.
Humans by nature possesses a vast capable mind each individual has to learn to master in order to succeed in our very confusing society.
Shine closed the book and transformed back into his pony form.
But let's not talk about that anymore, I don't wanna focus on the past anymore.
Twilight, mostly being too stunned to do anything finally managed an action. She quickly shook her head to get rid of all her confusing thoughts, only to look at Shine with a worried face.
- Why don't you want to remember who you used to be? Why don't you want to glimpse back at your foalhood, your very family?
Shine looked down as he drew a long sigh before he looked up again at Twilight.
- One who dwells in the past cannot see the approaching future. Besides, my CHILDhood brings me nothing but pain and sorrow. Memories of family members arguing or drinking themselves to stupidity. Sometimes I've been thinking of hitting the bottle myself, drink away all my memories, forget all the bad I've experienced through the soon 20 years I've been alive.
Twilight looked at Shine with an expression so sad one might burst into tears in a split second.
- Oh my... I-i never thought that you... oh my...
- What my shell is telling hardly relates to what my core intends. That said, I may say one thing but mean something else. But under no condition whatsoever, I shall not be treated as a liar. Lies are bad.
Shine put his right front hoof under Twilights chin and softly lifted it up, locking eyes with the sorrow stricken purple unicorn.
The blunt truth never stings as much as the lies supporting the prevention of its revelation.
Moved by the deep words of wisdom spoken by the orange unicorn, Twilight hugged Shine while softly whispering in his right ear;
- I'm sorry... I'm so sorry for bringing up such a bad subject.
Twilight eased up the hug and looked into Shines blue eyes. Her own eyes were sparkling from more than just her tears.
Is there anything, anything at all that I can do to ease your conscience?
Shine felt his lips, almost as if possessed, so very slowly leaning towards the purple unicorn in front of him. He caught himself at what he was about to do. He turned his head to the left as fast as he could while gently shoving away the longing purple mare.
- Perhaps there is, but what you offer me here and now is not the answer. I'm so sorry Twilight Sparkle, I'm not the stallion you are looking for. I better go home before something happens that both of us might regret at a later time. Good evening
Shine packed his bag and ventured out of Twilight Sparkles library, saluting her before stepping outside the door.

Skittish Saturday

Shine was having a hard time to sleep this night. He looked at the clock standing on a table next to his bed each time he woke up, 12:03, 12:45, 1:37, 2:59. As his little clock made three slightly louder ticks, announcing another full hour had passed, Shine was feeling wide awake, yet tired. He sat up and shook his head, feeling a lesser headache building up from the lack of sleep. With a strained look on his face, he conjured a cup of tea in front of his face from thin air. He drank the content of the cup all at once. Feeling the warm liquid crash down into his stomach, he fell backwards down on his flattened pillow, instantly falling asleep.

Waking up from his blank, empty dreams, Shine looked straight upwards and into the blue eyes of a very familiar pink pony standing above him.
- Wakey, wakey, you sleepy-head, it's Saturday. You promised we were gonna do something today.
Pinkie Pie was bouncing out of happiness and excitement before she was pushed off the bed by Shine who only grumbled and turned to lay on his right side, facing away from the pink pony who already had gotten up to her hooves.
- Pinkie! What are you doing here? Don't you know what time it is?
Shine looked at the clock on the table in front of him, 11:41 it said.
- Of course I know what time it is, silly! It is time to play with Pinkie Pie.
Saying this, Pinkie Pie grabbed the quilt and yanked it away, revealing a very messed up Shine who instantly sat up and glared into Pinkie Pies clear, blue eyes with his own blood-shot blue eyes. Caught by surprise, Pinkie Pie dropped the quilt on the floor.
- Look, Pinkie, I'm not in the mood today, so could you please just turn around and leave and let me sleep away this horrible week?
Shine picked up the quilt from the floor and lay down on his bed once again this time with the quilt covering his head.
- B-but... you promised...
Pinkie Pie sat down on the floor next to the short end of the bed with deflated hair and a sad expression. Hearing the hint of soon-to-happen crying, Shine sat up and took the attention of the pink mare.
- No, Pinkie, I never said the words ''I promise'', therefore, I didn't promise anything. This day was nothing more than an agreement, an agreement I no longer have the energy to fulfill. So could you pretty please just get out of my house from wherever you entered since I remember locking the door before going to bed.
Pinkies mood, as well as her hair, poofed back into its normal erratic state.
- Easy peacy, you always leaves a window open, easy to climb through, too.
Pinkie Pie bounced to the closes window and pulled away the curtains covering it. Just like she said, the window was ajar. Shine had by now sunk his head deep in his palms, mumbling to himself. Realizing he no longer could sleep and Pinkie Pie wasn't the pony to take a no, he slowly pulled away the quilt from his lower body as he even slower stood up next to the bed and stretched his cracking limbs.

He transformed into his pony form and sat down on the edge of the bed, looking tiredly at the pink excited mare.
- Well then... what do you wanna do today? Can't sleep anyway so I might as well get this over with.
- Oh, I got tons of fun stuff we can do over at the Sugar Cube Corner, why don't we get over there?
The pink pony bounced behind Shine and began pushing the orange tired stallion all the way from his bed to the door. She paused quickly to open the door before she resumed her pushing.

After a short walk, the two ponies arrived to the building in Ponyville that looked like a giant ginger-bread house, clad with various kinds of candies. Shine often laughed to himself at how ironic it was that such a hyperactive pony would live in a house clad with treats that had the power to make even the most calm and relaxed creature such as himself to go nuts from all the sugar one would digest in the process of ingesting mentioned treats.

With tired eyes, Shine rose his head and gleamed at the candy canes on top of the roof of the building. His stomach rumbled loudly, shrieking for something to extract the nutrient his body needed to properly work.

Pinkie Pie heard this rumbling and quickly went into the house, rummaging through the kitchen for something. In the meantime, Shine shook his head and slowly began walking into the house as well, mumbling to himself about all the various dishes he couldn't get to enjoy in fear of his friends getting afraid of him if they ever found out that he actually loved to eat meat.

He stopped as a delicious looking cupcake was put in front of his face, balancing on top of Pinkie Pies hoof.
- Here, maybe this will silence that tummy of yours.
Pinkie happily smiled at Shine who just stood there, examining the cupcake. The sweet scent from the freshly baked goods found its way into Shine nostrils, making his vision blur from hunger. His stomach rumbled loudly, almost yelling at Shine; ''Eat it! Eat it!''. However, no matter how hungry he really felt, the pastry almost shoved into his mouth didn't feel as tempting as one would expect. His stomach screamed for any kind of food while his mind kept being a bit more specific in screaming after the very same dishes he knew would be taboo in a place such as Equestria.
- Uhm... n-no thanks, Pinkie, e-eating sugary treats without any proper food in your stomach first ain't no good, trust me on that.
Getting her treat turned down, she ate it herself and looked at Shine who seemed to look back at her, but not with the normal conversational look in his eyes. There was this discrete intensity in his eyes, that kind of look that made it obvious the other wanted something they couldn't tell you of. Pinkie Pie took this as a hint as she began walking behind Shine with a relaxed smile.
- Oh, I see what you are hungering for. You could just have asked, silly.
- I'm hungering for meat! Such a nice juicy piece of meat!
Shines movement suddenly got very twitchy as he transformed to his human form, emitting soft growling. Pinkie Pie, still standing behind Shine pat him on the back.
- No, no silly. Only ponies are allowed to eat me out, you naughty thing. Where's the change button on you?
Pinkie Pie kept poking on Shines back until she hit her hoof between his scapula. It was just as if she had hit a button as the muscles on Shines back quickly tensed up. Shine slowly turned around with a ferocious look in his eyes, glaring at Pinkie Pies flanks. Pinkie Pie still stuck in her little mind game playfully wiggled her flanks, teasing Shine. She put a hoof to her pouted mouth and talked with a silly, playful tone;
- Turn back into a pony and you can have as much of me as you want.
Pinkie Pie flinched when she realized Shine didn't hunger for her marehood meat but that he did hunger to eat her instead when Shine began snarling loudly, flashing his teeth. Pinkie Pie saw that Shines teeth was not of the ordinary Pony, but much pointier.
- Uhm, Shine... I-i don't think you are doing this ri- Ow, ow, that hurts, you brute!
In a split second, Shine had grabbed Pinkie with his right hand on her back, just bellow where the ribcage stops. Shine widely opened his mouth, licking his teeth.

Pinkie began hyper ventilating at the sight of one of her friends getting ready to eat her. She kicked Shine in the stomach out of panic which sent him flying, hitting the wall hard. By now, Pinkie Pie had already dove behind the kitchen counter and armed herself with a saucepan on her head and a frying pan, tightly clenched in her front hooves.
- Stay back you monster, I know how to use this in more ways than just cooking!
Pinkie Pie shouted across the room at Shine who had turned back into his pony form and was just sitting there next to the wall, slightly writhing as he mumbled under his breath.

Minutes of complete silence passed. Very slowly, out of curiosity, Pinkie Pie began crawling closer and closer to the orange unicorn who didn't move a muscle. When she was so close she almost could touch Shine with the frying pan in her hooves, she accidentally hit the two pans together causing a metallic sound to end the silence in the room.

Shine quickly looked up and reached out his right front hoof towards Pinkie Pie.
- P-please, stand back, I still might be unstable.
As he said this, a purple force-field surrounded Shine.
Surprised as she got, Pinkie Pie took a step away from the force-field that appeared right in front of her face.
- Woah! Unstable? What was all that? Why'd you even act like that? You scared me good!
Pinkie Pies facial expression was stuck somewhere between scared, angry and questioning.
- I'd really like to answer all of your questions, sadly I vaguely have any answers, answers I do not even know are the true answers.
Shine looked down on the tile floor.
- Come again?
Pinkie Pie sat down a hoof length from the force-field.
- I don't know for sure why I acted like I did. I've never felt such a craving for blood. I mean, sure, I appreciate a nice juicy steak as much as the next human but...
Pinkie Pie cut of Shines sentence.
- WOAH, WOAH, WOAH! Hold it right there, mister. What's a ''steak''?
Pinkie Pie looked rather serious as she was standing on the purple force-field with her front hooves.
- Keh... you sure you even wanna know, Pinkie?
Shine looked up at the pink pony straining the force-field he cast on himself.
Pinkie Pie nodded rapidly multiple times, every time hitting her head on the force-field.
- It's a slice of meat slowly grilled over a nice bed of coal. The steak itself is seasoned with various spices and relish. Along with the steak you can serve some boiled potatoes. To this a nice dill sauce would be very appropriate.
Shines stomach growled loudly at the thought of this magnificent dish.
Pinkie Pies eyes narrowed at the description of a dish she only could think of a macabre. She slowly stepped away from the force-field and picked up the frying pan she had put down a small distance away. With terror in her eyes, she shouted at the orange unicorn licking his lips and rubbing his stomach.
- IT'S OBVIOUS WHY YOU ATTACKED ME! YOU WANTED TO ENJOY A ''NICE'' PINKIE STEAK!
Pinkie Pie backed slowly towards the door of Sugar Cube corner.
- You stay right where you are while I go tell Twilight about you so she can send a letter to Princess Celestia so that she can banish to to the Everfree forest.
Shine began laughing loudly at the paranoid pink pony clinging to a frying pan.
- Hahaha! No need for it, Twi already knows that I am an omnivore.
- Omni- what?
Pinkie Pie looked confused at the scoffing orange unicorn.
Eventually Shine settled down and wiped a tear that had formed in his eye from all the laughing.
- Omnivore, it means that my overall diet consists of both plants and meat. Sure, I'd prefer fruit over plants but I don't think it is impossible for me to digest plants. How would you otherwise explain how I could have survived all this time here in Ponyville without eating any meat?
Pinkie Pie seemed to calm down slightly as she sat down on the tile floor next to the door, still firmly holding the frying pan with her front hooves.
- Come on Pinkie, relax. I'm not gonna hurt you, again.
Pinkie suspiciously looked into Shines eyes across the room and replied.
- I don't know. If you've done something once, it's easy to do it again.
- Look, I'll tell you everything you need to know about humans so that you don't have to fear me. I still think of you as a friend, you know.
Pinkie calmed down even more now as she put down the frying pan and took a step towards Shine.
- Ok, but you gotta promise that you won't do anything wacky on my watch, mister.
- I promise.
Shine put his left hoof to his chest while holding the other high in the air.
- No, no, no. You have to PINKE promise, do you know how to do that?
Shine raised an eyebrow and began reciting.
- ''Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!''
Pinkie looked closely at the orange unicorn just sitting there, blankly staring back at her in his own purple force-field.
- Hmm.... close enough.
Pinkie walked up to the force-field and sat down a few hoof lengths form it.
- But keep the shield-thingy going, just in case you start feeling funny again.
Both of the ponies smiled at each other and began their long conversation about humans, all ranging from the human in general to Shines own preferences.

As the conversation progressed, Shine had inch by inch opened up the force-field just above his head. Once he got an opportunity when Pinkie Pie looked away, he had quickly dispelled the force-field without Pinkie noticing. Or maybe she no longer cared about it, Shine couldn't tell.

Saturating Sunday

The next day Shine had been able up early thanks to a long wanted good nights sleep. He had an important appointment set for today, an appointment he had been looking forward to the whole week. He put on the fanciest clothes he had, clothes he had special ordered from Rarity. It had taken them forever to get every little detail the way Shine wanted it, without them looking too scruffy nor too fancy as one might expect clothes coming from Raritys boutique.

He looked at himself in his mirror equally tall as himself, he saw a handsome orange unicorn stallion dressed in a suit looking like a mix between a regular sweater and a snobby tuxedo. He grinned at himself as he began his regular self-praise phrases;
- Lookin' good. Oh yeah, gonna score high today.
He smiled in the mirror before getting a disturbed look in his eyes while still looking at himself.
- Hey, who's that handsome dude?
He pretended to hold something to his ear.
- Police? There's a handsome stallion in my house! Oh wait, cancel that, it was only me.
Shine heartily laughed at how silly he must have sounded. He began his normal thorough look-sweep of his face he always did whenever he looked in a mirror. But this time he was interrupted as he began feeling the ground shaking much like a stampede but in a much smaller scale.

He opened up the front door and saw that all of his six closest friends in Ponyville all at once was charging towards his house. Even at such a distance, Shine could see that their intentions was just the same he had to reject this whole week.

He quickly shut the door and locked it. He hurried to take off his special tuxedo and put it inside his wardrobe as he knew that this wouldn't go smoothly. Just as he closed the door to the wardrobe, intense pounding on his front door made him almost jump out of his skin.
- Shine! Open up, we saw you just a minute ago.
It was Twilight who was shouting from the outer side of the door.
- No can do, I already know what all of you want and the answer will forever be a solid NO. So you can all now turn around and leave.
Shine replied with a shout of his own.
He quietly walked up to the door to listen if they still were there, nothing could be heard whatsoever. He thought that they had left and he began walking back to the wardrobe. But as he opened up the large door, he heard the loud click from his front door being unlocked.

He turned around and saw that Pinkie Pie had snuck into his house through the same window as the day before.
- PINKIE! You gotta stop sneaking into others houses. Besides, I thought you had lost all your interest of me from what happened yesterday.
Shine yelled at the pink pony opening up his front door, revealing his other five friends all standing there with a very familiar grin he almost began being afraid of.
- Oh, I know what we talked about yesterday, but Twilight said she wanted my help in having some fun, and everypony knows that I can't say no to fun.
- Ladies, lets see if we can take this wild bull here down and have our little fun, just like we all wanted.
Applejack stepped forward with a wide grin on her face.
- Certainly, I got very upset seeing you so rudely barge out of my boutique the other day darling.
Rarity groomed her mane slightly with her hoof.
- I-i, uhm... Shine... why don't you just play along? For us?
Fluttershy was poking on the ground with her hoof, carefully peaking from behind her mane covering her face.
- Enough shit-chat! Let's get on with it!
Rainbow Dash flew into Shines house and up, close to the ceiling.
- Now, now girls, no need to be ruffians we can do this the easy way if you insist but... HOLY- what is Celestia doing in Ponyville?
Shine pointed his hoof behind the group of friends which by instinct turned around, looking after their princess. But all they saw was a confused cyan unicorn pony with an equally colored mane who was looking around herself for the ostensible princess as well. After a while she yelled back to the house of friends.
- Shine! Shame on you, I though you didn't like to lie!
As the six friends realized it all was just a trick, they turned back to find that Shine had quietly snuck out of the wide open window.
- He's gettin' away, after him!
Applejack shouted and led the chase after Shine YellowSoul throughout Ponyville.

After being able to cause a major derivation he managed to run out of the bustling little town, all the way out to the Sweet Apple Acres where he found Big Macintosh standing by an apple tree, picking up bruised apples.
- Hey, Big Mac, you gotta help me!
Shine was panting heavily as he ran up to the red stallion of the Sweet Apple Acres.
- Woah, hold it right there, boy. What's the rush?
Big Macintosh looked confused at the stressed orange unicorn in front of him.
- I-it's AJ, she's gotten crazy, all along with her friends.
Shine was stomping his hooves indicating great panic.
- You gotta help me, quick!
Applejacks regular ''Yee-haw'' could be heard from far away. Big Macintosh looked in the direction from where the call came from.
- Wha month's there, son?
Big Macintosh looked very serious, still not moving his head.
- What? Oh, uhm... May, I think. Why does that matter, are you gonna help me or not?
Shine began looking a bit angry.
- Oh, horseapples! Is it already May?
Big Macintosh' eyes narrowed as he turned his attention to Shine.
- Sorry, Shine, but yer on yer own now. Ah ain't interfering when mah sis' in this mood.
- What do you mean? What mood?
Trees began rustling not too far away from the Sweet Apple Acres where Shine and Big Macintosh were discussing.
- Ah'm sorry, but mah back's not recovered from last year just yet. Ah reckon ya can hide in the barn.
Big Macintosh pointed his hoof at the freshly red painted barn located a fair distance away from the two stallions. Shine ran as fast as he could despite being very tired from the previous run from his house.

Shortly after, Applejack and her friends could be seen running along the road leading up to the entrance of the Sweet Apple Acres. They ran up to Big Macintosh and asked if he had seen Shine recently. But before he could answer, Rainbow Dash made an exclamation spotting Shine peek out from the red barn door.

All six of them barged into the barn, making a major mess of the interior of the barn. The mayhem only stopped as Shine appeared from a yellow sphere of light just outside the door to the barn as he began running again, this time away from the Sweet Apple Acres. The six furious friends soon after barged out from the barn only to continue to chase Shine.

Big Macintosh slowly shook his head at the sight and said to himself;
- Oh Shine, ya can run, but ya can never hide from a member of the Apple family.

-*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*-

The chase ended as Shine ran into his house and locked the door behind him. The six ponies left outside the house began beating and bucking on the door with all their might. When they stopped to catch their breaths a faint voice could be heard from the other side.
- Ha! You'll never break down an iron reinforced door. And the window is locked too this time!
- Allow me!
Twilight stepped up and began channeling magic in her horn for a split second only to vanish in a purple flash. Loud noises could be hear coming from inside the house. Shortly after, the door unlocked and out comes Shine too busy avoiding Twilight he didn't see that he ran straight into Applejack who stopped the orange stallion in his tracks. To avoid further running, Rainbow Dash tackled Shine from above, causing him to fall to the ground. Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were now the ones holding the struggling orange unicorn stallion down.

Shine was too worn out to struggle anymore. He panted heavily as he looked up on the six ponies which had been chasing him for so long.
- I told you, all of you, that I already have a special somepony. NOW LET GO OF ME!
Shine roared as he used his magic to lift off the three ponies sitting on him along with the other three of his friends to prevent them from doing anything he might disagree with. He slowly got up to his hooves and wiped off the worst of the dirt stuck in his coat.
- Then who is this special somepony you've been talking about all this time?
Rainbow Dash looked very frustrated.
Shine looked around the sky. After a short while he stopped his head as he pointed his hoof to the right of him, slightly upwards to the sky.
- There she is!
Shines eyes widened slightly as he locked his focus on the sky. All six of the ponies coated by Shines yellow magic turned their heads to their left. Their jaws dropped as they watched a gray pegasus mare with a blonde mane slowly fly towards the group. She had her eyes closed while joyfully humming on random songs. She opened her eyes for a short moment, but long enough for all of them to see that the gray pegasus mares eyes were looking in two directions at the same time. Judging by how her head was turned, she seemed to look at Shine before she closed her eyes and set her course straight towards Shine, this time flying faster than before.

She reached her front hooves out, just as if she was about to give a hug. But instead, she crashed into Shine, causing them both to tumble a fair distance on the ground. Eventually they stopped rolling, Shine laying on his back, the gray mare on top of him. Both of them were laughing heartily. The impact had broken the spell Shine had cast on his six friends, only to change his focus to the mare on top of him. The six previously levitating ponies fell to the ground, being stunned by the discovery of Shines ''special somepony'', none of them reacted to the impact as they fell to the ground with six separate thuds.
- Shiny! I finally found you!
The gray mare smiled widely.
- Sorry Derpies, I know we agreed to meet at the cafe, but I got held up.
Shine quickly tilted his head towards the awestruck group, still sitting with gaping mouths unflinchingly.
- Oh it's alright Shiny. I knew you wouldn't let me down. I just knew something prevented you to come to our date.
The gray mare rubbed her snout against Shines who returned the gesture along with a wide smile. The gray mare quickly hugged Shine before she helped him get up to his hooves. Shine looked over at the group of silent friends.
- Well, does this explain why I was trying so hard to resist all of you?
- Resist? What did they do to you Shiny?
The gray mare leaned at Shine while giving him a worried look.
- Nah, they didn't to anything to me, they tried, but they got denied, more or less.
Shine pat the gray mare on her head with the hoof closes to her.
- Had to get rough with a few of them for them to understand though.
Shine sort of drilled Rainbow Dash with his eyes.
Realizing Shine talked to her, Rainbow Dash snapped out of her trance.
- WAIT JUST A DARN MINUTE!
Rainbow Dash flew up to Shines face.
Shine gave Rainbow Dash a fierce look.
- What? Do you actually mean to tell the lie that you didn't try to subdue me, make me succumb to my primal instincts?
As Shine said this he swung his left hoof around the gray mare, holding her tight against his side.
Rainbow Dash backed off slightly as she landed.
- Not that. What I'm talking about is; Do you actually mean so say that you prefer Derpy, the clumsiest pegasus to come out of Cloudsdale before me, the fastest flier in Equestria?
- That'd be a solid yes.
Shine leaned his head slightly to Derpys.
- What has she got that I don't?
Rainbow Dash looked furious.
- Charisma and a wonderful personality. Not to mention that special something that both I and Derpies have in common. Come in closer, Dash.
Shine used his magic to drag the struggling Rainbow Dash and force her to look into his eyes.
- Quit your struggling, you are not strong enough to break my spell. Calm down and look into my eyes.
Shine was standing above Rainbow Dash with his face barely a hoof length from hers. But Rainbow Dash kept struggling.
- Hnnggghh! Let go of me!
By now, Shine lost his temper and slapped Rainbow Dash as hard as he could. The blue pegasus stopped moving completely from the sharp pain spreading through her face from her left cheek.
- I SAID LOOK INTO MY EYES! LOOK!
Still in shock, Rainbow Dash did as she was told and saw what Shine wanted her to see. Slowly, Shines left eye wandered off, no longer looking at the same spot as his right eye. Both his eyes tried to look at each other, but as the pupils got close to each other, they bounced back, much like two positively charged magnets. Shine closed his eyelids for a split second. As he opened his eyes again his eyes had returned to normal. Shine gave Rainbow Dash a final determined look before he stepped away from her. Very soft whimpers could be heard coming from Rainbow Dash.
- I-i'm sorry Shine... I'm so sorry I tried to force myself onto you.
Tears were streaming down Rainbow Dash' cheeks who by now had gotten up to her hooves and stood in front of Shine with her head bent down. Before Shine could reply Rainbow Dash had already taken off to her home in Cloudsdale.
- Apology accepted!
Shine shouted at Rainbow Dash who already had flown out of sight.
- Sorreh to interrupt, but ah wanna apologize too.
Applejack walked up to Shine, followed by the rest of their friends.
- Me too, I-i kinda just lost it the other day.
Fluttershys nose almost touched the ground from keeping her head so low. The rest of them all had facial expressions loudly asking for Shines apology. Shine let out a huge sigh of relief for finally getting his friends to understand.
- I accept all of your apologies. Also, Fluttershy, could you please fly after Rainbow Dash and tell her I accept her apology too? I don't think she heard me.
Fluttershy nodded and took off, slowly flying towards Cloudsdale.
- I'm feeling very bad for what I tried, even if it wasn't much.
Twilight Sparkle walked up to Shine with her head still somewhat lowered.
- Somehow, I really want to make up for what I did and I...
Shine put a hoof to Twilights mouth with a warm forgiving smile, silencing her speech.
- You don't have to do anything. But for now, I just want to be alone and spend some time with my little Derpies.
Shine gave a big hug to Derpy who in return gave Shine a smooch on his left cheek.

All of the friends nodded and parted ways in their own direction. Shine and Derpy still standing there, just outside Shines house, very slowly began walking towards the door taking turns in giving each other soft kisses.

Meanie Monday

First on the list was none other than the timid Fluttershy. Shine and Fluttershy had agreed on eating at a popular cafe in Ponyville. As they were walking their way there from Fluttershys hut, both of them had mostly kept silent while waiting for the other to break the ice. When they were about halfway, Flutter Shy couldn't help herself but purposely let out a loud sigh.
- Aah, there's something special and lovely in the air today, Shine, can you feel it?
Fluttershy sighed again as she looked at Shine who didn't bother to turn his head. Shine loudly inhaled before exhale quickly with a little cough.
- Hmm... smells like... forest leaves, roses and that super faint intoxicating scent of...
Fluttershys eyes widened and began sparkling brightly.
…cake frosting, Mr. and Mrs. Cake has to be filling a huge cake order by now.
Shine began smiling dreamingly to himself. Fluttershy gave a disappointed sigh while lowering her head. Suddenly, Fluttershy noticed that Shine was too busy daydreaming to notice he was about to bump into a, for Fluttershy, familiar character.
- Oh, sorry, didn't see you there, was a bit busy daydrea...
Shine was cut off by the stranger.
- UGH! Why don't you keep your eyes open so you don't have to ruin my day by messing up my feathers!?
The stranger yelled as she spread her wings wide. Fluttershys eyes narrowed.
- Oh no, it's Gilda...
Fluttershy whispered high enough for Shine to react but not high enough for him to hear all of it.
- What was that again Shy? I didn't quite catch that name.
Shine turned around to look at Fluttershy. Gildas eyes turned red in anger. She ran towards Shine and tackled him into some nearby bushes.
- Name's Gilda, dweeb. Remember it, cuz I'm not repeating myself.
Gilda straightened a few feathers that got messed up from the tackle.
Hey, I remember you!
Gilda gave Fluttershy a glare.
You are one of Dash' lame-o friends. Care to tell where she is or do I have to put you in place, too?
Fluttershy lay down on the ground while giving Gilda a submissive look and making high pitched whimpers. Before she could muster an answer, the nearby bushes began rustling.
- Oh, the bully likes it rough!
Out from the bushes comes Shine in full gear, rushing in between Gilda and Fluttershy. The shove Gilda received was more than enough for her to fall on her back. Shine walked up to Gildas right side and put his front hooves on Gildas chest to pin her to the ground.
Why not pick on someone who'll fight back?
Shine stepped off Gilda only to transform to his human form. Afterward, Shine sat down on the same spot he had his hooves on earlier and made a grip around Gildas neck with his right hand, putting his thumb on Gildas Adams apple.
Someone like me!
Shine put his forehead to Gildas and gave her his most intimidating look he could. Gilda could hardly breathe and could only swallow down hard which made Shine move his thumb slightly. No one did anything, until a familiar voice from above could be heard.
- Fluttershy? Shine? Whatcha doin' with Gilda?
Rainbow Dash landed on Gildas left side and looked at Shine who suddenly changed to a new face.
- Well, this brute for a griffin said she was a friend of yours and asked Shy, one of your ''lame-o'' friends, if she knew where you were. Did I mention Gilda has quite a rude way of introducing herself?
Shine let go of Gildas neck and got of her chest. Gilda began coughing a bit before she caught her breath.
- H-hey, Dash. I-i came here to...
Gilda was getting very nervous.
- Yeah, I remember your letter.
Rainbow Dash was looking quite angry.
You came here to make peace. Make up for what you did the last time, right?
- W-well... yeah, of course.
Gilda started to calm down a bit.
- OK then.
Rainbow Dash put on her usual grin-smile.
I just want you to do one simple thing. Close your eyes and turn around.
Without hesitation, Gilda did as she was told with a half-smile. But as she was about to ask why, Rainbow Dash bucket her in the rear which made Gilda fly a small distance, making a rough crash, forcing dirt all the way down her throat. Rainbow Dash turned to look a the coughing, semi-vomiting griffin.
Did you really think I would be that stupid, G?
Rainbow Dash looked furious.
I actually did consider giving you a second chance. But after seeing Shine pin you down like that, which I know he wouldn't do without a reason, and then hear that you called Flutter Shy a lame-o, well, I might as well shove that letter down your throat if it wasn't full of dirt already.
- B-but, Dash.
Gilda was so shocked, tears began welling up in her eyes.
I-i-i really meant to... to make peace with you a-and forget all the things that happened the last time around.
- Pfft!
Rainbow Dash turned her head away and put her hoof in front of Gildas face.
Talk to the hoof if you must cuz my ears sure as hay won't listen.
- D-dash... I-i...
Gilda could hardly speak as her tears blinded her eyes. Rainbow Dash quickly spread her wings in anger, and with fury in her eyes, she slapped Gilda with her hoof as hard as she could which made the griffin fall do the ground again. This time, Dash was the one pinning down Gilda.
- SHUT! THE BUCK! UP G! Now, I want you to take your feathery butt and get the hay outta Ponyville! And if I ever see you here again without my permission, I'm gonna do something A LOT worse than giving you a little nudge.
Rainbow Dash quickly took of towards Cloudsdale. Clear sparkling tears could be seen falling from the blue Pegasus before she had flown out of sight. Gilda was still laying on the ground, now loudly crying. Shine and Fluttershy stood and just watched the sobbing griffin for a few seconds before Shine whispered to Fluttershy.
- Shy, I think we should leave her alone with her thoughts. Mind invite me for a cup of tea or something?
Shine changed to his pony form as he finished the question. Fluttershy quickly nodded. The two ponies slowly and carefully walked away from the scene, in the opposite direction that Rainbow Dash had flown, towards Fluttershys hut. After walking for a few minutes, Fluttershy broke the silence once again.
- Uhm... Shine?
Fluttershy looked at Shine with her head slightly lowered.
- Yes? Why so sad looking? C'mon, lemme see your normal cute smile.
While saying this, Shine had lowered his head even lower than Fluttershy had hers and locked his eyes with hers and sort of lifted both his and hers head up in normal position with only the use of their eyes. Fluttershy and Shine both blushed slightly when they realized they had been looking deeply into each others eyes.
So, ahem, what was it that you wanted to ask?
Shine broke the eye link and looked forward again with a slight awkward smile.
- Well, I was just wondering... if you would like to tell me...
Fluttershy was feeling very insecure in asking such a personal question.
How did you muster so much courage to face Gilda like that? I'd never be able to do something like that.
- Well, it was not so much courage involved.
Shine stopped at a nearby tree and broke loose a branch and threw it to the ground.
It was more like, well, you could say, instinct. I snapped, like this.
Shine stomped at the branch with his front hooves which made the branch split into three parts.
- So, are you saying you got a temper?
Fluttershy tilted her head slightly.
- Not quite, but due to rough times at school, I got no tolerance at all against bullies, or more like anyone who does something bad to someone I care about.
Shine rose his head high and took a proud pose. Fluttershy and Shine kept walking towards Fluttershys hut while talking about just about anything that came to any of the laughing ponies' minds.

-*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*-

After a decent while of walking, they finally arrived. Fluttershy flew ahead of Shine to tend to all of the different animals surrounding the area around Fluttershys hut. Just as Shine was about to approach the front door, Fluttershy landed in front of Shine and politely opened the door, letting Shine in before her.
- OK, we're here.
Fluttershy smiled as she walked into the middle of the room, drawing the attention of all of the animals inside her house.
Now, could you all please go outside for a while? Me and Shine has some private things to talk about.
All of the animals flew, walked or skipped outside the wide open door. Even Angel tried to shoo away some of the smallest animals. But just as he was about to re-enter the house as he had shown the way out to a family of mice, Fluttershy lightly stomped her hoof in front of Angel, instantly getting his attention.
Oh, I'm sorry if I startled you Angel, but I also need you to stay outside of the house. Like I said, I have some ''private'' things to do.
Fluttershy winked at the white bunny who just shrugged and bounced away. Fluttershy quietly slipped inside the hut and carefully closed the door followed by a soft click from the lock mechanism sealing the door. Fluttershy stood with the door locked behind her and just stared into the kitchen at Shine who was too busy preparing tea water by Fluttershys stove to notice her.
''Oh my, such an excellent opportunity. I never imagined things going this way this fast.''
Fluttershy said to herself with a content look on her face as she slowly began walking towards the kitchen with a more seductive walking style than normal. Shine was busy with the tea water, but as he finished and turned around, he noticed Fluttershy standing in the kitchen doorway with a look on her face that clearly indicated she really wanted to do something more than just have a cup of tea with him. Shine flinched at first but quickly pasted his normal happy expression to his face before he began talking to the obviously emotionally excited pegasus pony in front of him.
- Oh, there you are Shy, I hope you don't mind me doing things a little ahead of you.
- Not at all!
Fluttershy giggled softer and more calmly than normal.
- So, uhm... are we gonna have some cookies for the tea or what?
Shine tried really hard to act unwitting of Fluttershys erratic new behavior. Fluttershy giggled again.
- If you want to, they are right here.
Fluttershy slowly walked past Shine by making a huge detour instead of going straight for the pantry. As she passed Shine, she purposely made her tail slide along Shines body. She opened the pantry and picked up a tray of chocolate cookies. She walked back in front of Shine with the tray of cookies on her head. She tried to wrap her tail loosely around Shines neck but Shine interrupted the motion by gently nibbling the tail which somewhat snapped Fluttershy out of her state.
- Sniff... mm, what kind of shampoo do you use? It smells like... sniff... some kind of herb.. it goes quite good with your character.
Fluttershy quickly yanked her tail back. She blushed when she realized what she was doing.
- S-sorry, I didn't mean to intrude in you personal space.
Shine let out a sigh of relief for being able to snap Fluttershy out of her erratic state.
- Nah, don't worry about it. I can take the cookies to the living room. I'd preferably not do stuff close to a stove due to insecurity of my pony form.
Shine carefully took the tray of cookies from Fluttershy. As he passed Fluttershy, Shine gave her a light thump on her left flank with his own. Fluttershy was a little shocked at this but as she looked back at Shine she only received a taunting wink from Shine. By now, Fluttershy was greatly confused. Things were just racing around in her head. Her seductive attempts at Shine, his half-denial, then to receive a wink that indicates her attempts suddenly would have worked. She needed answers and she wanted them now.
- Shy? Where's the tea?
Shine was standing in front of a couch with the tray of cookies on his head and just looked at Flutterwhy who in return only was standing there in the kitchen doorway and staring back at Shine.
Out of nowhere, Fluttershy pounced Shine, making the tray of cookies fly into the air, spreading cookies all over the floor.
- Fluttershy! Why'd you do...
Shine was interrupted as Fluttershy locked lips with the pinned down stallion. After a few seconds, Fluttershy lifted her head slightly only to look deeply into Shines eyes.
- Shine YellowSoul! Tell me, what do you think of me?
Fluttershy was sounding very assertive, close to demanding.
- That's it?
Shine cleared his throat and inhaled a lot of air.
You are a yellow pegasus pony with a very tender personality that I like. You are a great friend but should stand up to yourself a little bit more.
- S-so... you actually like me?
Fluttershy was even more shocked now than earlier, making her let go a little of her pinning down Shine. This gave Shine an opportunity to be the one in charge. He quickly transformed into his human form and grabbed Fluttershy around the ribcage and rolled to the left, making Fluttershy being the one who is pinned down.
- Yes, I like you.
Shine glared into Fluttershys eyes.
But only as a friend. My heart already belongs to another. Sorry to disappoint you Shy.
Fluttershy calmed down completely, stopping her weak struggling.
- B-but the way you looked at me...
Fluttershy looked into Shines eyes with tears almost building up in her own.
- Hey, everything's about give and take. You kept teasing me, so I decided to tease you back, simple as that. I never intended to confuse you or hurt your feelings. I just thought I'd give you a taste of an ''eye-for-an-eye'' treatment.
Shine gave Fluttershy a soft smile.
Let's have some of that tea and some of those cookies. Well, the ones we can scrape up from the floor. Good thing you keep your house so clean.
Shine let go of Fluttershy and transformed back into his pony form and helped Fluttershy up from the floor.
Still friends?
Shine reached out with his right front hoof towards Fluttershy who nodded and reached out a hoof herself.
- I'll go get the tea, for real this time, why don't you pick up the cookies I made you ''drop'' on the floor?
Fluttershy giggled and smiled at Shine before walking into the kitchen. Shine used his magic to pick up all of the still intact cookies, the ones that got shattered got thrown away, along with all the crumbles they left behind.

The rest of the evening the two ponies talked about all the different things they had seen and experienced while laughing and having a wonderful time. They even considered having a little slumber party but Shine had to decline since he had to get up early to for his job over at the Sweet Apple Acres.