Starting Over

Obsidian sat there looking a little perplexed before she frowned and turned back to look at the foal that was almost done with the milk. The earth pony walked into the boutique and towards the unicorn followed by a small purple alicorn mare. Rarity was watching Obsidian but when she was addressed by the purple alicorn she turned her full attention onto her friend.

“Twilight, she knows where Fluttershy is...” Rarity said quietly to the purple mare.

“Miss, would you explain how you know of our friend Fluttershy? What land do you rule?” The purple mare stepped forward to emphasize her speaking to the other alicorn in the room.

“I believe it might first be prudent to introduce yourself? My name is Obsidian Gold and how do I know I can trust you?” Obsidian asked with a frown.

“I'm sorry. My name is Twilight Sparkle and this is Applejack. We are friends of Fluttershy's. She ran away almost a year ago and we couldn’t find her.” Twilight explained as she watched the black and gold alicorn.

“I see. Well I rule no land here, I was banished to this dimension when my home world was taken over. I landed by your friend who was in labor at the time.” Obsidian explained.

“Wait... this foal... it isn’t yours?” Rarity asked curiously.

Obsidian again looked down at the little black and orange unicorn foal that was currently curled up asleep between her forelegs. Obsidian momentarily forgot about her audience and leaned forward to nuzzled the foal tenderly.

“No. Fluttershy gave birth to little Blaze here during the night.” Obsidian said finally looking back at the on lookers.

“Then why do you have her? Where is Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash had come back inside with a small purple and green dragon at her side.

“I am not so sure I should say. Fluttershy obviously ran away for a reason, without telling her friends.” Obsidian said after a moments hesitation.

“You have to tell us! We never stopped looking for her!” Rarity said taking a step forward with an imploring look on her face.

“Look, you all seem like nice ponies, but Fluttershy trusted me with her foal. I am not about to betray that trust by telling the ponies she has hid from all this time where she is.” Obsidian tried to look as formidable as she could while she was laying on the floor.

“But we want to help her. We want to tell her we are still her friends.” Twilight stepped forward an addressed the mare.

“I understand that. But you must understand, she hid from you and she just had a foal she couldn’t feed. I believe seeing you all would potentially not do her any good right now. She seems like the fragile type.” Obsidian pointed this out reasonably and saw the agreement on all four ponies faces.

“Very well. Spike, I would like to send a letter to Princess Celestia, come outside with me.” Twilight said gesturing to the door as she spoke to the dragon and headed outside.

Obsidian watched as the mare and dragon walked outside before looking at the other ponies in the room. Rainbow Dash stepped forward and practically snarled at the black and gold alicorn that regarded her carefully. A slight movement against her chest had Obsidian looking down at the awake foal.

Blaze had woken up during the conversation and had looked around at the ponies in the room curiously. When the rainbow maned pegasus had stepped forward the foal shrunk back against the warm mare that had brought her to this place.

“Step back pegasus, you are frightening her.” Obsidian said in a low and menacing voice.

It was clear the voice had startled Rainbow Dash as she had backed off quickly. The foal visibly relaxed and Obsidian nuzzled the little filly reassuringly. With a shrill little whinny the foal snuggled closer to Obsidian after rubbing cheeks with the mare.

At this point Twilight and the dragon had come back into the boutique and looked at Obsidian. Ignoring the looks she was getting she focused on the filly and spoke to her gently to get her to go back to sleep. Once Blaze was asleep again Obsidian looked up at the ponies and spoke.

“If you will let me rest here for an hour or so I will leave. I wish to return the filly back to Fluttershy this evening.”

“Will you take us with you?” Applejack asked immediately.

“No. But I will talk to Fluttershy about you all.” Obsidian said firmly.

“But she will not come back here unless we go and get her!” Rainbow Dash said loudly.

“Keep your voice down.” Obsidian said in her menacingly quiet tone.

Rainbow clammed up immediately and looked apologetic as they group all glanced at the sleeping filly.

“I would appreciate none of you following me when I return to Fluttershy.” Obsidian said when she looked up from the sleeping foal.

“That is a lot to ask. Fluttershy means a lot to us. She must have left because she didn’t think we could understand her being pregnant.” Rarity said in response to Obsidian’s words.

“I know it must be hard, but you have to understand that I don’t want you to follow me for Fluttershy's sake.” Obsidian sighed in exasperation.

“Yes we understand that. It is just that we feel like we will never see her again unless we can talk to her and convince her to come back here.” Twilight said imploringly.

“I understand that, but you are forgetting the major factor here.” Obsidian said with a slight frown.

“Which is what?” The dragon asked curiously and slightly sarcastically.

“You are forgetting about Blaze. Fluttershy cannot feed her, which means she will have to go somewhere to get milk. Let me take Blaze back to her mother, I will talk to Fluttershy and let her know you want her to come back.” Obsidian explained patiently.

“That sounds reasonable but what if she doesn’t want to come to Ponyville, what if she goes somewhere else?” Twilight asked curiously.

“If that is the case then you have my word that I will contact you and let you know where she is going.” The black mare said resignedly.

“Alright... we wont follow you.” Twilight said finally.

“What... Twi, how can we trust her?” Applejack asked with a scowl.

“We have no choice... Although I do have to wonder... How did you get into this world and what do you get out of saving Fluttershy's foal?” Twilight was frowning now she thought about it.

Obsidian gold heaved a sigh and looked at the faces around her. With another sigh she hung her exhausted head for a moment before looking back up and beginning to speak.

“My world was over run by magically beings, I don’t know where they came from. They could not kill me so they had me locked up in my own dungeons. When I escaped the third time they realized they wouldn’t be able to hold me indefinitely.” Obsidian explained somewhat shortly.

“And they sent you here?” Rainbow Dash asked curiously.

“Yes. Although I do not think they knew where they were sending me, they were simply removing a problem... permanently.” Obsidian finished with another sigh.

“That still doesn’t explain why you are helping a complete stranger.” Rarity pointed out not unkindly.

“Would you walk away from a pony so clearly in need? I found Fluttershy in the middle of the night in the middle of an unfriendly forest in the middle of giving birth. Plus after watching little Blaze being born I couldn’t not help by bringing her here to save her life.” Obsidian frowned at the fact that she had to explain herself at all.

“Alright that is fair enough. Guys we should leave. I am sure Rarity wouldn’t mind you resting here for a few hours before you leave.” Twilight said looking at Rarity for confirmation.

“Oh course. You are welcome to go up to my room and sleep for a while in my bed.” Rarity said kindly.

“If it is all the same, I may just stay here. I am exhausted and I would assume that I would be far too tall for your bed. Thank you though.” Obsidian said to the kind unicorn.

“Of course. I will return in an hour or so with more milk for the foal before you leave.” Rarity said as she followed the others out of the boutique.

Obsidian stared at the door for a long moment before she looked down at the small foal and smiled at the sleeping face of the filly. With a yawn she could no longer deny the mare laid her head down effectively trapping the little filly beneath her neck between her legs. It didn’t take long for the mare to fall into a restless sleep.

“Miss Gold... Wake up.” Rarity gently poked at the mare to rouse her.

“Rarity... how long has it been?” Obsidian asked in a hoarse voice as she stretched her neck and her uninjured wing.

“It is almost lunch time. Will you eat before you leave? I have apple pie.” Rarity said gesturing towards a door.

“That is kind of you. Thank you.” Obsidian said as her stomach growled audibly.

Rarity smiled and waited as Obsidian struggled to her hooves with a pained groaned. Frowning Rarity watched as the mare stretched gingerly.

“You are hurt? Your left wing?” Rarity asked stepping closer and looking at the stiff wing.

“Yes. I was unconscious when they pushed me through the portal. I was lucky enough that it was a couple hundred meters up. I cant be killed by such things as falling from the sky, but it sure can hurt.” Obsidian explained ruefully.

“I could take a look at it.” Rarity offered kindly.

“No it is OK. I really should get Blaze back to Fluttershy. I wouldn’t stay and eat if I hadn’t been starved for the past 30 moons.” Obsidian said as she magically picked up the waking foal and placed the little black bundle between her wings again.

“Alright but you should perhaps get it looked at by someone soon. Come and eat before you leave.” Rarity started towards the door and Obsidian followed.

After a quick lunch Obsidian promised Rarity she would talk to Fluttershy and then thanked the unicorn for the food and the milk she had bought to take with her back to Fluttershy. After promising one more time the alicorn left, heading back to Fluttershy, trotting briskly.

The trip back took longer as Obsidian as still very worn out and she had to stop ever so often to feed the little filly. When Obsidian got near the cottage she slowed down when she heard voices coming from the small building. With a frown the mare came to a stop and listened when one of the voices got louder.

“You stupid mule! Where is my food?” It was an obviously male voice.

“I... It's all I have. I w-wasn’t able t-to tend the gard-garden.” This was obviously the timid Fluttershy.

“Why? Because you had that foal? Where is it? Dead I hope.” The stallion said harshly and Obsidian could hear a strangle whimper from Fluttershy.

Obsidian, at this point, had heard enough and she stepped forward and furiously kicked the door open and glared at the green unicorn stallion that was lounging lazily on the bed. With shrill cry the alicorn magically grabbed the stallion from the bed and literally dragged him out of the cottage.

“How dare you speak to her like that!” Obsidian shouted at the stunned stallion.

“Who... Who are you?” The stallion stammered, looking terrified.

“Your worst nightmare. You have two options... stay here and continue to be the ass that I know you to be and get trampled. Or leave, and don’t ever come back here.” Obsidian said getting in the stallions face.

“Fine I will leave. I don’t need this stupid mare anyways.” The stallion stood but as he spoke Obsidian spun and kicked him harshly in the side sending him tumbling back to the ground.

“Call her stupid, one more time.” Obsidian said quietly as she glared at the stallion.

Without a word the stallion got to his feet and galloped off. Obsidian glared after him before she slowly turned to the weeping pegasus sitting by the door of the cottage. Obsidian slowly went over to the little mare and gently put her hoof on Fluttershy's chin, tilting her head up.

“Do not cry little one. He can no longer hurt you.” Obsidian smiled warmly at the mare when she finally looked up at the alicorn.

“Thank y-you. I... He...” The mare sobbed again, unable to finish what she was saying.

“Shh. Its alright now, I am here and I will keep you safe. How are you feeling?” Obsidian dropped her hoof from the little mares chin and looked her over closely.

“I am OK. He didn’t hurt me... this time.” Fluttershy said honestly.

“Good thing for him or I might have stomped him into the ground. I have someone that wants to see you.” Obsidian said as she felt little hooves digging into her withers anxiously.

Without waiting for Fluttershy's response Obsidian magically lifted the little filly and placed her on the ground in front of her. Blaze whickered excitedly and trotted over to her mother, rubbing her face on the mares pelt when she got there.

Fluttershy let out a happy sob and dropped down so she could hug her little filly to her and began to weep again. Blaze looked from her mother to Obsidian a little helplessly and with a smile Obsidian stepped forward and laid down next to the mare.

Fluttershy moved a little close to Obsidian so they were touching but she didn’t take her eyes from her foal as she lifted her head and gazed lovingly at the little unicorn. Obsidian gave the extra bottles of milk to the young mother and watched as the little filly drank hungrily when Fluttershy offered her one of the teats.

“That stallion... was he the father?” Obsidian asked gently after several minutes of silence.

“Yes... a long time ago he was passing through Ponyville. He... He seemed to take a l-liking to me and he was so...so charming. I guess I brought it on m-myself but he wouldn’t take... take n-no for an answer.” Fluttershy chocked on a sob towards the end.

Obsidian stared at the mare for a moment before she shot to her hooves, forgetting all about her injuries. She began pacing as her entire body started to shake with pure rage.

“I should go after him and trample him.” Obsidian spat as she turned towards the direction the stallion had run off.

“No! No... Please... you are hurt. Stay here with me so I can see to you for now.” Fluttershy pleaded.

“Fluttershy.... he forced himself on you, and somehow you seem to think that it was your fault. That is not OK.” Obsidian said looking down at the helpless mare.

“I-i know. But what is done is done. You made him go away and I appreciate that more than you know... just please... d-don’t leave me again.” Fluttershy's voice had started to wobble again.

With a sigh Obsidian hung her head and closed her eyes feeling rather defeated by this entire ordeal. Shaking her head a little Obsidian moved back over and laid back down beside the mare and looked at the filly she had come so attached too.

“OK Fluttershy, I wont leave you again, I promise. Have you thought about how you will continue to feed Blaze?” Obsidian asked as she tenderly nuzzled the still feeding foal.

“I... no. Shortly after you left he came back.” Fluttershy explained quietly as she gazed at her filly.

“Fluttershy, the town you sent me too... It was your friends that helped me save Blaze.” Obsidian hedged quietly and was surprised a little when the mare smiled.

“I knew they would. I miss them.” Fluttershy said in an emotional voice.

“They want you to go back there. They want you to know that they have missed you too and that they are still your friends.” Obsidian said with an encouraging smile.

“I suppose it is time... I would have returned a long time ago if not for him... He convinced me to leave, that they wouldn’t like me cause I was silly enough to get pregnant.” Fluttershy said sadly.

“He was an ass. You are free of him now and you have me to look after you and little Blaze. I think you should go back to Ponyville.” Obsidian nuzzled the shy mare encouragingly.

“Thank you. You make me feel safe and I do not even know your name.” Fluttershy's comment startled the alicorn.

“I apologize. My name is Obsidian Gold. You can call me Sidian.” Obsidian introduced herself finally.

“OK. We will stay here for a day so you can rest before we go back to Ponyville.” Fluttershy made it sound like a question but Obsidian knew it was a statement.

“Alright. It is getting dark. Is there anything else I can do for you before we retire for the night?” Obsidian asked curiously.

“No I think it will be OK. Let us go to sleep, I am as exhausted as you look.” Fluttershy stunned Obsidian with her warm gentle smile.

“You are very exhausted then.” Obsidian said as she stood up and magically lifted the mare and her filly and turned into the cottage with them floating in front of her.

Obsidian placed the now protesting mare and the giggling foal on the bed and then laid down in the only space large enough for her, right beside the bed. Fluttershy was still protesting when Obsidian laid her head down on the bed next to the mare and her foal.

“Sidian, you should take the bed you have run so far for us and you are injured.” Fluttershy shifted as if she was about to stand.

“Fluttershy stay there. This is fine. I am too big for your bed anyways. Just go to sleep. You too silly filly.” Obsidian said pointedly as she turned her gaze on the little filly that was rolling from side to side by her head.

Fluttershy opened her mouth like she might protest again but Obsidian turned her gaze on the mare and instantly halted what ever she might say. Obsidian smiled when the yellow mare laid her head over the alicorn's and the small filly nestled down beneath the yellow neck and rubbed her cheek on Obsidian’s

“Rest well little Blaze. You and your mother are safe with me.” Obsidian said gently before she let sleep take hold of her.