Starting Over

“There it is, Shy. How are you feeling?” Obsidian asked the mare as the trio looked down upon the distant town.

“Very nervous, but I think I would feel worse if you were not here.” Fluttershy responded after a moment.

“It will be OK. Your friends have missed you dearly. They wanted to come back with me but I convinced them it would be best if I spoke to you about it myself first.” Obsidian said with a smile.

“Oh, Thank you. It would have been worse had they showed up with you while he was there...” Fluttershy shuddered visibly.

“Its OK. Put him out of your mind little mare.” Obsidian said as she dropped her head and nudged the mare.

“Thank you Sidian. You are a good friend... We are friends right?” Fluttershy asked as an after thought.

“Of course we are.” Obsidian chuckled at the question.

“Good. We should get going. I would like to wrap your wing and get some pressure on your ribs.” Fluttershy sounded rather motherly.

“Yes little Shy One.” Obsidian said rolling her eyes good naturedly.

Fluttershy chuckled and beat her wings enough to get enough height to nuzzle her sleepy filly that was curled up on Obsidian’s back between her wings. Once back on the ground the trio started for the town in companionable silence.

Obsidian found herself glancing down at the little yellow mare every few steps as she looked for signs that the mare may be having trouble with her emotions as they neared the town. Obsidian could see the anxiety in Fluttershy's face but found herself admiring the young mares courage. The alicorn also couldn’t help admiring the mare in a physical sense as well.

Obsidian was finding herself attracted to a pony for the first time in her life and though she felt like she should be nervous about that pony being another mare she couldn’t bring herself to care. Obsidian looked at the mare and smiled as she saw the way Fluttershy's rump swayed from side to side as she walked.

“Oh...” Fluttershy said in a small voice.

Obsidian looked up at the mares face and followed her gaze to see two ponies flying towards them. Fluttershy tensed up and when Obsidian noticed this she stepped closer to the yellow mare and nuzzled her encouragingly.

“They are your friends Shy, don’t be so worried they will just be happy to see you.” Obsidian said with a smile.

The blue pegasus was coming in fast and Obsidian frowned waiting for Rainbow Dash to slow. When the other pegasus didn’t slow down and Obsidian realized her intention she stepped in front of the yellow mare and winced when Rainbow Dash collided with her chest full force. Obsidian frowned and looked down at the stunned pegasus that was now laying on the ground.

“Sorry Rainbow Dash, but Fluttershy just recently gave birth. She is still too sore to be tackled by you.” Obsidian explained when the blue mare glared at her.

“Oh. Sorry. Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash leaped up and side stepped the alicorn to hug the yellow mare.

“Hello Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy said in her usual quiet voice.

Obsidian smiled when she saw the apprehension leave Fluttershy's face to be replaced by joy. Twilight arrived at this point and smiled at Obsidian before excitedly hugging the yellow mare along with Rainbow Dash.

The black and gold mare looked back at the filly that was now watching her mother intently as she was being hugged by the others. Obsidian twitched her muscles to get the filly’s attention and grinned when the little foal giggled and stood up on the mares back.

“Fluttershy, where have you been all this time? We missed you so much.” Twilight said when she finally let the yellow mare go.

“I... um... In the forest.” Fluttershy said moving a little closer to Obsidian.

“I think, perhaps we should not worry so much about where she has been and instead focus on where she is now.” Obsidian suggested as she subtly moved so she was touching the little mare.

“You are right of course. Oh Fluttershy!” Rarity said as she Applejack and Pinkie Pie showed up unnoticed.

The group of friends all focused on the yellow mare that stayed very close to the larger alicorn while said alicorn lifted Blaze to the ground. Blaze stayed close by Obsidian as well, staying out of her mothers way but not feeling brave enough to venture any closer to the other ponies.

Obsidian was talking quietly to the little filly making her giggle from time to time when the pink mare that Obsidian hadn’t met previously bounced over and started talking loudly to the little foal. Blaze gave a little startled cry and stumbled back until she was hugging the back of Obsidian’s leg. Obsidian looked from the scared foal up at the pink mare, her stare becoming a fierce glare.

Pinkie Pie looked at the black and gold alicorn and stepped back in a hurry looking a little frightened herself.

“Can you not see you are scaring her?” Obsidian asked in an irate tone.

Pinkie Pie didn’t respond but the tone of Obsidian’s voice wasn’t lost on the other ponies and they all stopped there talking and looked from the tall alicorn to the startled filly hugging her leg. Fluttershy stepped forward and nuzzled her little filly before looking at Pinkie Pie.

“Pinkie Pie, it is great to see you. Don’t feel bad, Blaze just hasn’t been around many ponies and Sidian is awful protective of her.” Fluttershy said kindly to the pink mare.

“Oh. OK Fluttershy.” Pinkie Pie said quietly, no longer meeting Obsidian’s eye.

“Perhaps we should go into town. I know for a fact Fluttershy is hungry and we need to buy some more milk for Blaze.” Obsidian said after a silent moment.

“Good idea, Miss Gold. Ah can go by the cows and see if they will give us some milk for the little one.” Applejack said with a smile.

Fluttershy was smiling as she stood in front of Obsidian looking down at her daughter but the smile began slip and Obsidian noticed the little mare was beginning to shake a little. Before Obsidian could say anything Fluttershy made a little sound and sat down abruptly. Concerned, Obsidian stepped forward separating the distance between them and nuzzled the little mare behind the ear.

“Shy, are you OK?” Obsidian asked gently.

“My muscles are cramping up a little.” Fluttershy said quietly as the others watching the two.

“I understand.” Obsidian nuzzled the little mare again before magically lifting her and placing her on her back before lifting the filly and settling her in front of her mother on her withers.

“Sidian, your ribs.” Fluttershy protested meekly.

“Don’t worry about it, Shy. You walked a long way and you haven’t healed properly yet.” Obsidian said as she gestured to the others and they all started walking towards Ponyville.

The group all walked and chatted and the trip into the town seemed to take no time at all. Nearing the square Obsidian noticed all the ponies staring at her. For a brief moment the black and gold alicorn hoped the town ponies were looking at Fluttershy but it soon became apparent that they had no even noticed the mare.

Obsidian frowned and glanced back at Fluttershy who was watching her curiously, the little mare smiled and then spoke, obviously understanding.

“There are only four alicorns. Four Princesses in Equestria. So you are quite intriguing for everyone.” Fluttershy explained quietly.

“Only four? There were a lot more where I come from.” Obsidian said, her frown deepening.

“Yes. Twilight is one of the four. There is Princess Luna her elder sister and ruler of Equestria Princess Celestia and Celestia's niece Princess Cadance.” Fluttershy explained with a smile.

“Oh. That is very interesting.” Obsidian said as she contemplated this.

“And now you Sidian. You were the ruler of your world.” Fluttershy pointed out.

“Yes but here I am just another pony.” Obsidian returned.

Fluttershy looked like she was about to continue arguing the point with her until Obsidian felt a little hoof touch her leg. Fluttershy and Obsidian both looked down to see three small filly's standing looking up at them. Obsidian smiled when she saw the nervous looks on their faces, hoping to make them feel more at ease.

“Miss. Where is you cutie mark?” It was a young orange pegasus that asked.

“My what?” Obsidian asked a little stunned.

“Your cutie mark. We all get cutie marks when we find our talents.” Twilight explained gesturing the stars on her rump.

Obsidian stopped and looked at everyone around her for a moment noticing for the first time all the cutie marks. With a frown the alicorn looked back and noted Fluttershy's butterfly before looking at the three filly’s in front of her and noticing they had none.

“Where I come from no one has these marks.” Obsidian explained to the filly’s

“Oh... Is that Fluttershy on your back?” A little white unicorn with a pink mane asked.

“Yes Sweetie Belle.” Rarity answered kindly.

“Hello girls.” Fluttershy said smiling down at the filly’s

“Hello.” The three chorused.

“I think we should keep going. We will go to the library and I will fix us some food.” Twilight said before the filly’s could ask any more questions.

Obsidian nodded and moved to follow the purple alicorn when she felt little hooves digging into her withers. Looking back she saw the little filly standing up and looking at her in askance. Obsidian understood what she wanted but looked at the filly’s mother in question.

“You don’t have to ask me. I know you will look out for her.” Fluttershy said with a smile.

Obsidian returned the smile before lifting the filly from her back and placing her on the ground. The filly instantly moved under the large alicorn but she looked around curiously as she trotted along with the group. They were almost at the library when the little filly began getting tired and Obsidian stopped to nuzzle the little one.

Blaze giggled and rolled onto her back gently batting at Obsidian’s nose with her little hooves causing the mare to laugh and blow a raspberry on the filly’s belly which made her laugh shrilly. Obsidian chuckled at the filly’s antics before she scooped her up with her magic and held her in front of her for a moment so they could rub cheeks before placing Blaze on her back with her mother.

Obsidian looked back up and noticed everypony else a few meters ahead, waiting for them, and she trotted forwards quickly. They were in front of a large hollow tree which Obsidian learned to be the library and Twilight Sparkles home. The group all moved inside, Obsidian walking in last.

The first thing Obsidian noticed when she walked in were the three alicorns standing in the middle of the library staring at her. The second thing she noticed was the yellow mare tensing a little on her back. Finding the mare more concerning than the alicorns Obsidian turned back and looked at Fluttershy.

“Nervous all over again Shy?” Obsidian asked quietly.

“I am an element of harmony. I am sure Princess Celestia will be mad at me.” Fluttershy said so only Obsidian could hear.

“Perhaps, but she wont stay mad. No one could stay mad at you my little mare.” Obsidian said kindly.

“He could.” Fluttershy mumbled but Obsidian heard anyways.

“He was as ass and should be banished from your mind.” Obsidian said as her temper flared at the thought of the stallion that had forced himself on Fluttershy and made her run away from her home.

The group all looked sharply at the alicorn mare when they heard her outburst and Obsidian glared at them all before she felt Fluttershy shift and looked back at her.

“I am sorry Shy. The fact that I didn’t make him wish he had not been born makes me irate.” Obsidian said with a scowl.

“It is OK Sidian. I am just glad you care that much. May you put me down?” Fluttershy asked gently.

Obsidian didn’t say anything but magically lifted the mare from her back and placed her on the ground. Obsidian watched the yellow mare as she stretched herself a little before straightening herself and moving towards the princesses. Obsidian followed behind her close by so Fluttershy would not lose her courage.

Fluttershy bowed to the princesses when she stopped within a meter on them and Obsidian bowed her head at the trio in front of them. The three alicorns were looking rather serious and Obsidian could feel more than see Fluttershy's courage slipping. Obsidian moved to intervene when she felt Fluttershy stepped back and lean against her chest.

“Your Highness', my name is Obsidian Gold. I was banished here from my home world.” Obsidian introduced herself.

“Welcome to Equestria. I am Celestia and this is my sister Lune and my niece Cadance.” The white alicorn gestured to the other two respectively.

“A pleasure.” Obsidian inclined her head again.

“Will you be staying here in Ponyville? I would like to speak to you more about your world.” Celestia asked curiously.

“Oh yes. She will be staying with me.” Fluttershy interrupted.

“Right?” The yellow mare asked as an after thought as she looked up at Obsidian.

“Of course Shy.” Obsidian answered as if it wasn’t even a question.