Starting Over

Obsidian had been correct in thinking that the Princesses could not stay mad at the little yellow mare as they all sat in the library talking to the Fluttershy as if she hadn’t been gone for almost a year. Obsidian was lying facing the group with Fluttershy laying against her side and Blaze still asleep between her wings.

The Princesses wanted to know a lot about where Fluttershy had been and why she had run away. When asked the yellow mare had hesitated but Obsidian nudged her gently and smiled encouragingly and Fluttershy had started her story. An uncomfortable silence hung over the group when Fluttershy had finished.

“So Fluttershy, how about we all go and get you some milk for your little one.” Rarity said after almost five minutes of silence.

“Oh... um... Blaze is still sleeping.” Fluttershy pointed out as she sat up and looked at her little filly.

“Oh yes. Can't she stay with Miss Obsidian?” Rarity asked after a moment.

Fluttershy looked around at all her friends wanting to go with them but not wanting to leave Blaze. Obsidian saw this and watched the young mare for a moment before leaning over and nuzzling her a little to get her attention.

“I would like to stay here and my ribs are hurting and you know I don’t mind watching her, Shy.” Obsidian said with a kind smile.

“Yes, I would like to talk with Obsidian more about where she is from anyways. Your foal will be safe here with us Fluttershy.” Celestia said with a smile.

“Oh. I know she would be safe with Sidian, she would never let anything happen to either of us.” Fluttershy said confidently.

“Correct you are. Go with you friends little mare. I know you want to spend time with them.” Obsidian nudged Fluttershy again.

“OK. Thank you Sidian.” Fluttershy stood up and rubbed her cheek on Obsidian before she moved with the others towards the door.

Obsidian watched the six friends file out of the door and before it was closed she could hear them start an excited chatter. With a smile the black and gold mare looked back at the sleeping filly and lifted the little ball and placed her on the floor between her front legs against her chest. Obsidian didn’t look up from the foal until she heard one of the princesses clearing their throat.

“Oh, sorry Your Highness'.” Obsidian said blushing a little.

“It is OK. You love that little foal, that is clear. How do you feel about Fluttershy?” Luna asked curiously.

“Um... Fluttershy is my friend, I like her.” Obsidian said frowning a little.

“Yes, but that is not all you feel for her is it?” Cadance question pointedly.

“I... No, no it isn’t I have never had friends before and definitely never had romantic feelings for anyone.” Obsidian answered honestly.

“It is odd that you have these feelings for another mare.” Celestia pointed out.

“Yes. It is not something I have any control over.” Obsidian frowned.

“I see. Well personally, though it is something unheard of here in Equestria, I think it is a good thing.” Celestia seemed to be thinking out loud more than speaking directly to the black mare.

“Oh?” Obsidian asked curiously.

“Yes. Fluttershy has obviously not had much luck with stallions and you are awfully protective of her and Blaze. It is also clear that Fluttershy feels the same about you.” Celestia said seriously.

“What? You think so?” Obsidian asked mildly as she was not convinced.

“Oh yes. Fluttershy is... well, shy. I have never seen her act the way she does with you. Rubbing cheeks with you, and nuzzling you from time to time. She always wants to be in contact with you.” Celestia explained earnestly.

“Because she knows I will protect her.” Obsidian reasoned.

“Oh certainly that would be part of it. But she clearly sees you as more than just someone that will keep her safe.” Cadance said agreeing with her aunt.

Obsidian didn’t answer but instead she looked down at the foal that was nuzzling her chest in her sleep as she contemplated what the princesses had been saying. The mare had little to know experience with love and romance and was finding herself very unsure. Part of her agreed that the princesses made sense but the other part didn’t want to get her hopes us too much.

“If it is unheard of, why are you so OK with this whole thing?” Obsidian asked curiously.

“As I said, I think it is a good thing for Fluttershy to have someone in her life like you. Plus you said you have no choice in your feelings.” Celestia reminded.

“Oh.” Obsidian frowned a little and then looked back down at the filly that was stirring.

“Anyway. Tell me about your world.” Celestia urged.

“There is not a great deal to tell. The country was just as here, as with the towns and the ponies. How ever, there were more alicorns in my world.” Obsidian said almost idly as she watch the little filly slowly wake and roll onto her back.

“So, you did not rule?” Luna asked with a frown.

“Oh no, I did. I was born to an immortal line. Undisputed rulers of my home world for millenia, until now. We were invaded by... something from somewhere I have never been. All the ponies that aren’t well hidden have been killed. They could not kill me, so they sent me here.” Obsidian sighed heavily with sorrow at the thought of her worlds ponies being killed mercilessly.

“I am sorry to hear that, truly. Is there any chance these beings will come here?” Celestia was obviously concerned.

“There is always a chance. But why would they send me here if they were just going to follow?” Obsidian pointed out reasonably.

“That is a good point.” Celestia said looking down at the filly that was now pawing at the air and giggling at Obsidian.

Obsidian made a face at the filly that made her squeal and giggle louder and then dropped her head to blow a raspberry on the foals belly. Blaze giggled and tried to roll away from the mare but was stopped by Obsidian’s magic as the mare laughed and blew another raspberry.

The princesses were watching the antics of the black mare and foal when the group of friends all walked in and looked at the squealing foal and laughing mare. Obsidian didn’t hear the group and continued to play with the foal until she felt a warm body slide along her own. She looked up and smiled brightly when she saw that it was Fluttershy.

“You are just in time Shy. Blaze was picking on me.” At Obsidian’s comment the little filly made an indignant sound and got to her hooves.

“Really now, cause from what I saw I would say it was the other way around.” Fluttershy chuckled at the look on her daughters face.

“You must have something in your eyes then... here let me check.” Obsidian said getting to her hooves.

The black mare moved quicker than Fluttershy could have anticipated and the yellow mare soon found herself on her back on the floor with Obsidian looking down at her eyes intently. Fluttershy giggled and pawed gently at the mare hoping to be let up but Obsidian dropped herself over the mare and kept her pinned.

“I don’t know, what do you think Blaze, can you see anything?” Obsidian asked as she looked at the little filly that promptly trotted over and looked hard at her mothers eyes.

The little filly looked up and shook her head which caused everyone to chuckled and Obsidian sat back enough to let Fluttershy rolled onto her stomach. Blaze moved over and rubbed cheeks with Fluttershy before doing the same with Obsidian and then laying down so she was touching both mares.

“Did you get enough milk?” Celestia asked after a few minutes of smiling at the trio.

“Oh yes. The cows have kindly agreed to let me go there every day to get more.” Fluttershy said smiling at the princess.

“That is good. I think the three of us should be off now.” Celestia said as she stood up and stretched a little.

“So soon?” Twilight asked a little sadly.

“Yes, but we will be back soon. Nightmare night is in a couple of weeks and I told Luna I would come with her this time.” Celestia said idly as she moved over to the trio on the floor.

Twilight might have said something if she hadn’t been so stunned to see her mentor lean forward and rub cheeks with both Fluttershy and Obsidian before smiling at the foal between the two. With a bow at that pleased the foal greatly Celestia straightened and looked seriously at the two.

“You may not be her biological parent Obsidian, but you will do a fine job of being a second mother to young Blaze.” Celestia said finally.

“Oh yes, and little Blaze already looks a lot like her.” Fluttershy agreed wholeheartedly.

“Indeed she does. Now will you please stand up for a moment Obsidian.” Celestia demanded in a polite tone.

Obsidian hesitated for a moment before she stiffly rose to her feet and looked at the princess questioningly.

“You have ignored your pain valiantly but...” Celestia trailed off as she leaned her head forward and touched the tip of her horn to the tip of Obsidian’s

Obsidian instantly felt the effects of the magic Celestia had used on her. The pain receded quickly and she felt the broken bones and torn muscles knitting back together. Obsidian stumbled with the overwhelming physical relief and found she had to sit down before she fell down.

“Oh, Celestia thank you.” Obsidian breathed out.

“You are quite welcome Princess Obsidian.” Celestia smiled at the mare before she looked up to see the stunned faces of the other princesses and her subordinates.

Obsidian inclined her head in respect for the use of the title she was willing to give up to live here before looking down when she felt Fluttershy nudge her. A slow smile appeared on the black mares face before she rubbed cheeks with the yellow mare as Celestia and the other two princesses moved away from them.

Obsidian was oblivious to the chatter of the princesses and the other ponies as the trio moved towards the door to leave. Looking down into the yellow mares kind cyan eyes she could feel her heart swell with feelings for the mare. Without thinking she dropped her head and kissed the mares cheek tenderly.

Fluttershy shifting closer startled the black mare a little and she came to her senses when she realized she had kissed the mare. With a deep blush she opened her mouth to apologize to the mare but was stopped when Fluttershy spoke first.

“Please don’t I can see it in your eyes that you think you should apologize, but you don’t have to.” Fluttershy said in a quiet voice.

“But I do. Fluttershy, you have been through a lot at the hooves of another pony. Forced to do things you should never be forced to do and I do not want you to think that I would do the same things to you. I just was not thinking when I kissed you.” Obsidian explained gently.

“I know you would not do those things Sidian. I trust you with my everything.” Fluttershy spoke softly even though they were now the only ones left in the building.

“I am glad. I just did not want you to think I was being too forward... we are both mares and all...” Obsidian trailed off as she looked away, expecting this realization to make Fluttershy want to put distance between them.

“I could not care if you was a donkey Obsidian. I like you very much.” Fluttershy stated honestly.

“Then let me court you as you deserve.” Obsidian said after a moment of thought.

“I do not need you to court me, but if that is how you would prefer to go about things, then OK.” Fluttershy responded reasonably.

“It is how I want to do it because I do think you deserve it. You deserve to be wooed.” Obsidian said seriously.

Fluttershy giggled at the stoic mare and poked her in the chest with a hoof before standing up and stretching a little.

“I am sure when I am fully healed I will feel more like getting wooed, but until then, perhaps we can go home? I have already dropped the milk off there.” Fluttershy said as she stretched again and tried to sound normal despite her straining muscles.

“Of course little mare.” Obsidian said as she magically floated the yellow mare up so she was again on the black mares back.

“Sidian, this is not OK.” Fluttershy protested.

“Of course not.” Obsidian agreed but did not put the mare down.

“Obsidian Gold.” Fluttershy tried her stern voice.

“Yes Fluttershy?” Obsidian asked trying to keep a straight face.

“Put me down.” Fluttershy said seriously.

“I will just as soon as we get to the cottage.” Obsidian said as she trotted out the front door with Blaze keeping pace beneath her.