A Friendly Shadow

"You really mean that?" He asked. She smiled. "I do James, more than you know."

Over the course of a few months, Fluttershy and James met on a regular basis. Meeting her on the edge of the forest, they walked to a small clearing to have picnics in the woods. This happened at least three times a week. One day, they met up at their usual spot by the forest' edge. Fluttershy trotted to the entrance, scanning the tree line for a familiar hooded figure. She could almost point him out. She smiled as she saw him and quickened her pace.

"Hello James." She said cheerfully.

"Hello Ms. Fluttershy." He smiled as she walked up to him. "So, I had an idea. He said.

"What is it?" She looked at him curiously.

"Why don't we go to your place and eat?" He said with a smile on his face. Though he still wasn't wholly comfortable with the idea, seeing her smile always seemed to make his day.

Her face lit up and she gave out a small squeal of delight. Without a word, she grabbed his hand and practically dragged him to her dwelling place. She let him inside and had him sit on the couch in the living room.

"We'll eat here." She said eagerly. She then pranced to the kitchen. James looked around again. Though only having been there once, he found the setting quite comforting. He closed his eyes and took in the smell and the sounds of the house. Then, something grabbed his pant leg. He looked down and saw a small white rabbit. He stared at the creature curiously. The rabbit returned the gaze, it's small, black eyes looked him up and down.

Thinking this creature needed a further look, the rabbit hopped up into his lap and looked at James with growing curiosity. Fluttershy then came back with some things to set down when she saw the white rabbit.

"Angel Bunny, what are you doing?" Angel regarded Fluttershy with a slight frown and a few nose twitches. Fluttershy looked at Angel, as if she understood him. "This is James, my c- friend..." She stopped herself. Her face flushed red for a moment before beckoning the animal to get down. The rabbit shook his head and stayed put. "Please Angel, get down."

"He's ok, Ms. Fluttershy. I don't see too many creatures as curious as this one." James said. He smiled and gently pointed a finger toward Angel. Angel then turned toward the digit, gave his finger a few sniffs, then hopped off. Fluttershy watched as the rabbit bounded off toward the kitchen.

"I have never seen Angel do that before. He normally stays away." Fluttershy seemed dumbfounded. "He seems to like you."

"That sounds rare for him." James said.

"Oh, it is." Fluttershy said. She set the table and sat next to James as James made some small sandwiches. He assembled two of them. It was the same food as their normal picnics in the woods. James never minded, because he knew it was brought by Ms. Fluttershy, one of the sweetest ponies he had ever met.

James had little to no memory coming to Equestria. The only ponies he knew were Zecora and Fluttershy. Anytime he tried to make himself known, it was normally met with a scream, running, and the sound of armor fast approaching. He ducked into the woods where he met Zecora. She eyed him with curiosity. James told his story to the zebra shaman. Zecora then gave him a smile and agreed to let him stay with her. And for two years, Zecora taught him the ways of potion making. He quickly learned everything she could teach him. On most occasions, Zecora always had James make the potions.

"Making potions, you have learned quick." She said, cantering to the cabinet where she kept her ingredients for making potions. "Now, as a final test, you shall make a potion that will make it stick." She always spoke in rhymes. At times it seemed a bit cryptic to him. But over time, he knew what she meant. He made a potion, he drew upon everything he knew. And with a few creaks of the cork on the vial, it was done.

Making a sandwich wasn't as hard as making a potion. He gave one to Fluttershy, made just how she liked it. He then assembled his own. They both toasted each other with their food. An accidental joke he made, mistaking his sandwich for a glass of juice Fluttershy brought one day. She giggled as the 'clinked' their sandwiches and ate.

"Fluttershy? He said, looking at her.

"Hm?" Her mouth was still full of sandwich, limiting her reply.

"I wanted to ask you something. But, I'm not sure how to say it, nor how you'll take it." He laid his sandwich down, wiping his fingers on the napkin. Fluttershy looked at him, her blue eyes making him melt.

"James, you know you can tell me anything." She gave him a warm smile, to which he returned.

"Fluttershy..." He began to stammer a bit. "I-I wanted t-to ask..." He coughed. "W-what am I to you?" He finally got it out. His chest tightened in anticipation.

Fluttershy's face took on a light red blush. "W-w-well..." Just then, her ears perked up. The sound of a screeching animal could be heard.
A large bird appeared in the window and screeched at Fluttershy. "What?! Where?!" The bird squawked some more. "Hold on Angel!"

She dropped her sandwich and ran out of the house toward the forest. James leapt up from the couch and followed her. They entered the forest. Howling could be heard. James grabbed his staff as they ran. Timberwolves. Their paced quickened as they neared a clearing. Angel was backed against a tree, with three Timberwolves closing in. With a flying leap, James landed in front of Angel and kept his staff up. Fluttershy landed behind him and scooped up Angel.

"Fluttershy, get Angel out of here! I got this!" James said, watching the wolves as they drew closer.

"But what about y-" Fluttershy tried to get out

"Just go!" He roared. Fluttershy took off through the clearing. James readied himself to fight. All three lunged at him. He threw one back and caught the other two with the heavy end of the staff in the head. They dropped as the remaining wolf circled him. The wolf growled at James, fangs bared. James stared the wolf down, he roared at the wolf. The wolf charged at him. James thrust the staff toward the wolf's gaping mouth.

Fluttershy managed to get Angel home safely. And after getting an explanation from the rabbit via nose wiggles and miming, Fluttershy then ran back toward the woods. She got to the forests edge and looked around.

"James?" She called out. Nothing. "James!" She called out again. Still nothing. She walked a few steps into the woods when she noticed a figure approaching. It held a staff in one hand and a timber wolf's head in the other. Hands. James! She ran to him and tackled him to the ground, hugging him and crying. He held her face in his hands.

"You ok?" He asked with a smile. She smiled then slapped his face with a hoof. He looked up at the yellow mare in shock.

"Don't you ever do that again, mister! You got that?!" She glared at him. He nodded sheepishly. She then kissed him deeply. He was floored, but returned the kiss. She looked at him.

"You wanted to know what you are to me? There you go." She smiled.

"So, are you saying you want to be with me?" He asked. She nodded.

"You really mean that?" He asked.

She smiled. "I do James, more than you know."

-To Be Continued-