“So let me get this straight,” said Rainbow Dash. “Twilight secretly put up some wall, in some secret entrance, and somepony broke in, found it, and tried to get past it and they couldn’t?”

We - Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Spike, Rainbow Dash,and myself - were all standing in the library surveying the situation. It’s been about a half hour of waiting until we could get the message around to everyone who could come, and we’d just concluded what little we had found.

Spike scratched his head. “Well, it sure looks that way. I mean, we can only guess at the last part, but there’s no way the thief, or whatever, could have put the wall back up after they got in.”

“Spike, do you have any idea at all what might be behind that?” said Applejack.

“No, not at all. I never even saw her put all this together! But then, with the whole portal stuff, I guess it’s not the only thing she’s done that I didn’t know about.”

“Oh, wow!” said Pinkie. “A secret entrance and secret walls with secrety secrets secretly hidden so secretly! It’s so exciting!” She bounced up and down with glee.

How is she making those little BOING noises? Am I the only one who hears this?

Applejack sighed. “Ah just wish we knew what this pony was even after.”

I was getting a little frustrated, myself, just standing there. I wasn’t going to make any headway on this; I didn’t have nearly enough information. The more I thought about it, the more I felt like I was putting a puzzle together without the pieces or the picture on the box. Plus, was there anything I could really do about it? Then something occurred to me.

“Hey, where’s Fluttershy and Rarity?”

"Ah 'spect Fluttershy is still visiting Twilight at the hospital," said Applejack. "Poor thing probably doesn't want to give up hope that she'll wake up."

I nodded thoughtfully, wondering how I'd react if a best friend of mine were in a coma.

"And...?"

“Rarity?” said Rainbow. “Uhhh. She’s, um, not feeling well. She's still…"

"Oh," I said.

"Yeah."

Spike looked from one to the other. "What? What's wrong with Rarity?"

All the ponies said in unison: "Mare problems."

"Oh. So that means I can't go see her?"

"No, Spike!" Applejack almost yelled at the poor, cringing dragon. "From what Ah heard on mah way over here, she's in a bit of a state and it's probably best no stallion or...dragon be around her until at least tomorrow noontime."

Her eyes turned to me and I saw a Look that made a small voice inside me cry out in primal fear.

Not my jumblies!

"And you better not go a hundred yards near her. We can't risk a whiff of you flyin' in through a window and settin' her off again."

I raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what?! It can be set off by smell?"

Pheromones. Of course! That's why she was sniffing me. And why she smelled...so...so...so...

"Well, maybe. At this point Ah ain't takin' no chances."

Spike again looked from one to the other. "What are you guys talking about?"

"Yeah, Brendon," said Rainbow as she crossed her arms. Her tone was so smug you could hear the smirk, "Tell him what happened."

That snapped me out of La-La land. I glared at Rainbow for a moment.

"You know what? Maybe I will."

The shocked look on all the ponies faces was priceless. Well, except for Pinkie Pie who had somehow pulled out a large armchair and a massive tub of popcorn. She was watching this unfold like the best day time show around. Again I marveled at her...abilities(?).

She summons objects from nowhere! What sorcery is this?

"Spike?"

"Yeah?"

"Walk with me over here. I have something I need to tell you. It's best if you hear it from me before word gets around."

"Huh?!"

I carefully laid my arm around his shoulder and walked with him to the far side of the room. When I was sure it was private enough, I whispered in his ear. To ensure there was no misunderstanding, I took my time as I explained. He nodded from time to time. I glanced over at one point and saw the anxious mares who were trying not to look like they were looking at us. The only loud noises were the "Nom nom nom!" coming from Pinkie Pie as she uprighted the tub of popcorn into her mouth. After some time passed I stopped talking and patted Spike's shoulder. His head drooped down. He looked up at me for a second as I gently smiled and nodded.

Spike lashed out and punched me hard in arm. I stepped back as he marched out the door.

"Spike," Applejack called after him, her arm outstretched in concern. He didn't even pause in his stride.

"I don't want to talk about it." And with that, he was gone.

Three pairs of caring eyes turned back at me and three pairs of ears pulled back.

I put my hands in my pockets, smiled sadly, and said, "He'll be alright. Just give him some time. But, honestly, I'd leave him alone for the rest of the day."

All heads looked back out the door, as if they could still see the lone, purple figure they all knew and loved. What were they all thinking?

I knew what I was thinking.

Don't look them in the eye. Just walk out.

My gaze on the ground, I strolled between them and out the door.

"You gonna be okay, Brendy?" came the far too adorable voice of Pinkie Pie.

I stopped, not looking back. I couldn't stand them to see my expression.

"Yeah, I think so. We should probably get ready for that trip."

With that I strolled off. The last thing I heard over my shoulder was Rainbow Dash's voice. "Oh yeah! I think I can make it, but I can't shake the feeling I have something this weekend. Oh well, if I remember…" she trailed off and I was out of ear shot.

When I was sure no one important was able to see me, I started to run. Before long I was going full tilt. But this wasn't a straight line back to the cottage. No, I had to get a good sweat going.

It was all part of the Plan.

Way to go, Spike. You were perfect.

My smile, which had been building since I walked out the door, was now a childish grin. I struggled not to giggle like a little boy. I failed that struggle.

"Hee hee hee hee hee hee! Oh, Spike, my new brother from another mother! You're going to be So happy with me!"

I ran on. The sounds of giggling followed. Three sets of eyes also followed me from the shadows. After a moment of whispered deliberation, they took off after me.

* * *

Fluttershy had finally reached Zecora's hut, deep in the Everfree forest. Even flying, it was difficult to find a break in the canopy of trees this deep in the forest, and she still had to walk a good deal after that. She did make sure to take extra care to not touch any of the poisoned joke that grew nearby. She'd had more than enough of that plant.

Despite the calm, serene forest around her, Fluttershy could not calm her heart. Her mind continually flitted between thoughts of Brendon, her plan for the weekend, the need to get that book from Twilight's secret room, and many other things that she believed had no rhyme or reason to them. Showers, clothes, cutie marks, a bed, an empty tent, photos, and more. She felt like she was almost vibrating, and she could not seem to cool down. She tried to take a deep breath as she approached the hut, but it did little to abate her jitters.

After knocking politely, she opened the door and just came right in, her tail twitching behind her.

Zecora looked up from a table where she was grinding something in a pestle. She smiled when she saw her friend.

"Who is this buzzing like a fly?
Why if it isn't little Fluttershy."

Fluttershy waved her fingers. "H-hello, Zecora. I, um, I think I may need some help with...something."

"Well, please tell me, my friend,
How I can help and to what end?"

"I think I'm, um, sick. Maybe. I can't calm down and I've been...very...bad."

"That will require more explanation
To understand your situation."

Fluttershy sighed deeply, her ears drooping as she succumbed to the inevitable. She'd have to tell somepony .

She ran through her whole day with Zecora, who paused now and then to ask her to clarify some details about today or yesterday. Who was this living in her house? Why was she wearing that outfit? When did the symptoms really first start? What was she doing? What was wrong with Rarity? What did she need from Twilight Sparkle? What were her interactions like with this human? Fluttershy hesitantly spoke at length to the zebra's rhyming inquiries. She was a bit confused at how Zecora would occasionally chuckle softly at some of her answers. Fluttershy was rather forthcoming on most details, except when it came to the conversation with Rarity and the content of the drawings. She turned incredibly crimson and Zecora had to lean in very close to hear half of what she said through her stammering and rapid fire apologies. Eventually, through a process like prying teeth, the story was finished. What she did not say, Zecora must have gleamed, for though she had questions, they were far less prying than Fluttershy imagined.

Zecora silently walked over to take a book from her shelf and set it at her work table. She opened it among the various jars of herbs, liquids, and various strange implements - the purpose of which Fluttershy had no idea. When she found the page she was looking for, she began grabbing various glass vials from several different wooden shelves nearby. (Fluttershy thought they looked like spice racks.) She began emptying them what appeared to be a small cauldron that was bubbling over a tiny fire, its color changing hue with each powder, herb, or fluid that sunk beneath its swirling surface.

Unable to stand the silence anymore, Fluttershy piped up. "Umm, excuse me. Can you tell me what's wrong with me?"

Zecora glanced up with a knowing smile.

"What is wrong? Nothing, my sweet.
You're having the early signs of heat."

"H-h-heat?!" Fluttershy felt like she was going pale and red at the same time. "B-b-but I've never felt this way when I've had heat before. A-a-and I'm not even due until next week. Oooh. How could this happen?"

Zecora stirred her concoction, lifting up her wooden spoon every now and then as though inspecting the drippings.

"It seems that something rather new
Has moved your time slot up for you.
Such things, I have heard for those whose mind
Has begun to dwell on a certain kind
Of pony with whom they wish to be
Clad, as you are, quite scantily."

For a second, Fluttershy felt the urge to cover herself, but it wasn't her body that was being revealed right now. It was something far more important.

Meanwhile, Zecora had reached into the pot and pulled out a dripping mass which she quickly wrapped in a series of large leaves. Then she carefully placed this over a little cooking grate that was sitting over the burning fire in the middle of her hut. A small sizzling sound could be heard as a few droplets fell into the flames, causing oddly colored smoke to flare out in odd directions.

"But that is not all that brought this change,
For you seemed to have smelled something strange
When you picked up pieces of his undress.
The substance: I do not need to guess.
A lot of things are boiling within
That mind and heart and body you're in.
Change may come, but please be aware
That this should not bring you despair.
This...man who fell from up above,
Could it be, with him, that you're in love?"

Fluttershy thought that she should be shocked, but instead the feeling that came over her was altogether different. She felt a kind of relief that spread through her like a brief calm over stormy waters. No argument came to her lips; it died long before she could even think of one. The truth, rather than rudely forcing itself to the forefront, was gently accepted by every part of her. All events, all images, all feelings and gestures passed through her mind. The memory of every shiver and thrill seemed to go through her body. And her lips echoed the cry inside of her heart as she gave a small smile and said, "Yes. Yes, I think I am."

Zecora's features softened as she nodded at Fluttershy. She turned back to the fire with a small poker in hand and prodded the little leaf, wrapped package over the fire. As she stared into the flames, she continued:

"All of this has been so new
That part of you did not know
What to do with all this joy
Over, I assume, a special boy.
So rather than your heat in normal time
It seems your temperature has climbed.
But have no fear, for this affection,
Can be tamed with my confection."

With that, she grabbed a cloth and took the small item from the grate, carefully laying it on the table. She took a small knife and dipped it into a jar of some kind of pink, creamy substance. As she unwrapped the now steaming package, she spread a pink covering all over it.

Fluttershy tilted her head as she tried to get a good look at it.

"Is...is that a pill I need to take?"

"A pill is not what I want you to take.
All you need is to nibble this cake."

It was indeed a small, cake with what appeared to be pink icing.

"When jumping your stallion you feel compelled,
Nibble this and you will not be overwhelmed."

"Oh my. I, uh, I - that is - I might not, ummm." Fluttershy sighed. "Yes, I think I will probably need that."

Zecora giggled into her hand, then placed the little cake into a small bag and tied with a bow.

"Perhaps you don't know the truth
Of his feelings, which you desire proof.
So until such time that you are needing
For both of you to start your breeding,
I recommend you keep a grip
On yourself for your little trip.
But know there is no need for shame,
For love can be a quite fun game.
It's catch as when catch you can,
Now go out there and get your man."

Fluttershy smiled with happiness and embarrassment as she accepted the bag. She stood there, holding it with both hands, looking up at Zecora from out of her mane.

"Th-thank you, Zecora. Not just for this, but for listening to me and...everything." She hopped forward to give the tall zebra a soft hug. Zecora returned it and to Fluttershy her arms seemed supportive and encouraging.

"One last piece of advice:
That love is not a roll of the dice.
There is something in this Don of Bren,
Dark and sorrowful and when
He needs some help from your tender care
It may seem to be painful to bear.
But pains with love you should not shirk,
For the best of marriages require work."

"M-m-m-muh-muh-muh-marriage?"

Zecora shrugged with a little grin.

"Perhaps it's a thought for another time,
But I needed something to help the rhyme."

Fluttershy just looked at Zecora. She blinked a few times.

All at once they both burst out laughing. Her eyes tearing up even as her sides hurt from laughter, Fluttershy said her thank yous and good-byes as she opened the door to the dim forest, and a brighter day. Zecora tapped her on the shoulder before she left.

"One more thing before you go:
A tiny gift to give your beau.
Of this man, I have heard no rumor,
But does he have a sense of humor?"

* * *

Towering trees, flower filled fields, and birds bursting will song: all of these things flew past me as I ran. My adrenaline was going, my arms were pumping, and an old exhilaration I had thought I'd forgotten seemed to be beating within every part of me as thought it was in time with my heart. The excitement of the new! The giddiness of a wonderful surprise! And in the background of it all was the child-like glee of just feeling the wind in my face and just running through the outdoors for the simple sake of just running. How many times had I forgotten this as I huddled in my room, slaving away at endless video games, the life-sucking drain of the internet, and hiding away from my pain and loneliness in...more loneliness? I was so wrapped up in these thoughts, I didn't hear the soft thunder of hooves catching up to me.

"Hey there, mister. Whatcha' runnin' for?"

"What the - ?"

BUSH!

I had intended to jump a small shrub, when a small, smiling face appeared at my elbow. So instead of a leap filled with grace, I plowed right through it. My feet stumbled as my body tumbled, heading right for a -

TREE!

Luckily I put my hands up just in time to careen on its trunk rather than crash directly into it. This sent me off at an odd angle, where I cratered into the -

GROUND!

My face slid to a stop after several feet, dragging my body with it. The grass beneath me muffled my groaning of pain.

Ow.

I didn't want to get up. Better to just sit there in peace and pain than the humiliation of having beaten myself up against a bunch of landscaping. Suddenly, I felt a finger poke my leg

"Umm, are you alright?"

I sat up. Surrounding me were three little fillies. My overtly simple, male brain strained to comprehend the colors before my eyes. For me, life tended to be simple when it came to such spectrums. All things fell into categories of Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, etc. Anything fancy was a variation thereof, and if one didst speak to me of such lofty things like "majenta" and "puce" I wouldst reply, "I'll partake of no such heresies! It's pink and purple! Away with thee!" So it was with such barbaric eyes that I looked upon these three.

You're bright yellow with red mane (and an earth pony), you're white-ish grey with purple and pink mane (and a unicorn), and you're...orange? With dark purple? (Pegasus) That'll do.

I massaged the back of my neck. "...ugh, yeah, I think I'm okay. Hello, by the way." I waved feebly.

"Hi!" They all said it in unison. Their smiles were so huge, their eyes so big, that I fought back the urge to adopt the face I reserve for big puppies and say, "Awwww, whose a big widdle smoochy-smooch! Yes you are! Yes you are!"

"Are you that ooman everyone's talking about?" That was the orange one.

"You mean human? Yep, that's me." I held out my hand. "My name's Brendon."

I found my hand gripped by three fuzzy little palms and shaken up and down, then three (oh, so sweet and cutesy wootsy) voices all said in unison, "Hi! We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"

I was losing this battle. The cuteness was swarming over my battlements and taken the gate house. Soon it would move in...

Meanwhile, a huge smile came unbidden to my face. "Oooooh, I think I've heard of you! Now let me guess which one of you is Apple Bloom."

I scanned their faces in mock seriousness, my brow furrowed as though I was inspecting them as a drill sergeant. After what I figured was enough time, I pointed to the yellow and red one. Her outfit showed a clear "farmer's daughter" theme, not to mention her accent gave her away.

"You must Apple Bloom!"

She smiled big and her eyes went wide.
"Wow, you're good!"

Oh child, if you only knew. I'm a moron.
And dear GAWD that huge bow in your hair is adorable.

"And I assume you're related to Applejack?"

"Yep! That's my big sister!"

Naturally.

I then got up and started pacing back and forth in front of them, my chin in my hand as I eyed them with a smile.

"Aaaaaand which of you is Sweetie Belle?"

I tried not to stare as the little unicorn leaned forward, her mouth open in anticipation, her eyes brimming with the hope of being picked.

Bingo.

"It just has to be you!"

Sweetie Belle did a little jump in the air, her little dress bouncing with her. "Yaaay! It is me!"

I then stopped in front of the last one. To me she looked like she was almost a mini Rainbow Dash, just by her outfit and overall poise. "So you must be Scootaloo."

"How-how did you hear so much about us?"

I grinned. "Oh, once I heard about the Cutie Mark Crusaders, I knew it'd be an honor to run into you!"

And more cuteness than I can handle.

They all collectively gasped, their hands under their chins in disbelief at their fame. I reached down and rubbed a sore knee, smiling painfully.

"Next time, though, please don't sneak up on me like that."

Sweetie Belle stepped forward, her ears back. "Ohhhh, we're real sorry, Mister Brendon. We were just so excited to meet someone from another world!"

"Mister Brendon." I'm going to cry!

I ruffled her mane playfully. "Oh, don't worry about it. It happens. It should probably teach me to pay attention so i don't bounce off more trees."

"By the way," queried Scootaloo. "What were you doing, running so much? You look tired."

"Do I?" I was suddenly aware of the sweat under my armpits and dripping down my face. I also noticed that my breathing wasn't as labored as I'd thought, and I'd gone at it for a good ten minutes, if I wasn't mistaken. Usually that meant my throat would be burning and my chest in pain.

"Well...that's a secret." I winked at them and they grinned back at me. "But enough about me, tell me, oh Crusaders of the Cutie Mark, how goes your quest?"

"Well, we've tried to see if we would get marks for cleaning, dancing, door making, paint drying, fish catching..." The list went on and on. And on and on and on. Each filly picked up where the other left off. My eyes bugged out my head a bit when they mentioned the "Sky diving" and the "Octopus wrestling," but I didn't interrupt. I nodded my head as I smiled, admiring their spunk and passion. It was practically inspiring.

They really want to know who they are. A feeling I know too well. What am I doing here? What's my purpose? Does my name mean anything? Where do I fit in? Damn it! I'm going to tear up!

I wiped my eye without thinking as the three came to a close. Scootaloo concluded for them.

"...and then we thought maybe we'd try for our human chasing marks. And I think that's about it."

There was a long pause.

"Whoa," I said. "That's a lot. I wish I could help."

Sweetie Belle looked thoughtful. "Well, when did you get your cutie mark?"

"That's...kind of a big difference in my world. We don't get cutie marks."

The collective gasps could have inhaled a butterfly.

"But," said Apple Bloom, "But then how do you know what you're really good at?"

I shrugged. "I'm starting to think it's harder for us than for you fillies over here. At least you find out for certain. Some of us humans may live a long time unsure of what we should do or who we are. I know that's big stuff for you guys, but I want you to know that you should never give up."

They reminded me a lot of my nieces and nephews. Young(er) and so full of hope. The possibilities were all so bright and in front of them.

Shouldn't it be the same for me? For anyone if you think about it?

I started hating how cynical I had been at times. Even now I fought with a part of myself as to whether they just needed to grow up and figure out the way the world really was. The world would beat this out of them and pull them back to reality. Another part of me cried that it wasn't so!

"Mister...are you okay?" Apple Bloom's voice somehow broke my heart. My mind felt all torn up from just a few moments of contemplation.

Don't worry about me! It's too late for this broken man. Life ran me over with a truck years ago. You go on and live! Live, child! It's so beautiful!

I wanted to say that, but instead I sniffed and just replied, "Just thinking of home for a sec. Did you hear I can't ever go back there?"

"No!" They gasped again in unison.

"Yeah I...I, uh. I'm sorry, kids. You're great but I..."

I stopped myself. I couldn't end it with them like this. I shouldn't pull them down with me in my darkness. And I also didn't want to leave them.

"Hey! What are you three doing tomorrow?"

"Uhhh," said Scootaloo. "Not much."

"How would you like it if we had some fun. Played some games, and maybe see if there's some human cutie mark that we can get you?"

"Yaaay! That sounds great!"

"Then I'll come find you tomorrow!" I saluted them and started my run again. "Good luck in your quest, crusaders!"

What made me do that? I never think to do that. Ah. But I rarely got to do that with the kids at home. They lived so far away. Much further now. Damn it!

I put my head down and let some of the tears fall, slowing down a bit so I didn't run into anything else. It was time to head back to the cottage. Get my head on other things. Like the Plan.

Once again, I went over in my head my whispered conversation with Spike. I almost laughed into my hand. Never before had I been so devious. Maybe.

Author's Note

The next part is here! Take a wild guess which part took the longest amount of time?

Complete ADHD moment: Other authors put warnings before "clop" sections. Is that a requirement or just being polite? Just wondering. Also, no, the next chapter will not be filled with clop. This is not a free preview.

Give me two chapters at least.

~~EDIT: A QUESTION TO MY READERS. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO INFLUENCE MY STORY?~~

~~POTENTIALLY VERY TINY SPOILER~~
~~I am going to regret this. I am going to regret this so damn much, but here goes. What do you think should happen to Brendon if he is exposed to poison joke? I keep debating if I should include that at some point but I am torn on what that would look like. GIVE ME YOUR IDEAS! Comment or PM me (I much prefer the PM to avoid others seeing your potentially great idea). I make no guarantees I put your thoughts into the story, but I figured "What the heck?" Got nothing to lose.~~

EDIT: This is over and it was actually great no one responded, as I think I came up with a good one. Or it's going to suck. *shrugs* Eh.