Look Inside Your Heart Part One.

Chapter 8: Leaving The Past Behind.

Still reeling from the sled ride, and Dash's breakdown, I began to walk westward, waving and saying hello to the ponyfolk that passed me by. About fifteen minutes later I came across Fluttershy playing in a field with a bunch of animals. I slowly crept toward her trying my best not to scare the animals. I knelt down behnd her and whispered in her ear. "Hey Fluttershy, whacha doin'?" She turned her head and smiled.

"Taking care of these poor little creatures, I need to find homes for them."

"Aw, that's so nice, can I help?"

"Sure, if you want, I mean." She was conflicted and quiet, as per usual norm.

"Okay, I might not know much about animals, but I'll help any way I can, don't be afraid to ask." I knelt down and picked up a long reptile with no legs. "What's this one called?" I asked, some reason extremely interested in these creatures.

"That's called a snake, more specificaly a boa constrictor,"

"Why do they call it that?" The snake thing slowly wrapping around my arm.

"Well they're named Boa to keep them seperate from other snake breeds, and constrictor because that is how the catch their prey." The snake began to tightly squeeze my arm, but stopped for some reason. I look back to Fluttershy and the expression on her face was one of both anger and supremacy. I felt the snake slither around my arm and it wrapped loosely around my neck. "That's better."

"Well that happened, what was that?" My eyes were the size of saucers.

"Some ponies call it the 'STARE', it just happens whenever I can't get a little creature to behave." Her face returned to her bashful one, leaving me dumbfounded. She reached down and picked up a small rodent of somekind. It's long bushy tail was quivering and it kept it's eyes covered, obviously afraid from the sudden change in altitude. "It okay little guy, don't be afraid." Her gentle tone seemed to calm the creature. "This is a squirrel, his tree was struck by lightning during the last storm. His fur had been singed off and he had burns over his whole body, but he's recovered very quickly and I promised to find him a brand new tree to live in, isn't that right?" The squirrel nodded his head, and the snake just turned his.

Somehow I felt a small connection to all of these creatures, I guess more than Harmony's Knowledge was implanted into my amulet. It was as if the personalities of Harmony were copied as well. "I've never really had much contact with other creatures, all my life I was sheltered by my mother, until she passed I never stepped hoof out of the castle." Unwittingly I actually revealed a little about my past that I didn't want to.

"You could've fooled me, you don't seem like the sheltered type. You're more like a Timberwolf, fast, cunning, and relies on friends when needed." Her voice took a tone of caring and cheer. She smiled so wide she had to close her eyes for it to fit on her face. Was she right, was I just imagining what kept me grounded? "What's wrong Alle, you seem down." Just when I thought I regained my tears they started to flow again.

"My mother called me that, I miss her so much." I was bawling.

"Oh don't cry," She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed hard. "It's okay." She ran her fingers through my mane caressing and comforting me. "Go on let it all out, it's good for you." She wiped away my falling tears and I felt loved, I hadn't felt loved ever since Scarab joined the Armed Guard.

"My mother was always concerned for the well being of others, but she was never home, she was off checking disaster reports or reading some big proposal for change. When I was old enough she started training me for the family buisness. That was the only time I spent with her, but with all that pressure she was still herself, most beings are corrupted with any hint of power." I turn my head and her eyes were full of sorrow.

"Now I see why you didn't tell us that earlier, I know how hard it is to deal without your parents." I returned her hug tenfold and I heard a somewhat familiar sound, SQUEE. Over the next hour we found a new tree for Regi the squirrel, a new rock for Boa to sleep under, and good homes and owners for all the others. "Thank you, thank you, so much Alle, I could've never done this without you." She was all giddy, jumping up and down laughing. For some strange reason I found myself doing the same.

"What, is , going, on."

"I, don't, know, I'm, just, so, happy." A crowd gathered around us, watching us bounce around for no reason. I grab her hands and pulled her down to earth. She whipped her head around and blushed sheepishly. "Sorry I don't know what came over me."

"It's fine, Flutter, do you have any plans for the rest of the day?" I asked as the crowd dissapated.

"Not really, just a few errends before everypony's supposed to meet up." She shied away. "If you want to come, you can, I kinda like having you around," She put her hands behind her and twisted her hoof. "You make me feel safe." She looked down and blushed.

For the first time my silver toungue had rusted. "I want you to feel safe, I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." I said the first thing that came to mind. She slowly lifted her head, her face even more red. She forced a smile, and slammed into me, sending us both onto the ground.

"Me neither," She started to cry, but just a little. She wiped her eyes and realized what happened. "I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me." She flew up and pulled me with her.

"It's fine, where to first, Flutter?" I ask as I regained my hooving.

"Well, I have to go get some food for Angel," I shuddered involuntarily at that name. "And then give Applejack back her rake and hedge clippers," She thought hard. "Oh and give back Rarity's maneband she let me borrow last week."

"Well, Rarity's out doing errends too, so I'll give it back to her later, and don't you need the rake to give it back to her?" I stroked my nonexistant beard like Starswirl used to.

"Oh, um I knew I forgot something, let's go." Fluttershy walked toward her cottage, and I closely followed.

"So how's Steele warming up to his new home?"

"He's doing very well, despite his attitude toward Angel."

"Hm, that so?" I laughed.

"Yes, but that happens a lot, Angel's kind of a brat." She smiled.

After a few minutes of walking we arrived at her toolshed, and she shuffled inside. "Where did I put it," several minutes of sorting pass by, and I leaned in. "I know it's here somewhere,"

"Ya find it yet?" I asked in a sarcastic tone.

"Aah!" A thud followed by several clangs, sounded from inside.

"You okay in there?" My sarcasm shifted to worry.

"Found it, ow, ow." She rustled through the pile of lawn tools that had fallen on her. "A little help, please Alle?"

"Sure," I reached down and grabbed her hand, and pulled her out and up. "You alright Flutter?"

"Yes, I'm fine, I just saw a spider, it came out of nowhere." She dusted herself off and gave me a hug. Then I heard that 'SQUEE' again as she smiled.

"You really need to take better care of your tools, I mean, a shovel should be over with the spades, and this, what is this thing," I cock my head and stare at this blade. "Is this a saw, what's it doing on the floor?" For some strange reason I felt the need to organize.

"Are you okay?"

"Shhh." Somehow I slid back into the shed, and the door slowly shut.

"Um, hello?" She knocked on the door.

Somehow I was outside again standing behind her. "What was that about?" She almost had a heart attack, she flew straight up screaming. "You okay?" She was clinging to a cloud for dear life, lungs heaving. I couldn't help but laugh, which strangely sounded like Rainbow's. "Sorry Flutter, I didn't mean it, I swear." I slowly flew up to her and pulled her down, she was flailing.

"Why did you do that, you could've killed me, let me go!" My face was assaulted by a barrage of fists and the occasional hoof.

"Fluttershy, I'm, sorry." I said calmly.

"You scared me half to death." She punched me in the arm.

"Ow, that hurt." I shed crocodile tears.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to hit you so hard."

"Let's go return AJ's rake." My tears instantly evaporated and I smiled. Fluttershy returned her own. "Lead the way." She slowly walked off toward the farm. We walked in silence for a few agonizingly slow moments. The silence was broken by thuds and grunting. "Applebuck Season?" Fluttershy just nodded. A large red stallion stepped out of the barn.

"Howdy Fluttershy, who's this fella." He asked as he walked closer, his chest was wrapped in gauze and his shoulder bore an apple. "Name's Macintosh." He held out his hand.

"Name's Cress, nice ta fin'ly meet ya face to face, AJ's told me lots 'bout you." I took his hand and shook it. "What happened to ya?"

"Oh nothing, just a bet." He chuckled.

"Here's your rake back Big Mac." Fluttershy handed the tool over to him.

"Much obliged little lady." Macintosh smiled and balanced it over his shoulder. "So, AJ's told ya 'bout me?"

"No details, but I can tell she looks up to you."

"Well I'm happy I got ta meet you, I'm sure AJ'd want to talk wit ya but she's a little busy, silly little filly thinks she can do it all by herself."

"That stubborn huh?"

"Eeyup." He nodded. "You look tired would ya care fer a cup a coffee?"

"Yeah I could go for some coffee." I replied.

"Well I have one more thing to do, I'll see you later okay?" Fluttershy looked at me and smiled.

"Okay." I replied, and she flew off. "So, what you hafta do when ya lost?"

"Wear Granny's girdle." He chuckled.

"Wow."

"Well this is Sweet Apple Acres, home to the finest fruit in Ponyville. C'mon in." He walked up some stairs and motioned for me to come in.

"You have a very nice house, very Airyzona."

"I try." He shrugged his shoulders and stepped into the kitchen.

I couldn't help but notice the wrinkly green mare lying in the recliner. Her white mane was braided, and her dentures chattered when she snored. I turned to find a young filly about four feet tall, looking at me with questioning eyes. "Hello," I stutter.

"Hi, I'm Applebloom, what's yer name?" Her accent matched AJ and Macintosh's perfecly.

"Um, Cress."

"My brother know yer here?"

"'Eeyup," He shouted from the kitchen.

"Kay, bye." She bounded upstairs causing a gentle breeze.

"Here ya go nice an' hot." He handed me a mug and I sipped it, the bitter taste rolled over my toungue causing me to shudder. I gulped down the rest in seconds.

"Thank you Macintosh, I needed that pick me up."

"I can tell, well sorry ta run you off but, I got quite alot a' chores."

"'I understand, no rest for the workhorse right?" I stepped into the kitchen and filled my mug again. "Go'on I'll show myself out, after a few more cups, alright." I smiled and he smiled back. He walked outside and off toward the barn. "Gotta love southern hospitality." After a few more nugs of piping hot coffee, I washed it and set it back into the cupboard. As I stepped out the door the mare in the recliner stirred, but stayed asleep.

Over the next hour I walked around town greeting total strangers, then it happened bunny stampede, poor Daisy she'll be afraid of bunnies for awhile. I saw Pinkie walk outside the hospital tent looking a little pale. "You alright Pinkie, you don't look so good."

"Yeah I'm fine just a little indigestion, I gotta go seeya later." She slowly trudged off In the direction I came from. I looked up at the sky and the sun pointed about three o'clock, and the town bell confirmed it.

"What to do for four more hours?" I was deep in thought, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity are busy, Twilight's prob'ly still researching, Pinkie and Ranbow are working, so that leaves Detective Skies, he did want to meet with me. "But where's Cloudsdale?"

"Oh, it's a few miles southwest of here, big heap of clouds, can't miss it." A violet mare with a pink mane stopped next to me. She was wearing white slacks and a yellow shirt. "I'm Cheerilee, I teach at the school across town." She held out her hand and I saw her cutie mark thing, flowers with smiley faces.

"It's nice to meet you Miss Cheerilee, my name is Cress." I took her hand and kissed it.

"Ooh such a charmer," Her cheeks turned pink. "Well good luck in Cloudsdale, you are a pegasus, right?"

"Yeah, you could say that."

"Well I hope to see you again, you're a very nice stallion." She walked off into a shop of some kind.

"A very nice stallion," Her words echoed in my head. Why are these ponies so intent on making friends, was father right? Would all these ponies become enemies, no I can't let that happen, I won't let that happen.