Christmas Company

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Epilogue Part A
Epilogue Part B
Chapter 5
Chapter 20

Chapter 1

A gentle breeze blew specks of snow around in the air, carefully decorating the landscape. The frigid cold provided a stark contrast to the many warmly lit homes in the city neighborhoods. Inside, families were making final preparations for the Christmas season. With only two weeks until the beloved holiday, most had already purchased gifts, decorated trees, and put out lawn ornaments. School was out, and the children were enjoying snowball fights, making snowmen, and drinking hot chocolate by a fire.

Sixteen year-old Mark Wright only wished he could be as happy during this time of the season. He was an only child, which certainly had benefits - not the least of them being the attention from his mother and father. Both he and his parents loved each other dearly, even if they didn’t always agree on matters. His parents had always tried to make the holidays special for him. Both would take extra time off work, and often the three would travel to see family in other states.

This year would not be like that. Not even close.

“You doing alright, Mark?” his mother asked.

“Of course,” he replied with a weak smile, “it’s just that I thought we were going to see Grandma and Grandpa Wright this Christmas. We haven’t seen them in two years!”

Mark’s mother hugged him, “I know, and we both wanted to see them too, but we really need to attend this conference. The whole company is restructuring, and they need the leadership there to represent them. I don’t like that it’s going on during Christmas, but you know that means it’s going to be important.”

Just then, Mark’s father came down the stairs with two sets of luggage. “Look at it this way: you get the whole house to yourself!” he quipped.

“It doesn’t mean much when you’re stuck alone.” Mark thought beneath a fake smile.

Both parents packed everything they needed into their car, gave goodbye hugs, and left. Mark watched the two drive off as the closing garage door slowly cut off his view of the outside world.

Mark walked to his room and sat on the couch. It was a whole three weeks off, and his parents were going to miss the first two of it with him!

Not to mention Christmas was only a little over a week away…

He didn’t want to make any long drives to see family, especially with the dangerous weather ahead. His friends were off on trips, most visiting their own extended family, while some flew to the south to escape the cold.

The snow began to slow as the sun set over the horizon. Mark sighed, listening to the near silence in the house. Two weeks of this…it would be difficult.

He shook his head. He needed to get out and do something, to clear his head. Thankfully, though it was certainly cold outside, it was not so much that Mark couldn’t partake in a favorite hobby of his: running.

He knew what to expect: His mind running free as the music kept him going, the wind blowing on his face, the constant rhythm of his feet against the track, the thrill of the speed - all would work in tandem to create a sensation unlike any other. Certainly it would be the boost he needed to make the best of an unfortunate turn of events.

Mark left his home and walked a small distance to the local community park. It was encircled by an asphalt running track, and in the center was a large roofed building with floodlights on the sides. One half of the park was made up of a large, grassy field, while the other half consisted of a play area with slides, monkey bars, swings, and other various playground equipment.

He switched his watch to the stopwatch setting and got ready at the starting line. His mind shifted to his current goal. He’d been going easy the last few days to save up his energy for the last run of the week. He would do this monthly, choosing one week that he’d ease up on Monday through Friday, then finally give it his all on Saturday. Sundays were a rest day, and often well-earned.

Despite the earlier drizzle of snow, it was clear that snowplows had come through recently, leaving a clean black path with a soft, white border. The environment around Mark was just right. He felt good about this time; he was finally going to set a new personal record. He closed his eyes for a moment and steadied his breath. He pulled out his phone and selected his running playlist. The music began and he was off!

With the music thumping in his ears, Mark gave it everything he had. The cold air nipped at his skin. His legs protested the workout. Neither of these mattered. The goal was in sight; that mattered. Soon, he’d passed the first lap, then the second, then the third! With the fourth and final lap near an end, he gave one last push, one final effort, and used all his strength to run as fast as he could.

The end was soon in sight. Time seemed to slow as Mark looked down at the watch. He knew he needed to go as fast as possible these last few seconds. Pushing past normal exertion, he gave everything he had. His vigorous run finally came to a stop as he crossed the finish line, a small chime sounding as he stopped the stopwatch.

Mark grabbed his knees for support. Between the cold air and intense exercise, it was painful to breathe, but it was all worth it. Mark checked his stopwatch and was relieved to see that there was, indeed, a new record for his shortest time: 16 minutes and 31 seconds across 3 miles! With his breathing and heart rate slowly returning to a normal pace, he got ready to leave for home.

The walk took him along a few normally busy intersections. What was ordinarily a bustling area was almost vacant. A few were still driving around, presumably picking up gifts or just passing through, but most were at home with their families. That was the pattern, especially during night time of that season.

Ordinarily, Mark would have found the quiet to be relaxing. This time, however, it only served to further remind him of his current situation. He remembered his parents, and how good they were to him. He remembered the times he'd spent with friends and family alike prior to now.

They were warm memories, providing a contrast to the cool, silent air.

His attention was suddenly caught by the sound of something being forcefully thrown into the bed of a truck, alongside a quiet cry of pain. He froze, the daze he’d been walking in broken. The sound came from directly in front of him. Thinking quickly, Mark crouched behind a building on his left, peeking an eye out from the alleyway to see what was going on.

There were three men surrounding a white truck. The bed was open, and one of the men appeared to be aiming a gun inside. He whispered something then returned his attention to his presumed partners in crime. All three walked off to the left, obscured by the building Mark hid behind. There was a sound of a door slamming shut, and then...silence.

Silence, except for the faint sound of muffled cries of fear.

Mark was terrified. Was he witnessing a kidnapping? What should he do? His mind swam. He could try calling the police, but there’s no way they’d arrive in time. Plus, what if the men came out and heard him? He was tempted to take a picture of the license plate. That way, the police could track them down, but what if they ditched the car? What if it was stolen? His options seemed minimal.

Regardless of the risk, however, he wasn’t going to just wait there and watch. Pushing aside his more fearful (and rational) side, he decided to try getting the person out of the bed of the truck. It was parked between street lamps in an area covered in darkness, which would hopefully hide him at least a little.

Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Mark crept closer to the truck. The sounds of muffled cries rang out again, reminding him of his goal. His mind countered by reminding him that he didn’t even know how much time he had before the men returned; clearly the better option was to run. He shook off the fear as he got directly behind the truck. He slowly stood up and glanced inside the bed.

He couldn’t believe what he saw.

Chapter 2

Well, it certainly wasn’t a human.

The figure was a small equine. It had a light yellow coat and a pink mane and tail. Its flank was adorned with three pink and blue butterflies. It was a strange sight, but unbelievably, it also had a pair of wings! Yes, actual wings! It was a Pegasus!

Mark knew exactly who this was, even if he could scarcely believe it. He blinked several times to ensure he wasn’t hallucinating. She was still there. She was real, no doubt about it.

It was Fluttershy…The Fluttershy.

Despite the darkness, Mark could clearly see Fluttershy’s front and back hooves had been tied together in pairs. Her wings were bound to her back, and her mouth had also been gagged. Her cyan eyes could only look back at Mark’s, deeply afraid.

Mark’s mind clouded even more with this new information. Why was she here? What did the men want with her? Had anyone else seen her? More importantly, how was he going to get her out of harm’s way? Leaving her behind was absolutely not an option, but then, the authorities wouldn’t help much here, either. They’d probably capture the pony and take her away for...who knows what?

He noticed the mare was shaking. “It’s alright,” he spoke softly and with a smile, “I’m going to get you out of here.”

He didn’t think she believed him, or perhaps saw him as yet another threat.

“Okay, listen,” he whispered, “you need to be as quiet as possible. Those guys are going to hurt both of us if they catch us. You’re going to have to trust me. I know that’s hard, but you need to.”

Mark glanced back up at the door the men had entered into. There wasn’t a sound to be heard. He hoped they wouldn’t be coming back for another few minutes. Reaching into the truck’s bed, he carefully wrapped one arm around Fluttershy’s side, placing his other arm around her lower back, then hoisted her up and over his shoulder. She wasn’t as heavy as he’d expected, but she wasn’t exactly light, either.

He carefully held her, trying not to make her uncomfortable. With the pony in his arms, his next problem was finding a way back home without being noticed. He knew the neighboring areas fairly well, and there were streets without lamps that led to his house. He’d still have to avoid the light on occasion, but it was the best option for now.

He started walking away from the truck when he heard a door open. Not even daring to glance back, he quickly ducked into yet another alleyway. It was a dead end, containing only a dumpster and some filled trash bags. He ducked behind the dumpster and carefully lowered the pony onto the ground. Holding her on his shoulder wasn’t exactly going to help her stay hidden.

Mark could barely make out the sound of a man saying to “look everywhere” and that he wanted them “dead or alive”. The last part sent chills down Mark’s spine. He glanced at Fluttershy. Her wide eyes showed she clearly understood what the man said, too.

With little time to waste, Mark started thinking. He wasn’t going to outrun a truck, much less a bullet. The men were bound to check every nook and cranny, and they’d easily find the duo hiding behind the dumpster. They needed someplace to hide. Inside the dumpster was too obvious and noisy, but what else did they have?

Then, his eyes were drawn to the nearby garbage bags. He really didn’t want to use them, but desperate times called for desperate measures. There were only a few, so he had to use them wisely. He started by pushing Fluttershy slightly under the gap beneath the dumpster. He then grabbed some of the bags and started making a rough outline around her, leaving some space for where he’d hide beside her. He then picked up the rest, set a few off to the side so the mound wouldn’t look suspicious, and picked up three more bags, carefully covering both him and Fluttershy. Both lay with a large part of their upper bodies beneath the dumpster, their lower portions hidden beneath the bags.

The two lay silent as the ambient sounds played around them. Mark began to wonder if he could have escaped with the pegasus while the men were preoccupied. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. There was a silhouetted figure at the entrance of the alley, in his hand was the unmistakable outline of a gun. Mark held his breath.

The man walked slowly down the alley. Each step made Mark cringe slightly; he could only hope his time wasn’t up yet. He silently prayed that somehow he and Fluttershy would make it out alive.

The footsteps grew quieter with an added echo. There was a brief silence, then the footsteps grew louder again. The outline of the man’s legs came closer to the dumpster. He stopped just a few inches from Mark’s face, who tried even harder to control his breathing.

Then Mark saw the man’s knee. He saw the figure rest an elbow on the floor. A foreign smell of alcohol filled his nostrils. This was it, this was the end. The man was going to see both of them. Mark closed his eyes tightly. Why did things have to end this way?

“Carter!” barked a distant voice, “What are you doing?”

“Hey look,” spoke the man beside Mark, “I was just-”

There was a sound of rushed footsteps towards the dumpster. Another figure appeared and a scuffle ensued. The dumpster rang out with a loud bang as the first man was shoved against the obscuring structure.

“What you were ‘doing’ is letting it get away!” the man barked.

“I wasn’t! I promise! I’ve looked everywh-” the other man was cut off as he was shoved against the dumpster once again.

“You wanted it to get away, didn’t you?” the first man inquired, “You were always a softie. I can’t believe they let you join us.”

The second man was struck several times by the first.

“Now we’re going to go take a little drive,” the first man snarled, “and if we don’t find them, it’s on your head. Got it?”

He threw the second man towards the entrance of the alley. Too afraid to look back, he ran off towards the entrance, the first man following closely. The truck audibly started then drove past the alley. Shortly after, silence returned.

Mark let out a long sigh. There was too much to take in all at once. He still couldn’t believe he’d actually saved Fluttershy, the real Fluttershy, from an uncertain fate. He didn’t move for a good few minutes, worried that perhaps they’d return. As time passed, the surrounding cold began to chill his body. He knew he couldn’t stay there forever.

He slowly pushed himself out from under the dumpster. The bags covering both him and Fluttershy were relatively light, but he still took care not to let them rupture and spill their contents. After he’d freed both of them, Mark gently pulled Fluttershy out next. She eyed him warily.

“You doing alright?” he asked.

She didn’t seem keen on responding. But really, could he blame her?

“We’re going to go back to my house now.” he said with a smile, “I’ll untie you there, okay?”

Fluttershy gave a small nod, and Mark carefully swung her back on his shoulder. He walked down the middle of the street in silence, trying to let the familiar ambience calm his nerves. After everything that had occurred, this proved unsuccessful.

The back way to his home was going to take a decent amount of time longer, but it was also the safest option. With this in mind, he soldiered on, keeping watch for any passing cars or prying eyes.

It was going to be an interesting night, that was for sure.

Chapter 3

Mark breathed a heavy sigh of relief as he approached the familiar sight of his house. The base of the home was painted white, with the roof adorned with black tiles, separated into two parts by the sudden rise of the building where the second story was. Off to the side was a two car garage used to store both Mark’s car and his parents’.

With both himself and Fluttershy covered in the gravel and emanating the lovely scent of recently thrown out foods, Mark decided it best to go through the garage so as not to dirty the main entrance. The garage was also the best place to find tools to untie her. Once her bindings were off, both could clean off in the house.

He approached the keypad on the side of the garage and punched in the code. Immediately the garage began making loud creaking noises as the door slowly raised. Fluttershy was initially startled by this, but calmed down fairly quickly. Once inside, Mark clicked the garage door button, watching the metal barrier slowly lower.

He didn’t see any cars silently pulling up, so it wasn’t likely they were followed. At least, he hoped not.

After gently laying the pegasus down on her side, he started looking through the drawers and cabinets. Amidst the loud clanging of metal as he searched, Mark felt a pang of guilt for what Fluttershy must be thinking right now. She surely wouldn't know what he was doing or searching for, and her imagination was likely concocting all kinds of horrible scenarios.

He eventually found the tools he needed: A pair of bolt cutters and a sheathed knife. Glancing back at Fluttershy, he could see pure terror in her eyes as she stared at the objects, a faint quivering beginning. Mark walked over to the pegasus slowly, trying his best not to seem intimidating. He gently knelt down beside her, placing the tools on the floor, and stretched an arm out to her.

“Shh, it’s alright.” Mark whispered, laying a hand on her back, “I’m not going to hurt you, but I need you to remain absolutely still. I don’t want to accidentally injure you.”

Her pupils slowly returned from their shrunken state, and her shaking softened. She gave a gentle nod, providing the encouragement Mark needed to continue. He unsheathed the knife, trying to decide how best to start, and eventually settling on the gag around her mouth.

Mark pulled on the fabric slightly, trying to make space in which to insert the knife. He managed a small gap, and carefully sawed back and forth with the knife against the material. The cloth split apart with ease. He pulled the gag out of Fluttershy’s mouth and laid it on the floor.

“Feeling a bit better?” he asked with a smile.

She didn’t respond, but seemed to have the faintest of smiles on her own face as well.

Mark reached for the bolt cutters and inspected the bindings. She was tied up with a standard rope, somewhat frayed from previous use. The more worn parts had threads sticking out and prodding into Fluttershy’s hooves. Mark cringed slightly at the observation.

“Hold still, okay?” Mark comforted the pegasus. She nodded in response, something he was getting used to. He hoped she was still capable of speech, and that he’d understand her. At some point, he needed to ask her about why she was there. He needed to understand the situation, and most of all, he needed to find a way to get her back to Equestria.

He took the bolt cutters with both hands and placed the cutting ends around the ropes binding her forehooves, taking care to leave space so he wouldn’t hurt her. She was doing good at keeping still, but she was also noticeably less tense. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the cutters together. The ropes snapped apart with ease and Mark pulled them off and threw them aside. He did the same with the ropes on her back hooves. All that was left was the rope tied around her waist, holding down her wings.

He kept the cutters along the top of her back, safely away from the wings. Placing the blades once more around the bindings, he pulled the handles together. The rope snapped and the frayed ends fell away from each other.

“Alright,” Mark said with a smile, “that should do it.”

He sat back up and set the branch cutters aside on the floor. Fluttershy carefully climbed back onto her hooves and inspected them, seemingly surprised she was really free. She suddenly stretched out her wings, which caused Mark to jump back in surprise. The pegasus quickly retracted her wings and turned away her face slightly.

“Sorry.” she whispered.

“What are you sorry for?” Mark asked, trying to contain his excitement at meeting the real Fluttershy. He extended a hand. “Also, my name’s Mark.”

Fluttershy tentatively reached a hoof toward his hand, allowing him to take it. “Nice to meet you, I’m Fluttershy.” Her voice was so quiet, if he didn’t already know her name, he wouldn’t have understood her.

Mark thought for a moment on whether to tell her he already knew who she was. He decided that now probably wasn’t the best time, what with her still recovering from the shock of being filly-napped.

“Nice to meet you in-person, Fluttershy.” he said with a smile.

Her sudden change in expression clued him in as to what had just happened. “Did I really just do that?” he thought, facepalming mentally. She seemed suddenly uncomfortable, and for good reason.

“Yeah, I kind of already know who you are,” he admitted, “but I’ll explain that later. Right now, we both need to get cleaned up.”

Fluttershy warily followed Mark into the house, and to a nearby closet. He reached inside, and pulled out a fresh towel, offering it to the pegasus.

“Here, use this after your shower. I’ll be upstairs doing the same. Call if you need anything, okay?"

She nodded and the two parted ways. Mark went to his room to get his pajamas before heading for the staircase. With his parents out of town, he didn’t think they’d mind him using their bathroom. That was good, because he really needed a shower; sweat and garbage didn’t make for a good combination. Taking off his running clothes, he entered the shower.

As the water cleaned off his body, he was troubled in thought. “Yeah, that was real smooth there, Mark. ‘So I totally knew you already and I know it’s probably terrifying to think about especially after you literally just finished getting abducted, but you can totally trust me, even though I’m a human too.’”

He shook his head. He definitely could have handled that better. To make matters worse, this was Fluttershy; her personality was literally in her name! If she wasn’t nervous before, she was bound to be now. Mark just hoped he could earn her trust, and perhaps even her friendship. He had doubts about both.

After putting on his pajamas, Mark descended the staircase. He could still hear the downstairs shower running, so he decided to get some food for his guest. Unsure exactly what she’d want, he decided to go with the standard carrots and apples. He grabbed a knife from the drawer, split the apple in quarters, and set them on a plate alongside some carrots. He then waited, letting his mind play out different scenarios for what could happen next.

As he was lost in thought, the sound of the downstairs shower stopped, followed soon after by hoofsteps as Fluttershy walked to the only lit room in the house: The kitchen. Inside she saw a wooden dinner table with a chair set behind a plate of food. There were three other chairs, one of them was set closer to the one with the plate. She presumed the food was for her, but was troubled at the distant look on her host’s face.

“Um...Mark?” Fluttershy whispered.

“Hmm? Oh, sorry about that.” He replied sheepishly. He shook his head and tried to regain his composure. “I got some food for you. I wasn’t quite sure what to get, but I figured you wouldn’t mind apples and carrots.”

“It looks nice,” she reassured, “thank you.”

The pegasus sat down in the provided chair and quietly started eating. Mark tried to read her body language to see how best to proceed. He had many questions for her, but was this really the best time? She’d only just been rescued, and the whole situation had left both of them tired. Then again, she was going to be staying the night there, so it was probably best he try to make some sort of conversation; She’d hopefully be more comfortable if she knew a bit about him.

“Um, mind if I sit here?” he indicated the chair set close to hers.

“Okay.” she replied, pausing her eating.

“Thank you.” Mark said, sitting down and giving a reassuring smile. He was nervous to talk to her, just knowing who she was, but he couldn’t let that show.

“So…” he began, “I’m sure you’ve got a lot of questions. Frankly, I do too, but I want to let you ask first. So what’s on your mind?”

The pegasus didn't respond immediately. Her eyes showed careful thought being put into what to say next. A few times she looked as though was going to say something, but each time she stopped herself, going back to that same pondering look.

“You don’t have to answer immediately if you don’t want to.” Mark replied, trying to comfort her. She gave him a look he couldn’t read. Was it offense? Was it apologetic? Was it hurt? “Sorry if that sounded rude.” he quickly added.

“No, it’s fine.” Fluttershy replied quietly. “Um...I was wondering…” she thought carefully once more before responding, “you said earlier ‘nice to meet you in-person'. What did you mean? Do you know me?”

Now it was Mark’s turn to think. “So, first of all, I do know you, or rather, I know of you. Around here, you’re just a fictional character, and a fairly well-known one at that. Same with your friends; you guys are part of a series we watch called ‘My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic’. It’s a really cool show, and it’s all about your adventures.”

He quickly realized that was a lot to take in. She seemed troubled by what he'd said, unable to say anything herself in response. She didn’t look worried or sad, just surprised.

“And...your kind…” she finally uttered, “they watch us as...entertainment?”

“I mean, your stories are enjoyable ones.” he confirmed, “They each teach a lesson we can appreciate. Also, you guys are just a lot of fun. You’re all unique, but you complement each other, and you make for a really good cast.”

She didn’t seem sure how to respond to his compliments.

“Sorry if that sounded weird.” he added once again.

“It didn’t.” Fluttershy replied, “It’s just...I don’t know what to say.”

Mark paused for a moment. “Maybe it’s best not to think about it for now. You’re right, it’s definitely strange, but…” he struggled for how to phrase it, “it’ll pass. The weirdness will pass eventually.”

The pegasus didn’t seem too convinced by his remarks. Nonetheless, he had something he needed to ask.

“If it’s alright though,” he began, “I kind of need to ask something: why are you here?”

He quietly hoped this wouldn’t be too probing of a question. His fears turned out to be reasonable, judging by the look on her face. She seemed to be thinking the matter over, likely judging whether she could trust him.

She sighed, lowering her head. “I’m not supposed to be here.” she eventually whispered.

Mark’s eyes widened slightly at the comment.

“My friend Twilight Sparkle was asked by her mentor, Princess Celestia, to study other worlds.” the pegasus began, “She was told to take me along so I could observe the wildlife. My speciality is caring for animals, after all.

“We were about to travel somewhere when…something happened. The next thing I knew, I was somewhere I didn't recognize and Twilight was nowhere to be seen.”

The pegasus looked shaken as she continued speaking. “I saw some nearby animals that looked familiar, and I thought maybe they could help me. While I was walking under the trees....I was lifted in the air...suddenly I couldn’t move. There was a net holding me in place. These…"

She was stuck in thought as she glanced back at Mark. "Humans?" He offered, "That's what I am."

She nodded. "These humans walked out...they were saying something about a high price for me. They grabbed me and...tied me up.” She sniffled, “I just don’t understand why somepony would do that.”

She seemed almost on the verge of tears as she recounted the traumatic experience. “Hey,” Mark whispered as calmly as he could, “it’s okay. You’re safe here. They’re not going to hurt you anymore.”

Fluttershy sniffled again. She tried to compose herself before speaking again. “Mark,” she began, “why did you save me? What do you want with me?”

Mark gave a faint smile. “I don’t want anything.” he answered, “When I saw them put someone in the truck, I started thinking what to do. There weren’t a whole lot of options, and I realized I was the only one who could help right then. Once I saw you in there...I couldn’t leave you behind.” He sighed, thinking on what to say next. “I don’t know why people do things like what those people did to you, Fluttershy. I really don’t, but I do know that I’m not them. I’m not going to hurt you, I promise.”

The pony was silent as she processed everything he’d said.

“If there's one thing I do want, it's to get you back home safely,” he continued, “that’s all.”

“That’s really all you want?” she asked after a pause.

“That’s really it.” Mark confirmed.

“Okay.” she weakly replied. He could only hope she believed him.

He allowed her to finish her food as he tried to think how best to get her home. She’d mentioned Twilight, so surely she had to be working away on a solution, right? And she had magic, so she’d be much more able to defend herself against his kind than Fluttershy if worse came to worse. Not to mention she wasn’t as timid or afraid of harming others. But then, if she were trapped somehow…

Mark shook his head of the thought. Twilight was fine. She had to be. She needed to be.

There would be no way for Fluttershy to return home if she wasn't.

Once Fluttershy was done, he took her plate over to the sink and rinsed it off before putting it in the dishwasher. The pegasus trotted over.

“Are most humans like those men?” she asked as Mark dried his hands on a cloth. “I mean, obviously you aren’t.”

“You ever heard the phrase ‘one bad apple spoils the bushel’?” he asked, to which Fluttershy nodded, “Well, that’s the deal with people. There’s plenty of good people out there, but there’s some seriously nasty ones too.”

Mark found this was a good segue into something he needed to tell her. “On that note, I’m not really sure how to say this, but I kind of don’t think it’s safe for you to leave.”

As expected, Fluttershy had on a look of confusion mixed with a dose of fear. “Why not?”

“Well, out there…” he lost his train of thought as he tried to come up with a way to remain somewhat positive, “out there, people won’t understand you. They’d probably want to capture you again, but instead of a price, they’d probably experiment on you or something.”

That turned out to be the worst thing Mark could have said, as he saw the pony’s pupils quickly shrink to a miniscule size. “But I won’t do that,” he continued, “and I won’t let anyone do that to you either. Like I said, you’re safe here. I know that’s hard to believe after everything, but I promise I won’t hurt you or let anyone else hurt you. You need to trust me on that.”

Fluttershy’s eyes told everything. She was tired. She needed some sense of safety after being captured. She needed a place to stay and someone to trust. A small glint of hope appeared after some time. “Okay Mark, I trust you.”

He smiled warmly. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I think I’m kind of done after everything. I’m going to get ready for bed. Come on, I’ll show you where you can sleep.”

The two walked down the hall to a room across from Mark’s. The inside was painted light gray with white blinds covering a window. There was a slightly darker gray nightstand beside a bed covered with a long, white blanket.

“Who stays here usually?” the pegasus asked.

“It’s a guest room." Mark explained, "My parents said we should always have one. It should be fine for you, assuming you like it, of course.”

Fluttershy looked up at Mark and gave him a faint smile. “It’ll be perfect.”

“Glad to hear that.” he replied, “If you need anything, I’m down the hall. Don’t be afraid to knock.”

The two prepared for bed, with Mark supplying Fluttershy with a spare toothbrush. They parted ways to their respective rooms. Before heading for bed, he checked the locks one more time to make sure the place was secure. He didn’t want any intruders, especially now.

Finding his home to be safe, Mark went to his room and allowed the warm comfort of his bed to offer him repose. He stared at the ceiling, still amazed by everything that had happened in the course of a few hours. It had all really happened - he’d met the real Fluttershy, avoided being killed mid-rescue, and escaped a gang of poachers. Now, he could only wonder what the next two weeks would hold. How was he going to get her home? Surely Twilight would find her somehow, right?

This thought troubled him once again. Would Twilight find her at his home, much less in this world? How many worlds would she need to search through? How would she know where to look? Was she really safe and sound? What if she’d been captured by another group of poachers, or some group of creatures too horrifying to imagine?

After considering all possibilities, Mark settled on his earlier conclusion: she had to be safe. It just had to be that way. She was resourceful enough that even if she did get in a sticky situation, she’d know what to do.

At least, he hoped so.

Meanwhile in the other bedroom, Fluttershy wasn’t faring much better. She didn’t know if she could really trust her human host. She’d just narrowly escaped some horrible fate and could well have done so in favor of a worse one! What if it was all a ploy - what if he was just biding time until he knew what to do with her?

She slowed her breathing and focused on the facts. She knew he’d taken her away from a group that clearly didn’t have good intentions. He brought her to his home and freed her from being tied up. He let her clean off and gave her food. He was letting her stay in a comfortable guest bedroom. Most of all, she remembered the positive feelings that seemed to emanate from him: he seemed pure in heart, which was a stark contrast to her previous captors.

If he really was going to do something to her, surely he would have done so when he had her defenseless.

Satisfied at least partially in her mind, she still decided it best to be cautious; she’d keep her guard up, but also play along to see what he was really like. Perhaps she could safely learn a thing or two about humans. Mark certainly seemed good at heart, and he’d said there were many good people like him, intermixed with the bad ones. Would she ever meet any more of these “good ones”? Would Twilight?

The pegasus began having similar fears as Mark’s for her friend’s safety. She decided she’d be on the lookout at all times. Whether or not Mark would really help her return home, Twilight certainly would…assuming she found this world. For the meantime, Mark wasgiving her a place to stay and food to eat, both of which were much needed. Perhaps he could help her search for Twilight?

Also, he seemed younger than the men who'd tried to kidnap her. Was he young enough to still live with his family? If so, where were they? Did he have one?

She eventually decided these were all matters for tomorrow. Fluttershy tried to slow her breathing and let her mind drift away peacefully. Despite everything, she managed to doze off after a few minutes. Mark was already fast asleep in his room, patiently awaiting whatever lie in wait the next day.

While the only thing certain about the future was its uncertainty, this much was clear: He wasn’t alone for the holidays.

Chapter 4

The sound of breaking glass caused Mark to bolt upright from his bed. He clumsily landed on the carpet, then tried to orient himself as he took in the situation. Had he hallucinated the noise? It had to be a dream, or maybe it was just something glass that fell after being placed carelessly on a counter somewhere.

Then he heard the voices. They were quiet, just barely above a whisper…and they were coming from right behind his door.

Mark froze, unable to think straight. His breathing was noticeably panicked. He tried to slow his exhales so as to not be heard. It couldn’t be them. Please, anyone but them. They couldn’t have found them. It couldn’t be possible!

His worst fears were confirmed as his door was opened and he was met with three men in dark attire. Though he never saw their faces, he was sure it was the men from earlier, the ones who’d fillynapped the pegasus.

“Well look what we have here.” stated the man in front, aiming a gun at Mark, “I guess you’re off the hook, Carter.”

Mark couldn’t move. His body felt paralyzed in a way he’d never experienced before.

“So tell me, where’s our prize?” the man with the gun continued.

Mark wanted to scream, but no part of his body would cooperate.

The gun holder didn’t appear amused. He smacked Mark’s head, causing him to be briefly disoriented. He fell onto the floor once again, and the man took the opportunity to push a leg onto his chest, letting part of his body weight crush Mark.

“I asked you a question.” he added with a snarl. With Mark unable to speak, the man turned to his lackeys. “Search the house. Remember, we’re just here for the pegasus. There’ll be plenty to go around once we’ve sold her off.” With the last statement, the man returned his attention to Mark, who still couldn’t move. It was like his eyes were the only part of him that was conscious. He couldn’t even feel his own breathing.

Soon, Mark heard the sounds of screaming, the cries slowly growing quieter. Soon, there was silence, broken only by the footsteps of the other two men as they walked down the hall, holding the unconscious pony between them.

“That should do it, boss.” chimed in one of them, “What do you want to do with this guy?”

The man with the gun pulled back slightly on the trigger, “Well we can’t have any witnesses, can we?”

In one last-ditch effort, Mark gave all his strength in trying to push the man off of him, but his body refused to budge even an inch. He tried in vain to scream once more, but it was to no avail. It was over.

“Aww, don’t worry,” the gunman mocked, “we’ll take good care of her.”

There was a sound of thunder.

Mark’s eyes shot open. His brain was in a frenzy trying to take in everything that had just happened. He realized he was still in bed, and he could now move freely. More importantly, he was still alive. His breathing slowed somewhat at this realization, but then sped up again as the next thought entered his mind: was Fluttershy still there?

He tried to move both quietly and quickly to the guest room down the hall. The door was shut, which Mark didn’t know whether to take as a good or bad sign. Hoping for the best, he slowly turned the knob, trying to calm himself once again.

Inside, there was an air of stillness and tranquility. Off to his left, the pegasus slept peacefully in the bed. Mark breathed a sigh of relief, then briefly worried she’d be awoken by it. She hardly stirred, instead rolling on her side, revealing a small, content smile on her face.

The sight was heartwarming to say the least. Mark felt the corners of his mouth rise to form a smile similar to the mare’s, complemented by an overwhelming sense of calmness that enveloped his very being. Perhaps, as the Element of Kindness, she had the ability to make others feel that way, or maybe it was just her nature. Either way, he felt infinitely better as he left the room, taking special care not to make a sound as he closed the door behind him.

The sun dawned over the distant mountains, marking a new day’s break. Fortunately for Mark, he’d managed to get back to sleep after the nightmarish episode, and in fact, he'd rested better than he had in a long time.

Sunlight shone through his window, landing on his eyes and causing him to stir. He arose and walked to his bedroom door, listening for sounds of hoofprints or anything else to indicate the pegasus was awake as well. He heard none, and opening the door, he saw her bedroom door down the hall was still shut.

Realizing he had some time before she was up, he got ready to take a shower upstairs. In addition to his clothes, he grabbed a medicine organizer with days of the week marked on it. He’d been diagnosed with anxiety only a year ago, and the prescriptions had helped to ease his mind most of the time. He hadn’t had a panic attack in a long time, though last night he started to worry he was close to one. If that were to happen, it would only worry Fluttershy more, so he knew he needed to remain calm through the situation. She needed to see that things would be alright.

He needed to know things would be alright, too.

For now, all he could do was try to stay positive. After all, he knew Twilight would be looking for her friend. In the meantime, all they could do was wait. Or was it better to go looking for her? Where would they even start? What if they just barely missed her?

He decided to discuss this with Fluttershy after breakfast. In the meantime, he showered and took his medicine. It wouldn’t kick in for about an hour, but he didn’t predict anything too troublesome would happen in that time. The organizer had the next few days marked appropriately, and the bottle holding the rest of the prescription was downstairs. He remembered having some left over, but he’d likely have to visit a store somewhere to get it refilled while Fluttershy was with him. Really, that part depended on how long she’d be staying.

“How long will she be here?” Mark mulled over the matter as he descended the staircase. He didn’t hear any noise and presumed she was still likely asleep, though her quiet demeanor could have a similar effect. He walked to her room and glanced inside. The pegasus was still sleeping soundly. This presented a problem: he didn’t want the food to be cold when she woke up, but he also didn’t want to disturb her rest. He decided to try whispering to see if he could wake her up unobtrusively.

“Hey Fluttershy,” he quietly uttered, “you awake?”

The mare hardly stirred. He didn’t know canonically whether she was a deep sleeper, but he guessed the previous night’s events had worn her out enough to warrant this. He decided to try again.

“Fluttershy, you there?”

This time, her eyelids started to move. She blinked slowly, raising her head as she gained consciousness. When her eyes met Mark’s, she gasped and jumped back.

“Sorry,” he cringed slightly, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She calmed down fairly quickly. “It’s okay,” she began, “um, good morning.”

Mark let out a slight chuckle, “Good morning to you, too.” he replied.

The pegasus eyed him strangely for a moment. She looked about to say something, then decided against it. He hoped he hadn’t done something to worry her.

Finally, she spoke up. “Is it alright if I use the shower again?”

“Absolutely!” he answered with a smile, “I’m going to make some breakfast for both of us in the meantime. You like pancakes, right?”

The mare nodded in agreement. “Excellent!” he continued, “You go shower, and I’ll have fresh food on the table when you get out.”

“Thank you.” Fluttershy replied with a faint smile.

The two split off, with Mark going to the kitchen. He stopped by the pantry on the way to pick up ingredients for pancakes, then retrieved a mixing bowl, pan, and measuring containers from the various cabinets surrounding the cooking area. Within a few minutes, the fluffy cakes were ready and stacked high on a plate. Mark grabbed a bottle of syrup from a cabinet and a plastic butter container from the fridge. Setting both on the table, he heard hoofsteps beside him.

“Hey Fluttershy,” he greeted the pegasus, “how’d you sleep?”

“I slept okay,” she replied, “did you?”

“Yeah, I slept alright.” he said with a smile. This was met with Fluttershy making that same expression from earlier, that look like she had something on her mind she really wanted to say.

“You doing alright?” he asked.

Her face returned to normal, “I’m alright.”

Mark tried not to show it, but this really did bother him. He wanted her to know she could trust him, and it didn’t feel like she did. Or rather, she didn’t fully trust him.

Then again, why would she? She'd just barely met him, and her only other experience with humans involved her being fillynapped. He wasn’t going to gain her trust after just a day, even if he did save her. For that matter, he didn’t expect the shy mare to befriend him that quickly either.

“Let me just grab some drinks really quick.” Mark tried to break the silence, “Is orange juice okay?”

“That’s fine.” Fluttershy replied quietly.

He grabbed the bottle of orange juice from the fridge and set it on the counter. He took two cups from a cupboard and filled both with the fruity drink before placing one in front of the pegasus and the other in front of himself. He sat in the chair beside her and bowed his head. He said grace, and the two started eating.

“So, I think we need to stay inside for now.” Mark began, “Just give a day or two in case those guys are still out there.”

“Right.” Fluttershy replied after thinking for a moment.

Mark couldn’t shake his discomfort. He decided to risk making her uncomfortable and press her a bit.

“Are you sure nothing’s wrong?” he asked, “Nothing’s on your mind? Besides all the stuff that just happened, of course.”

She didn’t respond immediately. She was definitely less comfortable now, and he worried about how she felt about him after his constant questioning. Finally, she spoke up.

“I heard something early this morning.” she spoke quietly, “It was my door shutting. I went to see what was going on, and when I opened it, I saw you walking back to your room. Did you...um, did you look in on me?”

Mark was taken aback somewhat. He thought he’d been quiet enough not to wake her, but clearly this wasn’t the case. Now he had to answer for himself. How would she take the truth? Would she be creeped out? He’d checked in on her after having a dream involving her; that certainly sounded strange to him. But then, if he chose not to tell the truth, he’d have to keep up with whatever narrative he chose.

His train of thought broke as he realized he’d been silent for a small stretch of time. He decided that while the truth could be uncomfortable, it was better she knew.

“To tell you the truth,” he began, then found it difficult to put into words what he wanted to say, “don’t take this weird, but truthfully, I kind of...I kind of didn’t sleep very well last night.”

“What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked.

“Well,” he continued, “I kind of had a dream. A nightmare, really, and one that involved you and me.”

He paused and glanced at her, giving her an opportunity to comment. She chose not to, instead nodding, encouraging him to continue.

Mark sighed, “In the dream, those men from yesterday found us. They held me at gunpoint and took you away, then the man killed me.”

He paused once again, his breathing becoming short and his mind growing foggy. The memory from the dream still haunted him; it all felt too real. For a moment after he’d woken up from the nightmare, he’d really believed something could have happened to both him and Fluttershy.

“So I checked to make sure you were okay.” he continued, “I’m sorry for waking you up, and I’m sorry if that sounds weird. I just got worried.”

Fluttershy’s expression grew sympathetic. “It’s alright,” she spoke gently, “I appreciate your concern, and it makes sense. You don’t have to apologize.”

Mark glanced at the pegasus, who had on a faint smile. He returned the expression. “Thanks Fluttershy.” he spoke in relief, then cleared his throat, “Well, we should probably finish this stuff before it gets cold.”

The mare chuckled lightly, “We should.”

The two continued with breakfast, both feeling slightly relieved. Once they'd finished, Mark took the dishes and began rinsing them off before putting them in the dishwasher.

“Hey Mark,” Fluttershy started, her quietly confident demeanor coming through just a little bit more, “you said before that I was part of a show you watch. Could I see some of it?”

Mark finished placing the last dish in the dishwasher and turned off the sink faucet. “Sure,” he replied with a smile, “we’ll watch it in my room, but first I want to show you around the house. It's got lots of stuff for you to see.”

The tour began in the living room, where there was a sofa, fireplace, and piano on a white carpet. “This is the living room.” Mark announced, “We’ve got a chess set, some old picture albums, and the other usual stuff.”

Fluttershy eyed the room, taking in every detail. What caught her eye the most was a picture on the top of the fireplace. Nestled in a black wooden frame, it depicted Mark alongside two other humans that appeared somewhat older.

“Is this your family?” the pegasus asked, looking back at Mark.

“Yep,” he confirmed, “that’s my mom and dad. We were in California at the time, which is a place south of here. It’s definitely a lot more sunny.”

“Where are they right now?” she inquired.

Mark’s expression soured, “They’re on a business trip, and it lasts for two weeks.” He chuckled lightly, “Funny thing: they actually left shortly before I ran into you.”

Fluttershy frowned, “Are you alright without them?”

Mark gave a weak smile. “Yeah, of course I am.” he replied unsurely, “I just wish they didn’t have to leave before Christmas.”

“What’s ‘Christmas’?” Fluttershy asked.

“It’s a holiday we celebrate in the winter.” Mark explained, “It’s kind of like our version of Hearth's Warming Eve.”

“I see.” she replied, “Is that why there were so many lights on the houses out there?”

“Correct.” Mark confirmed with a smile. “It’s all part of the holiday season.”

The two continued upstairs, where Mark showed his parents’ bedroom and bathroom. He then showed her the backyard, which had a large grassy area dotted with mostly melted snow. Finally, he led her back to his room.

“And this is my room, though you probably knew that.” he joked.

“I kind of figured.” she replied.

“So about the show,” he continued, “let me pull up an episode.”

While he turned on the television and waited for Netflix to load, the pegasus continued inspecting the room. Besides the TV shelf with several devices stored below it, the room contained a desk and chair, a bed, and a wooden bookshelf. The amount of books in the bookshelf drew her quickly, and she searched intently, half expecting to see something she recognized, though it was to no avail.

“See anything that catches your interest?” Mark asked, noticing the mare’s entrancement with the books.

“Twilight would’ve loved this.” Fluttershy whispered back with a smile.

“Glad you think so,” he replied, “though I doubt we’d have similar tastes.”

The two were interrupted by a loud sound from the TV: it was the sound of Netflix opening.

“Now then,” Mark continued, “shall we watch the show?”

He decided to show her the first two episodes of the first season. Hopefully that would help her understand what he knew about her and her friends: the fact they all represented the Elements of Harmony, the fact they’d met through a grand adventure, and that Twilight wrote of her lessons in friendship to her instructor, who also happened to be one of the two rulers over the land.

Two episodes later, Fluttershy was speechless. She’d had a few comments while they watched, but mostly she was left in awe, occasionally glancing at Mark, who smiled back, trying to provide some comfort and reassurance as reality slowly set in for her. After a few moments of silence, the mare finally spoke.

“How?” she whispered to herself.

“I’m not really sure.” he admitted, “This show is supposed to be a work of fiction. Your presence here just...it kind of shouldn’t be possible.”

Fluttershy lowered her head, almost seeming saddened by his comment.

“But I’m glad you’re here.” he continued.

She gave a weak smile in response. Mark returned the expression.

“So why do you like this...show?” Fluttershy asked, “Why do you like watching us?”

Mark mused on the matter for a moment. “Well, first of all, your show teaches good morals.” he explained, “The idea of good friendships is something we all need, especially in our world. You provide a nice contrast; your show is full of understanding, love, and happiness.”

“Plus,” he continued, “you guys have inspired people to try out new talents. We’ve got people composing music, writing stories, drawing artwork, and lots of other stuff. You’ve created an entire community of people, all because of your show.”

He gently knocked a fist against her shoulder, “You’re also a pretty cool group of ponies, so there’s that, too.”

Fluttershy turned her head away as she blushed. “I didn’t know we were famous.”

“Welcome to my world.” Mark replied, then an idea hit him. " Hey, you said the reason you were with Twilight in the first place was to do research, right?”

The pegasus nodded.

“Well, then how about asking me some questions and learning about a new culture?” he offered. "Maybe you'll find out something Twilight will find really useful!"

Fluttershy pondered on the idea. “That sounds good.” she replied with a reassuring smile.

The two moved to the living room area. Fluttershy took a seat on the couch, while Mark walked upstairs to a storage closet and retrieved a clipboard, paper, and a pen. He handed these to the pegasus when he rejoined her on the ground floor, then took a seat on the opposite side of the couch.

She started with general questions about the geography of the world, culture and religion, and the history of humankind. Afterwards, there was an unsurprising focus on the way humans cared for nature. She was very surprised to see that there were entire “preserves” where animals were able to run freely, and that these areas had been in some way dictated by the communities of humans living nearby.

The pegasus studiously made notes on the clipboard before she turned her attention back to her host. She suddenly seemed very concerned, scooting back slightly on the couch to put some distance between the two of them.

“Is everything okay Fluttershy?” Mark asked.

“It’s fine.” she assured him, though he didn’t believe her, “I just...um, I remembered a question…”

The pegasus trailed off.

“What’s wrong, 'Shy?” he threw in the nickname, hoping to create a less stressful atmosphere.

Fluttershy bit her lip. “What does your kind eat?”

This was it; this was the question he’d dreaded. He’d answered everything else just fine, and even the war history he’d explained in a way that didn’t make humans look like a bloodthirsty group of beasts. But this...he didn’t think she’d take it well. He needed to be careful in answering her.

“Well, first of all, we do eat meat,” he admitted, “and I know that sounds-”

“What kind of meat?” the mare asked, moving slightly further away from him.

“We don’t eat ponies.” he stated bluntly.

She seemed somewhat more at ease, though still cautious.

“We eat mainly beef, pork, fish, and chicken,” he continued, “but we also eat lots of fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products.”

Fluttershy wrote down some notes on the clipboard, looking over the board at Mark multiple times as she did.

“Look, I’m sorry if it’s scary to be staying with an omnivore right now,” he stated with a frown, “but it’s the truth. You expect me to give you honest answers to your questions, and that’s what I’m going to give you. I promise not to hurt you or your friends. Whether you believe that or not, it’s the truth.”

The pegasus sighed. “Alright Mark,” she finally spoke up, “I believe you.”

“So she does trust me.” The thought rang in his head, “I wonder how much.”

“Either way, was any of this helpful or interesting?” he asked, trying to shift focus away from the unpleasant moment.

“It was.” she replied plainly, “Thank you.”

Mark checked his watch. “Well, it looks like it’s about time for lunch.” he stated with a smile, “come on, I’ll cook us up something.”

Mark’s parents had been kind enough to go grocery shopping before leaving for their work trip. There was an assortment of “quick” meals - frozen pizzas, cans of soup, boxed mixes, etc. - alongside ingredients for making food from scratch. The two wouldn’t have to worry about going hungry at least.

The two enjoyed a frozen pizza together. The mare asked more questions about the local culture, to which Mark gave brief explanations of Earth politics and several different subculture groups - including a fairly obvious one…

“And you all call yourselves ‘Bronies’?” Fluttershy inquired.

“If you like the show, yeah.” Mark replied with a shrug, “Not everyone does, of course, but most do. It’s kind of like a club, except it spans the whole world.”

“How many people are Bronies?” the pegasus asked.

“Not sure,” Mark answered, “I think it’s something like 10 million.”

Fluttershy was clearly trying to contain her surprise, “10 million?”

“Are you going to do that every time I give you numbers?” Mark joked.

Fluttershy’s head hung slightly. “Sorry.” she whispered.

“I didn’t mean that as an insult.” Mark quickly added, “I just mean you’ve seemed surprised a lot lately.”

She didn’t respond.

“I guess this is all new for you, though.” Mark admitted, “If I were in your world the most mundane stuff to you would probably amaze me.”

“I guess.” Fluttershy stated, giving a faint smile.

“Though 10 million isn’t really that big of a number considering we have about 8 billion people on Earth.”

The pegasus was once again speechless, her jaw hanging. “8 billion?”

“I kind of expected you to be surprised by that one.” Mark joked, “Yeah, we have about 8 billion humans alive right now. Crazy, huh?”

Not knowing what to say, Fluttershy simply nodded.

“Well, you done with your food?” Mark asked, breaking the silence.

“Yes,” she replied, regaining her composure before her face grew more serious, “and Mark?"

He gave a quizzical look, imploring her to continue.

"I just wanted to say thanks again for rescuing me." She added, "I don’t know where I’d be if you didn’t.”

“Neither do I,” he admitted, “and you’re welcome.”

Another round of questions about humans ensued. Mark went into somewhat more detail about the wars America had been involved in. He carefully explained them, making sure to emphasize why they were necessary. This went on for a few hours, after which the two ate the leftovers from lunch for dinner, then prepared for bed.

Both the human and the pony rested more peacefully than the night before. Not only was the traumatic event behind them, but they both felt a bit more comfortable around the other. However, that same issue of trust was still present. Fluttershy still was wary of her host, and he knew it. He sighed, accepting that it would take some time for her to warm up to him. She’d already made some strides, but after what had happened with the poachers, she was bound to be nervous for a while.

Mark only hoped he could help her to feel safe while she was his guest. Everyone, pony or human, deserved to have a place they could call home, even if only for a time. That was his job - to make his place as much a home for Fluttershy as it was for him.

He really did want her to see some of the outside world, though. It’d be a literal breath of fresh air to associate the rest of his hometown with something other than being captured. He spent some time thinking over where he’d take her, though his thoughts quickly turned to worries of her being spotted, not only by a normal bystander, but possibly by those same poachers. He decided to give it one more day before venturing outside. They both needed to get out at some point - staying in all day just wasn’t healthy.

But what to do for tomorrow? He’d already done quite a bit of answering questions; he wanted to show something to her, something so unique and unexpected about his kind, that she’d want to tell everypony in Ponyville about it.

Then it dawned on him. Content with his idea, Mark closed his eyes and let his breathing slow as his consciousness faded. He retained a faint, content smile on his lips.

Tomorrow he was going to show Fluttershy the Internet.

Chapter 6

The roads quickly passed by as Mark made his way to the preserve, his GPS guiding the way, and a soon-to-be sunset shining on the horizon.

There was no denying the unease he felt knowing that he would soon be returning to the very spot Fluttershy had arrived on Earth - and only minutes before being fillynapped by poachers. Even though he knew deep down there was no real threat to him - or at least no rational threat - he still couldn't help but worry. Said worry began to build as the trip went on, forming into various possible scenarios of what could go wrong.

What if the poachers were there and recognized him somehow? What if they found his address using the GPS? What if they captured Fluttershy again?

No, that wouldn't happen. That wasn't reasonable. It had been night when the whole ordeal occurred, so they couldn't recognize him. Also, why would they even be out here? What reason would they have to suspect him if they were?

All these thoughts felt more to Mark like he was convincing himself of the lack of danger than anything else. However, he was determined to do what he could to help Fluttershy find her way safely home. Something like this was fairly low-risk, so why not do it? Even if it didn't work out, it would be better than sitting around doing nothing.

Plus, he'd brought a small bottle of mace with him in case something went wrong. The pegasus had asked him what he could need pepper spray for, and though his initial thought was to joke that he was venturing into spicy foods, he felt a more honest answer was in order.

She definitely showed worry at the thought of him being in danger, but he'd managed to comfort her (and himself) before leaving. It was strange that even now he was relying on those words to ease his mind.

With only a scant few minutes left until he reached the preserve, Mark turned on a slow instrumental playlist to calm his still-frayed nerves.

Soon, the headlights on Mark’s car lit up the sign, reading “Forest Creek Wildlife Preserve”. After parking in the lot, he quickly began his search around the sign, trying desperately to sense that magical energy.

Fluttershy had described it as a sort of "sixth sense", stating it would make sense when he felt it. Unfortunately, given the lack of any unusual sensation, there was little to make sense of.

The grass surrounding the sign hadn't produced anything useful. No sensations, sounds, or strange colorations - not that Mark even knew what to look for at this point. Most especially, he couldn't see anything resembling a magical portal between worlds.

"Come on," Mark thought in frustration. "There has to be something here I'm missing."

He circled around the sign once more, this time slowly treading in as close to a perfect circle as he could manage. Perhaps that would trigger something? It was as good an idea as any.

When this proved fruitless, Mark sighed and began walking back towards the car. The last of the sunlight was nearly gone now, which would make a nearly blind search into…well, something that was somehow even less worthwhile.

His shoulders slumped slightly, his head hung in defeat. While anxiety had once been his greatest foe, this situation created a new obstacle in the form of a wave of depression hitting his brain. He felt every ounce of it weigh him down.

He'd failed, wasting time searching for nothing. He knew Fluttershy would take note of this development, perhaps even beginning to lose some hope as well. He had no idea what to do next.

And really, what could they do? This was their only lead. The next option was to wait and hope for the best - an idea that seemed to have the odds stacked heavily against them.

If Fluttershy barely escaped danger with his help, there was no telling what may occur if Twilight traveled here unattended…

A whistle pierced his thoughts.

This sudden stimulus caught Mark's attention immediately, pulling the sullen teen out of his depressive mood and directing his eyes towards the sound. His vision focused on a woman walking towards him, wearing what appeared to be a beige polo shirt, forest green pants, and a hat that wouldn't be unusual for a Boy Scout leader.

"Hi," Mark greeted as the woman closed the gap between them. "Is everything okay?"

She took a moment to think before responding. "I was going to ask you that. I saw you looking around that sign for the last 20 minutes now. Did you lose something?"

"In a sense." Mark replied, trying to choose his words carefully. He recognized quickly the fault with what he'd just spoken.

"In a sense?" The woman asked, confused. "Well, I don't know when you lost what you're looking for, but we have a lost and found at the office. Maybe that'll help?"

Mark tried to think quickly how to keep suspicions down. "Sure," he eventually decided, "that'd be really helpful. Thank you."

"You're welcome," the woman responded, "and by the way, I'm Sheila Stanford."

"Thank you Sheila, I'm Mark." he replied as the two walked over to the office.

"The place is supposed to close up in 15 minutes, so we can't stay here too long." Sheila warned, "I figured this was the least I could do, though. You really seemed determined out there."

"Thanks," Mark replied as the woman opened a closet for him. Under the indoor fluorescent lights, Mark was able to get a better look at her. She was thin with red hair, adorning an outfit that confirmed what he already knew: The woman was clearly a worker for the preserve. She wore an accompanying name tag with "Sheila" in bold text.

Sheila opened the door to reveal a supply of various odd items - coats, hats, backpacks, stuffed animals, bracelets, and much more. Mark felt it was only best to spend a few moments looking around, pretending to search for something, before leaving for the night. He did feel bad wasting her time, but it was a small price to pay to keep suspicions low.

"You never did say what you were looking for, though." The woman noted.

And there it was. Time to think fast.

"A friend of mine lost a bracelet." Mark quickly answered. "I never got a good look at it beforehand. She's just dropping by from out of town, so it's all new to me."

Mark returned to "searching" through the mess.

"And she lost it a few days ago?" Sheila asked.

A small chill ran down Mark's spine. Had he said anything about when this had occurred?

"Y-yeah," he eventually replied, turning to face the preserve worker. "It was a few days ago."

Sheila looked ready to say something, then returned to thinking.

"I think I may have something like what you're looking for in my office." She eventually spoke up, leading the way.

Unsure what to do, Mark kept a hand on the mace and followed her.

The office was…typical, in truth. There were some nature-themed posters up on the walls, alongside pictures of (presumably) the woman's family and friends, a calendar, a mini fridge, and a desk with chairs in front and back.

The two sat at the appropriate places in the room before Sheila pulled open the desk drawer and began searching. The sounds of rummaging concluded when she eventually pulled out a small envelope about the size of her thumb.

"Now don't run off with this," she warned, "but I just want to know if this means anything to you."

Sheila handed the envelope to Mark, who slowly opened it. His eyes went wide as he studied the object inside.

It was a golden coin, that was obvious. On one side was a number, presumably the value of the coin. But on the other side we're two equines circling the center.

He knew exactly what that symbol was.

"Sounds like we're on the same page." Sheila commented, "Now, I need to ask again: What were you looking for out there?"

Mark mentally chastised himself for allowing his shock to show. He was giving away his hand far too freely, and it could end up costing him dearly.

And yet, he couldn't bring himself to answer the question.

Seeing no response in the near future, Sheila continued. "A few days ago, I was working the closing shift here when I saw something very unusual on the security cameras, and it was right around that sign out there."

Mark's blood ran cold.

Sheila leaned forward. "Would you happen to know anything about that?"

Chapter 7

"This is it." Mark thought. "It's over."

He refused to meet Sheila's gaze, fearing that somehow she would see through any final defenses Mark may have put up, allowing complete unfettered access to his very being.

During the briefest of moments, Mark tried to analyze the woman before him. Her gaze, her presence, her tone - these and many others gave a feeling he could barely read in the midst of the stress he was enduring.

Finally, the silence was broken once more.

The woman sighed. "Listen, I need to close this place up pretty quickly. The higher ups don't like us keeping it open past certain hours, even for the lost and found," Her eyes caught Mark's before continuing. "but I think I can help both you and your friend."

Mark simply sat in stunned silence.

"Come back here tomorrow around closing time - same time you were here looking at that sign." Sheila continued, "I've got a lot more to show you that may help you with what you're doing."

Mark finally found sufficient strength to respond. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Sheila replied with a smile.

Mark turned to leave when Sheila called his name.

"Mark, one more thing." She waited until Mark had turned around to face him before continuing, "Bring your friend with you. I think she'll want to see this herself."

"Okay." Mark replied with a nod before leaving the office building.

Immediately upon arriving home, Fluttershy's happy demeanor disappeared when she saw Mark's face.

"Is something wrong?" She asked.

Mark wasn't sure how to answer that question. Eventually he replied, "We need to talk."

He joined Fluttershy in his room, seeing that she had made herself busy reading one of the books on his bookshelf. Seeing it to be “Alice in Wonderland”, he would have chuckled had the situation been less grim.

Mark breathed a deep sigh. "Someone knows."

Fluttershy gasped, a hoof raised to cover her mouth. "Everything?"

"Not everything," Mark replied with a shake of his head, "but the woman knows about you, and has evidence of it, too."

"What kind of evidence?" Fluttershy asked, her concern growing even more by the minute.

"She apparently has you on video." He explained, "and then there was something she showed me…it was a golden coin with the emblem of the two sisters on it. I think we both know what that is."

Fluttershy seemed troubled, but strangely also somewhat confused.

"What?" Mark asked.

"Mark," Fluttershy began, "I never brought any bits with me."

Mark's eyes grew wide at this revelation.

"And there weren't any around you that got transported by accident?" He asked.

The pegasus shook her head.

Mark tried desperately to make sense of this. If she didn't bring any, then that could only mean one thing…

She wasn't the only pony who'd traveled to Earth.

But had somepony come before or after her? Where were they now? What was this woman's connection to them?

Was it possible Twilight was already on Earth looking for Fluttershy?

Mark couldn't make sense of it. "I'm really not sure whether we should meet with her," he continued. "but she invited us to do so."

The pegasus was struck at once by the suggestion.

"She's our only lead for now, and she may be the best one we have." He added.

Fluttershy took deep breaths to calm herself, trying to think rationally.

"Do you really think that's a good idea?" She finally asked.

Mark thought carefully for a moment, then sighed. "I don't know."

The mare began balancing out the facts as best she could. The woman could certainly offer up something to help them, but if she was anything like the poachers…

"What was she like?" Fluttershy asked.

Now in a much calmer state of mind, Mark thought back over everything that had happened. It was true that she'd asked quite a few questions of him, but there was something about her that was strangely…disarming. The woman didn't seem as though she wanted to intimidate him, even though her questions had made his blood run cold.

"If you're asking if she's a threat," Mark answered, "I don't really know."

The two sat deep in thought, unable to decide what to do. Unusually, it was the pegasus who spoke up first.

"Mark, what should we do?"

Her voice sounded weak, afraid, and pained. This new development had presented a risk neither had expected, and even though Mark hadn't faced any immediate danger, it was clear this conundrum was taking its toll on the poor mare. Mixed in with what doubts she still had about him as her host, her inner comfort was proving fragile.

"Well, we have a saying where I come from." Mark answered, "When in doubt, sleep on it."

The two finished preparations for bed and went to their respective rooms. Unfortunately, Mark soon realized that the issue with "sleeping on" an issue implied one would be able to sleep at all. This was certainly not the case for him.

Despite his best mental efforts, nothing could bring him peace regarding the eventual decision he'd have to make. This was putting both their lives in danger, and for a lead he still couldn't entirely make sense of. He couldn't even reason what kind of woman Sheila was - Intimidating? Friendly? Neutral?

The panic continued to cloud Mark's judgment, eventually forcing him to put in earbuds and play the familiar sounds of his carefully selected slow instrumental playlist. With any luck, it would lull him to sleep.

Fluttershy was faring far worse.

She lay on her side, staring at the wall as though hoping it would somehow provide an answer. Her breathing was staggered, a lone tear running down her cheek. The blankets wrapped over her provided little comfort.

If this were a nightmare, she would give anything to wake up.

Every semblance of security and safety had shattered in that brief conversation. This woman, whoever she was, knew just about everything. She knew about her, she'd met Mark, she clearly had something from their world…and now they may meet her the next day.

Who's to say she hadn't followed Mark and was preparing something for the middle of the night?

Her eyes shrunk to pinpricks at this thought.

And what about Mark? She hadn't heard this conversation they'd had, so what if he was planning something? What if this was his ultimate goal, and it was all a ruse?

Her body began to tremble.

She was tired. She missed home.

She missed the grassy fields outside of Ponyville. She missed the wonderful smells of Sweet Apple Acres. She missed the exciting parties hosted by Pinkie Pie. She missed her daring, outgoing, and encouraging friend Rainbow Dash. She missed the many adventures she and her friends would get into. She missed her animal friends that she cared for. She missed the humble life the town provided.

She missed her life.

In the silence, one could faintly hear the sounds of bitter weeping.

Chapter 8

The slow instrumental playlist had proved fruitless to Mark's sleep. After trying desperately for an hour to find that elusive slumber, he finally surrendered. He slowly got out of bed and headed to the kitchen, ready to satisfy his need to rehydrate.

It was going to be a long night, that much was certain.

He walked quietly down the hall, hoping not to wake Fluttershy as he did so. Flicking on the kitchen lights, he grabbed a glass and let the fridge's water dispenser do its work. A moment later, and the cool, refreshing liquid found its way down his throat. It provided at least some relief to his stressed body.

Catching something in the corner of his eye brought the stress right back.

He nearly spilled the drink as he jumped. His brain caught up with him a moment later, allowing him to realize it was only Fluttershy, looking understandably concerned.

"Sorry." She whispered, lowering her head.

"It's okay." Mark replied, catching his breath from the scare. "Do you need something?"

Fluttershy stopped as she was about to speak, her gaze falling to the ground.

"No." She whispered.

"'Shy, are you okay?" Mark asked, though he already suspected the answer was no.

His fears were confirmed when she refused to answer, though he could swear he heard a faint sobbing.

He knelt down to eye level with the mare. "Fluttershy, what's wrong?"

She hesitantly raised her eyes from the ground to meet his own. They were bloodshot, resting just above her red-stained cheeks.

"'Shy…" Mark trailed off.

Fluttershy began crying openly, resting her head against his chest. He responded by gently wrapping both arms around her shoulders and bringing her into a much needed hug. The crying slowly became sobbing as Mark used a hand to rub her back.

Once she was calm again, Mark spoke up.

"Let's go into my room. You can tell me everything there."

Once the two were inside, Fluttershy let all her feelings out. She expressed her fears, her homesickness, and everything else that was keeping her awake and afraid.

"I hate to say it," Mark replied after she'd finished, "but I'm feeling the same way, too."

Fluttershy glanced up at her human host, surprised given his outward strength at this time.

"I don't think either of us are going to be sleeping for a while." He added before turning on the computer and TV screen. He then pulled up the familiar site of YouTube, selecting a video Fluttershy hadn't seen before.

"When I'm feeling troubled like this," he continued, "this makes things a lot better."

The video began playing, filling the room with Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World". He'd selected the music video version specifically, allowing for the bright colors of the stop-motion animation to likewise brighten both of their spirits.

"That song always cheers me up, at least a little." Mark stated after the song had finished. "Did it help you at all?"

The pegasus sniffled slightly. "A little."

Mark smiled. "Well, I think I know something else that might help." He pulled the keyboard back onto his lap and began typing into the search bar again. "The thing the internet was made for: Cat videos!"

About an hour had passed, with the two laughing and smiling together while watching the internet's most popular animal. It had proven effective for Fluttershy, as the humorous yet adorable moments slowly brought back the feeling of comfort she'd almost felt would never return. She also made a mental note to add this strange internet phenomenon to her notes about this world.

She had just finished watching a Bengal cat be introduced to a few weeks old kitten, when her lungs let loose a long-reserved yawn.

Mark looked over, relieved that she was feeling relaxed enough to be tired. "Sounds like it's time for us to both get some sleep."

She nodded. "It is. Thank you for everything, Mark."

Her smile proved infectious. "You're welcome, Fluttershy."

As quickly as her smile had appeared, however, it was chased away by some passing thought.

"Everything okay, 'Shy?" Mark asked.

"It's just…" She began, "I just don't know if I'll be able to sleep. All I could do in that room was wait. It felt like I was being watched."

Mark put a hand to his chin in thought. The two definitely needed their rest, and in truth, he wasn't sure if he'd be sleeping well either.

Which made the idea that popped into his head all the more valuable.

"Stay here," He instructed, "I'll be right back."

Mark walked the short distance down the hall to a closet storing many seasonal or situational items. Coats, backpacks, and even a tent made up the storage, but the prize he sought for was on the very top shelf.

"Got it!" His voice sounded as he walked back down the hall and to his room. Fluttershy knew there was still much to understand and learn about Earth culture, but even she easily recognized what Mark's arm was wrapped around.

"A sleeping bag?" She wondered aloud.

"Yeah," He replied with a smile, "we can host a sleepover in my room! I figure that'll help us both feel a little more comfortable tonight."

Fluttershy's smile showed she agreed with the idea, and so Mark began rolling out the bag, grabbing a pillow from his bed. Fluttershy unzipped the side of the bag and readied to lay down on it.

Mark covered the bag's entrance with his hand. "I'll sleep in the bag, you can take my bed. It'll be more comfortable for you."

Fluttershy glanced at Mark's bed, then back at him. "You don't have to do that."

"I know, but I want to." He countered with a smile. "It's the least I can do."

Fluttershy took a moment to process this. "Thank you." She finally replied with her same soft smile.

The two retired to their beds - Mark his bag and Fluttershy the actual bed - and tried to relax, not thinking about the day ahead tomorrow. This proved to be much easier this time around. The pegasus mare fell asleep within minutes, leaving Mark staring at the ceiling, pondering over everything that had happened in the last few days.

It was certainly proving to be an unusual week to say the least, but deep down, he felt that somehow things would work out. This final thought brought him the sufficient comfort to allow for a peaceful slumber.

Chapter 9

The distant sound of pancakes sizzling on a skillet woke Fluttershy from her slumber. She glanced at the nearby clock, confirming her suspicions that both had slept in considerably compared to the previous days.

And yet, she felt more at peace than she had any day prior.

The mare left Mark's room and trotted to the kitchen. Her eyes were greeted with a large stack of pancakes, a bottle of syrup, a jug of orange juice, and of course, her gracious host. Said host was currently busying himself cooking a final pancake, not noticing the pony glancing at him as he worked.

Fluttershy cleared her throat. "Good morning."

Mark was caught slightly off-guard, though he quickly recovered. "Morning Fluttershy. How'd you sleep?"

Fluttershy smiled. "Very well, thank you."

"Glad to hear it." Mark replied with a smile before turning back to the stove. "I'm just finishing things here, go ahead and take a seat at the table. I'll be right over with everything."

Fluttershy did so, her mind wandering to the decision the two would have to make regarding that woman's offer. With a much clearer head, she felt better about the prospect of discussing this with Mark - and moreover, she was ready to trust whatever decision they came to.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the pancake-stacked plate touching base with the table.

"You alright there, 'Shy?" Mark asked.

She nodded. "I was just thinking about…that woman."

Mark's smile fell. "Right, we still need to figure that out."

He finished placing the other items on the table. "Well first, let's eat."

He said grace and the two feasted.

The clock read 1 o' clock PM. For both of the room's occupants, this small bit of information would ground them in the present moment when considerations for the future went on too long.

Nevertheless, both knew they couldn't spend all day thinking about what lay ahead.

"So what are we going to do?" Fluttershy asked, breaking the seemingly eternal silence.

Mark shook his head. "This isn't an easy one, 'Shy. I hope you know that."

He glanced over at the mare. When she didn't reply, he continued.

"On one hand, it's the best chance we have of taking the proactive approach in getting you home. This person clearly knows something about your world, and she even has that bit she showed me. I don't know what to make of her, but there's definitely something there we may want to look into."

Fluttershy knit her eyebrows. "But…"

"But there's also the fact that we know relatively little about her. I didn't exactly get any bad feelings, but the facts don't explain everything. There's just so much that could be the case, and…"

Mark glanced away as he trailed off.

"Mark?" Fluttershy asked, worry filling her tone.

Mark sighed deeply. "I just don't want anything bad to happen." He glanced back over at Fluttershy, "To either of us."

Fluttershy's face showed deep consideration for the matter. Her eyes were closed as she processed everything she had learned and experienced up to that point, hoping somehow she would find some hidden answer that would help them both.

She let out a sigh of her own.

"Mark," she began, "I’ll be the first to admit I know very little about this world, and much less its people. However, I do know you. You’re a good person, and you’re proof there are good people here."

Her eyes slowly opened again, the pupils focusing on her host.

“Surely you’ve known good people and bad people alike. You met this woman, and you had a conversation with her. What did you think of her?”

Now it was Mark's turn to think, his eyes shut tight. His brain replayed the events of the previous evening, trying to analyze every detail of the interaction. Finally, he had an answer.

"I was afraid throughout everything. I thought for certain you and I were done for. It felt as though the walls were closing in on us."

He paused to collect his thoughts one last time.

"And yet…this woman, I don't think she wanted to hurt me - or hurt us. She asked a lot of questions, but I saw concern in her eyes, not malice. She really seemed like she wanted to help."

"It’s up to you, Mark." Fluttershy stated after a brief pause.

Mark let out a deep sigh.

"I think we'd better eat an early dinner, because afterwards, we have a trip to make."

Chapter 10

It was a strange sense of deja vu to be driving this road again. The trees on the side, the snowbank beneath, the small dots of snow decorating the windshield - it was all too familiar.

The greatest task at that point was to not relive the fears.

"Are you okay, Mark?" Came a voice from the back seats.

Mark glanced behind him at the large quilt covering his pegasus friend. The two had decided this would be an adequate solution for the time being to ensure she wouldn't be seen. She'd assured him earlier that it was comfortable as well, which helped to ease worries he didn't know he'd had.

He rapidly shook his head, trying to re-engage with the present moment. "Still a bit nervous, but yeah, I'm okay."

As the destination neared ever closer, a troubling thought entered Mark's mind. What would happen if he was wrong? What if Sheila was actually dangerous? If he ever made it out safely with Fluttershy, would she ever trust him again?

He glanced once more back at the quilt-covered mare, resting ever peacefully through the car ride.

He hoped to never find out.

The sun once more descended beneath the distant mountain ranges as Mark's car pulled into the familiar parking lot. He actually never recalled coming there before, wondering if he ever would have had Fluttershy appeared. Remembering her cutie mark, he couldn't help but think this was a "Butterfly Effect" moment in more ways than one.

The two waited inside his car as the sky grew darker. The outdoor lights shut on, making Mark wonder if he'd perhaps missed this mysterious woman.

He wasn't sure whether he felt relieved when he saw a figure step outside the building, locking the door as she did. He was close enough to recognize that it was indeed her. The meeting was still on.

Mark left his car and approached her.

"Hey Sheila."

"Hey Mark," Sheila greeted with a smile, "good to see you made it."

She glanced around in back of him, looking for something.

"Did your friend make it?" She asked.

"She's on her way." Mark answered, thinking it would be best to keep Fluttershy's location hidden until he knew Sheila could be trusted.

"Alright," Sheila replied with a shrug, "well I do have some stuff to show both of you - stuff I think your friend will find especially interesting - but I'm afraid we'll have to go back to my place for it."

Mark tried to keep a calm look, though he could tell this wasn't working.

"I'm afraid this just isn't the best place to talk about it," She continued, "but I don't live too far from here. I'm actually right beside the preserve, just a minute or two away. It's a really pretty cabin, and it's not too far from civilization that way, either.

"If you're comfortable with it, you can just follow me and I'll take you there." She offered with a smile.

Mark's fears returned anew. He hadn't planned for this possibility, and he certainly wasn't sure how Fluttershy felt about it.

He quickly reached for his phone and faked surprise. "I need to take this really quick, is that okay?"

"Sure, just let me know if you want to head out." She replied.

Mark strode quickly into his car and pulled out his phone, putting it to his ear.

"Fluttershy, I'm pretending to talk to someone right now, but I'm talking to you." He explained. "The woman just invited us over to her place to show us what she was talking about. What should we do?"

Beneath the blanket, he could almost hear the pony thinking. "Well, do you trust her?"

"I still don't know quite what to think." He replied, "She seems earnest, and she definitely knows something judging by what she showed us yesterday. Even still…"

He trailed off, leaving Fluttershy to fill the silence. "It's up to you, Mark."

He glanced around at the surrounding parking lot, taking in the new information. He glanced over at Sheila's car, a Jeep that she'd just entered a few moments ago. He tried to get a reading on what she might want to show them, and more importantly, what he would do if things went south.

His free hand fell to his left pocket, where the same can of mace from yesterday remained safely hidden from sight. He nodded to himself, making the decision right then.

He needed to know what this woman's tie was to Equestria.

Turning on the car, Mark pulled up beside Sheila, rolled down the window, and gave a thumbs up. He could see her nod before pulling out, and after rolling the window back up, Mark proceeded to follow her.

When she'd said she lived nearby, Mark didn't realize she meant only a mile or two down the road. Just a short drive away from the preserve bounds was a chain link fence that stretched for a short distance, leading to a dirt driveway partially covered by foliage.

Upon turning in, Mark was greeted with a two-story wooden cabin. It wasn't a log cabin, per say, but it did seem a few decades old. The porch was covered, and held room for a bench and patio swing. Off to the side of the house was a small metal playset, consisting of a see-saw, swing, and slide.

The latter most brought Mark a bit of comfort. While the place seemed very welcoming, the presence of something for children likely meant they'd had kids, or were planning to have them soon (or perhaps were even preparing for grandchildren). It helped to humanize this relative stranger, diminishing some of the mystery and fear surrounding her.

Both Sheila and Mark got out of their respective cars, meeting in front of the house.

"Here it is." Sheila stated simply. "Not too shabby, huh?"

"It's a nice place." Mark complimented, "I saw the playground stuff over there, do you have kids?"

"Oh, they're all grown up." Sheila waved her hand with a reminiscing smile. "We kept it around in case we'd need it later down the road.

"Though it probably could use a touch up in the future." She added, her face growing thoughtful briefly before she shrugged. "So, is your friend on the way?"

"She's very close." Mark replied. "I'll signal her and meet you inside."

"Will do." Sheila stated, "I'll get the stuff ready for you both in the meantime."

She turned to walk back to the cabin, soon passing behind the front door and allowing it to shut behind her.

Mark walked to the back seat of his car, opening the door. "Okay 'Shy, this is it."

The pegasus stuck her head out carefully from the quilt. "We're here?"

"Yeah, we are." He confirmed.

Fluttershy allowed herself to come completely out from the blanket, then carefully climbed out of the car. Taking in the sights around her, she expressed much the same conclusions Mark did: It was a quaint place, and wouldn't be out of the ordinary for a family. She certainly felt good about it, which helped Mark to feel the same.

With courage peaked in both of them, Mark and Fluttershy walked into the cabin.

The inside was very much similar in tone to the outside, as well as the brief look Mark had gotten into Sheila's office. There was the usual furniture around, as well as an open kitchen separated by a long counter that split the place mostly in half. The sound of distant rummaging caught their attention.

"Just one sec," Sheila called, "I just need to find one more thing. Make yourselves at home!"

Taking the invitation, Mark and Fluttershy both seated themselves on one of the couches, set across was a small coffee table and another smaller couch. Eventually, the rustling stopped, replaced with the sound of footsteps.

Sheila emerged from around the corner with a book in hand and a gentle smile on her face. The latter changed to an expression of surprise, though she tried to keep her cheery demeanor.

"So…you're her, then?" Sheila asked.

Fluttershy nodded. "The one you saw on camera? Yes."

Sheila seated herself on the couch, placing the book on the table. "I'm Sheila, though you might already know that."

"I'm Fluttershy." She greeted, trying to appear confident.

"Good to meet you Fluttershy." Sheila replied before turning her attention to Mark. "You're probably both wondering what I wanted to show you. Well, it's right there on the table."

She indicated the book, which Mark carefully took in his hands. Judging by the wear on the cover and pages, as well as the particular smell, he quickly deduced it was an older volume. What exactly it contained, however, was a complete mystery, as no label existed.

"A book?" Mark asked.

Sheila nodded. "A journal."

Turning the book on its side, Mark noticed a few colored tabs on the side.

"What you're looking for is under the red tab." Sheila instructed.

Mark glanced once more at their host before directing his attention back to the journal, and specifically the tabs. He gently opened the book to the page indicated by the red tab, and began reading aloud, Fluttershy reading at his side.

March 17, 1957

What a bizarre time to be alive! It seems such a scant time ago that we'd ended off the war, then only a few weeks ago that I caught wind of a large bomb testing project that apparently has gone on for over a year now, and suddenly we're expected to build entire shelters? What insanity is this?

Ah, but I've written of this before already, so why mention it now? Well, despite the many events we've seen over just the start of this decade, I've found something which so boggles the senses, that you may well think me insane for even daring to document it.

Nevertheless, I will tell the truth. Whether my posterity believes it or not, I testify with every fiber of my being that it is true.

While I was ensuring sufficient supplies were available in the bunker, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I initially thought it a rat, and so prepared my rifle. Upon uncovering the creature, I instead discovered it to be a small horse of the most unbelievable design. In contrast to our world's horses (for I now perceive that there must surely be other worlds), this one had a coat of bright green and a dark green mane. She was also the smallest horse I'd ever seen, and as if that wasn't enough, she talked!

She introduced herself as Melody Heartstrings, and asked me where she was. After telling her the name of my city, she replied that she had never heard of that place in "Equestria". With further discussion, I realized that she was farther from home than anyone I knew had ever been.

I've since given her food, drink, and a place to stay. As she rests, I can only imagine what more may be ahead. At the very least, I hope this dear Melody finds safety despite the many things happening in our world.

Mark glanced up from the book at Sheila, who was waiting patiently. "Now turn to the page marked by the blue tab."

Mark did so, revealing another entry in the saga.

December 19, 1957

Alone. All alone.

I had started today with breakfast for Melody. As we were finishing, I heard a sharp knock at my door. I was then greeted by two peculiar looking ponies of the adult variety, who swiftly informed me that Melody had been brought to my world by mistake, and she was to return immediately.

I was not shocked by their appearance, nor their request, but I was very surprised by the almost hostile approach they took. One of them, a unicorn, pointed her horn at me as a glow surrounded both it and myself. I found myself unable to move as the other pony sought out Melody. He found her, brought her back to the main room, then had his wife (or who I presume to be such) throw me against the floor.

There was a blinding light, then all were gone.

Now I sit alone in my bed, thinking over not only the last few hours, but also the last few months. Melody was such a bright little being, and she taught me so much about being a gentle and kind man. But now, I can't think what I'll do next.

Perhaps some rest will help me. Good night.

Mark and Fluttershy glanced at each other, then at Sheila. He wordlessly handed the book back over to her.

Sheila carefully set it to her side, her gaze remained on the bound record. "He was a very good man, and one that went on to live a good life."

She glanced at Mark once again. "He was shell shocked from his time in World War 2. Though he hadn't sustained any major injuries, what he saw out there made him a cold and paranoid man. That's why he valued Melody so much - that little soul taught him how to be a gentle and loving person again. She helped him find room in his guarded heart for others."

"What happened to him?" Mark asked.

"He went on to have a family and children" Sheila explained, "something he had sworn off of after his time in duty. Eventually, his children grew up, and had children, and their children had children…and that's where I came in."

Both Mark's and Fluttershy's eyes went wide.

Sheila quickly confirmed their suspicions. "That man was my great-grandfather."

Chapter 11

The silence in the room was nearly tangible. Both of the new occupants were still trying to wrap their minds around the new information given to them by their host.

It was Mark who finally broke the moment. "So then that coin you showed me from your office…"

Sheila nodded, "That was a gift from him. He gave it to me while on his deathbed, telling me where I could find it, and that I should keep it as a family heirloom."

Fluttershy took her turn to speak. "And you believed him? The whole story?"

Sheila's face grew troubled. "I didn't know what to make of it at the time. The coin was definitely something, but how would you feel if you heard a story of colorful pegasi and unicorns?"

Fluttershy's face showed the problem with that statement. "Okay, well you don't exist over here." Sheila explained, "You're supposed to be a myth."

Now Fluttershy seemed troubled. "I see." She whispered.

"So the rest of the journal doesn't say anything about how she got here?" Mark asked, "Or anything about portals between worlds once she returned home?"

Sheila shook her head. "I'm afraid not. The pages between those two entries were just about how happy he was with Melody. They're heartwarming stories, but I don't think it'll help you much."

Mark's face fell slightly. As interesting as it had been, their venture hadn't produced any new ideas for getting Fluttershy home safely.

"I also want to apologize if I sounded…confrontational at all during our first interaction." Sheila continued. "When I saw you out walking around the sign, I thought you might be tied to all this, but I wasn't sure. I figured I needed to be careful - spouting about a colorful horse to someone who hasn't seen it already would probably be a bad look for me. I realized partway through our conversation the error of my ways, but I hope you'll forgive me for my initial actions towards you."

Mark's eyes opened immediately upon remembering something.

"What about the footage of her?" Mark asked, "You said she was on camera."

"Oh, I deleted the footage off our records so others wouldn't see it." Sheila answered, "No, she's as safe as can be, at least as far as I can help it."

Both Make and Fluttershy breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, thank you for everything," Fluttershy began, "but I think we should head home. It's getting late."

"Before you go, could I bother the two of you for a favor?" Sheila gently asked.

Mark and Fluttershy shared a glance as Sheila stood up.

"Follow me, please." She added as she walked off around the corner.

Not knowing what else to do, the two followed suit, being led to a slightly messy room with countless paper sketches on the walls. At the far end of the room, there was a small assortment of paintings, each with a different natural subject - flowers of all kinds, a school of fish in a river, and flock of birds were only a few of the figures lovingly depicted on canvas.

"I'm a painter in my off-time, just trying to capture some of the natural beauty I work with every day." She explained, turning around to face Mark and Fluttershy.

"And I'll admit that with the opportunity of meeting you two, I did have an idea of potentially painting your friend there." She indicated Fluttershy, before seeming slightly shy herself. "If that's alright with her, of course. It'd only take a day or two to get the groundwork done, with you both coming by so I could get the look right."

Mark turned to Fluttershy. "It's totally up to you, Shy."

Fluttershy thought for a moment, glancing at the many pieces of art around her, before smiling and nodding. "I'd be honored."

Sheila smiled. "Thank you, Fluttershy. I promise I'll make it look good."

The three headed for the front door, with Sheila stopping inside to wave the two off as they headed for Mark's car. They both waved back before getting into the vehicle, which slowly pulled away and back onto the street. Within moments, Sheila was left alone with the serene sounds of nature to surround her.

She closed the front door and walked over to a large family photo. It had been taken only six years ago, and showed off her husband and children alongside the rest of her extended family. Her focus then drifted to one of the main reasons she kept the photo up: Her great-grandparents. She soberly remembered that both had passed only a year after the photo was taken…though they weren't the only ones.

Her gaze caught on her great-grandfather, who stood in the back with a content smile on his face.

"I'm sorry I ever doubted you." Sheila whispered.

The roads were quiet and dark, providing a perfect time for reflection for both occupants of the vehicle.

"So…" Mark began, "that was quite a day."

Fluttershy nodded, though the nighttime made it almost impossible to see it. "It was."

Silence resumed for a brief moment.

"Are you glad we went?" Fluttershy asked.

Mark thought for a moment. "I am. It was a definite risk, but it paid off. I'm still not sure how we're going to get you home, but knowing that another pony came long before you and made it back safely…it gives me hope that you will too."

If Fluttershy's smile at that moment could shine, it would've beaten out the noonday sun. "It does for me too."

Mark shook his head. "Seriously, that was a crazy story. I wish we'd had some photos of this Melody...Heartstrings."

He gasped at a sudden realization.

"Fluttershy, her name was Melody Heartstrings…do you think that Lyra…" he trailed off at the end.

"That…would explain some things." Fluttershy admitted.

The two were left pondering on the matter the rest of the way home.

Both Mark and Fluttershy finished off preparations for bed. Both were about to part for the night when Fluttershy poised a question.

"Mark, um…I just wanted to ask if it would be okay if I stayed in your room again tonight. You don't have to give up your bed this time, I can take the sleeping bag."

Mark smiled. "I'll take the bag Shy, and you can definitely sleep in here tonight."

The two gladly retired for the night afterward, now much at peace with a brighter future ahead. Both felt that eventually, all would be made well: Fluttershy would safely return home, and before that both she and Mark would enjoy a safe holiday.

Yet while this provided great comfort for Fluttershy, the same notion brought a tinge of sadness with it for Mark. He didn't know if he'd ever see her again. There was no telling whether Twilight, Celestia, or whoever came to retrieve Fluttershy would treat him with hostility, just as had happened in that journal.

He didn't even know if he'd get to say goodbye.

Mark tried to hold back any tears at the thought. What mattered was enjoying the time he did have, no matter how short it may be. The memories would last, and for the time being, that was enough.

With these final thoughts, Mark too closed his eyes and allowed sleep to overtake him.

Chapter 12

"Okay, so you hold down and press the button- no, like this, then you keep pressing the button- there you go, doing good, okay now release it when I say- okay, let me catch up to you."

After eating lunch, Mark had decided with the time they had before going to see Sheila that he would try playing some games from his world with Fluttershy. Looking through his library, the answer hit him at once and was obvious in hindsight: Sonic The Hedgehog 2.

After reassuring the pegasus that they were freeing trapped animals, Fluttershy became much more enthusiastic about playing the game. While he had relegated her to playing as Tails, she didn't mind taking the sidekick role.

She was also proving to be a surprisingly fast learner.

"Okay, so now we're about to face Dr. Robotnik. Now, you can't die, so go ahead and practice jumping on him."

"I can do that." Fluttershy confirmed with a determined tone.

This was the pattern for a few hours as the two beat their way through the game. With Mark at the head and Fluttery providing good support, the two eventually sat back as the credits rolled.

Mark breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, that was quite a game, huh?"

Fluttershy nodded with a smile. "That was very fun."

Mark checked his watch. "Well, we still have an hour until we need to head out. Anything you want to do before then?"

Fluttershy thought for a moment, then shook her head.

Mark took his turn to think. "I don't think I ever showed you much social media. Would you like to see how my kind connects?"

Fluttershy nodded before running to grab her clipboard and pencil. The next hour passed by quickly, with Mark showing pictures of friends and family on his Facebook, telling humorous stories throughout. The pegasus remarked that she was surprised simply at how many photos could be accessed without needing a wall to hang them on.

"Yeah, that's the digital world for you." Mark commented before checking his watch. "But for now, we should get back to the real world. Sheila will be expecting us."

He turned off the computer and TV and joined Fluttershy in walking to the garage.

The setting had become familiar now: Sun behind the mountains, outdoor lights turning on, and the sounds of nature surrounding the vehicle. Both Mark and Fluttershy knew the only step now was to wait for their new friend to join them.

As if on cue, Mark saw the preserve building's doors open. Sure enough, there was Sheila once again, locking up for the night.

She walked over to Mark's car, which was parked right next to hers, stopping by his driver seat window, which he was slowly lowering.

"You ready?" She asked.

"Absolutely." Mark replied with a smile.

With formalities out of the way, the two were shortly on their way out of the preserve parking lot and off to Sheila's house. The drive there was far less tense than the day prior, which allowed Mark to appreciate the sights surrounding them. There were large rocky hills that separated the roads from the preserve - not quite to the level of mountains, but still something worthwhile enough that plenty of people got out of their cars for climbing and taking pictures in the area. Off to the right was a running river separated by that familiar chain-link fence from yesterday.

Despite the beauty of the area, Mark noticed it was considerably less populated than usual. Presumably most preferred to stay indoors and enjoy the warmer temperatures, rather than risk falling through some deceptively solid-looking ice and snow.

He was just glad it meant less eyes on himself and Fluttershy.

With the trio eventually arriving at Sheila's house, Mark quickly moved to the backseat doors to let the pegasus out. Leaping out, Fluttershy took the opportunity to stretch before walking beside Mark into the cabin.

The setting once again felt different than the previous day - much more cozy now that the air of mystery and fear had dissipated. Sheila was in the kitchen preparing a pitcher of water, which she soon brought over into the main room. Placing it upon the coffee table, she took a seat at the couch across from Mark and Fluttershy.

"I'm so glad you could make it again." Sheila began with a smile.

"Glad we could make it, too." Mark replied, glancing briefly at Fluttershy. He returned his attention to Sheila, "How did work go today?"

Her smile faded slightly at the question. "It went pretty well. Can't complain too much, what with the new hires we got; they're plenty hard workers, so that doesn't worry me." She paused, her smile falling further. "I am worried because of the disappearing animals, though."

Both Mark's and Fluttershy's attention was caught immediately. "Disappearing animals?" Mark asked.

Sheila nodded. "At first we thought it was a glitch, our computer not reading the tags we place on the animals. Then we figured it was just some animals escaping, but we couldn't find any signs of that either."

Her expression darkened even more. "That left only one answer: Poachers."

Mark and Fluttershy shared a glance at this last word. From that very moment, both knew the other was thinking the exact same thing.

"We dealt with them, too." Mark commented.

Sheila was shocked. "You did? When was this?"

"A couple of days ago." Mark explained, "They actually tried to kidnap Fluttershy for that exact reason. I managed to save her before they could get away."

Sheila's shock softened into a proud smile. "Well that was a very brave thing you did, young man. That pony owes a lot to you."

Mark tried to hide his blush, especially from his friend sitting beside him. "I was just doing what anyone else would do in that situation."

Sheila shook her head. "Not just anyone would risk their life to save an innocent. I say that deserves to be commended."

"I'd honestly rather not think about it." Mark countered, "It was downright terrifying, and if I think about it for too long, I'll start overthinking things, and that's a path I don't want to go down."

"Very well." Sheila replied before turning to Fluttershy. "Well, would you like to start on that painting process?"

Fluttershy smiled and gave a faint nod. "Sounds perfect."

With that, the trio walked back to the art studio.

"You're doing great," Sheila encouraged, "just keep still for another minute. I'll just sketch a bit more on the face, and…perfect!"

The two had been in the studio for what felt like several hours (though looking at his watch, Mark confirmed it had only been two), with Sheila behind a large white canvas with a black graphite pen. She had been providing instruction to Fluttershy throughout the process, with the pegasus simply doing her best to hold still. Finally, the outline of the piece was done and the mare could rest.

"Alright, that covers the outline." Sheila announced. "I'd still like it if you came by tomorrow to make sure I mix the paints just right. I want to get that bright coat and mane color you have there, Fluttershy."

"I think we can do that." Mark replied, a smile on his face as he glanced at Fluttershy, who shared the expression.

"Well on that note, how about we-" Sheila was cut off by the sound of a door closing. "Honey, is that you?"

"Sure is!" A male voice sounded from the living room.

Sheila's face brightened significantly. "That's my husband." She explained before she was quickly hit with a realization, "You two wait in here, I'll talk to him first then introduce you to him. Sound good?"

"That'll work." Mark replied with a nod.

Sheila smiled again as she left the room. Fluttershy and Mark could only glance around the room and at each other as the spouses engaged in typical saccharine chat.

Finally, Sheila called out, "Okay, come on in you two!"

Taking the cue, the human and pegasus departed the studio and walked to the living room.

The look Sheila's husband gave was that of surprise, to say the least. It was an expected response, though his face clearly ran through several thoughts at once, none of them decipherable to the duo.

An awkward silence filled the air.

"Mister Stanford, then?" Mark asked.

This seemed to get the gears turning. "Yes," the man replied, "and you must be Mark?"

Mark nodded, then indicated the pegasus standing beside him. "This is obviously Fluttershy."

Mr. Stanford's eyes caught on the pegasus, his face once again giving a window into a series of thoughts known only to him. He recovered this time, allowing a more cheerful disposition to take its place.

"Good to meet you both." He finally stated.

The cheerful expression seemed to dim slightly afterwards, but only for a moment. Mark wondered if he was the only one who noticed.

"Well, we were just about to head out." Mark continued. "It's getting pretty late."

"Right." Mr. Stanford replied. "Well, drive safe out there."

"We will." Mark said with a smile before he and Fluttershy departed for his car.

Sheila and her husband stood in the doorway, both waving as the car left their driveway.

She turned to her husband, both of their smiles fading slightly. She summarized perfectly what both were thinking: "We have some things to talk about."

Street lamps overhead provided a pattern of lights as Mark drove underneath them on the freeway leading home. His mind was preoccupied with this new figure the two of them had met. While Sheila had seemed genuinely friendly, Mark didn't get the same feeling from her husband.

He didn't know how, but he knew that something was off.

"What did you think of him?" Came a whisper of a voice from the back seat.

Mark glanced back at Fluttershy. "Her husband? He definitely gives me some strange vibes. I don't think he was entirely glad to see us."

Fluttershy sighed. "Why would that be? Did we do something wrong?"

Mark shook his head. "You didn't do anything wrong, 'Shy - neither of us did. It just felt like he was hiding something, like he was putting up a facade."

"Maybe we shouldn't go back tomorrow." Fluttershy suggested.

Mark thought briefly. "Maybe not. Let's decide on that tomorrow."

He concluded the statement as they pulled into the garage. After getting both himself and his passenger out of the vehicle, both headed inside while his thoughts moved elsewhere.

Christmas wasn't too far off in the future - should he get something for Fluttershy? If so, what? Would she even be around to celebrate?

The thought continued to bother him as the two prepared for bed. Once again, the two had decided to host an impromptu "sleepover" (though at this point, Mark questioned whether it counted as a sleepover if it was a nightly occurrence). Fluttershy had long since fallen asleep, leaving Mark with his thoughts in the darkness.

Finally, he came up with an idea. Opening the Amazon app, he began scrolling for his gift of choice. It wasn't too hard to find exactly what he wanted, and there was even overnight delivery. After hitting purchase, he turned off his phone and settled in for bed.

Mark was determined to make this Christmas one Fluttershy would never forget.

"...and she's just trying to find her way home." Sheila concluded.

Her husband sat across from her in shock. While he had no choice but to believe her after what she'd shown and told him, it was still a tale unlike any other.

"So your great-grandfather…he met one of them decades ago?" He asked, continuing when his wife nodded. "And that pony right there, you think she's related to it?"

"I don't know for certain," Sheila admitted, "all I know is what she told me. The rest is me guessing from that journal."

Her husband sat back once more, trying to process the new information.

"I'm sorry for not telling you about the journal entry earlier." Sheila added, "I wasn't entirely sure I believed it until I saw that pegasus with my own eyes."

"It's fine," He replied, "sometimes that's how it is - others won't understand our intentions, so we have to keep quiet."

"I suppose." Sheila admitted uneasily. "Are you okay, honey? I saw how you reacted to the two of them. You looked like you saw a ghost."

Her husband shook his head. "No, I'm okay. Just…" He trailed off.

"Just what?" Sheila asked.

His eyes remained shut tight. "Just…that boy, he reminds me of…her."

Sheila winced slightly. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," He stated once more, "eventually I was bound to see someone who reminded me of her. It was just a shock to the system is all."

Sheila crossed to the opposite couch where her husband sat and put an arm around him. "I know it's tough, especially after how you took it, but maybe he can help you heal. Talk to him, meet him, he's a good person."

Her husband raised his eyes to meet hers. The two shared a faint smile before embracing.

"Maybe, turtledove. Maybe." He whispered.

Sheila yawned. "Well, I'm going to bed. Don't stay up too late, honey."

"I won't." He confirmed, smiling as his wife left the room.

He sat back down on the couch, processing his thoughts. In truth, he had seen a ghost from his past, though it wasn't her. It began an internal turmoil with the additional knowledge he'd been cursed with.

It was so easy earlier, before he had all this new information…

Knowing that a decision had to be made, he walked over to the multi-generational family photo hanging on the wall. His eyes were drawn to a certain figure: One of his daughters.

A tear rolled down his cheek as repressed memories began to flow through his mind unrestricted.

He shook his head of these feelings and pulled out his cell phone. Selecting a familiar number from his contact list, a ringing tone soon sounded in his ear.

Finally, a voice sounded on the other end: "Hello?"

He wasted no time in replying. "Jack, I found her."

Chapter 13

The sun was once more setting over the horizon, with Mark and Fluttershy on their way to the preserve. They had agreed to do one last trip for the painting, but not to stick around afterwards. They'd decide later on whether to come back again.

As Mark pulled into the familiar parking lot of the preserve, a knot was forming in his stomach. Even though both he and Fluttershy had discussed the matter earlier and agreed to do this last visit, something felt off…and both knew exactly with whom their suspicions resided.

He parked his car, trying to process everything. It was to no avail. He considered discussing this further with Fluttershy, but feared he may cause her to become overly anxious. She was Fluttershy, after all.

Surely things would be fine. He reassured himself of this for the umpteenth time, hoping it would eventually stick.

His thoughts were broken by a sound in the car accompanying a light turning on. Checking the indicators, he saw the "Check Tire" warning appear. Cycling through the options added fuel to his growing fear: The front left tire was in single digits, far below what the other three were at.

"Stay here, 'Shy." He announced to the pegasus, "I'm going to check something."

Leaving the front seat, he got out to inspect the tire. The rim was nearly to the ground, and with a look around the tire, Mark confirmed his suspicions: A large, rusty nail was embedded in the rubber. He pulled it out, though it did very little to help the current situation.

So preoccupied was Mark that he didn't notice Sheila walking up to him.

"You hit a flat?" She inquired.

Mark sighed, turning around to face her. "Yep, afraid I did."

Sheila smiled. "Well I've got some stuff back at my place that should fix your tire up, at least temporarily. What do you say we come back to this after I finish that painting? You can ride in my car for the time being."

"Yeah, that'll work." Mark replied with a smile.

Opening the back door to let Fluttershy out, the two climbed into Sheila's car, the engine roaring to life as she pulled out of the parking lot. Mark felt concerned at leaving his car behind, but realized they didn't have many other options at this point. It would only be a short trip, anyway.

Arriving at her house, Sheila joined Mark and Fluttershy in the familiar setting of the art studio. Sheila quickly resumed her work, mixing together paint until she had just the color she wanted, then began applying gentle strokes to the canvas.

Mark, for his part, remained silent, hoping not to disturb the artist at work. He noticed her husband was once more conspicuously absent for the time, realizing he didn't even know what the man did for a living. He decided to hold these questions until after their art session.

Fortunately for him, this concluded much sooner than yesterday.

"I think that'll do it for now." Sheila announced, the two walking back to the main living room. "I want to leave the final product as a bit of a surprise for both of you, so I'll finish the rest up later. For now, can I get you both anything?"

Fluttershy beat Mark to the punch. "I think we should be okay, but thank yo-"

The front door swung open as her husband walked in. He regarded the two with another strange look, which softened somewhat when he noticed his wife.

"Honey, you're home early!" She exclaimed, running over to hug him.

"Yeah, well that's Friday for you." He responded with a chuckle, "The boss wanted me to come home and try to take it easy."

Sheila's face soured slightly. "Well, I actually need your help with something." She indicated Mark and Fluttershy, "Those two got a flat tire and won't be going home without some help. Do you know where the goo is?"

Her husband thought for a moment. "I don't think so."

"You were the one who used it last." She teased, "Could you please look for it?"

He sighed. "Yeah, I can do that."

The man walked down a hallway leading to a room Mark hadn't seen before, then closed the door behind him.

"Garage?" Mark asked.

"Garage." Sheila confirmed.

The three sat quietly on the couches while the sounds of clanging metal in the garage rang out, no doubt the product of vigorous searching.

"Sheila?" Mark began, "What does your husband do?"

She smiled. "He works out at the bar keeping people safe. He's not a guard, but he definitely has done a lot to protect people. Just last week, he was in quite a scuffle - came back with some nasty bruises!" She chuckled lightly before letting out a sigh, "He's doing fine now, though. He recovered nicely."

Her expression shifted as she thought on something, though Mark wasn't sure what.

Yet, he could see sadness in her eyes.

"I need to apologize for how my husband has been acting." She began, "He's normally very sociable, but with everything that's happened recently…"

She trailed off, her gaze distantly focused on the coffee table.

"You know, we had a daughter a few years ago." She continued, looking back up at Mark and Fluttershy, "Her name was Makenzie, she was a wonderful girl. A very spunky girl, always going out and hiking in the woods. She was planning to become an environmentalist one day, see if she could help save endangered species."

Sheila frowned. "That was her plan, at least."

Mark leaned forward. "What happened?"

"A cancerous tumor grew in her skull." She explained, "Makenzie went in for a chemotherapy consultation, and she was optimistic, even with the low survival rate, but…"

Sheila shook her head.

"We couldn't afford the treatment."

Mark and Fluttershy sat back in shock at the story.

"She didn't even make it to her 18th birthday." Sheila whispered.

Unsure what else he could say, Mark replied, "I'm sorry."

Sheila dried a tear that had formed in her eye. "It's okay. It was a few years ago, and we'd both moved on…at least, I thought we had." She glanced once more at Mark. "She was a bit like you, actually."

Mark shared a glance with Fluttershy, returning his gaze to Sheila. "Like me?"

Sheila nodded. "You have a good heart, Mark. I think you two would've been good friends." Upon hearing a particularly loud sound, she briefly glanced back at the hallway leading to the garage. She afterward returned her attention to her two guests. "I think that's why my husband is having such a hard time."

"Because I remind him of her?" Mark asked.

Sheila nodded. "Parents shouldn't have favorite children, but she was definitely the one closest to him. He'd even bought a canoe for the two of them to go down the river on a weekend trip. Only a few days later, she was diagnosed."

She sighed. "I really must apologize. He's a wonderful man, he's just-"

A loud roar sounded from outside.

The three shared panicked glances. Each had the same thought on their mind, and each silently hoped they were wrong. When a new roar broke the silence, the three quickly rushed to the hallway leading to the garage.

The door was open, combining what little light remained outside with the fluorescent bulbs overhead. It perfectly illuminated the scene before them.

Taken back in horror at the scene before her, Sheila instinctively screamed in fear for her husband:

"Carter!"

Chapter 14

Sheila's husband stood at the mouth of the garage, his stance clearly seeking to placate the beast before him. If the sounds from earlier weren't clear enough, what Mark, Fluttershy, and Sheila saw confirmed any suspicions: It was a bear, and it didn't seem happy.

Carter was caught off-guard by his wife's scream, turning his head long enough to see the three. "Sheila, get inside!"

His poor wife could do little as she stared the beast down. In the decision between fight, flight, and freeze, her body had chosen poorly.

Mark glanced in horror at the thousand mile stare on the woman's face. He wasn't sure what to do at that moment - grab her and Fluttershy and take them both in? Use the mace he had to try to ward the bear off? What if it only made the animal angrier?

His glance then rested on Fluttershy, who to his surprise looked the calmest of the four. His shock turned to horror as the pegasus gently walked towards the towering creature.

"Fluttershy!" He screamed.

"Now, now," She gently spoke, "I know you're scared right now, but I need you to calm down."

Fluttershy quickly moved between Carter and the bear. "You're lost from home, aren't you?" She asked.

The bear stopped approaching the group and seemed to focus on the mare before him. To everyone's surprise, Mark included, the bear seemed to nod.

"I know what it's like being far from home." Fluttershy continued, "It's dark out, you don't know where you are, there's beings all around you that you've never seen before - is that how you're feeling?"

Again, the bear nodded.

"I'm sure we can find where you walked off-course," Fluttershy continued once more with a comforting smile, "just come with me and I'll help you get home."

The bear glanced around the garage, seemingly considering the offer. It eventually groaned in displeasure.

"We'll find some food for you, too." Fluttershy confirmed.

The bear seemed to smile (as much as that was possible), and proceeded to follow Fluttershy away from the garage and into the nearby woods. Moments passed for the remaining three, with the silence proving they were finally safe. Upon realizing this, Carter turned around, pointing a finger at the direction the two had gone, and voiced his feelings at the recently dropped bombshell:

"What just happened?"

Mark spent the next few minutes explaining to Carter about the pegasus and her abilities with animals. He was expressing his own surprise at the fact these abilities worked in this world when the pegasus of the hour returned, clearly very tired.

"Okay," she stated, "Mr. Bear is taken care of."

"Mister?" Carter asked incredulously.

She nodded. "He's actually quite friendly when you get to know him. He was just scared from being somewhere so foreign to him at such a late time. Poor dear."

Carter shook his head, clearly unable to process everything she had just said.

"Honey," Sheila began, her shock wearing off, "she just saved your life."

Her tone showed that she scarcely believed what had just occurred. Nevertheless, her words had the intended effect, as the husband glanced over at Fluttershy.

Seeking for the right words, he finally gave a simple "Thank you."

Fluttershy nodded, a smile gracing her face.

The four proceeded back into the main room of the cabin, with Carter walking towards the nearby stairway.

"I'm going to…go shower." He stated almost trance-like before climbing the steps.

The remaining three took their familiar positions at the respective couches.

Sheila glanced at the pegasus across from her. "I want to thank you for what you just did, Fluttershy. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't been there."

Fluttershy blushed. "I was just doing what came naturally to me." She explained.

Sheila then glanced at Mark, before her face grew concerned. "Are you okay?"

He was sitting back, a subtle sense of fear dotting each of his features. Something Sheila had said was bothering him deeply…and it all had to do with her husband.

"What did you say your husband's name was, again?" He asked.

"Carter," She replied, "why do you ask?"

Mark's mind began pulling together every little thing he knew about the last few days. The name Carter, his job at the bar, the injuries he sustained…

Mark's eyes shot open wide.

He quickly turned to Fluttershy before abruptly standing up. "We need to leave - now."

Sheila was taken aback at her guest's sudden actions. "Is everything okay?" She asked in concern.

Mark shook his head. "Sheila, listen. I think-"

He was cut off by the sounds of footsteps coming down the nearby stairway. The culprit turned out to be none other than Carter.

"Is everything alright down here?" He asked.

The other three glanced at each other, seemingly waiting on the other to speak. It was Mark who took the initiative.

"We were just leaving." He explained, trying to hide the fear in his voice.

Now Carter was the one looking fearful. "Why don't you stay for dinner?" He quickly asked.

"We really need to leave." Mark replied, slightly frustrated.

"I didn't find the stuff for your tire yet." Carter shot back.

Finally, Mark had had enough. His brows lowered into a glare. "What did you do?" He growled.

"What do you mean?" Carter asked, now himself trying to hide both fear and a sense of anger.

"You're trying to keep us here for a reason. Did you call your friends over?" Mark continued, his voice raising, "You decide you can get a nice price for my friend over here? Decide to sell us out?"

"Honey, what's he talking about?" Sheila asked.

The tension in the room had reached a boiling point. Fluttershy was cowering on the couch as Mark stood at her guard. Carter's stare with Mark remained unbroken for several seconds before taking a deep sigh.

Carter focused his attention briefly on his wife. "Remember Makenzie?" He paused to let his wife nod, then continued, "I didn't want to ever have one of our children die because of a situation like that again. So yes, I took on a side-gig to help make a safety fund."

"One for selling off exotic animals." Mark interjected.

"Honey…" Sheila trailed off.

The sound of a car rolling into the outside driveway seemed to spur Carter into action.

"Get upstairs now. I'll talk to them." He quickly stated.

Mark glanced back at Fluttershy, not sure what to make of the situation. The two were frozen in the decision of what to do.

"Go!" Carter yelled.

With the extra push, Mark and Fluttershy both began walking up the stairs, with Sheila joining close behind.

The upstairs was a large room with multiple twin beds and a larger queen size bed set against the walls. At the front of the room was a large glass window looking out over the driveway of the house. The three cautiously walked over, with Mark and Sheila being the only ones brave enough to look outside.

As if to settle what little doubt may have remained, Mark saw the all-too-familiar white truck parked just outside the house. Two men got out, one from each of the driver's and passenger's sides, being greeted by Carter.

An unheard discussion proceeded, with the only thing clear becoming the expressions of the two men. They seemingly became enraged with Carter, one moving forward to grab him by the head and bring him close. The conversation continued for a few moments before the two men nodded, and turned to return to their vehicle.

Mark and Sheila both ducked away, as one had begun looking up near their hiding place. The two sat with their backs pressed against the wall, neither daring to move until they heard the sound of the car pulling away. Soon, there was silence once more, broken by the front door opening.

"They're gone, Sheila. You can all come down now." Carter called.

The three reluctantly walked back downstairs. Carter looked shell shocked from the encounter, in his eyes was a wide stare that only faintly seemed to recognize his wife.

Said wife, on the other hand, seemed unable to decide on being hurt or angry. Her voice sounded with a mixture of both: "Get the stuff for the flat tire. We'll talk when I come back."

Carter nodded, quickly retrieving the substance for punctured tires alongside an automatic air pump and putting them in the back of Sheila's car. He returned and explained the same to her, to which she looked at Mark and Fluttershy, nodded, then began walking outside with the two in tow.

The car soon pulled out of the driveway, leaving Carter alone. He sat down at one of the couches, his head in his hands. He pondered over what he had gotten himself into over the last few years - and more importantly, if there was a way out.

For the first, but certainly not last time that night, tears flowed freely from his eyes.

There was silence as the pump finished filling the tire with air. They had only just put in the tire filler, which would supposedly work for a few days or so many dozen miles, at which point the tire would need to be replaced.

Mark didn't care. At that point, he only wanted to get back home and far away from the events of that evening.

The pump abruptly stopped, signaling that the specified air amount had been reached. Sheila placed it back in her car, turning to Mark, remorse in her eyes.

"I'm sorry for everything that happened, Mark." She whispered, her voice wavering. "I had no idea about…all of that." She cleared her eyes with a hand, "I never meant to cause you any harm."

Mark sighed, shaking his head. "Have a good night, Sheila." He replied weakly before turning back to his car.

After ensuring Fluttershy was safely in the back and covered with the blanket, Mark took his place in the driver's side and pulled away from the preserve parking lot.

Perhaps for the last time, he glanced back at the wooden sign. It had been the entry point for Fluttershy to this world, as well as the entry point to the situation they'd just escaped. That sign had caused so much trouble, Mark never wanted to see it again.

His gaze focused on the road ahead. Barely keeping himself together, he began the drive back home.

Chapter 15

The silence of the home offered little reprieve for Fluttershy. She glanced at Mark, who lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. He hadn't spoken a single word since they got home.

The pegasus mare wasn't faring much better. The realization that she'd been that close to becoming a prisoner again left her unable to think of much else. This had also been their only lead to finding her friends, and now…it was all gone.

She desperately wished she could curl into a ball and cry.

The sound of sobbing to her side reminded her that she wasn't the only one suffering at that moment.

She knew that even if she were capable of curling into a ball and crying, she couldn't choose that. Right now, her friend who'd sacrificed so much needed her. He needed the best she could do - it was time for her to be strong.

Mark's mind was a mess of thoughts.

The events of the day had shaken his faith in those around him. He'd realized that he couldn't trust anyone completely, for what would they have to hide, even unknowingly? Who else was involved in this? Were they watching right now?

This thought sent his vision to the blinds of his room. They were closed, but the smallest amount of the outside world peeked through the cracks. If someone were dedicated enough, could they see through?

His heart rate began to increase. His breathing staggered. His eyes began to water.

Was anywhere truly safe? Was anyone safe? Was his horrible nightmare from only a few nights prior going to come true? Was his life in danger? Was Fluttershy's?

The final thought directed his attention to the pegasus. She sat with her head down, likely trying to process for herself everything that was going on. Mark could only imagine what was running through her head.

What did she think of him now? Did she still trust him? Was he worthy of her trust? Would she decide that he wasn't safe to be around and leave?

Mark's breath caught in his lungs. Tears began to form. The sobbing started.

Alone. Completely alone and comfortless. That would be his fate. If he were unlucky enough, perhaps those men would find him and capture him, trying to use him as ransom to get to their prized prey…not that she would be around to help.

His mind began to shut down, accepting that there really was no hope after all. A wave of darkness enveloped his thoughts, creating a final resting place for what little fight he had left in him.

It was over.

He felt an embrace.

It was firm enough to be noticeable, but not so much as to prove uncomfortable. It was an embrace born of compassion and concern, laced with the bond that could only come from a true friend. The tears he felt fall on his shirt proved that he was not the only one moved to emotion.

Mark opened his eyes, revealing a large pink mane. Protruding from beneath it was the muzzle of a pony holding him tightly. Glancing around her mane, he could see her eyes shut tightly, and her normally soft smile broken into a look of pain. Her front hooves were wrapped around him, her head resting on his chest, her breathing slow and methodical.

He could faintly make out a whisper escaping her lips.

"It'll be okay, Mark. I'm still here, and I'm not leaving."

Acting purely on instinct, he placed a hand against her back and gently pet her. The action put him at ease as well, at least for the moment. It may have been a temporary solace, but it was one he desperately needed.

"What are we going to do, 'Shy?" He whispered in return, his voice breaking anew.

Her eyes opened and she glanced up at him.

"I don't know." She replied, "I really don't know, but we're going to make it through this. My friends and I have always found ways out of trouble, and that's what we're going to do here."

She paused for a moment, then quietly added, "Just like what you did for me."

Mark sighed, hugging the pony tightly. "I hope your friends find you soon, 'Shy. You don't deserve to be in danger like this constantly."

Fluttershy tightened the embrace. "I hope so too."

After a few moments, Fluttershy released him, landing her front hooves back on the carpet. "Come on, let's both get ready to sleep."

After both brushed their teeth and Mark had dressed in pajamas, the two returned to his room.

"I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep tonight, 'Shy." He warned, sitting next to her on the carpet.

"You don't need to." She advised, "I'll stay up with you until you feel tired."

"All night if you need to?" He asked.

She nodded with her usual faint smile. "All night."

A ghost of a smile crept across Mark's face for the first time since they'd arrived home.

"Well, I guess we could watch a movie or something," he suggested, "try to take our minds off…everything."

His eyes grew wider as his thoughts returned to what had happened only an hour ago. He began to feel the familiar fear creeping up on him, his body beginning to shake as the possibility of danger became all the more real.

Said fear was silenced when he felt a wing gently curl around him. Glancing over, he saw his dear friend once again providing much needed comfort, her smile and eyes sharing one simple message: "It will be alright."

Mark smiled. She was right, things would be alright…somehow.

"Well, I guess a comedy is in order." He stated as he pulled up Netflix.

As he'd expected, much of the humor went over Fluttershy's head, but she'd been a good sport and chuckled along, even when it was clear she didn't understand the joke. Meanwhile, while he wasn't feeling completely better by the end of it, it had at least helped a little.

Mark let out a loud yawn as the credits rolled.

"Feeling tired?" Fluttershy asked.

Mark nodded. "Definitely. I think I'll be able to sleep okay."

Just then, his thought process was caught on an unsettling matter: Had he locked the door to the garage? He didn't want anyone sneaking in and potentially putting himself and Fluttershy in harm's way. It was best to go and check.

"One sec," He quickly added, "I need to check something."

He stood up and walked the short distance to the door that opened into the garage. Turning on a light, he satisfied himself that both the deadbolt and knob were securely locked.

Though his mind had other plans.

Checking over this seemingly small fact, Mark could feel his brain once more begin to race with thoughts of what could happen. He imagined those two men, aided by their reluctant but compliant cohort, seeking out the home where their prize lay. He saw them looking in through his window, gleefully watching him writhe in anxiety-driven misery. He saw them waiting outside the house, perhaps even outside the door, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

He could see the tools they had ready, and that they were about to burst through the door any second now.

"Mark!"

He spun around in a flurry, his breath short and his brow wet with cold sweat. His vision fixated on Fluttershy, her look one of deep concern.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

Mark tried his best to calm down for her sake, but found it nearly impossible. Moreover, if they were in danger, shouldn't she know? This was anything but a time to be calm!

"Mark, you've been gone for 10 minutes." Fluttershy continued, "When I found you, you were staring at that door. I tried calling out to you, but you wouldn't respond. What's going on?"

Mark found his jumbled brain forbidding the formation of logical sentences.

"'Shy," he whispered, "what if they're right outside?"

Fluttershy's eyes went wide. "Are they?"

Mark shook his head. "I don't know, but I can't shake the feeling they are."

The pegasus's eyes grew less worried. "Mark, is there anything that happened that would lead you to believe they know where we are?"

Mark was unable to think properly. "I don't know." He finally replied.

Fluttershy gently wrapped a wing around his arm. "It took us a long time to get back here. Do you think they followed us?"

Mark found himself able to at least answer this question: "No."

Fluttershy weakly smiled. "Then they probably didn't. Come on, let's get some sleep. We've both had a long day."

Mark nodded before being led back to his room by his friend. Though he'd logically stated things were likely fine, he still was unable to fully believe it. This feeling persisted as he crawled into the familiar sleeping bag.

"I'm just so scared, Fluttershy." He confessed, his voice breaking, "I don't know what to do anymore."

Fluttershy lay quietly by his side with her legs tucked underneath her. "I don't know either, Mark, but I do know we're going to be okay tonight. Try to breathe slowly, okay?"

He took her advice and slowed his breathing. It didn't solve everything, but his heart rate did lower, and the knot his brain was tied in began to unwind.

"You really think so?" He asked.

Fluttershy smiled. "I do."

Mark gave a weak smile in return. If she was sure, then he could at least trust her word. After the events of that day, he needed to trust someone - or perhaps somepony.

His eyes began to grow weary, slowly drooping until his body took care of the rest. He felt sleep begin to claim him, his consciousness fading with each passing moment.

As he slowly began to sleep, Fluttershy allowed herself to ponder on Mark's condition. She quickly recognized the anxious fear he was feeling, as she too had experienced those feelings before, though perhaps not in this same way. Here was someone so afraid, he didn't even feel safe in his own home.

Perhaps more than any pony or creature she'd met before, he needed a friend. More than that, he needed someone who cared enough to ensure his safety both physically and mentally. He needed someone to listen and empathize with him.

He needed her.

Settling her mind on the matter, she decided to do what she could the next day to ease his concerns. Fluttershy's eyes then began to fall heavy, to which she allowed sleep to overcome her.

Her final thought was the determination that she would not leave his side that night.

Chapter 16

There was a distant sound Mark couldn't quite make out. It was loud, urgent, and most of all…annoying?

Mark's eyes shot open. His dreamless slumber has been disrupted by what he could now identify as a fire alarm. This realization spurred him into action as he leapt from the sleeping bag onto his feet, then rushed to the kitchen.

He could already smell something burning, raising his fears. Trying to round the bend quickly proved a mistake as his speed caught up with him, causing his feet to slip out from under him, and his shoulder to make an acquaintance with the hard tile floor.

"Gah!" He yelled in pain.

"Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness." Sounded a voice to his right, "Mark, are you okay?"

Sitting back up after his impromptu skating accident, Mark confirmed the voice belonged to Fluttershy. With his mind still waking up and the sound of the alarm blaring, the thought of her having seen his display was the least of his worries.

"'Shy, what are you doing?" He asked, trying to orient himself.

"I just wanted to make breakfast," She explained, "but I think I turned the stove on the wrong way, and now there's that loud sound going off."

Mark got to his feet, found the nearby box powering the alarm, and turned it off.

He shook his head. "Okay, now that that's over…good morning, I guess." He gave a weak chuckle.

Fluttershy's head was turned to the ground. "I'm so sorry, I thought maybe if I made breakfast it would help to cheer you up a bit."

Mark smiled, his heart warmed by this gesture. After turning the stove off, he got on a knee so he was eye level with the pegasus.

"I appreciate that a lot, 'Shy." He said calmly, "Yesterday was definitely a blur, but I know I wasn't doing okay."

Fluttershy's eyes moved from the floor to his face.

"You were there when I needed a friend most." He continued, "For that, I have to thank you."

She smiled in return. It was good to see her happy again.

Mark surveyed the kitchen, noting what seemed to be a burnt pancake - clearly the offender of the morning.

"Well, shall we do a take two on breakfast?" He asked.

The two had settled on eggs and toast for breakfast. The process of making them had thankfully been without further burning incidents, allowing the two to savor the calm morning. Midway through the meal, and after general discussion was had, Fluttershy decided to discuss the issue at hand.

"Mark, how are you feeling?" She asked.

He swallowed a bite of toast. "What do you mean?"

"I mean since last night." She continued, "You were scared to the point you could barely do anything. I stayed by you through the night just in case."

Mark averted his eyes, his smile disappearing.

"I didn't mind," Fluttershy explained, "and I'd do it again if you needed me to. I just want to make sure you're okay."

He glanced up at her glumly. This topic was bound to come up eventually, though he wasn't looking forward to discussing it. Still, after everything the two had been through, and especially with what she'd done for him, an explanation was warranted.

"I have anxiety, 'Shy." Mark began, "I've been working with it for a while now, and I've got a pretty good handle on it. Times like yesterday though, those are really rough on me." His face fell again. "I thought I was beyond that."

Fluttershy knit her eyebrows. "It's not your fault you're scared, Mark."

Mark shook his head. "I just want to be able to be strong for those around me. You're far away from home without any way to contact your friends. Meanwhile, I'm over here safe and comfortable in my own home. I'm being selfish by forcing you to help me."

Fluttershy's eyebrows lowered. "You're not forcing me to do anything, Mark."

He looked up, surprised at both the look on her face as well as her tone.

"I chose to stay here." She continued, "I chose to trust you. I chose to befriend you. I chose to help you."

Mark sat unable to respond, the silence only broken after Fluttershy took on a softer look.

"You're not forcing me to help you anymore than I forced you to help me that night. We help each other because that's what friends do, and you're certainly one of mine."

Fluttershy's eyes began to water.

"I just want you to be okay, Mark." She concluded.

Mark sighed, closing his eyes as he thought over the mare's words.

He chose his words carefully: "I don't know if I will be, at least for a while."

Fluttershy got down from her chair and walked up to Mark, pulling him into an embrace. "Then I'll be here until you are." She promised.

Tears finally fell from his eyes, providing an emotional outlet he desperately needed.

Mark and Fluttershy sat in his room watching the news. The former was hardly paying attention, but the reporters at least served the purpose of providing something to fill the silence. With all that had happened, silence was Mark's worst fear.

He recalled times before he was medicated, that silence was his mind's worst nightmare. It provided vagueness and instability - two ingredients that would spur his mind to frantically wonder about the world around him. He'd learned to value silence after the medications began to take effect, and even found contentment in the peaceful nothingness.

At least, until now.

A commercial break came on, featuring advertisements for various stores around the area. Each were offering up reminders of deals in time for the holidays, with the usual upbeat Christmas music playing in the background. Appropriate, considering Christmas was only two days away.

A sudden realization had Mark's eyes shoot open.

"I'll be right back." He said quickly, leaving before his pegasus friend could protest.

His mind began to stir as he approached the front door. With everything that had gone on, he still was mentally kicking himself for not remembering this. He could only hope the worst hadn't happened…

Opening the door, he breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing a white and blue box with the Amazon logo featuring prominently in several places. He quickly grabbed the package and returned inside, locking the door behind him.

"What's that?" Fluttershy asked, tilting her head slightly.

"Just a little something." Mark stated.

Fluttershy raised an eyebrow at the vagueness, but decided it best not to press the matter. He briefly disappeared upstairs, and when he returned, the package was no longer in his arms. This raised additional suspicion in the mare, which she set aside for later discussion.

The two returned to his room, letting the familiar sounds of the newscasters regain their collective attention. They were talking about local Christmas activities going on, many of which sounded fun, though Mark didn't want to leave Fluttershy alone while he went to experience them.

He then remembered that he would still need to replace the flat tire on his car. With the substance inside only working for a few days, sooner was better.

"Looks like I'll have to leave you alone for a bit after all." He internally lamented.

"Hey 'Shy, I just remembered that I need to replace that tire on my car." He explained, gaining Fluttershy's attention. "I need to go now. Can you manage being here for a bit?"

The pegasus nodded. "I'll be okay."

Mark nodded in return, then stood up and began walking to the garage. "I'll be back as soon as I can." He promised.

"Stay safe!" Fluttershy called back.

Mark took his cue to leave the home, with the sound of the garage door signaling his departure.

Fluttershy breathed a deep sigh. She worried about him going out after everything that had happened. Just last night he was barely holding himself together, now he had to go on acting as though things were perfectly normal.

She then realized she didn't even know how long he'd be gone. The thought only served to trouble her further.

She quickly decided the best course of action would be to distract herself with something. Glancing around the room, her curiosity once more pulled her to the nearby bookshelf. Perhaps she could find comfort in her kindred spirit: Alice of Wonderland fame.

Despite her earlier concerns, Fluttershy had managed to engross herself in the book. She was so engrossed that she jumped slightly when the door leading to the garage suddenly opened. Only a few moments later, Mark peeked his head into his room.

"Sorry it took so long, 'Shy." He began, "The guy had to grab a similar tire from their storage, and then there was some testing to be done, and…it was just a whole process."

He held up two bags from behind the wall. "But hey," he continued, "I brought dinner."

Fluttershy followed Mark to the kitchen, where he began placing the food on the table.

"I was thinking burritos tonight. Is bean and cheese okay for you?" He asked.

Fluttershy nodded. "That'll be perfect."

Mark placed her food at her chair, then sat in his own. He'd chosen to pick the vegetarian option for himself, just so as not to worry his pegasus friend. She'd obviously been around omnivores before, just because of her line of work, but he still felt it was the best option.

An hour later, with food eaten and dishes put away in the dishwasher, the two once more retired to Mark's room. It was getting fairly late, so both decided to get ready for bed, with Mark waiting until Fluttershy was done brushing so he could do so.

While waiting, he tried his best not to think about what had happened yesterday. More especially, he tried to avert his mind from the experiences he'd had during his anxiety episode. His fears had felt so reasonable at the time that he could scarcely determine what was reality.

And there was Fluttershy, trying her best to comfort him. All the while, she was likely struggling to keep her hope up after everything that had happened.

"All done." The pegasus announced as she returned to his room.

"Looks like I'm next." Mark replied with a smile before leaving.

While brushing, he allowed his thoughts to continue. Had he even considered how she was doing? Had he asked?

There was no doubt that the loss of their only lead would be demoralizing, especially to her. What could he do to help keep her spirits up? It wasn't like he could go outside and do things with her.

Suddenly an idea began to form in his mind. He quickly filed the details away for later, intending to do something first that he felt would be a good step.

He returned to his room a few minutes later, seeing Fluttershy waiting patiently, the familiar book keeping her attention. He sat down next to her, quickly catching her attention.

"I know it's been a difficult little while lately." He admitted, "Especially with what happened yesterday. How are you holding up, 'Shy?"

Fluttershy looked down, her face revealing more than a little discomfort. "I just don't know what we're going to do, Mark."

He remained quiet but gave her his full attention, allowing her to continue at her own pace.

"I thought maybe that woman would be able to help us. I still think she might be able to, but with her husband…" She wiped a tear that began to form, "You're the only person here I can completely trust anymore, Mark."

Mark's eyebrows knit together. He was comforted to hear she trusted him completely, but the statement had come with a sour implication. "You trusted her completely?"

Fluttershy pulled a face of uncertainty. "I think I did. She was so kind, I knew why you trusted her after talking to her those first few times, but now…”

Mark shook his head. “I just can't believe she didn't know she'd married a monster."

Fluttershy thought for a moment before responding. "I don't think he's a complete monster."

Mark's face mirrored what he said next. "You don't?" He asked, flabbergasted.

"I think he did something awful." Fluttershy explained, "He kidnapped me, and probably countless other innocent animals as well. I'm not sure I can ever overlook that."

She breathed a deep sigh. "But I don't think he's a monster. He could have chosen to turn both of us in to his friends yesterday, but he didn't. I don't know exactly what went through his head, but he clearly has a heart somewhere."

Fluttershy turned to Mark. "He wasn't evil, he was desperate. He lost his daughter, and he couldn't see anything besides that."

Mark was stumped for words as he processed what she'd said.

"Don't get me wrong," she continued, "I never want to see him again, but I can't look at him as a purely evil monster…not after what I know."

Mark's mind was at the peak of conflict. This man had sold off who knows how many animals, and had nearly done so to Fluttershy! A deep feeling of spite swirled at this thought, lingering even as he considered his friend's reasoning.

And yet, the near-victim of the abduction couldn't bring herself to hate her would-be captor…

"You're stronger than I am, ‘Shy." He gently whispered, “I don't know if I can forgive him for what he did to you, even if you can.”

He shook his head again. "I just can't imagine ever doing something like that, even if I were in that kind of situation."

"Neither can I." Admitted Fluttershy, "I don't understand what made him think that was the best option."

Mark glanced over at Fluttershy once more, his eyes making contact with hers.

"Well I do know this much:" He stated firmly, "I'm going to do what it takes to protect you. What we just discussed doesn't change a thing. If I see him out there, I'll treat him as a threat and do whatever it takes to keep you safe. I promised I'd help you get home 'Shy, and I have every intention of doing that."

Fluttershy's eyes began to water once more.

"I don't know everything," he continued, "and I certainly don't know about magic, or teleportation, or dimensional travel, but I do know there's a way somehow to get you home. I know there's a way, and I'm going to find it, and you're going to be able to go back to Equestria and live a happy life."

He hadn't realized until his voice began breaking, but a tear was also forming in his eye.

"And I'm going to miss you a lot," He whispered, "but you deserve to be happy and free."

As the two began to sob, Mark acted on impulse and did what he felt the two needed, pulling her into a tight embrace. It was a bittersweet hug, just with the knowledge that neither knew how long they'd be able to see each other before Fluttershy returned home…or something else happened.

But in that moment, both were confident that somehow things would work out.

Chapter 17

The sun's rays began to peek through the edge of the window, waking the pegasus mare. She wiped the sleep from her eyes and gently left the bed to begin her day, gently stepping over her friend in the sleeping bag.

Mark had insisted on Fluttershy taking his bed once more, stating that he had gotten used to sleeping in the bag. She knew deep down that wasn't the real reason, though. It was because he felt she needed comfort while staying in this world, especially when it seemed so hostile to her.

Though she wouldn't say it, she felt the same way.

Walking to the kitchen, she decided to take a second chance at making breakfast. Settling on the far less burnable cereal and toast, she found the ingredients for the meal in the fridge and cupboards. She had finished pouring a bowl of Frosted Mini-Wheats for each of them when she heard a yawn sound from the kitchen doorway.

"Morning 'Shy." Mark greeted as he rubbed his eyes.

"Good morning." Fluttershy replied with a smile.

The two soon began eating, with Mark wondering what best to do that day. With everything that had happened recently, he wanted to distract from it with some festive activities. With this in mind, he already had some plans for Christmas, but what of Christmas Eve?

"What do you want to do today, Fluttershy?" Mark asked.

Fluttershy swallowed a spoonful of wheat. "Um, I'm not sure. Is there anything you want to do today?"

"Well it is Christmas Eve," Mark began, seeing his pegasus friend tilt her head in confusion, "our version of Hearth's Warming Eve?"

"Oh, right." Fluttershy replied with a slight blush.

"We do have some things we typically do today." Mark continued, "There's cookie decorating, watching Christmas films, telling stories. Mostly it's just people spending time together and having fun."

"You have movies about Christmas?" She inquired.

Mark chuckled. "Oh boy, do we! Tell you what, you up for watching one after breakfast?"

"Sounds perfect." Fluttershy replied with a smile.

What had started with the original Grinch cartoon had turned into a Christmas movie triple-feature, with the two watching through Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty The Snowman immediately afterward. Mark stopped the impromptu marathon there, insisting there were still things for the two to do that day, as well as movies he was saving for Christmas Day.

"So what's next, then?" Fluttershy asked, her mind still a buzz with the films she'd seen.

"Well, what do you say to baking some Christmas cookies?" He asked.

Fluttershy's eyes sparkled. "That sounds fun!"

Mark was somewhat surprised at her enthusiasm. She seemed almost like Pinkie Pie at that moment with the sudden interest in baking sweets, but he attributed it to similar holiday traditions in Equestria.

After preheating the oven and getting out the ingredients for the cookies, the matter had him thinking on the traditions of Hearth's Warming. More importantly, he wondered if he could incorporate them somehow, perhaps making the mare feel more comfortable on Earth during the season.

"Hey 'Shy, it was around Hearth's Warming Eve when you ended up here, wasn't it?" He asked as he measured out the ingredients.

Fluttershy nodded. "About a week or so before that, why?"

Mark smiled. "Well, what were some traditions you had back there?"

Fluttershy brought a hoof to her chin in thought. "Well, different families have different traditions. Some decorate trees, many make Hearth's Warming dolls…oh, and there's gift giving, too."

"Huh, doesn't sound too dissimilar to our holiday, actually." Mark mused, mixing the ingredients together, "Aside from the story behind it, of course."

"What is the story behind Christmas?" Fluttershy asked.

"I'll save that for tonight." Mark replied with a wink, "For now, let's roll this dough out and cut up some cookies to bake!"

He pulled open a nearby drawer, revealing a number of Christmas themed cookie cutters. After the dough was rolled out, the two began slowly chipping away it, combining the dough back together a few times to try and squeeze a few more cookies out of the mix. When only a small amount of dough was left, he rolled it into a circle and placed it on the baking sheet, creating a final, if simple looking, sugar cookie.

The cookies soon found their way into the oven, with Mark setting a timer for 12 minutes.

"So…now what?" Fluttershy inquired.

"Got any 3s?" Mark asked.

"Go fish." Fluttershy politely replied.

The two had settled down for a rousing game of Go Fish, featuring a Christmas themed card set.

"Any Jacks?" Fluttershy asked.

Mark made a face of mock frustration. Of his three cards, two of them were indeed jacks, represented by pictures of Frosty the Snowman. He handed the two over to the pegasus before continuing the game.

"Got any-"

An alarm sounded from Mark's pocket. Pulling out his phone and silencing the culprit, he gave a nod before walking back to the oven. Opening the oven door, the sweet smell of freshly baked cookies filled the air.

The two took in a deep breath through their noses, savoring the smell. The sugary goodness combined with a hint of vanilla created a scent best enjoyed around the holiday season, and both Mark and Fluttershy were ready to dig in. But first…

"Ready to decorate, 'Shy?" Mark asked.

"Absolutely!" She replied with a broad smile and a sparkle in her eyes.

Putting on a pair of oven mitts, he pulled the baking sheet out of the oven and placed it on the counter. After waiting a few minutes, the cookies had cooled and were ready for icing. Mark started on a snowman shaped cookie, utilizing the icing colors he had - the lack of black for the top hat wasn't stopping him - to create a very unique Frosty.

He glanced over at Fluttershy, who was decorating the one circular cookie. She was starting with something resembling green lace surrounding the border, with small red and white dots speckled around the cookie.

Yet while watching her decorate, he saw her face suddenly grow sorrowful. She quickly hid it, glancing up at him with a smile, which faded when she noticed him staring.

"What?" She asked, tilting her head.

Mark paused frosting Frosty. "You okay, 'Shy?"

Her eyes fell. "I just hope everypony is okay back home."

In like manner, Mark's heart sank. "I'm sorry you have to deal with this, 'Shy. I can't imagine what it's like to be this far away from friends and family."

The pegasus didn't respond, allowing him to continue. "Though I can kind of relate, just with mine being away for the holidays."

Fluttershy's eyes rose up to glance at his once again. "Your family and friends are gone?" She asked.

He nodded. "All my friends are out of state on vacation of some sort, and of course my parents are on a business trip."

"What about your grandparents?" Fluttershy asked.

"They're too far of a drive for me to make." Mark explained, "Around here, I'm just old enough to get my license. I don't exactly want to be making any long road trips, especially during the snow."

Fluttershy's ears fell. "So you would've been stuck back here alone if I weren't here?"

Mark nodded. "Indeed."

Fluttershy paused in thought before speaking again. "Mark, have I made things better for you?"

"What do you mean?" He replied.

"I mean, despite everything that's happened, did I make your holiday better?" She answered, "Are you glad you met me?"

Mark smiled. "Fluttershy, I'm very glad I met you. It's true the last week has been a strange one, but you've brought a lot of happiness into my life that I needed. Without you, it would've been a very lonely holiday. Without you, I don't know what I would've done for the 2 weeks my parents are gone."

His breath caught in his throat as the reality of that possibility settled in his mind. "I don't think I would've been okay." He added.

He felt a pair of hooves wrap around his sides, a head resting against his chest. Looking down, he saw the familiar pink mane of his dear friend, which he gently stroked.

"Thanks, 'Shy." He whispered.

"...And so the three advisors were able to ignite the Fire of Friendship, freeing their commanders. The three heads of the tribes decided they were best off working together, and so broke ground on the new land: Equestria."

Mark clapped softly. "That was wonderful, 'Shy!"

Both reached for another sugar cookie as they sat on the couch.

"So what is your holiday all about?" Fluttershy asked.

Mark raised the hand not holding a cookie while he chewed. After swallowing, he replied, "One sec, I need to grab something."

Fluttershy sat patiently while he left the room, eventually returning with a book bearing in gold lettering the title "Holy Bible".

"It's an old story, older than my grandparents' grandparents." He explained as he searched through the pages. "And here it is…"

He read aloud the famous story in Luke chapter 2, with Fluttershy captivated throughout. He soon finished, reading "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

He carefully closed the book, placing it on the coffee table in front of him. "That's what Christmas is all about, 'Shy."

“That story was incredible.” She commented, offering a faint smile. “Your kind really is something…" her speech was broken briefly to allow a yawn to escape, "special."

“As is yours.” Mark replied with a kind smile. "It sounds like it's time for both of us to get some sleep."

He stood up from the couch as the two headed to get ready for bed. While waiting for Fluttershy to brush her teeth, he suddenly remembered something - something important.

"Actually, go on ahead without me." He advised, "There's something I need to go take care of first. Don't wait up, okay?"

Fluttershy peeked her head out of the bathroom, one hoof holding a toothbrush with paste on top. "Is everything okay, Mark?"

He nodded. "Yeah, everything's okay, I just really need to do something before bed."

The mare shrugged. "Okay, see you tomorrow morning then."

While Fluttershy began preparations for the evening, Mark quietly crept up the stairs to the room he'd stored the package in. It was a supply room, containing various rolls of wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, and other festive decorations. A smile crawled across his lips as he confidently walked forward, taking a roll of paper and a ribbon in hand.

Unfortunately, he quickly realized his skills did not match his confidence. After a half hour (and several Google searches), he finally managed to get everything looking, in his opinion, passable. Picking up the gift wrapped package, he quietly walked down the stairs and to the tree.

He placed the box under the tree, front and center so it would be immediately visible. Most of all, he took special care to ensure the tag marked "To Fluttershy" was obvious. With his work done, the would-be Santa got ready for bed.

After everything was done, Mark walked back to his room, seeing the familiar sight of Fluttershy asleep in his bed. He smiled at the adorable sight, a smile which faded as he remembered her comments earlier that day while baking cookies.

Did I make your holiday better?

Are you glad you met me?

"Why did she wonder that?" Mark thought to himself, "Does she think she's burdening me by being here? Has she always felt like that?"

Mark frowned at this thought. Perhaps she didn't realize how grateful he was to have a friend with him during a lonely holiday. Perhaps she didn't understand what her friendship meant to him.

The thought continued to bother him as he got into the sleeping bag. As he lay awake, he made a promise that tomorrow he would make sure she knew he was grateful to have her around. Moreover, he would give her something in return: The best Christmas he could offer her.

This thought provided a sufficient resolution so as to allow his mind to rest. He closed his eyes, dreaming of what the next day could possibly hold in store.

Chapter 18

The sun began its ascent, gifting the earth with rays of warmth and light. A select few shone on Mark's house, illuminating parts within. As though specifically selected, the two occupants were among the lightened subjects.

Mark's eyes slowly blinked open, only going wide after remembering what day it was. However, he just as quickly was brought down with the realization his family was still gone. It was a first for him, having to be alone during the most wonderful time of the year.

But then, he wasn't completely alone. His gaze turned to the pegasus sleeping in his bed. Fluttershy, who began to stir thanks to the sun shining on her eyes, had her usual peaceful aura about her, accompanied by a gentle smile. She truly was the embodiment of her Element.

Eventually, her eyelids opened, revealing a pair of cyan eyes.

"Good morning." She whispered.

"Good morning to you too." Mark replied.

Mark stood up, allowing his body to stretch out before he walked through the doorway and towards the kitchen. With Fluttershy following close behind, he feigned surprise before walking towards the nearby Christmas tree, getting down on a knee to investigate the box out in front.

"That's strange," He began, "there's something under here I haven't seen before." He gently pulled the tag towards him, pretending to read it before turning it to Fluttershy. "It's addressed to you."

The mare looked understandably confused. "But…I thought…" Her eyes opened wider as she suddenly realized who the gift was from. "Thank you, Mark."

Sitting down in front of the gift, Mark watched with carefully hidden excitement as she slowly unwrapped her gift. Inside was a familiar white box, which she pulled the top off of. There was a faint gasp from her lips.

Inside was a necklace composed of small golden chains with a golden butterfly at the center. Fluttershy gently lifted the necklace, fixated on the immaculate detail, before placing it around her neck. It fit perfectly, with the main piece resting at the center of her chest.

"It's beautiful." She whispered, "Thank you, Mark."

"You're welcome." Mark responded, soon finding himself being embraced by his pegasus friend. "I'm glad you like it."

After the two parted, Mark stood back up. "Shall we get some breakfast going?"

The two decided on holiday waffles, with Fluttershy retrieving the ingredients while Mark looked up the recipe. It had been a traditional meal for the family, every year starting Christmas with a recipe for waffles handed down from generations prior. It called for the basic water, flour, eggs, and salt, but mixed in ginger, brown sugar, and cinnamon. The strangest ingredient, a hint of eggnog, was often left out at the request of those eating.

Once all the ingredients were brought to the kitchen, Mark began combining the two in a large bowl. The batter slowly formed with each stir, the added ingredients releasing a scent into the air that watered the mouths of both the home's inhabitants. Resisting the temptation to eat the mixture raw, Mark used a measuring cup to scoop batter into the waffle iron. With only one iron available, it was sure to take some time to make all of them.

"They smell delicious." Fluttershy remarked with a smile.

"Oh trust me, they'll be delicious." Mark reassured, "This is a recipe handed down from my great-great grandmother. If there was one thing she knew, it's how to make a holiday breakfast."

"Is that why you're making them today?" Fluttershy asked.

"Absolutely." Mark confirmed, "It's tradition to make this every Christmas morning. It adds a little extra something to the most magical time of the year."

“I thought magic didn’t exist here.” Fluttershy asked, tilting her head slightly.

“It doesn’t,” Mark explained, “but I’ll go so far as to say that this season brings the closest thing to magic we have. It’s the blessings of hope, good will, family, and…well, friendship.”

He chuckled slightly at his reference to the title of the show Fluttershy came from. What an amazing experience it was to have the Element of Kindness with him - and during the happiest time of the year at that!

It was truly the greatest Christmas gift he could have asked for.

The waffle iron's light turned off, signifying the first of many was finished cooking. Mark quickly placed it onto a plate, scooping out another cup of batter for the waffle iron. The top was closed and the cooking continued.

"I'm glad she can enjoy some of my world's traditions," Mark thought, "especially my family's traditions. I just hope it's helping to keep her mind off of everything. It's been so stressful, she deserves a break from it all."

"I hope she enjoys what little time she has left here…and safely, too. I don't know what I'm going to do when she's gone, though…"

"Mark!" Fluttershy lightly exclaimed.

His thought process was broken, with his eyes quickly noticing the waffle iron was done cooking. Repeating the process with the batter, the iron soon found itself back to making waffles.

"Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked, her eyes deep with concern.

Mark sighed. "Yeah, I'm okay. I was just thinking about the fact you'll eventually be leaving for home again…"

Silence filled the room as the two thought on the matter.

"But I want to thank you for being here for however long it ends up being." Mark continued, turning to face the pegasus. "Like I said, it would've been a really difficult holiday if you hadn't shown up."

Fluttershy turned her head away slightly. "I mean, it was you who rescued me."

"And I'm glad I did." Mark replied with a smile. "I'm glad that…well, what could have happened didn't happen. You found a place where you're safe, and I think we've both had a good while here."

Fluttershy nodded. "Thank you again for saving me, and for being a good host. I'm glad I got to meet you."

Mark did his best to avoid shedding a tear. "I'm glad I got to meet you too, Fluttershy."

The two embraced briefly, only stopping when Fluttershy noticed the light on the waffle iron had once more turned off.

"Um…Mark, the waffle's done." She whispered.

"Oh, right." Mark replied sheepishly. "Don't want that to burn."

With a stack of waffles ready, he covered the remaining batter with saran wrap and took the plate of waffles over to the table. He quickly ran to the pantry for one last ingredient: Powdered sugar. This topping was the one part of the recipe that no one forgot.

He placed the sugar on the table, joining his friend there. She offered up her usual bright yet soft smile, bringing with it the same usual peaceful spirit she had about her. It was the perfect complement to the holiday.

After the two had eaten their fill, Mark finished turning the remaining batter into waffles, then placed them into the fridge for later eating. They both then returned to Mark's room for a double-billing of the Charlie Brown Christmas special and Muppets Christmas Carol.

The credits began rolling as Mark's phone began ringing.

"Hello?" He greeted.

"Hey Mark, how you doing?" His father asked.

"I'm doing okay, just holding down the fort." He replied, offering a wink to Fluttershy.

"Well, I hope you've been okay on your own over there." His father continued, "We're really sorry things happened this way."

"It's no problem." Mark reassured, "I've found some things to keep me busy."

"I'm glad to hear that." Mark could hear relief in his father's voice. "Well, have you opened any of your Christmas gifts?"

"Not yet," Mark responded, "I wanted to wait until you guys were here so we could all open them together."

"Well, then how about I give you a little Christmas gift right now?" His father proposed, "We'll be home this Saturday!"

Mark's eyes widened, that was only 2 days away!

"Really?" He asked, his voice a mixture of surprise, excitement, and some concern, "As in the day after tomorrow?"

"That's right!" His father cheered, "Merry Christmas son, courtesy of our work!"

Mark wasn't sure how to respond, and Fluttershy quickly deduced the same from the look on his face.

"That's…great." Mark eventually replied, "I'll be glad to see you guys."

"You don't sound very excited." His father noted, "Is everything okay over there?"

"Of course!" Mark replied, "I just…well, I'm a bit worried you guys will be called off to another meeting somewhere and I'll have to be alone again." He silently praised himself for thinking that up so quickly.

"Nope, we'll be home for good, son." His father confirmed, "Do you know why?"

Mark waited in anticipation for a few moments.

"It's because we got promoted!" His father exclaimed, "We're now higher up on the managerial chain, which means more control of when we have time off! We won't be rushing off to meetings during the holidays ever again!"

Mark once more felt the emotional cocktail that left him unsure exactly what to think. He was elated that they would be home for each Christmas, and this one in only two days!

On the other hand…

"Well, I'm afraid we have to run." His father concluded, "Talk to you later, Mark!"

"See you Dad," Mark replied, "I love you."

"We love you too, son." His father responded before hanging up the phone.

Mark was left in the silence of the room, the paused credit scroll keeping the quiet present. Eventually, Fluttershy spoke up.

"What's wrong, Mark?" She asked.

"It's my parents," Mark explained, "They're coming home in two days."

"That's wonderful!" Fluttershy exclaimed.

"Yeah, except for the fact they probably won't be too keen on you being around here." Mark added, "They don't know I'm a Brony, and there's no telling how they'll react to you. If it's anything like I've seen with other Brony families, it's probably not going to go well."

Fluttershy's heart sank. "Then what should we do?"

Mark shook his head. "I'm not sure, 'Shy."

Unable to decide further on anything, he decided to shelve the matter for later thought. For now, it was time for the next item on the itinerary: The local news lighting contest.

Changing to the news station, the two were greeted with the sights and sounds of Christmas on camera as the host spoke with the current contestant. He was explaining the many different aspects of his elaborate holiday decor, providing sufficient background noise to help Mark and Fluttershy tune out their worries.

"Yes well, that's quite the show you've put on Mr. Morrison. Thank you for your time. Up next, we have a home that's decked out all the halls for the season, but first we have a special one from our local sponsor. Back to you, Morgan."

The newscaster, apparently named Morgan, provided a transition to the next subject of the news that day…and the face being interviewed was far too familiar.

"Here we have Sheila Stanford, head ranger of the Forest Creek Wildlife Preserve. She and her employees helped to bring some Christmas to mother nature this year. Tell us a bit about what it's been like over there, Sheila."

Mark and Fluttershy sat with their eyes glued to the television set.

"Well, it's been a wonderful time with many magical moments." Sheila remarked, "We've certainly seen some interesting things over here at the preserve, but we try to make the best of it, and we encourage everyone to come over after the holiday is over. We've got a special offer going on the 26th for families of four and over - extended families included."

"There you have it, folks," The newscaster concluded, "A wonderful end to your holiday season, and you'll be helping to support a local business and close partner of our station. We'll be back with more house lights after this break. Remember that you can vote with your phones using the onscreen hashtag or text-"

Mark turned off the television.

The two sat in silence for some time, neither quite sure what to say after seeing their old friend again. It was so soon after…everything had happened, that seeing her had brought back some uncomfortable feelings that neither quite knew how to deal with.

"I guess she's doing well." Fluttershy spoke up.

"Yeah, I guess so." Mark replied, his eyes still fixated on the black television screen.

Fluttershy turned her head to face him. "How do you feel about all this, Mark?"

Mark felt the trance he was in fade little by little. "I'm not sure, 'Shy." He finally replied, "I know what you said yesterday, but I just don't feel comfortable thinking about them."

"Is it a grudge?" Fluttershy asked.

Mark was silent in thought, a look of mild confusion on his face.

Fluttershy continued, "After the discussion yesterday, I realized I needed to forgive her husband for what he did. It doesn't mean I think what he did was okay, but I recognize it's not something I can change."

Her eyes met Mark’s. "Maybe you need to forgive them too - especially Sheila, it wasn’t her fault."

Mark's silence continued, eventually broken with a sigh. He pulled out his phone and began searching for something. Eventually, he found the number he was looking for and allowed his phone to dial it, but not before using *67.

The wildlife preserve was completely silent, being devoid of any workers that day. All were off with family and friends, celebrating the wonderful time of the year in their own way. The only sounds audible were those of the snowstorm outside.

Until a phone ringing pierced the stillness.

It rang for several seconds before alerting the vacant building that the caller had reached the preserve during off-hours and to leave a message. A beep sounded, followed by a voice:

"Hey Sheila, it's Mark. Listen, I just wanted to say you and your staff did a good job decorating the place for Christmas. Also…I wanted to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas. I'll probably call you again another time, and maybe we can chat for a minute. Until then, Merry Christmas."

The two had finished eating a late lunch/dinner involving the waffles from earlier being topped with whipped cream and sprinkles. The result was almost like an exotic ice cream flavor, just with much more substance to it. After dishes were put away for later washing, Mark and Fluttershy returned to his room for one final movie.

Just shy of two hours later, the credits for The Christmas Chronicles were playing, prompting Mark to turn off the television one last time.

"I think it's time we get some sleep." He advised, to which Fluttershy nodded in reply.

A few minutes later, both were laying awake in their respective bed and sleeping bag, trying to find some of the elusive sleep.

"Mark?" Fluttershy whispered.

Mark turned his head to face her. "Yeah?"

"What are we going to do when your family comes home?" She asked.

Mark sighed, allowing his mind time to consider the familiar matter again. "I'm not entirely sure." He eventually replied, "We may just have to play it by ear and hope for the best. If that doesn't work out, we'll have a backup plan to ensure you get out of here safely."

"Do you still think they won't like me?" Fluttershy wondered aloud, a hint of sadness in her voice.

"I think if they take the time to know you they will," Mark answered, "but that really depends on if they do. I don't know, 'Shy. We'll have to decide on this tomorrow. For now, let's get some sleep."

He closed his eyes once more, trying to focus on slowing his breathing. It was the best distraction from the topic at hand, which truthfully was concerning him just as much.

"Are we going to be okay?" Fluttershy weakly uttered.

Mark once more turned to his friend, putting on a comforting smile. "Of course we will. We figured everything else out so far, and we will with this. Try not to let it worry you, okay?"

The pegasus nodded, laying back as she slowly fell asleep. It seemed his words had provided her some much needed comfort.

Mark only wished it could do the same for him.

Chapter 19

Sheila pulled her car into the staff section of the parking lot, the heat from the car providing a comforting atmosphere and escape from the outside world. Knowing it would have to come to an end eventually, she turned the key, shutting off the engine, and mentally prepared herself for the day ahead. With the holiday season just ending, many families would see the preserve as an opportunity for a wholesome recreational activity - one last event before school began.

An electronic chime played as she entered the building. The sound rang through the empty building, accompanied by the clicks of light switches and the radiator heating up. With all needed tasks for opening done, Sheila turned to walk to her office when her eyes caught on something unusual: The phone on the counter had a bright red light shining, signifying a message had been left.

During any other time of the year, this would be expected. There were always families looking to know when the building was open, a scant few prank callers, as well as one occasion where someone had mistaken the place for a pizza location and left an entire order as a message. She still wasn't sure exactly how the caller had mixed that up, but it certainly made for an entertaining story.

But this…this was strange. Most were too preoccupied with their families and the festivities of the season to bother calling here. Not to mention, they'd been closed the previous day, so who would bother calling, much less leaving a message?

She sighed as she pressed the "message" button on the phone, hoping it was something important.

You have one unheard message. Message one…

Immediately Sheila's ears were greeted by the sounds of a voice she recognized all too well. The message provided both a sense of pride at the decorating job she and her staff had done, but also (and more importantly) hope that Mark wouldn't hold her husband's actions against her.

It was only a few moments later that a vehicle pulled up beside hers, the man driving stepping out to reveal the other person preoccupying her thoughts.

"You forgot your lunch, honey." Carter weakly stated, indicating a paper bag.

"Thanks." Sheila replied, taking the bag from his hands.

An air of silence filled the room for just long enough to make the occupants uncomfortable.

"I'm…I'm sorry, Sheila." Carter whispered, not for the first or last time.

She shook her head. "I know."

Carter risked a glance up at her. "Is the morning going okay?"

Sheila didn't respond immediately. She questioned whether it would be wise to say anything of how her morning had really started. It was so soon after the events of Mark and Fluttershy's last visit.

But then, surely there was good in her husband. This was the man who had cared for the family for so long, who had loved his children to the point he went to these lengths to protect them. As repulsive as said lengths were, she could still understand his love for his family.

But would that justify telling him anything?

She made a final decision. "Mark called yesterday."

Carter's surprise was poorly hidden in both his face and voice. "He did? Is he okay? Is his friend okay?"

"They're both doing fine." She reassured, "He'd just wished us a Merry Christmas and said he'd like to talk to me some time."

"Got it." Carter replied, his gaze averting away from his wife once again.

Silence filled the air once more.

"I guess I'll be off." Carter eventually spoke up.

"Drive safe." Sheila responded, her voice notably weak.

The two parted to take on whatever the day would bring each of them.

Carter pulled into his driveway, noticing the familiar truck of his…well, he wasn't sure what to call them anymore. They certainly weren't coworkers, or rather they wouldn't be for much longer.

"Carter!" A man called, stepping out of the truck. "You said you needed us?"

Carter sighed. "Come inside, Jack. We need to talk."

A second man stepped out of the truck, eyeing Carter.

"You too, Frank." Carter called as he turned to enter the home.

The three soon found themselves seated around the coffee table, tension slowly growing in the air.

"What's this all about?" Jack asked.

Carter sighed. "I think it's time we parted ways."

Jack and Frank shared a glance before the latter leaned forward, his face turning to a scowl.

"What?" Frank growled.

"I need to move on." Carter continued, "You can keep doing what you do, but please leave me out of it."

"That's not how this works." Jack explained, "You joined in because you needed financial reassurance. Now that we've given it, you're with us through thick and thin. You don't just 'move on'."

"Well I am." Carter replied defiantly, "My family needs someone who will be there for them no matter what. They need a good and honest figure, someone who practices what he preaches. My wife needs me, and I won't undo the work she does every day, even if it makes me feel slightly safer at night."

Neither Frank nor Jack replied immediately. After the silence had grown uncomfortable, something unexpected broke the silence…laughter.

Jack belted out a good-natured laugh about the ordeal, yet somehow it provided little comfort to Carter. He then provided a light round of applause before drying his eyes.

"Very good, Carter." He stated, "You're quite the entertainer."

Just as quickly, the man drew a pistol from his side, pointing it at Carter. Jack's smile quickly disappeared, replaced by a look of pure anger and malice.

"Now, here's what's going to happen:" He growled, "You're going to help us track down that pegasus tonight." He indicated the gun in his hand. "You and your wife don't want to see what'll happen if you don't."

Sweat began beading on Carter's brow. "I- I don't know where she is!"

"Well you definitely know something." Frank countered. "So why don't you tell us what that is?"

Carter swallowed deeply, trying to assess his options. Seeing none else, he complied. "Her friend called my wife's work over Christmas."

Jack lowered the gun slightly. "And?" He prodded.

"And he wants to speak with my wife." Carter continued, "That's all I know, I swear!"

Jack and Frank shared another glance, this time with both smiling. The looks froze Carter's blood to ice.

"That's better." Jack finally spoke, "Now, we've got some work to do. Why don't you join us?"

Before Carter could speak up again, he was grabbed around the throat by Frank, with Jack joining him at his side.

"We're going to teach you something very important today." Jack explained, "You're going to learn what happens when you try to be the good guy."

The statement was the last thing Carter remembered before he was hit in the head with the butt of the gun.

Sheila's workday was soon coming to a close, the clock ticking closer to 4 PM. Ordinarily the location was open much later, but as the Christmas season was still around, and most staff had already left early due to low customer numbers for the day, she was left alone to close up.

Finally, her phone alarm went off, the generic ringtone signifying the day had finally ended. She got up from her desk, grabbing for her keys to lock her office. After doing so, she heard the main entrance open, accompanied by the familiar electronic chime.

"We're closed for the day." Sheila called out, walking to the main entrance…only to find it completely empty.

Something deep down told her danger was near. The hairs on the back of her neck began to stand up as she listened carefully for any sounds of movement. Something swift came from behind, but she was too slow to react properly.

She fell to the floor, the sound of a faint ringing in her ears fading as unconsciousness took over.

"Okay, so I have something I need to show you. I know it'll be surprising, but I need you to please hear me out." Mark explained, glancing at the staircase leading upstairs. "I'm going to go get it now. Just please don't scream- no, that's no good."

Mark sighed, prompting Fluttershy to walk over and place a comforting wing around his arm. "I think you sounded just fine."

"Yeah, but they won't see it that way." Mark countered, "If I tell them not to be afraid, they'll be even more so."

"Maybe we should break for dinner," Fluttershy suggested, "we've been at this for an hour now."

Mark nodded. "Okay, that sounds good."

Before he could walk to the kitchen, however, he was stopped by the sound of his phone ringing. Checking the screen, his eyes were greeted with a "Private Caller" ID, which he swiped down to decline.

"Spam caller." He explained to Fluttershy, flashing a smile.

A smile which disappeared when his phone began ringing again.

The same caller ID displayed, "Private Caller". Once more, Mark declined the call, this time failing to resume his relaxed demeanor.

His anxiety spiked when he felt his phone ringing once again. This time, he answered the call: "Hello?"

"Hello Mark." Came a voice from the other end, "I'm glad I could get a hold of you. You're going to want to hear what I have to tell you."

"Who is this?" Mark asked.

"Someone you stole something from." The man explained, "Now I need you to return it."

Mark glanced at Fluttershy, who at this point was growing more concerned by the moment. "What are you talking about?"

"I think you already know," The man replied, "but in case you don't, I'll let your friends explain."

There were sounds of rustling before a voice, clear and recognizable, rang out through the speaker.

"Mark, don't listen to them!"

"Sheila?" Mark yelled.

"That's right," the man confirmed, "we've got a friend of yours here, and that's not all we have. Let her speak!"

Mark's ears were then treated to a voice he feared hearing even more.

"Fluttershy, help!" Sounded off a familiar female voice.

Mark and Fluttershy shared a glance, with that telling the two all they needed to know: It was Twilight.

"So now I think you understand what's at stake here." The man continued, "So here's what's going to happen: You're going to bring your friend down to come see us, and we're going to have a little chat."

Mark stood in petrified silence.

"If you don't, you'll never see any of them again." The man added, "You have two hours. Make the right choice, Mark."

The call ended abruptly, leaving the occupants of the home in silence.

Neither spoke for what seemed like hours. Mark eventually sat down on the nearby sofa, joined by Fluttershy shortly afterward. Despite the two deeply entrenched in thought, neither could think of a good solution to their current predicament.

"So…" Mark whispered, his voice weak, "I guess this is it then."

Fluttershy glanced over at him, though she didn't say a word.

Mark glanced into her deep cyan eyes. "We don't have much of a choice. They have Sheila and her husband, and they have Twilight. They're holding all the cards."

A tear began to run down Fluttershy's cheek. "So that's it? They won?"

Mark's eyes began to similarly grow misty, his voice . "I'm sorry, 'Shy. I couldn't help you after all."

He covered his face with a hand, sobbing bitterly. Everything they'd experienced, all memories and wonderful times they'd had together…all of it was for naught.

This was the end.

The only comfort was the familiar feeling of a wing draping itself around his back, the pegasus leaning against him. Though she was sniffling, a clear symptom of her own distress, the very fact her first thought had been to care for him…it warmed Mark's heart to the core.

He glanced over, offering a weak smile. It was all he had left. In response, Fluttershy offered up a smile as well.

Mark's phone rang, breaking the moment. When he checked it, sure enough, it was an address to the meeting they would have in 2 hours. It was as if the world itself were playing a cruel jest on the two, not even allowing a moment's peace.

"What are we going to do?" Fluttershy asked.

Mark thought for a long time before responding. "I don't think we have much of a choice, 'Shy. Not if we want Sheila and Twilight to live, at least."

"But if we go there, there's no telling what they'll do to us!" Fluttershy cried.

"I know that!" Mark replied in kind, "But if we don't do something, lives are going to be taken tonight. Twilight is your only chance of making it home, and she's your friend. Do you really want to put her life at stake?"

"This will put both of our lives at stake!" Fluttershy countered.

"If you have a better idea, I'd love to hear it!" Mark replied.

Neither added anything further. The two caught their breath for a moment, allowing the tension to ease.

"Do you really think this is the best way?" Fluttershy finally spoke.

Mark sighed. "I don't, but we've run out of options."

Epilogue Part A

Five years later…

"The only constant in life is change."

We're all familiar with the phrase, and at some point or another, we see the fruits of this inevitable principle. For Earth, likely the biggest change of all, one that revolutionized every aspect of daily life, was the return of the ponies.

The circumstances were somewhat humorous, with the local congress members having just taken a lunch break. When they returned, they were faced with a "pegacorn" as some referred to it, before being corrected with "Alicorn". The being was named Celestia, specifically Princess Celestia, and was one of four rulers on their home planet.

From there, things moved quickly. A press conference was held at the white house. Next, a large-scale meeting with members of each nation alongside the four princesses ruling Equestria.

Eventually, the Equestrian rulers decided on a timeline for letting their ponies enter Earth. It was a one-way offer, much to the dismay of men and women of all ages, though the prospect of ponies living on Earth came with its own challenges.

There were, of course, those who opposed the idea. Some from each world scoffed at the idea that the two species could co-exist, much less peacefully. This all changed upon the telling of a story from a pegasus by the name of Fluttershy.

Her tale resonated with many, causing them to rethink their doubts. While some still did not believe, opinions had settled enough that ponies and humans alike were comfortable with living alongside one another.

As time went by, the novelty wore off and many accepted this as the new way of life. There were still some critics, but after seeing the benefits the ponies brought to those living on Earth, most minds were changed. This went on for many years, during which time inhabitants went about their daily lives.

For Mark, graduation from High School led to college. He remembered being in class one day when the announcement was made that members of Congress were meeting with ponies from a different world. The professor had stopped everything to pull up the live footage on the news, which silenced the naysayers.

Of course, Mark knew better than to disbelieve. Though he hadn't seen or heard Fluttershy in two years up to that point, he was hopeful that their planned reunion would occur soon. After another three years passed, his feelings were confirmed with a letter in the mail.

He instantly knew it was from Fluttershy, mostly because of the picture included in the envelope. It showed herself with her five friends, with her clearly holding the camera. It seems the Earthly concept of the "selfie" was already gaining traction over there.

The letter detailed in-depth the experiences she'd had over the years, many of which Mark already knew, having watched the show to its completion. Interestingly, the final few episodes where the two princesses retired had played out slightly differently in reality.

After the Legion of Evil had been defeated and encased in stone, the princesses were deciding on what the next course of action would be. Having created a school that aided in uniting all kinds of creatures together in friendship, it seemed their work was done, and Twilight was finally ready to begin her ruling as the head princess over Equestria.

However, Fluttershy felt there was still a world outside their own that deserved friendship.

She felt confident in proposing once more the opportunity to travel to Earth again and meet with the human leaders. To her pleasant surprise, both Luna and Celestia agreed, with plans to travel there being made within the month. She, of course, would be preparing a speech to be delivered in due time if the reception to the ponies was positive.

The letter ended off informing Mark that she would be coming by in a few months time, specifically during December of that year. Mark was, or course, very excited, sure the two would have many stories to tell, alongside the pleasant experience of going back to where it had all started.

These were Mark's thoughts as his car trip from college was reaching its conclusion. He pulled onto a familiar street, reaching for the garage door opener. Accordingly, the door started rolling up, providing space for him to pull in. He also noticed his family's car was there, knowing they were surely excitedly awaiting his visit as well.

He stepped outside of his car, ready for another wonderful Christmas.

The garage door going down signaled his parents to greet him at the door.

"Welcome home!" His mother exclaimed, pulling him into a hug.

"Glad you made it safely." His father added.

"Thanks guys," Mark replied with a smile, "So what's been going on here?"

"Oh, just preparing for the holiday," His mom explained, "as well as your special guest coming by."

"Is she here yet?" Mark wondered aloud.

"Not yet," His mother responded, "though she should be here any minute."

As if on cue, the doorbell rang only moments later.

"I'll get it!" Mark's mom called as she walked down the hallway to the main entrance.

Mark heard the familiar sound of a faint, gentle voice, which he eagerly ran to. Upon rounding the bend, he was greeted with a very friendly and excited yellow pegasus.

"Fluttershy!" He exclaimed, quickly pulling her into a hug, which she reciprocated.

"It's wonderful to see you, Mark." Fluttershy replied.

The two broke from their hug, Mark turning to address his parents.

"So this is your first time meeting her, isn't it?" Mark remarked.

"That it is." His mother confirmed, "I remember when we first heard you'd helped her during that Christmas a few years back."

Mark rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, that was…an interesting discussion."

His mother extended a hand and shook Fluttershy's hoof. His father did the same shortly afterwards.

"It's very nice to finally meet you, Fluttershy." His mother stated with a kind smile.

"Well, we'd best be off if we're going to make it on time." Mark quickly cut in. "You'll see where we're going, 'Shy."

The two then quickly walked to his car, pulling out onto the road and beginning a familiar drive.

"So I read your note," Mark began, "you and Discord, huh?"

"We're just friends." Fluttershy explained, "He's very sweet once you get to know him, though…even if he can be a bit much at first for some ponies."

"And some people." Mark added, his mind drifting to an article he'd read only a month prior.

Discord had apparently decided to make an impromptu visit to Earth, much to the surprise of localists and the dismay of the Equestrian Diplomacy Agency. The entire ordeal had led to a Discord-specific regulation being made, forbidding him from returning unless he had the crowns' approval first.

"What about you?" Fluttershy asked, "You mentioned someone named Emily in your letter."

"Ah, Emily." Mark replied with a smile, "She's definitely something. She's studying to become a veterinarian, which works since I'm looking to be a doctor. I guess we'll both be taking care of the living, eh?"

Fluttershy lightly chuckled. "I suppose so."

"She had to stay back with her family this Christmas," Mark continued, "it was a family issue she didn't want to get into at the time. Aside from that, I think we could really work out well together. You should meet her some time."

"I'd love to." Fluttershy responded with a smile.

The rest of the trip passed with the two sharing different stories from their time on their respective worlds. Before long, a particular sign came into view.

"Is that…" Fluttershy trailed off.

"It sure is!" Mark confirmed, "Welcome back to the preserve where it all started!"

Parking his car, Mark walked alongside Fluttershy to the main building. The front desk was attended to by a woman with gray hair tied in a bun reading a nature magazine. She looked up when she heard the two enter, accompanied by the electronic door chime.

"May I help you?" She asked.

"Just an afternoon pass for the two of us." Mark explained, pulling out his wallet.

After paying for the passes, the two were led to a doorway leading to a dirt walkway that passed by plenty of wonderful sights. The two quickly took to getting pictures in front of the many habitats, including those for bears, birds, and goats. Even despite reading about the location beforehand, Mark was still very surprised at the variety of animals kept there.

The dirt path continued on, leading to a large mountain area. The path branched off, though Mark knew exactly where to go next. Following the middle of three roads, the two began climbing the side of the mountain, each step bringing the two higher and higher. Eventually, they reached their destination: The very top of the mountain.

The two took in the scenery surrounding them. Alongside the view of the entire preserve, as well as that of the city housing it, the mountain top provided a carefully nested area for gathering. Arranged in a circle were various logs cut to look like primitive benches, with a fire pit at the center.

Mark sat on one of the log benches, inviting Fluttershy to do the same.

"Here we are." Mark announced.

"It's beautiful up here." Fluttershy whispered in wonder.

"I thought you might like to get a better look at the place now that we can walk around freely." Mark explained, "Speaking of, would you like to fly around a bit and see things from way up there?"

Fluttershy smiled, nodding before taking off. Mark sat and watched as the pegasus began flying around in the air, enjoying the fresh breeze and smells of nature. For his part, it was also something to see her so happy and free, a stark contrast to the quiet and private stay she'd had only a few years ago.

Even though he'd seen ponies flying around from time to time since their arrival on Earth, none could match the enthusiasm and sheer joy of this particular pegasus as she took in nature at its finest.

She finally landed after several minutes, a small blush coloring her cheeks as she realized how long she'd spent in the air.

"How long was I up there?" She sheepishly asked.

"About 10 minutes." Mark replied with a shrug, "Did you see everything you wanted to?"

She nodded. "I wish you could see what it's like. You'd never want to leave the sky if you could."

"You sound like Rainbow Dash." Mark remarked, turning to walk back down the trail.

"...and then Applejack and I managed to convince the other ponies not to buy their terrible product by reminding them what really matters." Fluttershy concluded.

"That's a wonderful story, 'Shy." Mark commented with a smile.

The two had been sharing holiday stories for the last hour as they walked back to the preserve building, and then to Mark's car. Their timing was perfect, as the location was just closing as they left.

"We have one more stop to make." Mark announced to the pegasus.

"Where's that?" She inquired.

"You'll see." Mark replied.

Turning the car on once again, Mark pulled out of the parking lot and began another familiar trip down the road. The foliage began to grow thicker, eventually wrapping itself around a metallic fence that opened at a driveway. Mark began pulling in when he heard a faint gasp, cluing him in that Fluttershy had figured out the mystery.

"This is…" she trailed off.

"Yep, this is the place." Mark confirmed.

The two got out of his car and began approaching the front door. The place as a whole hadn't changed much, save slight wear from the weather. It still looked as cozy as ever, though.

Mark knocked on the door, waiting alongside Fluttershy as the sounds of footsteps sounded behind the entrance. Eventually, the door opened, revealing a familiar smiling face.

"Mark! Fluttershy! It's wonderful to see you two!" Sheila greeted.

"Hey Sheila," Mark returned, "I hope it's still okay if we come in for just a few."

"Oh, of course," She replied, "come on in and have a seat, I'll get us all a drink."

Mark and Fluttershy took the cue and entered the building, taking their familiar places on the couch. Moments later, Sheila returned with a pitcher full of lemonade and three glasses.

"So how was the day for you two?" She asked as she sat down on the opposite couch.

"It was wonderful." Fluttershy answered, "We got to see the preserve for the first time, and it was as beautiful as we could've imagined. You all do a perfect job of taking care of the animals."

"That's quite high praise coming from a caretaker." Sheila commented, "Thank you for the kind words, we all do our best."

The three each poured a drink, taking a sip before Sheila continued the conversation.

"So did Mark keep you up to date on what happened over here since your visit a few years ago?" She asked.

Fluttershy turned to Mark. "He wrote about the world accepting us from Equestria and told some funny stories about college life. Aside from that though, not much."

"Did he tell you about the court case?" Sheila inquired.

"I thought the details were being kept private due to the interdimensional nature of the case." Mark responded.

"The details were private until just a few days ago." Sheila explained, "State transparency laws and all that."

"So what happened?" Mark asked.

"Carter was given partial immunity in exchange for his testimony." Sheila explained, "They actually managed to catch the person managing the poaching operation for the whole state. Because of that, the sentence for Carter was a lot less than it could have been."

"But he did still face time, didn't he?" Mark asked, then quickly hoped he hadn't overstepped a boundary in doing so.

"He did." Sheila confirmed, "He was required to serve a brief sentence, as well as being on probation for a time. Equestrian officials decided not to press charges because of his willingness to testify against his co-conspirators, though he's not allowed to travel there once they open up applications."

"Understandable." Mark commented.

"Aside from that though," Sheila continued, "he's doing very well. In fact, I think he should be coming home any second now."

As if on cue, the sounds of the garage door opening sounded in the background, followed up by the sound of a car door shutting, and then finally someone entering the house. Coming around the bend, Carter was met with the sight of his wife, Mark, and Fluttershy.

"Oh, hey everyone." He greeted somewhat nervously, "I didn't know you'd be coming by this late."

"They were just checking out the preserve for themselves." Sheila explained, "Apparently we've passed the test from our resident wildlife caretaker."

"That's good." Carter carefully commented before walking to the staircase, "Long day today, I'm going to shower. I'll talk to you once I'm out if that's alright."

Mark nodded, signaling Carter to begin his climb upstairs. Once she heard a door shut upstairs, Sheila leaned forward and spoke in a whisper.

"He's still really nervous about meeting you two after what happened last time." She explained.

"It's alright," Fluttershy reassured, "he did the right thing in the end, and we can both forgive him for that."

Mark didn't seem as convinced, but still nodded. "Yeah, we can."

"Well, if you don't mind I've got something to show you." Sheila stated, standing up from the couch and walking to one of the hallways. "Follow me."

Mark and Fluttershy took her lead and walked down the hallway to a brightly lit room. Inside were the familiar sights of different drawings and paintings on the walls, with a covered easel at the center of the room.

"I've been improving since I met you both," Sheila explained, "and since you'd told me Fluttershy was going to spend Christmas here, I thought I'd make something as a gift."

Sheila pulled the cover off of the easel, revealing a beautifully painted piece of Fluttershy. It depicted her flying through the air with a gentle smile on her face, the mountains beneath her forming the background.

"It's wonderful." Fluttershy commented.

"Well thank you." Sheila replied humbly, "I'm just glad you like it, and since it's my gift to you, you can even take it with you!"

"You're too good to us, Sheila." Mark commented, then a thought pulled at his mind. "Though I am curious: What ever happened to that original painting you did all those years ago?"

"Oh, it's right here." Sheila responded, indicating a prominent painting on the wall, "I've definitely gotten better since then, but I still say it's one of the finest pieces I got to paint during that time."

The painting was certainly simpler, but it still managed to show the gentle and loving nature of the mare.

"A bit of a throwback, isn't it?" Mark commented.

"Indeed it is." Sheila agreed, "I definitely still like it despite the years of time and experience."

"Well I think you captured the timeless traits of your subject nicely." Mark complimented, "For all the things that have changed since then, her character has remained consistent."

"It definitely has." Sheila added, "Now let me help you get this painting in your car."

The streets were thankfully free of snow, reducing any dangers of sliding off the road. This made for a very serene drive back home for the duo, accompanied by the sounds of Christmas songs on the radio.

Fluttershy was just glad she didn't have to hide under a blanket while he drove.

"So you got three more days with us, anything particular you want to do?" Mark asked.

"I'll let the official guide decide on that." Fluttershy joked.

"Very well." Mark replied with a chuckle. "How do you like the painting?"

"It's wonderful." Fluttershy answered, "I'm just glad things worked out with Sheila. After everything that happened…"

Mark noticed her trail off. "You thought we'd never be friends?"

Fluttershy nodded. "I remember what you'd said about forgiving them - in fact, I still remember it all these years later."

"Well it was hard," Mark admitted, "but I eventually had to realize that you were right. She wasn't at fault for her husband's decisions, and he really does seem to be turning over a new leaf. At the rate he's going, maybe he'll join his wife working at the preserve."

"You really think that's possible?" Fluttershy asked.

Mark turned to the pegasus. "'Shy, in a short few years we had beings we thought were completely fictional travel from another dimension, then open up the opportunity for visits and possibly even travel between the two in the future. Anything is possible."

Mark slowed his car down as the two entered a residential area. Lights shone on houses throughout the neighborhood. Inside the windows families spent time together, partying, playing games, and overall enjoying each other's company.

It reminded him of how perfect the season had been for him. Even during a time when he thought he'd be completely alone, forces beyond his own ensured a pleasant holiday, as well as new opportunities for the future.

And now, he had the opportunity to spend Christmas with his dearest friend.

"Happy Hearth's Warming Eve, Fluttershy." He whispered.

"Merry Christmas, Mark." She whispered back.

Epilogue Part B

The sounds of the cab driving on the road provided a soundtrack as equally unique as Lyra's ponderings at that moment.

Her grandmother, Melody Heartstrings, had told her stories when she was younger of being cared for by a bipedal creature she referred to as a "human". She told of a strange world of technical advances, great structures, and a completely different culture and world to Equestria. Most of all, she spoke of the kindness she was shown during her brief time there.

Of course, Melody had only told these stories after her own parents had passed. Indeed, Lyra heard about them only a year or so after this had happened, with Melody informing her beforehand of "a story that deserved to be passed down". The tale had captured the imagination of a young Lyra, filling her mind with the wonders of a world unlike anything she'd ever heard of, even in her many fantasy novels.

Lyra's parents, however, were quite angry with the story. They offered up many harsh words, claiming the aging mare was "delusional" and criticizing Melody for "filling Lyra's head with lies".

Despite this, Lyra always remembered the story. She always believed.

How glad she was to be right!

All these years later, though her family had tried to suppress the tale, the truth came out! Not only that, but she was about to meet the man that had cared for her grandmother!

Lyra glanced over at Melody, who was contentedly napping against the cab door. Melody had been ecstatic at the thought of returning here, admitting a foalish desire to show her caretaker how much she'd grown. Perhaps that excitement had tired her out, hence her current state of resting.

Lyra wasn't worried about that. What mattered was the truth, as well as the bridging of the generational gap between herself and her grandmother. To have a once in a lifetime experience like this…it meant everything to her.

"This is the place." The driver announced, pulling off to the side.

Lyra pulled out a collection of bits from a saddlebag before waking her grandmother up. The two quickly left the cab before it sped away, leaving them with their thoughts of the future. They walked down the driveway until they caught sight of the building.

"Does it look like you remember it?" Lyra asked Melody.

"Almost exactly." She replied, a tear falling from her cheek. It was good to see that some things didn't change.

The two approached the building, with Melody knocking lightly on the front door. Lyra tried to manage her excitement as the door opened, revealing a woman with red hair in a typical Saturday attire.

"Hello," she began, "may I help you?"

"My name is Lyra Heartstrings," Lyra introduced herself, "and this is my grandmother, Melody."

Melody gave a gentle bow before Lyra continued.

"We were told the man who took care of my grandmother lives here. May we see him?" She asked.

The woman bit her lip, seeming uncomfortable about something.

"I'm afraid he's no longer with us." She explained.

Lyra's heart sank, and she saw her grandmother's smile fall as well.

"Oh," Lyra stated simply, "I'm sorry."

The woman smiled. "But I'm Sheila, his great-granddaughter. I've heard a lot about you, Melody. I'd love to meet you, as well as your granddaughter."

Sheila stepped aside, indicating the inside of the cabin. "Would you like to come in?"

Chapter 5

“The what?” Fluttershy asked, putting her fork down, a piece of waffle still attached.

“The Internet.” Mark replied, pausing to take a bite of his own waffle, “It’s the way most of the 8 billion of us connect.”

“Sounds daunting.” She commented.

“Not if you have the right guide.” He responded, “It’ll be quite the adventure, seeing all the kinds of stuff humans have created.”

Despite the outward optimism, Mark was internally debating over what exactly to show her. There were definitely things he wanted to avoid at all costs, but he didn’t want to seem like he was hiding anything. That element of trust was still cultivating, and he didn’t want to put it in jeopardy. That said, he also wanted to show her a wide range of things humans had created; he hoped to do away with the notions from her recent experience by contrasting it with things of beauty and wonder.

The two finished breakfast then retired to his bedroom. He had a small gaming computer hooked up to a flat-screen TV, accompanied by an Xbox controller and a wireless mouse and keyboard. He turned on the computer and TV and logged in.

“Alright,” he began, putting on his best tour guide voice, “welcome to your first day on the Internet. I’m Mark Wright, and I’ll be your guide.”

His change in voice elicited a small chuckle from the pegasus. She’d brought the clipboard and pen with her from the living room, and had already scribbled a few notes from what Mark had told her.

“So I guess the best place to begin is the place most people go to find things: Google.” Mark opened Chrome to the Google search page. “So here, you can search for, well, anything. What’s something you want to see or learn about?”

Fluttershy thought for a moment, “Um, maybe something about those ‘wildlife preserves’ you mentioned?”

“Saw that coming.” Mark thought with a smile, “Alright, let’s see here…”

He searched ‘local wildlife preserve’ and was linked to one about 15 minutes away. The location had plenty of pictures, which he spent some time scrolling through.

“So I actually haven't been here before,” he admitted, “but they have lots of different animals here. Look, they got bears, wolves, birds, frogs - all kinds of stuff!”

“And all those animals are protected from being hunted?” she asked.

“Correct.” Mark replied, “That’s why they call them ‘preserves’.”

“But...the fences, aren’t the animals just trapped there?” she asked warily.

“Not so.” he said with a reassuring smile, “The idea of a sanctuary is that the animals inside couldn’t survive naturally on their own, for whatever reason. They’re just watching out for them, kind of like what you do.”

She seemed satisfied with his response, so he continued with another search: “famous paintings”. He took some time to show off the different artists on display, giving brief descriptions of the ones he recognized. The search also turned up several parodies of the paintings, which he couldn’t help but laugh at.

“You probably don’t get why those are funny,” he admitted, “but just know they are.”

He then gave a small demo of both Google Docs and Slides, showing different options and writing up a brief comedic story, much to the pony’s amusement. He went on to explain that both pieces of software were often used by students, even at a university level.

“Now, the same company that made all this stuff also owns a site called ‘YouTube’,” he continued, “that’s a place where you can put any videos you want to share with the world, and lots of people make content on a regular basis.”

He pulled up the site and paused, thinking once more on what to start with. Scanning through his extensive “Watch Later” playlist, he saw a small group of videos about parkour, and decided that would be a good place to start.

Fluttershy's jaw hung open as the people on screen performed dangerous acts with seeming ease. Her notepad sounded off with a flurry of scribbles as she sat watching the videos, never taking her eyes off the TV, yet seemingly still taking coherent notes.

The two spent a good length of time watching various videos, ranging from clean skits (some of which he needed to explain parts of), to performances of music, to a small selection of fandom videos.

It was only when a small growling noise sounded that the two broke from their watching trance. The source was quickly identified as the two viewers' stomachs.

"Hungry?" Mark asked.

After taking a break and eating a once-frozen cheese pizza, Mark decided to show her some of his video game collection. He scrolled through the Steam library, muttering the titles to himself until he found one that seemed appropriate for her. It was E for everyone, after all.

Unfortunately, of all games he could have chosen, Mark soon realized he probably shouldn't have picked Cuphead. The game experience consisted of him dying consistently, while desperately trying to avoid teaching the innocent pegasus about the many different vulgarities in the English language. Meanwhile, Fluttershy watched on as he tried not to get frustrated, despite this being a so-called "rage game".

Finally though, all the effort paid off.

"Knockout!" the game sounded off, with Mark breathing a sigh of relief while setting the controller down.

"So yeah," he finally spoke, "maybe you can see why I recommended you not try it."

Fluttershy chuckled. "Did you not enjoy it?"

"Well yes and no." he replied, and was about to offer up a humorous response when Fluttershy's eyes suddenly shot open, her gaze stuck in a distant stare.

"I just had an idea." she whispered.

"Care to share?" Mark asked.

"We need to look up those wildlife preserves again." Fluttershy explained, slowly breaking from her momentary stupor, "If we can find where I arrived, maybe we can find where the portal was between our worlds."

Mark placed his hand under his chin in thought. "Not a bad idea, 'Shy."

He once again searched "wildlife preserves near me" into the taskbar, and began looking through all the nearby locations. He patiently clicked one at a time, allowing Fluttershy to see the photos from each before moving onto the next one. It was only after the 8th option had been selected - and his hopes for this idea were wearing thin - that the pegasus gasped and pointed at the television.

"That's it!" she yelled, then continued much quieter, "I knew I saw that sign before…everythinghappened."

She shook her head as if trying to rid her mind of the experience.

"And you think that if we go over there we could find some sort of clue, right?" Mark asked.

The pegasus nodded, leading his train of thought to wonder how they could safely get a look at the location without fear of the poachers - or someone else.

"Well, nighttime would be good for avoiding being seen." He suggested, "Though we need to make sure neither of us get stuck in a trap. Also, there’s a good chance we’d not be able to see anything unless we used a flashlight…which obviously would give us away. Maybe late evening is better."

The two thought for some time, neither sure of a good answer.

"I don't think you should go out there." Mark finally spoke, "It's still too dangerous out there. But I think I can easily head out there without raising suspicion."

He then found himself stumped in thought. "Wait, what exactly am I going to be looking for?"

"You should start to feel a presence of transdimensional energy when near. The magic forces have probably died down by now, but you could potentially find some material bound between worlds, or even the portal which may let us communicate with Equestria."

"And these 'forces'," Mark replied, "they work similar to magnets? You can't see the forces but you can feel them?"

"Sort of." Fluttershy answered, before engaging in a brief lecture explaining the nature of magic and the sensations one may feel from them.

What little Mark understood from the lecture he vocalized shortly after it had ended:

"So…not like magnets."

Chapter 20

"Your destination is ahead." A computerized voice sounded.

Mark pulled forward the last few yards before putting the vehicle in park. He didn't exactly expect the meeting place to be in a well-lit neighborhood, but an abandoned warehouse was still worse than he'd expected.

He steeled his nerves, trying to suppress the rampant anxiety attacking his body. Between the situation and location, this was much easier said than done. He briefly entertained the thought that perhaps the anxiety could even help him, acting as a quick adrenaline rush if things turned sour.

Deep down though, he knew he needed to enter the building. The anxiety would only hold him back from doing so.

He stepped out of the vehicle, walking to the main door of the warehouse. He took one final breath before reaching for the knob…only to find the door locked.

The sudden deflation of the tension was both relieving and worrisome. Had he missed them? Was it the wrong location? Perhaps they expected him to enter a different way?

Settling on the final theory, he quietly circled the building, finding only the large garage doors as the other way of entering - which were, of course, shut tightly. Making his way back to the door, he tried the knob once more, hoping that somehow it would unlock. It didn't.

There was a click behind him, followed by a voice. "Good to finally meet you, Mark."

Mark knew better than to make any sudden moments, choosing to keep his attention focused forward. "Who are you?"

"That doesn't matter," replied the voice, circling around to his side, "where is it?"

"Where's what?" Mark asked.

His reward was a painful smack to the head. "The pegasus." Answered the voice, clearly becoming annoyed.

"She ran away once she heard the message." Mark explained, trying to reorient himself after the blow to his temple.

"Right," the man stated sarcastically, "I'm sure that's exactly what happened. Frank!"

Another man walked out from the shadows, taking the opposite side of Mark. He pulled his own gun from its holster. "Want me to get him inside?"

"Yeah," the first man responded, "and keep an eye on him. I'm going to go look for his friend."

The two then split, with Frank forcing Mark into the building at gunpoint as the other man walked towards Mark's car.

The inside of the building was barely lit, with moonlight streaming in through the windows. In the dark, Mark could faintly make out the shapes of two people tied up in chairs, though the distinct lack of any Alicorn figures worried him even more.

"Where's Twilight?" Mark wondered.

The sound of a gunshot broke his train of thought. Loud shouting followed, clearly the voice of the man outside, as some inaudible dialogue was spoken.

Moments later, Mark was horrified to see the result: Fluttershy entered the building with the man from earlier pointing a gun at her.

"Now then, do we have everything in order?" The man asked.

"We sure do." Frank replied, "Good job, Jack."

Mark stood paralyzed by fear. It was his worst nightmare playing out perfectly before his eyes.

"Now then," The man named Jack began, "I just wanted to start by thanking you for bringing the pegasus, Mark. You really made our job easier."

Mark snarled at the man, earning another hit to his head, this time from Frank. He fell to the floor, his vision blurred.

"Tie her up." Jack commanded.

As Mark slowly regained his senses, much slower this time, he could distantly hear the sounds of Fluttershy screaming before a loud thud sounded across the walls of the warehouse. When he finally came to properly, he saw Fluttershy tied up and in a daze. The rope job was nearly identical to that of when Mark first discovered her.

"Now I just wanted to let you know how difficult you made our job." Jack continued, "We had our prize right there waiting for us, and you just had to snatch her away."

He kneeled down next to Mark, pointing the gun at this temple. "That's very disrespectful to our line of work." Jack growled.

Jack got back up and turned to Fluttershy. "But now, we got what we wanted, and we'll make plenty off of her."

Mark tried to stand up, stumbling as he did so. "H-how did you know?"

Jack turned back to him. "We had an inside source at the preserve explaining everything."

Mark gave a glare towards Carter, prompting Jack to speak again.

"Oh, not him," he continued, "we had a backup in case Carter there fell through, which he did. Good to have a plan B, wouldn't you say?"

Mark tried again to stand up, managing barely to keep on his feet. "That's how you got my number, and how you got Sheila."

Jack laughed aloud. "Yep, our source even made sure to wipe video for the day. It wouldn't be the first time that's happened at the preserve, so it won't even look suspicious!"

Mark's limbs began to grow weak. Adding to his sense of helplessness was the realization that there really was nothing more he could do. Sheila, Carter, and Fluttershy were tied up. That just left…

"Twilight!" He exclaimed.

"Oh, your little friend?" Jack responded, "That was a stab in the dark, but man did it pay off!"

Frank pulled out his phone, searching for a moment before playing a sound from the speaker…

"Fluttershy, help!"

Mark's eyes went wide as the sound bite ended.

Jack chuckled. "I love technology."

Before Mark could fully process everything, Frank spoke up.

“We've got what we came for. What do you want to do with them?” He indicated the other three.

Jack cocked his pistol. “Well we can’t have any witnesses, can we?”

Mark glanced at Sheila and Carter, then at Fluttershy, then back at Jack's gun. Not only was he at a disadvantage here, there were no options left for him. This was the end of the road.

“Aww, don’t worry," Jack mocked, “we’ll take good care of her.”

Mark tried his best not to focus on the situation at hand. He forced himself to remember the time he'd spent with his wonderful pegasus friend. He remembered the times she filled out pages of research. He remembered the meals they'd shared, the laughs they'd had, the videos and movies they'd watched - he even remembered the time the two had met with Sheila and first read through that journal.

The memories provided a contrast to the current situation: The bare lighting, the smell of dust, the purple glow behind the two poachers-

"Wait, purple glow?" Mark wondered.

It was only then that his eyes fixated on the glow, which began to grow in intensity. The brightness began to blind the occupants of the room before a strong force blew all to the ground.

When Mark could see again, his heart skipped a beat.

It was Twilight Sparkle.

"Where is she?" The Alicorn demanded.

The two poachers shook on the floor in fear before Frank finally pointed to Fluttershy.

Twilight turned and began untying her friend. Several purple bolts of light fired from her horn, seemingly cutting through the ropes like a knife through butter. The pegasus was relieved, standing up and embracing her friend.

The moment was cut short as Jack aimed his gun at Twilight. Before Mark could yell out a warning, the gun fired, ringing out a sound of thunder that bounced across the walls.

Just as quickly, a wave of purple light flashed in the room, with the fired bullet landing on the ground moments later.

"How dare you!" Twilight yelled, turning to Jack, "I don't know what kind of creatures you are, but clearly you have no respect for other living beings! What kind of animal attacks when somepony's back is turned?"

Jack was shaking slightly, having realized his only method of defense was completely useless. If he had anything to say, he chose not to - which was for the best.

"I ought to have you tried for capturing my friend!" Twilight yelled, turning her head to face each of the people in the room, "I should have all of you tried for what you've done to her!"

Mark wanted to protest but decided it was better left for when she wasn't as emotionally riled up.

Twilight let out a loud sigh. "But that's not what I'm here for, and aren't you lucky for that! I'm just here to retrieve my friend, and I hope for your sake that I never see any of you again!"

"Um, Twilight-" Fluttershy began.

"It's okay Fluttershy, I know you're afraid." Twilight reassured, "We're going to go home and you'll never have to see this place again."

Twilight's horn began to light up as she faced Jack. Moments later, he fell to the ground.

"Twilight-" Fluttershy started again.

"It's just a sleep spell, Fluttershy." Twilight explained, "We need to make sure none of them follow us through."

She then used her magic once again to make Frank fall asleep. She turned to Mark.

"I don't know what you did to end up in this situation," Twilight warned, "but if you even try to do anything-"

"Twilight!" Fluttershy yelled uncharacteristically loudly.

"What is it, Fluttershy?" Twilight asked, a slight edge of annoyance in her voice.

Fluttershy moved between Mark and Twilight. "That person's name is Mark, and he saved me when I was captured a week ago. He's been nothing but kind to me, and has been trying to help me find a way back home. I can't speak for every human, but this one is a good friend of mine, and he doesn't deserve this!"

Twilight was taken aback at her friend's boldness. "Fluttershy…he's your friend?"

Fluttershy nodded. "I've made friends with all kinds of creatures since I was born in Equestria. Prey and predator, sentient and non-sentient, from every corner of Equestria I've sought to learn more about those that inhabit our world."

She turned to Mark. "This man, this human, showed me that there are many other worlds out there. With them come different cultures, beliefs, histories, and much more, but more importantly I found what is similar to us. Equestrians don't have a monopoly on friendship - it is a universal language that surfaces even in worlds with the darkest of backgrounds."

She turned back to Twilight. "We would be hypocrites to the very values we hold if we didn't extend friendship to others outside Equestria, especially when they are so eager to befriend us!"

Twilight was astonished at her friend's speech, one which she’d delivered with a conviction and confidence rarely shown.

"You really believe that, don't you?" Twilight asked.

Fluttershy nodded. "With all my heart."

Mark watched unsurely to see Twilight's response. His fear eased as he saw a gentle smile make its way across her lips.

"Then I will too." She stated, walking towards Mark. With a flash, the ropes were cut with ease and fell to the floor. She extended a hoof to him, "Twilight Sparkle."

Mark carefully extended his hand, taking the hood in his grip and offering a light shake. "Mark Wright."

Twilight turned to Sheila and Carter. "What about them?" She asked.

"They were just caught up in the mess." Mark explained, "At least, Sheila was. I don't know what Carter did, but I know he had something to do with where we are now."

"I think we should free them." Fluttershy stated, earning a surprised glance from Mark, "I want to hear their side of the story."

Twilight complied, freeing the remaining two humans. Sheila carefully got up from her chair, kneeling down to eye level with Twilight.

"You're a unicorn…and a pegasus?" She asked.

"'Alicorn' is the term we use." Twilight corrected.

Sheila was awe-struck, unable to say much more than a slight whisper, "Incredible".

The two ponies then turned to Carter, who'd remained seated despite being freed. As they approached him, he glanced up, a tear glistening in the moonlight.

"I'm sorry," he weakly uttered, "they took my wife and I hostage and threatened to kill us both. We didn't have a choice, please forgive us."

Carter looked away as Fluttershy approached. "I know what you did in the past to myself, Mark, and the many animals you captured," she sternly stated before her features relaxed, even allowing a faint smile, "but I do know you're not evil. You act in desperation, not malice. Where I live, good always triumphs somehow, and I want you to understand that as well. I know you've seen some terrible things, but please, please Carter, promise me you'll change."

Carter risked a glance at her. "You really think I can just leave everything behind?"

Fluttershy nodded. "I have a good friend back home who's proof of that."

The faint sound of sirens began sounding in the background.

"You should probably go." Mark warned reluctantly.

"I suppose so." Fluttershy agreed.

Mark got down on a knee, prompting Fluttershy to walk up to him and bring him into a hug.

"Thanks for everything, 'Shy." Mark whispered, a tear escaping his eyes, "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too." Fluttershy replied, "I promise I'll see you again some day, though."

The two separated from the hug. "Promise?" Mark asked.

Fluttershy nodded. "Pinkie Promise."

The reference brought a smile to Mark's face.

"Ready, Fluttershy?" Twilight asked, earning a nod from her. "And to you, Mark…thank you."

With that, a final flash of purple light brightened the room, temporarily blinding the occupants. When all could see again, Twilight and Fluttershy had vanished.

Mark's face fell. He had anticipated her leaving, but even knowing they'd see each other again someday - however far away that may be - it still would be difficult to leave such a close friend behind.

"Mark," Sheila began, walking up to him, "I'm sorry this happened this way."

He shook his head. "She had to go home eventually, Sheila. All I could do is make sure she had the best time possible before she did."

Sheila smiled. "And you did do that," she reassured, "you helped a being from a world completely different to our own find hope after a tragic incident. She'll never forget you."

"I know what it's like to lose someone you care deeply for," she continued, "but I also know the pain will ease with time, especially when you know you'll see her again."

Mark took a moment to internalize her comments. "You're right, Sheila." He responded with a smile, "And now, I need to go prepare for when I see her again. I want her to see the best version of me I can become!"

Just then, the door to the warehouse was slammed open as armed forces stood at the ready.

"Freeze!" One yelled.

The police had taken away the two men alongside Carter, later bringing in Mark and Sheila for questioning. After both had completed what the police needed, they were set free. The two offered brief parting words before going back to their respective homes.

As Mark pulled into his home's garage, he was surprised at how quiet the world felt. Normally, he would have been engaging in conversation with Fluttershy as the two entered his home, perhaps planning what to eat or a fun activity to pass the time.

Now he was alone with his thoughts.

As the old phrase went, "don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened", and Mark chose to smile over crying. He remembered the experiences he'd had with her, the memories they'd created. He remembered meeting Sheila and reading the journal. He remembered the movie nights, meals, and long discussions the two had had.

Most of all, he remembered the magical Christmas he'd enjoyed with her. Of all the gifts he'd ever receive, none would top that.

These thoughts preoccupied his mind as he entered the home, then his room. He was then stopped by a piece of paper on his bed. Taking it in his hands, he quietly read to himself.

Mark,

Thank you for everything. I know I've said it many times before, but truly thank you. You saved my life, protected it, and ensured I enjoyed my time in a world as foreign to me as it gets.

There's much I still don't understand about your world, and I look forward to learning more in the future. For now, the notes I took will do. Don't worry, I found them relatively easily.

For now, I've left something behind for you. Consider it both a Hearth's Warming and Christmas gift.

Until we see each other again,

Fluttershy

Beneath the letter was a small black box. Upon opening it, Mark's eyes were greeted with a pink gemstone cut into the shape of a butterfly.

He gently lifted the gem out of the box, turning off the light in the room and allowing it to sparkle. It was more than an artificial shine because of glitter, it was as though there was something cosmic contained within the object. It was like a look into the night sky, with stars and even galaxies visible.

It was beautiful.

Mark gently placed the gem on his side table and knelt down to give thanks. It had truly been an unforgettable experience, and one that had changed both himself and Fluttershy for the better. Now, whether it was fate, divine intervention, or something else entirely, it was only a matter of time before the two met again.

After all, in a world as wonderful as this, one cannot shy away from their destiny.