Chapter 2

“Where are we going now, AJ?”

Connor, having been fed most graciously by the Apple family (Applebloom was his favorite, she was SO CUTE!), was now walking down the path next to Applejack, presumably on their way into town.

“Ah’m goin ta take ya to see a friend of mine, Miz Twilight Sparkle,” Applejack said. “She’s the smartest pony around these parts, and she might know what ter do with ya’ll.”

Connor had, of course, either become more acclimated to the existence of squishy, talking ponies, or his mind had finally broken and he was gibbering somewhere on a couch. Either way, he wondered what the other pony would be like.

They had reached the outskirts of town. Connor could just see ponies mulling about in the streets, shopping, or simply enjoying the day. He was about to enter eagerly when, for the second time that day, he heard an unfamiliar voice behind him.

“Applejack! Hello! And – What in Celestia is that?”

Connor turned to see another pony, this one lavender, with large, innocent purple eyes. While Applejack’s were green and with freckles around them, this pony’s eyes were large and round, and had a certain quality that suggested she spent more of her time inside reading than outside working.

Applejack trotted forward to the other pony. “Twilight! Jus’ the pony ah wanted to see!”

Twilight nodded slightly, her mouth still agape as she looked with disbelief at Connor. Applejack followed her gaze and cleared her throat.

“Uh, yeah. Twi, this here’s Connor. He ain’t from ‘round here, and he don’t know how he got here, but ah found him in one of mah orchards and thought you might know what ter do. He’s harmless, and he can talk. He’s-” Applejack broke off, her brow furrowing for a moment.

“How do ya say it… scented!”

Twilight looked confused for a moment, then smiled. “You mean ‘sentient’?”

Applejack’s face brightened. “Yep, that one!”

Connor, who had stayed where he was for this interaction, started forward towards the lavender pony. He began to put his hand out to shake, then thought better of it and put it back.

Awkwardly, he said, “Yeah, I’m Connor. I don’t know how I got here. I was in the land of Hyrule one second, and the next I was here. AJ tells me there’s no other humans here?”

At the word ‘human’, Twilight’s eyes lit up. “LYRA!” she exclaimed. Applejack and Connor exchanged confused glances.

Twilight continued. “Sorry, I just realized something. I’ll go look in my library for something to help you, um, Connor. I also need to talk to someone. In the meantime- Oh! Why don’t you go to Fluttershy’s cottage? I’m sure she’ll be able to take care of you.”

Connor didn’t know who this ‘Fluttershy’ was, but at the moment he could really use a place to sit down, and maybe a nap.

“That sounds alright,” he said.

Twilight beamed.  “Good! I’ll go see what I can find. Maybe Princess Celestia knows…” The lavender bookworm galloped off in the direction of the town, still talking to herself.

Applejack turned to Connor. “Ah’ve got to get back to the farm now, Big Macintosh’ll be needin’ help. Fluttershy’s cottage is down that path, there.” She indicated a small trail off the main road. “Will ya’ll be okay, findin’ it on yer own?”

Connor nodded. “Good. Fluttershy’s a little timid, so be careful, but she’s got a heart of gold.”

With that, Connor said goodbye to Applejack, and turned toward the woods as the orange mare galloped off. With any luck, this “Fluttershy” would give him a bed. He’d had enough excitement for one day, and wanted nothing more than to lay down and sleep for a day or two. He adjusted his sword and shield on his back, and then started into the woods.

He followed the small trail for a few minutes, admiring the trees and the abundance of animals. This place was a far cry from the quiet yet ever-present threat of the Lost Woods. Connor wondered briefly if the teen in green had woken up, and whether or not he had met the strange character in the painting. He decided the kid looked like he had things under control. If Hyrule needed to be saved, why not him?

He had come to a small bridge crossing over a creek that looked like it had so many creatures living it that there was no room for water. He crossed over easily, and saw the small cottage that he was approaching, with bird houses hanging off of every available hook. He took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for another strange talking pony. He strode up to the door of the cottage and knocked.

From behind the house, he heard, “Oh, I’m back here! Come around! ….If that’s okay.”

Connor, who would have rather gone inside and gone to sleep, dragged himself around the side of the small cottage. He turned the corner cautiously… and stopped so fast he almost started moving backward.

Ahead of him, wearing a small straw hat with a light green bow and holding a small trowel in her mouth, was the most stunning creature Connor had ever seen. She was a bit small, petite almost, and the most delectable color of golden yellow Connor had ever seen. Her mane was a light shade of pink, and the color of it complemented her coat so beautifully that he had to rub his eyes to make sure that he was actually seeing what his eyes told him was there. He had never seen perfection before, and he was suddenly sure this was as close to it as he was going to get.

The pony with its back to him then began to speak, and Connor was sure the voice had changed significantly since he heard it barely 30 seconds ago. Gone was his tiredness, his confusion, his worry over returning to his home. Nothing remained except awe and worship for the beautiful creature standing before him and speaking with the voice Connor was sure belonged to a goddess somewhere.

“There you go, Mister Mole. Your burrow’s all fixed up!” The pony, who’s name Connor somehow managed to remember through his blown mind as Fluttershy, began to turn to him.

“Now, what can I help you- EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!”

Having caught sight of Connor, (all six feet of him) standing there on his strange looking ‘hind legs’, Fluttershy screamed loudly. However, all of her training with Rainbow Dash hadn’t been for nothing. She reacted to the monster before her, pushing off from the ground and unfurling her wings from her sides. Connor had somehow missed these before, and the sight of this beautiful creature spreading wings and rising into the air before him made him fully and completely believe for a second that he had indeed died and gone to heaven and an angel now was before him. His amazement, plus his overwhelming state of body and mind, made him physically fall to his knees. He realized that the apparition before him was leaving, and terror welled up in him. He started to speak, to try to keep her from abandoning him.

“Wait…. Please wait!”

The pink-maned pony slowed her ascension. She turned back slowly, still hovering at her height of about seven feet above Connor’s head. She gazed fearfully at him, and Connor felt his heart skip a beat as he looked into her deep, cyan eyes. He realized she was waiting for something more, and attempted to marshal his thoughts together into coherent speech.

“My…. My name’s Connor. I’m new here in town- I mean new here in… [where was here again? Oh right] …uh, Equestria.”

Fluttershy lowered her hover about half a foot. She still looked unable to say anything.

Connor prompted her. “Are…. Are you… Fluttershy?”

The yellow mare lowered another two feet. She opened her mouth, and that quiet yet entrancing voice once again washed over Connor like the sun on a bright spring day.

“Um, yes…. Uh, well, if you don’t mind me asking…. Are you… a monster?”

Connor almost laughed in spite of himself. Living in Hyrule, he had seen so many monsters, he knew what they looked like. The thought of himself as one was quite humorous, yet to the delicate beauty before him he was sure that’s how he appeared. He cleared his throat, and then started to speak quietly and as gently as he could.

“No, I’m not a monster. I’m from another land, somewhere else, a place called Hyrule. I’m not here to hurt you. I could never- uh, I mean… I really like your… mane?”

Fluttershy looked confused. Connor paused, realizing he was losing it slightly. She was just so… Through a great effort, he pulled himself back together and continued.

“Anyway, I met Applejack and… the purple one, and they said that you might be able to… take care of me for a little while?” Connor’s cheeks burned as he realized how many different ways what he had just said could be taken.

Fluttershy, however, didn’t seem to notice. She lowered herself down slowly, coming to Connor’s eye level. Just then, a noise came from behind her. Her wings, which were not the strongest to start with, snapped inward and she began to fall (even in falling, she was graceful, Connor thought). Then he lunged forward, throwing his arms out and diving to the ground in a forward leap that would be remembered as the greatest example of a fencing fleche ever. He caught the beautiful yellow mare with both arms, and the sensation of her fur on his bare skin was one of the most wonderful he could remember. Then he hit the ground with a grunt.

“Oh my! Oh I’m so, so sorry! Are you okay? Thank you for catching me! I didn’t hurt you, did I? Oh my! I’ll get off of you now!”

Connor, who never wanted her to get off of him for the rest of both their natural lives, sighed as she got up and got to her hooves. She turned around to find the source of the noise that had frightened her, and found that it was just the mole whose burrow she had fixed. She smiled at him, to reassure him that she was alright, and then turned back to Connor, who was just getting up off the ground. She looked at him curiously, now that her fear was set aside. At last, she smiled radiantly at him, and Connor felt his feet lift off the ground and begin to hover as he was filled with inner bliss at the sight of her beautiful face.

He looked down, somewhat surprised to see that his feet were still touching the ground. He looked back up as Fluttershy began to speak.

“Oh, I’m glad you’re not a monster. Monsters are SCARY. I’ve never seen a pony like you before… What are things like where you come from?”

Connor relaxed, things were going better. “Where I come from, everyone looks like me. And there are monsters there too, and ponies, but nothing like you.  You’re…” He broke off, realizing that he might be going too far again.

Fluttershy looked into his eyes with her large and innocent ones. “Yes?”

Connor flushed again. “…a bit smaller than ponies there. Yeah. But they can’t talk. The ones from my home, that is.”

Fluttershy smiled at him again, and began to walk around the side of the cottage. “Why, that’s just so very interesting! I want to hear all about it! Why don’t you come inside, and I’ll give you something to drink.”

Connor followed her eagerly, his weariness now nothing but a distant memory. “Thank you. I appreciate you taking me in!”

“Oh, I like to care for all creatures, and to help anyone who needs it. It’s my special talent.”

Connor suddenly noticed the trio of butterflies on her flank. Their wings were the same color as her mane, and their delicate images seemed to capture the essence of Fluttershy’s personality. Come to think of it, Applejack had had apples on her flank… and the purple one, who Connor remembered as Twilight, had had a star. Those marks must have something to do with their abilities or nature, he realized.

They had reached the door of the cottage, and Fluttershy pushed it open and let him into the small room beyond. It was simple and quaint, with a couch and a hearth and places for small creatures scattered just about everywhere. There were mouse holes, more bird houses, a rabbit hutch… Connor didn’t know how she stored any food for longer than 5 minutes.

“Angel! Are you in here?”

Connor heard a small sound from the rabbit hutch, and turned to it in time to see a small white bunny appearing from within it. It stretched, yawning, and then started fearfully at the sight of Connor.

“It’s okay, Angel Bunny. He’s not a monster. His name is Connor, and he’s going to be here for a little while.”

Angel looked suspiciously at Connor. He hopped over to where he was standing, and circled him warily. Connor bent down, and reached out a hand to pet him. Angel was confused, and then put out a paw and shook hands. Connor laughed at the little bunny’s dignified expression as he hopped away, and then Fluttershy was back, carrying a small tray with a glass of water on it, which Connor took gratefully. He looked around for a moment before taking off his gear and seating himself on the couch with a sigh and closing his eyes. He took a long sip of water, and let it run down his throat as he felt the insanity of the day retreating. He opened his eyes to see that Fluttershy had seated herself comfortably on a rug, looking at him patiently. She sat almost like a dog would, but to compare her to a dog would be a horrible injustice. Her ethereal face was turned up in concern as she gazed at him from under her long, flowing mane. She really was the loveliest thing he had ever seen, Connor thought.

“…So… this is a very nice cottage…” Connor kicked himself mentally for his inablity to come up with a better line than that.

Fluttershy smiled charmingly again. “Thank you. It’s nice here.”

“Have you always lived here?”

“Oh yes. Ever since I left Cloudsdale.”

“Where’s that?”

“It’s one of the Pegasus cities. Where I grew up.”

“Oh. I grew up in near the Lost Woods in my land. It’s a dark place with a few monsters and lots of creatures. It’s easy to get lost.”

Fluttershy shivered. “Oh, my. That sounds just like the Everfree Forest. It’s dark and scary there.”

“Where is it?”

Fluttershy glanced out the window. “Over there, just past the fence.”

Connor looked. Sure enough, there was a large forest, much darker and denser than the one he had passed through on his way to the cottage. The trees were so bunched together that the darkness beyond them seemed impenetrable.

“Wow. Why do you live so close?”

“Oh, well, it’s where the animals are. I’ve only been inside a couple of times.”

Connor nodded. “I only went into the Lost Woods when I needed to.”

“Oh, yes. Can you tell me about your home?”

“What do you want to hear?”

“Oh, absolutely everything!”

“Well….”

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