Czar hunched over the sink in a bathroom, coughing blood down the drain, the red liquid glistening on his lips.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" A servant asked, her horn appearing first as she poked her head through the door.

Czar coughed more, blood contrasting with the white porcelain. He straightened, and spat some more blood and saliva into the sink, and wiped his mouth. "Y-yes, I'm alright, just another fit..."

The servant looked at the sick and pale king with her eyes shone over with tears. King Czar was doing his best to rule this kingdom, even with this sickness ravaging him...

***

Fluttershy watched Epee as he sat next to her outside her cottage, playing with the animals that approached him. He looked so rough, but he's actually very gentle, she thought to herself, he's so...Fluttershy let the thought hang. She could put one hundred words at the end of that sentence. She kept staring at him as he played with some mice as they approached him, letting them crawl on his legs and arms. She giggled as some puppies tackled him, knocking him the grass. She lifted the puppies off, giggling more when Epee begged for assistance as the puppies licked his face relentlessly. He sat up, brushing off the dirt that covered his back. Fluttershy continued to stare at Epee, until he turned to face Fluttershy. She blushed and looked down, embarrased for being found out. Why am I so attracted to him? I barely know him; I just met him two days ago...Fluttershy was thinking about this ever so endlessly. Every time she though about him, she blushes. Every time he talks to her, her mouth gets dry,  and her hands clam up. I'm such a mess, she thought, this is going to go on forever...

***

She clung to you, tears dampening your shirt, her horn rubbing against your neck. You had your arms around her to comfort her. Her red hair contrasted with your brown hair. You gazed upon a small house erupted in flames, the two of you standing merely yards from the conflagaration. The crimson flames danced, it's light mimicking sunlight. Was she the girl that yelled: "You're horrible! How could you do something like that!? Just leave, Epee!" in your first memory? She certainly looked like her, even though she looked much smaller. Could this be from childhood? Had you been childhood friends?

The image dispersed, giving you your sight back. But, something was odd. Your face was mahsed against something. The floor? You lift your head, and see the tiles of the bathroom. You must've fallen down when the memory took over your sight...

"Are you ok!?" Fluttershy asked, concern highly present in her voice. She knelt down to assist you.

"No, I'm fine, Fluttershy, thanks..." you say. You raise your hand to grab the tub in order to support yourself, but find a much warmer, softer target. You held Fluttershy's hand in yours, accidentally grabbing that instead of the tub's lip. Fluttershy squeaks and pulls her hand back, blushing severly. Oddly, you find yourself doing the same. Minus the squeaking. Normally, well, at least you felt as much, that you would think nothing of it. But now, for some reason, you're flustered and highly embarrased about it now.

"What are you two doing on the bathroom floor? It doens't look very comfortable!" a hyper, excited voice eminated from behind you.

"P-Pinkie!! I told you to knock first!" Fluttershy said, blushing harder.

***

You, Fluttershy, and Pinkie sat in the living room, the animals still meandering about the interior of the cottage.

"So, Pinkie, what'd you stop by for?" you asked, feeling a mouse crawl over your shoulder, heading over to the rest of the couch.

"To see you! Duh," she retorted, saying it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Well, at least she was straightforward, you thought. "Oh, hey, wanna go hang out???" Pinkie asked, again appearing 2 inches from your face.

"U-um..." you looked to Fluttershy. She was blushing, and had a look of indifference in her eyes. "S-sure?" you say, moving your head back a few inches, the back of the couch preventing you from escaping.

"You suuurrrre???" she asked, reverting the distance back to two inches. You nod, your cheeks burning from nervousness.

"Awesome! Is it ok if I steal Epee, Fluttershy?" she asked, obviously excited from the thought of having you to herself. When that thought crossed your mind, you instantly regret ever thinking that. (Author: You know why, readers. You know why.)

Fluttershy nodded, looking highly torn between countless choices possibly zipping through her head.

"Woohoo! Come on, Epee!" Pinkie took your hand and dragged you to the door. You sighed, and looked to Fluttershy.

"Sorry, Fluttershy, I didn't think I'd be dragged out to so many dates..." The second the word 'date' left your lips, you regretted it. These weren't dates, you thought to yourself, It was just some friends hanging out...It's not as if they're all hot for me...Are they? God, don't think that. Get your head outta your ass! Come on, Epee! It doens't work that way! You don't just get hacked up in the forest, get found some cute girl and her friends, and now they all swoon for you! Fluttershy's just, well shy. Just because every time she's in the same room as you, she can't talk or look you in the eye without blushing intensely and hiding her face behind her hair doesn't mean she has a crush on you!

...Does she?

You couldn't say anything else, because Pinkie had already dragged you out the door

***

You and Pinkie went nowhere in particular, you just listened to her talk all about her life with her friends while the two of you walked about Ponyville. She talked about first meeting Twilight, and the party she threw for her when she first arrived, and nearly burst into tears when she realized she didn't throw one for you. (You managed to calm her down before the waterworks started) She talked about Nightmare Moon, and how she and her friends took her down with the Elements of Harmony, and other crazy, dangerous, or silly adventures. She stopped short when a rumbling noise erupted suddenly. Pinkie looked down at her stomach. "Woops, I guess I forgot to eat this morning," she chuckled, almost nervously, and began to head off somewhere. "C'mon!" she said, turning back as she went off.

***

You caught up to Pinkie, who was standing on front of an unattended cart. It was surrounded with apples, and apple-related foods. Pinkie looked slightly confused at the vacancy of the cart.

"Um...where's the vendor?" you asked.

At that, a red hairbow, accomponied by red hair, poked up from behind the cart. You and Pinkie peeked over the cart a tad to see a little girl, with a big, light red hairbow, with much darker red hair, and a splash of freckles on her nose. You thought she looked alot like Applejack.

"Oh, hi Apple Bloom!" Pinkie said. "Watchin the cart for Applejack?"

"Mhm," she said, "You want somethin'? I got..." she named off countless apple-related pastries. Pinkie looked at the entirety of the cart's rations.

"Hmm...I think I'll just go with an apple." She said, fishing in her pockets for the amount of bits required. As she set the coin down, and grabbed the apple, she gasped, and looked at you in shock.

"Oh my god, I forgot to ask you if you were hungry!"

You still had yet to digest the breakfast you had, and were content. "Oh, no no, I'm fine, I had breakfast." She still looked distraught. "No, really, I'm fine."

Pinkie, still upset, thanks Apple Bloom and walks off, nibbling sadly at the apple. You catch up to her, feeling bad for no particular reason.

***

Apple Bloom knew. She was only about 8 years old, but she knew. Pinkie was crushing on that guy. Hard. It wasn't how she flipped out when she realized she didn't ask if he wanted something. No, it was how she flustered and different she seemed when around him. Nothing can upset Pinkie. Never does she falter, or have trouble deciding something. Normally, if she was in this scenario without that guy, she would gorge herself on some apple pie, or apple tart. But, now, she faltered, worried about how she'd look to someone else. It was decided. That guy was gonna have Pinkie all over him.

***

It'd been awhile before you could revert Pinkie back to her usual self. She just sulked along, nibbling her apple. Had her not taking your hunger into consideration been that bad? Apparently so, since she was acting as if there was nothing to live for anymore. You could've sworn that her hair wasn't as poofy as earlier.

An idea came to you. A couple days ago, when everyone was touring you through Ponyville, you had remembered that girl yelling at you, you were very sulky and sad looking. Pinkie tried to comfort you by giving you some of her shop's sweets. You thought about using the same trick on her. You didn't think it'd work, but it was worth a shot.

"Hey, Pinkie Pie," you said, as she turned her blue eyes to you. "How 'bout we stop by Sugarcube Corner, that oughta cheer you up." You spoke to her with a reassuring smile in an attempt to add to the effect of support. She gave the reaction you didn't expect: She smiled. She looked a hell of a lot better than two seconds ago. She insantly snapped back to her cheery, bubbly self, and bounced in the direction of the sweetshop. I just can't figure her out... You though to yourself

***

You realized, as you reached the doors of Sugarcube Corner, that you're broke. You've been relying on everyone else for expenses. But, those thoughts were in need of waiting, because Pinkie was already inside.

"Oh, Pinkie, dear, you're already back," Mrs. Cake said as Pinkie Pie entered the Sugarcube Corner once again.

"No, I brought Epee with me!" She responded, sitting on the counter next to where Mr. Cake was standing.

"Ah, Epee." Mr. Cake spoke with a sigh, "We've heard about you quite alot; Pinkie here talks about you nonstop." Pinkie had a slight indication of a blush, and you felt that the pinkness on her cheeks was a rarer occurance than seeing Celestia raise the sun with your own eyes.

"Um...that's nice?" you say, scratching the back of your neck.

***

You spent awhile talking with Mr. and Mrs. Cake, and Pinkie about random things. As you traded words with the group, you had an idea.

"Hey, um, Mr. Cake," you start before they cut in.

"Oh, please, call me Carrot," Mr. Cake said.

"Ok then, um, Carrot," you started, "Are you, by chance, hiring?"

Carrot looked suprised. He didn't expect for some random friend of Pinkie's to ask for a job.

"Um, no not really, but, we could always use a hand, right, Cup?" He looked to his wife, and she shrugged.

"Sure, dear, I don't see why not," Mrs. Cake said. Pinkie looked as if she was the happiest girl in the world.

***

"You start Monday, ok?" Carrot said as you and Pinkie Pie walked out of Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie looked at you with a face that held traces of suprise.

"Why'd you ask for a job? It was kinda sudden."

"Cuz, I realized I'm broke. I don't wanna have to make all of you pay for everything I need while I sit on my ass doing nothing. Besides, I need clothes; I'm operating on only 2 pairs of pants. It sucks."

Pinkie giggled her adorable little giggle. The two of you meandered about the streets of Ponyville once more, stopping by nowhere.

You decided to take advantage of thie situation. You had a few questions to ask Twilight; like about your amnesia, how to treat it, and how to get some new damn clothes.

"Hey, Pinkie? Can we stop by Twilight's library?"

Pinkie Pie's expression saddened very slightly. "Sure, yeah, follow me!" Her drop in bubbliness wasn't as noticable as earlier, but you could still feel it. Could it be that she wanted to spend this day with you only? You also remember something. When you went to Sugarcube Corner, you did absolutely nothing to cheer her up. Did...did merely spending time with her make her feel better? You had to play your cards carefully from now on...