The next day came and I gave my animals extra food to make up for yesterday. I wasn't able to go to the party since I felt bad for my little critters. Angel had been asking me about Rainbow Dash all day. "She's getting out of the hospital today. I can't see her because I have to take care of you guys."

He hit his face with his paw and hopped over to a table. I sighed. He had been acting like this for a long time now. I think he just misses her. I mean, we had been living with her most of our lives up until now, so I guess he might have been a little homesick. He put a picture of Rainbow and I in my face and pointed to me and her. He hugged it, pointed to me, and then to Rainbow Dash in the picture.

"Angel, I do care about her, but we can't live with her anymore. It's too dangerous with my mom. Besides, this is our home now. You'll get used to it soon enough." I said, smiling. He looked sad and hopped away. I know he'd end up liking it here more than up in Cloudsdale. Here he could actually jump around on the ground like a normal bunny instead of only in his room.

"Hey there, Fluttershy!" I heard Jack call from outside the house.

"Oh! Hey Jack." I said, happy to see him.

"How you been doing?"

"Good. Still getting used to the house, but good nonetheless." I said. There was a crash coming from inside.

"Sounds like you've got your hooves full." he said walking up to the door.

"It's just Angel. He's been getting a tad homesick since we moved out of Rainbow's house." I said, leading him inside.

"You know what always cured me of my homesickness?" he asked.

"What?"

"A good ol' Vortex Manipulator." he said.

"A Vortex...Manipulator?" I asked confused.

"Think of it as a teleporting device. It can take you anywhere and anytime." he said, showing a device he had on his foreleg.

"Really?" I asked, surprised. "That's neat. How does it work?" I asked.

"Think of it as like a mini-TARDIS." he said. Angel had thrown a ball at Jack, but he caught it easily in his mouth and threw it back at him, knocking Angel off the table. "Never cared for rabbits."

"What's a TARDIS?" I asked him, feeling a recognizable tingling sensation in the back of my head.

"The Doctor's big blue box. You know, the thing you saw back when you were a kid in the hospital?" he asked.

"Oh, that thing? I thought my eyes had just played a trick on me." I said, helping Angel up and giving him a carrot.

"No it's a real thing. The only difference between this little thing and the TARDIS, is that the TARDIS is a little more...stable." he said.

"Stable? Is the Vortex thingy not safe?"

"No, it's safe, it just likes to place you a few hundred years in either the past or future." he explained. "Want to give it a whirl?" he asked.

At first I really didn't want to, but something about the way he talked and carried himself made me want to see what he was talking about. I didn't get the tingling sensation in the back of my head, like when he brought up the TARDIS, but instead, I got a little warm and fuzzy. He held his hoof out and I gingerly took it.

"This may hurt a little bit." he said quickly.

"Wait what!?" I exclaimed as he pushed a button on his device. I felt like my legs and neck were being pulled in every direction. It only lasted a few seconds, but it wasn't a pleasant trip. I found myself standing in a forest with the moon high in the sky.

"That wasn't so bad. Actually the easiest trip I've ever made." he said, letting go of my hoof.

"Where are we?" I asked, stretching out my legs.

"Let's see..." he said, as he checked his device around his leg. "It seems like we're somewhere in early Equestrian history." he said.

"But where?" I asked as I looked around the dark forest. "Jack, I'm scared."

"Don't worry Fluttershy. I don't think we're far from Ponyville. This should be the Everfree Forest." he said, looking around him.

"Why are we here?" I asked him.

"I thought it would be a good way to get you out of the house, enjoy some fresh air and spend some time with a friend." he said, smiling at me.

I couldn't help but smile back. He was comfortable to be around and I felt safe with him. I heard voices talking from behind some bushes and he ran over to investigate. I slowly made my way over to him and looked to where he was looking. I saw a group of ponies with hoods and cloaks gathered in a clearing.

"Stay down." Jack whispered. I hunkered down behind a tree and he put a necklace around my neck. "This will keep you hidden. Just be quiet and don't make sudden moves." he said.

"What's going on?' I whispered. He hushed me and we listened closely to the voices.

"She's gone. She's been defeated by Celestia." the hooded pony farthest away from us said.

"The plan failed. We can't stay here any longer. Celestia's guards will find us. That Doctor and his wretched companion destroyed our chances." a stallion said next to the other.

"He'll be dealt with in the future. Remember what the Princess told the citizens?" another stallion said.

"1000 years of peace." a familiar voice said. "1000 years of planning for us." she said.

"Clarrise, what do you have in mind?" the pony closest to us asked.

"We find the Doctor's lover, torture her until he gives us what we want, and if he doesn't then we kill her." Clarrise said.

"You know the Doctor won't give us the information we seek, even if we do torture his lover." the other pony said.

"Then we hit everypony he loves and cares about." she said. "Firefly, you think you can bring him to us?"

"Yes. He's close to me and trusts me, so it should be easy." the pony closest to us said, lowering her hood. I saw the same pink coat that Rainbow's mom had.

"Is that..." I asked Jack.

"Yep. How is she here?" he asked.

"There's no need to look for me." I heard a stallion say. He walked out of the trees on the far side of us and walked to the center of the clearing.

"Doctor?!" I heard Firefly say shocked.

"Oh Firefly." he said with disappointment.

"Doctor...I'm sorry." she said. "But you have ruined our plans and you will pay for it."

"Is that why you turned her against me?" he asked Clarisse.

"We never turned her against you. She's always been a part of us. It was so easy to trick you. All it took was a pretty face with a sad sob story to make you come running." she said with a smile.

"Well, it's a good thing I know the real Firefly. The one who would never leave her friends." he said, looking at Rainbow's mom.

She nodded her head and led him away with two others. "Follow me." Jack said. I followed him through the forest as we made our way around the clearing. We followed the Doctor and Firefly as quietly as we could and found out where they were going. "We'll have to be careful. Don't want to cause a paradox." he said, reaching into his pocket.

"What are we doing?" I asked.

"If I remember the Doctor's story correctly, he told me that there were two ponies who took out two of the Shadows while he was being led to the torture room. He was never able to figure out who they were, but noticed that one was a bright color and didn't blend in well in the dark. If it weren't for them, he'd never be able to talk to Firefly one on one."

"Then why don't we wait for those ponies to come and take them out?" I asked.

"Because I think we're the ponies who are supposed to do so." he said looking at me. "You're the only bright pony here who doesn't blend in."

"What? There's no way I'm going out there!" I said.

"You have to. He's already experienced it. If you don't, you'll cause a paradox since there was only one pony." he said.

"What's a paradox?" I asked. I didn't understand it the first time and I didn't understand it now.

"Let's just say it'll rip a hole through the fabric of space and time." Jack explained.

"And that's bad?" I asked.

"Very." he said. "Well, let's get going." he said, and rushed out to them.

"Jack!" I exclaimed, giving away where we were. They all turned to us and two of the hooded ponies charged at us. I saw Jack punch both of them and knock them back. I carefully walked out and flinched as Jack sent one of them flying towards me. The pony stood up, saw me, and charged at me.

I backed up to a tree. I had no place to turn with my back against the tree bark. The pony smiled and lunged at me. I gasped and ducked as he went headfirst into the tree. He was dazed, which gave me time to escape. I ran back into the forest and hid behind a rock.

Why did he do that?? I thought to myself. He's going to get himself killed.

"Fluttershy?" I heard Jack call. I looked up behind the rock and saw him searching for me. I slowly walked out from behind my cover. "There you are!" he said happily. "I was afraid you may have gotten hurt. You took great care of yourself out there."

"Can I just go home? Please? I don't like this." I said, shaking.

He came over to me and gave me a hug. "Sure. I didn't mean to take us here. Remember the Vortex Manipulator can accidentally send us a certain time ahead or back from where we wish." he explained.

"So I may not even go back to my home at the same time I was there before we left?" I asked, worried.

"No, that's easy to do. All I have to do is reverse the co-ordinates to our last location and it'll simply reverse triangulate the jump." he said.

"Well, whatever you said, can you please just do it? I want to go home." I said. He pushed some buttons on his Vortex Manipulator and we were pulled back to my house. This time it hurt worse than earlier. I felt as if my insides were being jabbed with something sharp. It was over quickly though and I felt perfectly fine.

"That was a bit of a tougher jump." Jack said, cracking his neck.

"Please, don't do that again." I said.

"Hey, look, I'm sorry Fluttershy. I just wanted to help you get out of the house. I don't like seeing friends being gloomy." he said.

I looked at the sky and was shocked to notice the time. "What time is it?" I asked frantically.

"I'd say around 4 PM. Why?" he asked.

"Oh no. I missed it!" I exclaimed. "I've got to go Jack! I was supposed to go to Rainbow's party!"

"Well let's get going then. Maybe she's still there." he said as I ran off to SugarCube Corner. We ran through Ponyville and arrived at the bakery. We walked in and saw a large group of ponies dancing to the music.

"Hey! There ya' are Fluttershy!" I heard Applejack shout. "Where ya' been? Rainbow Dash left about an hour ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I...had to feed the animals." I lied. I wasn't sure how to tell them that I went back in time, saw Rainbow's mom helping my mom take the Doctor to be tortured. I doubt they'd understand what I was saying. I didn't even understand what had happened.

"My dear, who is this handsome fellow with you?" a white pony asked me.

"Jack Harness, my lady." he said, taking her hoof and kissing it.

"My my my, what a gentlecolt." she said.

"Easy there Rarity." Applejack said. I think she may have been a little irritated with how Jack acted to Rarity. I didn't understand why. He was nice and polite. "Anyways, the party's almost over. Ah think there's still some cake left if ya'll want some." she said.

"It's fine. I've got to get going. I have to find a Doctor. He should be somewhere in Ponyville." Jack said. "My lady." he said, bowing to Rarity. He left the bakery and ran off.

"What a charmer." Rarity said.

"Yeah, he's so wonderful." Applejack said, sarcastically.

"Applejack, darling, what's wrong? Didn't you think he was handsome?" Rarity asked.

"Ah just don' see what's so special 'bout him." she said, not looking at her.

"Well, I thought he was simply spectacular!" Rarity replied.

"Yeah, yeah, Ah know ya' did." she said. "Ah've gotta get back to the farm. Ma' siblings are probably worried."

"I guess I should go and find Sweetie Belle. I hope she didn't mess with anything in my Boutique." Rarity said. "I'll see you two later. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name sweetie." she said to me.

"Fluttershy." I said quietly.

"Well nice to meet you Fluttershy. I'm sure we'll meet again." she said smiling. She walked past Applejack and walked out of SugarCube Corner.

"Ah'll see ya' later Fluttershy." Applejack said.

"I'll walk with you back to the farm. It's close to my cottage anyways." I said.

"Thank ya'." she said. We walked out of the bakery and headed to her home. She stayed quiet, but I could tell there was something upsetting her.

"Is everything okay, Applejack?" I asked.

"Yeah, every things fine." she said.

"Are you sure? I noticed that when Jack talked to Rarity, you got a little annoyed."

"Ah did not!" she exclaimed.

"Oh...Um...okay..." I said quietly. I didn't expect her to shout at me.

She sighed. "Ah'm sorry Fluttershy. I just don't like the way that stupid little pony flirted with her. He's not even that good lookin'!" she said, a bit louder than normal.

Well...he is kind of handsome. I thought. "Applejack...if you don't mind me asking...Do you like Rarity?"

Her face turned a light shade of red. "No. She's into all the pretty froo froo nonsense. She doesn't even like it when there's a tiny bit of frosting on one side of someone's mouth. She gets all grossed out." she explained.

"But the way you acted showed your feelings. It's okay. I won't tell her if you don't want me to..." I said.

She stayed quiet the rest of the way back. "How'd you know?" she asked when we arrived at her farm's gate.

"I'm not sure. Something about it all just reminded me about another pony..." I said, the tingling sensation returning. I was going to have to talk to the Doctor about it. I thought he had fixed it at the hospital.

"Who? If ya' don' mind me asking?"

"I'm...I'm not sure...Just somepony who I was close to..." I said.

"Well, Ah'm sure whoever they were, cares a great deal for ya'." she said.

"Applejack!!" I heard a filly shout from the barn. "Big Mac is making me clean the barn!"

"Yeah. And?" AJ asked.

"Can't he do it?"

"Nope." I heard a deep voice say from behind the fence by the trees. I looked and saw a buff red stallion bucking trees.

"He has to buck the apples so we can make all those goodies for the Summer Sun Celebration. It's only in a few days." she said.

"Aww. But it's so hard." the filly said sadly.

"Ah'm sorry, Applebloom, but ya' have to do it. Big Mac is in charge whenever Ah'm not around. Ya' hear?"

"I hear..." Apple Bloom said with her head low.

"I can help. I'm not doing anything for the rest of the day, and I just fed my animals before I came to SugarCube Corner." I offered.

"Really? Thanks a lot!" Applebloom said happily.

"Now now, Apple Bloom. This chore is your responsibility. Not Fluttershy's." AJ said.

"No, it's alright. I can help. It's better than staying at home alone anyways." I said. I couldn't take my eyes off of the stallion kicking the trees.

"Well, alrighty then. If she really wants to help, she can. But don' make her do all the work Apple Bloom. Or you'll do more tomorra'." Applejack told her.

"Yay! C'mon Fluttershy! We've got a lot of work to do!" she said, and ran off into the barn. I followed, but before I entered the barn, I took one last look at the stallion. He looked back to me and I think he saw me blush. I entered the barn quickly and started helping Apple Bloom clean up the barn.