Matthew and Fluttershy now had the trust of Rainbow Dash. This came as a surprise to them both, seeing as though Rainbow was able to accept everything so easily. Now, Matthew and Fluttershy had to gain the trust of the others, meaning the rest of Fluttershy’s friends. After about one month, Fluttershy and Matthew decided it was time.

Rainbow Dash made her way to Matthew and Fluttershy’s for a normal visit. When she arrived, she found Fluttershy tending to the garden with some of her animal friends. Rainbow approached Fluttershy.

“Hey Fluttershy,” she greeted. Fluttershy was a little startled. She didn’t hear Rainbow’s approach, but once she realized that it was just Rainbow, she quickly calmed down.

“Oh, hello Rainbow, nice to see you again. What brings you here today?”

“Just felt like hanging out with you guys. Where’s Matt?” Rainbow looked around, but couldn’t seem to find him.

“He’s in the woods hunting for tonight’s dinner. You didn’t see him on your way here?”

“Nope, I must have missed him.” Shortly after she said that, she heard a thud from behind her. She quickly turned to see Matthew.

“Dude, not cool,” Dash said as he started to chuckle.

“You got scared, don’t try to deny it,” Matthew said jokingly.

“I was not, I was just a little surprised. That doesn’t count as scared.” Rainbow started to laugh as well. Matthew gave her the usual hoof/fist bump. “Catch anything good?” she asked him. He turned around and headed back into the forest, which confused both Rainbow and Fluttershy. Moments later, Matthew came out, pulling the body of a manticore. Fluttershy and Rainbow were in complete shock.

“Before you ask, yes, I killed a manticore, and yes, we are going to eat from it. I’ve never heard of them being inedible, so I figured we might as well give it a try.” Fluttershy left what she was doing to inspect Matthew. Sure enough, he had been scraped up a bit.

“Matthew, look what you’ve done to yourself,” she said, starting to tend to the wounds. He quickly stopped her.

“Fluttershy, I’m fine. This is nothing, and I’d say it was worth it. Not only are we going to eat something new tonight, but I can now rack up manticores on the kill list.” Matthew just smiled at Fluttershy. She rolled her eyes and smiled back at him. Rainbow was still in shock.

“Wow Matt, I knew you were tough, but killing a manticore, now that takes guts.”

“Noted. You’ve actually come at a convenient time Dash. Fluttershy and I think it’s time we inform the others. You just need to get them all here.” Rainbow perked up a bit. She had been wondering when they would finally fill the others in on where Matthew and Fluttershy were. Rainbow knew that Twilight secretly cared for Matthew’s safety. Applejack and Rarity pretty much disliked Matthew, but Pinkie didn’t really care. If anything, she thought about Matthew being a potential new friend, even after what he had done. Matthew went over a date for them all to meet, and Dash told him she would get them all there.

That day would in fact be the next day. Rainbow got all of her friends together. They were all wondering as to why in Celestia’s name they were going so deep into the Everfree Forest. Rainbow knew a safe path, however, so the trip wasn’t that bad. Twilight actually had a hunch as to where they were going, but she didn’t say anything. Finally, Rainbow arrived with the rest of her friends to Matthew and Fluttershy’s home. Fluttershy was waiting outside. At first sight, the girls all rushed to her. Fluttershy was greeted with a huge group hug from her friends.

“I missed you girls so much!” Fluttershy said, embracing the girls.

“We missed you too Fluttershy,” Twilight responded. The girls finally let go to see that their friend was perfectly fine.

“Darling, you don’t seem distraught about your situation. Where is that ruffian that took you away from us?” Rarity chimed in.

“Darn tootin! Ah’m ready ta buck so hard, his ancestor’s will feel it,” Applejack added, obviously showing her dislike towards Matthew.

“Why don’t you look up,” Rainbow responded. The ponies all turned to her, then turned around to Fluttershy. They looked up to see Matthew on the top of the house. He casually waved to them.

“Hey ponies, long time no see.” He just smiled at them. They were all surprised to see him. Applejack shot him an angry look.

“Git yer flank down here now mister! It’s time you got what’s comin to ya!” she shouted up to him.

“Applejack, please calm down,” Fluttershy said.

“Calm down?! Fluttershy, this varmint took you away from us, yer friends!”

“He didn’t take me away, I chose to go with him. I love him, and if Rainbow can see that, I’m sure the rest of you can.” On that note, Matthew dropped down from the roof to stand at Fluttershy’s side. The ponies were surprised to see how his outfit had changed.

“What in Celestia’s name are you wearing?” Rarity asked him.

“Well, if I went into detail, we would be here a while, so I’ll just say that this outfit is from a good memory. Speaking of Celestia, how’s that bitch doing these days? She still hunting me down like a mad dog?” Matthew said mockingly.

“Well, she won’t be hunting anymore, now that Rainbow has shown us where you are located,” Rarity responded. She turned to Twilight. “Wouldn’t you agree Twilight?” Twilight simply sighed. She walked over to Matthew and Fluttershy.

“While I do have a great deal of trouble with what you did Matthew, I am indeed happy for you and Fluttershy. I can assure you that Celestia will not hear a thing from me.” Matthew was surprised to hear what Twilight had just said, and so were the others.

“Twilight, what the hay are you talkin about?!” Applejack asked.

“I never told you all, but I was the one who helped bring Matthew here. I knew that he and Fluttershy meant a lot to each other, and I wasn’t going to let the Princess tear them apart, no matter how important the Princess is to me. I implore you all to see the good in Matthew’s heart, because I, and even Rainbow Dash, have.” Twilight stood alongside Matthew and Fluttershy, and shortly after, Rainbow flew over to them as well. Rarity, Applejack, and even Pinkie were all shocked.

“Well, if Twilight trusts him, I trust him,” Pinkie chimed in. “Besides, this means we can throw a party for Matthew and Fluttershy! It could be like a ‘However many years you two have been together’ party!” She hopped her way over to the others, now leaving Applejack and Rarity. They looked at each other and sighed. They had no choice but to side with their friends.

“Well, I suppose if you girls can see the good in him, then we can too,” Rarity said.

“Yeah, we apologize for our behavior partner, can ya forgive us?” Applejack added. Matthew smiled and responded.

“Already have.” With that, Rarity and Applejack perked up and they all were brought together for one big embrace.

Shortly after, Matthew and Fluttershy decided to give the rest of the ponies the grand tour of the house and the surrounding area. It took about one hour, but they finally all sat together around a fire outside, actually enjoying the manticore meat Matthew had procured the previous day. But now, Matthew finally had a chance to find out what Celestia was really up to.

“So, Twilight, what’s up with the Princess?” Twilight took a moment to gather her thoughts.

“Well Matthew, to put it simply, she has changed. Ever since that day, she has been nothing but obsessed with trying to find you. She isn’t the same Princess that used to be my teacher. She still protects us and everything, but she is much more… evil, for lack of a better word. She actually has two guards posted at Fluttershy’s cottage every day just in case you two were to try to go there. She is doing anything and everything to find you two. She vows to kill you, and anypony that assists you. She doesn’t want to just wipe Fluttershy’s memories anymore, she wants to just wipe her off the face of Equestria.” At that, Fluttershy held Matthew close, unable to believe what she was hearing.

“But, why wouldn’t the Princess just try to send Matthew home? Why does she want to kill us?” Fluttershy asked.

“She thinks that Matthew’s existence is a threat to Equestria. She thinks he would find another way back here, so she thinks the best way to end all of this is to just wipe you both out.”

“But why Fluttershy, why would she want to kill her?” Matthew asked.

“That, I honestly can’t say Matthew. She is just so different now, filled with all of this rage and anger that I never even knew she possessed. She scares me now, honestly, and she scares practically everypony in Equestria. You’re really lucky she hasn’t found you yet. Matthew, let me assure you that if she finds you, she will do whatever she has to do to kill you.” Twilight’s words came as a shock to Matthew and Fluttershy. The rest of the ponies knew firsthand what Celestia was now like, so they weren’t as shocked. But, Matthew started to form an idea in his head, one that would sound absolutely crazy to everypony around him.

“What if I tried to reason with her?” Twilight simply raised an eyebrow at him.

“Matthew, not to make this sound as bad as it really is, but you killed her sister. How could you possibly think she would want to reason with you?”

“I don’t know, but the way I see it, it’s worth a try.”

“Perhaps, but is it worth losin yer life,” Applejack chimed in. She made a good point. At first sight, Celestia may just simply try to kill Matthew, not even giving him a chance to speak.

“The way I see it, what harm could it do? Yes, I could die, but truthfully, I don’t think I can really keep living like this.” He turned to Fluttershy. “And I know you can’t either. Fluttershy, we can’t keep doing this. I may be able to handle this, but you weren’t meant to be living like this. I honestly believe that things are worse for you now than they were on Earth, and you couldn’t really leave wherever it was you were living. You have space here, but you have to live in fear for your life. I don’t want that for you.” As he was about to continue, Fluttershy stopped him.

“Matthew, I don’t want to lose you. I don’t care how I have to live, not as long as I’m with you. I love you, and I will do anything for you.”

“Then let me do this,” he replied. She stared into his eyes for a moment. She let out a sigh, but she nodded. The other ponies were surprised by her choice, but they accepted it.

“You really want to do this Matt?” Rainbow asked. He nodded.

“I have a plan. Seeing as though Celestia will probably kill you all if she finds you aiding me, we have to make it like you have no knowledge of me. Twilight, you’re going to send Celestia a letter, saying that I’m in Ponyville. I’ll be there, and when she arrives, I’ll try to talk to her. You all can either not show up at all, or show up, but you won’t stand by me. You will just have to spectate whatever happens. Whether she wants to talk or fight, I won’t leave until I know whether or not I can or cannot get her to stop. And if it comes down to me having to kill her… we’ll just have to see what happens.” As Matthew finished, he looked at all the ponies. They nodded in agreement with the plan.

“I guess you really want to go through with this Matthew, but when do you want to do it?” Twilight asked.

“Tomorrow,” he answered, and all the ponies were shocked.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Matt, I know for sure that I take things very quickly at times, maybe even too quickly, but you REEEAAAALLLLY need to think about this. You’re going to be going up against Princess Not So Nice Anymore Celestia,” Pinkie burst out. Matthew couldn’t hold back a chuckle at her energetic tone.

“I’m well aware, but the way I see it, the sooner the better. I want to do this tomorrow. Any objections?” He waited for a response, but none of the ponies said anything. Fluttershy nuzzled against Matthew, and he held her close. “Alright than, tomorrow it is. I advise you all get back home. You’ll need the rest for tomorrow.” And with that, all the ponies departed. They all shared one last hug before leaving. Matthew put out the fire, and he went inside with Fluttershy.

“Are you sure you can do this Matthew?” Fluttershy asked. Matthew knelt down and kissed her. Breaking the kiss, he responded.

“Don’t worry, I can handle myself, you know that. No matter what she throws at me, I won’t be defeated. But hey, if it comes down to that… I want you to run. You don’t cry over my body, you don’t try to fight back, you run, got that?” Fluttershy nodded, pulling him in for another hug as she started to cry.

“Hey, hey, no crying. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine, and you know it,” Matthew said, his words soothing Fluttershy as she started to calm down.

“Yeah, it’s just… I love you so much Matthew, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you,” she said, as she released him from the hug and looked into his eyes.

“Nothing bad will happen, I promise. Come on, let’s go to bed.” Matthew got up and led Fluttershy to bed. They fell asleep in no time, but Matthew couldn’t stop thinking about what was going to happen the next day. He had to be ready.