Meet The Elements
The Party Planner
The sweet aroma of fresh pastries filled the bakery air. A bouncy mare with a darker, bubbly pink mane and tail completed another order. A pleased stallion trotted past with a bag of goodies. Pinkie waved to the next pony and everypony in the line moved forward one space like clockwork.
"Okay! Your usual basket of muffins and a chocolate milk. Coming right up, Derpy!" the pink earth pony happily exclaimed. In a flurry of movement, the order was completed and the gray pegasus exited the line. In a timely fashion, the next patron took their turn at ordering.
The pony on the counter squealed in excitement as her friend's approached, "Twilight, Rarity, Spike!"
"Hello, darling," Rarity mentions with a smile. "It's so nice to see you!"
"It's nice to see you too, Pinkie" Twilight adds.
"You here for your usual four cups of coffee with cream and sugar and a half-dozen glazed doughnuts with emerald sprinkles?"
"I'm not here for study fuel, Pinkie. The four of us came for some ice cream," Twilight replied.
"Four?" Pinkie looked around the store in confusion until Twilight stepped aside and from behind her a nervous white foal with a blond mane became apparent.
"Hello miss."
Pinkie casually waved from behind the counter, "Oh, hey there!"
Twilight perked up an ear, "Pinkie meet my distant cousin New Blood. New Blood, this is one of my best friends, Pinkie Pie."
"H-Hello miss P-Pie," Blueblood said, greeting her with a nervous wave. Pinkie happily reciprocated and trotted out from behind the counter.
"Hey ya New B, I'm Pinkie Pie but everypony calls me Pinkie." The pink mare wiggled a fore-hoof, "Normally, my wibbly leg would let me know if there's a new pony in town so I could throw them a party but I feel like we've already met you and I can't put my hoof on where." She softly responds, offering him a chocolate treat. "Apology muffin? It's on the house!" She offered with big, hopeful eyes.
Blueblood looked over to Twilight who gave him a simple nod. He took the offered treat and gave it a careful test bite before ferociously consuming it with vigour. "Waw miff phie! Thif muffin tafteff amasin!" He happily exclaimed, his mouth full of muffin.
Pinkie giggled at his reaction, "I'm so glad you like it! And you can just call me Pinkie!"
"Will do mi-, I mean Pinkie" Blueblood said between bites, then promptly stuffed his mouth with the remainder of the muffin.
While Blueblood was momentarily distracted, Twilight took Pinkie in her magic and pulled her aside. She took the opportunity to give her friend the same quick explanation that she had given Rarity.
Pinkie gasped. "Really!?"
Twilight's ears drooped, "Yes, which is why we're here."
"Awww, that poor little colt. You've got it Twilight. I'll be on my bestest behaviour. Not even a single shananigan." Pinkie responded with a salute, then hopped over the counter to directly land in the ice cream preparation station.
"So you're all here for some ice cream, right?"
Blueblood vigorously nodded his head the moment he finished his muffin, "Yes please!" His voice crackled with filly-like glee.
"Okie Doki Loki! And what flavor can I get 'cha?" She asked, taking a serving scoop into her hoof.
"I'll have a single scoop of double-chocolate truffle in a waffle cone, please," Twilight answered.
"Two scoops of low-fat vanilla in a bowl for me, darling," Rarity added politely.
"A scoop of a sapphire explosion in a cone for me" Spike replied coolly.
Unsure of what to order, Blueblood pointed a small hoof at the pale closest to him, "That one please."
Pinkie followed his hoof and tilted her head in confusion when she saw which flavor he was pointing at, "Are you sure you want pecan butter tart? You look more like a blueberry cheesecake kind of pony to me."
"Uh… I do?" Blueblood asked.
Pinkie nodded rapidly, "Uh huh! Those pecans will get stuck in your teeth and you'll be picking at them with your tongue all day, like this," Pinkie's tongue could be seen moving around inside her mouth, running along with her teeth in an exaggerated fashion.
Twilight's wings fluttered on her back while she observed Pinkie Pie's tongue technique in wide-eyed fascination.
"You should probably get blueberry cheesecake. Pinkie is rarely ever wrong about these things," Rarity bumped Twilights flank with her own, "Isn't that right, Twilight darling?"
"O-oh, right. Yes, absolutely!" She stammered.
"Err, okay. I guess I'll try the other one?"
"Coming right up!" Pinkie happily exclaimed, before madly scooping out the various flavors of ice cream and presenting them to the group, "Here ya go!"
Rarity paid the crazy mare and hoofed him his blueberry ice cream which he took with a gleeful smile and started to slowly lick it. Pinkie soon noticed something…a little off.
"Hmm, You know New B, I didn't notice this before, but I feel like we've already met. White coat, blonde mane, colt, Twilight's cousin…hmm" She thought hard to herself as she looked between him, the cone and Twilight over and over, repeating the same action again and again.
"Hmm, have you ever been to the Sparkleworks?"
Rarity gasped, "I hardly think that such a little colt has ever been to the Stalliongrad glitter mine, Pinkie."
Twilight was getting nervous, thinking Pinkie was about to untangle her web of lies and discover the truth, when Blueblood sniffed the air. "Hey, do you guys smell something burning?"
Pinkie gasped in panic, "MyTripleUpSideDownCakeGotToGoSeeYouLaterGoodbye," She screamed while dashing into the kitchen in a mad rush.
Blueblood quietly chuckled, "I like her; She's really funny."
"Oh dude, you don't even know the half of it," Spike chuckled along with Blueblood.
"What do you say we find a booth and enjoy our treats. When we're done we can continue with our tour." Rarity proposed. "There is still a lot more of Ponyville for you to see," She said as she leads the group to an empty table.
The Farmer
After a long walk, exploring all over Ponyville, with Spike acting as the groups self proclaimed tour guide, the gang finally arrived at the massive farm located on the outskirts of town.
"…And here we have Sweet Apple Acres, Equestria's largest apple farm, owned by the Apple family, which were the very first to settle this region and establish what later became Ponyville," Spike informed them, as the group entered the large farm. Blueblood looked around him with joyous wonder in his eyes.
"Wow, I don't think I've ever seen so many apple trees before!," He said, impressed.
Rarity giggled at his reaction, "Indeed, Applejack has done a marvelous job continuing her family's tradition of growing the best apples Equestria has ever seen-"
"You could say the apple doesn't fall from the tree!" a mare whose voice carried a southern twang called out to the group. The approaching earth pony's golden coat rippled in the sunlight over taut cords of muscles. Her mane, the color of a wheat field in Autumn, spilled out from beneath a lovingly worn stetson, to be tamed by a red ribbon into a ponytail. The pony's tail was similarly styled.
"Hi-ya Applejack," Spike responded to her with a wave of his claw.
Applejack tilted her hat to the dragon in a friendly manor, "Howdy, Spike. You here to join Applebloom 'n' her friends at the clubhouse?" she said before noticing the small white colt trotting with the group.
"Nah, not today. We're on a walking tour!" said Spike.
"Is that so? Looks like you picked up a straggler there, Twi. Howdy there, little feller. Spike bring ya here to join the cutiemark crusaders?"
Blueblood gave her a polite shake of his head, "Nope, sorry. I'm visiting my cousin for a while. My name's New Blood. It's very nice to meet you, miss."
"Well, the pleasure's all mine, partner," Applejack responded to him before looking to Rarity, "Ah didn't know you had family coming over Rares. Ya should have told me. I woulda had Granny Smith's make ya some of her famous apple pie!"
"Actually dear, his arrival was a surprise for me, too" She mentions as Twilight approached them.
"Rarity is not my cousin, miss Applejack, Twilight is," He corrected her.
"Twi, I'm starting ta think you have more family than I do," Applejack looked at her lavender friend with a warm smile.
Twilight nodded and introduced them to each other, "Applejack, meet my distant cousin, New Blood. New Blood, meet Applejack. She's one of my best friends here in Ponyville"
"Iffn that's too much of a mouthful, ya can just call me AJ. All of my friends do."
"Hi again," He replied with a giggle. "Hey miss AJ can I ask you a question?"
"Sure thing, sugarcube."
"Did you really plant all of those trees?" He asks innocently, pointing to the orchard behind her, making AJ chuckled.
"Well maybe a few in the Northern field but nah," she flipped her head, gesturing to the stand of trees, "This here's is the family plot. When we have a family hoedown the new youngins to the family get to plant their own tree. Been an Apple family tradition for generations." She told him with pride.
"That's so cool!," He beamed. "You must have a really big family to plant so many trees."
"We've got some of the deepest roots 'round these parts," She said to him, scuffing a hoof through his hair, messing up his mane.
"So, what brings y'all here?" AJ asks, looking to the rest of the group.
"Hey Spike, why don't you take New Blood to see the chickens?" Twilight suggested.
"Wait, you also have chickens?" Blueblood asked.
"It's not a farm jus' 'cause of the apples, sugarcube. We cultivate all sorts of things. Chickens, cows, but don't talk to the goats. Those varmints are darn liars. They'll talk their fool head off about things they think they heard." She helpfully informs them. "Now go on, partner. We'll be right behind ya."
Spike gave an understanding nod and nudges Blueblood in his flank. "This way, dude. You think the trees here are impressive, these chickens will make you lose your mind!" He pointed to a wooden structure in the distance and they both head toward it.
Once they're far enough away, AJ turns to the others. "Alright, so, you got rid of 'em. Now can you tell me what's really goin' on?"
"What makes you think something is going on?" Twilight nervously asked.
"We've all played poker together, remember? You have one of the worst poker faces I've ever seen." AJ replied.
"Err, right…" Twilight replied, sheepishly, and just like the others, explained what was going on with her cousin.
By the end of the story, AJ looked in the direction of Spike and Blueblood. "Land sakes, that's quite the story. He really doesn't remember anything?"
Twilight shook her head, "He didn't even know how to walk."
"He's so brave for doing what he's going through and trying his hardest at hiding it! But the truth is that he's still a scared and confused little colt, Applejack. That is why we didn't want to tell you with him present. It's not fair to him that he is constantly reminded of what he's lost." Rarity adds.
"Ah understand," Applejack responded with a nod. "But what in tarnation could just... wipe out his memories like that?" She asked in complete disbelief.
"I don't know Applejack, even Princess Celestia doesn't know the cause. He wouldn't even remember it himself, which may be for the best."
"Oh, he remembers, Twilight" Applejack said looking back at her, "You're right. The lil' critter's a fighter for tryin' to hide it… but ah've seen that look on mah own face since we lost our parents. That's the same look Applebloom would give me after she'd had a nightmare and she's too proud of herself to admit she had one." She informs. "Somethin's really scared him and I'm sure he remembers it."
Twilight, eyes wide in realization, as she recalled Blueblood's panic attack back at the castle.
"Oh my goodness!" Rarity brought her hoof to her mouth, "Do you think he's starting to remember?"
Applejack just shrugged, "Ah don't know... Maybe it was some another thing, but ah know I'm sure of one thing, keeping a brave face and pretendin' nothings bad's happenin' is never good. Ah say we let the poor colt sort himself out a bit and then afterwards we coach him into telling us what's happenin'. Afterall, It's not good forcin' these kinds of things outta ponies, but it's sure as hay not good to keep lyin' to yourself either."
Twilight nodded in approval "You're right AJ, we need to give him some space and ensure that he's in a safe state of mind."
"That was the point of his parents dropping him here, right Twilight? Now, what do ya say we go see how the little feller is doin'? Ah imagine by now he's bored of the chickens," AJ chuckled.
"I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if he was, dear" Rarity commented as they all trot off to go and see Spike and Blueblood. When they finally reach the coup the trio saw something none of them were expecting.
"What in tarnation?" AJ muttered, completely shocked at what she was seeing.
Spike was sitting off to the side of the chicken pen, idly watching over his charge and lazaly eating from a bag of old popcorn, occasionally tossing a handful of the kernels at Blueblood. Not more than a few paces away the little colt could be heard giggling up a storm, but not seen, because he was completely buried under a feathery mass of happily clucking chickens. "They're so warm and fluffy!" he shrieked in delight. "Spike, get in here. You gotta try this!"
"Well now, this was unexpected," Rarity equally confused.
"Twi, are you sure that he's your cousin and not Fluttershy?" AJ asked while looking at her friend and pointing over to Blueblood.
The Caretaker
After getting some apples, courtesy of Applejack, and saying their goodbyes, the group decided to continue their tour of the Ponyville area by visiting a cottage not too far away from the farm.
Beyond Sweet Apple Acres, a little over half a kilotrot down the road, over a sturdy cobblestone bridge, and within stone throwing distance of the Everfree Forest, was a cottage built into a grassy hill.
As the group approached, Twilight gave her number one assistant a suggestion, "Spike, why don't you take New Blood around back and show him Fluttershy's newest guests?"
Spike snapped to attention and saluted. "Sure thing, Twi. You can count on me. Come on, dude, you're gonna want to see this!"
Within seconds, Spike and Blueblood had dashed off behind the cottage to play, which would give Twilight the time she needed to explain what was going on with her cousin, which she did. At this point, retelling the fabricated story had become almost second nature to her and flowed easily from her lips.
"Oh my," Fluttershy exclaimed. "That poor little colt," Her eyes had teared up at some point during the story. Now she was at the verge of crying. Always prepared, Rarity hoofed her friend one of her personal, embroidered handkerchiefs, which Fluttershy took to dab her eyes.
"It's… a lot, yeah. Which is why he'll be staying with us at the castle for a while. Since he lost most of his memories, the doctor thought it would be better to have him under constant supervision, preferably with family, to watch over him while he recovers. He wasn't physically injured, but they needed to keep the bed available for ponies who could be, so they sent him to live with his closest living relative, which would me. I brought him to you thinking that maybe your animal friends could help him feel a little more at home."
"Oh, but of course, Twilight. I'll gladly help," Fluttershy said with a soft smile.
"He seems to be very good with animals," Twilight mentioned, "Even Owlowiscious was very friendly toward him, which I thought was very unlike him."
Fluttershy hoofed Rarity back her handkerchief. "Thank you, Rarity. So, um, you see, it's pretty common for animals to be more receptive towards ponies that shy away from them," She informed her friends. "It's a sympathetic response that all creatures have but more, um, self-aware creatures subconsciously choose to ignore."
"But darling, how could you possibly know that?" Rarity asked while using her magic to levitate the now soiled handkerchief back into her saddlebag.
"Well, you see," Fluttershy rubbed her hooves with embarrassment, "You know how animals can sense fear?"
They all nodded in confirmation.
"Well, the truth is, fear is not the only thing they can perceive. They can also tell when their caretaker is in trouble, sad, angry, or even if they're not feeling well." She explained. "So when a pony gets seriously injured, critters, by their very nature, can somehow feel that, too. Some of my little animal friends have told me of their experiences when they lose their closest friends and family. According to them, being near somecritter that has just recently passed on, they feel a comforting warmth, like being reunited with a loved one that they thought was gone a long time ago. And that's how New Blood feels to them," She explained.
"If I'm understanding you correctly, you mean to tell us that your darling little friends believe that New Blood has had a near death experience? How could you possibly know all that so soon? We've hardly just introduced him to you." Rarity interjected.
"A little birdy told me," she simply replied.
Twilight frowned, "This is more serious than I thought."
Fluttershy nodded. "I don't know if we can help him, but I believe my little animals friends would like to try to help him overcome his recent trauma. You can count on my help too, Twilight."
"Thank you, Fluttershy, I really do appreciate it..." Twilight moved in and gave her shy pegasus friend a hug.
Rarity cleared her throat, "Ahem, yes, we're all here for him. But I believe it has been far too long. If New Blood is anything like my little Sweetie Belle, we shouldn't leave him unattended for too much longer."
"Of course you're right, Rarity," Twilight rolled her eyes. "We should go check on him and Spike. Make sure they're not stuck in a tree, or covered in sap, or built a catapult."
Rarity lead the group around to the back of Fluttershy's cottage, "Twilight, darling, I hardly think those two could possibly get into as much trouble as the Cutie Mark Crusaders."
"Oh my..." Fluttershy stopped mid stride and gasped, confused at what she was seeing.
Spike was sitting off to the side of the puppy pen, idly watching over his charge and lazaly eating from a box of dog biscuits, occasionally tossing a broken treat at Blueblood. Not more than a few paces away the little colt could be heard giggling up a storm, but not seen, because he was completely buried under a fuzzy mass of excitedly barking puppies. "I don't even know how this keeps happening," he shrieked in delight. "But I love it!"
Spike licked off the crumbs from his claws, brushed off his rather full tummy and grinned, "Oh yeah, he's going to fit in just fine."