MLP FIM: Heart and Heritage Part 5

Rather hesitant, Fluttershy replied. "W-who's t-there?" She squeaked.
    A cloaked figure circled Fluttershy from the shadows. "My name is of no importance...though I was given one by many pony who feared my sillouhette crossing across the moon-lit rooftops of Detrot..." The figure then jumped out at Fluttershy, a pony completely masked by a black outfit, a set of three horns atop his head, his eyes empty and spiked kneecaps decorated his legs. "They call me Shadowhoof!"
    Fluttershy yelped whilst flinching. "W-what do you want?" She let out in a quick burst.
    Shadowhoof huffed, steam falling to the ground around him. "Discord...he promised me that...he'd take me in...be my real family...unlike the one that...tossed me away and ignored me!"
    Sorrow befell Fluttershy's face. "That's... that's just awful." She stated with wide sypathetic eyes. "You poor thing."
    Shadowhoof lowered his head. "I..." but almost immediately he raised it in anger. "I don't need your sympathy!" Shadowhoof stared down Fluttershy. "To be acceptedby Discord...in his new world...all I have to do is...to dispose of at least one of the elements of harmony...like you..."
    Fluttershy took a step back. "Y-you'd do that? To be apart of a world, with no joy... no laughter...no kindness."
    Shadowhoof lowered his head again. "...anything to be accepted again...to belong...to be...loved..."
    "And you think Discord will give that to you?" Fluttershy took a step towards Shadowhoof. "Haven't you ever known kindness...from anypony?" She took another step.
    Shadowhoof grabbed his head in confusion, the front of his body dropping to the floor. "Ngh! N-no I-yes I...ngh...I can't...remember...head...hurts...!"
    Fluttershy trotted over, placing her hoof on Shadowhoof's head. "Hey, i-it's okay..."
    Shadowhoof quickly stood up and backed off. "N-no p-please don't..." As Shadowhoof got up though, Fluttershy acidentally took off Shadowhoof's mask, revealing a grey pony with luminous blue eyes and a parted short black mane.
    Fluttershy stumbled back in shock. "G-GOLDHEART!?" She exclaimed, her mouth now agape.
    Goldheart stared at the mask on the floor. "Yeah it's...me..."
    Suddenly Discord's face appeared in the clouds above, his voice echoing through the cave. "What're you doing my colt? Dispose of her, now!"
    Goldheart closed his eyes, a pain-filled expression on his face. "N-no...I...I can't...not her..." Goldheart lowered his head. "Not...anypony..."
    Discord's voice took a rather angry tone. "And what will happen after your identity is revealed Shadowhoof? You'll just be locked up in the castle dungeons, alone...unloved...forever...for bringing only cruelty to this world..."
    "NO!" Fluttershy exclaimed. "You're a...good and kind colt, you saved that little guy this morning remember? You wouldn't let any creature suffer." Fluttershy pleaded.
    "You stay out of this." Discord  replied.
    Goldheart however took Fluttershy's words to thought. "I...wouldn't let any creature suffer..." Goldheart raised his head. "No...no I wouldn't...you're right Fluttershy...and Discord, I'm sorry but find yourself another lackey...I'm afraid I'm too soft to carry out your demmands."
    Suddenly the entire mountain began to shake, the cavern began to crumble around Goldheart and Fluttershy as Discord spoke.
    "Ughhh! You ponies may have won this time...but I'll be back...!" Discord's image dissipated from the clouds.
    Goldheart's horn glowed. "Fluttershy, hurry! Don't worry I'll be right behind you!"
    Fluttershy gave a quick nod before taking flight and heading skyward.
    Suddenly an almost transparent road of light appeared before Goldheart, leading up and outside.
    As quick as he could, Goldheart ran along the road after Fluttershy, just barely making it out before the cavern caved in.
    Outside, everypony else including the ex-elements of chaos looked on as Fluttershy and Goldheart landed beside them.
    "Thank goodness!" Rarity burst out, trotting up to the pair. "You're safe."
    Goldheart looked startled. "M-Miss R-Rarity! Wh-what're you doing here? It's dangerous."
    "Oh, as I am an element of harmony, I'm used to a little danger Mr Goldheart." Rarity replied with a grin.
    "C'mon y'all, I think this calls for a celebration, a round of Apple Cider on me at the farm!" Applejack stated.
    "Aw yeah, now you're talkin'." Dash replied, looking forward to her favourite beverage.
    After the short party, Goldheart, Dust Runner, Wild Card, Handy Hoof and Objection were allowed to spend the night in the barn seeing as they were too tired to travel.
    Meanwhile back at the rubble of Mount Insanity, Lightnin' stumbles upon the remains.
    "Wow...those mares meant business, they must'a really socked it to him." Lightnin' stated aloud, looking around in amazement.
    "What's this?" Discord's voice echoed around the site. "...I sense every element of harmony in you...but at the same time every element of chaos...interesting..."
    "Huh...maybe not, so you're that er...Discord guy right?" Lightnin' asked, looking around, attempting to pinpoint the source of the voice.
    "Yes yes but don't worry...I won't be back..." Discord's voice dissipated into the night.
    "...Okay..." Lightnin' pondered briefly before shrugging, he then turned and set off back toward ponyville.
    Discord began thinking to himself. "Hmmmm...I was wrong...he hasn't got EVERY trait of the one that supposedly will represent all chaos...he needs to find...ugh what was it called again...love?" Discord asked himself. "Nevermind...I'll know when to strike...and when I do...watch out Equestria...for my chaos will rain down upon you once more..."
    In the morning, Applejack enters the barn. "Morning y'all! How're y-hold on now..." Aplejack noticed that the barn was empty apart from one pony: handy hoof, who was packing. "Um...I don't suppose y'all know where the rest of those colts are at?"
    Handy Hoof lugged a large bindle over his back. "Nnnope...all I know is that most of them were headed for the train station, the last one who left was...ah, can't remember his name, the grey one, gold cutie mark. In any case I need to get back home...apologise and...then, I don't know what I'll do." With that Handy Hoof left.
    Applejack thought aloud. "Huh...guess they're all tryin' to move on..."  
    In Rarity's boutique, the elegant mare sits, letting out a sigh. "Goldheart..." Lost in thought. Suddenly Rarity caught a glimpse of Goldheart passing by her window. She briefly gasped, before darting toward her front door, willing it open and trotting outside. "Mr Goldheart." She addressed with glee.
    Goldheart turned his head to Rarity. "M-Miss Rarity?" Goldheart stopped and turned around. "C-Can I help you?"
    Rarity hesitated to respond. "...I was just wondering if...you would care to join me for lunch before you departed?" Rarity enquired.
    Goldheart smiled. "Sure, I mean...after causing so much trouble for you and the others it's the least I could do."
    "Please mr Goldheart, you simply can't take any of the blame, we all know it was none of your doing." Rarity trotted over to Goldheart wearing a smile. "Shall we?"
    Goldheart let out a sigh of relief. "Yes, and please just call me Goldheart."  
    "Oh, of course m...Goldheart, and you may may also drop the miss." Rarity replied with a smirk.
    "Thank you...Rarity..." Goldheart answered, wearing a warm smile.
    A few minutes later, the two arrive at a cafe that Rarity recommended.  
    Rarity sits down at a vacant table. "I simply adore this cafe, the service, the fine cuisine..."
    Goldheart sits opposite, though very close to Rarity. "If you think it's a nice place then s-so do I..." He replied, a bit nervous.
    A waiter arrived. "Good day madam and sir, what can I get for you?"
    "I will have a...daffodil and daisy sandwich my good colt." Rarity replied.  
    Goldheart looked up at the waiter. "I-I'll have the same, if, that's okay."
    "Very well, two daffodil and daisy sandwiches, I will be but, one moment." The waiter confirmed before trotting off.
    Goldheart looked back at Rarity. "I'm afraid I won't be able to stay long, I have...well, I guess you could say family, waiting for me in Detrot."
    "Oh...well, I'm sorry you have to make the trip back alone." Rarity stated, wearing a glum expression.
    Goldheart couldn't stop himself from speaking. "You could come with me if you wanted-I-I mean...that is...if you wanted to..." Goldheart blushed.
    There was a brief pause, whilst Rarity pondered, she then spoke with excitement. "I would LOVE to, but I may need a day to get prepared."
    Goldheart rubbed the back of his neck in shame. "O-of course...sorry to ask you so suddenly..."
    "Will your family be able to do without you for an extra day?" Rarity asked.
    Goldheart schuckled slightly. "They...aren't my real family just...well..." Goldheart let out a sigh of defeat. "I...look after orphans with some helpers in Detrot...those helpers were once orphans too...they just grew up without getting adopted...I call them family because they call me family too...'big brother'...they call me..." Goldheart explained as the waiter arrived, placing the sandwiches down.
    "Here you are, enjoy your meal." With that the waiter left the two alone.
    "Well, I'd certainly call that family, ponies who care fore you...those you love?" Rarity stated.
    Goldheart blushed. "L-love?"
    "Isn't that how you would describe your feelings for them?" Rarity enquired.
    Goldheart looked down. "I guess...sorry I...when you say 'love' I...couldn't help but think...well, maybe it'd explain better if I told you more about myself and...my cutie mark..." Goldheart began, looking back at his flank.
    "Oh please do." Rarity got comfortable.
    Goldheart looked back at the sandwich, then slowly lowered his head, closing his eyes. "I can't remember how many years ago...but, I do remember it being a cloudy night in winter...my...father...he...for no reason...just shouted at me one night and...threw me out into the rain."
    "Goldheart..." Rarity was struck with a sorrowfull expression.
    A young Goldheart with a blank flank runs through the rain, it's hard to tell the raindrops apart from the tears running down his face.
    "I felt so alone...so miserable...I felt like I wanted to just cry in a corner forever..."
    Young Goldheart crawls inside a small cardboard box in an alleyway, sniffling and trying to dry his face with one hoof.
    "...the only thoughts running through my head were that...nobody else was going through what I was...like they were all like my old man, eating a hearty meal in front of a warm fire while I lay out here in the cold..."
    Suddenly young Goldheart looks out at the rain, noticing somepony walking up to the box.
    "That is...until that filly came up to the box I was in..."
    A pink filly with a brown mane and tail cowers up to the box. "P-please sir...c-can I come in...?"
    "At first I thought she'd just came out of a nearby house to mock me or something...then I noticed how small, skinny and dirty she was...so...I let her in out of the cold, moving up."
    "Th-thank you sir..." The filly says as she enters the box, snuggling against the young Goldheart for warmth.
    "...then after a few minutes of silence, another young pony came up to the box, asking for shelter out of the rain...a blue colt..."
    "S-sir, p-please let me in, i-it's cold and wet out here, please!"
    "I let him in...he was also skinny and dirty...I had to ask them..."
    "...you two...where are your parents?" The young Goldheart asks.
    The two young ponies looked down with frowns.
    "I...I don't even know who my parents are..." The pink filly answered.
    "My...my auntie threw me out a week ago..she...she said she didn't love me and couldn't bother looking after me..." The blue colt explained.
    Tears fell down the ponies' faces as they briefly told their tale of sorrow.
    "...I couldn't believe it...there were more colts and fillies in this city just as...unlucky...as I was...so...I gave them both a hug, apologising to them in my head...I told them not to worry...I told them...that I'd take care of them from now on..."
    "Y-you'll...you'll be our big brother?" The pink filly asks.
    The young Goldheart nods. "Sure...right now, we have to depend on each-other as a family...we're all brother and sisters now..."
    "We snuggled up to each-other for warmth and slept through the night...should've seen the smiles on their faces...I don't think they'd ever been that warm in ages...I figured there would be others just like us out there...so...I took it upon myself...that if any young pony needs warmth...needs care...needs a family...then I'll be there to share my heart..."
    Cut back to real time.
    Goldheart looked back down at his cutie mark. "...that's when this appeared on my side..."
    Rarity's eyes teared up. "Goldheart I...I had no idea." She stood and trotted around the table, giving Goldheart a hug.
    "R-Rarity..." Goldheart blushed, but a grew a heartfelt smile before returning the hug.
    A moment passed before Rarity released Goldheart, she then returned to her seat. "So, we leave for Detrott tomorrow?" Rarity asked, wiping the moisture from her eyes.
    Goldheart tried to re-collect his thoughts, still blushing from Rarity's hug. "Y-yeah...though I don't know if I could ask Applejack if I could stay another night, she's already leant her barn to five...including me already...I-I don't wish to trouble her but..."
    "You could stay with me." Rarity let out in a quick burst. "Er...I mean if you have nowhere else to stay."
    "I'd love to." GOldheart replied with a smile, but realising what he just said, went red in the face then looked down, keeping his smile. "I-I mean...i-if you...don't mind...h-having me..."
    "It'd be my pleasure." Rarity replied, blushing slightly herself.
    Goldheart looked into Rarity's eyes, his own eyes filled with affection. "Rarity...thank you..."
    "Not at all..." Rarity matched his gaze.
    Meanwhile at Canterlot, Twilight is speaking with Princess Celestia.
    "Hmmmmm, so that explains where Shadowhoof has been for quite a while...Twilight Sparkle, we don't know much about Shadowhoof or his alter ego Goldheart, I must ask something of you." Princess Celestia stated.
    "Oh anything for you Princess Celestia!" Twilight exclaimed.
    "It's a bit of a heavy task...I want you and maybe some of your friends to keep an eye on Goldheart, learn anything you can about him and his past."
    Twilight looked confused but nodded. "Y-yes Princess..."
    Meanwhile back in Ponyville, Goldheart walks along the path to Fluttershy's cottage. "The train leaves in the morning so I best say goodbye and...thanks...to her now."
    Meanwhile at her cottage, Fluttershy trots outside, a white rabbit following closely behind. "No no angel, you wait here, I have to run into town, okay?" She asked with a smile.
    Angel with a huff and a sour expression obeyed.
    Fluttershy turned and began to trot toward town.
    From above, a griffon known as Gilda spies on Fluttershy. "Tch, becuas eof her and that Pink one I can't talk with Dash anymore...I think it's time they learnt a lesson...but how...?" Gilda then spots Fluttershy's rabbit, Angel. "Aha..."
    Meanwhile Goldheart closes in on Fluttershy's cottage. "I just hope she's in-"
    "PUT HIM DOWN!" Fluttershy cried, tearing up in concern for her beloved pet, which now dangled in Gilda's claw.
    "Ahahahahahahaha! Catch me if you can!" Gilda teased as she zoomed past Goldheart, followed by Fluttershy who was barely keeping up wtih her.
    "Always something exciting going on huh?" Goldheart asked as his horn glowed, a transparent road appearing before him.
    Meanwhile Gilda looked back at Fluttershy who was running out of energy. "Awwww, getting tired? Well if you slow down I'm afraid you may not see your little friend again, hahahaha!"
    Tears flooded down Fluttershy's face. "NO, don't hurt him, please." Fluttershy pleaded, as she began loosing momentum.
    Suddenly something caught Gilda's eye behind Fluttershy, catching up with them both. "What the...?"
    Fluttersy was startled when she saw Goldheart run past her, to her and Gilda it was if Goldheart was running on thin air.
    "Alright, land and hand the rabbit back to it's owner." Goldheart demmanded, now going at the same speed as Gilda.
    Gilda huffed. "You couldn't say 'drop him', man you're no fun, later!" Gilda then gained speed, taking off into the distance.
    Goldheart closed his eyes, concentrating as his horn glowed once more. "Okay...gotta go faster..." Goldheart's hoofs then glowed, before Fluttershy knew it, Goldheart zoomed off as fast as the wind after Gilda.
    Gilda was grinning maliciously until she heard Goldheart's voice right behind her.
    "This is your last chance griffin!" Goldheart's hoofs were moving so fast he just looked like a body on a grey and black blur.
    "Wh-what in...fine! You want him? Catch him!" Gilda suddenly exclaimed before letting go of Angel.
    Fortunately Gilda thought Goldheart was a pegasus not a unicorn, so Goldheart, as quick as a thought, just held Angel in place with magic.
    Gilda looked back with disdain. "Y-you...who are you? You have no wings! How're you flying!?"
    Goldheart gave Gilda a rather fierce stare. "Just get out of here."
    When Fluttershy came onto the scene, she found Gilda flying off with a fearful look and Angel on Goldheart's back as Goldheart himself looked on with a fierce look, however his fierce eyes look into a satisfied one.
    Fluttershy quickly flew over and plucked the bunny off of Goldheart's back, holding him tightly, tears still running down her face, but now due to relief and joy. "Angel you're okay."  She cried. "Goldheart, y-you saved my angel." Fluttershy stated with much gratitude.
    "That's...that's okay...anything to help out a pony in need...is...is your friend, Angel was it, is he...okay?" Goldheart asked, very out of breath, his hooves loosing their glow as Goldheart and Fluttershy decended to the ground.
    Angel leaped out of Fluttershy's grip upon nearing the ground, hopping around rather energetically.
    "Yes, I think he's fine." Fluttershy stated wearing a warm smile.  
    Goldheart rubbed the back of his neck. "Phew...in...all the excitement I kinda forgot why I came here...um...getting on the train back to Detrot tomorrow and...um...I had something to tell you..." Goldheart stated, trying to re-trace his thoughts.
    "You...you want some company, for your trip back to detrott?" Fluttershy suggested.
    "O-oh sure...yeah maybe that was it, I wanted to ask you to keep me company...um, that is, if you'd like to..." Goldheart replied.
    "Um, sure, I'd love to." Fluttershy responded, beginning to loose herself in Goldheart's eyes.
    Goldheart smiled. "Great, um, the train I'm getting is the quarter to ten one...hope you can make it."
    "Yeah, wouldn't miss it for the world." Fluttershy continued to gaze deeply into Goldheart's eyes.
    Goldheart blushed. "O-okay then well...I um, need to be somewhere...m-maybe we'll run into each-other gain later...b-bye for now Fluttershy." Goldheart then began to trot off, but before he was out of sight he looked back at Fluttershy then gave her a wave, along with a warm smile before leaving.
    Fluttershy swooned, letting out a sigh of delight. "Goldheart..."