Chapter Two: Elements of Kindness

                              My Little Pony: Beyond Life and Death
                                Chapter Two: Elements of Kindness








"a-alright..my name is Alex. Alex Cosmos."


"Alex?" said Twilight, her expression unreadable.


Alex looked nervous..until Twilight smiled a warm, bright smile at him. "alex..that's a lovely name."


Alex smiled, relieved that this mare didn't think his name sounded ridiculous. "th-thank you. y-you have no idea how much that means to me."


"Why?" asked Twilight, curious "do..other ponies make fun of your name?"


Alex ears drooped down as he hung his head. "yeah..pretty much. with the majority of ponies having names like "Shooting Star", "Tidal Wave" or "Whirlwind." having a plain, simple name like "Alex" tends to earn you more than a few jeers."


Twilight looked at Alex..then, smiled warmly as she approached him. "I don't think it's bad to have a simple name." began Twilight, her voice soft. "I mean..I have a friend back home named "Spike." HIS name is pretty simple..but, he has lots of friends."


"Then, he must be one lucky stallion." said Alex


Twilight blushed. "Well..he's not exactly a stallion."


"a colt, then?"


"no..h-he isn't a pony: he's a DRAGON."


THIS surprised Alex. "a..D-Dragon!?"


Twlight blushed redder than a tomato. "I hatched him myself."


Alex took a moment to ponder all this. "Hmm..a dragon named spike with lots of pony friends. Something tells me living here in Ponyville is going to be very..Interesting."


Twilight let out a chuckle. "Oh, believe me. Ponyville is many things..but, "boring" is not one of them."


"Things happen that often around here?" asked Alex, curious


Twilight made a very plain looking face. "Do you want the 'Short' list, or the Long?"


"I have things to do in town, So I could use some highlights."


"Well.." began Twilight, taking a moment to recall all the note worthy events that had ocurred in Ponyville since her arrival so long ago. "There was the time a huge dragon took a nap on a nearby mountain and blotted the sky with a thick cloud of smoke, the time the Nightmare Force that created 'Nightmare Moon' invaded and put the whole town to sleep. the time Discord broke free and turned everyone and everything Topsy-Turvey, AND the time that-"


"Uhh, Twi?" Twilight looked at Applejack..who was eyeing her. "I thought that both you AN' Alex had chores tuh' do."


Twilight widened her eyes at this. "OHMYGOSH, You're RIGHT!!" exclaimed the lavender unicorn. "I still have apples to deliver to Fluttershy..(slaps forehead) D'OH!, but I also promised I'd help Alex with his tasks, too!!"


Alex stared at his new friend. "Uhh..T-Twilight, you don't really have to-"


"YES, I DO!!" exclaimed Twilight, getting into the stallion's face again. "I ran you over earlier today AND hit you with an Apple..I 'OWE' You my assistance!!"


Alex stared at Twilight..then glanced over to Applejack, who shrugged at him. "She gits like this." began Applejack. "Don't worry, hon..you'll git used to it..eventually."


Alex sighed sharply..then looked at Twilight. "Okay, How about this: I help you complete your errands..and, afterwards you can help me with mine. Sound fair?"


Twilight put her hoof lightly on her chin, thinking. "Hmm..I guess it does. All I need to do right now is deliver apples to Fluttershy, and meet up with Rainbow Dash at a Daring Do book signing later."


Alex breathed out. "Okay, then. Since we both need to make apple deliveries, we can complete both our tasks at the same time..where DOES this 'Fluttershy' live, exactly?"


"In'a cottage jus' outside a' town near tha' EverFree Forest." replied Applejack


Alex actually grinned at this news. "Well, that's convenient. My mother's new house is ALSO near the EverFree Forest right outside of town."


Twilight smiled wide at this. "We can complete BOTH our tasks co-currently!!" squealed Twilight


"Great. Well, since y'all are headin' fer' tha' same place..All that needs doin' is gettin' yer' apples." said Applejack..motioning at her barn.


Both Twilight and Alex looked at one another and blushed. the two then both walked into the barn where their apples awaited.



**********


After a half hour had passed, Twilight and Alex soon exited the big red barn with carts full of apples strapped behind them.

as they each pulled their respected carts, Applejack spoke up. "Now, RE-MEM-BEEER!!!: DON'T GIT TOO CLOSE TUH' EVERFREE!!, STAY ON THE PATH!!"


"WE WILL!!" called back Twilight


"AL'IGHT, TAKE CARE NOW, YA' HEAR!!"


Twilight cast a quick smile back at her friend..then, continued on her way with her "new friend" down the path leading out of the farm.


Once they exited the gate, and started along the dirt path..Twilight exhaled sharply, feeling awkwardness beginning to take hold of her.


("okay, Twilight..remain calm. You can do this!") mused Twilight in her head ("So what if you ran the guy over and hit him with an apple..he doesn't seem too mad!")


Twilight then grimaced. ("unless..Unless he's keeping it all bottled up inside, and is libel to Explode on me if I say or do the wrong thing!!") Twilight gulped hard, feeling a bead of sweat drip down her scalp. ("okay..j-just to be safe, let's not offend this guy in any way.")


Twilight looked at Alex..then, took some deep breaths ("okay..a little casual conversation should lighten the mood.")


taking a deep breath..Twilight spoke up. "So, how's your head doing, Alex!?"


Alex looked at Twilight. "what?"


("STUPID!!") scolded Twilight mentally ("Idiot!, of all the dumbest things to sa-")


"M-My head is just fine." said Alex, calmly. "thanks for asking."


Twilight breathed a sigh of relief. ("thank celestia he didn't take that the wrong way.") Twiligh then looked at Alex. "Alex..I r-really am sorry about..BEFORE."


"oh, Water over the bridge. *or, is it under the..oh, well.*"


"so..y-you aren't angry with me?!" asked Twilight, a little confused


Alex looked at Twilight. "I'm not a very angry pony, Twilight..It takes a lot more than hitting me to get me mad."


Twilight looked surprised at this. "Really?"


"Yeah..REALLY." repeated Alex as he looked back at the road ahead of him.


Twilight began to ponder this. ("hmm..maybe this won't be so hard afterall.") As Twilight finally began to relax around the earth pony..she glanced at something that made her look twice. "O-Oh, My-!!"


"What?!"


"Y-Your Flank!, IT'S-!!"


"blank?" said Alex in a plain tone.


Twilight blushed bright red. Indeed, Alex had no Cutie Mark (or, "Coolie Mark", as the stallions these days were calling them.)

Twilight was now back to sweating nervously, afraid she really HAD offended Alex. "I-I'm sorry, I-"


"Yeah, I suppose it is odd..a pony my age lacking a mark." said Alex, a hint of pain in his voice..which he quickly hid with sudden pep. "BUT, whatcha gonna do?"


a silence befell the two ponies..Twilight then broke it with some more casual conversation. "So, Alex..you live with your mother?"


Alex nodded. "yes. We live alone in a cottage that we made ourselves."


"How long have you been in Ponyville?"


"We just finished building our house yesterday..but, counting the time it took to build it, I guess you could say we've been here for at least a week."


"I don't believe I've ever seen you in town before." said Twilight, in an almost questioning tone


"That's because we haven't been." replied Alex. "We got all the building materials that we needed from the forest. to be honest, I've never set hoof in Ponyville until today."


Twilight blushed bright red, recalling her first encounter with Alex..when she ran him over on her way from Rarity's due to being in a hurry, and not watching where she was going.

She wanted to apologize yet again to Alex for her carelessness..But, as he told her to quit apologizing, she decided against it.


"wa-What all do you need done in town?" asked Twilight


"Delivering these apples for one." began Alex. "My mom has set up a garden, but it'll take some time to grow our own food. After I deliver the apples, I'll have to get some carrots. I'll also need to register our new house with the town so it's all nice and legal."


"Sounds like after dropping off your apples at home, you'll have to visit Carrot Top and the Town Hall next."


Alex looked at Twilight. "Carrot Top?!"


"She's the best supplier of Carrots in Ponyville." began Twilight "Where Applejack is good with Apples, Carrot Top is with Carrots."


Alex pondered this. "Hmm..that does make sense."


"If you want, I can show you where it is." said Twilight. Alex looked straight at Twilight. "You'd..really do that for me?!


Twilight smiled at him. "SURE. I know what it's like being the "new pony in town", So I wanna help you get settled."


Alex continued to stare at Twilight..then smiled. "thank you, twilight..I really do appreciate this."


Twilight blushed as she smiled back at Alex. "Hey..what are new friends for?"


Alex looked taken aback at this. "Friends?..w-We're friends?"


"SURE!" chirped Twilight "You seem like a VERY nice pony, Alex..Why wouldn't I be your friend?"


Alex looked back at the trail ahead..a distant look on his face. "i..I never had any friends before."


Twilight found this quite shocking..but, then she remembered a time in her life where her only "friend" was a hoofmade ragdoll.

Twilight attempted to move as close as she could to Alex without crashing their respected carts into each other. "well..y-you have at least ONE now.."Lexie."


Alex glanced at Twilight (who was blushing from the nickname she had just given him.)

he finally smiled, and said: "thanks.."Twily."


Twilight smiled, feeling a rush of joy and bliss at being accepted at a friend. ("I am SOOOO writing Princess Celestia a letter, tonight.")




**********



It wasn't long until the pair reached the boundries of the EverFree Forest. a small little cottage came into view, and Alex knew it wasn't his.


"I'm guess this is where this "Fluttershy" lives." said Alex


Twilight nodded. "Yep. you'd love it here, It's VERY peaceful."


KA-BOOM!!


Suddenly, a thick cloud of smoke bursted from the open windows and chimney of the cottage. both Twilight and Alex stopped at the wooden bridge and staired blankly at this.


"That happen often?" said Alex, finally. Twilight responded by shaking her head 'No.' "Just wanted to make sure." finished Alex


the pair as fast as their loaded carts permitted towards the cottage. once they arrived, the door burst open. letting clouds of smoke spill out, following by hacking and coughing.

a yellow pegasus mare with a long, flowing pink mane emerged. coughing "softly"


"FLUTTERSHY!!" exclaimed Twilight, who undid her cart's strap and ran to her friend. "Are you Okay!?"


Fluttershy coughed a little more..but, soon regained her voice. "yes..i-i'm just fine." began the pegasi in a meek sounding voice. "I was just trying to fix some cooked fish for my bear friends *you know, to give them something new to try* but, I guess used too much gas when I lit the oven."


Twilight looked concerned. "You're lucky that explosion didn't kill you!, You should be more CAREFUL, Fluttershy!!"


Fluttershy looked at Twilight with big, soft looking eyes. "I am sorry..I'll try and do better next time."

It was then that Fluttershy noticed the green stallion standing far off with a cart strapped to him. "Whose that?!" asked Fluttershy, curious


Twilight glance at Alex. "Oh, him? He's a..n-new friend. I'm helping him deliver apples to his mother who just built a house near here."


"near here?" began Fluttershy, thinking aloud. "You mean..I'm not the only pony living near the forest?!"


"No." began Alex, finally speaking. "Me and my mom just moved to Ponyville, and have alot to do to get settled. I'm bringing home some apples from Sweet Apple Acres, AND since Twilight was also delivering apples to you..I decided to accompany her here first."


Fluttershy just smiled a warm, loving smile at Alex. "Aww..how sweet, helping your dear mother like that. Perhaps I'll pay you a visit one day."


Alex shrugged. "Well..I s-suppose. we are technically neighbors, afterall."


Twilight returned to her discarded cart, and magically pulled it closer to Fluttershy's cottage. "Here are your Apples, Fluttershy!"


"Thank you, Twilight. my little Angel Bunny and all his furry friends will LOVE these."


Twilight smile brightly. "No problem!, I'm just happy to help!!" Twilight then trotted back over to Alex. "Now, I'll just help Alex with HIS chores, and tell Applejack to send Big Mac to pick up the cart later."


Alex smiled. "Okay. goodbye, then. Nice to see you, Alex." said Fluttershy


"You too, Fluttershy." said Alex, kindness in his voice


as Alex and Twilight crossed back over the bridge and returned to the path, Alex spoke to Twilight. "Your friend is VERY nice."


Twilight grinned. "The nicest pony that you will ever meet, I guarantee you."

As the two walked down the path, and at last departed from Fluttershy's cottage..Twilight spoke again. "So, how far IS your house?"


"Not very far." said Alex. "We should get there soon if we keep going down this path."


"Oh. okay."


Alex was silent for a few minutes..then, spoke once again. "When you were..talking with your friend, I saw alot of interesting looking animals near her house. SOME I've never seen before."


Twilight smiled. "yes, well..Fluttershy has a soft spot for animals. Her house is practically an animal sactuary."


"Yeah, I kinda noticed that when I saw the bear." said Alex, chuckling nervously

Alex paused, then continued the conversation. "I also noticed that she's a pegasus."


"yeah.." trailed Twilight, wondering what Alex was getting to.


"Well, that's a rare sight: A pegasi living on the earth, instead of the clouds."


Twilight smiled. "Fluttershy isn't your typical pegasus. She would rather take things slow and steady..unlike Rainbow Dash."


Alex eyed Twilight. "Rainbo-"


"You'll know what I mean once you meet her."


Alex grimaced slightly, but then shrugged. "I suppose I will."



It wasn't long until a house came into view. at first glance, Twilight at first thought it was the cottage from "Snow White" as it was nessled in some trees, and had a gentle brook flowing from it.


"is..That your house?!" said Twilight, awestruck


Alex looked. "Yep. sure is, was "unofficially" christened only yesterday.


as the two approached the house, Twilight got a better look at it: It really did look like something out of a fairy tale.

sunlight shined through the trees that shield the house, casting the warmest sunbeams that Twlight ever did see. beside the house was a large waterwheel, and the sound of tweeting birds and buzzing bees filled her ears.


as Alex unfastened his harness, Twilight began to wander around the front yard. "This place..i-It's so peaceful. even more peaceful than Fluttershy's home."


Alex grinned. "I'm assuming that's no small feat, given the look on your face." Twilight said nothing in response..she just continued to gaze in awe at the cottage.


Alex finally approached the unicorn. "Come on..I want you to meet my mom."

Twilight looked at Alex. "oh..o-Okay." Twilight walked with Alex as he walked up to the front door. facing the wooden door, he knocked on it with his hoof.



KNOCK!!

KNOCK!!

KNOCK!!


(("WHO IS IIIIT!!?")) called a female voice


"It's ME, Mom!!" replied Alex


(("THEN COME IN, SWEETIE!!"))


Alex opened the door and entered the house with Twilight. Twilight was amazed to see how "quaint" the home looked. the furniture looked to be "hoovecarved", and every room like remarkably neat and clean.


"Mom?!..where are you?" said Alex aloud


"I'M IN THE DEN!" called the female voice again.


Alex walked off, and Twilight followed him closely. they entered a large room where a pink mare with a ginger red mane was sweeping.

Twilight was stunned to see that the mare in question was a Pegasus (odd, because Alex was an Earth Pony. and his mare HAD to be his mother.)


"Mom." said Alex


the mare looked up at him. "Good to have you back safely so-OH!, and who is this?" Twilight was a little embarassed, looking down a bit.

"Mom, this is Twilight Sparkle. I.."met her" in town, and she's helping me with my errands for today."


the pink pegasus approached Twilight. Twilight at last looked up..and, saw that Alex mother has the same big, warm baby blue eyes that her friend Fluttershy has.

and, when she spoke..her voice was just as soft. "Hello, Ms. Sparkle..I am Jessica, and it is good to meet you."


Twilight at last smiled, and did a brief curtsy. "th-Thank you, Mrs. Cosmos."


"It's just "MS. Cosmos"..or, "Jessica". Why, you can call me "Jessie" or "Jess" if you want."


Twilight nodded, blushing a bit.


"Thank you ever so much for helping my son." continued Jessica. "I feel so much better that he isn't out in town by himself."


Twilight chuckled lightly. "Well, I'm only just happy to help."


Jessica smiled warmly. "That is GOOD to hear. I have always taught Alex to do the same thing: To 'Always' help others. I am glad to know he's found a friend so much like himself."


This made Alex blush bright red. "w-Well. We, uhh..b-Brought plenty of apples, a-and we were just on our way to pick up some carrots."


"Oh..okay. j-Just be careful, and don't stay out too long."


Alex sighed. "Don't worry mom: I'll be okay."

the concerned look on the pegasus face indicated that she wasn't convinced. Twilight then stepped up. "Ms. Cosmos..You have my word that nothing bad will happen to your son while he's with me."


Jessica looked at Twilight. "You promise?"

Twilight smiled as she did some gestures. "Cross my heart, and hope to cry. Stick a cupcake in my eye."


both Jessica and Twilight stared blankly at Twilight. "Huh?/What?"


"It's a "Pinkie Promise", something that we do here in Ponyville. It's UNBREAKABLE."


"oh..I see." began Jessica, not fully understanding what this mare was talking about..but, enough to know that she intended to keep her word. "Okay, then Ms. Sparkle..I trust you."


Alex smiled. he then approached his mother and gave her a quick hug (which Jessica in turn shared with her son.) "bye, mom..don't wait up."


Jessica smiled weakly. "i 'always' do."


Alex parted from his mother and walked with Twilight out of the room. Jessica watched with sad, yet happy eyes as her only son disappeared with the unicorn.



**********


Once back outside, Twilight and Alex continued back onto the trail. each now carrying a single empty cart behind them.

halfway down the trail..Alex smiled and spoke softly. "I know what you are thinking..and, No. I wasn't adopted."


Twilight looked at Alex..surprised. "then..h-how are you-"


"Your guess is as good as mine." continued Alex. "My parents were a Unicorn and Pegasi, yet I was born a regular earth pony..Strange, huh?"


"oh, I don't know.." began Twilight. "Mr. and Mrs. Cake, who own the Sugarcube Corner Bakery, are both earth ponies..but, their foals are a Unicorn and Pegasi. So, I guess there is nothing strange about you having non-earth pony parents."


Alex looked amazed at this. "r-really?!..I-I'm not the only one!?"


Twilight shook her head. "No. though RARE, it is not uncommon, apparently."

Twilight then thought of something else. "you..said you father was a unicorn. W-Where is he?"


Alex froze, an almost frightened look on his face. but, he quickly hid it and replied as best he could. "HE's..n-not around, anymore."


"oh.." said Twilight, completely overlooking the shakeyness in Alex voice. "I am so sorry."


Alex shrugged, looking down. "we..t-try not to let it bother us."


"Say no more..I shant speak of it again." said Twilight, gesturing a "zipped lip".


Alex just eyed Twilight with a smile. "You certainly are a strange pony, Twilight..but, I like you."

Twilight blushed at this. "th-thanks..I-I like you, too."


Twilight paused for a moment, then spoke again. "You know what I find really strange?, It's that your mother reminds me so much of Fluttershy."


Alex considered this fact. "yeah..your friend DID remind me a little of my mom."


Twilight smiled, chortling lightly. "I wouldn't be surprised if your mom turned out to be the runner up for the Element of Kindness, then."


Alex eyed Twilight. "what?"


Twilight blushed again. "oh..that's right, I never told you."


"Told me what?" repeated Alex, still confused


"well..do you know of the Elements of Harmony?" began Twilight


"Sure I do. "Laughter, Kindness, Generosity, Honesty, Loyalty and Magic." ALL ponies know about the elements that defeated Discord, the lord of Chaos."


Twilight eyed Alex, feeling he didn't know "everything" about the elements. "well..do you know who the element bearers are?"


Alex continued to stare at Twilight. "Isn't it Princess Celestia?"


Twilight shook her head, chuckling lightly "no..not anymore. There are six ponies who each are bearers of one of each of the six elements..and, they all live right here in Ponyville."


Alex looked amazed. "WOW..really?!" exclaimed the earth pony. "So, then THAT means that Celestia didn't defeat Nightmare Moon like the tabloids say."


"No..she didn't." said Twilight. "all of Equestria owe their future to six brave little ponies."


"Do you know who these ponies are?" asked Alex


Twilight blushed. "oh, VERY much. the first is Fluttershy, whose the element of Kindness."


"Sooo..she really IS the nicest pony in town." mused Alex


"Yes, but I can think of a "few others" who could give her competition." said Twilight "Anyway, the second is Pinkie Pie, who works at Sugar Cube Corner. She's teh element of Laughter."


"Does that mean she's funny?"


Twilight stifled a chuckle. "Just tell her when your birthday is..and, you'll see how 'Fun' she can be."


Alex grinned. "I'll..be sure to do that. So, who else?"


"Applejack is the Element of Honesty. so, you can ALWAYS trust her to keep her promises. Rarity, the element of Generosity *though, at first glance you'd NEVER imagine she was* and, Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty. She'll NEVER let you down."


"Whose the element of Magic?" asked Alex


Twilight blushed bright red, looking away. "me."


"What?"


"It's ME, I am the element of Magic." said Twilight, sheepishly. "In fact, I kind of brought us all together. I originally lived in Canterlot as Princess Celestia's apprentice in Magic. but, I was sent to live here in Ponyville to learn about Friendship.

 I met the others, and we both learned that we were element bearers while trying to save Princess Celestia and stop Nightmare Moon."


Alex bored a shocked expression on his face..but, he soon recovered enough to speak. "So..you saved everypony?!, even the PRINCESS!?"


Twilight was very modest, and continued to blush at Alex praise of her. "yeah..I s-suppose. but, I wasn't trying to be a hero: I was just doing what was right."


Alex thought about this. "Yeah..I suppose I would've done the same thing in your place."


Twilight looked at Alex. "So..your Okay with me being an Element of Harmony?"


"Why wouldn't I?" said Alex rather plainly


"Well, SOME ponies can feel a tad bit "intimidated" at my status. Almost as if 'I' were an Alicorn Princess or something."


"My mom always taught me that "Actions speak for themselves." that a fancy title like "Prince" or "Princess" doesn't mean anything unless you have a good, noble and pure heart." Alex looked right at Twilight. "Your GOOD, Twilight. you're caring, polite and only want to help ponies. That makes you as good as any Princess to me."


Twilight smiled at this. "why..th-thank you, Alex. That's SWEET."


"Just being honest." said Alex with a smile


Twilight smiled right back at the stallion. "Applejack may have competition, then."


the two shared some light laughter, then continued on their way to Ponyville.