finding usefulness

Belle sighed contentedly, then groaned. "Seriously? You're going to steal something?"

She grinned mischievously, "Well, are you gonna tell me what you found first?"

Heartspan rubbed his chin with his hoof as he thought.

" well i haven't found anything except the throne." he said offhandedly " and technically you found that. So when there is more light i thought id take a quick look, maybe while you eat or something, and if nothing presented itself them take some gems from the throne. I mean now that i have seen them i can replicate the design but it is so not that same as the real thing."

then he grinned a little more slyly " it isn't really stealing since Luna could have taken it with her and left it here to rot instead. So even the whole throne i think is an ok piece to take."

"Okay, and what I meant was, well, when we first met you said you were looking for something. I assumed you meant, like, meaning? Or something like that." Belle sighed, looking away at the throne.

"The gems are really nice....."

"Okay, and what I meant was, well, when we first met you said you were looking for something. I assumed you meant, like, meaning? Or something like that."

he smiled at her words and at the way she looked at the throne.

" I know what you meant belle" he replied kindly " and i found exactly what i had come out here to find and even a little bit more. I found what i enjoy most, and i found what i need to do to make equestria a better place for every pony. I found there are some things i need to look into before i make rash decisions. i found that i have a great capacity for goodness."

he paused for a moment.

" I think the thing i found that i like best...is the mare who i found writing on the side of the road. she's proven to be as fierce as nightmare moon, as mysterious as the everfree forest, a gem with many many facets and each is more interesting than the last." he said as he looked at the throne.

Belle looked away, heat rushing to her cheeks and a smile forming on her lips.

"Well, that's, interesting. I'm glad you found what you were looking for." she said, walking up to him, "just so you know, I'm going to hug you now." and she did, pulling him into a tight embrace.

She let go and walked back up to the throne, using her magic to rip the gems out, unharmed though. She placed an emerald, sapphire, and ruby into her bag, not wanting to take too many.

"just so you know, I'm going to hug you now."

heartspan was caught up in her embrace before his mind could really process the words. She was soft and warm and for a moment he wished he could freeze time. then she was off gathering a few stones for herself. he could feel the blush that filled his cheeks. he could still feel where her hooves had been as he walked over to the throne. he took a pair of diamonds and a sapphire for his sister. He worked quickly and cautiously as he too did not want to damage the throne.

he tucked two of the gems away in his bags but the last he held onto for a moment infusing it with the feeling belle had left and with him and the memories of his adventure. There wasn't any magic to it but in this way he still felt a little like he had frozen time. He looked at it one final time before tucking it safely away.

" a-are you ready belle." he said at last , his voice cracking in a barely audible way.

The crack in is voice was unmistakable, and Belle smiled a half-smile.
"Yes, I am ready. Let's go." she said, squinting at the rising sun, "Wow, the sunset is beautiful here." she whispered.

"okay." she said, trotting quickly out the door, down the stairs, and out the entrance, but stopping dead a few feet after exiting.

"Erm, well......"

She stared uncomfortably at the rickety rope bridge.

heartspan took a look at the sky and a final look about the place then he to trotted out to catch up to belle. She stood looking at the rope bridge as he walked up to her.

" Whenever you are ready i will lift you over." he said cautiously " though if you wanted to try crossing it ..well, i would keep you from falling for sure. "

Belle gulped nervously, "I, I think I should try crossing. You know, facing your fears 'n' all." she grimaced and walked up to the bridge. she gulped again and stepped a hoof down onto the first plank, it swayed a bit and she snapped her hoof off immediately.

She sighed, closing her eyes. "Okay. I can do this." she said to herself, stepping onto the wood again. She took a deep breath and walked the rest of the way onto the bridge.

"Heartspan," she said frantically, reaching behind her for support.

Heartspan followed her up to the bridge. It was a smart thing to face your own fears and he was glad to see her attempt it. She made her way out onto the bridge and when she reached behind her self for support heartspan was quick to give her a hoof. he steadied the bridge with his magic and stood close by so she would not fall.

" There you go, It's not so bad." he said " I'm here and the bridge is steady. Shall we continue on my dear." this last was said as he held out a a hoof in a very old fashioned manner.

Belle took a shaky breath and took his hoof. She let her breath out continued walking across the bridge. She felt her hooves touch grass and melted to the ground.

"Oh thank Faust!" she cried, lying on the ground gratefully, "thank you. Thank you so much Heartspan." she stood and kissed him on the cheek, "well, shall we continue?" she asked, not bothering for an answer before walking quickly into the trees.

he escorted her across the bridge careful not to trip or stumble. he had picked up the styling from his grandfather and he was glad to see it serve such a delightful purpose.

"Oh thank Faust!"

belle's exclamation and prompt relief filled collapse signaled their safe arrival. She thanked him and before he could even utter a 'no thanks needed' she kissed his cheek and darted into the woods. She had said something but the feel of her kiss on his cheek totally erased it. he stood transfixed for a moment.

" thank Faust indeed." he whispered

Then he shook his head and darted after her.

Belle's ear twitched as she heard Heartspan behind her, and she slowed her pace.

"Sorry for the quick dash, I just kinda want to get outta here." she explained, speeding up again and weaving through the trees swiftly. She stepped into a clearing and sighed, gazing at the sunlight streaming through the break in canopy. She blinked and pushed magic up into her horn, casting a navigation spell.

"This way!" she called to Heartspan before darting off again.

"Sorry for the quick dash, I just kinda want to get outta here."

" I don't mind, it will be good to be home for sure." he said as he kept pace with her. They paused for a moment in a clearing as she cast a spell and then they were off again. He followed her as they darted through the trees. At this pace it would not be long before they breached the fields near ponyville. he peered through the foliage as they traveled, keeping his eye out for anything suspicious.

Belle's horn glowed as she continued casting her spell, dodging her way through the densely packed trees. Her eyes filled with determination and her slim body moving agilely around the plants. Finally, she burst through the last of the foliage and into the bright light of sunshine.

"Here we are! Home at last!" she gasped, not even bothering to point out she didn't actually live here. "How'd that do for an adventure?" she asked with a smirk.

"How'd that do for an adventure?"

Heartspan looked at her as he caught his breath.

"well....it ...was...tiring..so, yeah an excellent adventure, just remind me not to ever race you." he half laughed and half panted.

The sunlight felt good, the pain in his cheek had dimmed to a dull throbbing and by all that is lunar and holy he had gotten a kiss. He blushed deeply and looked at the ground. Then he realized what being home also meant. He looked at belle. That was the way life was, each moment rushing away from the last. Things that happened became memory, and people parted company. Still he couldn't help but have a morose expression as he looked at her. He couldn't find any words so he just stood there.

Belle tilted her head at Heartspan, letting out a light giggle. He was blushing, blushing.

She glanced away and grinned a bit, "So um, do you live here? Or are you just visiting." she asked with a solemn expression.

She realized she barely knew anything about him, still.

" I live here." he replied

Then he walked up to her. he wanted to hold her or something grand but it just wasn't in him to be that type of stallion. Instead he looked at her with a small smile.

" Belle, I don't know what you will say next or do next. I don't know you very well, but i don't want you to just become a memory of someone important to me." he said as he pushed the dirt with his hoof and looked furiously at the ground. " Some ponies might have something grand to say or do in a moment like this but all i can think is how much i will miss you and it just makes me feel sad. So, i guess all i can say is that I will always be around when you need it, and i will always be willing to risk my life for you....." his voice trailed off as he scuffed the ground.

belle had become his companion and someone he could trust even with his life. he had grown to look forward to her smile or her laugh or her sudden energy. having her around was like having, well he didn't even have a word for how nice it was. He just couldn't pull out the words to express her importance and he so badly wanted to. having people to hangout with was a lot different than having someone who was worth risking your life to protect. He was glad to be home to be able to relax but to lose belle made coming home worthless. worse still was that he almost never felt like this and it made everything confusing and hard. he heaved a deep sigh.

Belle blushed and looked at the ground, "well, I've never been one for grand moments."

She glanced away with a nervous smile, "I, um, don't really have a place to go....." she trailed off quietly.

She didn't want to lose Heartspan, the one pony she had actually opened up to. He had earned her trust when it was impossible. He was somepony who was worth trusting. Somepony she knew she would never forget.

"I promise we will never lose touch."

He listened to her words quietly. Looking up at her as she spoke. he watched her smile and he watched her turn away, trying to keep each moment in memory.

" Belle... you do have a place to go, a place you can call home if you like. Where ever i am whether it is here in Ponyville, or Canterlot, or even some long forgotten ruin i will always keep a candle in the window for you to come home to, I promise." he said sweetly " where ever i am you will always belong there. So even if you can't keep your promise at least you will know."

"Oh," she said, eyes wide with shock. She blinked and smiled sweetly, "thanks. I will keep that in mind."

She grinned and turned to stare at the distant Ponyville. "It's beautiful, from up here."

The two unicorns had emerged from the forest onto a tall hill. Belle gazed longingly at it, "so peaceful."

Heartspan followed her gaze as she looked out over the distant Ponyville.

"It's beautiful, from up here."

He looked at her for a moment as she stared longingly at the the town.

"so peaceful."

He smiled as he watched her and he silently thanked Luna for this very great gift. She had been the crowning jewel of his sortie into the past. had he been a more bold pony he would have grabbed her and kissed her but instead he simply took that moment standing above town and locked it deep in his heart along with all of the special moments they had shared. In this way she would always be close no matter what the future held in store.

" Shall we go, i think home is calling for us." he said as he looked back out on Ponyville.

Belle nodded, starting cautiously down the steep hill.

"Eep!" she squealed as she slipped, she steadied herself and continued on down the side. She laughed lightly, finally landing on flat ground. She turned an d waited for Heartspan, a smile spreading across her lips. She looked longingly at Ponyville, then turned back an gazed at Heartspan.

Heartspan carefully descended the steep hill watching both his footing and belle as he walked. The cool morning air felt good against his skin and even the throbbing in his cheek had disappeared. he had to admit Belle was fast even if she had slipped and he smiled warmly at her as she watched him finish the last few feet of his descent.

" Can i see one of your knives?" he asked nicely as he neared her.

Belle raised an eyebrow, but handed Heartspan one of her knives.

"May I ask why? Oh, be careful! It's sharp." she warned, handing it to him backwards, holding the sharp part and giving him the hilt to grab onto.

Belle observed Heartspan, the way he moved, the way he talked, everything about him. She looked at him with new light. They had shared an adventure, and several special moments. She knew she would never forget, not ever. This was too special. He was too special.