//------------------------------// // Chapter 16: A House for Tiger Lily // Story: The Princess of Nature // by Pinkie Pie Sweets //------------------------------// It's been a few days since Twilight and Fluttershy have return from the Smoky Mountain and their time have been doing good. Today, Rarity and the others want to talks to Twilight and Fluttershy about the photo Tiger Lily has told them about. Fluttershy also needs to talk to them about something as well. The friends have a meeting in the throne room where the map is. They are going to have a very important meeting and it has something to do with Tiger Lily. "So girls, what this meeting is about?" Twilight asks. Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash are looking at each other and trying to decide to is going to talk first or which one will speak up. Applejack look towards where Twilight is sitting and says, "Yesterday while you both were away solving a friendship problem, Tiger Lily told us that she actually know a relative of her, but never been able to find her." Twilight and Fluttershy make a surprised look and says, "Really!" "It's true," Rainbow Dash says, "She even has a picture of her too, but it's been years since that photo was taken," Rarity adds. "And it's one of the few photos that wasn't burned," Pinkie adds. Then Applejack says, "I agree. But that filly in the picture looks familiar, but none of us can put our hooves on it." "Yeah. That filly reminds me of someone, but I can't put my hoof on it," Rainbow Dash says. Twilight starts to think about the event her friends are telling her, "That's interesting." Just then Twilight says, "Maybe later we can ask Tiger Lily if we can see the photo." "Then we can see if she resemble anypony in Equestria," Fluttershy adds with glee. "That's good," Rarity says. "I agree. I want to help her reunite with her kin," Applejack replies. Then Pinkie happily says, "I love it and I can help her cousin settle into Ponyville." Everypony in the throne room think it will be a good idea to help Tiger Lily find the cousin and their only clue is the old photo. Twilight turns to Fluttershy and says, "But Fluttershy, you said there is something you want to talk about as well." "Yes. I wanted to call you all because well…" Fluttershy starts to speak, but isn't sure on how to tell them "What is it?" Applejack asks looking concerned. Then Fluttershy breaks her silence and explains, "Well, I've been think about this for some time now. I love having Tiger Lily living with me and helping with the animals. It feels like I have a sister of my very own, but…" "But what?" Rainbow Dash asks. "But... it's not like Tiger Lily can stay at my house forever," Fluttershy replies. Twilight and the others are looking a bit confused on what Fluttershy is talking about. They are wondering what she means when she says that Tiger Lily being at her house. Twilight is kind of starting to understand what she means and think that something else is going on with their friend. "What do you mean?" Pinkie asks while staring at Fluttershy. Twilight comes up to Fluttershy and says, "I think I understand what you are talking about. Something's going on with her, isn't it." Fluttershy nods her head and says, "Yes. I think she miss her old home back at Whitetail Woods and wishes her house was still there, but she told me it was burned to a crisp." The girls are kind of understand what's going on. Tiger Lily feels a bit homesick and wishes she is able to see her house. The problem is that her house is completely destroyed as well as the woods she and her family and animal friends live. At that moment, they are starting to understand what Fluttershy is asking of them. "So are you saying you want to build Tiger Lily a new house in Ponyville?" Rarity asks. Fluttershy nods her head replying yes to the idea. The girls start to think of the idea and start to smile towards the conclusion they come up with. "I think that sounds like a splendid idea," Rarity replies. "I agree," Twilight adds. The others nods her head and are up for the idea of making a house for their friend. Fluttershy starts to smile to see that her friends wants to help with Tiger Lily's problem. "Thank you all. I know it sound a bit hard to decide, but Tiger Lily wishes to have her house back sometimes and I think it's a good idea to have a house just for her," Fluttershy says, feeling glad her friends are up to the challenge. "Let's do it!" Pinkie Pie cheers happily. "Cool! Where do we start?" Rainbow says with excitement. Then Pinkie Pie says with excitement, "Why don't we surprise her? It's much better when company is unexpectedly get something." "Sounds good to me," Applejack says. After agreeing to the idea of making the house construction a surprised, they decide to come up with a good plan. The others face Twilight seeing that she already has a plan. Twilight explains, "Well, first; one of us has to keep Tiger Lily busy for a while until the house is finished." Everyone else is about to come up with an idea on how to get Tiger Lily away so they can get started. Just then, Rainbow Dash proclaims, "And I'm going to do it this time." Everyone in the room looks at Rainbow Dash as they have no idea what she is talking about. "What do you mean?" Fluttershy asks. "I was called to be do a performance in Manehattan tomorrow, since Fleet Foot has the pegasus flu and won't be able to perform. I can take Tiger Lily to show her a Wonderbolt show and show her how awesome I am," Rainbow Dash explains with pride. The girls look each other about that suggestion and think it will be a good idea. Plus Tiger Lily will be able to become friends with the Wonderbolts since she hasn't talked to them much at the gala. "That's a good idea," Twilight says. "And you can show her the spectacularness of Manehattan," Rarity adds. Then Applejack says, "Meanwhile the rest of us will do what we can to make a new house for her." "Yay!" Pinkie cheers loudly. But then Applejack asks, "But where we should build it?" Fluttershy admittedly answers, "I know. You remember the field of where we found her at where she was dancing." The girls nod their heads in replying yes for their answer. "Maybe we can build her the house there. It maybe be just outside of Ponyville, but it has wide open space, wild flowers, and it's nice and quiet for her," Fluttershy suggests. Applejack smiles at Fluttershy' statement and says, "She'll be happy living there." "She'll feel right at home," Rarity adds happily. "Alright, we'll meet at the castle tomorrow morning and then we can work out all the details," Twilight declares to the idea. She then turns to Rainbow Dash and asks, "Rainbow, how long will you be at Manehattan?" "I have to be here for at least a week or so, but should be enough to get things ready for her," Rainbow Dash answers. At that point, the decide to make all the arrangements to get their plain in motion. Rainbow Dash asked Tiger Lily if she wants to go with her to see the Wonderbolt she in Manehattan. At first, she feels a bit skeptic about it, but she knows that the Wonderbolts she have met at the gala is going to be there so she's okay about seeing them again. After a day or two of getting ready, the girls are at the train station waiting for the train to come so Rainbow Dash and Tiger Lily can go on their trip. It hasn't taken them very long for the train to come and they are going to get ready to leave. Fluttershy turns to Tiger Lily with a smile and asks, "Now, are you ready to go with Rainbow Dash?" "Yes. I'm kind of excited, but a little nervous about going to a big city like Manehattan," Tiger Lily answers looking a bit excited, but a little nervous. Rainbow Dash comes up to them and says, "Don't worry, just stick with me and you'll have no trouble." Twilight comes up to them and says, "Have a good time." "I hope so too," Tiger Lily replies. Tiger Lily may still feel a bit shy, but she is getting better with talking to the others. The conductor announces, "All aboard!" Rainbow Dash and Tiger Lily walk inside the train car so they can get going. The conductor checks his watch to see that it's time for the train to leave. As the train starts to leave the station, the eight friends wave to each other goodbye and hope to hear about their trip very soon. When the train is gone, the girls know that it's time for them to start getting stuff ready to make Tiger Lily's house. "Now that Tiger Lily is gone we can get to work," Applejack says. Twilight turns to Rarity and asks, "Rarity, did you bring the house design?" "Yes. I also found the picture of her old house so we can know the kind of house we need to make," Rarity explains, while using her spell to show them the house. The girls can see that the picture of Tiger Lily's old house is a simple house cabin. It's has a nice vegetable garden, by a field of flowers, and a lake not far from there. The girls can see that her home style is simple, but seems to speak a lot about it. "Her house seems simple, but looks peaceful," Twilight says. "Kind of reminds me of my home," Applejack says. Then Twilight declares, "Then let's get started." With that, the girls start to head back to the castle to discuss on how the house should look and to see if they can help make the house feel like home to her. On the train, Rainbow Dash and Tiger Lily are walking to one of the cars that the Wonderbolts are in. When they open the cart, they can see Spitfire, Soarin, and the other Wonderbolts that are going to be in the show. Spitfire comes up to Rainbow and says, "Hey Rainbow, glad you are able to come." "I wouldn't miss it," Rainbow Dash says with a smile. Spitfire turns to see that Tiger Lily has come along with Rainbow Dash. Spitfire smiles and says, "I see you brought Tiger Lily with her." "Yeah. I thought it will be a good idea to take her to see the show and show her Manehattan," Rainbow Dash explains. "Good idea," Spitfire replies. Rainbow Dash comes up to Spitfire's ear and whispers, "But the main reason why is because my friends and I are going to surprise her with a new house." "Gotcha," Spitfire whispers back. Spitfire walks up to Tiger Lily and asks, "So Tiger Lily, are you ready to see a Wonderbot show?" "I guess so," Tiger Lily answers as she start to feel a bit uncomfortable. Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts are starting to notice that Tiger Lily is starting to feel scared about something. "Are you feeling okay?" Soarin asks. "I'm fine, but I never been to a city like Manehattan before," Tiger Lily answers feeling a bit concern. Spitfire says, "I get it, never been to big cities much." "Not at all," Tiger Lily answers while shaking her head. Rainbow Dash hugs her with her hoof and says, "Don't worry, Manehattan might be a big and busy city, but there are lot of stuff to do there." "I guess so," Tiger Lily says. "Then let's have a great time," Spitfire says with excitement. Tiger Lily starts to smile and says, "Okay." During the time Tiger Lily, Rainbow Dash, and the Wonderbolts are starting to have a good time on the train and can't wait to get their show started. Of course they need to practice a little more before the show starts. The are glad that they are going to have a wonderful time. Back at Ponyville, Twilight and the others has finished coming up with an idea on how Tiger Lily's house should be like. The house is similar to the original house, but they added some extra to make it extra special for her. After getting the idea for the house set up for the constructor ponies, Twilight and Fluttershy wants to see the photo that the others talk about. They remember that Tiger Lily says she put the photo on the desk so it will be easy to find it. Twilight levitates the photo from her desk and says, "So this is the picture that Tiger Lily showed to you." "Yep. That's the one," Pinkie answers happily. Twilight looks at the picture of the filly and can see that she seems very sweet and nice. She starts to have a feeling that she knows her from somewhere as well, Twilight says, "She seems so nice in the picture." "Yes. But it's been years since the picture had been taken, how exactly are we going to find her?" Rarity asks looking concerned. "You know this filly looks very familiar," Twilight says as she looks at the photo. Twilight stares at the picture a little longer and starts to tell she has seen this pony before, but at an older age. The hair color, the fur color, eye color, and the bangs look familiar to her. At that very moment, Twilight realize who this filly resembles, but she is very shock about the discovery. Twilight screams with horror, "No way!" "What?!" The girls ask with suspense. Twilight looks at her friends with a nervous look and says, "Um, well, you see, I think I know who that filly is, but it will be a good idea to talk to it at the castle and when Rainbow Dash gets back." Her friends are starting to wonder why Twilight looks a bit nervous. They are starting to wonder if she's okay. Applejack asks, "Twilight, is there something wrong?" "It's just if I told you who this filly is you're going to freak out," Twilight replies looking skeptical about it. "It can't be that bad?" Pinkie asks looking confused. "I don't know about bad, but it's going to be a shock," Twilight explains. The friends can tell that Twilight isn't that ready for her suggestion. They know that she kind of wants to wait till all of them are here and needs to find some proof. Applejack says, "Okay. We'll wait until Rainbow is back and the house is finished." "Until then, let's continue building the house," Pinkie replies happily. "Right," Twilight. With that Rarity and the others start to make more arrangements to make Tiger Lily's house. Twilight stays behind and takes a better look at the photo of Tiger Lily's cousin. She really hope it's not who she thinks it is, but more worried on how her friends will react if she tells them. Twilight says in her thoughts, "I wonder if that is the same one from the photo. I wish there a way to know it for sure." After that Twilight follows the others so they can get started on the house. They also hope that Tiger Lily will be okay going to a big place like Manehattan. After a while on the train, Rainbow Dash, Tiger Lily, and the Wonderbolts have arrive at Manehattan. When they exit the train station, they are pretty excited to be in Manehattan for their show here. Tiger Lily is surprised to see how big the city is and to see the ponies here. Rainbow Dash notice Tiger Lily's expression on her face and says, "Pretty amazed, right?" Tiger Lily nods her head and says, "Yes. There are so many big building here and all these ponies." Rainbow Dash laugh and say, "I can understand what you mean. Manehattan maybe an amazing place, but it's a busy place too, so try not to get lost." Tiger Lily nods her head and says, "Okay." Just then Spitfire screams out to them, "Come on guys, we need to get to our hotel!" "Okay," Rainbow Dash answers. With that Rainbow Dash and Tiger Lily starts to follow Spitfire and the other Wonderbolts to their hotel. As they walk, Tiger Lily is amazed to see the big city of Manehattan and the many ponies, and city sites. She wonder if she is able to see them all. She just need to wait and see how her time in the big city will come up for her.