//------------------------------// // The Extremely Shy Aquatic Shapeshifters Club (Fluttershy, slice-of-life) // Story: A Band of Misfit Losers Hunt the Undead // by Rune Soldier Dan //------------------------------// They met on a sailboat in the Pacific, launched from a dock an hour’s drive from Canterlot. Fluttershy sat at the head of the ship’s cramped cabin table and nervously tapped down her wooden gavel. Instantly, the three others in the room looked at her, causing her to squeak and hide behind her hair. She stuttered out a few tries before managing to start things off. “This… um, this meeting of extremely shy aquatic shapeshifters is now called to order.” The others applauded quietly, giving her the confidence to go on. “Um, as always, we start this meeting with a motion for a unanimous ‘thank you’ to my dad for taking us out on his boat and providing the juice boxes.” Silence. Fluttershy mumbled, “Um… someone needs to second it.” “Seconded.” A thin, gray girl raised her hand, though quickly drew it back. “I’m sorry if someone else was going to say it… I’ll be quiet.” “The motion passes,” Fluttershy said. “Thanks, Dad.” Though she said it softly, Mister Shy had developed uncanny hearing over the course of his daughter’s life and called down from above deck. “My pleasure, sweetie!” A tiny ‘squee’ escaped Fluttershy’s throat, and she went on with marginally more confidence. “As you can see, we have a new prospective member with us today. I want her to feel comfortable and accepted, so I think we should all tell our stories before asking hers.” She took a little sip from her juice box, noting the nervous expressions on her peers. “I’ll go first: My name’s Fluttershy, and I’m a weremanatee. It’s like a werewolf but with a manatee. Right now I’m going to college, and I kind of want to work for Everfree Park when I get done.” “I… I’ll go next!” the cream-colored girl to her right volunteered bravely. “My name is Coco Pommel, and I’m a wereshark. It’s, um, like a werewolf but with a shark. I was bitten accidentally by a wereshark in the aquarium, who was actually just a really lazy guy who didn’t want to work or hunt. I’m a student at Canterlot High right now, but my dream is to follow Senpai Rarity’s footsteps and become a fashion designer!” The thin gray girl swallowed hard as attention fell to her. Her eyes darted around in a growing panic, seeking escape. “Remember your training,” Fluttershy coached gently. “Just picture us as cute little stuffed animals and pretend you’re talking to them.” It helped. The girl giggled like a kitten and began to speak, though she did so with her eyes closed. “My name is Marble Pie, and I’m a siren. Um, an ‘Earth siren.’ I didn’t like to sing, so I never could hypnotize sailors and lure them overboard. My sisters stranded me on shore to die, but Mom and Dad – um, Igneous and Cloudy Quartz – found me and kept me in a kiddie pool in their garage until I was old enough to change shapes (I’m, um, kind of a mermaid in water). I met my human sisters there and I really love them. I make candles and sell them online.” “Very good, you’ve definitely improved!” Fluttershy clapped her hands together twice (quietly) before turning to the last girl at the table. “Now it’s your turn. Take your time, and only share what you want to.” The newcomer had gray skin and a disordered mop of short blonde hair. She beamed at the others, the odd positioning of her golden eyes seeming to meet all their gazes at once. Or would have, if the trio weren’t so averse to eye contact. Nonetheless, she spoke with bubbly enthusiasm hence unheard in their quiet group. “Hi, I’m Ditzy Doo! I’m a changeling, so I can like take any shape I want although my normal form is gross and buggy so I stay with this. Waaaaaaay back in 2016 I came here from Equestria with my queen to help her take over the Earth. Drones like me have no free will when she’s around, so even though I was making friends and having fun she kidnapped Sunset and made me take her place. The queen lost and got dragged back to Equestria, severing her control over me. So I abandoned ship, laid low, and I really love my job as a daycare aide and living as a human. It got kind of lonely having to hide my secret all the time, so I’m really happy Fluttershy found out and invited me to your club. What do you guys do on these trips?” “We drink juice boxes and eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” Fluttershy explained, drawing bobbing nods from the others. “If it’s warm we sun ourselves wearing swimsuits we would never, ever wear in a public area. Then we go for a swim, just enjoying the chance to be together in the beautiful ocean.” She giggled and took another sip from her juice box. “And if we run into any dolphins, we find out if any of them committed genocide against porpoises or raped their females and teach them a lesson in manners.” An unexpected wave jostled the cabin, opening a closet filled with switchblade knives and metal bats wrapped in barbed wire. Coco discreetly reached over and nudged it closed. Fluttershy’s expression grew serious. “But first, We have to vote for you to be accepted into the extremely shy aquatic shapeshifters club. Um… well, let’s see if it can be unanimous. Does anyone have any concerns?” They did – Ditzy was neither extremely shy, nor a strictly aquatic shapeshifter. But no one wanted to be a bother or become the center of attention. She seemed nice. The motion carried without dissent. Quietly gossiping, the newly-expanded group finished their snack and took turns diving from the boat, each transforming to pass smoothly to the water. Coco as a lean shark, Marble taking her siren form, and Ditzy choosing a sea turtle for her first swim. Then Fluttershy hit the water belly-first as a fat, blubberous manatee. They laughed, frolicking in the unspoiled Pacific waves before Marble spotted some dipshit dolphins, and duty called.