//------------------------------// // Manga 2 // Story: Short Hand // by Andrew Joshua Talon //------------------------------// - - - I had tea with Fluttershy the next day, after we'd finished giving a swamp dragon his medicine. I leaned back on the couch, Fluttershy in her cute little chair across from me. "That dragon was fairly cooperative, Fluttershy," I said with a smile. "I'm not sure why you needed me around." Fluttershy smiled. "W-Well, it helps to have a bigger, stronger animal around," she explained, "in order to keep the swamp dragon calm." "I guess that makes sense," I said. I sipped her tea, and sighed as I relaxed even more. "This is great stuff, by the way. What kind of tea is it?" "It's dandelion tea," Fluttershy said, blushing gently. "I-I made it myself." I smiled back at her, and her blush grew. God she really was beautiful-I mean cute! Cute! That's what I meant. Yeah. "It's very nice," I said. I sighed and relaxed into the couch cushions, feeling completely at ease... Which made me reach for my gun. Fluttershy was alert in a moment, and concerned. "Shepherd? What's wrong?" She asked. "Is there something dangerous around?" Honestly, it made sense that Fluttershy could read my moods so well. She did it with animals all the time. It was her special ability. "Kind of," I said carefully. "Twilight's been acting... Weird lately, and I don't know what she'll pull next." At Fluttershy's look, I sighed. "I mean, weird as in she's gone bonkers over something," I explained. "Oh," Fluttershy said, looking a tiny bit tense. She shook her head. "I mean, Twilight means well. She can just sometimes be a little... Off." "Yeah, but in this case, she's really been acting strange," I emphasized. "SHEPHERD!" Twilight called from outside the cottage. I winced, and then slowly got up. I opened up the door. There was Twilight all right, still in the schoolgirl uniform. However, she was looking rather haughty, and had her nose up in the air. "Er, yes Twilight?" I asked. "Oh, h-hello Twilight," Fluttershy said with a smile. Twilight gave Fluttershy a smile back, but reserved a glare for me. "You're late for our testing," she stated firmly. I grimaced and rubbed the back of my head. "Can we not do it today? I'm not feeling very well-" "Shepherd you idiot!" Twilight burst out, and my eyes widened. "That's why we need to do the testing! You might get sick and die from something and we'd never know! You should take better care of yourself!" I looked over at Fluttershy, who looked as confused as I was. But she did nod in agreement. "Um, I mean, she does have a point," she said softly. "You need to stay healthy, after all." I looked back at Twilight, and shrugged. "Okay? I'll be at the library in a few minutes," I said. Twilight snorted imperiously. "Please. I will walk you there. I'm going to make sure you don't get lost or slack off," she ordered. "I have vital science to do!" Well, when confronted with a tsundere, there are two ways to handle it. One is to take it and be a pussy, like Keitaro Urashima. The other way is much more enjoyable. So you should know which ways I decided to go. "I didn't know you cared," I deadpanned. Twilight blushed brightly, and stuttered back her denials. "S-Stupid Shepherd! It's not like I like you or anything!" She managed. "Sure," I chuckled. Usually when Twilight goes insane, it's just terrifying and twisted. This? This could be fun. Best to just let her get it out of her system. I walked alongside Twilight, who was trying to keep her nose up in the air as we walked... Leading to her bumping into a tree. "Ow!" "You okay Twilight?" I asked, grinning widely. "I-I'm fine!" She cried, rubbing her nose. "Thank you..." Her eyes widened. "I-I mean, I don't need your help! Stupid Shepherd!" I held my hands up, barely containing a laugh. "As you wish!" I might be able to enjoy this without being set on fire. Again. - - - Fluttershy Fluttershy stared intently after Shepherd and one of her very best friends in the world, feeling... Deeply conflicted. Why was Twilight acting so tsundere? More importantly... Why was Shepherd going along with it? Did... Did Shepherd enjoy the tsundere? She knew he liked her Neighponese manga but she had no idea he liked tsundere characters! If she didn't do something, would she lose Shepherd? Should she step aside and let her friends be happy? She had to, didn't she? After all, she was the Element of Kindness. That would be the kind thing to do... Wouldn't it? Her eyes narrowed in determination. No. As much as she cared for Twilight, she wasn't going to just stand by and let her take Shepherd with her tsundere ways. Shepherd. Was. Hers.