//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: Tea Time With Fluttershy 
// by Torchwood202 
//------------------------------//

	The crumpet bounced harmlessly off Operator (like most things), but still, he was peeved. "WhAT wAs tHAT FoR? Hissed Operator. Mr. Big jumped at the loud noise and immediately avoided looking at his gaze. If Operator had eyes, they would be fuming right now.
"Sorry Operator... that was for 13th!" He exclaimed, pointing at the still crouched 13th.
"Is the missile crisis over?" 13th chuckled, getting up. He looked behind him and saw Operator. He also jumped and immediately looked down. For some unexplained reason, when you looked at Operator, a loud DUN was heard. Anyway, Operator went over to Fluttershy. "Oh hello Operator, nice of you to join us. I hope you aren't too angry at their bickering." Fluttershy said, snapping looks at Mr. Big and 13th. Heavens knows why, Fluttershy could look at Operator without being afraid. Perhaps it was because of her legendary Stare that enhanced her eyes or for some other reason.

"IT's fInE, iT'S FinE... Operator whispered, waving away at the two boys like he dealt with bigger things.
"I would offer you a chair, but I know how much you love to stand!" Fluttershy said, scooting a chair away from the table for a place for Operator. Just then, GS walked into the main room. He smelled the air and took one look at Operator. Then he ran to him, jumping all over him. 13th reached for his leash.
"nO, tIS FiNe. Operator whispered "HE pRObaBly jUst sMElLs tHe LifE-ForCe oF sOMe PoOr cHap oN My SuIt.
"By the way, how is that game of your going?" Fluttershy said.
"I wAs ThINkIng oF NamIng It... 'The White King' OR 'The Pale One'... SomEthINg aBoUT mY NamE. Operator mumbled, shrugging. He pushed GS off of him gently and went over to the table to find his respective standing spot. GS promptly did 360 in his spot and laid down, his ears still perked up. Just then, the window was gently nudged open to find...

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything?" the scaled behemoth said, poking her head through the window.
"Nessie!" Fluttershy sang happily "I'm glad you could make it!"
"Yes, me too! The gangs all here! Except...oh darn it, he's always late!" She said.
"Yea, you know how he is, snowboarding, sledding,  all that stuff." Fluttershy giggled.
"Mr. Big! Stop eating all those crumpets. Save some for me! You KNOW that I have a bigger stomach than you..."
"Yes ma'am..." Mr. Big sighed, putting down yet another crumpet back into the plate.
"And 13th, is that a new gold ring I see?" 13th shuffled his hooves around and snorted in reply.
"Good good... and dear Operator" She said, unaffected by the loud DUN, "how thin you have gotten! Eat some crumpets dear, your getting quite slender."
Operator snapped his fingers. "ThAt'S iT! I knOW wHaT tO nAME ThE gAme!
"Hooray for you, Operator!" Fluttershy clapped "I know how long you've been wanting to name that game you play with people. What will you name it?"
"YeS, yES..." Operator whispered, obviously lost in thought. Fluttershy, not wanting to interrupt Operator, turned her attention towards Nessie. Nessie had planted herself in the lake near Fluttershy's cottage. It was a tight fit, but she made due. While Fluttershy and Nessie were gossiping like little girls, Mr. Big leaned in for another crumpet. 13th poured himself a cup of Fluttershy's tea, and Operator was scratching his chin, still standing and thinking. One of his tendrils reached for the kettle and he poured himself a cup of tea. Another one of his tendrils got him a crumpet. When he brought them both to his head, they both simply disappeared. It was unknown how Operator ate without a mouth, but he made due.

At the door, yet another knock occurred at the door. Fluttershy, snapping out of gossip mode, said a polite "Excuse me, Nessie." and went for the door. She opened the door to find a large furry ice-white creature with a snowboard on her doorstep. 
"Hello Meh-Teh! Glad you could show up this time!" Fluttershy said.
Yea, its been fun snowboarding the mountains," Meh-Teh pulled Fluttershy into a bear hug, with an barely audible 'Eep!" "and spend some time with my best friends!"
He gently put down Fluttershy and squeezed his way through the front door. He was like Mr. Big, but fatter, taller, and whiter. His face, unlike Mr. Big's, was visible, and was blue. His big feet and giant hands were also blue and visible. There was also a pack on ice on top of his head, which looked rather silly with his toothy grin. He went over to the table and opened his eyes wide.
"Brother!" Meh-Teh exclaimed, pulling Mr. Big into a bear hug. Mr. Big tried to escape bone-crushing hug. He knew that he was gentler with Fluttershy, but with him... it gave him the shivers. Eventually, Mr. Big accepted his defeat and prepared to be hugged to death, but Meh-Teh released at the last second. Mr. Big went out a brief breath of relief and looked at his brother.
"And... business suit guy! How you've been?" Meh-Teh lumbered over to Operator. Operator seeing the upcoming danger, thrusted out a hand to shake. Meh-Teh wanted a hug, so it ended up in a awkward handshake hug. Meh-Teh felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to see 13th, arms wide. Meh-Teh smiled and took up the offer of yet another hug. But to 13th, it was a contest to see if his weight-lifting had paid off. He spent most of his spare time in the previous month exercising his arms for this moment. Then it happened. They hugged.
Meh-Teh did a bone-crushing hug effortlessly, but 13th was hugging with all his might. This was his big moment to show Meh-Teh what it felt like. He hugged like no tomorrow. The universe was shaking as the two hugged violently, shaking the very foundations of the world, th-
13th realized that everyone was staring at them, for they were hugging for at least 12 seconds now. 13th quickly let go, but Meh-Teh continued. 13th flailed about trying to escape the death grip. He grunted and finally escaped the cobra cuddle and went flying towards the nearest wall. 

After some bandaging and ointment later, everyone was seated (except Operator and Nessie, of course). They chatted for some time about various things, like how much they were wanted for (Nessie kept bragging how she was under Scotish protection) and how their general lives were going. It was a night of crumpets, tea, and talking. It was glorious.