//------------------------------// // A Couple More Weeks Later (Also Called Epilogue Number Two) // Story: Furry Contraband // by UnweptSchlipps //------------------------------// Somewhere in Equestria, the sun was shining, giving way to a brand new day. Somewhere in Equestria, ponies were happily going about their day, in a place where despair was nothing but a distant memory. Somewhere in Equestria, animals roamed free, frolicking in the green pastures they called home. Somewhere out there was happiness. But that place was not Canterlot Castle. A dark cloud loomed over the palace, and not the kind that tossed lightning around and blasted thunder. It was a dark presence caused by a bunch of furry critters miles and miles away. It was a thundercloud brought upon the castle by a pair of pegasi who just so happened to have friends in high places. This thundercloud had its sights trained on one pony in particular—Princess Luna. The orange morning light had just broken over the horizon, which meant it was time for the night princess to relinquish her duties and scurry off to bed. Her elder sister came into the throne room, casting a skeptical glare. With a smirk, Celestia said, “Good morning sister. Didn’t run into any furry trouble last night, did we?” “Ha, ha. Very funny, Celestia,” the younger sibling replied, slouched on the throne, her head nestled on her hoof. “Is there anything I can do? Maybe send a whole battalion to stop some earth ponies from smuggling bread into the next county?” “Really, thou art hilarious.” “I do hope some walls haven’t popped up randomly in the middle of the night…” “Okay, I get your point. No need to rub it in.” Luna quickly stood up, relinquishing the throne to her older sister, but not before sticking out her tongue defiantly. As she made her way out the door, she called out, “But in my defense, that zoo did have to close down for two weeks. Think of the foals!” “Go to sleep, Luna—.” “Foals!” Princess Luna began the long trek back to her bedroom, her face pulled into an exaggerated grimace. She passed a couple of servants and guards, all of whom gave her the same amused stare. A pair of guards even had the gall to snicker behind their back, which resulted in their hindlegs being frozen to the floor and their forelegs frozen in some…private places. With a smirk, the princess slinked her way into her quarters, locking the door shut. She spread herself upon her bed with sigh, glaring up sadly at the starry ceiling. A tiny furry head poked out of a drawer, scampering onto Luna’s belly. Levitating the creature up to her face, she muttered, “They are never going to let me live this one down, Jeffrey. Even after two months…they still make fun of me! Me! Perhaps I shall bring the moon closer, cause a tsunami or two…” The ferret began to squeal angrily, waving its paws. “Oh, I’m just joking, Jeffery,” Luna replied, setting the animal down on a pillow. Sitting herself up, she continued, “No need to get too worked up. Back in my day, it was a serious crime to smuggle things out of the country. Sure, the wall may have been a bit excessive, but it was for a just cause!” Princess Luna didn’t seem too convinced with her words, her normally sprightly eyes downcast. But Jeffrey crawled up her shoulders and hugged her neck, rubbing its fuzzy head against hers. The princess couldn’t help but let out a giggle, a smile once again appearing on her face. Stroking her pet, she said, “Oh well. What is there to do but suck it up? Thanks for listening, Jeffery. I can always count on you. Now come, why don’t we—ow! Mother of me…Jeffery!” Luna levitated the ferret by the scruff of its neck, touching the tender spot where he had nipped her ear. Slowly getting off her bed, she walked to her drawer, placing the animal back inside. “Ah, besides, we haven’t had a smuggling problem since then. It seems it’s all died down...” That very same evening… In the dim light cast by a small lantern, Rainbow Dash was curled up on her bed. Unsurprisingly, her wide eyes scanned the pages of the newest Daring Do novel, her mouth agape as her hero escaped yet another perilous trap. Her snout was almost touching the page. Adrenaline pumped through her veins. Slivers of drool hung from her slip. She was so immersed in her tale that she failed to notice the hissing sounds coming from just outside her window. Nor did she react when a couple of tiny pebbles smacked against her cheek. Finally, she shook her head and put the book down, but only after receiving a rock the size of a melon to her jaw. “Ow, what the f—ow, jeez!” She turned her head toward the window, seeing a pair of yellow ears poking from the top. “Psst! Rainbow. Hey, hey Rainbow. Rainbow!” somepony whispered from outside. Rolling her eyes, Dash slid out of bed, poking her head out the window. “Fluttershy, what do you want?” she asked, seeing her timid friend hovering just outside. “Code Blue! Code Blue!” “Fluttershy, I don’t even know what that means.” “Elphay Ethay ritterscray!” Shaking her head, Rainbow replied, “Nnnope, still making no sense.” “There’s trouble brewing down in my cottage, if you know what I mean.” “No! No I don’t know what you mean!” Dash yelled angrily. Then her eyes widened, her mouth pulled into a grimace. “Oh gosh…’Shy, that’s disgusting!” Smacking her hoof to her head, Fluttershy whispered, “I need your help with the animals!” “Ohhhh, you need me to help you smuggle them again, don’t you?” Fluttershy thrust out her hoof, plugging her friend’s mouth. “Shh. Don’t say it so loud!” “Fluttershy,” Rainbow began, her eyes narrowed and hooves crossed. “Thish ish my housh.” The two stared at each other for a rather prolonged and awkward period of time. Fluttershy’s eyes darted around the cloud home, taking out her hoof and wiping it on her fur. Blushing, she mumbled, “Oh…right.” In a few minutes, Dash and Fluttershy were already soaring toward the cottage, covered by the darkness. Rainbow had a bag slung over her back, a special pack always kept prepared in her closet. With a smirk, she asked, “So what’re we smuggling this time around? Gerbils? Deercats? Those weird monkeys with the huge eyes?” “You’ll just have to wait and see,” Fluttershy answered with a wink. “It better not be a buncha ants again. I don’t wanna have to keep counting to 1,834…” “Don’t worry, Dash. No ants this time. But I think you’ll be pretty happy this time around.” “Heh. You know I can’t wait.” Eventually, the duo lighted down in front of the cottage, a sense of déjà vu flooding Dash’s mind, bringing along a shining grin rivaling the luminous moon. She began to chuckle. Fluttershy inquired, “What’s so funny, Dashie?” “I’m just excited, ‘Shy. Excited to go on another awesome adventure with you.” After a short pause, the timid pegasus replied, “As am I.” With a firm hoof, Fluttershy grasped the knob and pushed in. Then, realizing the door swung outwards, she pulled out.