The trio continued to trot towards Fluttershy's cottage, when Vinyl spoke up.
"Are we almost there?" Vinyl asked, bored. "I wanna see the animals already!"
"Ugh, you really have the propensity to be such a child, Vinyl. We will see the animals soon enough!" Octavia said, shaking her head.
Applejack chuckled. "Ah never woulda taken you fer such an animal-lover, Vinyl." She commented. "Y'all seem to be the rough-and-tough type'a pony like mahself, but then again, Ah like animals, too."
"I grew up with a bunch of animals back home. I had dogs, cats, birds, the entire collection of household pets as a filly."
"Well, then I suppose I might have been a little rash in chastising you, Vinyl." Octavia said.
"Yes, Octy. Yes you have. I'd like an apology."
"No." Octavia responded flatly.
"But you just said you were wrong." Vinyl said, confused.
"Just because I say something, does not mean I entirely agree with or accept it." Octavia said with a smirk.
"Eh, fair enough." Vinyl shrugged.
Applejack laughed. "Ah hafta admit, watchin y'all argue is mighty entertainin'. Just goes ta show that y'all're made fer one another. Heck, Dashie and Ah still argue, even though we're close friends. Ah just felt that a little competition never hurt nopony." As she spoke, a rainbow-colored streak soared overhead, high up in the distance.
"There she goes...her head's always in the clouds. Ah can't help but worry about her sometimes, though. Not much common sense in that pony."
"Huh...where have I heard that before?" Octavia said sarcastically, looking at Vinyl.
"Welp, here we are. Fluttershy's cottage." Applejack stated.
The three ponies neared the cottage, a butter-yellow pegasus with a pink mane and three butterflies for a cutie mark sitting on her front lawn feeding some of the younger bunnies and birds.
"There we go, little ones...eat up all your food and you'll grow up big and strong." She cooed, smiling as she watched the animals eat.
"I dunno what's cuter...her or the animals." Vinyl said, watching the scene unfold as more birds came to join Fluttershy on the ground, some perching on her head and others on her back.
Fluttershy giggled slightly. "That tickles! You all must be hungry too. I'll go get more food." When she stood up, she noticed Applejack coming towards her home, with two strange ponies in tow.
"Oh no...Pinkie is still here..." She murmured, trying to act natural as Applejack approached.
"Hey 'Shy. How're you doin' this mornin'?" Applejack asked.
"Um...I'm fine, Applejack...but...um...who...who are your friends?" Fluttershy asked softly, edging away from Vinyl and Octavia. The pair introduced themselves.
"My name is Octavia." She gave a small smile and a polite bow.
"And I'm Vinyl, Octy's sexier and better half." She waved at Fluttershy, grinning from ear to ear as Octavia's hoof smacked her upside the head. "Totally worth it."
"They're stayin' in Ponyville for a couple days on their trip to Hoofington." Applejack said. "Hey...by any chance, have ya seen Pinkie? Ah've got a right big bone ta pick with her."
Fluttershy seized up at the mention of Pinkie. "Um...I...um...haven't seen Pinkie this morning...I don't know where she could be...d-did you check Sugarcube Corner?" She stuttered, trying her best to cover up for the pink pony that was currently hiding in her house. Unfortunately for Fluttershy, Applejack didn't buy it in the slightest.
"...'Shy, Ah can tell yer lyin'. Ah AM the Element of Honesty after all. Now, Ah understand Pinkie probably put ya up to this, but she stole somethin' from me. Is she hidin' in yer house?" Applejack asked. Fluttershy started to shake her head, but shrunk and gave a small squeak from fear when Applejack stomped her hoof forcefully.
"C'mon, Fluttershy! She did somethin' wrong, and ya can't go protectin' her for it!"
Fluttershy began to whimper and tear up, and simply pointed at her front door. "I'm sorry Pinkie..." She whimpered, beginning to cry. A moment later, a pink blur shot out of the open door.
"YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE, APPLEJACK!" Pinkie yelled as she rocketed past them.
"Y'ALL GIT BACK HERE RIGHT THIS INSTANT, PINKIE!" Applejack yelled, charging after her, leaving Octavia and Vinyl with a crying Fluttershy.
"Aw, geeze...I'm not really good at dealing with this-" Vinyl started, but fell silent as Octavia pushed past her and moved up close to Fluttershy.
"There, there Fluttershy...there is no need for tears." Octavia soothed, gently running a hoof up and down her back. When Vinyl looked at her confused, Octavia shrugged. "Just take a deep breath and relax...I am sure Applejack is not upset with Pinkie, she just wants to talk to Pinkie about what she stole." Octavia said softly, trying to calm her down. After a few minutes, Fluttershy wiped her eyes.
"I'm so sorry you had to see me like this...I just get scared very easily..." Fluttershy sniffled, her voice almost a whisper.
"It is quite alright, Fluttershy. I used to be very timid when I was little, so I understand how you feel...now, is it alright if we enter your home? We have something we would like to discuss with you." Octavia asked, Vinyl nodding in agreement.
"Um...okay." She said softly. The three walked into Fluttershy's cottage, Octavia immediately falling in love with the little home. While it wasn't very big, it seemed very comfortable and welcoming. The three sat at her kitchen table.
"W-Would you like something to drink?" Fluttershy offered.
"That would be lovely, thank you." Octavia accepted. Vinyl shook her head.
Fluttershy went and retrieved a bottle of milk and placed it on her kitchen counter and poured it out into two small cups. She reached over and grabbed one of the bottles, labeled "HONEY" on the front. She placed one drop of honey in each of the glasses, and stirred them with a spoon. She then brought both cups over, placing one in front of Octavia and placing the other in her spot.
Octavia took a drink, and felt her entire body relax. The smooth texture of the milk as well as the sweetness of the honey did wonders for her.
"This is absolutely wonderful, Fluttershy. I would have never thought to put milk and honey together." Octavia praised.
"Oh...um...I usually do that when bear cubs won't drink their milk...they usually run me dry when they try it for the first time." Fluttershy said softly, hiding behind her mane somewhat.
"Um...what did you want to talk to me about?" Fluttershy asked quietly, a bit nervous.
"Well, Applejack tells us your special talent is caring for animals. Is that correct?" Octavia asked. When she received a small nod as a response, she continued. "Well...I would imagine that also includes helping pregnant mothers give birth, right?"
Again, another small nod. Octavia then blushed. "Well...then I was wondering if...you would be willing to help me give birth to my own foal..." She said softly.
Fluttershy's eyes widened and she began to smile. "Oh my yes, I would love to help. I've helped all sorts of animals bring their babies into the world, and I'd be more than happy to help you." She said with the kindest smile she could muster. "When are you due?" She asked.
"Sometime next September." Octavia said, returning the smile. "Thank you, Fluttershy. You have no idea what a relief this is."
"Nurturing life is my calling...so helping bring a foal into the world means just as much to me as helping a mother bear give birth to her cubs, even if it isn't nearly as dangerous." Fluttershy giggled sweetly. Vinyl wasn't sure if she was going to keel over from how cute Fluttershy was being.
"Any more of this and I think my pancreas might just try to run away..." Vinyl said, to which Octavia jabbed her in the side.
"Also, do you know when Twilight gets up? We have a few questions to ask her." Octavia asked, curious to know.
"Well, um...she used to be up fairly early...but ever since Trixie moved in with her, she sleeps in pretty late." Fluttershy answered truthfully. "Um...I can take you to see Twilight...um...if that's alright with you..." She said timidly.
"Of course we would, Fluttershy. Thank you for taking the time to help us." Octavia said, gesturing at Vinyl to thank her as well.
"Yeah, thanks 'Shy. You're pretty cool." Vinyl raised her hoof for a high-hoof, but raised an eyebrow when Fluttershy returned it so softly she barely felt it. "Eh...I guess that counts."
Fluttershy then walked over to a small rabbit who had been listening in on the conversation. "Angel bunny, I need you to keep an eye on the animals while I'm gone, okay?"
The rabbit acknowledged, folding his arms over his chest. He then tapped his wrist as if to remind her to keep an eye on the time. "I know Angel, I'll be back in time to give you your lunch." Fluttershy said sweetly. Angel smiled, hugged her right foreleg, and hurried off to complete his tasks.
With that taken care of, the three left for Ponyville Library.
30317
I had no idea. Either way, I do intend to have Lyra and Bonbon in my fic, so maybe Octy and Vinyl inspire them to have Tootsie Flute...
WTF IS THIS??????
SHIPPING LANE
I. NEVER. ASKED. FOR. THIS.
but im enjoying it all the same :)
The frequency of your updates is awesome
Good story too!
Woah. Yeah, that is a lot of couples to drop in one chapter.
and who is the only one left out again?
30353
Just making sure I'm covering all the bases. Besides, I've gotten quite a few requests to pair up the Mane Six, so I went ahead and did.
FFFWHA...
In my opinion this whole mane6 ship armada could go and jump down the ravine. It was Octy and Vinyl I wanted to read about.
But oh well, lets see what next chapters will bring, maybe I will like it after all.
30356
so rarity is shipped too?
Damn now i wonder if its Rarimel, Rarimac or Sparity
D'aaawwwwwww!
Nooooo!!! Fluttershy should never be shipped!!.!! Still enjoying the rest though :)
Glad to see Angel not being a complete asshole, it's rather rare.
LOL we all love how cute Flutter shy can be. I was a little sad that Dash was not with Twilight, but Trixie is a great 2ed!
as always keep up the great work!
EDIT: I went ahead and got rid of the other pairings aside from Twixie. I felt that they detracted a bit too much from the main pairing, and that's not what I want, so I went ahead and left together because I have a plan for them.
woot twixie ftw
Ehh... Treovr feels that you're kind of... stretching it a bit as far as EVERYPONY shipping, you know? Next you'll be saying that Rares is seeing somepony from out of town or something... Other than that, it's awesome! Loving the interaction!
~ Magical Trevor, Minstrel of Equestria
30426
Which is why I fixed it up, Trevs. I've only got two official character shippings now, so no need to worry. Once they get to the Library, it'll be all OctaVinyl, all the time.
SOOOOO CUTEEEEEE
What can I say... Excellent chapter, with everypony in-character. A really pleasant read! I think it was one of the better chapters of this story. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!
nice
SO AWESOME
"ever since trixie moved in" more shipping?
30517
I'm going to keep it brief, I promise.
Looks like I read this after the edit.
I'd actually like to know: Who was shipped in the original chapter?
Still loving this 800 rpm updates, dude. I hope your proverbial magazine does not run out of ammunition.
Trixie...?
Eh, personally I don't see why she's shipped with Twilight so much. Maybe once she's used in more than one episode I will like the ship (at least a little) but otherwise I don't see those two really being a pair.
30557
Originally, it was like this.
I cut out the first two because I felt that three other pairings was a bit too much, and it would just distract the reader from the most important pairing of all!
30564
Go read "The Ballad of Twilight Sparkle" and come back to me.
30564
I felt the same at first but I've read alot of fanfics since then and now it's one of my faves ^_^
Trixie...?
Eh, personally I don't see why she's shipped with Twilight so much. Maybe once she's used in more than one episode I will like the ship (at least a little) but otherwise I don't see those two really being a pair.
Otherwise I live it!
YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE, APPLEJACK!!! I lol'd
Eh...not a big fan of Twixie to be honest. I just don't see how it could happen.
DO WANT
+ = HUZZAH!
Interesting note. Twilight with Trixie is the one Twilight shipping that is least damaging to the plot. Other less than damaging pairings are any adult non-mane with any other adult non-mane (excluding Celestia), and Big Mac with Rainbow or Fluttershy (I can explain this if anyone would like me to).
Rarity does not ship well, and shipping Twilight with another of the mane-six drastically effects the show. I am reading this story because I love non-mane pairings, and you are an excellent writer.
-------
I am many things in many places. Here I am Not.
30724
Precisely. That, and I have something in mind for Twi and Trixie.
KEEP THIS IN MIND, FOLKS!
Whatever happens before or after the party with Twilight and Trixie, MAY be a plot-point for the new fic I plan to write with CoffeeGrunt!
30727 OMGOSH OMGOSH OMGOSH You and coffegrunt! When can i except more amazingness from you? "YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE, APPLEJACK!" lol that was pretty funny....Twixe+Twilight= I felt really exited for the next chapter after that and a bit suprised
30337
Needs more Derpy.........and applebloom
I love the series so far! Keep up the good work pony! ~ Pinkie Pie
Stumbles over a pile of shit.
"God apple-bucking damn it!"
Rams his face into a pile of piss with a splosh.
"Piss!"
Impacted crotch with a rock.
"Fffffffffffffff-"
Sees Vinyl and Octy together.
"D'awwwww"
Joins the British Royal Marines.
>:L
ZYOM... cabbage...
<------ happy
I stand impressed. Most impressed. And I LOVE it that you take the feedback to heart and fix what is suggested. Very good. And for Twixie... I avoided that until now, looking forward to what you will do with them :)
30668
"Twixie?"........"Twixie?"
That sounds like either a candy bar or a vitamen.
Anyway the one problem I have is that these two where being shipped:
Never in a million years would that EVER happen. Why? Well think for a second: Pinkie can never sit still and talks at a million miles per hour. She's loud, fast, and crazy. Fluttershy is basically the EXACT OPPOSITE!
30398 Nnnnnnooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why? Why ruin such a great fic with... with... TWIXIE?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!
Aw, I got here after edits. Sadness at being cut ;_;
hmm needs moar
well at least there was no shipping
well at least there was no shipping
Hmmm... I'm not sure if Twixie shipping is a bit much or not...
I mean, looking at it realisticly, Vinyl x Octavia could easily go, but twixie is kinda... meh.
I have no clue
noooooooooo not 'n
that's pain.
Vinyl, you are weak! Almost fainting because of cuteness overload. I am going to be uber-weak now, and die of heart attack due to cuteness overload. HHHHHHHHNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGG!!!
My reaction to this chapter: