//------------------------------// // The animal caretaker! How'd you like your tea? // Story: Golden Love // by enigmaMystere //------------------------------// “Cottage by the forest... cottage by the forest...” Flick mutters this over and over again to himself as he walks around the Everfree Forest, ignoring growls and howls from within. When he sees a round bug approach, he scrunches up his beak briefly before squishing it against the wood of a tree. “Hate those things... whatever they are...” He glances around before continuing his walk. The stark contrast between the side with the forest and the other is startling, as though a line had been drawn between the two. He hums thoughtfully as he considers the forest once more, tapping his beak thoughtfully. “Strange...” His walk is stopped abruptly when he walks face-first into something big, stumbling backwards and rubbing his cheek. “Really need to stop doing that...” There's a deep questioning growl from in front of him. He promptly stiffens up, slowly turning his head to the source of the sound. A large wall of brown fur stands in front of him, punctuated by the bear face staring at him now. He quietly gulps, raising a claw and waving it, hoping the creature doesn’t take that as anything but a friendly greeting. He sniffs him a bit before turning and heading on his way, strangely heading out of the forest. “...right...” He starts to continue on before pausing, remembering something from that party a while back. He quickly looks back to the bear. “Hey, do you know where Fluttershy is?” The creature looks back at the name, narrowing his eyes as if to ask 'why?'. Flick shrugs a bit, finding himself just a touch defensive. “I want to show her a place to eat, that’s all.” He looks at him just a bit longer before nodding and making a small motion with his head before continuing where he was going. The griffon smiles and hurries over, walking alongside the bear. “Thanks!” The bear doesn't offer a comment, not that bears are known for that. “Alright, then...” Things lapse into silence as they walk along. The atmosphere and even the bear's mood seem to liven up as they approach a small cottage out on it's own. He blinks, surprised by the sight of not the building, but all of the animals hanging around it. He watches squirrels being playfully chased by kittens, bunnies all snuggled together, and a fox resting in a little den by the front door. “...huh, this... actually looks really nice...” The bear makes a happy noise that also announces his presence, scaring a couple birds. To his credit, he does look sheepish at this. Flick chuckles and pats him on the side. “That’ll do, big guy. That’ll do.” He pauses a moment, rubbing his beak thoughtfully. “...that doesn’t quite roll off the tongue...” Not commenting once more, the ursine lumbers off towards the back of the cottage. The griffon blinks, looking on in confusion. “Wait, am I still supposed to follow you?” The bear just walks into the back yard, a soft voice calling out as he does so. "There you are, Harry! I was wondering if you were going to miss your appointment." Perking up at the sound of the familiar voice, he hurries after the bear, surprising himself with how excited he is to see her again. In the back yard, he finds a yellow Pegasus completely in her element. Moving from creature to creature with soft grace, she leaves every one of them with a smile. He blinks, his beak dropping open in surprise and gaze focused on the mare who appears to be a far cry from her namesake. Turning and spotting the bear, she flies over. "Hello, Harry. Are you ready for tea?" He nods, having already set up a small table. She giggles. "Why thank you. It wouldn't be the same without you." This snaps Flick out of his stunned state. “He likes tea?” He turns to the bear in confusion. “You drink tea?” The bear straightens up, putting on a refined face as any bear could ever hope to do. Meanwhile, Fluttershy squeaks as she hears the new voice. Grimacing slightly, he slowly steps out from behind the bear, trying to look as nonthreatening as possible. “Hey, it’s alright, it’s just me.” She folds her wings, backing away a step and looking only half at him. "Oh... hello." “Sorry to pop in on you unannounced.” He gives a lopsided smile as he rubs the back of his neck. “I was just... wondering if I could take you somewhere?” Even to him, that sounded more like a question than a request. "Oh, umm..." she scuffs the ground. "I'm sorry, but I can't just abandon my animal friends. Our tea parties are important. Not to say that your place isn't important, of course." She winces a bit. "I'm sorry." He smiles, shaking his head. “No, it’s fine, you have a previous engagement. Nothing to feel sorry about.” He gently places a claw on her shoulder. “It didn’t have to be right away, anyways. It could be afterwards, or tomorrow. Whenever you have the time.” A blue blur lands between them, and he finds his beak being compressed by a similarly colored nose not a second later. “Okay, what’re you doing? Flirting with all those ponies, and then asking my best friend out on a date? What the hay!?” He blinks blankly at her, taking a step back. “It was an invitation to a friendly outing. You can come too, if you like.” Her brow furrows at this revelation. “Maybe I’ll take you up on that, just so I know you won’t try anything funny.” "Umm, if that's okay." Fluttershy adds for her friend. He chuckles, smiling as softly as his beak can allow to the shy pony. “I did offer, after all.” "Well, umm... I think I could do that." She nods, her mane falling in front of her face. He sighs in relief, hugging the yellow pony before anyone can stop him. “Thank you, Flutter- ack!” He’s beaned in the back of the head by a random head of lettuce, and holds her protectively as he looks for the source. “L-look out! Food’s falling out of nowhere!” Rainbow just facehoofs. “Seriously?” Fluttershy seems to have all but frozen as she says a single word. "Angel..." Rainbow forces them apart with a scowl, but it turns to confusion when she sees him spin around and spread his wings, apparently trying to protect her friend from the small white bunny before him. Meanwhile, he just stares down at it with a blank expression. “...there’s no way it did that.” "Angel, it's okay, he was just being friendly." Fluttershy soothes in her soft voice. The bunny just frowns and taps its foot on the ground. "What's wrong, Angel?" She comes close to him, crouching down to see him better. The bunny, apparently named Angel, points to the table set up by the bear. "Oh, right, we really should begin our tea party." She nods, flying inside and coming back with with a tea set. "Everyone gather around the table!" Surprisingly, Rainbow and Flick find themselves being pushed along with the almost literal wave of animals. They’re soon seated at the table, shaken but otherwise okay. Fluttershy hums as she pours tea for everyone. Harry shows that he's a frequent guest as he stirs a bit of honey into his cup with a tiny spoon. Unsure what to do, the griffin just grabs what looks to be some biscuits, holding it as other animals take turns drinking their own tea. Managing a glance over at Rainbow, he takes note of the vacant look in her eyes and the bit of drool on the corner of her mouth, and stuffs one of the bread-based food items into her mouth. He can’t help but smile as she absently starts chewing on it, her expression turning to confusion. The athlete turns to her friend, a little wary. “Fluttershy? What’s in these things?” "Oh, well, since so many different animals eat them, I made them just wheat and sugar." She smiles. "I wouldn't want to exclude anyone." “...sugar.” Rainbow groans, resting her chin on the table. “There goes my diet.” Flick just stares at her. “Diet?” “Yea.” She shakes her head, then points to him. “Too much sugar can make you fat.” “...but you only had one... and why do you know that?” She scowls at him, clearly very annoyed. “What, it’s basic nutrition! Every athlete knows about this!” Fluttershy comes by. "You could just drink the tea, Rainbow. Sugar is optional there." “...right...” She sighs and pulls a cup close, her muzzle scrunching up slightly when she spots a mouse in it. “...really?” "Oh, sorry, some of them like to do that." She laughs. The mouse looks to the yellow pony, chittering animatedly before going back to submerging itself. "Umm... here." She offers a new cup. "He says he likes the Jacuzzi." “Ah. Right.” She takes it and starts to quietly drink, looking at the griffon out of the corner of her eye. She snorts half the drink everywhere when she sees him covered in cute, fuzzy creatures. The yellow Pegasus giggles. "They seem to like you." He quietly grumbles, trying to hold as still as possible. “I bet that bunny put them up to it. I can’t eat like this.” Rainbow almost immediately swipes the biscuit and stuffs it in his mouth, grinning in victory. “See how you like it!” “...er camf ‘ew is.” "Everyone, please let him eat." Their host says softly. The ones on his head and forelegs leap onto the table, picking up some food for himself. Flick lets out a sigh of relief, giving her a grateful smile. “Thank you, Miss Fluttershy.” "You're welcome. I think they're just not used to extra guests." She smiles at him. “They sure didn’t mind using me as a playground, though.” He quietly huffs. “Hey, so...” The other pegasus speaks up, waving a hoof in front of his eyes. “How come you call her Miss, and none of our other friends?” He frowns at her, now. “I call everyone but you by that title.” She huffs, getting up close with her muzzle against his beak once more. “What? Why not!?” “Frankly, my dear,” he smirks slightly, “I thought you didn’t give a damn.” The blue pony’s cheeks light up a bright red as she scowls at him. "Language. There are little ones around." Fluttershy gently chides. He grimaces, immediately becoming sheepish. “Sorry, wasn’t thinking.” He grunts as a leaf of lettuce smacks and covers his face. “...I deserve that. But nothing else.” Angel huffs and drops the star fruit. "Go on now, Angel, drink your tea." The motherly Pegasus shoos him away. The bunny rolls its eyes and hops to its spot beside her. Flick, meanwhile, still can’t see anything. “...does anyone want this lettuce? Because I’m not eating it.” He winces at the bright light when Rainbow yanks it off and stuffs it in her mouth. “...thanks?” Fluttershy blushes as she sees this. The prismatic pegasus looks at her in confusion. “What? He wasn’t going to eat it.” She hides behind her mane and doesn't say a word as she drinks her own tea. Rainbow glances over at the griffon just in time to see him straighten out a few of her friend’s yellow feathers. She scowls and tosses the star fruit at him. “Hey! Claws off her!” He holds them up defensively, frowning at the mare. “Fine. I’ll just find out something else to do with my day.” He stands up and takes a few more biscuits, nodding cordially to them both before he takes off. "Umm... bye!" Fluttershy calls after him, barely audible. Rainbow sighs, resting her cheek on her upturned hoof. “He didn’t need to be so sensitive.” "You were a bit aggressive." Her friend replies. “He was about to preen your wings!” She flings her hooves into the air. “You know what that means for pegasi!” "Maybe it doesn't mean the same for griffons?" She offers. "He only did a few feathers anyway." “But he was still doing it!” She extends a wing and frowns quietly, seeing some feathers out of place. “The least he could’ve done is offer it for both of us...” Fluttershy giggles. "Weren't you just talking about what it means?" She blushes brightly, her hooves clamping down on a cup on the table. “Y-Yea, I was...” She doesn't push the issue, just giggling and enjoying the tea time.