//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Troubled New Home: What's Old Is New Again // by SolvableSphinx //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle walked along the road, Spike in tow like he always was at this time of his life. She was sure that she would find someone at the edge of the Everfree Forest. “Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, we are going to be talking to a Ranger, but still… Princess Celestia is one of the last Everfree ponies for a good reason,” Spike said. “Everfree ponies?” Twilight asked, walking forward. She kept walking forward, but upon not hearing Spike following along, she turned around and looked at him. “Spike?” “Are you sure you’re okay?” Spike asked. “I’m perfectly fine,” Twilight replied. “No you’re not,” Spike said. “You’ve been acting weird, and now you’re forgetting kid stuff.” “I have not!” Twilight replied. “Then what’s the Copper Empire?” Spike asked. “It’s… it’s something that doesn’t matter right now,” Twilight replied. “Current events, Twilight! It’s in the newspaper and the history books, the ones that you obsessively read,” Spike said. “I have a lot on my mind right now,” Twilight replied, turning around and walking towards the forest. “Oh, no. Anypony else, yes. The Princess, maybe. But not you, Twilight. You’re a font of useless knowledge and magic,” Spike said. “It’s not useless!” Twilight yelled at him. “Yes it is! You’re sick, Twilight. You do not need to be running around the Everfree, chasing after the pony who is specifically trained to survive in it,” Spike said. “You know what, Spike. You’re right. I should go home,” Twilight said, completely calm. “Good to see that you’re finally agreeing with me,” Spike said. “After I check Fluttershy’s home. If she's not home, then she's out doing her job. But we have to at least try. We were given a royal duty, after all,” Twilight said. She then walked away with a look of smugness on her face. “Dangit, she’s using logic,” Spike muttered. ~ ~ ~ Twilight and Spike made their way to the house, which appeared to be kind of like a giant tree house. Except this time the giant tree house was in fact on stilts. And not made out of a tree. So really it wasn’t a tree house at all, even though Twilight thought of it as such. “Why is it on stilts? Normally you see that only on the coasts,” Twilight said. “That so that I can see the fires,” a breathy, feminine voice replied. “Oh, so that’s why it’s…” Twilight looked to her side, to see a familiar yellow face that was all too close staring straight through her. “Hello.” Twilight screamed. “Oh, did I scare you?” Fluttershy asked. “YOU’RE COVERED IN BLOOD!” Twilight replied. “WHY ARE YOU COVERED IN BLOOD?!” The yellow pegasus looked down at her own clothes. It appeared as though she was wearing some sort of green button shirt, but it was covered in a green, ichorious substance. “You have a good eye. Most ponies wouldn’t recognize it as blood.” “BUT WHY ARE YOU COVERED IN IT?!” “Hey Flutterhy what’s all this comoHOLY HANNAH,” the voice of Rainbow Dash yelled. Fluttershy, Spike and Twilight around to see the four familiar ponies. Rainbow Dash was flying above the three, who Twilight recognized. Applebloom, Applejack’s little sister. Scootaloo, who was an avid fan of Rainbow Dash to almost creepy levels even after she became her own mare. And Sweetie Belle, who was still just as sweet a mare in adulthood as she was a filly. The fact Rainbow Dash was acting like their baby sitter early would explain why Scootaloo was wearing a small green Stetson and neckerchief herself. “I thought I should let you know that these trouble makers were wanderin’ into the Everfree, but what the hay happen’d t’ ya?” the cowmare asked. “I had to kill a spider to keep the fillies from being eatened,” Fluttershy said, looking distantly. Almost past the trio of fillies and their pegasus caretaker. “It was much too far from its habitat. Something had displaced it, and it was going to wander out. It was probably a trap door spider before it wandered so deep into the Zone of Alienation. Then the bad magic mutated it.” “Uh… huh…”the four said. “When spiders get ahold of their prey, they wrap the prey inside of a silk cocoon. They then inject the prey with acidic venom that turns them into goo while the prey is still alive. Then the spiders slurp up the goo. Slurp. Slurp.” Fluttershy said, making the slurping sounds far too cute for something so horrifying. Everyone around her just sort of looked at her in shock. “I’m not sure about trop door spiders, though. I’m pretty sure they use deadly neurotoxin. But they still suck out your insides. “Ponies get to be prey sized for those spiders at about your age,” Fluttershy said, finally looking at them. “You’re prey size for a lot of things. Like Goblins. Goblins will use their evil enchantments to lure you into their lairs, where they will chop you up and turn you into a big, tasty stew. You’re the perfect size for that sort of thing.” “H… how do ya’ know?” Applebloom asked. “Because I tracked them. I track a lot of things,” Fluttershy replied. “Umm… I’m guessin’ that it’s high time we all be goin’. Before ya’ give ‘em nightmares and stuff,” Rainbow Dash said. “Move along, fillies.” “Be sure keep working on your nature badge so I can sign off on it!” Fluttershy replied cheerfully as the group of four quickly departed for Sweet Apple Acres. At that point Fluttershy began to sniffle, seeming to be on the verge of tears. “Do you have a bath?” Twilight asked. “Yes,” Fluttershy replied, seeming ready to run away now. “Lets get you cleaned up, then,” Twilight replied, before grinning a little bit. “You’re a Ranger, so lead the way.” ~ ~ ~ It took a little while to get Fluttershy into the bathroom, ready to get cleaned up. Spike, the ever dutiful dragon, simply sat outside to give the girls some privacy. While he knew intellectually that seeing a pony female wet and naked was little different from seeing them dry and naked, there was just something about two girls bathing that made him feel… funny. Which was exactly the reason why Twilight was going to indulge a little. “Now it’s time to get you naked!” Twilight yelled. “Umm… are you sure it’s such a…. eep!” Fluttershy meekly replied. “Oh, don’t worry Fluttershy. I’ve done this lots of times,” Twilight said. She used her magic to levitate the pegasus mare, who was struggling against it. “If you stop struggling this part will go by a lot faster.” “Okay,” Fluttershy replied, stopping her movements in the air. While she was still Twilight used her magic to deftly remove the ranger’s ichor soaked uniform, struggling a little bit around the wings but ultimately getting it off. It fell to the ground with a wet splat, getting on her as well. “Eww! Now it’s on me too,” Twilight said. “Well maybe if you weren’t in a rush to get me wet it wouldn’t have happened!” Fluttershy replied, before blushing. “Oh, sorry.” “It’s fine,” Twilight sighed, letting the pegasus back down on the ground. She began to turn on the facet water, letting the bath get warm. She then switched on the shower. “You seem awfully assertive sometimes,” Twilight noted. “Sorry,” Fluttershy replied. “It’s fine. I kind of like it,” Twilight said. “As long as you don’t go overboard.” “Oh, I would never do that on purpose,” Fluttershy said, walking into the shower. She sighed, letting the hot water flow over her and the ichor rinse off. “I sometimes have to be mean. I don’t like being mean.” “It means you’re still a good pony,” Twilight said, looking around a little bit. “Where’s your soap?” “In the cabinet. I like using L’Occitane en Provence,” Fluttershy said, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the warm water. Twilight opened the cabinet, floating out several of different kinds from what was apparently the same brand. She looked for one something in particular, noticing a translation in Equestrian. “Liquid Almond. Nice.” She quickly got to work reading a sponge. “I think so,” Fluttershy absently replied. She then eeped as she felt Twilight suddenly apply the sponge to her fur, as well as the scrubbing. She then began to giggle. “That tickles!” “I’M SORRY!” Spike yelled from outside the door, before the two mares heard him running away. Fluttershy looked at Twilight, then the door. She then looked from the door to Twilight. After repeating the process, she finally figured out what happened. “You’re mean,” the soft spoken pegasus pronounced. Twilight broke out into a fit of giggles. Upon seeing the pegasus gently glare at her, the unicorn smile. “Oh, come on. I’m just teasing him. Besides, you have to admit that it’s a little funny when you think about it.” Fluttershy looked to the side, before giving a slight smile. “Maybe.” The two fell into a comfortable silence as Twilight worked the sponge over Fluttershy’s body. Fluttershy was always considered attractive into Twilight’s home world, although here it was in a completely different way. She was more muscular, her body honed for fighting. A number of small scars ran across it, and even a couple of larger ones. Her cutie mark, those same three butterflies, had lines of darkness running through them from what Twilight guessed was a clawing that magic didn’t quite heal right. “You see them now, don’t you?” Fluttershy asked, not looking at Twilight. “Are they from your job?” Twilight asked. Fluttershy nodded. “Do you want to talk about it?” Fluttershy shook her head. Twilight sighed, seeing where this was going. She sat on the ground, letting her magic go from the sponge as she used what was now a minor cantrip to materialize a pen and paper. For some reason it took more out of her then she intended, but she wouldn’t let that deter her. “OK Fluttershy, I know you may not know this yet, but you’re my friend and I’m here to help. So, tell me what’s on your mind.” “Well, it all began in foalhood,” Fluttershy said. Twilight nodded. “Uh-huh.” Fluttershy responded with silence as the shower kept on going. Twilight let it go on, before leaning forward a little. “It all began in foalhood and…” Fluttershy looked away, shying away from Twilight and going towards the opposite edge of the shower. “Ugh… Fluttershy, I’m here to help,” Twilight said. “That’s what everypony says,” Fluttershy replied. “I don’t like it when they say that.” “Why not?” Twilight asked. “Because when they don’t what to be my friends. Not when they find out who I am,” Fluttershy replied. “And that would be… well, Ranger is a apparently a pretty dangerous job to have,” Twilight said with a shrug. “You don’t know?” Fluttershy asked. “Know what?” Twilight replied, before giving a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry. I spend all my time in the Canterlot Library.” Fluttershy nodded. “That must be nice. Do you read newspapers?” “Of course I…” Twilight stopped mid-sentence, only to note the gleeful express on Fluttershy’s face. Fluttershy was suddenly far too close. Staring her straight in the eye. Staring straight into her soul. She then slowly moved away, smiling. “I understand,” the gentle pegasus said. “We’re going to be good friends.” “Um… yeah?” Twilight said. “Didn’t I already say that? I want to be your friend.” “But you’re not from around here,” Fluttershy said. “Well yeah. I’m from… Canterlot,” Twilight said, painfully aware that she had to keep from saying that she was from Ponyville or someplace that didn’t exist yet. “You’re not from Canterlot either,” Fluttershy said. “You’re from somewhere else.” Twilight was struck dumb by the way that Fluttershy said the phrase ‘somewhere else’. She knew, somehow. Which meant… “How much do you know?” “You’re a good pony. You’re from somewhere else. And we’re going to be good friends. All done,” Fluttershy replied, before stepping out of the shower. She then squeed. “We can go to the spa together!” “Umm… yeah Fluttershy. Sure. The spa," Twilight replied hesitantly. She then smiled. "Hey, we should bring Rainbow Dash or Zap Apple or whatever she's calling herself along as well. And maybe Rarity. Then Rarity could make clothes and force Rainbow Dash to model them. And you could suggest ideas to Rarity so that Rainbow Dash always dresses in style. Like your own life size pony doll, except with an attention problem." "Yay!" ~ ~ ~ Spike had gone past worrying now. The talk between the two had elicited strange, sexy thoughts. Thoughts which disturbed him greatly, because it didn’t matter if he was a dragon and she’s a pony, Twilight is the older sister darn it! But those thoughts were not what made him go past worrying. Because out of all the worst possible things that could happen, the worst possible thing was happening: Twilight Sparkle was now in the full swing of puberty. She had gotten a lot less scrawny, and her voice was a lot less prone to cracking. She was experiencing mood swings and other strange behavior. Now she was establishing a “Class S” relationship with another filly, and Spike just knew that in a few months she’d be head over heels for some stallion. And everypony who was this close to Twilight feared the day that she experiences her first messy break up. He went to Twilight’s discarded saddle bags, taking out a piece of paper and a pencil. Dear Princess Celestia, Code Pink Heart. -Spike Breathing in, he washed the piece of paper with a teleporting flame. Except instead of being transported to the Princess, it simply sat there. “Weird,” Spike said to himself. He blew his magic fire over the note, only to have it remain stubbornly in hand. He then began breathing as much fire as he could over it, increasingly despret, until he felt himself light headed. “Okay. Something’s wrong,” Spike said, walking around. “This never happened to me before after the Princess taught me how to my fire right. Maybe… maybe the Princess is busy. Or something. Maybe it’s me?” Spike sighed, leaning up against the wall. “I just don’t know anymore.” There was a light tapping on the window. Spike looked over at it, to see a pink earth pony with a flat mane in a light blue Moonanite dress giving him a friendly smile and a wave. Spike waved back. She then made a motion for the door, saying something through the window. Spike didn’t know who she was, but she seemed friendly enough. Maybe the pink pony and the ranger were friends? Spike moved to let the strange pony in. “Thank you, sir,” the pink said. “Oh, uh, your welcome,” Spike replied. “I’m Spike. Who are you?” “I’m Dianne. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Spike,” she said, giving him a slight bow. “It’s nice to meet you too,” Spike replied, happy that the pony was being friendly. “So, do you know the ranger here?” “Oh, yes I do. I was going to tell her that I am going to offer the Scout troop free cookies at the bakery, in case she wanted to have some. But now that you’re here, maybe you could lead me to your… how would you say it?” Diane asked. “My sister?” Spike asked. “What need to talk with her about?” At that point Twilight step out of the door with Fluttershy, both smiling and talking about something. Twilight stopped cold though, as Dianne looked at her with a gleeful smile that seemed too wide for a normal ponies. “We’re going to plan the best welcome home party ever!”