//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: The Mysterious Intruder // by TwishyOTP //------------------------------// Chapter 4 Fluttershy was now lying down in her bed. She finally felt a sense of security being in the castle again. Just knowing that Twilight was nearby made her feel much more relaxed. As she lay in her bed she began to drift off to sleep surprisingly easily considering the circumstances. At last it seemed that she was able to find some peace. However it wouldn't last very long. Fluttershy suddenly awoke, still lying in her bead. A sense of fear slowly crept over her. Suddenly out of the corner of her eye she spotted a pony in her room. They appeared to be the same pony she had seen breaking into her cottage. They were dressed in the same black cloak and as Fluttershy looked closer she saw a horn protruding out from it. "It's the same pony? But how are they here? How did they find me again? Something isn't right." Fluttershy was about to cry out for Twilight but she couldn't speak. Now matter how hard she tried she was utterly silent. It was then that she noticed that she couldn't move either. It was as if she was paralyzed with fear. She soon began to panic as the mysterious figure began to approach her. She felt completely helpless. "What's going on?! What's happening?" She thought as the figured slowly inched closer and closer to her. Now they were so close she could almost see their face clearly. Fluttershy's heart began to beat faster and faster. Just as she was about to see their face suddenly... Fluttershy shot out of her bed still in a panic. She was breathing so heavily she was almost hyperventilating. "I-it's okay Fluttershy. It was just a nightmare" She thought, trying to calm her self down. It seemed that her efforts were futile however, as she continued to tremble, unable to shake the feeling of terror she had just experienced. "Great, how am I supposed to get any sleep now?" She thought, frustrated. Meanwhile Twilight was fast asleep in her room. She was having one the best night's sleeps she had had in years. It was as if nothing could disturb her, that is until she was abruptly awoken by a knock at her door of course. "Spike! How many times have I told you not to interrupt my beauty sleep?" Twilight said in a very frustrated tone. "O-oh I'm terribly sorry Twilight. I didn't mean to upset you." Fluttershy responded timidly. Twilight could tell that her friend was afraid, just by how she spoke. "Fluttershy? I didn't realize it was you. You wouldn't believe how many times Spike has woken me up in the middle of the night. Sometimes I don't know what to do with him. But anyway is there something you need?" "Oh well um... y-you see, I know this may sound silly but I kind of had this really terrible nightmare and I was wondering If maybe I could sleep here? W-with you." "That doesn't sound silly at all Shy. It's perfectly understandable that you'd be having a hard time given all that you've been through. So of course you can sleep here." Twilight responded cheerfully. "Oh really? Well I'll just sleep over here on the floor than..." "Nonsense!" Twilight said, interrupting her friend. "You can sleep in the bed with me" "Really? Are y-you sure you wouldn't mind?" "Of course not shy! That's what best friends are for." Being referred to as Twilight's "best friend" made Fluttershy blush. She could tell by the way that Twilight said it that she was being sincere. "Well alright then." Fluttershy said with a smile on her face as she tucked her self in next to Twilight. The two laid there for a brief moment before Twilight spoke. "So Fluttershy, I've been wondering?" "Yes Twilight?" "I've always thought that Rainbow Dash was your best friend?" Twilight asked curiously. "Well she was when we were younger. She always stood up for me and I still consider her a very close friend. But with you it's different." "How so?" "I don't really know how to explain it. It's just that something about being around you makes me feel comfortable. I always feel like I can be myself with you Twilight. It's almost like my shyness begins to disappear or something when I'm with you. I think it's because you're so kind and genuine to me. With Rainbow it's a bit different. It almost feels like she needs to pretend to be some invincible hero for my sake, to make me feel comfortable. She's always seen me as someone she needs to protect." "And it doesn't feel that way when you're around me?" "No it doesn't. I feel like we have a different kind of friendship. You know what it's like to have trouble being around other ponies. You didn't even have any real friends before moving to Ponyville. I think that's why we get along so well. In a lot of ways we're the same." "You know I've never really thought of it that way Fluttershy. But it does make a lot of sense to me now. I've always felt a certain comfort around you too." Twilight rolled over in the bed and was now facing Fluttershy. Fluttershy smiled at her and she smiled back. "You know, I'm really proud of you for opening up so much to me," Said Twilight. "Thank you Twilight. I never find it easy to open up at all. Normally I wouldn't be able to share any of this but with you here it's much easier." Twilight leaned over and hugged Fluttershy. "Best friends forever?" Asked Twilight. "Best friends forever," said Fluttershy. "Well I guess we had better gets some sleep." Twilight said. "I guess so" Fluttershy said as she chuckled. It was now very late indeed. Far too late for anypony to still be awake. As the two said there good nights they slowly but surely began to fall asleep. Fluttershy was still a bit shaken up from the nightmare but she felt much better now. "Best friends forever." Fluttershy thought to herself."But what if I want to be more than best friends?" Now completely exhausted Fluttershy finally fell asleep.