//------------------------------// // Ch.7 Flutters in the Night // Story: The Gaps in F r i e n d s h i p // by Arcanum -Phantasy //------------------------------// The early evening moonlight poured into the room past the recently opened curtains, the guest room bathed in a healthy balance of light and shadow. On a bed in one corner of the room, two ponies were close together, their ministrations making the bedsprings fill the room with squeaks and groans while one was pinned face-down beneath the other. The normally shy Pegasus held her Thestral counterpart to the bed, her hooves gliding across her prone and defenseless body. Soft squeaks and groans joined the ones made by the bed along with the sounds of quickened breath. "Does it feel good here?" Equestrian Fluttershy asked, rubbing her hoof into her victim in slow, deliberate circles. "Yes," her double moaned, face reddened and breath coming out in soft pants. "Please, don't stop." The Pegasus' smile grew a little as she put a little more pressure behind her hoof. She was rewarded with a blissful groan from the Thestral below her. "So tense," she whispered, moving her hoof to another area. "So this really was your first time." "Y-Yes," Fluttershy gulped, drowning in the scent of wildflowers as her counterpart continued her work. "And you?" "Oh, I do it at least once a week," she smiled, leaning in close to her victim's ear. "It was scary at first, but after a while, you get used to it. And it feels amazing the more times you do it." Fluttershy gazed deeply into her counterpart's eyes, her heart hammering in her chest as she took in just how beautiful she was in the dim lighting. As if on cue, her wings burst from their confines at her sides, the finger-like bones in the membrane trembling with need. Whether that need was escape or something else was completely unknown to the heavily blushing Thestral. They didn't go unnoticed by the native Fluttershy as she moved towards her left wing, drawing a wave of anticipation with a touch of fear from her bat pony victim. She closed her eyes, giving way to touch as she waited for those hooves to close in on her wing. A startled gasp slipped past her lips as they did, not aware just how sensitive her new appendages were. "Are you okay?" Equestrian Fluttershy asked, letting go of the wing with a nervous frown. "I didn't hurt you, did I? I've never done this with a Thestral before so I don't-" "N-No," Fluttershy stammered, glancing over her shoulder at her counterpart. "You didn't hurt me, I was just a little surprised. I didn't know wings were so.....sensitive." "Oh," she smiled, staring at the fully extended wings. "That's good. Shall I?" Fluttershy nodded, once again closing her eyes. Again, she felt hooves grip her wing and had to fight to keep a squeak from slipping past her pursed lips. It was an unbelievable burst of sensations as nerve endings she never had before started feeding her information. It hurt a bit at first, but that was quickly washed out by a tsunami of pleasure the closer the Pegasus' hooves got to the base of her wing. The second she made contact with that spot, stars exploded into her vision and a throaty groan burst out of her muzzle. Her breaths were heavy pants as she reveled in the afterglow of the greatest sensation of her life. She barely had enough of her mental faculties running to acknowledge how limp her wing was before she felt a set of hooves grip her other one. "Now for the right." A thrill tore through her clouded mind like a hurricane, bringing a hungry smile to her lips. Thank god for wings! was the last thing she thought before she was drowned in a sea of endorphins. After a few minutes of pure bliss, she became aware of the lack of weight on her back as Equestrian Fluttershy gently lifted herself off of her double, a soft breeze signaling each wingbeat. Lazily, she turned her head towards the Pegasus as she landed at the side of the bed. In her idled state, the mare looked like a literal angel, her whole form seeming to sparkle in the dim light of the room. "That....was.....amazing," she said between gasps, a slight slur in her tone. "I'm glad you liked it," Equestrian Fluttershy smiled. "Next time, you should let Aloe and Lotus at the Spa work on you. They're much better at massages than me." "No," Fluttershy said with a drunk frown. "Only you get to massage me." Equestrian Fluttershy blinked owlishly at her double, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "B-But they're-" "Don't care," Fluttershy said, frown slowly turning into a roughish smile as she added, "It's you or no one. I don't care if they're massage masters, I want you." The Pegasus' face turned red hot at that, her Thestral companion too drunk on her endorphin high to fully understand what she had just said. "W-W-Well, if that's what you want," she stammered, suddenly very interested in the floor tiles. Fluttershy smiled, enjoying the afterglow of her massage as her heightened senses started to recalibrate. Her whole body felt as light as air as she tried to move. Gone were the unusual twinges she felt each time she moved her legs or back. Her wings felt more natural to her as she consciously tried to move them, the slow movement creating a small breeze that stirred up her mane. As she rose, a light surge of energy shot through her that drew a startled gasp out of her. "Are you okay?" Equestrian Fluttershy asked, quickly moving to her double's side. "Y-Yeah," she said, a small smile gracing her muzzle. "Don't worry, I'm fine." Better than fine. She felt as if each muscle in her body had awakened at the same time and was ready for action. A sensation that she found she liked a lot. The bed let out a squeak as she stepped off of it with a happy hum as she reveled in how light she felt. "Thank you again for the massage. I promise I'll make it up to you later." "Oh, you don't need to do that," the Pegasus blushed. "I want to," Fluttershy insisted with a smile. "Well, okay," she smiled. Fluttershy giggled, then took a look out the window at the darkening sky. "Looks like I can leave the room now. Do you have anywhere you need to be?" She shook her head. "Not really. Most of my animal friends are hibernating right now. Why?" "W-Well," Fluttershy stammered, fidgeting a little as she shifted her gaze to the ground. "I want to take a look around, but I don't know were anything is. Could you help me?" "Sure," Equestrian Fluttershy said with a light smile. "Thank you," she said, lips pulled into a grateful smile with a bit of fang. A small flutter filled her heart at the sight. What was it about her counterpart's fangs that did that to her? *** Ponyville was a scene strait out of a Christmas card. Countless lights and ornaments covered all of the houses in festive displays that showed how much the ponies loved the holiday. A thin blanket of snow covered the streets and rooftops adding to the festive feel in the air. Fluttershy marveled at the care the ponies put into the many decorations she saw, all the while tugging at the scarf her double insisted she wear. Apparently, Thestrals have a much higher tolerance for the cold, a feature born from a mix of their Pegasus ancestry and their thick coats. In spite of that, her double insisted that she wear some article of clothing before they left the castle. At first, she was fine with taking the scarf, but quickly started to find the accessory to be rather stuffy. The only thing that kept her from discarding the forest green scarf was the fact it came from the Pegasus directly and that it held her scent as a result. Though, she was more than willing to put up with a bit of discomfort if it meant seeing her double in the snow. A small smile spread across her muzzle as she watched said Pegasus lead her through town. The little yellow Pegasus was bundled up in a thick green snow jacket with pockets weaved into the back for her wings as well as a pare of snow pants for her hindquarters with an opening cut into it for her tail. A matching beanie covered her head and ears while a spare scarf was wrapped around her neck. The end result was a ball of squishy pony with legs walking down the street that Fluttershy had to fight the urge to through her hooves around. She's so cute! she thought, her wings shifting a little. "Are you okay?" Equestrian Fluttershy asked, looking over her shoulder at her double. "You've been quiet this whole time." "I-I'm fine!" she stammered, a light blush coloring her cheeks. "Just taking in the sights." The Pegasus shrugged then went back to the tour, all the while her companion tried to stare at anything other than the ball of cute walking in front of her. A few stores caught her attention, mostly because of how unusual their wares were. One store called Quills and Sofas made her wonder how such an oddly specific business could function while a store called Fire Hydrants and Tumbleweeds made her question pony society as a whole. Probably one of the most interesting buildings she saw was a towering building with carousel horses built into the sides of it like a giant merry-go-round. Lights and holly wreaths covered the building in an intricate pattern that looked to have taken hours of careful planning to execute. "What kind of place is that?" Fluttershy asked, more to herself than to anyone else. Equestrian Fluttershy noticed and followed her double's line of sight. "That's Carousel Boutique," she said. "It's were Rarity works and lives. Do you want to take a look?" "If it's not too much trouble," she smiled. With their destination set, they navigated the surprisingly busy streets of Ponyville towards Carousel Boutique. All the while, Fluttershy took note of all the ponies carrying boxes and bags full of toys and various other spoils. Her eyes drifted towards the Pegasus walking ahead of her, a thoughtful frown forming on her muzzle. What kind of gift could I give her? Before her mind could wander through any possibilities, they arrived at their destination. The shop was even more magnificent up close, its lights adding the shine from the surrounding snow to its own as an accessory. Fluttershy stared at it with slack-jawed amazement, her sharpened eyes picking up all the fine details in the building's structure that amplified the arrangement's effects. A light nudge from her double snapped her out of her trance as she made her way to the shop's front door. Mildly embarrassed, she followed. The store's interior was just as extravagant as its exterior, with changing rooms divided with red curtains decorated with holly prints and wreaths. Similar decorations covered the walls and ceiling with several pony-shaped mannequins sporting antlers and false red noses. Fluttershy flinched when a bell above the door rang when the door closed behind her, earning the device a sharp glare from her before her attention returned to the shop's main room. A familiarly cultured voice called out "Just a minute~" from an out of sight back room. A moment later, Rarity stepped into the room, much to the pair of shy's surprise, Octavia not far behind her. "Octavia?" Fluttershy asked, taking a step towards her friend. "What are you doing here?" "Rarity gave me a tour of Ponyville and treated me to some tea," she said, briefly giving the Unicorn in question a thankful smile. "What brings you here, love?" "Well, Fluttershy was giving me a tour and I wanted to take a look at the Boutique," Fluttershy smiled, shifting quick glances at her double as she said hi to her friend. "I see," Octavia smiled, casting a passing glance at the bundled Pegasus. "Did she by any chance take you to the spa? If not I can vouch for the Masseuses' skills." "No, I didn't feel like getting another massage," she said, eyes drifting to the ground as a deep blush spread across her muzzle. "Another?" she asked, raising a brow. "It only just got dark out. How could you have gotten a massage if you couldn't leave the castle?" A second after she asked the question, things started to fall into place and a devilish smile spread across her face. "My, my you do work fast, love." "I-It was her idea," Fluttershy sputtered, face turning beet red. "She noticed how stressed I've been because of my new body and wanted to help me relax." Octavia giggled, and placed a reassuring hoof on her shoulder. "Relax love, I won't judge you for finding someone you fancy, no matter how unorthodox the situation may be. Just don't rush ahead too much. You don't want to scare her off after all." "Right," she nodded, a bit more confidence behind her blush, then smiled as she added, "Thanks Octavia." "Anytime love," she smiled. "Now, do you have any idea what you're going to get her for Hearths Warming?" "Hearths Warming?" Fluttershy asked, unfamiliar with the holiday in question. "It's apparently the Equestrian version of Christmas," she explained. "While the origin of it differs from ours, the spirit and traditions seem to be the same." "Oh," Fluttershy nodded, before letting out a frustrated sigh. "I was thinking about that on the way here, actually. Do you have any ideas?" "I don't unfortunately," she sighed. "I haven't spent nearly enough time with her to give you any reliable advice on that." "I see," Fluttershy sighed with an irritated grimace. She wasn't mad at Octavia per se, it wasn't her fault that the Pegasus was an enigma to her. If anything, it was her own fault that her new friends didn't get to spend time with her double. It was the fact that her crush was herself and she still couldn't think of a gift. Combine that with all the new rules she had to follow in regards to her body, and you got a very irritable Thestral. A very irritable love drunk Thestral. "You know, Rarity is one of Fluttershy's friends" Octavia mused. "Maybe she could give you some advice." Fluttershy lit up at that, only for her good mood to deflate a second later with a guilt-ridden frown. "Maybe if I hadn't tried to give her a heart attack yesterday," she mumbled. "You'd be surprised," Octavia smiled. "Apparently, when you've "stared oblivion in the face" a few times, you grow a thicker skin for it. Give it a try." "Are you sure?" she asked. "Positive," she nodded, then with a cocky smile said, "And if I'm wrong I'll eat my cello when we return home." With a slight giggle, Fluttershy nodded then moved towards the Seamstress. As she did, Equestrian Fluttershy noticed and moved away to give them privacy as she switched places with her. The Thestral was a bundle of nerves as she locked eyes with Rarity, noting the flinch she did when her red orbs alined with her blue ones. "U-Um I was w-wondering if you could help me with something." "Like what darling," she said with a soft, patient smile. "W-Well," she stammered. "I want to get Fluttershy a present, but I don't know what to get her. So, I was wondering if you had any advice. If you don't mind, of course." "Are you serious?" she frowned, making the nervous Thestral cringe, before it was replace by a wide smile. "Of course I don't mind!" "O-Okay," Fluttershy stammered, suddenly nervous for a completely different set of reasons. *** Sugarcube Corner was a buzz with action as everypony enjoyed their treats. Like all the other businesses this time of year, the sweetshop was decked out in full winter fair, with rings of cotton meant to look like snow decorating the bottom and middle of tables with holly and mistletoe hanging from the ceiling in random formations. Wreaths, bells, and Christmas (or Hearths Warming) ornaments covered the walls like family photos in a living room with care and precision, giving the store a happy and festive feel. In one corner of the room, the two Fluttershys enjoyed their drinks with bubbly smiles. Oh I can't wait! Fluttershy thought with a giggle as she sipped her mango shake. She's going to absolutely love her gift. Good thing we have the same measurements or it would've been harder to make it. Talking with Rarity had been a little nerve-wracking at first, but after a few minutes, she found the mare to be very easy to talk to. She took the time to listen to the awkward bat pony's concerns in a much more patient manor than her human counterpart, a fact that both relieved and made her feel a little guilty after she made the comparison. All it took was a momentary trip to the back of the store for some measurements and some questions on what colors she wanted to make all of Fluttershy's worries vanish. She had a gift for her crush and an entire evening to spend with her outside of Princess Twilight's castle. For the first time in days, everything seemed to be looking up for her. "Hey, um, Fluttershy, do you think we could check on Pinkie before we leave?" Equestrian Fluttershy asked over her vanilla shake. "Huh?" she asked, snapping out of her musings. "Oh! Um, sure. I don't see why not." "Thanks," she smiled, casting a glance at the door leading to the shop's kitchen. "I'm worried about her." Fluttershy nodded, following her double's line of sight. Octavia had warned her of the native Pinkie's strange behavior earlier that morning, and while she doubted she would do anything to her, she was still an unpredictable element in an already alien world to her. As a result, she was a bit hesitant to go near the pink Earth Pony, but if her double was willing to risk it, then so was she. Thought she did try to nurse her drink as much as possible. Just relax Fluttershy, she thought as she they made their way towards the register. It's just Pinkie. Sure, it's a different Pinkie, but its still her and you know she wouldn't hurt a fly. Though she did make me go deaf for a little while. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. "Why hello Fluttershy," a blue Earth Pony mare with a neon pink mane behind the counter said. "What can I do for you sweetie?" "Hello Mrs. Cake," Equestrian Fluttershy smiled. "We were wondering if we could see Pinkie Pie for a little bit. If its not too much trouble." It was then that the mare noticed that Fluttershy wasn't alone, but if she was shocked by the other Fluttershy's appearance, she hid it really well. "I don't see why not," Mrs. Cake shrugged with a smile. "She should be up in her room right now. Do you remember where it is?" She nodded. "Well don't let me stop you. Have fun you two!" With that, the two Fluttershys made there way through the door to the kitchen and living quarters of the sweetshop. Fluttershy marveled for a moment at all the different cooking tools and equipment they passed as they made their way through to the residential section of the store. When they got to the stairs to the second floor, Fluttershy picked up on a strange scent in the air. It was a strange mix of sugar and candle smoke with traces of bubblegum scattered through it. There was also a hint of some sort of metal, something she was only vaguely able to recognize from when she stumbled into her father's rusty toolshed. That particular scent put her on edge, especially when it grew with the rest of the bizarre cocktail of smells she was catching on the way up the stairs. Carefully, she quickened her pace so that she was just short of next to her double, ready to spring into action if something happened. She wasn't sure what she would do if something happened, given her limited understanding of how to use her body, but she did know how to bite at the very least. Given her new dental additions, that should be more than enough to get the job done. She stayed on high alert when they reached the top of the stairs, eyes searching through the darkness and fangs unconsciously baring. The smell grew as they closed in on a door with a set of balloons on it as well as Fluttershy's nerves. "Pinkie?" Equestrian Fluttershy asked, making her double jump as she knocked on the door. The second her hoof made contact, the door creaked open. To say what they saw next surprised them would've been a slight understatement. Pinkie sat on her haunches at the center of her room, each of her forelegs were level with the sides of her head holding a cupcake in each hoof. A look of pure calm dominated her features, her closed eyes not even flicking open in response to the two Pegesi invading her space. Looking around, the Shys could see dozens of incense holders hanging from the ceiling, each holding a single birthday candle laying on its side. As they stepped in, mesmerized by the shear randomness of the situation, a soft click from the ground made them jump. Looking down, Equestrian Fluttershy spotted a tape recorder. With the soft crackle of static, the device activated. "Dear Fluttershy and Fluttershy. Hiya! Thanks for coming to visit! Sorry I can't hang out right now. I am currently in deep meditation in order to find myself and enact righteous justice in the name of Sunset's honer. I don't know how long this with take, but I'll try really, really, really, really, really hard get this done soon. Until then, have fun and happy Hearths Warming." With that, the recorder stopped, leaving both mares dumbfounded. "Your Pinkie does things like this too?" she asked, staring at her gobsmacked double. She nodded, staring at the meditating pony in wonder. They stared at Pinkie for a few minutes, taking note of just how novel a moment like this was considering the mare's usual antics. Seeing little else to do, Equestrian Fluttershy moved towards to the door. The Thestral was just about to follow her out when a baby alligator appeared by her side, another tape recorder in its mouth and what looked like some type of mouthguard on its head. The gator dropped the recorder at her hooves and nudged her foreleg before looking up at her. "Um thank you?" she asked as she reached for the tape recorder and hit the button. "Oh! Before I forget, take this fang cover with you. Those chompers of yours are a lot sharper then you think! And well....you know what they say! Always use protection, right?! Good luck with your double Flutterbat! I'm rooting for ya!" Fluttershy had never been more happy to be mostly alone in a room before then she was at that very moment. Without really thinking about it, she took the fang cover, stuffed it in her mane, and with a face hot enough to bring winter wrap-up to Ponyville three months early, stepped out of the room. *** The outskirts of Ponyville was silent, only the tranquil serenity of nature at the heart of winter waited for those who took such a scenic route. The two Fluttershys reveled in the peaceful silence as they made their way towards the cottage at the edge of the Everfree Forest. While the town itself was fun and full of energy, it could be a bit suffocating for most ponies not familiar with it. The outskirts was a welcome respite from the noise, more so for the Thestral of the duo. It was also starting to get late, a fact punctuated by the diurnal Fluttershy's frequent yawning. As such, Fluttershy insisted that she walk the bundled Pegasus to her house before heading back to the castle. The outside air filled her with a serge of energy, her sharpened senses picking up everything around her with perfect clarity. She never felt so aware of everything. It was liberating in a way that she couldn't adequately describe with words. It was as if a part of her had been sleeping this whole time and had started to awaken. As her eyes locked onto various things in the darkness and her ears flicked towards alien sounds outside her field of vision, she wondered if this was what it was like to be a cat, so aware of everything even with most of her guard down. "I had a lot of fun today," Equestrian Fluttershy said, snapping the Thestral out of her musings. "I'm glad," she said, smiling a little sheepishly. "To be honest, I was afraid I was being a bother to you." "What?" she asked, shocked. "Of course not! Why would you think that?" "No real reason," she frowned, staring at the ground as they walked. "It's just that, ever since I came here, you've been looking after me, which I'm grateful for," she added hastily before continuing. "I just figured you had better things to do then babysit me all day." A moment of awkward silence surrounded the duo, then a soft weight settled on Fluttershy's back as her double pulled her into her side with a wing. "Please stop saying things like that," Equestrian Fluttershy said, killing any startled protests her double had before they could form. "You need help and I want to help you. And you know what? There's nothing wrong with that." "B-But-" "No buts," she said firmly. "Besides, you're a lot of fun to be around. You're smart and funny. You're easy to talk to and patient. You're really strong and pretty and-" Her mind quickly shut down as she realized what she just said, a bright blush coloring her muzzle as she looked away. "Y-You really think I'm pretty?" Fluttershy asked, her own muzzle breaking into a faint shade of pink. She nodded, tongue too numb to function. "W-Wow, um, thank you," she said, blush deepening and staring at the ground."I-I think you're pretty too." Both walked in relative silence as they tried to process what the other said, their faces threatening to burst into flames. Neither were willing to get their hopes up, sure that the other said what they did just to be nice. Surely they didn't like them like that. Things like that only happened in fairytales, right? Life could never be that convenient, right? There was no way such a pretty mare could be interested in somepony so plane. There was no way such an amazing person could be interesting in someone so strange. Eventually, they made it to the native Fluttershy's cottage, neither ready for the other to leave. With heavy reluctance, Fluttershy pulled herself free of her double's grip as the Pegasus stepped up to the door. "W-Well, it's been fun," Fluttershy stammered, a light blush still coloring her cheeks. "H-Have a good night." As she turned to leave, she stopped when she heard a soft voice say,"W-Wait!" Curious, she turned back to face her double, who gave her a beyond nervous smile. "Y-You don't have to go. You could spend the night, if you want," she muttered, blushing. Fluttershy's eyes widened at that. "I-It's no problem," she stammered, heart pounding in her chest like a jackhammer. "I think I know the way and the cold doesn't bother me that much." "It's okay," the Pegasus smiled, putting a hoof on her shoulder. "I have the room and I'd be worried sick about you wandering around out here in the cold." Fluttershy didn't know what to do. Her stomach was doing happy flip-flops at the idea of spending the night at her double's house, but at the same time, she didn't want to be anymore of a burden for the mare then she already was. Maybe it was pride. Maybe it was guilt. Either way, a part of her wanted to reject the mare's offer. But then she saw the earnest desire in her double's eyes, almost begging for her to say yes. It was a force that no one, pony or otherwise, could ever hope to resist. "Okay," she said with a faint smile. "Thank you," the Pegasus said with a smile as she opened the door. The second they were through the door, the native Fluttershy flipped on the light, momentarily dazing her guest as the room was suddenly flooded with light. As she waited for her eyes to adjust, she heard her double shuffling about the room. By the time she could see properly, the still bundled Pegasus had a stack of blankets and pillows on her back. "The guest room hasn't been used in a while, so the bed doesn't have a sheet or anything on it, but its clean, so you shouldn't have to worry about dust or anything." "Thanks," she smiled as she followed her host towards the room in question. The guest room was as one would expect. A simple square room with light blue walls and ceiling with no decorations or furnishings beyond a bed and a light built into the ceiling. A small window with a thick set of closed curtains was set into the wall to the left of the door. Quickly and efficiently, Equestrian Fluttershy made the bed, even setting a couple stuffed animals onto it along with the pillows. "I hope you don't mind," she said, indicating the stuffed sheep and rabbit plushies. "They sometimes help me sleep at night and I thought you would like them." "No, its fine," she smiled, a bashful smile pulling at her lips as she added "I have a few stuffed animals at home too, so it should help. Thanks." "No problem," she smiled. "Well, goodnight." "Goodnight." And with that, the Pegasus left, softly closing the door behind her. With a happy sigh, the former human shut off the light and got into bed. As she curled up with the sheep plushy, her mind started to wander. Namely towards the fang cover hidden in her mane and the talk she had with her double. A dopy smile spread across her muzzle as a single thought followed her into the land of dreams. She thinks I'm pretty. All the while, the native Fluttershy was doing the same. Though she had removed her winter gear, her face felt like it was going to burst into flames. Never had anypony had this kind of effect on her. It was just as exciting as it was terrifying for her. She had no idea what to do with herself, but at the same time was more than willing to see how this played out. She knew how she felt about the Thestral, but a sprinkle of doubt kept her from accepting that she felt the same way. Though one very recent memory made that doubt weaker by the second. "It's you or no one. I don't care if they're massage masters, I want you." She buried her face into a pillow, hiding her red face and stifling her happy squeal.