“Fluttershy? You feeling okay?” Twilight asked quietly, nudging the pegasus in the shoulder. She expected that the pegasus would get nervous out in public, but right now the mare looked on the verge of a panic attack. “Do you want to end the trip for now?”
The yellow mare did not respond, her teal eyes wide as she continued to search for what she couldn’t find. The sound of ruffling feathers floated through the quiet air as Fluttershy continued her nervous tic.
Sighing, she placed a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder, finally snapping her back into reality. “H-huh...?”
“You feeling okay?”
“Oh...yeah I think I’m fine...”
“‘You think?’” Twilight parroted, squinting at the winged mare. “What do you mean ‘you think?’”
“I-I...” biting her lip, she twirled her mane with her hooves. “I... don’t know...I’m not even sure if it happened...”
“What? What happened?” Twilight casted a concerned gaze towards the pegasus. The only dead wind whistled within the garden walls, the rustling of leaves from a distance.
“I saw...something...on the podium....at least I think I did,” her timing voice was uncertain, a level of shaking hidden poorly. Her wings flitter at her wings, burning off the extra anxious energy. “It tried to jump at me...but then it disappeared...now I’m not sure if I even saw it...”
Pursing her lips, Twilight gave Fluttershy’s a careful examination. “Are you getting sick?” She pressed a hoof to the yellow pegasus's forehead. “Sometimes I see hallucinations when I’m starting a fever...”
“No, I’m fine,” Fluttershy laughed a little, pushing the hoof away. Then her ears flatten, eyes turning back towards the rose-chalked garden. The podium was now a good distance away, separated by a hedge. “Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me...or the rose’s scent made me lightheaded...”
Neither of those answers satisfied Twilight, who still wore a look of concern on her face. “Well...I think we’ve seen enough for today...why don’t I take you to my favorite restaurant? Take your mind off of it for a while.”
Despite the overwhelming anxiety that overtook the pegasus, she gave a soft smile. “Sounds good...”
The unicorn took the lead, trotting across the marked dirt path. She flicked her tail back and forth, guiding her distraught friend back where they came. Fluttershy eyes kept eyeing her surroundings, her steps even quieter than it usually was.
They approached the front gates, Twilight shoving it open with her magenta magic. Making sure Fluttershy had gotten through the gates, she trotted back down the street they came from.
“So...where are we going?” Fluttershy’s asked quietly, sticking close to the unicorn’s side.
“‘Sunny-Side Dinning.’ Mom would take me there when dad was working his day-job. Trust me, you’ll like it!” Twilight grinned, hoping her smile would put her friend at ease.
Her heart lifted when Fluttershy seemed to lighten up.
They trotted along the semi-crowded streets, they quickly came upon their destination. A large building made from grey concrete stood tall, dull magenta accents line the sides of the establishment. Above the front door was a large sign, reading ‘Welcome to Sunny-Side Dining’ in bold, yellow letters.
Pushing against the glass door, both mares walked into the dining area. Smells of grilled carrots and rosemary filled the air with its aroma, making Twilight feel at home.
Fluttershy visibly relaxed, her tense wings giving out at her sides. She brought her head up, gaze around the room.
Clothed tables filled the dining room, each with golden trimmed seats. Twilight brought the winged mare over to a window seat, climbing to one of the chairs.
“...thanks for doing this, Twilight,” Fluttershy sighed, sitting onto the soft cushions. Her pink tail wrapped around the chair as if to anchor her in place. “This was nice of you.”
“Aww, don’t think too much of it,” the unicorn waved off, smiling bashfully. “I just want you to feel better!”
“Well you certainly made me feel better...” she gave a soft smile, tapping her hooves together. Her appreciation quickly melted into anxiety. “...I forgot to bring money..”
Twilight brushed it off. “Please, Fluttershy, you think you are paying for this? I’m making you feel better, this lunch is on me.”
“But Twilight-“
“No buts,” she stated stubbornly. “I’m paying and that’s final...and don’t think of paying me back on a later date.”
The winged mare gave a defeated sigh, obliging. “Alright, fine...”
Clapping with glee, Twilight turned her attention to a mare that was approaching them.
“Hello! My name is Golden Gates, may I take your orders?” She asked politely, levitating a notepad in her yellow magic.
“Just a second,” the lavender unicorn replied, looking over the menu. Her eyes scanned over pictures quickly before concluding. “I’ll take a parsnip soup.”
The waitress nodded, writing the item done onto her notepad. Hawk eyes turned to look at the pegasus, giving a mellow smile. “And what about you?”
Fluttershy bit her lip, averting her eyes towards the menu on the table. “U-um...avocado toast sound find...”
Jotting that down, the mare left the table with a wave. As soon the waitress was out of earshot Fluttershy gave a hefty sigh.
“Fluttershy?” The worried tone was back in the unicorn's voice. “Are you still worried about what you saw?”
“Well...yes...but not just that. I’m still worried about Thorax and Pharynx and...I’m still wondering how the meeting with Princess Celestia will go. She didn’t seem to like changelings if her letter was anything to go by...”
“Aw, cheer up!” Twilight placed a comforting hoof over the pegasus’s shoulder. “She’s only going to tell us what she knows about changelings so we better understand how Thorax and Pharynx would operate.”
“Yeah...maybe I’m getting worked up over nothing...”
“It’s normal to be nervous,” the unicorn tried to reason. “I would be too if I was you.”
“You know that doesn’t really say much,” Fluttershy frowned, tapping her hooves. Twilight rolled her eyes but still smiled.
“Okay, fair, but my point still stands.”
The mares shared a small giggle as the waitress came back from the kitchen. Hot, steaming trays were placed onto the table, and Twilight nodded in thanks.
Fluttershy took a bite into the toast, it’s crackled exterior crumbling under the force. She seemed impressed, eyes widening with surprise. “Wow...this is really good.”
“See, I told you you’d like it!”