//------------------------------// // Yellow // Story: Harmonic Shuffle // by pasieka17 //------------------------------// „Can you at least promise me that after we’re done with this party we will try to find Twilight Sparkle and do what the Princess told us to do?” “Spike, but we ARE doing what Princess told us to do. She depends on us with the Summer Sun Celebration! Now let's go to the Apple Acres, our food supplier!" “Pinkie, how do you even now we are going in the right direction? It’s not like you asked anypony!” “Auntie Pinkie has her ways! And here we are!” Pinkie suddenly stopped her mix of running and jumping which caused Spike to fall off her into bushes. “Gee, Pinkie, try to warn me the next time you do that!” Spike stood up and rubbed his head. “And where exactly are we?” He raised his head. “Oh… Pinkie… are you really sure we’re gonna find anything here?” They were standing by an old, black and spikey metal fence covered with vine and spider webs. The rusty, wide gate was half-open. The wind was swinging it back and forth, making a loud creaking sound every few seconds. “Welcome to… something… apple… Pinkie, it’s all blurred. I don’t think anypony lives here!” Spike said trying to read an obscurred sign that was hanging over the gate. “Oh, my silly scaly assistant! Where else are we going to find enough food for the party if not in this lovely apple orchard? And if I am sure of something, it’s that I sure do love apples!” Pinkie exclaimed and pointed her hoof at the old, twisted apple trees behind the fence. “I… I don’t know. These apple trees don’t look like any apple trees I’ve seen in my life…” Pinkie sighed. “Well, my number-one-kill-all-the-fun assistant, what is wrong with these trees? Because the way I see it, they are just heavy with the most sweet, big and delicious looking apples I’ve ever seen! And if something looks delicious like those apples, then for 99% they really ARE delicious!!” Pinkie reached to open the gate, but Spike was fast enough to catch her and pull her back. “Wait!!!” He shouted. “First of all, those trees are black. Black, Pinkie! Secondly, what apple trees loose their leaves in summer? And finally, there are Celestiadamn huge ravens sitting on these trees!" There were, indeed, huge scary-looking ravens in the trees' upper branches, staring at them menacingly. One of them cawed loudly and Spike felt shivers down his spine. "Sheesh, talk about discouraging!" Pinkie rolled her eyes. "There's nothing to be afraid of you poltroon!" She opened the gate and approached the nearest tree. Suddenly, the wind howled. "You see, Spike? Nothing happened. Now, I just need a proof of these apples' deliciouseness!" Pinkie stood on her hind legs. "Now I'm just going to give this tree a little sha-" "CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW!!!" The raven flock surrounded Pinkie and cawed at her furiously. Two ravens landed in her mane and started to peck her. "Aaaaaah, fiddlesticks!!! " Pinkie backed away from the tree and the ravens left her immediately, flying back on the trees. "Well, you see Pinkie? There's nothing for us to do here." Spike turned around and started to walk away. Pinkie Pie nodded. "That's really odd, but this time you really can be right! Wow, I can't believe it is happening! I think this can be the day!" Pinkie's body started to tremble. For the first time in their relationship, Pinkie was going to listen to the voice of reason. "Yes Spike, let's go aw- WHAT IS THAT?!?" Something small and white shimmered in the distance. "What, Pinkie?" "Out there, deep in the orchard!" She pointed the white object with her hoof. "I think it is... Oh my gosh, it's a rabbit! A cute, cuddly little white rabbit!". The snowy ball stopped on the path between the trees and indeed turned out to be a white rabbit carrying a somewhat oversized clock. The creature looked at the clock, shook it's head in an angry manner and run behind the trees out of their sight. "Let's follow it!" Pinkie commanded, and began a series of hops, skips and jumps to where the rabbit has dissapeared. "Pinkie, wait! Don't follow the white rabbit!" Spike shouted as he ran after Pinkie. How come she is so fast even if she jumps so... casually, he thought. "Pinkie!" * "Finally! I thought I'll never find you. Now let's go back!" Spike said. He finally caught up with Pinkie on a small glade in the orchard. "Shhh!" Pinkie said, putting her forehoof on Spikes mouth. "Lookie there!" A couple of empty baskets was lying under the apple trees. "Now listen!" She commanded. There was a distant, but increasingly loud sound of a mare singing. "I think she is coming here..." Pinkie whispered. The nearby bushes shook and a yellow pegasus came out from behind them, followed by the rabbit they've seen before. The rabbit was shoving a clock in front of pegasus's snout. "Angel, I know we are a little late, but I really need to... Oh." The pegasus noticed Pinkie and Spike standing in the glade. "Um, hello?" "Hello! I'm Pinkie Pie, the personal student of Princess Celestia, and this year's Summer Sun Celebration supervisor!" The pink pony took the pegasus's forehoof and shook it zealously. "Also, I'm your new friend, and I'm soooo looking forward to hang out with you, because I know just everypony, I mean, not yet, but I'm going to VERY soon. And you are?" "I'm... I'm Fluttershy and this is my pet bunny, Angel." The pegasus walked to the baskets. "Now excuse us. We are in a little hurry." "In a hurry? Why?" Pinkie asked. "Well, we have a little family reunion. I need to pick some apples and get back to the farm as fast as I can." Fluttershy approached an apple tree, and turned her back at it. "Now... carefully... one... two.... three!" She closed her eyes, gasped and gently pushed the tree with her hind legs. Nothing happened. Wow, this must have been the weakest buck ever. thought Spike. Fluttershy blushed and smiled. "Well, sometimes you need to be a little rough. One... two...and..." , she gasped again, "... three!" This time Pinkie and Spike could hear something similair to a knock on the door when Fluttershy's hooves made contact with the tree's trunk. Two huge apples trembled on the tree and fell down into a basket. "Two apples! Oh my, I think that it equals my personal best!" Angel, obviously impatient, walked over to the tree and delivered few powerful kicks. The baskets quickly filled with huge apples. "Well ", Fluttershy forced a smile on her face, "I guess I need some practice." Angel put one basket on Fluttershy's back and took the other one in his paws. "Well, you are probably in a hurry, so we won't stop you any-" "Can we come?!?" Pinkie fluttered her eyes rapidly. "Well..." Fluttershy smiled, "I don't see why not. I'd like to hear all about you... and that cute baby dragon of your's. I didn't know that dragons can talk." Spike frowned. "Please excuse us for a minute." They walked to the side and turned their backs at the pegasus. "What is it, Spike?" "Something is very wrong here, Pinkie. Why the ravens didn't attack her when she touched the tree? They are still all over here." "Oh, Spike, she probably lived here for a long time, and they just got used to her. She looks okay to me. She is so... kind. Besides, we need to talk about food with her. And I'm starving too." Pinkie turned around. "Is there something wrong?" Fluttershy asked. "Nothing at all! Please, lead the way!" * "Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres! The dinner should be already prepared." The farm consisted of an old house clearly in need of some repairs, a big barn, a tool shed, a croft and a hen house. They headed to the backyard, where a dining table full of different foods was. "Now, would you kindly sit down." Fluttershy took few apples out of the baskets and put them in a bowl. "Now, you must excuse me. I need to put those baskets back, and feed Angel. He is very picky when it comes to food." "Isn't that great, Spike? Look at all the food here! I bet it is amazing, and I'm ready to chow down!" Pinkie said in excitement, when Fluttershy left them. Spike moved his chair closer to Pinkie. "I don't know. This place gives me the creeps. Didn't you notice the house? It looks deserted, as if nopony lived here for a while. And I'm not touching that food either!" "Mmmmm.... delishoush!!!" Pinkie said, scattering crumbs of cake all around. "You should really have some of this! I've never tasted apple pie like this one!" "Don't you think it's a little bit suspicious? That pony was able to knock down two apples! And yet she is serving us tons of foods here! How long did she prepare this dinner? A year? And why we are the only guests, if it is a family reunion!?" "Geez, Spike, they are probably late, that's all!" "And what about that bird over there?! What is it!? Why is it staring at us since we arrived?" Spike pointed a large, black bird with a bald head, sitting on a fence nearby. "Spike, it's just a vulture! A harmless scavenger! I think you're seeing patterns where there aren't any! You're being rude, Spike!" "And you're getting us into trouble!" Spike went down on his knees. "Pinkie, I'm begging you, let's get out of here!" "Is there anything wrong?" Fluttershy's soft voice surprised Spike who sprang to his feet. Apparently, the yellow pegasus was back with them. "No, nothing at all! I just need... to use a bathroom! Yes! I'll just leave you two for a while! I'll be right back!" Spike practically ran away from the table. * Spike entered the house and, jues as he suspected, it was empty. Everything was covered with dust - the floor, the furniture, even some of the spider webs which added to the eerie atmosphere of Sweet Apple Acres. "Hello? Is anybody here?" Spike shouted and went a few steps deeper. The floor under his feet creaked after every step. Suddenly Pinkie Pie's assistant saw that the dust on the floor was thinner in some places, forming a kind of slightly cleaner path. Spike gulped. Now carefully, let's see where it leads us, he thought while the trail took him past the saloon and kitchen to a closed doors with numerous hoovsteps imprinted in the dust near them. The dragon reached for the door and pushed it firmly. Please, be the toilet, or a wardrobe, or a broom cupboard, just don't be a creepy dark- It was a cellar. Everything Spike could see were the steep stairs, leading into the darkness. Okay Spike, now you must be brave, he thought and took the first step down. All of a sudden, he heard something goind up the stairs at great speed. The ball of white fure ran past him like a lightning bolt, knocking the dragon off balance and making him fall down the stairs. "Aaaaa!" *THOMP* "...AaaaA!!!" *THOMP* "AaaaaaAA!!!" *THOMP* *SPLAT* When Spike stood up, the first thing he noticed was a terrible smell. He was feeling dizzy after hitting the floor, but as soon as he returned to his senses, his ears were attacked by a horribly loud noise composed of grunting, snorting and oinking. Spike's eyes quickly accustomed themselves to the surrounding darkness, and the dragon noticed a chandelier hanging on the ceiling. Not thinking much, he breathed fire at it with all his strength, lightening the candles and the whole room in the process. The cellar has been utilized as underground pens for pigs. There were tens of them, of different sizes and colors, all staring at Spike and grunting. One pig in the front caught the dragon's attention. Spike approached the fence separating him from the animals, and looked at the big, grey boar with a white spot on it's rump. The grey pig looked Spike deeply in the eyes, as if it tried to tell him something. Spike looked at the pigs rump and froze in horror. This is not just a white spot. It is a snowball. That pig has a Cutie Mark! There was just one thought in Spike's mind - to run like hell, get Pinkie and leave this place forever. "Fluttershy is not a witch", Spike mumbled to himself while backing away from the pigs, "Fluttershy is not a witch, Fluttershy is..." "...I'm right behind you, sweetie." The soft, gentle voice of the yellow pegasus made Spike's heart stop beating. * "Now look, who's lost here, Angel." Fluttershy spoke to the white rabbit next to her. "Isn't he like the cutest thing in Equestria? I think he is so cute that I could just eat him." "PINKIE!!! PINKIE!!!" Spike was screaming his lungs out and looked for a way to escape, but the way to the stairs was blocked by the pegasus. "Um, I think that your friend ate too much and is a little bit heavy on the stomach." Fluttershy smirked. "Now aren't you a tad hungry yourself? There's plenty of food up there, you know." "Forget it! I'm not touching your food! It's all about the food, right? Where's your family!? It was supposed to be a family reunion!" Spike shouted. "Oh, we are all a big family. Me, Angel and all our friends. And you and your friend too. Now please, follow me." "No! I'm not going anywhere except away! And only if Pinkie comes with me!" Fluttershy frowned. "I don't think I made myself clear, mister." Suddenly, she open her eyes unnaturally wide and stared right at Spike's eyes. As the pegasus pupils dilated, the dragon felt like a strange kind of power compels him to obey, weakens his will, just as if he became a puppet without noticing it. "Now please. Follow me, would you kindly." "Y... Yes ma'am." Spike's mouth spoke the words almost without his help. Fluttershy turned around and walked up the stairs. Spike followed her unwillingly, thinking that this is the end, that his life as a dragon ends and he and Pinkie will spend their last days in that cellar, before getting slaughtered, their meat baked and their bones fed to a vulture, thinking about Pinkie and that the life he led by her side wasn't bad after all, that... * "Here we are, mister!" Fluttershy said and Spike felt that he is not under any charm any longer. "W... What? Where are we?" Fluttershy cocked her eyebrow. "You were looking for a bathroom, didn't you? Here it is!" She pushed the door they were standing by, revealing a perfectly clean and tidy bathroom. Spike's eyes went wide. "N-no I think I d-don't need it a-a-anymore", he stuttered. "And don't mind if I do!!!" Pinkie exclaimed, walked between the two and shut the door behind her. "So, um... are you hungry? Pinkie said that you didn't eat anything." Fluttershy asked after a minute of awkward silence. "I think I'll pass." The bathrooms door opened wide, and Pinkie jumped out, immediately shutting it back. "You probably should not be going there for a while!" she explained. "Wow, Fluttershy, your food was so delicious! Please, bring some to the Summer Sun Celebration! And see you at the before-and-after party!" "Oh, I'll definitely be there, Pinkie." "Ah, it was fun. We definitely must han- what is it, Spike?" The purple dragon repeatedly pulled Pinkie's hair. "Can we go now? Please! We need to find Twilight Sparkle!" Spike moaned. "Oh yes, that reminds me. We need to take care of the weather! See you around, Fluttershy!" Pinkie Pie and her dragon assistant Spike left the Sweet Apple Acres, accompanied by ravens' cawing.