//------------------------------// // 5 - An Outgoing Drummer and a Very Notgoing Mare // Story: Drummer Out of Time // by MrPip42 //------------------------------// “Guys! Wait! We can figure this out!” High Rise cried out as his bandmates left the room one by one.  “You’re the only one that wants this kept together, High Rise.” One of them said to him. He couldn’t remember which one it was. They were all thinking the same thing, and it was the only thing left they could agree on. “Wake up, it’s over.”    One by one they left the studio, and one by one they disappeared from his life. Each of them reached out every so often. None of his bandmates hated him. Their feuds between each other had High Rise as the mediator. Trying to find common ground amongst the name calling and emotional highs. It rarely worked, but they knew he only wanted the best for them. Sadly, it’s what made the inevitable break up hurt more.    High Rise sat alone in the studio, wondering how long it had been. Since he was able to laugh and enjoy the time spent with his band. When they all called each other friends. How long has it been since he could tell another pony that he was okay, and be telling the truth.     How long has it been since she disappeared, and the whole world seemed to fade with her?    The answer was clear to High Rise. He knew the exact day the world turned upside down. That answer didn’t bring him any comfort. As he sat there in that studio, he held his drumsticks tight, and began to play. High Rise played a harsh and discordant melody well into the night, until the pain he felt became numb. “I… said… NO!”     It was the most aggressive action Fluttershy had ever made on a pony. Shoving Rainbow Dash to the ground and stomping on her chest. She would have to apologize to Rainbow after everything was done, but right now all she could do was run… After gently opening the window first.     If there was one thing Fluttershy was not going to do, it was watch the dragon migration! Big, scary, scaley, fire breathing dragons! Not just one dragon, but hundreds of them. Flying together right over Ponyville! Oh it was a scary thought for poor old Fluttershy, and with her friends pushing so hard to get her to go watch with them, she just had to flee as fast as she could. There was no way she would ever go out and be in the sight of hundreds of mean, pointy, super scary dragons!    Fluttershy was so caught up in running, that she didn’t notice where she actually was. She also didn’t notice the stallion she was about to crash into.    A week has passed since the welcoming party for High Rise. To both the Doctor and his’ fortune, the week had been largely uneventful. The new stallion in town truly had become old news, and the citizens of Ponyville went on with their normal lives. Included in those, to High Rise’s relief, were the Elements of Harmony. Not once in the past week had he seen or heard from any of the Elements. He had no personal relationships with any of them, and after their concerns were cleared from his panic episode, they had no reason to seek him out. High Rise hadn’t even met Applejack, the Element of Honesty. The less they interacted, the better.    What was a little odd throughout the week was the other mares of Ponyville. Every day, a different mare would knock on Time Turner’s door and leave a gift for the “new stallion in town”. From chocolates, to flowers, to carrots, even a box of letters Ditzy was going to give High Rise, only to realize those letters had to be delivered.    I guess they really are welcoming, huh? High Rise thought, and it was about the only thought he had in hours. For there was one other part of this week.    High Rise was incredibly bored.        You could never have guessed it, but sitting around in a house all day, every day, would be quite boring. At first, High Rise tried to help Time Turner with his studies into time travel. His helper this entire time has been working non stop on researching and coming up with ideas on how to bring him home. He was the reason the doctor was putting in this much work, and while his passion for the subject definitely drove part of it, he couldn’t help but feel guilty. Letting a pony he’s only known for a little over a week try to single handedly save him.     Unfortunately, High Rise was not an academic, and his ability to comprehend most of the topics the doctor discussed while researching was… less than satisfactory. He could understand the broader ideas of time travel, such as how changing the past would affect the future. When Dr. Hooves began quoting time paradoxes, theories on the nature of time itself, and applied knowledge of time to technology and magic; it left High Rise in a stupor. He even tried to explain how his temporal anomaly detector had found him, but what he described went in one ear and out the other. After overloading the stallion’s brain one too many times, Time Turner had decided to let High Rise sit back while he works.     So not only was he bored, he also had an incredible amount of misplaced guilt and frustration at his own stupidity. Yet there was nothing he could do about it! Before he got sent back in time, High Rise had one way he always used to work out his negative feelings. Playing the drums!    …Which he did not have here. He had tried to create a makeshift drum set out of cookware, but Time Turner begged him to stop before his ears began to bleed. His cooking supplies left much to be desired in their drumming capability. He could use the environment around him to drum. The floor, the furniture, the walls, but none of it felt the same.     He had started to tap against the bed he was laying on, but it just felt hollow. “Doc!” Time Turner looked up to the basement stairs from his latest research. High Rise poking his head in from the door. “Will you be mad if I go for a walk?” “Why would I be mad?” The doctor said, confused. “You aren’t restricted to my home, High Rise.” “Wait? Really?… I could have gone outside this entire week?” “Yes, I was wondering why you kept sitting around here when you were clearly unhappy.” “But I thought that it’d be better to…” “We already discussed that hiding you was worse than allowing others around you. That was not a one time thing.” “…Oh.” High Rise cursed his own idiocy again. “Well, uh, I'll be back later.” “Have fun, High Rise! Make sure nopony finds out you’re a time traveler!” The doctor said before the drummer left him to his devices. Only after the door was shut did a thought come to his head. “Isn’t the dragon migration today?… Oh well, I am sure it will be fine.”    High Rise had made a rule for himself. He was fine with interacting and being around the ponies of Ponyville. He wouldn’t worry himself about that. He was, however, going to do his best to avoid interacting with the Elements of Harmony. He would be friendly with them, but nothing more than polite small talk for those six mares.    Thankfully, that wouldn’t be a problem today. The dragon migration was set to begin soon, and apparently Twilight and her friends had dug themselves a trench outside of town to view it from. That meant he could walk around town without a single worry! He had a few bits that Time Turner had left him in case he ever needed it. So today was the day to try out the local cuisine!    The one thing he hadn’t been able to do since coming to Ponyville was see what it was really like. The Ponyville he had seen was very different, larger and filled with more ponies than it is in this day and age. As well as some other notable changes. The fact that most ponies here knew each other by name was incredible to High Rise. He could even remember some of their names too!     That was Thunderlane over there, and that was Bon Bon. Over there was Carrot Top, and Comet Tail, and there was Ditzy delivering mail. That over there was Fluttershy, barreling towards High Rise at maximum spee-    CRASH! “Oooow…” High Rise groaned, his head was now tucked between his back legs in some form of an awkward yoga pose. He would correct himself from this uncomfortable position, if it wasn’t for the yellow and pink weight that was on top of him. The pegasus that ran into him groaned as well. “Are you alright, Fluttershy?” He asked, which caused her to finally open her eyes and look down at him. Her pupils shrunk, and a small “eep!” escaped her before she climbed off.  “Ohmygosh. I am so sorry!” Fluttershy said with a surprising amount of her diaphragm. “I should have been watching where I was going, are you okay?” “Yeah, I'm good, maybe a bit bruised.” He rolled back into a sitting position, watching Fluttershy with a look of amusement. This was probably the most he’d ever seen of her face. “Like I said though, are you okay?” “Oh, that’s good, well, um…” Her voice went back to its regular quiet tone, it was nice while it lasted. She quickly went over herself, stretching her wings and testing her hooves. “I believe I am fine.”  “Well! That’s great.” High Rise rose up onto his own hooves. “No harm done, all is forgiven.”     At this point, High Rise was waiting for Fluttershy to continue on her way. She was clearly in a hurry, and he wasn’t about to stop her. Not that she actually kept moving, she stood there, eyes downcast, hoof pawing at the ground.  “…” Normally, this would be where he struck up a conversation. Try to get the mare to come out of her shell a bit. Maybe poke at her interests until something she likes gets her to talk. That was all assuming he wanted to talk with her. He just made a rule that he would avoid unnecessary conversation with the Elements, and right after he did so, he crashed into one! “Sooo… I guess I'll be going now.” He finally said, catching her attention while he walked off. “See you next time, Flutter-agh!”    He got two feet before his back leg gave out. A sudden spike of pain coming from his back hoof. Stumbling back to the ground. When his face hit the dirt, he could hear the startled gasp behind him. Followed by hoofsteps to his side. “What happened? Does it hurt? Oh dear, I've done something terrible.”    The fallen soldier was helped up onto his hooves by the groveling soldier next to him. His back left leg held up in the air. “Don’t worry, I think it’s a sprain. Nothing a bit of ice won’t help with.” “No, nonono. I can’t let you go off on your own like this!” She exclaimed, using her own body to hold him steady. “We need to make sure you are taken care of, now let’s get you someplace warm and cozy.” “But it’s really nothing, Fluttershy. It’ll be-“ “No buts!” The shy pegasus could be surprisingly assertive. “You’re staying with Dr, Hooves, right? Does he have medical supplies?” “Bu-…” High Rise sighed, he really wasn’t allowed to say but anymore was he? “Yeah, I've seen them.”  “Good, now let’s go take care of you.”     The fine dining cuisine he was going to was in sight. He could see the food being taken out to customers! It was right there, and he was being led away by the pegasus mare who pressed against him to keep him afloat. Curse you for being so caring!    It had barely been an hour since High Rise had left Time Turner’s house, and now he was back. This time bringing along with him one of the few mares he didn’t want in here. “Is Dr. Hooves here?” Fluttershy asked as they walked inside. “Uh…yeah, but you can’t see him right now.” “Why not?” “Well he’s doing his work right now, lots of…big scary machines that can hurt you. He doesn’t want anypony around when he’s working, you know.” “Oh… oh yes, I wouldn’t want to be near that.” Fluttershy nodded, and High Rise was relieved to see that the mess of time travel ideas that littered the basement would be safe today.         Before High Rise could fight against it, Fluttershy had him laid out on a bed with his sprained hoof raised up. He was double her height, but surprisingly strong! All she would let him do was point out where the first aid kit was.  “You really don’t have to go through all this trouble.” He tried to protest, but the pegasus was having none of it.  “I am the one that hurt you.” Fluttershy meekly replied. “I can’t let you go off and get any worse without making sure you are properly treated.”     The ice pack was soon pressed against his leg, and as much as he didn’t want to admit it, it helped. The leg had been bothering him the entire way back to the house, and only after she held it on his leg was he feeling any relief from that. It probably would have been worse walking back if Fluttershy wasn’t there to hold me up, or if he pushed through it and went to eat anyway.  “…Thanks, Fluttershy.” He said, letting himself relax in bed. “You really are the Element of Kindness.”    There was no response. The way her head turned to cover her face was more than enough of an answer. “I never apologized properly, to the rabbits, I mean. It was pretty rude of me to block their burrow.” “They understood entirely after I told them about what had happened.” “Hey, I thought you girls were going to forget about it?”    Fluttershy’s ears perked up high. “W-W-Well yes, b-but I wanted them to understand everything too, s-so that they didn’t h-hate you for it… I'm sorry.” “I’m teasing! It’s alright, I'm sorry too.” High Rise chuckled. A gesture that seemed to help her relax as well. Without much more to say, the two fell silent. It wasn’t quite as awkward as before. Fluttershy sought to make sure he was as comfortable as he could be. Tucked into the blankets, pillows fluffed. His leg raised up on another pillow. She really thought of everything.    She was incredibly kind, High Rise had learned. They barely interacted for more than a few minutes in total, but Fluttershy has gone well out of her way to make sure he was okay. What he knew of Fluttershy from the future matched this behavior to a T… and with a burning question that he really shouldn’t be asking. “Hey, can I ask you an… admittedly really weird question?” “Yes, um, yes you may.” “Is there a pony or creature in the entire world you wouldn’t help, no matter what?”  “Um…” Fluttershy grew confused at the question, pondering it in her head. “Like… if they got hurt?” “Hurt, emotional support, a firm guiding hoof, any of those… For example, if Discord appeared right in front of us, injured and afraid, would you help him?”    Her confusion was replaced by a pure look of surprise. Taken aback by his words. He chose the individual in question for a reason. Even if she didn’t understand why. The memories of what Discord had done to her and her friends would still be fresh on her mind. How she had made her so cruel and awful. There had to be little love in her heart for someone as vicious as he was…    That’s why he had to understand why she did it. “…I-I… I don’t know.” Fluttershy said, and High Rise’s eyes opened wide. That was not the answer he was expecting. “When Discord was free, he did some really terrible things to me and my friends. Even the thought of it makes me feel angry.” “So you wouldn’t help him?” “…No, I-I-.” Fluttershy was conflicted, and his pressing didn’t help matters. “I would want to help anypony in need, but Discord is… I can’t say for certain that my mind and my heart would agree.”  “I understand.” High Rise accepted her answer for what it was. There would be a time in the future where she would make that choice herself, and it wasn’t his place to comment further on it. Even if his curiosity just got the better of him. “Sorry, that was a weird question to ask, huh?  “It’s okay, I imagine he’s on everypony’s mind, still. I’m glad most ponies didn’t have to meet him up close.” “No kidding.”    Another awkward silence passed, and Fluttershy got up from the side of the bed. “Okay, you need to stay off your leg for the rest of the day. No exercise or strenuous activity, alright?” “Can do. I’ll just have to taste the fine dining of Ponyville another time.” “Fine dining?” “Yep, I went out to try one of the restaurants here for the first time. That’s when you…” The stallion used his hooves to show the collision. “I’m so sorry, I really did ruin your day, didn’t I?” “Your company was plenty enough for me to enjoy the day with, don’t worry about it.”    This was once again an example of High Rise’s signature Compliments that can be taken the wrong way moments. Whether or not it had been taken the wrong way, well, who knows? Fluttershy was always hiding behind the mane, so he had no idea. Not that he ever could tell when his words had other implications.  “Um, well… let me treat you to a dinner. To make up for this.” “You really don’t have to do th-“ “I insist!”    Damn, she really could be assertive. The way she stared at him after saying that took away any words he had in protest. The legends really were true about the legendary Fluttershy. You just can’t say no to her. “Alright, but only something small and cheap!” “That is perfect.” For once, Fluttershy smiled, and by Celestia it was adorable. It was like seeing a tiny kitty look up at you with big eyes. High Rise melted at the sight. “I will see you then, High Rise.”    Fluttershy was a few inches from the door when the house around them began to rumble. A nearby clock shaking violently from an unknown force. Both of their ears splayed back on their heads, unable to tell what was happening. Until they heard the voices from the sky.    Rooooaar!    Dozens, no, hundreds of wings batted in the air above Ponyville. Shadows of giant figures cast upon the ground. An endless sea of clawed and winged creatures flying overhead. The sheer power of their joint flight shook the world around them. The Dragon Migration had made it to Ponyville. Every so often, you would hear the activity of a dragon roaring, or an errant fire breath being let out overhead. High Rise was so enamored by the sounds, that it took a moment for him to register the new weight on top of him. “…Eeep!” Came Fluttershy’s meek voice as another roar was let out in the skies. Her whole body shivered violently atop the form of High Rise, her head buried into his chest. Every time a new sound bellowed out from the skies above, she would let out another eep and press herself further into him. He had never expected this to happen, but instinct took over before anything else. Somepony was scared, and they needed comfort.    A hoof reached up and gently combed through Fluttershy’s mane. Another lightly wrapped around her back. Giving the mare some security on top of him. He repeated the motion of his hooves until her shivering calmed. His voice was slow and calming. “It’s alright, Fluttershy. You are safe right here. It’s going to be okay.”    He repeated these words, again and again. Until the last of the dragons had flown past Ponyville. After the last had passed, they stayed in that position until Fluttershy was absolutely sure that no more dragons would fly overhead.  “…thank you.” “Anytime.”    A new voice then entered from outside the door. “High Rise? Are you in here? Is everything alright up the-… Dear Celestia.” Time Turner said as he opened the door. “…Doc, this is not what it looks like.”