The silence in the room was nearly tangible. Both of the new occupants were still trying to wrap their minds around the new information given to them by their host.
It was Mark who finally broke the moment. "So then that coin you showed me from your office…"
Sheila nodded, "That was a gift from him. He gave it to me while on his deathbed, telling me where I could find it, and that I should keep it as a family heirloom."
Fluttershy took her turn to speak. "And you believed him? The whole story?"
Sheila's face grew troubled. "I didn't know what to make of it at the time. The coin was definitely something, but how would you feel if you heard a story of colorful pegasi and unicorns?"
Fluttershy's face showed the problem with that statement. "Okay, well you don't exist over here." Sheila explained, "You're supposed to be a myth."
Now Fluttershy seemed troubled. "I see." She whispered.
"So the rest of the journal doesn't say anything about how she got here?" Mark asked, "Or anything about portals between worlds once she returned home?"
Sheila shook her head. "I'm afraid not. The pages between those two entries were just about how happy he was with Melody. They're heartwarming stories, but I don't think it'll help you much."
Mark's face fell slightly. As interesting as it had been, their venture hadn't produced any new ideas for getting Fluttershy home safely.
"I also want to apologize if I sounded…confrontational at all during our first interaction." Sheila continued. "When I saw you out walking around the sign, I thought you might be tied to all this, but I wasn't sure. I figured I needed to be careful - spouting about a colorful horse to someone who hasn't seen it already would probably be a bad look for me. I realized partway through our conversation the error of my ways, but I hope you'll forgive me for my initial actions towards you."
Mark's eyes opened immediately upon remembering something.
"What about the footage of her?" Mark asked, "You said she was on camera."
"Oh, I deleted the footage off our records so others wouldn't see it." Sheila answered, "No, she's as safe as can be, at least as far as I can help it."
Both Make and Fluttershy breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, thank you for everything," Fluttershy began, "but I think we should head home. It's getting late."
"Before you go, could I bother the two of you for a favor?" Sheila gently asked.
Mark and Fluttershy shared a glance as Sheila stood up.
"Follow me, please." She added as she walked off around the corner.
Not knowing what else to do, the two followed suit, being led to a slightly messy room with countless paper sketches on the walls. At the far end of the room, there was a small assortment of paintings, each with a different natural subject - flowers of all kinds, a school of fish in a river, and flock of birds were only a few of the figures lovingly depicted on canvas.
"I'm a painter in my off-time, just trying to capture some of the natural beauty I work with every day." She explained, turning around to face Mark and Fluttershy.
"And I'll admit that with the opportunity of meeting you two, I did have an idea of potentially painting your friend there." She indicated Fluttershy, before seeming slightly shy herself. "If that's alright with her, of course. It'd only take a day or two to get the groundwork done, with you both coming by so I could get the look right."
Mark turned to Fluttershy. "It's totally up to you, Shy."
Fluttershy thought for a moment, glancing at the many pieces of art around her, before smiling and nodding. "I'd be honored."
Sheila smiled. "Thank you, Fluttershy. I promise I'll make it look good."
The three headed for the front door, with Sheila stopping inside to wave the two off as they headed for Mark's car. They both waved back before getting into the vehicle, which slowly pulled away and back onto the street. Within moments, Sheila was left alone with the serene sounds of nature to surround her.
She closed the front door and walked over to a large family photo. It had been taken only six years ago, and showed off her husband and children alongside the rest of her extended family. Her focus then drifted to one of the main reasons she kept the photo up: Her great-grandparents. She soberly remembered that both had passed only a year after the photo was taken…though they weren't the only ones.
Her gaze caught on her great-grandfather, who stood in the back with a content smile on his face.
"I'm sorry I ever doubted you." Sheila whispered.
The roads were quiet and dark, providing a perfect time for reflection for both occupants of the vehicle.
"So…" Mark began, "that was quite a day."
Fluttershy nodded, though the nighttime made it almost impossible to see it. "It was."
Silence resumed for a brief moment.
"Are you glad we went?" Fluttershy asked.
Mark thought for a moment. "I am. It was a definite risk, but it paid off. I'm still not sure how we're going to get you home, but knowing that another pony came long before you and made it back safely…it gives me hope that you will too."
If Fluttershy's smile at that moment could shine, it would've beaten out the noonday sun. "It does for me too."
Mark shook his head. "Seriously, that was a crazy story. I wish we'd had some photos of this Melody...Heartstrings."
He gasped at a sudden realization.
"Fluttershy, her name was Melody Heartstrings…do you think that Lyra…" he trailed off at the end.
"That…would explain some things." Fluttershy admitted.
The two were left pondering on the matter the rest of the way home.
Both Mark and Fluttershy finished off preparations for bed. Both were about to part for the night when Fluttershy poised a question.
"Mark, um…I just wanted to ask if it would be okay if I stayed in your room again tonight. You don't have to give up your bed this time, I can take the sleeping bag."
Mark smiled. "I'll take the bag Shy, and you can definitely sleep in here tonight."
The two gladly retired for the night afterward, now much at peace with a brighter future ahead. Both felt that eventually, all would be made well: Fluttershy would safely return home, and before that both she and Mark would enjoy a safe holiday.
Yet while this provided great comfort for Fluttershy, the same notion brought a tinge of sadness with it for Mark. He didn't know if he'd ever see her again. There was no telling whether Twilight, Celestia, or whoever came to retrieve Fluttershy would treat him with hostility, just as had happened in that journal.
He didn't even know if he'd get to say goodbye.
Mark tried to hold back any tears at the thought. What mattered was enjoying the time he did have, no matter how short it may be. The memories would last, and for the time being, that was enough.
With these final thoughts, Mark too closed his eyes and allowed sleep to overtake him.