Chapter 7
"Heh.. Uhh.. Hi, I'm David, David Gatzby." Wow. She has pretty eyes. Gold like the setting sun. Looking into her eyes, I couldn't see a hint of fear. Maybe a bit of confusion and caution, but no fear. This was new.
"It's nice to meet you, Lyra." I guess I was still staring into her eyes with a goofy smile because she turned her head away. I think I saw a hint of a blush grace her cheeks as well.
well, at least I'm not scaring her.
"So, how do you two know each other?" Lyra was now looking in my direction with a smile on her face, waiting patiently for our answer. I brought my hand up behind my head and rubbed it, letting out a little chuckle at the question.
"Well, so see. It's kind of hard to explain really. We actually just met yesterday.." I had to let out another short laugh as I saw the perplexed look on Lyra's face.
Do all ponies look this adorable?
"What do you mean you just met yesterday? you two seem so close."
That statement threw me back a bit. It was true. For someone who's supposedly scared of her own shadow, she's surprisingly open and caring towards me. It was a humbling feeling.
"In all honesty, I'd rather talk about this in private. It's not really something I'd like known just yet."
Oh great, that sounds like we're dating in secret, gotta salvage this.
"I'm kind of new here so I already seem scary."
Lyra had a skeptical look on her face so something told me she had the same sort of thoughts running through her head as well. Shit.
"Tell you what, why don't you stop by Fluttershy's later this afternoon and I'll tell you all about it. Is that okay, Shy?"
I guess the poor mare was still in shock over the applauding crowd that had dissipated a few minutes ago. She hadn't said a word and was just staring off into space with a slightly worried expression mixed in with a half smile.
"Sorry.. What did you say?"
Hmmm.. Something's not right here. I'll have to ask about that later.
"Oh, I was just seeing if it was okay for Lyra to stop by your cottage later this afternoon for tea?"
"Uhm,.. That sounds.. Nice."
"Great! I guess we'll see you later today."
With our goodbye's out of the way, and plans set. Fluttershy and I made our way to the top of the hill and enjoyed the sun and each other's company. We spent the next few hours just chatting and eating the sandwiches Fluttershy made.
I had gotten into a pretty thorough telling of my first, and apparently last big gig with my former band. I spared no details, and got pretty into the story as well. Arms were flailed and voices were raised in excitement. I was about to grace the yellow pegasus in front of my with a grand tale involving a stage hand and some fireworks gone wrong when I felt a slight tugging on my jacket. Turning around I saw a little little orange unicorn filly. She was staring up at me with such big teal eyes. She was the epitome of cute children. Human or pony. She was carrying a small note pad in her magic and had a pencil in her mouth. Putting down the pencil and pad of paper in front of me, she looked up at me with a great big carefree smile and sat on her rump.
"Uhm.. Can I uh.. Have your autograph?"
My autograph? wow. This is pretty cool. Been here one day and I already have a little fan.
"Well of course you can!" I looked back at Fluttershy with a smile on my face. She was wearing one herself, all be it a bit more reserved. That is until the little filly ran up to her and asked for her autograph as well. She was shocked at first. Letting her mouth hang agape at the sudden question before shaking her head quickly and grabbing the pencil in her mouth.
"Here you are sweetie." The smile on Fluttershy's face was a little nervous, but full of sincerity.
"Thank you so much! You guys were amazing! I want to learn how to play music some day! Can you teach me? canyacanyacanyacanycanya?"
I was taken by surprise at the question. I just stared at the little filly with my mouth forming non existent words as I stared down at her. Looking over at Fluttershy I saw that she was doing the same thing. We made eye contact before I leaned over and whispered into her ear.
"Hey, this could be a way for me to make some money around here and finally pay you back! I think it could work out."
"I don't know, David.. Have you ever taught a unicorn before?"
"Well, I've actually never seen a unicorn before today. But it couldn't be that hard right?"
Her question robbed me of a bit of my confidence, but I held firm that I could help this little filly achieve her dream.
"Alright.. If you think you can, I'll do my best to help you.. If you want me to that is."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Okay, well first off, what's your name?" That would probably be a good place to start if I was going to be teaching her one day.
"Sonny! Well.. My real name is Sonata, but I like Sonny much better!" The smile on her face was contagious, as Fluttershy and I soon found out when we both bore huge grins.
"Okay Sonny, do your parents know you want to take lessons from us?" Gotta have permission.
"Not exactly.. But I can go ask right now! MOOOOoooommmm!"
"Think we can handle her?"
"Oh.. Uhm.. I hope so." She's so timid, it's just too darn cute.
"It'll be okay Shy, We'll help each other out."
It wasn't long before a very eager looking unicorn filly came back with a yellow earth pony with a muted orange mane came briskly trotting back our way. The mare looked a little uneasy coming towards me so I put on my best smile and waved as nicely as I could.
"Hi, you must be Sonny's mom. I'm David, and this is Fluttershy. It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise. I'm Autumn Breeze." She had a calm smile and peaceful eyes. There was a little apprehension behind them, so I decided to put that to rest.
"There's no reason to be afraid, I don't bite" I did my best to smile with my mouth closed to hide the canines that I possessed. Autumn visibly relaxed a little at my words but stayed a few feet away all the same.
"So mom! CanICanICanICanI?" Wow she has a lot of energy.
"I don't know honey, how much does it cost?"
I had to turn to Fluttershy and have a quick discussion with her. I didn't actually know the proper pricing of, well, anything. So I didn't want to over price the poor kid.
"Does five bits sound reasonable?"
I guess it was because she only hesitated for a second before accepting. The little fillies eyes grew wide when her mom said yes and she began bouncing around us happily and singing in a good, but slightly off key way. The three of us smiled at her as she continued to do a small victory dance.
"Hehehe, okay settle down there. How does tomorrow around noon sound for your first lesson?"
"That sounds great" Her mother chimed in as the little filly was too preoccupied with her celebration. "We'll be there. Come on Sonny. We have to go find your father and his kite."
With a quick have and a great smile, the little filly and her mother trotted away.
"Well I guess we should get home and prepare. Lyra is coming over later today and we have to set up for Sonny tomorrow. I guess it's going to be busy for a while now, eh Fluttershy?"
"Yes. But I think we can handle it."
Cleaning up our picnic, we made our way back to the nature loving mares cottage. We had some planning to do for tomorrow's first lesson.