Chapter 8
"Hey, Fluttershy?"
The mare in question looked up from cleaning and turned to face me. I had to stifle a giggle as a saw a large cobweb hanging from her pink mane. She noticed my expression then went cross eyed to get a better view. She tried in vain to blow the cobwebs off her hair, only allowing it to fall back down on her face. The third time it hit her nose and she scrunched her eyes shut.
"Ah... Ah...AHH!! .... *choo*" Well that was anticlimactic.
"You need some help over there?" I couldn't help but laugh at her antics as I walked over and pulled the offending piece of spider made torture from her mane.
"There, all better. Now, do you know of any music stores near or in town? Cause I was thinking that it may be a little hard to teach with just one guitar. And it's not that I don't trust her with it, it just happens to be my only guitar and I love it." I also needed to find some new strings for my baby. They were getting old as it is and could break any day now.
"Oh.. Uhm.. Thank you, I think there is a store in town called 'Strings 'n Things'. I think they sell all sorts of stuff there."
Well that sounds promising.
"Hmmm, we should check that out some time. You know, when I actually have money to buy things."
As if on cue there was a knocking at the door.
"Well I guess that's Lyra."
Walking up to the door I slowly opened it up to reveal none other than the mint green unicorn from earlier today. A great big smile adorning her face, and a pair of saddle bags hanging loosely off the curve of her back.
"Hey Lyra, come on in"
Stepping aside to let her pass, Lyra trotted in and gently placed her saddle bags on a rack near the front door before walking towards the couch and taking a seat next to Fluttershy, with whom she casually started up a conversation that I'm guessing brought back a few memories from the past. I smiled at the scene before me as I walked into the kitchen to make some tea and grab some crackers.
Returning with my bounty of fine conversation foods, I took a seat next to Fluttershy and placed the tray of treats on the small table in front of the couch.
"So, how did you two meet? You made it sound so mysterious back at the park."
Well I guess mysterious is better than creepy.
"It's weird really. " I let out a sigh to collect my thoughts before I continued.
"You see. I'm not exactly from.. Here."
"Yeah, I was going to say, I've never seen something like you before. What part of Equestria are you from?"
That brought a smile to my face. I began to wonder exactly how much I should tell these ponies. I mean, I know Fluttershy knows and she took it rather well. But seeing how the other ponies in town reacted, I should probably keep it just between us for now. At least until I know I can trust Lyra a bit more. She seems alright so far.
"Let's just say that it's really far away." I gave her a curt smile and glanced at Fluttershy. She was giving me a confused look so I guess she was wondering why I didn't tell her about how I came here. I gently placed my hand on her hoof and gave it a light squeeze before i continued on with the story of our epic encounter with the fourth kind.
"Anyways, while I was wandering through a forest I heard a beautiful voice. I couldn't help myself so I just started to play along with my guitar and follow the songs pull." Okay so it wasn't the WHOLE truth, but at least there was a bit of truth in it. So no harm no foul. Right?
"When I finally came out of the forest I stumbled upon this quaint little cottage and saw none other than this mare right here tending to her garden." I gestured towards Fluttershy and she smiled up at me. That cute little smile.
"She was singing at the time and hadn't yet noticed me. Being one not to disturb people at work, I just gently strummed my guitar to her melody and hummed along. She was startled at first and ran and locked herself inside." I looked back at Fluttershy and she was now a bright crimson and was sporting a very shy and embarrassed smile. She really is a shy one.
"So what happened after that?"
"Well I didn't want to leave the poor girl scared of coming outside so, I began to sing."
"Sing? You just started to sing to a stranger?"
"Well I sung with you didn't I? Anyways, yes, I started to sing. It was small at first. Really calming and melodic. Then as it built up I added some guitar. Eventually Fluttershy opened the door and wouldn't you know, she was singing along. And well, the rest is history as they say."
"Who says that?"
"Uh... You know I don't really know." Well that's embarrassing.
I didn't really feel like letting other's know about my little episode that I had in the garden. I figure that that is a secret best kept as such.
"But yeah, Fluttershy was kind enough to give me a place to stay for a while and I plan on repaying her as best I can."
"That's so sweet. Which reminds me. Here."
Lyra's horn began to glow and in turn her saddle bag started to rustle and out popped a small jingling pouch.
"This is some bits from our little show earlier today. After you two left I went to grab my bag and lyre case and wouldn't you know, it was stuffed full of bits. Now before you two came along I didn't have much in there so I figured you deserved a cut of the funds."
Wow.. There's really quite a bit of change here.
"Wow. How much did you make?"
"Uhm.. Are you sure? That's so.. Nice of you."
"It's the least I could do. Maybe we can do that again some time? Make it a regular occurrence?"
"I'm okay with that. What about you, Shy?"
"Oh.. I don't know, all those ponies will be watching. It seems so.. Scary."
"It's okay Fluttershy, I mean, Look at how well you did today? You loved it and there were plenty of ponies around. You seemed just fine then. Please?"
"Well.. Okay, for you."
"Okay great! how does Thursday sound?" Well today was Tuesday so I guess that could work into the schedule.
"That can work. Same place?"
"Always will be. I'll see you guys then! And thank you for the tea."
Getting up off the couch I showed Lyra to the door and walked her out. With a final wave goodbye I closed the door and went back to sitting with Fluttershy on the couch.
"I think I just found two jobs in less than a day. Isn't that great! And better yet they both involve music, and you can help out with them! Heck you're a part of both of them!"
The butter yellow mare let out a startled squeak as I scooped her up in a big hug and spun her around.
"This could really work out for us!"
"Don't you need to get a new guitar first..? Before you start teaching I mean.."
She was right. I couldn't teach a beginner guitar if I couldn't let them play along to what I was doing.
"Right, right... Where was that music store again?"