//------------------------------// // Rest and Relaxation Under the Setting Sun // Story: Umbreka // by Armanico Vita //------------------------------// When Fluttershy's stomach began growling, the mountain range had begun to slope into the brightest, greenest landscape she had seen for days. The air was moist here, filled with the most delicious scents of spring. Freshly sprouted bluebells and lilacs lined the ground as she coasted through the air and took in the near-tangible aromas. She could taste the sweet nectar of honeysuckles. It reminded her a lot of everyone's favorite party pony back home. She reveled in these thoughts for as long as possible before her attention was stolen by a sudden influx of dense foliage. She gazed down as she saw lush forests dotting the eastern edge of the mountains. The mid-afternoon sun warmed her flank as she touched down in an emerald meadow. Several small woodland creatures bounded away immediately after her landing. After a little coaxing, Fluttershy managed to call out the many woodland creatures who thrived in this glade. She watched as families of rabbit, flocks of hummingbirds, and packs of monkeys all crowded around her. They had never seen a pony before and they were just as interested as she was. They all felt naturally attracted, like magnets to her. Fluttershy glanced around, she must have been the first pony in centuries to set hoof in this beautiful, alien landscape. Her insides gurgled once more as she desperately scanned the nearby trees. She thought of the moldy, old bread she still had sitting in her backpack. She had been ceaselessly nibbling on it for the past few weeks and the thought of eating anymore made her grimace. Her heart sank. There was not a single fruit tree to be seen. She sighed and let her messy mane cover up her sullen expression. Seeing this brought the group of animals together. They were puzzled at this sudden shift in emotions. Just a few moments ago she was frolicing around and now she was just drained of all energy. Another loud grumbling pierced through the thick silence. This was enough to clue in on what the problem was. Fluttershy felt a slight tug on her mane. The small family of rabbits were trying to grab her attention. She looked up out of the protective curtain of her mane and noticed the animals lining up a path in front of her. Reluctantly, she followed the animals. Anything was better than sitting around in the middle of that meadow and starving to death. She pushed her way through the dense shrubbery and stepped over the large, protruding roots sticking out of the leaf ridden surface. After trotting through the thick forest for the better half of an hour, she finally was able to see a lick of sunlight breaching through the branches impeding her path. Pushing through, she stepped out into another meadow, similar to the last. The difference was, this one was filled with loads of fruit bearing trees. Happiness flew back into Fluttershy's face, a smiled cracked on her lips and she ran forward, leaving her animal companions in the dust. She trotted past rows of orange trees, bushes full of blueberries, and patches of carrots. At the far end of the glade, Fluttershy noticed towering trees speckled with the color of a deep red fruit. She broke into a breakneck gallop and charged straight for the orchard ahead. She skidded to a stop as soon as she was underneath the desired branches, and she actually drooled. They were apple trees, and the fruit hanging off them were of a plump and ripe nature befitting a pegasus' dreams. With a gentle flap of yellow wings, Fluttershy hovered until she was nose-to-skin with the brightest apple in sight. She gave it a close sniff and could already sense the sweetness. With two hooves, she plucked the apple loose, raised her goggles, and turned the object over in her grasp. The skin of the apple looked perfect, but she was hardly a qualified judge. She could tell there was no parasites hiding deep with the massive fruit and it didn't seem rotten. It was just the perfect apple, no bruising and the way it detached with ease off of the branch signaled how ripe it was. She gently nibbled a small piece of the apple and shifted it around in her mouth. It was the greatest thing she had eaten all month. Her taste buds went crazy with the new edition of the succulent fruit being introduced. This was such a great change in pace from her usual diet of a few pieces of dry, moldy bread every day. She let it roll around, touching all four corners of her mouth before swallowing the piece whole. Then without thinking, Fluttershy took a huge bite. Immediately, her mouth was filled with a flooding river of euphoria. Her teal eyes flew back in her head, and she let herself fall like a feather to the downy grass below. She took another bite, reveled in the heavenly taste, and giggled like a foal, her voice echoing gaily across the emerald clearing. Less than two minutes later, the entire apple had been scarfed completely. No sooner was Fluttershy finished with this gluttonous feast, she was darting back up to the tree for a second fruit, then a third, then a fourth. She tucked these under her hooves, forelimbs, and even her wings. When her animal friends caught up, she caught a quick glimpse at the pleading eyes of the wingless animals. They were not able to scale the tree high enough to get to the far reaches of the fruit-bearing branches. One by one, she plucked and inspected each red delicious apple before handing them out to the critters below. When she was done feasting, she flew down to a soft patch of grass resting just outside the shade of the tree, took her bag off, and laid it down right next to her position. Pulling her blanket loose from the saddlebag, she laid it out along the soft blades of grass and laid herself down so that her forward half was in the shade and her rear half was warmed by the toasty sunlight. The family of rabbits walked up and rested themselves right beside her. To her it felt like another day at the spa. So luxuriously reclined, she took her time savoring the succulent fruit. Every apple she grabbed, she split into small pieces and shared it between her and the rabbits lying beside her. Her eyes danced with the rays of sunlight glittering through the waving leaves above. Her mind toyed with errant thoughts, bursting through her head in cadence with the felicitous tastes bursting in her mouth. She let a giggle leave her lips, then another. Soon, the first three apples were consumed. Tossing the cores away, she polished the fourth and last apple against her chest and raised to her lips. But then she stopped. Flutteshy blinked. Slowly, her jaw clamped shut. She gazed with a solemn expression at her face being reflected in the immaculate red skin of the apple. Her nostrils flared, and scents that didn't belong to the emerald glade were now assaulting her. The next breath from her mouth was painful, and soon her eyes fell to the reflection of the tourmaline butterfly hanging from her neck. A sour lump formed in her throat. Fluttershy said nothing. She didn't eat the apple. Shadows began filling the glade as the sun was setting beyond the mountains behind her, to the west. It was still early in the afternoon, but Fluttershy no longer felt like flying—not yet. The wind had been taken from her wings. With a gentle yawn, she grasped the blanket in her mouth and dragged it to the base of a tree, where the shadows were thickest. Pulling a second blanket out of her saddlebag, she wrapped it around her yellow body and settled down on folded legs. Fluttershy lingered before resting her head. Gnawing on her lip, she reached once more to the apple. Instead of nibbling on it, she merely cuddled it close to her. Exhaling, Fluttershy shut her eyes. There was a touch of moisture to her lashes, but she paid it no heed as she happily embraced the lulling kiss of slumber. Fluttershy stopped staring at the ground, and the first thing she saw was Pinkie Pie's bright blue eyes. A breath escaped her lips as she saw her friend waving towards her from the front entrance to Sugarcube Corner. More bright colors joined the fray, with Rarity winking and Twilight giggling and Rainbow Dash and Applejack strolling around the bend. Pinkie Pie cupped her hooves around her mouth and hollered something before motioning Fluttershy dramatically towards the group. With a bright smile, Fluttershy wasted no time. She pranced across the street and opened her mouth to greet the group... only to blink confusedly at what she saw. Pinkie Pie was making a strange face. Twilight Sparkle was squinting. Rainbow Dash and Rarity stared in shock, their mouths agape while Applejack marched up and pointed worrisomely at Fluttershy's figure. This served to confuse her. She turned to look in the windows of Sugarcube Corner. Her reflection glossed over. In a blink, deep lines began forming on her forehead, and next to the ends of her eyes. Her cheeks began to sink inwards and her frame began to brittle. Before she had a chance to react to this, a lock of her mane fell limply from her head. She fell on her haunches and raised two hooves in time to catch the limp hairs. When they fell in her grasp, they lost all of their color, turning to a pallid gray. She then noticed her image was becoming translucent. She gasped, glancing at her limbs, she was vanishing right then and there. She heard a whimpering sound. Spinning, Fluttershy glanced towards her friends, but they were gone. Sugarcube Corner had also vanished. Fluttershy hyperventilated, she needed to find Twilight, she'd be able to fix everything. She flexed her wing muscles, but all her feathers were suddenly gone. Just as she felt the urge to scream, she heard the whimper again, only this time it was directly overhead. She tried looking straight up, but her neck was being weighed down by a golden pendant. After much sweat and aching, she finally gazed skyward, only to be overwhelmed by another of her intense migraines. Fluttershy shot up, gasping. She clutched for something—anything—and found a canvas blanket surrounding her. She hugged herself, shivering, under the shroud of fallen night. Her breaths slowly settled, as well as the frenetic beat of her heart. Sighing, she glanced down at her saddlebag and other belongings, dull shapes under the kiss of starlight. She looked around. Leaves rustled overhead. The murmuring chirps of various nocturnal animals serenaded her from the apple trees bordering the glade and much to her surprise, she did not manage to wake the little bunnies laying by her side. It wasn't until five full minutes had passed that Fluttershy realized she was caressing the golden pendant about her neck. It felt heavier than ever. Each stroke of the gem caused it to illuminate a bright pink luster. Gnashing her teeth, Fluttershy held dearly onto the tourmaline-studded pendant. She breathed in heavily, and then exhaled with just as much force. She repeated that over and over until she felt herself at ease. A cold wind blew through the shrouded valley. Fluttershy felt her mane kicking like a flag behind her head. She prayed that there'd be colors when the sun rose. Gazing skyward, she regarded the stars with jaded interest. Her afternoon “nap” had carried her well into the fall of evening, but now she had become completely restless. With a small whimper, she stood up, collected her blankets, her other belongings, and stuffed them into her saddlebag. Last but not least, she found the crimson apple lying in the grass. She picked it up like an infant, cradling it. Another breath left her, only this time she managed a slight smile. Eventually, she pocketed this too away. Just as she snapped the saddlebag shut, her eyes lingered on the royal princess buttons to her pack. Thoughtfully, she looked up towards the night sky once more. A plume of pale clouds wafted far overhead. A dim glow suggested a waxing moon rising over the edge of the mountaintops. Fluttershy rubbed a hoof over her pendant. She stood quiet and listened. Nothing happened; the golden necklace was just as quiet and dormant as ever. She knew better than to expect otherwise. After all, it wasn't a full moon yet. Even though she was almost glad for that fact, she still couldn't help but keep a countdown running in her head for the night to come. Before she took off into the night, Fluttershy felt a small tap on her back, left leg. She turned around to be greeted by one of her cottontail companions. He held in an outstretched paw a single flower. It was a snow-white petunia, hand-picked just for her. Fluttershy reached her hoof out and retrieved the flower. She held it in her hooves and stared, meaningfully into it, a small tear streaming down the front of her face. She brought it up onto her head, and without too much difficulty she was able to fasten it into her hair, just above her left ear. In a swift motion, Fluttershy picked the bunny up and held him close to her. She probably wasn't going to see any of these creatures again and she wanted to leave on an act of pure kindness. Reaching into her bag, Fluttershy pulled out one of the blankets she brought along and wrapped it tightly around the small animal. "A gift for a gift," she told the rabbit before placing him on the ground and petting his head. Wasting no more, time, Fluttershy flapped her wings, ascended in a graceful spire, and aviated her way eastward—away from the taller mountain ranges. For hours, she glided under the glittering cosmos. The ivory band of the Milky Way stretched majestically above her, unimpeded by any stray lights or colors. Fluttershy's nostrils flared as her goggled eyes took in the dull horizon looming beneath her, awash in the pale haze of celestial tranquility. She was alone in the sky, a single spot of warmth burning ever-eastward like a comet. At times, she closed her eyes and imagined she was one with the stars, beautiful and insignificant all at once. Her mind wandered to places as grand if not grander than the nightscape bowing beneath her, and she knew—secretly, she knew—that she was all that mattered in the grand silent dream of it all. A dozen miles of flight later, Fluttershy descended. She was attracted by the sound of rippling water. In the starlight, she spotted a glittering sight below. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a babbling brook, cascading down lower and lower crags of jutting rock. The water started as a trickle, combined to a rippling stream, then coalesced into a majestic waterfall that emptied into an elevated spring cradled by the convergence of several mountain ranges. Landing beside this high altitude pool, Fluttershy raised her goggles and gazed with naked eyes. She produced a whistle of wonderment. The water was so fresh and pure, that even in the dim starlight she could see three dozen feet straight down to the bottom of the spring. Smiling, she tilted down and gave the liquid a gentle lap with her tongue. Her upper body shuddered, words cannot describe how it tasted. It was the cleanest water she had drunk in all her adult life. She drank liberally, like a foal lapping at delicious milk. She cupped her hooves together and filled them with some of the water. She brought it up to her face, and with a splash, her body felt instantly refreshed. This wasn't enough. After removing her saddlebag and petunia, she dipped her hind hooves into the chilly water and shivered. The water was cold, but it felt smooth like milk. The feeling was incredible. Slowly, she lowered her whole body into the spring and let herself relax. She forgot about the starlight, about the moon, about dreams. She was simply alive. Fluttershy exhaled long and hard. She had to carry some of this beauty with her. Pulling herself out of the spring, Fluttershy reached into her saddlebag and produced her empty canteen. Swiftly, she filled it to the brink, smiling victoriously at her acquisition. Just as she finished screwing the top back on, something bright and lavender darted on the edge of her peripheral vision. Fluttershy gasped. She spun about, blinking. She wasn't alone in the tiny spring clearing. "Twilight?" Fluttershy called out. There was no response; this made her heart beat even faster. The more she thought about it, the less secure she felt. Her heart sped up, matching the pace of a locomotive's engine. Her headache began to slowly creep back in. She squinted, gazing sideways towards a crest of jagged rock to her right. Murderous beams of gold were setting the air on fire as the first slivers of sunlight pierced the otherwise tranquil moment. A part of her shuddered, regretting the death of darkness. With icy resolve, she picked herself up, pocketed the canteen away, and faced the burning dawn. Raising her hoof, she twisted the dial of her goggles and covered her teal eyes with dark lenses. The pure taste of spring water was like an angelic song on the tip of her tongue. She savored it, as she did all pleasant flavors that still clung to her, and carried the weight of the pendant with her as she flew into the horizon.