Lost
Chapter IX – The Parting of Friends
Twilight and the other girls had left Sugarcube corner and returned to the library all in high spirits, they had brought back with them a cupcake with added gems, from Rarity, to give to Spike to thank him for his advice. Twilight opened the door to find Spike lying on the sofa groaning, all around him were gem fragments and he rubbed his belly.
“To…many…gems.”
Twilight glared angrily at him as he realised he was no longer alone, he got up and was about to apologise but instead all he could do was let out a loud belch which knocked him off his feet into the sofa. There was a short pause before the girls began to giggle then burst out into a chorus of laughter, Spike got up and grumbled but couldn’t help but join in on the laughing.
“I should tell you off for snacking Spike but.” Twilight said inbetween giggles. “That was priceless.”
The girls giggled again as Spike dusted off the gem fragments from the sofa so they could sit down; he then noticed the cupcake with the gems on it and gaged as his cheeks bulged out, he put a hand to his mouth and ran to the bathroom slamming the door, Twilight shook her head and placed the cupcake in the kitchen before joining her friends on the sofa.
“He never listens.” She sighed giggling again sitting down.
“So what ya’ll wanna do now?” Applejack asked as she leant back into the sofa.
“I think we should dress the library ready for a ‘Welcome Home Fluttershy!’ party!” Pinkie replied bouncing in place.
“Pinkie how do you know when she’ll be back?” Rarity asked her.
“Because silly, it’s obvious!” she giggled.
Everyone looked to one another and shrugged sighing, Pinkie was being Pinkie again.
“Well whilst that does sound like a good idea Pinkie, I think its best if we wait untill she is actually home.” Twilight said.
“Speaking of which, ahm gunna head over to Fluttershy’s house to feed all her critters, ya’ll can come with me if you want.” Applejack said as she got up.
“Why that would be an excellent idea.” Rarity rose from her seat.
“And Rainbow, can you not antagonise Angel again?” Applejack shot her a glare.
“Hey it’s not my fault that rabbits got an attitude problem!” Rainbow shot back.
“You would know.” Applejack muttered.
“What was that?” Rainbow glared face to face with Applejack.
“Girls please, are you really going to act like fillies?” Rarity sniffed as Twilight pushed the two away from one another with her magic.
The two muttered replies of ‘No’ and ‘Whatever’, Twilight then called back to Spike who just came out of the bathroom looking a little groggy.
“Spike, were heading over to feed Fluttershy’s animals do you want to come?”
At the word ‘feed’ Spike brought his hand up to his mouth, his cheeks bulged again and he closed the door again receiving a giggle from Twilight, the girls left the library chatting amongst themselves, well by chatting they were watching Rainbow and Applejack argue over who had the bigger attitude problem, Rainbow or Angel.
Rarity sighed as she trotted ahead to walk alongside Pinkie and Twilight and let the two continue their argument behind them, as they left the town taking the bridge that led towards Fluttershy’s house Twilight suddenly stopped abruptly making Applejack walk into her.
“Hey Twilight why’d ya stop?” Applejack said as she propped her hat back up with a hoof.
Twilight didn’t reply, her eyes were wide as she let her mouth open slowly, she felt a strange energy begin to swarm around her. The girls looked a little concerned with the exception of Pinkie, who was giggling knowingly.
“Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere it comes!” she giggled bouncing in place.
Twilight felt the energy swarm over her before suddenly gasped and snapped back to reality, she panted a couple of times before a smile came across her face, tears formed at the corner of her eyes. She had figured out what Celestia meant
“Twilight darling are you alright?” Rarity asked her.
Twilight didn’t answer instead she shot off down the road with Pinkie following close behind repeating ‘She knows! She knows!’ the other girls shot glances of concern at one another before taking off after Twilight and Pinkie.
At the same time, in the palace of Canterlot, Princess Celestia and Luna were having a conversation with a couple of nobles and suddenly stopped talking looking to the window. They both smiled to one another and politely apologised to the nobles who nodded and left the room, they then both closed their eyes and teleported out of the palace.
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Fluttershy murmured in her sleep, she had fallen asleep resting on Grendel’s shoulder and smiled happily. Grendel had slowly walked as to not jolt her awake with his movements and was humming to himself; he came closer to the edge of the forest and smiled seeing a small house in the not too far distance. He stopped and turned his head to Fluttershy and gently scratched her ear, she murmured again and slowly opened her eyes. She let out a soft yawn before realising Grendel was there and blushed; Grendel chuckled and smiled softly at her.
“Were here…” he whispered nodding towards the house.
She turned round and gasped seeing her house and tears began to form in her eyes, Grendel kneeled down and placed her gently on the ground. She slowly got up looking at the house before turning to Grendel and leaping into him hugging him tightly and crying, Grendel smiled and returned the hug stroking her back softly as she sobbed into his robes. But they weren’t tears of sadness or fear, they were tears of happiness.
“T-thank you so m-much Mister G-Grendel!” she cried between sobs looking up at him.
The old mage smiled back down and wiped the tears from her eyes, she smiled back up at him as she sniffled.
“It was no problem Miss Fluttershy…you’re my friend, it was the least I could do.”
She hugged him again as she began to giggle for no real reason other than the fact she was happy, Grendel let out a soft chuckle before wiping some tears that had formed in his own eyes. Fluttershy then tugged on his robe and began to walk beyond the forest line.
“W-would you like to come in? M-my friends would l-love to meet you.” She stopped turning around seeing he hadn’t moved from the spot. “Mister Grendel…?”
He smiled at her but she could see it was a saddened smile.
“I can’t Miss Fluttershy…not yet.”
He walked to the edge of the forest and raised his hand up, he went to move it over the line but a sudden ‘ripple’ of blue energy stopped him startling her. She then remembered what he had said about the curse and frowned, she felt her eyes watering up as she came over to him. He scooped her up and held her tightly.
“Hey…hey…no tears Miss Fluttershy…it won’t be forever.” He smiled and stroked her mane.
She sniffled and looked up at him and smiled nodding, he smiled back and placed her down on the floor.
“D-do you promise…to c-come back?”
She knew he had already promised her but she was hoping he hadn’t changed his mind.
“I said I promised and I stand by it, we will see each other again Miss Fluttershy…don’t you worry.”
She smiled and leant up and softly kissed his cheek before sniffling.
“Thank you…”
She turned around and began to walk to her house; half way to it she stopped to turn around and give a final farewell wave to Grendel who waved back smiling at her. She then watched as he turned and slowly walked back into the forest, she felt herself about to cry again, she was going to miss him and worry about his wellbeing. She shook her head thought to herself with a smile.
‘No, he wouldn’t want me to be sad and worried and he promised to come back…I trust him.’
She suddenly squeaked when she heard the sound of two familiar voices scream.
“FLUTTERSHY!”
She turned round to see Twilight and Pinkie run towards her soon followed by the other three girls who also cried her name, she felt her eyes water and she ran to them. Twilight reached her first and embraced her tightly soon followed by the others who all began to cry softly in joy, they held tightly to one another not saying a word just enjoying the group hug with their lost friend.
Twilight sniffled looking up to the forest to try and see if she could see what had helped Fluttershy, she narrowly caught the sight of a robed figure in the trees before losing sight of it. Had it been any other day or occasion she would have chased after it out of curiosity, today however, she didn’t care. She just was glad her friend was ok.
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Grendel watched as the girls embrace each other and smiled to himself, he felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders seeing Fluttershy safe and sound. He turned around and began to head into the forest to try and find a place to recover before stopping, he looked up to see two figures, one white and one dark blue in front of him.
“We wanted to say thank you for saving Fluttershy’s life.” Celestia said
“It was nothing…Princess Celestia.” Grendel smiled, Celestia and Luna giggled.
“Told you about us then did he?” Luna said.
“Aye…that he did Princess Luna.”
Luna giggled as Celestia smiled at him.
“Please…call us Celestia and Luna, any friend of Turil is a friend of ours.”
“If there is any way we can repay you...” Luna started.
“I appreciate the offer however…I cannot accept any reward for being the one who caused this in the first place, knowing she is safe is reward enough.”
Grendel leant against a tree letting out a sigh feeling the healing spell beginning to wear off, he felt his body fill with a sudden burst of energy and saw Celestia’s horn glowing brightly. He looked to his stomach then to his shoulder to see his wounds slowly begin to heal over leaving nothing but scars in their place, he looked up to her and smiled.
“Thank you…”
“It is the least we could do Grendel…” it was Celestia’s turn to smirk.
“I see Turil told you about me then.” He chuckled.
The three laughed together as Grendel stood up. Celestia took a step forward.
“If you wish to receive assistance in defeating him we could help you.”
“Thank you Celestia…but it’s something I must do alone; I don’t want to bring unnecessary danger to more of your subjects again.”
Celestia nodded and Grendel bowed to them, Celestia and Luna said goodbye to him and teleported to the girls. Grendel watched as the group began to talk and laugh amongst themselves, turning around he saw a pouch with a moon and sun emblem on it on the floor, curiously he picked it up and opened it up. He smiled as he inhaled deeply.
“Thistlesung leaf…”
He chuckled to himself as he placed the pouch carefully on his belt and walked into the forest soon disappearing out of sight.