Inside the building, everything seemed to be kept in an organized disarray, various mismatching displays right next to each other, with small charms to tie the contrasting elements together in between. It was hard to figure out where exactly one was supposed to look, if they were a customer, but Twilight didn't seem to give it a second look. Spike got distracted by a few jewel-encrusted necklaces, but Dash pushed him forward before his drool could hit anything. At a far-off location, a yellow pegasus adorned with a pink mane could be found napping on a sofa, sprawled out with a small pile of ribbon acting as a pillow. Twilight actually hesitated waking her for a moment, she seemed so serene... but they had a job to do, and she rather bluntly nudged her with one hoof. This caused the pegasus to jar awake rather suddenly, shrieking rather softly for such a start, and jumping behind the couch to hide. "Uh... hello?" Twilight peered over the furniture to find her cowering, her head hidden under her hooves, though she soon looked up slowly.
"I... I'm sorry..." She stuttered a bit, crawling out from her hiding spot. "I didn't... that is... you..." Try as she might, the timid pegasus couldn't find the words, edging away bit by bit even as she attempted, and failed, at making eye contact. Once again, Twilight was annoyed, but something held her back from her normal response, and she looked away herself. They all stood in silence for a minute or two, the shop's resident only breaking the silence to whimper as she dropped to sit on the floor. Spike coughed into his claw as an attempt to bring something up, but he sat down as well, waiting for something- anything- to happen. It was Rainbow Dash's turn to be forceful, stepping up more directly. "Hi, we're here on behalf of Canterlot. We wanted to know how the decorations were coming."
"Oh... they're..." Their quiet host peered up slowly, but she suddenly looked on with curiosity, standing up and approaching her. "Dash? Rainbow Dash, is that you?" Puzzled, Dash nodded, wondering internally if she should know her. "Junior flight camp... I... fell..." She seemed embarrassed to mention it, but she did maintain a steady gaze this time. Suddenly, Rainbow felt a small spark, perking up in surprise.
"Oh my gosh, you're...!"
"...Fluttershy."
"Wow... hey, looks like you're doing pretty well these days."
"Oh... no," Fluttershy blushed, turning her head. "It's nothing special, I didn't even come up with the name..."
"You kidding? Look at this place, it's got everything! Don't sell yourself short... and don't hold me in suspense! How've you been?" Rainbow Dash was ecstatic, finding a familiar face in town. Fluttershy seemed to be taking it well, too, opening up more and more as the two went at it.
'Two hours.' That's all Twilight could think. 'Two hours! How can two ponies go on for so long about nothing?!' "Remember the time..." "And then..." "How about the..." "You used to wear your mane..." it just went on and on. She was amazed she put up with it as long as she did. Finally, Twilight set her hoof down loudly, shocking Fluttershy behind the couch again. "Well, this has all been very interesting! Now can we please discuss your plans for the decorations?!" Dash and Spike both gave Twilight a strange look for a moment, as if she had just grown a second head.
"Twilight," Spike uttered, "You just said 'please.'" Twilight had nothing to say to that, pouting a bit before turning about with a huff.
"Anyway," Rainbow Dash interrupted, "Fluttershy's been finished for a while now. She just got back when we came in, the hall's ready to go. Which you would have known, if you hadn't zoned out on us." Dash nudged Twilight a bit playfully, clearly still caught up in the moment. She turned back to Fluttershy after that, nodding with a more serious glance. "We probably should get going, in any case. See you at the celebration?" Fluttershy just nodded to the question, coming down from her previous enthusiasm, her head turning demurely to one side.
"I'll... be around... you know, if you want to stop by..." She trailed off a little, finding herself edging back to her sofa as the three departed. Spike trotted up to her with a wiggle of his eyebrows, puffing his chest up in the same gesture.
"It won't be the same without you," He said, trying to make his voice deeper. Fluttershy tilted her head to one side, more in confusion than anything else, staring at Spike curiously. "Well, uh, you know, if you wanted to--" He faltered endlessly until Twilight reached over, dragging him by the fin that passed for an ear on his head. Fluttershy's blank stare never once left them until they had exited proper, too perplexed by the dragon to be depressed or tired.
"Are you going to be like that the whole trip?!" Twilight chastised her assistant, utterly embarrassed by his behavior.
"No!" Spike huffed, crossing his arms. "Just around the real pretty ones!"
"Whatever... music's next, right? This should be short." Twilight rolled her eyes, just wanting this whole day to be over. As they walked, they couldn't help but hear singing in the distance. 'Well, that was easy,' Twilight mused to herself on approach, and sure enough, there was a small choir of ponies and birds gathered around a fountain, all quite young, but working in relative unison. Their conductor, a small white unicorn with a lavender and pink mane, did her best to keep them in time while an older pony watched over the scene unfold, in a state of dress one might not associate with such an activity. Rainbow Dash was the first on the scene, nonetheless, in time for the small conductor to call a break.
"No no no no, Snips, Snails, you have to sing from the diaphragm! Like this," She started, before projecting out through a simple arpeggio scale.
"Sounds good to me," Dash interrupted, shocking the unicorn out of her reciting. She looked a little embarrassed, having gotten an audience ahead of time, while her miniscule troupe stared on, awaiting further instruction. "Don't mind us, we're just checking up. Looks like you've got everything taken care of."
"That she does," Their overseer spoke up, trotting beside her ward, immediately offering an encouraging hug. "I told you, Sweetie Belle, you're perfect for the task."
"Yeah... but why couldn't I be the one singing?" The smaller of the two seemed a bit disappointed in her position, though blushing all the same at the praise.
"Because then you would steal the show, Sweetie. Now, you just tighten up that chorus," The older urged her on, and she perked back up with her group, going through the motions once more. The purple-maned unicorn turned back to their trio of onlookers, straightening up before addressing them. "Forgive me, I am Rarity, local physician. I presume you are the envoy from Canterlot?"
"Correct," Dash strode forward, "This is Twilight Sparkle, that's Spike, and I'm..."
"Rainbow Dash, correct? Everypony who's anypony knows who you are," Rarity spoke up out of turn, leaving Rainbow herself a little cold at her mention. Noticing this, Rarity amended her statement a little. "Not that you're infamous, dear. We're all very happy to have you."
"She has a problem with her reputation preceding her," Twilight interjected with a smug look. "Sounds like we've got nothing to worry about here, so we'll just move on."
"I don't know, Twi," Spike walked up, "I think I'm feeling faint." He dropped himself on Rarity's side, earning a surprised look from her. "Better check my temperature. I might be coming down with something." She backed off from him, letting him fall onto his side as she straightened out her coat.
"I would perscribe a cold shower. Wherever are you staying, while you're here?"
"I was told the library was vacant, do you know the way?" Rainbow Dash looked about curiously, Rarity quick to direct her.
"Right this way," She spoke up, leading the trio along, Twilight visibly glad they could be out of there promptly. She kind of liked this unicorn, if only because she didn't waste their time. All too glad to be out of the town's mane, as they arrived at the library, she opened the door herself, trudging inside, only to be greeted by a hideous sight: an unknown monster just in the door, all jagged edges and gnarled mass, waiting just for her. Without further ado, she promptly fell over, blacking out.