//------------------------------// // Crows! Crows Everywhere! // Story: Vigorous Discovery // by Mclovin //------------------------------// Vigorous Discovery Written by Ikemtz16 *** In the outskirts of Ponyville, a lone yellow pegasus was feeding her friendly animals. She stood outside her cottage nourishing the birds with freshly excavated worms, and rabbits with properly grown carrots. The critters frolicked to and fro around the gentle pony as they ravished in the clean air. It warmed her heart to see her little friends enjoying this beautiful day. “There you go Mr. Otter.” she said softly, “I made sure it was seasoned well, so I hope you like it.” The small rodent feasted on his meal and squeaked in approval. Then before she could furnish more food to the other animals, a crow was perched in a tree branch just above her. It stood high in the tree, peering down as its head jerked left and right. The pegasus has never seen this raven before, despite her mingling skills with other birds. So to maintain that topic, she decides to fly up the tree and meet this odd bird. “Hello there.” she said. “What's your name?” The bird did not respond, only with more twitching as its eyes absently glanced at the flying pony before it. “Um, my name's Flutterhshy.” she continued, but the crow replied with more silence, “Do you want something to eat?” Suddenly, the bird cawed in her face, causing her to flinch. Then it flew away from her, back down the tree. “Oh wait!” Fluttershy said worried. “Don't go!” She followed the crow alongside the trunk of the tree as it banked an inch from the ground. The bird led Fluttershy a few yards away, through the bushes and shrubs surrounding her abode. The pegasus felt troubled trying to catch up to the bird. She can see know that it wasn't in the mood for a proper acquaintance. Finally, the crow led Fluttershy to a bush not too far from her home. She peeked her head inside the bush, but the crow ambushed her with another unexpected caw. Fluttershy squeaked and fell back on her haunches. The bird then flew away from the pegasus entirely, never to be seen again. “Maybe he's just cranky.” Fluttershy muttered to herself. As she stood back up on all fours, a strange looking object was left where the crow was hiding. “What's this?” she queried. As she grabs it with her hoof to inspect it closely. It was a bottle of some kind, made to look like a raven. Its lid represented the very crow she was chasing, and a tag was leashed against it with a picture of a silhouetted crow head. As she shook the bottle slightly, it jostled with liquid indicating it was full. The odd looking bottle peeked Fluttershy's curiosity. But it turned to deep concern when she reads the front of the bottle, displaying Murder of Crows. The word “murder” made Fluttershy cup her mouth while gasping. “Oh my!” she choked. The advertisement had the timid pony worried. “Why would anypony want this?” she thought to herself, “I should hide this, so nopony will find it.” Fluttershy thought it to be an effort when she takes the bottle into her house. She sets it on the table beside her couch. “Now what should I do with this?” Fluttershy said to herself. It became clear that if she were to hide this item, she needs to find a suitable spot to do so. She becomes more worrisome as she contemplates in her head. As she ponders, she couldn't help but feel grasped by the bottle sitting lonesomely in the center of her table. Its bird shaped top some how gazed into her eyes as she sheepishly glances it. Its ceramic eyes made Fluttershy's head throb a little, which is weird considering she hasn't been feeling sick lately. It forced her to become curious, and she walks up to the bottle. She stiffens her as she looks carefully at the bottle. “M-maybe... its a special medicine.” Fluttershy said slightly nervous, “And... and I do feel, a little headache.” Without more consideration, she grabs it and pulls its top off. She gulps the beverage down her throat and starts to feel strange for some reason. Her head began to spin almost instantly, and her limbs started to grow numb. Dizziness ensues, and she drops the bottle on the floor, spilling its leftover contents all over the rug. “Oh... my.” Fluttershy said wearily. “I don't feel so good. I need some air.” To clear her head of this woozy feeling, she opens a nearby window to be greeted by the relaxing aroma of her window garden. Its pungent smell started to help Fluttershy reclaim her senses again. She begins to relish at this atmosphere when another crow as similar as the first one she encountered, sits idly on her window seal. “Oh, hello again.” she said to the bird. “What are you doing here?” The crow stood silent once again, and instead, flew inside and rested itself on top of Fluttershy's head. “... Well, um, you're welcomed to stay here if you like.” Fluttershy said. Then another crow disembarked itself on the window seal. “Oh hello. Are you friends with this little fella?” she points to the bird on her mane. And then another black bird stands beside the other then caw together. “Um, I don't think I have room for two more of you.” Then without warning, four more of the ravens descend in front of her. This many unexpected visits, causes her to back up with the first crow still nestled on her soft pink mane. More crows double every second, and begin to fly inside her home. Then before she knows it, a whole swarm circles the interior as Fluttershy scrunches her head at the colossal amount of black birds, overrunning her cottage. “I can't make homes for all of you!” Fluttershy squeaks, as she looks around the room being covered by black. By the end of the scuffle, there are hundreds of crows everywhere. Perched on the rafters, nestled in her couch, and some even took the liberty to sit on Fluttershy's back, cawing excessively. All of these crows overwhelmed her greatly. She tried to think fast, until somepony was calling her name from outside. “Fluttershy!” a raspy female voice called as she knocks on the door, "What's going on in there? You alright?" Whoever was outside, she must've heard what was going on and came to see if the house's residence was okay. Even though not a lot of ponies reside next door to the cottage. Fluttershy responds to answer the front door. “Excuse me, pardon me, sorry about that, please excuse me.” Fluttershy, excuses herself past each and every bird. She reaches the door and opens it, revealing Rainbow Dash looking rather concerned about her friend. “Oh hi Rainbow.” Fluttershy said quietly. “Uhhh... why do you have a crow on your head?” Rainbow replied with a raised eyebrow. It jogged Fluttershy's memory, that the starting raven was still sitting on her scalp, peering down on the rainbow-maned pegasus before it. “I've uh... been having trouble with some birds, and I need them to leave.” “You want birds to leave your house?” The cyan pegasus questioned, seeing how her friend is all about caring for animals rather than kicking them out. “If you could Rainbow Dash, could you perhaps help me here?” “No problem,” Rainbow accepted proudly, with a challenging grin, “I'll have those birds out of your house in no time.” “Thank you Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy smiled, “Oh but please be careful not to hurt them.” “Oh relax, Flutters.” Rainbow replied with a scoff as she flew inside to see billions of black birds surrounding her. “Whoa! I can see why you need them out. Not a problem.” She flew up to a nearby batch of crows. “Listen up you little feather brains!” Rainbow commanded at the crows, “Flutters here wants you all out of her house! So move your little tail feathers and take a hike!” They however replied the same as they did with Fluttershy, mere silence and constant twitching of the head. “Oh please, Rainbow.” Fluttershy begged. “Be nice.” “I got this okay?” Rainbow replied. “No please, I don't like it when-” “Out of the house bird brain!” Rainbow ignores Fluttershy's plea as she continues to bark at each of the birds. “Rainbow please, I-” “Are you deaf or something!? I said get out!” “Rainbow stop-” “If you little jerks don't high tail it outta here, I'm gonna force you to go on the count of three! One... Two... Th-” “STOP IT!” Fluttershy's bellowing screech, freezes Rainbow on the spot, “Rainbow, leave them alone!” The pegasus was astonished by her friend's sudden anger. But then, all the crows in Fluttershy's house caw loudly simultaneously. They stare at Rainbow with menacing glares and suddenly, then swarm Rainbow Dash, constantly pecking her with their beaks. “Ow! Hey knock it- Ouch that... stop it!” Rainbow cried over the towering swarm. Rainbow was covered in black as more crows attack her ferociously. Fluttershy couldn't help but watch her friend being beaten by these evil birds. Every bellow from Rainbow, made Fluttershy tear up a little as she just stood their helplessly. “Ugh that's it!” Rainbow shouts over the scuffle, “I'm outta here! Sorry Fluttershy!” Rainbow breaks free of the band of crows , and dashes out the door, with all the crows following behind her. They whoosh past Fluttershy, causing her mane the flow in their forceful wind, as well as remove the crow that was on her head the whole time. As soon as the house was clear of black, Fluttershy runs outside and looks up to see a ball of feathery black trailing behind Rainbow as she tries to evade their furious pecking. “Oh my!” Flutterhsy squeaked as she galloped towards town, “I've got to find Twilight!”