Back Owls and Stomach Butterflies
Pen and Parchment came to realize why Fluttershy had been so upset. Taking care of the animals was a full time job that Pen and Parchment wound up doing. He was happy to help the mare but was exhausted by the time he was finished. Early afternoon had arrived and he had asked Fluttershy if he could take a nap. She replied that they could both use a nap. Happily nesting birds warbled in chorus as the afternoon wore on.
As the sky's hue started to darken, Pen and Parchment was shaken awake. Shaken may be too strong of a word however. Fluttershy gingerly inched a hoof toward the sleeping Pen and Parchment, paused before touching him, then barely touched his back. This was enough to wake the stallion, however. The two left the cottage and started toward a lightly wooded path that ran toward a town called Ponyville.
As Fluttershy opened the gate to let them through, a flurry of commotion burst out. A strange hooting sound got Fluttershy's attention and she rushed back to the door of her cottage. As she opened the door, she saw Mr. Owl standing on the floor.
“Oh, what's the matter Mr. Owl?”
“Hoo, hoo hoot.”
“Go on.”
“Hoot hoot hoo. Hoo.”
“Oh my. I see. Hey, Pen?” Pen and Parchment didn't know what to think when Fluttershy first called him Pen, but he decided that he liked the nickname.
“Yes?” He called back.
“Mr. Owl doesn't want to be left alone, do you mind if he comes along with us?”
“Not at all. But if he rides on my back, I'll have to ask him to be more careful.”
“Well, Mr. Owl?”
“Hoot.”
“It's a deal!” Fluttershy beamed and picked up the owl. She flew over to Pen, but before she set him down on Pen's back, an aura of green light enveloped the owl. Fluttershy realized that Pen, being a unicorn, was using his magic to levitate Mr. Owl gently down. Despite the experience of flying, or rather levitating, without his wings, the owl offered no resistance as he was lowered onto Pen's back. Pen let out a sigh of relief as the owl came to rest without digging his talons in. Pen stopped to think a moment. He then arched his neck to look at the owl.
“Hm, I need to call you something. Archimedes sounds nice. What do you think?”
“Hoot.” Pen didn't speak owl, but assumed that was an affirmative and turned toward the path. Daylight was giving way to twilight as the three started off toward town.
They had been winding their way along the path when Pen noticed Fluttershy started to huff. They had been taking a brisk pace, but Pen wasn't out of breath.
“Are you okay Fluttershy?”
“Oh, I'm fine.”
“Okay...” Pen opened his muzzle to say more, but stopped. Fluttershy opened her muzzle to say something, but she closed hers as well. She shifted her eyes to a sidelong glance at the side of the road that did not include Pen. “You know, you can say something if you want to, I won't stop you.”
“I know Pinkie Pie is happy all the time. It's just sometimes I need a break. They're my friends, and I like them, but sometimes I just want to sip tea and enjoy the afternoon. I'm okay doing that but I don't think Pinkie would be but if I don't say something then I just feel rrgh!” As her frustration increased, her words came out in a flurry. Pen started to wonder how she was breathing. He tried to politely interrupt her.
“But, if you tell her, I'm sure she'd understand.”
“Then she'd think I didn't like her.” Fluttershy slowed her pace and looked sad.
“She's you're friend. You don't hate her, she knows that. You can be honest with her, and yourself.” Fluttershy stopped. Even though the two ponies were about the same height, Fluttershy had lowered her head. She looked up and gave Pen the smallest hint of a smile.
Pen couldn't help himself. Without thinking, he found himself blurting out, “Fluttershy, you are just so adorable.” Fluttershy stopped suddenly. She avoided Pen's eyes and her cheeks started to flush. She stood there statuesque for an uncomfortable moment. She suddenly let out a nearly inaudible squeak and galloped headlong down the trail. Pen blinked at the empty space that Fluttershy had occupied moments ago. He was shocked at how quickly the mare could gallop. The fading light made it impossible for him to see her. He sent a surge of magic into his horn that illuminated a large portion of the path, but he still couldn't see her. “Um, Fluttershy?” he called out, hoping she could hear him. “I don't know how to get to Ponyville.” Silence was his only answer. “I kind of need you.. to show me... the way?”
“Oh right, sorry-” Archimedes hooted and flapped his wings, Pen whinnied in surprise. “Up here. I guess it's my turn to apologize for scaring you.” Neither Pen nor Archimedes had thought to look up to see the pegasus silently making her way back through the air. She landed back on the ground. Pen steadied himself and smiled.
Patting her head he replied, “No, it's fine.” She smiled as the two continued walking down the lane.
They passed a signpost with writing on it. Pen hesitated for a moment, but couldn't make out what was written on it. Fluttershy didn't seem to try to read it as she walked by.
“Was that sign post for Ponyville?”
“Uh-huh. Oh, don't worry, I know right where we are.” A few sparse buildings turned into a town square as the main road lead them through the center of town. An orange glow from street lanterns and the steady clopping of hooves on the road were the only things disturbing the night air. A sudden shiver ran down Pen's back as he realized how quiet things were. They owl adjusted his footing nervously. Fluttershy seemed disturbed as well. Her soft voice broke through the silence almost reverently.
“I can't ever remember Ponyville being so quiet and empty.”
“It's not usually this... silent?” They passed the town hall when Pen heard another noise. He had initially mistaken it as the sound of their own hooves. When he had stopped to look at the town hall, however, the sound continued. Fluttershy stopped as well and gave him an inquisitive stare. “Do you hear that?”
“No. What is it?” The two were speaking in hushed tones.
“It, sounds like something's moving.” The faint sound seemed to be coming from more than one direction. Pen guessed that was because of an echo. “I can't tell how many there are. Nor could I say which direction they're coming from.” He motioned to Fluttershy and the two tip-hoofed under the eaves of town hall. The sound grew louder and turned into a number of distinct sounds. Fluttershy put a hoof to her muzzle as she tried to cover the sound of her heavier breathing. She pointed a hoof down the street they had just come from and from the blackness strange forms appeared.
They were talking, but neither Fluttershy nor Pen could tell what they were saying. The strange babel was punctuated with unusual stops and guttural noises that didn't make sense to the two ponies. From Pen's vantage, he could see that there were two other forms. Their features were hidden, however, by dark cloaks.
As the forms passed by they slowed their pace some more. Pen suppressed a yelp when a, “Hoo, hoot hoo,” emanated from his back. The two forms stopped and looked directly at them. A set of golden, glowing eyes peered out from underneath one of the hoods. The other hood was completely black.
“STOP!” he cried and lunged out of the shadows. The soft green glow from his horn shone like a floodlight as he poured all the magic energy he could into illuminating the surrounding area. “Who are you,” he demanded, “and what do you want?”