//------------------------------// // I Come in Pain. // Story: Of Gods and Ponies // by FoggyHunter //------------------------------// Holy shit. I’m in Equestria. This is some messed up shit right here. Ok, who the hell put me in a coma? Cause that’s gotta be what’s going on here. How can this even be happening? It makes no sense. (Sudden flash back to episode one of season two) Oh god, I hope this isn’t one of those things were Discord summons a human just to fuck with him. That would piss me off to no end. As hard as it is for me to believe this, I can’t help but concede to the facts. I am in a HIE fan fic. Fan-fucking-tastic. What should I do? Should I try to initiate contact? What will they think? I’ve read enough fan fics to know that they can be tolerant and loving, but what if that’s not how it is here? Oh god... I hope Celestia isn’t a xenophobic bigot like she is in so many other HIE fics, cause I am so fucked if she is. While I’m going through my internal raving, I suddenly notice a very familiar cottage not very far from where I am. Fluttershy’s cottage, as if the hundreds of animals loitering around it wasn’t obvious enough. Hmmmmmmmm... If anyone, I mean anypony, could handle my appearance the best, it would be Fluttershy. As I get back to my feet, I suddenly feel a little light headed. I’m not quite sure why until I feel something drip down my back. Oh yea, I’m still wounded, and it’s still bleeding. The blood must have soaked through the sheet. Crap, I better get a move on. I make my way towards the cottage, and as I do the animals begin to grow wary. They’re not running for the hills screaming, per say, but they are giving me a wide berth. As I cross the little bridge that lays over a small creek in front of the cottage, I can tell that my condition is getting worse. It is taking more effort just to put one foot in front of the other. Finally, I’ve reached the door. As I knock on the door, a sudden thought comes to me. Fluttershy is my best bet to get fixed up, and if she’s not home I’m a dead man. After a few grueling seconds of waiting, I here a soft voice from within. “Who is it?” Yes! She’s home. Even through the door I could recognize that voice anywhere. Wait, what should I say? … “Uh... hi. I’m not really from around here and, um, I could use some help, if that’s ok?” Sure I sound a little like her, but at least I don’t sound threatening. Ah, crap. My visions starting to tunnel. The door opens with a click. “Of course, how can I-” She stops when she opens the door fully and gazes at me with wide eyes. God damn she’s adorable. Believe it or not, she’s actually half my size. Ugh, not feeling too hot here. “Yea..” I simply say, right as my legs give out. I come down to the floor flat on my face. I hardly even have the strength to keep my head from hitting the floor. My vision is getting worse and I’m starting to feel awfully cold. That is never a good sign. “Omygosh omygosh omygosh. Um, just hold on. I’ll, uh, get you better in no time, I hope.” “That sounds just fine to me,” I weakly say just as unconsciousness takes me. Fluttershy is about to have a heart attack. The strangest creature she had ever seen comes to her home asking for help, and then collapses right in front of her. With the creature on the ground, Fluttershy had a clear view of the very bloody cloth that the creature had wrapped around itself. This only proved to scare her even more. This creature, a total stranger, is hurt and putting its life in her hoofs. A sudden sense of determination washes over Fluttershy. By the power invested in her she will not let this living being die. She drags the creature deeper into her cottage (a difficult task considering how large it is) and then gets to work undoing the old bandage. After many long seconds of struggling, Fluttershy finally manages to rip the sheet off, and what she founs underneath horrified her. Three long and bloody gashes run across the creatures back. Fluttershy manages to hold down the contents of her stomach as she begins to understand the seriousness of the wound. Her experience with tending to hurt animals tells her that this calls for stitches, lots of stitches. She quickly flies to her kitchen and grabs the medical supplies she keeps there. As she flies back, she realizes that she may not be enough to save this creature. After putting the supplies down, she hurriedly grabs a piece of paper and quill and begins to write frantically. After she finishes she calls out to one of her most trusted companions. “Angel Bunny! Come quick!” A small, white rabbit answers her call and dashes to her before standing to attention like a soldier. He is fully aware of the situation’s dire nature, and is prepared to help his owner. “I need you to take this letter to Twilight as fast as you can, ok?” Angel salutes before snatching the letter and running out the door as fast as his legs could go. “Oh, I hope he can get to her in time,” Fluttershy says to herself as she begins to tend to the wounded creature. Twilight sighs in frustration. All the books she could find on recreation magic, which were few to begin with, only had far fetched theories and concepts. Nothing told her how to actually preform the magic and with the failure of her second and most recent attempt, she is beginning to wish that at least one of the books could. Maybe the Canterlot Library has better books on this subject. Spike’s still asleep, though, so she can’t send a letter to the Princess just yet. Heck, she still needs to send the letter she wrote about the creature Zecora spotted. She sighs again. ‘Honestly, that dragon spends more time asleep than awake,’ Twilight thinks. Before Twilight can continue with her project, a new distraction presents itself. From the library door comes a soft yet rapid thumping. Twilight’s curiosity perks up and she opens the door with magic. As soon as she does, a white blur races towards her only to stop suddenly in front of her. Twilight instantly recognizes Fluttershy’s pet rabbit, Angel. “Angel, what are you doing here?” She asks. Angel merely responds by thrusting a folded piece of paper towards her. “Oh, what’s this?” Twilight asks as she lifts the paper from the rabbit’s tiny paws and unfolds it. Dear Twilight, EMERGENCY! NEED YOUR HELP, PLEASE HURRY. Fluttershy. Twilight’s eyes widen as she reads those four lines. Obviously, something big has happened, and if Fluttershy needs her help, than she is more than willing to oblige. “Thanks, Angel. I’ll be there in no time at all.” The statement is not far from the truth, because at that moment Twilight shut her eyes in concentration before disappearing with a zap, leaving a scorch mark on the ground. Angel knew his job is done, so he hurries out of the library and back towards his mistress’s home. Meanwhile, just as Twilight had disappeared from the library, she instantly reappears in front of Fluttershy’s cottage in the same fashion as she had disappeared. Twilight has always been convinced that teleportation is a very useful spell, and this situation only stands to encourage her belief in its usefulness. After gaining her bearings after her spell, Twilight gallops through the cottage door. “Fluttershy, what’s wrong? What do you nee-” Twilight stops, both body and sentence, as she gazes with wide and unbelieving eyes upon the bloody giant that is layng face down upon the cottage floor with a very flustered Fluttershy hovering over it, a bloody needle and thread held in her hoofs which are also covered in blood. “Twilight!” Fluttershy exclaims (in her own quiet way) with a hint of relief, “Thank Celestia your here. Please help me. I’m trying to stop the bleeding but the cuts are just so large that it just keeps coming out before I can stop it.” This gets Twilight out of her shocked stupor and gets her thinking again. “Ok, let me see.” Twilight trots over to the creature in order to get a good look at it, and rears her head back in revulsion of the condition of the creature’s back. Fluttershy had managed to stitch one of the cuts close, but there were still two left, both bleeding profusely. One look at the creature tells her that it does not have long, and Fluttershy knows this as well. “Can you help the poor dear? Please say you can help him, er, or is it a her? I really don’t know. Oh please say you can help!” Fluttershy is as close to a panic attack as Twilight had ever seen her. “Fluttershy, listen. I need you to calm down. I’ll do what I can.” Fluttershy weakly nods before giving Twilight some room. Twilight takes a deep breath and begins to access her internal archives of everything she had ever read. The life of a living being is in her hooves, and she’s going to need a heck of a healing spell. Then Twilight remembers a spell from a medical book she once read. As she concentrates magic into the spell, she prays to Celestia and Luna that she will get this right, and in time. Twilight’s horn glows it’s natural shade of lavender as she brings it down towards the downed creature. With but a light touch, the glowing aura instantly transfers from Twilight’s horn to the creature, surrounding it in the glow but concentrating mostly on the wounds. Both Fluttershy and Twilight stare in wonder as the magic glow slowly closes the wounds, ultimately stopping the blood flow. In only a matter of seconds, the wounds are completely seamed shut, leaving only three long, pale scars. For a moment, there is only silence. Then Fluttershy speaks up. “Will...will he, or she, or... will it be ok?” Twilight looks up at Fluttershy with tired eyes. That spell had taken more out of her than she had anticipated. “I don’t know. We may have been too late...” Fluttershy looks down, but then brings her head back up with an idea shining in her eyes. She begins to push the creature over, but finds much difficulty in the task. Twilight sees what her pegasus friend is trying to do and so helps her out by using her magic to levitate the creature onto its back. Fluttershy wastes no time in looking over the creature, trying to find any sign that it still lived. Then, in a surprising display of ingenuity, Fluttershy brings her ear down to the creatures chest. A smile breaks across her face as she sighs in relief. “He’s alive.” Twilight gives Fluttershy a confused look before saying, “How do you know it’s a he?” At this Fluttershy becomes flustered all over again as a slight blush reveals itself across her face. “Oh, well... I don’t, really... it’s just... well... it... it just feels right to call it a he. If... that makes any sense.” Twilight doesn't fully buy it, but nobody has animal expertise like Fluttershy, not even the local veterinarian. “Ok, whatever you say.” Twilight then brings her attention back to the creature still passed out on the floor. There is something about it... Then it hits her. Of course! This has to be the creature that Zecora saw not too long ago. A thin smile crosses her lips. This will make an excellent subject to study on. As far as she can tell, no other pony has encountered a creature like this, and she will be the first to catalog it. Twilight’s thoughts are interrupted, however, by Fluttershy. “Oh no. I know that look in your eyes. I’m sorry Twilight, but you will have to wait until he wakes up and is feeling better before you do anything with him.” Twilight is surprised by Fluttershy’s sudden forwardness. She gets over it quickly, however, and begins to defend her motives. “I’m not going to do anything that will hurt it~ er, him. I’m just going to study him for a bit. You know, write down his appearance, habits, psychology, physiology, natural abili-” “I’m sorry Twilight, but he has obviously been through a lot and needs his rest. You can ask him if he will allow you to study him and only then when he is fully rested and healthy.” “Ask him, what do you mean ask him?” Fluttershy instantly becomes her timid self again. “Oh, well... when he first came here... he kind of... talked.” Twilight’s eyes widen at this information. “He talks!? Just like us? That’s a sign of advanced intelligence. Do you know what this means?” “Yes,” Fluttershy responds, once again in her firm-yet-motherly attitude, “it means that you need to let him get his rest. I’ll let you know when he’s feeling better, I promise.” Twilight is about to argue further, but knows that Fluttershy will have none of it. When it comes to animals under her care, the yellow coated and pink maned pegasus does not mess around. “Alright, you win Fluttershy. But I’m going to hold you to that promise.” “Of course,” Fluttershy says cheerfully, “have a good afternoon.” “I will,” Twilight replies before leaving. ‘And oh what a restless afternoon it will be,’ she later thinks as she begins to trot home. Fluttershy sighs in relief. She really didn’t mean to be so strict with Twilight, but the creature had been through so much; she felt it was the right thing to do. Fluttershy looks back towards the creature, sleeping peacefully. For some reason, she actually finds him to be quite cute. Kind of like a hairless monkey. She slowly brings herself down next to the sleeping creature, never taking her eyes off of him. There is something to admire about the creature. The way his muscle-toned chest rises and falls in a steady rhythm is almost mesmerizing to the shy pegasus. Even during this time of vulnerability, strength is evident in the creature’s muscled form. Unaware of the slight blush showing on her cheeks, Fluttershy leans closer until her head is resting on the side of his chest, with the rest of her body leaning on the rest of his torso. She can hear the steady beat of his heart, and the sound of his steady breathing. All this combined with the warmth of his body and the exhaustion that came from the excitement not more than two minutes ago slowly lulls her to sleep. …. Hey, my consciousness came back. I guess this means I’m not dead. Wait, am I back in my own world? I open my eyes and see an unfamiliar, cartoonish ceiling. Nope, doesn’t look like it. You know, for a guy who just passed out from blood loss, I feel pretty good. It’s almost like I had never taken that hit to the back in the first place. I’m about to get up when I become aware of a weight on my chest that I had not noticed until now. I look down and my eyes widen at the sight before me. Fluttershy is laying right next to me with her head on my chest, her face turned towards mine, and sleeping soundly. A bit of her long pink mane is covering half of her right eyes which is closed in soft slumber. She even has a small smile on her face. Oh. My. GOD! THIS IS THE CUTEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN!! I swear if I didn’t have the diabetus before this, I definitely do now. Even the soft snores she’s making are just FREAKING ADORABLE! Yea, getting up can wait. I think I’ll just lay here for a while longer. I suddenly have the urge to pet her. I hope she doesn’t mind. With slight hesitance, I bring up my right hand and slowly bring it in contact with her mane. It is incredibly soft, like the best combination of silk and fluff you can think of. I begin to run my hand through her mane and over her scalp, and would you believe it? She actually let out a small “hmmm” and her smile got wider! GAH!! CUTENESS LEVELS REACHING CRITICAL!!! MY HEART CAN BARELY HANDLE THIS AMOUNT OF DAWWWWW!!!!! Funny business aside, this mare probably just save my life. I can see the blood on her hooves, most likely from trying to fix me up. I owe her big time, and I intend to pay up in full. How, though, I am not quite sure. Either way, it sure feels good to be alive right now. You know, I should probably be feeling self conscious since I’m still half naked, but you know, I just can’t bring my self to care. I can't tell whether it has been minutes or hours that I've spent on this hard wood floor, petting a sleeping Fluttershy on my chest. It has been by far the most peaceful feeling I have ever felt. Then Fluttershy begins to stir. Crap, I guess it’s true when they say that all good things must come to an end. Still, I didn’t take my hand away from her mane. She looked like she was enjoying the sensation of me petting her more, until her smile instantly disappeared and her eyes shot wide open. With a gasp and then a squeak (again, cute as hell), she springs away from me, landing a good ten feet away with, by far, the thickest blush I had ever seen. Even when scared she is so cute. I lean myself up until I’m in a sitting position. Now I feel self conscious. Even though I’m sitting down, her eyes barely come up to the same height as my own, even when she’s standing. Man, I’ve gotten tall. …. Uh... awkward silence is awkward. “Hi...” I speak first. “H-hello...” Flutershy responds, nervously scuffing at the floor with her hoof and keeping her gaze cast down. “Um... did... did you you heal me?” I ask next, reaching behind my back to try and feel the wounds that had been there before. You know, now that I think about it, that was a really selfish question. Damit, she’s probably scared as all hell right now and all I can think of is myself. Bad Joseph, bad. Fluttershy is silent for a moment, but then says, “Well... I... tried. But I, um, had to get my friend to heal you with magic.” Oh, so that’s why I don’t feel any pain or discomfort. Must have been Twilight’s doing. Wait a minute... “Where is this friend?” “She, uh, left. You know... back home...” Ok, this isn’t getting anywhere. Time to try a different approach. “What’s your name?” Of course I already know the answer, but right now I’m just trying to get her to relax. “F-Flutershy...” She said the last part of her name in a whisper, which I knew she would. Not wanting to make her uncomfortable by asking again, I just act like I heard her. “Fluttershy... That’s a beautiful name.” The blush that had faded from her face a moment ago comes back with a vengeance. “It’s... it’s nothing... special, really” She timidly says, trying to hide behind her lustrous mane. …. Come on, say it. I don’t want to make this any more awkward that it already is. “So, um, what’s... what’s your name?” Yes! Second victory of the day! Well, third, if you count my victory over death. “My names Joseph. Joseph Conrad.” “That’s... um... a nice name...” …. “Well, I’d like to thank you for saving my life. If there is any way that I can repay you, please let me know.” Fluttershy lookes up with a surprised look on her face from my statement. Why, I have no idea. “Oh, no. It wasn’t me that saved you. Twilight was the the one who used the healing spell.” I think for a moment. “Did you call her here?” “I... I did...” Fluttershy responds, eyes once again downcast. “Then I still owe you my life. Had you not called her, I’d probably be dead right now. Again thank you.” “It’s... it’s nothing really...” I look out a nearby window and see that it is now night. Must have been out for a few hours. I decide that I’ve been on the floor long enough and get myself back on my feet. As I rise, I see Fluttershy take a few tentative steps back. I arch my back in a stretch and receive a series of pops in return. I think this is only unsettling Fluttershy even more. I don’t want to scare her, but I can’t help how big I am compared to her. “So... hectic day, huh?” Fluttershy merely nods nervously. “Yea.... Sorry about that.” “It’s ok. I’m, uh, happy I could help.” “Speaking of which, I still need to repay you for saving my life.” Fluttershy looks up again with, yet another, surprised look on her face. “Oh, you don’t have to do anything for me, really.” “I may not have to, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to. Come on, is there anything I could do? Maybe some heavy lifting or something?” “I... I don’t know...” “....Well, if you think of anything, please let me know. Ok?” “O-Ok” Hmm..... Repaying kindness with kindess. He ponders if there is hope for this boy after all. Although the boy has yet to carry out the tasks that he said he would, there is no denying the sincerity in his words. There is no doubt that he will keep his word when the opportunity presents itself. Still... the boy is dangerous as he is. To give him more power may be unwise. However, he is running out of time. If he delays further, he and his power will fade away. The power has to go on; be given to another. There must be a successor, or the world will slowly fade away as well. A mental sigh escaped his non existent lips. For so long he has kept his spirit from leaving this plane of existence through not but the power he wields and his own will. He is tired, so tired. All he wishes is to go to his final rest. A gambit is needed. In a sense, a leap of faith. He is out of time. For so long his will has kept him going, but his will is near breaking point. It is time. The moment the boys sleeps again, he will confront him, and finally be granted his much needed, and much deserved rest. Fluttershy is at a lost of what to do. The creatu ~ no, Joseph, as that is his name, seems so... alien to her that she just doesn’t know how to act. Through their short conversation, though, he does seem nice. There goes another awkward silence. Fluttershy gathers her courage and decides to be a good hostess. “W-would you, um, like anything to drink?” Joseph smiles at this. “Sure, water would be fine.” “O-Ok.” Fluttershy says before trotting to the kitchen. He has a nice smile. As she goes about getting a glass, Fluttershy can't help but wonder back to what happened when she was still laying next to him. He had used his... paw(?) to rub her mane. Fluttershy blushes at the memory. Despite the oddness of it to her, she had to admit that it did feel nice. There was something about his fingers when they ran through her mane and rubbed into her head. It was relaxing, and very comforting. She wouldn’t mind if he did it again... She shakes her head clear of her thoughts, blushing brightly. Why is she thinking these things? It is so unlike her, isn’t it? In all honesty, she had never been in a situation like this, so she really doesn't know what to think. She finishs filling the glass with fresh water from her ice box and holds it in both hoofs. She then realizes that her hoofs are still stained with blood. After cleaning her hooves off in the sink, she once again picks up the glass with both hooves and gently flies into the living room. Upon entering, she sees Joseph sitting on one of her couches (which is just barely supporting his weight) looking about her house with intelligent and critical eyes, as if he is taking in every detail of the room. She flies over to him silently offering the glass, which he accepts. Fluttershy then flies over to a nearby chair and gently sets herself down. Joseph takes a long draught from the glass while she watches, fascinated at how he uses his paw(?) to hold the glass. “Um... Joseph?” “Hmm?” “If it isn’t too much trouble... could I, uh, ask a few questions? If you don’t want me to that’s ok, I’m just... curious...” Joseph smiles again, “Sure, Fluttershy. Ask away.” “Oh, um... ok. Well, not to sound rude, but, uh, what... what are you?” “I’m what’s called a human from where I’m from, though you probably wouldn’t know what a human is,” Then he says under his breath, “At least I hope not...” “Huh?” Fluttershy asks, not quite hearing that last part. “Nothing,” Joseph says with a convincing grin. “Ok... um, what... do you call those... things?” She asks pointing a hoof at one of Joseph’s hands. Joseph holds up the indicated appendage. “We call them hands. Useful things these, as you can see.” Joseph raises his other hand that still holds the glass to emphasize his point. Fluttershy nods in understanding. She had taken care of primates before, just none that could talk, or were hairless, or were this big. “So... where did you come from?” Joseph lets out a sigh at this, and Fluttershy becomes worried that she had asked something wrong. Before she can take back her question, Joseph answers. “I came from somewhere far away. Very far away. And... I don’t know how to get back.” Fluttershy becomes saddened from this. “How... how far away?” Joseph shrugs. “Probably either a galaxy or dimension away. I really have no idea.” Fluttershy has a look of shock from this news. “Wha- what?’” “Yea... I went to bed in my own home, and when I woke up I was in that forest over there.” Joseph says, pointing his thumb towards the general direction of said forest. A downtrodden look sweeps over Joseph as he begins to remember the implications of his situation. Those same implications are not lost on Fluttershy as she, too, begins to grasp the position Joseph is in. He is, in a sense, alone in an unfamiliar world. He has no idea how to get back home to his friends and family. No way to let them know that he is alright. Not only that, but he was injured while trying to traverse that dangers that is the Everfree Forest. Tears begin to form in her eyes. Completely unprompted, and to Joseph’s complete surprise, Fluttershy flies over to him and throws her hooves around his neck, pulling him in as comforting an embrace as she can manage. “You poor thing,” Fluttershy sobs, “It must be so scary for you.” Joseph’s surprise only lasts a second longer before he returns the embrace, wrapping his arms completely around her body. She can feel the warmth in the embrace, and a feeling of security falls upon her. She doesn't understand why, but she feels so safe in the human’s arms. “Heh, well... it isn’t that scary.” Fluttershy lifts her head and gives him a look that says she knows that isn’t true. “Ok, so it’s a little scary,” Joseph chuckles. Flutteshy giggles as well. Though one could say the moment has passed, Fluttershy keeps herself in the embrace, enjoying the warmth. It is only with great reluctance that she eventually breaks the embrace and fly back to her chair, and only after giving his neck a gentle nuzzle. “Um... I guess... this means you don’t, uh, have a place to stay?” “Yea, pretty much.” Flutterhy blushes again as she says, “Well, if you want... you could, uh... stay here.” Joseph smiles, almost as if he had expected the request. “I would like that, thank you. Of course you know, with all your doing for me, I am going to have to do something for you. I know you said that I don’t have to, but it will definitely make me feel better if I do.” “Um, ok.” Fluttershy responds, before another thought comes to mind. “By the way, if you don’t mind me asking, but how did you get hurt like that.” Joseph’s eyes light up with pride as he says, “Oh, nothing much. Just had a run in with a manticore.” Fluttersher eeps in surprise and disbelief. “A m-m-m-m-manticore?” “Yea, he got a lucky hit on me, but I got away.” “How did you get away?” Joseph looks hesitant at that before saying, “Uh, ran...” Fluttershy doesn't completely buy it, but decides not to pry. After all, it must have been a dreadfully terrifying experience for him. “Well, I’m glad you got away.” It is at this moment that a certain small, white rabbit makes itself known by hopping onto the arm rest of the chair. “Oh,” Fluttershy says, “hello Angel. Joseph, I’d like you to meet my most trusted companion, Angel Bunny. Angel Bunny this is Joseph Conrad.” “Hey little guy,” Joseph says with a wave. Angel merely responds by giving the human a very suspicious look before returning his attention to Fluttershy. He opens his mouth and begins pointing towards it with his paw. “Oh, are you hungry?” The rabbit nods before indicating the other little critters that live in the house, all giving Joseph a wide berth. “Oh... right, you all must be hungry. Sorry, I’ll get your food right away.” Fluttershy get's her self back in the air before turning to Joseph. “Sorry Joseph, I’ll be done in a bit.” “No problem, take your time.” Joseph says. Then he says next, “Actually, is there any way I can help, I’m pretty good with animals.” “Are... are you sure? You don’t have to, really.” “I’m sure. Remember what I said before.” “Oh... right. Well... in that case could you come with me, please.” Joseph obliges by getting off the couch and following the pegasus into the kitchen. Fluttershy gives him some feed and instructs him which bowls to fill and with which feed. Joseph was always a fast learner, and so it took no time at all to get the chore done. Joseph even made a few new animal friends in the process. One adventurous ferret hesitantly made its way to the human. Joseph knelt down and held out one of his hands towards the critter. The ferret seemed confused by the action before hesitantly bringing its muzzle closer to sniff the hand. Joseph reached the same hand out slowly to bring it over the ferret The ferret seemed to freeze in place as the hand lowered. Joseph gently brought his hand down on the ferret’s head and gave it a light scratch behind the ear. The reaction was almost immediate as the ferret leaned its head into his hand, what looked like a smile forming on its muzzle. Fluttershy, as well as the other animals, witnessed this silently. Fluttershy wished she was the one getting scratched behind the ear. Wait, what? Why was she thinking that? Fluttershy shakes her head to clear her thoughts again just to witness Joseph get seemingly tackled by a swarm of fuzzy critters. Joseph is on his back laughing as the animals crawl all over him, studying him and generally trying to understand this strange new animal within their home. Fluttershy giggles at the sight before coming to the human’s aide. “Ok, everybody. That’s enough now. Please give Joseph some room.” Some animals comply, while others hardly seem to care. However, they have little choice either way as Joseph gets to his feet, the animals scattering the moment he does so. “I’m so sorry about that,” Fluttershy says, even with a smile on her muzzle, “the animals can get so excitable at times.” “That’s quite alright, no problems here.” Joseph replies while stretching, a yawn escaping his lips. “Oh, are you feeling sleepy at all?” “Yea, kinda. Weird, huh? I was asleep not too long ago.” “Hmm,” Fluttershy says in thought, “ Maybe it’s a side affect from the spell. Hold on, I’ll get you set up with something to sleep on.” Within the span of a single minute, Fluttershy has a blanket and extra pillows set up as a makeshift sleeping bag next to the fire place. “There. It, uh, isn’t much. Sorry,” Fluttershy says. “No problem,” Joseph replies before settling himself down on the blanket, which is too small for him. Fluttershy notices this and immediately gets him a second blanket. The rest of the animals had already gone back to their little homes and holes that littered cottage walls and ceiling. Fluttershy herself is feeling a little sleepy. “Well, goodnight, Joseph.” “Goodnight Fluttershy, and thank you again.” Fluttershy nods before trotting up the stares to her own room. Joseph lays on the pillows and pulls the blankets over him. A content sigh passes his lips and before sleep takes him he thinks one thing. It definitely feels good to be alive right now.