//------------------------------// // I Got You (Slice of Life) // Story: Varia Visive // by journcy //------------------------------// Prompt #502: "The Moon, Ever-Changing" "The four phases of the moon." Pinkie trotted out of Sugarcube Corner, into the heavy air of a midsummer night. The weather pegasi of Ponyville were building up for a big storm, she could tell. On any other night she might need a lantern as she trotted off into the dark, but not on this night. Not for where she was going. And in any case… Pinkie did not need to look up to know the moon was full. The clip-clop of her hooves on the cobblestone path leading to Fluttershy’s house was the only sound Pinkie could hear, though she knew that she wasn’t the only thing up this late. As she neared the cottage, her hooves were joined the soft trickle of the stream below her. A branch snapped somewhere. Pinkie knocked on the door. She heard it’s bolt sliding out of its nighttime roost; then, the creak of the hinges as Fluttershy swung the whole thing open. Pinkie looked up from where she had been staring (a crack in the stones, nothing more), her eyes meeting Fluttershy’s. Pinkie walked in. The door shut behind her, and the bolt returned to comfort. "Hey there, Flutters," Pinkie said, her voice quiet, but her tone no less peppy than usual. Fluttershy smiled at her. "Hello, Pinkie. Thank you," Fluttershy said, sounding maybe just a tiny bit pained. "I would never dream of being anywhere but here," Pinkie responded. The two walked away from the door. The night drew long. + + + It was that time of the month again. Pinkie did not need to look up to know the moon was full. Letting Pinkie in, Fluttershy said, “I wonder if anypony has ever noticed you coming out here.” "Maybe," Pinkie said. "But it doesn’t matter. I’m here for you, and you know that anypony else would be too. Especially our friends." Fluttershy frowned. “You know I don’t want them to know. They wouldn’t understand…” Pinkie turned Fluttershy to face her. “Oh, yes they would, Fluttershy! Our friends are the most understanderiffic friends ever! You’ll see that, eventually.” "I’m not so sure, Pinkie," Fluttershy responded. Pinkie bopped her on the nose, and the two turned to walk into the living room. The night drew long. + + + Pinkie did not need to look up to know the moon was full. She and Fluttershy sat across from each other, sinking into their respective chairs. Fluttershy had such wonderful chairs, Pinkie mused. It was a shame she didn’t have many ponies to sit in them. "Anything else you wanna talk about, Flutters?" Pinkie said. "No.. I— I think that’s it. Thank you for listening, Pinkie," Fluttershy said, her face scrunching up with embarrassment. "Aww, don’t worry about it! What am I here for? To make sure you’re safe," Pinkie said. She got up and trotted over to Fluttershy, giving her a big hug. "You’re keeping more than just me safe," Fluttershy mumbled. "Don’t worry about that either," Pinkie said. "That’s another thing I’m sure about. You’d never hurt anypony. No matter what." "I wish that were true, Pinkie," Fluttershy said. "It is true. You can count on it," Pinkie responded. They got up, walking towards the stairs. It was late, later even than usual. The night grew long. + + + Pinkie did not need to look up to know the moon was full. "Shh… Shh, Fluttershy, it’s okay…" Pinkie whispered. Fluttershy lay beside her, both of them snuggled into the voluminous covers of Fluttershy’s bed. “No, Pinkie! No it’s not! It’s not okay! It’s never okay! The only reason it’s anything even like okay is that—” "I’m here. Shhh, don’t worry, Fluttershy, you can count on me…" Pinkie hugged her closer. "No! No! You don’t deserve this! Nopony deserves this! Nopony deserves to have to deal with me!" Fluttershy shrieked. A growl caught in her throat. Pinkie stroked Fluttershy’s mane. “Shh…” she cooed. [Time.] "Shh… Don’t worry… You’re safe, I’m safe, we’re all safe…" Fluttershy simply screamed, and Pinkie heard maybe just a tiny hint of… “‘I’m here, don’t worry, it’s okay, it’s okay…” Of wolf. "I’ll try, Pinkie, I’ll try…" Fluttershy responded, sobbing. The two would not move until morning. The night grew long.