Chapter 27
After the initial shock of learning that Twilight was some sort of keyboard playing ninja wore off we set up a schedule for practices. With only a month until the festival and all that nonsense, it was crunch time. However, considering how late in the evening it was we decided to start up early the next day, Before Twilight headed home, I gave her copies of the few songs that we actually have and then she was on her way home to tell Spike all about the good news.
With a content sigh I turned around and swooped Fluttershy up in a tight hug.
"We're finally back on track! Now we can get to work on what we need, this is awesome! Don't you think?"
"....Eep."
"Shy?"
"..."
I looked down at the mare in my arms and saw that her cheeks were turning a very flattering shade of blue.
"Oh shit!" I yelled as I quickly set her down on her hooves, panicking slightly as I straighten out her mane and check to make sure that she's breathing. "Are you okay?"
She took a few moments to cough and catch her breath before looking up at me and smiling sweetly. "Yes, I'm fine. But I think we should go to bed. We do have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow, David."
"Right! I'll see you in the morning Shy." I gave her another quick hug before I went and got ready for bed.
Knock knock knock
"...Nnnngghh..."
Knock knock knock
"Hnn... What the hell...?" Rolling over, I hear some one knock on the door again. With a groan of severe displeasure I sat up and headed towards that infuriating door.
Opening up the door I glared down at the perpetrator of the heinous deed. A very tired looking Fluttershy, adorned with a a very white robe with fluffy purple trim stood before me with a sleepy sheepish grin. Before I could say anything a pair of overly bright purple eyes filled my field of vision.
Smiling from ear to ear was Twilight Sparkle, with a keyboard strapped to her back along with her saddle bags. She was bouncing up and down excitedly in the dim light of the sun not even peaking over the horizon yet.
I continued to direct my glare at the bouncing purple pony for some time until she noticed and swiftly stopped her hopping.
"What's wrong, David? You look troubled."
*yawn* "Oh... I dunno. Probably the fact that I'm awake? What time is it anyways?"
Twilight then proceeded to pull out a pocket watch from her saddle bag and gave it a look.
"It's five thirteen, bright and early, just like you said!" I looked around in confusion as I heard a 'spuee' out of nowhere as Twilight grinned at me like a kid in a candy store.
I looked around the surrounding area before I looked back to her. "I can't see anything, Twilight. By bright and early, I didn't mean literally. I just meant like, eight or nine. You know, normal hours to wake up?"
"Oh...eh hehehe. Sorry." Twilight said with a sheepish grin as she rubbed her foreleg.
I sighed as I rubbed the back of my neck. "Well, come on in. Might as well get started now that you're here anyways."
"Okay!"
"But don't make a habit of showing up this early. Eight or nine next time please." I said with a small grin as Twilight blushed.
I went to close the door but when I turned around I saw a sleeping Fluttershy standing in my doorway. A small bit of drool creeping out the side of her lip. I smiled softly as I walked out and scooped her up delicately and set her on the couch.
While Fluttershy caught up on her not so needed beauty sleep, Twilight and I began to discuss what we were going to do with the songs. Twilight had read through all three of our songs that night and had already learned them, so now all that was left to do was practice them a few times to get the timing right, and write a couple more songs. That was the hard part for sure.
Fluttershy woke up a little after seven and decided since she slept in that she would make us all some cocoa and some pancakes. When she returned we began to lob ideas back and forth for topics and styles of our next few songs. There were many ideas thrown around about friendship and love and tolerance and all that sappy stuff. I declined all of it. I wanted to write a song that was more meaningful than that superficial stuff. Not that I had anything against all that, I just wanted to write something a little more... Personal.
We decided to write a song about my being thrown into Equestria and having to adapt and try and fit in the best I can. They were ecstatic when they heard the idea and we jumped right into the writing process.
At around one we finally took a break for lunch. I offered to make everyone some sandwiches and played some card games for a bit. It was a nice break from the work and turned out to be a lot of fun.
A few more hours passed before Twilight had to head home and check on Spike and all the chores she gave him. We said our good byes and were all ready to meet again tomorrow.
Three weeks went by with the same routine. We made steady progress and by the end of week three we had all of our songs completed. We now had five songs practiced and ready to play at the festival.
Monday came around and I woke up a little earlier than usual. I just knew today was going to be a great day. It was nice and su... Oh. Opening up the curtains revealed a heavy storm rolling through Ponyville. I could have sworn I saw a cow knitting, fly by my window, but I just chalked it up to tiredness.
I walked down stairs and made myself a cup of tea as I waited for Fluttershy and Twilight to show up for practice. When someone finally knocked on the door I happily got up and answered it to reveal Twilight. I let her in and looked around before closing the door and following her inside.
"Do you know where Fluttershy is?" I asked with a little bit of concern in my voice.
"I though she was already here."
Before I could reply there was a knocking on the door. With a sigh of relief I went and answered it. My face paled a little as I saw Fluttershy, usually so pristine, with a frazzled mane and a runny nose. Her eyes were puffy and red and she just looked... Ill.
"Fluttershy? Are... are you okay?"
"Oh yeah. sniff Just fine, why do you ask?"
"Uh... no reason. Come on in."
We tried to get some practicing done but between all of the sniffling and the sneezing and the coughing it was really hard to do anything at all.
When we finally took a break for lunch Fluttershy was sniffling every few seconds and sneezing just as much. I was starting to panic, really. There was just no way this could be good.
Instead of practicing again after lunch, we decided to try some cold remedies. They started out normal. Noodle soup, steam. The usual remedies. But when none of those worked, we took more extreme measures. I had heard that putting on cold wet socks helps. So I ran upstairs and grabbed a pair of my socks and ran them under the tap and put them on her hooves. An hour later and still no results. Next I had her chew on a raw onion. Still nothing.
After many failed attempts I sent her home for some rest and we'd see how she felt in a day or two.
Three days later
I woke up in the morning and decided to head over to Fluttershy's cottage and check on her. I knocked on the door and waited for a bit. When she didn't answer I just let myself in with the key I still had and headed to her room.
Tissues. Tissues everywhere. I couldn't even see her bed there was so much snotty paper in the room. Wading my way through the trash lake, I made my way to her bed where I found a sniffly, sneezing, wheezing Fluttershy half awake on the bed.
"Oh no... What are we gunna do?"