//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: The Traveller // by Phxntxm //------------------------------// “Fiiine...what'd I do wrong this time?” I whined as I wanted to move along so I get to meet the mare everypony was trying their to keep me away from. “You're just insufferable sometimes! I get you're trying to be funny but just...every now and then tone it down and be a little calmer, that's all I'm asking.” My ears had flattened out halfway through what she was saying and I responded quietly, “I'm just trying to have some fun Twilight, I don't get why you keep freaking out on me like this. You know I don't mean anything bad by it.” She sighed and shook her head, “I know you don't but you're just really good at getting on my nerves and it's hard to handle it. I know you don't like at how we refer to Pinkie Pie as our annoying friend, but that's what you keep reminding me of.” As soon as she said it her hoof flew to her mouth and she glanced up at me when my whole body sagged a bit more. She gasped as she tried to correct herself, “Gah! That's not what I meant! I just meant that it's like we can only take Pinkie in small doses. No, no, no that doesn't sound better either! I just...what I'm trying to say is although you get on my nerves, you're still a friend and I don't want that to change.” I responded with my ears still flattened and looking down dejectedly, “I understand Twilight, I act like a little foal because that's pretty much what I am. I missed the part of my life when I was a foal so I haven't really grown up from that. I'm sorry that I annoy you, I'll try to do better.” I heard her whisper to herself, “Oh Celestia I really need to pay attention to what I say sometimes...” She looked back up to me before speaking normally, “Phantom I'm sorry I don't always say what I'm thinking sometimes...it just...comes out wrong. What I was TRYING to get at was that we're going to see Fluttershy next, she's very...shy and gets spooked easily. I think it would just be best if you try to tone it down for her at least. Please.” “Oh come on Twi, it can't be that bad.” I responded. She looked at me with an eyebrow raised and said, “She's scared of her own shadow. Literally.” I blinked a couple times while that processed. “Oh, well I'll try to remain calm when we meet her then.” Twilight then smiled and began walking again and I followed her again. Pretty soon we ended up on the opposite side of the town of Applejack's farm, which made me think that Twilight actually had things planned perfectly out to go in a line through town...skipping over Pinkie Pie of course. I assume, who knows, maybe the mare lives in the forest, it wouldn't really surprise me. Wait if she had it planned out, and she said we were going to Rainbow Dash's next...and then within a minute Rainbow had showed up before we had gone to find her. I gasped out loud before narrowing my eyes and growling out, “She kneeewww..” Twilight stopped and turned to look at me with an inquisitive look on her face. “What? Who knew?” I turned my head to look at her and tapped my chin with my hoof, “I dunno I forgot.” I shrugged and continued walking as she facehoofed before speaking. “How did you forget what you were just thinking, it was literally 5 seconds ago!” “I don't know, I got distracted by how pretty you are I guess.” The sound she made made it seem like she choked on something before squeaking out her response, “I'm what?!” This time I was the one to look at her questioningly, “You're pretty? If you haven't noticed I speak my mind and I think you are an attractive mare.” While I spoke I watched her face go from red to crimson, and she spoke very quietly when she responded “Oh, well, uhm, thank you.” She paused for a moment while she looked down quietly before glaring back up at me, “Wait! You called pretty much all of my friends hot! Are you just trying to flirt with every mare you can?” Her glare intensified as she finished. I stopped and looked at her feeling a bit hurt that she thought that, “No I'm not Twi! I said Rainbow was cute just to annoy you, I didn't say anything about Applejack. Also, Rarity was more of a fact than anything, it's not like I'm attracted to her or anything, it was just the first thing that came to mind. Which I know now wasn't really the best thing to say. I wasn't trying to flirt with her and with Rainbow it was all just to mess with you.” She watched me for a bit as if she was trying to figure out whether I was lying or not. “Okay I trust you, either way we're here now.” She pointed a hoof at the cottage that we were near and we began walking towards it again. “Just remember to try to be a little calm when you meet her please.” I rolled my eyes, “I know I know Twilight, I'll behave I promise.” She nodded and we took the last steps up to the door and she knocked on it softly three times and before long the door opened to reveal a soft yellow pegasus with an softer voice, “Oh, hi Twilight it's good to see you.” She glanced over at me and immediately squeaked and hid behind her mane with just a little bit of one eye peeking out, “A-and you brought c-company.” “Hi Fluttershy,” I said softly, “I'm here because I'm new in town and Twilight took it upon herself to make sure I get friends while I'm here, so she's taking me to meet all her friends throughout the town.” I smiled at her and out of the corner of my eye noticed Twilight smile at me too, she actually seemed satisfied with me for once! Mission accomplished! Fluttershy in response lifted her head a little bit, showing a bit more of her face as she stopped hiding behind her mane, “Yeah Twilight is really big on friendship, I'm not surprised she's showing you around making sure you meet everyone. I am surprised that Pinkie Pie isn't doing that though.” She glanced inquisitively at Twilight as she said that. “I'm keeping him away from Pinkie until last, they're way too similar and I'm prolonging that as much as I can.” Fluttershy glanced back at me curiously, apparently not seeing the similarity but deciding not to argue. From what I'd learned from the short time I'd known this mare, I doubt the concept of arguing even existed in her mind. She looked back at Twilight to talk to her again, “Couldn't you have done that first to get that out of the way then?” Twilight blanched a little before responding, “Well, I suppose that might have been the smarter thing to do. But oh well, it's done now, she's next so it doesn't really matter anymore. Anyway, this is Phantom, like he said he's new in town and he doesn't have a place to stay so I told him he could stay with me. He also didn't really have friends before he came here which is why I'm making him meet all my friends like he already said.” Fluttershy nodded along and smiled when Twilight finished, “That makes sense, well I hope you enjoy your stay here in Ponyville Phantom, everypony here is really friendly so it shouldn't be a problem making friends here.” I smiled over at Twilight when I responded, “Yeah I've been shown that already, I'm really glad I came here.” My response made her beam proudly back. I looked back at Fluttershy and gave a polite bow, “Well thank you for taking this time to talk to me but I believe it's time to go meet Pinkie Pie.” When I said that I grinned over at Twilight who gave a little groan in response. “I'll see you later Fluttershy.” Fluttershy smiled and waved as we began to walk away and I gave a small wave goodbye in return. I looked over at Twilight and said the words that she'd been dreading this entire time, “Can we go meet Pinkie Pie now?!” She rolled her eyes and said, “I guess we have to now...Celestia help us all.” I just laughed at her antics and gave her a small nuzzle on her neck in response, “Come on, you know you don't actually resent the idea that much.” She blushed again and swatted my muzzle away from her before shouting out, “Stop it! No flirting allowed.” “But you look so cute when you're embarrassed!” She just looked straight ahead and pouted, “No I don't.” I just snickered and trotted along beside her following her to wherever Pinkie Pie lived, and I could swear out of the corner of my eye her pout turned into a smile after a little bit.