//------------------------------// // Farewell.......Maybe // Story: Swapped Sides // by JetWave Wavewind //------------------------------// The path from Fluttershy's cottage to town took me by the Whooves' cabin so I thought I would pay them a visit. When I knocked at the door I was not greeted by Turner nor Derpy as I was expecting, I was greeted by Dinky. "Hey Jack, what's up?" She asked as she opened the door. "Nothing much, just passing by on my way to see Twilight and thought I'd say hi." I said, looking around as I tried to figure out how to phrase my next question. "Are.. You old enough to be home alone?" "Huh? Home alo.. Oh! I'm not alone, my big sister's here!" "Big sister?" As I asked this, I heard a voice from inside asking who was at the door followed by a loud crash that caused both me and Dinky to flinch. "Eheheheh.... She's a little clumsy." She said as a pink unicorn with glasses and a purple mane walked up behind her. ...And then fell on her face. She got up and rubbed the back of her neck with a sheepish grin. "Hi there, I'm-" "This is my big sister, Sparkler!" Dinky cut-in with a jump that almost caused Sparkler to fall back on her flank. "Yeah, I'm Sparkler," She said, Grabbing Dinky up. "And this is Dinky!" she said as she gave her a noogie. "He already knows who I am sis!" Dinky said from under her sisters hoof. "Heheh, well it was nice to meet you Sparkler. Tell your Mother I said hi and thanks for letting me stay here." I said as I started walking off. "Will do! But didn't our dad fill you in on the basics of Equestria?" Sparkler asked. "Turner?" I asked as I looked back to see Dinky was trying to tell her to shut up non-verbally. "Yeah!" She almost yelled, even though I was still only a welcome mat away. "It's really complicated." Dinky said flatly. "Don't you have to be somewhere?" She said before I could ask anything else and making me remmeber what I was doing. "Oh Yeah! Thanks Dinky!" I said as I ran off towards town. "Bye girls!" I yelled back. They waved back at me and went back inside. I cringed as I heard another crash come from inside as soon as they had closed the door. Not very long after my own visit, there was another, softer knock at the door of the Whooves cabin. After a bit of running, and a short detour when Lyra pulled me over to have lunch with her and her best friend Bon-Bon; I was standing outside the library. "Just a second!" A young boys voice called as I knocked. It swung open to reveal a very sleepy looking dragon. "Hey Jack, come on in." He yawned, beconing me inside. It looked really different when it wasn't decorated for a big "Welcome to Ponyville" party. There were still streamers and baloons here and there, but the majority of it had been cleaned up. "Thanks Spike." I said as I walked in. "Some party last night huh? I'm surprised you're even up seeing as how that was your first Pinkie Pie Party." He yawned again, a little louder. I chuckled at this "I left early." "You left your own party early? wierd." "I'm not much of a crowd person." Spike only shrugged at this. "Is Twilight here?" I asked. "You just missed her! She steped out with Time Turner and Derpy to go help them with somthing they were having trouble with." He explained. "You're welcome to stay and wait for them to get back if you want, there's plenty to read." He said, guesturing to pretty much the entire main room. "As tempting as that sounds, I'm gonna have to pass. Besides, if it's what I think it is, I think I might finally be going home." I said, leaving the confused dragon to tend to his duties of cleaning up the library. Not long after I left the library, there was another knock on its door. "I'm Coming!" When I got to the lake, I found my susspecions to be correct when I saw Turner, Twilight, and Derpy sitting on the shore next to what looked like a police callbox. "Hey guys!" I called out. I got a simutanious "shhh!!" From him and Derpy. As I got closer I could tell that Twilight was wearing an ornate tiara that was glowing faintly with her horn and her eyes were glowing with a white light. I asked Derpy what was going on as I sat down by her. "She's trying to find the string that will open a portal to get you home." She explained. "We found it in the T.A.R.D.I.S. here, but I don't think that a police box materializing on your front lawn and you steping out of it would be good for your neighbors sanaties." Turner finished up, just as a hole began to appear on the surface of the lake undernieth JetWave's house. "Ah, that would be it right out there." He said as he pointed to the hole with a hoof. "Awesome! But, how am I gonna get out there?" I asked as I gazed out to it. "Hmm, good question. Twilight has to keep all of her focus on the portal so it stays open." Turner said. "And I, uh.. tend to end up droping heavy loads I carry." Derpy admitted sheepishly. After she had pointed that out, we all heard a small squeak from somewhere. "Did you guys hear somthing?" Turner asked, looking around. "I said, I'll do it." A small voice sounded from behind us. We all turned, except for Twilight; to see Fluttershy standing behind us, face hardend. "Well that solves that problem. Go ahead and take him out there! I'm not sure how long Twilight will be able to hold the portal open." Turner said. I held my arms out as she picked me up and flew me out to the hole. "Thank you for doing this." I said as I looked up at her. "N-no problem." She said, voice cracking. When we were hovering above the hole I thanked her again as I closed my eyes and let go to return home. Which is why I was confused when I didn't fall. I opened me eyes to see to see that Fluttershy hadn't let go and her face was contorted to keep back tears that were leaking out anyway. "Whats wrong?" I asked, trying to look into her eyes. "T-this, this is wrong...." She managed to choke out between sobs. "I.. I.... I don't want to lose you!" She finally screamed as she held onto me tighter, tears flowing free as she burried her face in my neck. I was just there, trying to figure out what I should say and after a minute of thinking, I realized that words wern't going to work and just held her, trying not to interfere with her wings. After awhile of just silence, save for the occasional snort from Fluttershy; she spoke up again. "Will.. Will you, st-st-stay here.... With me?.... Please.." She asked as she looked into my eyes emploringly, fresh tears begining to well up in her own. I could swear they could hear my heart break all the way back on shore. I took a deep breath and sighed. "I'm sorry, as much as I would like to, I just can't..." I said, feeling tears begining to pool in my eyes. "Th-then.. Then I'm going with you!" She screamed as she stopped flapping her wings and we started to fall, new tears flowing all the while. "What are they doing out there?" Turner asked no one in particular. He had been watching Fluttershy just hover out there above the hole with Jack for the past half hour. "I dunno," Derpy said as she whipped the sweat from Twilight's brow. "How come you never keep your eyes on me like how you're doing with them?" She asked. "Ditzy Doo Hooves, are you... jealous?" He joked. "Wha?! Me?! Jealous?! Pfht! Yeah right! I mean, seriously! Why would I be jealous??" She said, face turning as pink as the streak in Twilight's mane. Turner chuckled as he walked over and nuzzled his companion's cheek, turning it from pink to crimson. Twilights eyes returned to normal and saw a pegasus holding Jack out above the hole, then noticed that Derpy was still sitting next to her. "Who's holding Jack out above the the hole and why haven't they let go yet?" She asked. "Fluttershy is. I didn't want to risk dropping him into the lake and you have to keep the portal open." Derpy answered her, whipping away more sweat that had accumulated on her forehead. "Fluttershy?! I guess that explains that then." She said, causing Turners ears to perk up from their semi relaxed position. "Explains what exactly?" He asked. "Last night at the party, I noticed Fluttershy trying to work up the nerve to talk to him but not being able to. I told her to wait until he was alone and she followed him outside and fell asleep in his arms according to Rainbow Dash. I wouldn't be surprised if-" She was cut off by Turner's sonic flashing red and yellow and beeping at him. "Hold on a moment." He said as he ran into the T.A.R.D.I.S. for a brief moment. "Close the portal!!!" He yelled as he ran back out, all too late. The portal was closed and Jack and Fluttershy were no where to be seen. "Uh oh..."