//------------------------------// // Twi gets a pet // Story: Twilight's Pet Tentacle // by Michael Hudson //------------------------------// “Fluttershy?” Twilight peered into the small cottage and frowned. “I got your message.” A soft voice could be heard upstairs. “I’m in my room.” Twilight slowly made her way up the stairs. She knew she wasn’t actually sore, but boredom with her duties as a princess had made her almost constantly tired. Fluttershy did say I might like what she had found, so at least I have something to look forward to. A yawn escaped her mouth as she walked into the room. Fluttershy beckoned her over and pointed to the small hammock she had setup. Within was a wounded starfish. “That’s it?” “What?” “When you said you had an interesting creature for me to see, I expected something a little more than what I can find at the beach.” Fluttershy looked back at the creature and furiously shook her head. “Trust me, this is not a normal starfish, if of that family at all. It has too small of a base and.’ She peeled away one of the tentacles which caused the thing to let out a small squeal as the bandaged tentacle was moved. “Starfish don’t have a round base like this.” She stepped out of the way and held her breath as she waited for Twilight’s response. “You’re right. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen something like this in my nature books.” She turned her head as Fluttershy breathed a sigh of relief. “What?” “Oh! Nothing, I promise. But… are you sure? I don’t really know how to take care of it as it isn’t like anything I’ve seen before.” She crossed her forelegs and looked down at it. “I thought you might.” Twilight bit into her cheek and then glanced at the beast as well. It was something new, something not even Fluttershy knew about. A long dormant part of her started to bubble and she smiled wide. “I could always examine it. Figure out how it ticks and how to take care of it.” Fluttershy saw the grin and covered the hammock with her body. “Twilight, I am not allowing you to experiment on it.” She scowled. “It isn’t like I was going to dissect it. I would just keep it in a cage and see how it reacts to different types of food and such. Maybe even raise it to see how it…” She stopped talking as her friend glared at her. “No. If you want to raise it and evaluate it, that is fine. However, I have to know you won't harm it in the process. I've heard of what can happen to animals during testing, the dissecting, the torture, the...” Fluttershy became silent as she got lost in thought and fear. Twilight closed her mouth and looked to her hooves. “I… I didn’t mean it like that.” Fluttershy took a step forward. “Then how did you mean it?” She took a step back as she noted the anger in her voice. “I’m sorry Twilight. I didn’t mean to get rude.” The princess glanced away before sitting on her hindquarters. “No, no you’re right. That is all I was thinking about. If you give me a chance though, I would like to study it and check to make sure I have no records of it. That way I can make sure it is no danger to anypony and keep a record for future generations.” She bit into her lip as the fact that it still sounded like an experiment dawned on her. “And I will do it as a diary, not a journal.” Fluttershy sucked her lips back and frowned. “I don’t know Twilight. I know how busy you are and if Owliscious wasn’t so self sufficient or Spike wasn’t able to cook for himself…” It was now her turn to stop because of the glare. “I promise to take care of it.” Twilight sighed and put her hoof to her head. “Look, I think I need this. Something to actually take care of and do could help me forget about my paperwork and such and let me be happy again. Please.” Fluttershy thought back to all of the times she had seen Twilight as of late moping around town as she got chores and errands done. It had been a little pitiful. “You promise to take care of it.” “Cross my heart and hope to fly.” Fluttershy pushed the basket over to Twilight and nodded. “Its bandage will need redressing every twelve hours until the cut is healed. I don’t know how long that will take, so check often.” Twilight nodded and levitated the basket into the air. “Thank you Fluttershy. If I need anything, I’ll make sure to come to you.” “Good luck Twilight.”