//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: New friends // Story: A fluttercord story // by Koya mai //------------------------------// Fluttershy woke up and shook her head, she had a flashback about her mother and father screaming in her dreams. She started tearing up at the memory of her beloved home, she missed her bed, her parents and her bunny. Fluttershy looked outside, the sun wasn't up yet and she was really hungry. Carefully she tiptoed to the door and held her head against it and waited for a sound, after a few minutes Fluttershy opened the door a small bit and checked down each corridor to see if anypony was coming. When no one came she stepped out of the room and quietly shutted the door. An hour had past and she still hadn't found the kitchen, she looked around and admired how everything was colourful, like the garden back home. Fluttershy shook the thought away for she felt like she was about to cry. Fluttershy was about to give up and turn around but she noticed a door that had a sign saying: Kitchen “Finally!” Fluttershy sighed “I hope there's some salad.” Fluttershy stepped in and closed the door and gasped. The kitchen was huge and so clean and next to the kitchen was a long table and a beautiful chandelier with diamonds and candles on it. “For a scary castle this room is so beautiful!” “Hello! Are you alright?” A voice spoke Fluttershy turned around and gasped, behind her was a small colt. Smaller than the average colt actually. “My name is Pipsqueak, but you can call me Chip.” The colt spoke again “Uh, um. My name’s Fluttershy. Are you here alone?” Fluttershy asked whilst looking to see if there were others. Suddenly a zebra appeared panting and sweating. She was wearing gold rings around her neck, ears and left front hoof, and her hair was sticking upwards as expected. (Because she’s a zebra) “Chip! Where have you been!? I’ve looked everywhere!’ The zebra looked up and looked at the mare and asked. “Who are you?” Zecora asked suspiciously "Are you here to spy? Because if you are, we will be sure to make you cry!" Zecora threatened "I, I'm sorry I was just so hungry and I didn't mean to trespass!" Fluttershy grew small as she started to take steps back trying to stay away from the zebra who glared down at the now crying pegasus. "Mother! Stop!" Shouted the small colt. "She's the prisoner Discord brought back!" Zecora looked down at Fluttershy and smiled softly. "I am so sorry my dear, I didn't mean to strike fear. I was just defending my son, for he is my only one." Zecora apologized and held out her hoof which Fluttershy took smiling and wiping away the tears. "My names Zecora by the way, what is yours?" Zecora asked "My name is Fluttershy, you have a very nice son Zecora." Chip smiled and bowed slightly. "Thank you miss, I do try!" Chip laughed Zecora and Fluttershy smiled and laughed with him as Zecora hugged her child. After the laughter ended Fluttershy's stomach began to growl and Fluttershy blushed. Zecora smiled and chuckled a little. "Are you hungry dear?" Zecora asked Fluttershy, who only responded with a nod. "Well best get that belly fed, Chip, could you go and get everypony over here. Other than the master of course." Chip saluted and ran out of the room ringing a little bell. Fluttershy watched as Chip knocked on several doors and rang the bell groans and moans coming from each room, pony's coming out looking extremely tired and really annoyed. "What's going on Chip? Why did you wake us up?!" Asked a mare. She was a pink earth pony with purple hair and purple eyes and a cupcake as a cutie mark. "There's a mare waiting in the kitchen and she's very hungry! " explained Chip "I was hoping we all could make her something." Everypony was shocked at his word as they all stared at the yellow pegasus. "Then why didn't you say so! We have a guest everypony!" Shouted Derpy. Everypony cheered as they started galloping towards the kitchen with Chip on top of everyone and bouncing around surprised at everyone's sudden behavior. Fluttershy gasped as a sudden sea of pony's crashed inside and started huddling around her all trying to introduce themselves at once! "Hi!My-name's-Minuette!And-I'm-a-chef!" "Hey!-My-name-is-Applebloom!Head-of-the-CMC!!" "Hello!-My-name's-Party-Favor-and-I'm-the-head-of-the-party-planners!" "Hello, my names Maud Pie. I like to collect rocks." Fluttershy started to get dizzy as she was inside a circle of pony's screaming out their names and what they do, it was starting to make her feel very nauseous and they kept on spinning and spinning around her like a rollercoaster that won't stop. Zecora saw Fluttershy and decided that was- "Enough! All of you! You'll make the poor girl sick with all your squabbling. Really I expected better from you all." Zecora glared at the pony's and pointed them to go to the kitchen. All obeyed and ran off. "Are you alright dear? I swear they meant no harm, they were all just excited to meet you and greet you here." Zecora said lifting her up and hugging her. "Yes, thank you Zecora I'm alright. I'm just not used to so many ponys crowding around me like that." Fluttershy said. "But I think I'll be ok." Zecora smiled and lead Fluttershy into the dining area. Once they got in Zecora sat Fluttershy down and walked in the kitchen. "Ok, everyone. We have to make a good impression after all that trouble. Let's try to make the fun double!" Zecora announced. The pony's all nodded and smiled as they were conjuring up a plan. Fluttershy sat there patiently waiting for a waiter or someone to ask her what she'd like. She was actually quite surprised at their behavior earlier, she thought they all might shout and be really angry that a stranger was here. But she was wrong. They were quite friendly. Other than making her dizzy and all, she was excited to make some new friends. Suddenly the lights went out and and single light was on pointing to the floor. Then a stallion came out and smiled as he started singing: "Be our guest! Be our guest! Put our service to the test Tie a napkin round your neck, cherie And we provide the rest Soup du jour! Hot hors d'oeuvres! Why, we only live to serve Try the grey stuff, it's delicious Don't believe me? Ask the chefs! They can sing, they can dance! After all miss this is Prance! And our dinner here is never second best Go on, unfold your menu Take a glance, and then you'll Be our guest Oui, be our guest! Be our guest" Zecora comes in: "It's a guest, it's a guest Sakes alive, well I'll been blessed Wines been pouring and thank the Lord I've had the napkins freshly pressed With dessert, she'll want tea And my dear that's fine with me While the cups get washed and cleaned I'll be bubbling! I'll be brewing! I'll get warn, piping hot! Celestia sakes is that a spot? Clean it up, we'll want the company impressed!" Applebloom comes in: "We've got a lot to do" Zecora: "Is it one lump or two For you, our guest" All ponies come in: "She's our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest! Stallion comes in again: "Life is so unnerving For a servant who's not serving He's not whole without a soul to wait upon Ah, the good old days when we were useful Suddenly, those good old days are gone Ten years, we've been rusting Needing so much more than dusting Needing exercise-a change to use our skill! Most days we lay around the castle Flabby, fat and lazy You walked in and ups-a-daisy!" All ponies: "Be our guest! Be our guest! Our command is your request It's ten years since we've had anypony here And we're obsessed With your meal, with your ease Yes, indeed, we aim to please While the candlelight's still glowing Let us help you, we'll keep going!" The lead stallion steps in front of everyone and sings all together: Course by course, one by one! Till you shout, "Enough, I'm done!" Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest Tonight you'll prop your hoofs up! But for now, let's eat up! Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest! Please be our guest!