//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: Mother 2.5 
// by The Infinity Doctor 
//------------------------------//

	Ness glanced between the cream-colored pegasus, her jaw agape, and Aurora- still washing himself without a care in the world. 

"Uh...Aurora?" Ness questioned. 

"Sir Ness?" Aurora replied, his broad back still facing both the Pegasus and himself.

The way the pegasus' wings were extended, he figured it must've been either surprised or preparing to charge the alicorn. Ness tried once more to catch Aurora's attention, and failed to do so. The pegasus, her wings now back around her sides, softly trotted past Ness, towards Aurora.

"Ehhm, um...sir?" the pegasus questioned quietly, a blush spread across her face "That's um...sort of...public indecency..."

"Nonsense, quiet one! Where else is such a fine place to bathe?" 

"...anywhere but in my front yard?" 

Aurora howled with laughter, forcing the pegasus to skid back a couple of feet.

"Thou art quite funny, quiet one! What is thy name?" 

"It's...um...Fluttershy"

"Happy to make thy aquaintance, Fluttershy!"

"uhm...you too...I guess..."

"Aurora...I think we should be going..." Ness suggested, after watching the exchange. 

"But We have not yet finished washing between our wings, Sir Ness!"

Fluttershy blushed harder, and cleared her throat.

"Well...um...I'm sure you can do that later on...but...um...I really must be going...and...I'd really rather you not bathe in my pond...so...um...sorry..."

Ness stared at Fluttershy, amazed that the little pony could somehow sound so demanding and meek at the same time. The pony gave the two a wide berth as she walked around the pond, trotting towards town. 

"Er, yeah- we should...really be going..." Ness agreed, then motioned for Aurora to step out of the pond. 

Aurora pouted, but slowly rose out of the water, flicking his tail of excess water. 

"Aww, don't be like that." Ness chuckled, the alicorn still pouting. 

"We will pout if We so wish." the alicorn stated grumpily.

Ness laughed some more as they resumed their walk, Aurora soon joining in. 

Ahead of them, a rustic farm sat, and an orange pony in a stetson, hammering in a fence post. 

"Maybe this one knows somewhere we can stay." Ness suggested, as they neared her.