Chapter 2
The next day in the park, Fluttershy and her friends were waiting for Dream Catcher to arrive. Sitting or standing near a picnic table, wondering what was keeping Dream Catcher.
"What's taking her so long?" complained Rainbow Dash. The cyan and rainbow-maned pegasus was getting restless from all the waiting. Rarity adjusted her pink and stylish sun hat, angling it so that the sun would stay out of her eyes.
"I have to agree with Rainbow Dash." she said. "Where could she be?"
"I'm sure she's coming as quickly as she can." said Fluttershy.
"I'm glad that you made a new friend." said Twilight Sparkle, "I can't wait to meet her." Twilight was not only an alicorn, but the Princess of Friendship. As princess, it was her role to help spread friendship throughout Equestria, along with her friends.
"And I hope that nothing, unexpected happens that could ruin it," she said shooting a look at Discord.
"What?" Discord asked innocently, a halo appearing over his horns. Twilight rolled her eyes at the gesture. She knew first hoof how Discord could get under a pony's skin (he'd done it to her more times than she'd like), and she'd make sure that Fluttershy's new friend wouldn't find out either. She'd keep a close eye on the Draconequus, to see that he behaved himself.
"Here she comes now!" said Fluttershy, she waved to Dream Catcher as she approached. Once she got to the picnic table, Fluttershy introduced them.
"Everypony, this is Dream Catcher. Dream Catcher, these are my friends Twilight Sparkle,Discord, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie. There's also Spike, he's a baby dragon, but he's busy today and couldn't make it." The ponies greeted Dream Catcher while Discord kept quiet.
"It's nice to meet you."
"It's about time you got here."
"Howdy there."
"It's a pleasure, darling."
"Hey there!" Dream Catcher looked shyly down at the ground, kicking up some loose dirt on the ground.
"H-hello." she mumbled. An awkward silence passed before Twilight said, "Now that we've finally met you, why don't you join us? We're going out to lunch, and I think it'd be an excellent chance to get to know one another."
"Sounds, okay I guess." Dream Catcher said, not looking up at Twilight.
"Finally!" Rainbow Dash cried with relief. "Let's get a move on then." Rainbow Dash took to the air, and began to speed off to the restaurant.
"Hey, wait up!" shouted Applejack, galloping after her. The rest of them, walked, Twilight took this opportunity to further talk with Dream Catcher. She walked up to the pony's side and tried to begin a casual conversation.
"So, are you new here to Ponyville?" she asked. Dream Catcher continued to look away.
"Yes." she said quietly.
"Well if there's anything you need or any questions you have, you can always stop by and ask me. It's not hard to miss my home, what with being the only castle in Ponyville." Twilight laughed nervously. For a split second, Twilight could've sworn that Dream Catcher had shot her a glare when she replied.
"I don't need your help, I'm fine on my own." Dream Catcher trotted ahead, staying close to Fluttershy's side. Twilight decided that it was just a figment of her imagination, and continued on.
Everypony sat down at the open air restaurant table, choosing what to order off the menu.
"So many choices," Rarity remarked.
"That just shows that there's so many yummilicous things to eat." said Pinkie Pie with her usual, over enthusiasm.
"I think I'll just have a daisy sandwich." said Twilight.
"What about you Dream Catcher?" Fluttershy asked. Dream Catcher seemed to brighten up a bit when Fluttershy talked to her.
"I think I'll let the chef surprise me." she said. Indeed, it was interesting how she seemed more confident around Fluttershy, but more awkward around the rest of them. 'Maybe she doesn't do well in groups.' Twilight thought to herself, looking across the table at the pony. When they placed in their orders, the girls (and Discord who was mostly giving Dream Catcher the cold shoulder) were talking about themselves. Telling stories about some of their experiences in Ponyville.
"And then Twilight went all crazy and put a love spell on this old doll of her." said Pinkie recounting a story.
"Pinkie!" Twilight cried in embarrassment. "Don't tell her that, it's embarrassing enough." The princess' cheeks turned a slight shade of red.
"Oops. Sorry Twilight, but you gotta admit, it's a pretty crazy story." Pinkie laughed.
"You've had your share of crazy stories Pinkie," said Rainbow. "Like the Pinkamina incident."
"Hey!" Pinkie Pie cried out in defense. The girls laughed. Except for two, Dream Catcher and Discord. Nopony noticed how they'd both shoot each other what looked like death glares when they thought the other wasn't looking.
"Discord, why don't you tell one of your stories?" asked Fluttershy gently. "After all," she giggled, "they're so funny!" Discord smiled at Fluttershy.
"As you wish, my dear." he said. Discord entranced the girls with one of his hilarious stories, making them laugh, especially Pinkie Pie who laughed till her sides hurt. He also used his magic to further illustrate his story, by transforming himself or conjuring examples of the events that happened. Yet still Dream Catcher remained silent, not joining in the full with the rest of them. When Discord finished, Applejack looked over to Dream Catcher and asked, "Would you like to tell us about yourself?" Dream Catcher fiddled with the ends of her mane, still not meeting any of their faces.
"Alright, I suppose." said Dream Catcher. "I live a little ways from Ponyville, not a lot happens back home."
"What about your friends, dear?" asked Rarity.
"I...don't really have any friends." she said glumly. "I had one, but she...had to go, and has made new friends. I don't have anypony." Fluttershy felt a twinge of sadness inside her, and took Dream Catcher's hoof.
"Now you do." said Fluttershy. "We can be your friends." Dream Catcher's eyes stayed on Fluttershy, they were filled with happiness as Fluttershy said she'd be her friend. Not acknowledging the other ponies there who nodded and chattered in agreement. Discord took note of this, wondering just what kind of pony Dream Catcher really was.
"You poor dear." said Rarity. "I can't imagine having no friends." Twilight tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"This could be a good lesson on friendship, I'll have to stop by that village sometime." she said to herself, seeing the potential to help other ponies. Dream Catcher turned her attention to Fluttershy, and stayed there for the duration of the meal, to two conversing and laughing.
"You actually confronted a dragon?" Dream Catcher asked in awe. Fluttershy smiled embarrassed. "It wasn't anything special really, I was just helping my friends."
"Ah, she's just being modest." said Applejack. Rainbow nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, she's handled all sorts of creatures." Pinkie Pie jumped into the conversation, listing the creatures Fluttershy had handled.
"There was also the three-headed dog Cerberus, a Cockatrice, those vampire fruit bats (Another story for another time), she even reformed Discord." she gestured to the tall Draconequus sitting with them, and who was picking at his food. Molding it into various shapes, and changing it's coloration.
"Really." said Dream Catcher, shooting a look at Discord.
"Oh yes," said Fluttershy with a giggle at the memory. "He was quite the hoofful when he first stayed in my cottage. But he's a big softie once you get to know him." she smiled up at Discord, who returned the smile.
"It's good to know that you think so highly of me, my dear." he said. Dream Catcher interrupted the two by saying, "It couldn't have been easy, dealing with somepony so...difficult" Discord narrowed his eyes and thought, 'Mind your own business!'
"It was a bit hard, especially with the dinner party, flooding Sweet Apple Acres and turning it into an ice rink, but he undid all of that for the sake of our friendship. And for that, I'm proud to have him as a friend." said Fluttershy. The Draconequus smiled smugly at the compliment, he glanced at Dream Catcher who showed an apparent disdain for him, trying to cover it before anypony else noticed. After lunch ended, Dream Catcher thanked them for the meal and excused herself from the table.
"Do you have to leave so soon?" asked Fluttershy.
"I need to hurry home, my...mother will be worried about me." said Dream Catcher. "It was nice to eat lunch with you, I hope we can do it again sometime." Dream Catcher said good bye and headed off.
"She was nice." said Pinkie Pie. Discord scoffed.
"Hardly seems nice to me. If you ask me, that pony is hiding something." said Discord.
"What makes you say that?" asked Rarity.
"Don't tell me you didn't notice how she barely attempted to get along with you ponies, or befriend you. And she kept glaring at me all throughout the meal." Twilight arched an eyebrow.
"You're sure it's not just jealousy talking?" questioned Twilight.
"Jealousy?! Just what do I have to be jealous about?" said Discord. Rainbow dash folded her arms.
"Ahem, how about the Grand Galloping Gala with Treehugger." She said.
"I thought we agreed not to talk about that." Discord snapped.
"There's nothing wrong with being jealous." said Applejack.
"Besides, I think it's good that Fluttershy is making new friends, it's a good way for her to expand her horizons." said Twilight matter-of-factly.
"Princess know-it all." Discord muttered, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Dream Catcher is just shy," said Fluttershy. "After a while, I'm sure she'll open up to the rest of you." Discord however wasn't convinced. There was something about that pony he didn't trust, whether it was jealousy or not telling him this.
That night, something was...off. Princess Luna, could sense a kind of disturbance. Somepony that wasn't supposed to be here was here.
"This presence," she said from the balcony of Canterlot castle, "it couldn't be, and yet..." She spread out her wings and took to the sky. The cool air whooshed over her as she soared through the night. She followed the presence to Ponyville, when it suddenly disappeared. Luna looked skeptically at the little town, was this really the place. Princess Luna glided over the town for any sign of the disturbance's source.
"It's gone." she said to herself. "After so long, I never thought I'd sense them again. But, why now? After so many moons." Princess Luna decided to try searching again some other time, and left to continue her duties elsewhere. As she left, she didn't see somepony stepping into the moonlight from the shadows, watching her fly off.
"So that's Princess Luna." said Dream Catcher. "I should be more careful next time, lest she discover me." Dream Catcher delved into the shadows, traveling through them and reappearing outside Fluttershy's cottage.
"I've missed you so much Fluttershy." she said. "Soon, it'll be just the two of us, just like it used to be." A dark look passed over her eyes. "And nopony will ever tear us apart again. I'll see to that."