//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Escaping Fluttershy // by Rijo Striker //------------------------------// The Filly had been gawking at me for five hours, or five minutes. I don’t know, we pterolykos don’t have a sense of time. ’This is starting to get awkward. I swear that if she doesn’t stop staring at me, I will throw something.’ Looking around for something I could throw and not cause her much pain was pointless, until I looked down. ’ Dirt of course. Now just to make a good old dirt clod. As my claws started to push dirt around she had finally come back. “Cool. How’d you learn to talk?” She asked taking a few steps towards me. I was silent, as I listened to the opening, trying to discern if Flutterlord was still outside. I heard a twig break, and hid beneath the dirt-table. I kept my eyes locked on the entrance to this underground pit. “Hey, come on dude I- “ Shh. Please be quiet. I can’t let her see me.” I pleaded. I heard the bush shake and twigs start breaking, as dirt started sliding down. My breathing hitched as something started laughing hysterically. Down through the opening came a yellow pegasus mare, with black highlights accenting her otherwise pink mane. She locked her piercing red eyes on me. Her eyes told stories of untold murders this mare had committed with her army of brainwashed animals. “Flutterlord.” I whispered still hoping she hadn’t seen me. “Hey get out, no one said you were invited.” The orange filly from before said running up to Flutterlord. “Stay out of this shrimp. My business is between me and this beast.” She said as she continued walking up towards the table. I have to give the orange props. She turned around and bucked Flutterlord. She reeled back and did it again “General Angel, it seems as if this little filly needs more conditioning. Please escort her to the chambers. " She said in her loud demanding voice. In an instant Angel was in his bronze shod armor. The center was dyed in a deep navy blue. A white x covered the front. With a pound of his foot, two armored guards had come in “Hey get away from me.” The Pegasus said backing away from the guards. I used this as a distraction. I crept around Flutterlord and the General as they watched the guards take care of the small Pegasus. “Get away from me.” The orange filly said backing herself up against a corner of the room. I crawled up the dirt hole which was the only way to get out. As I reached the top, I peeked out and almost wish I hadn’t. I saw the area I had just passed through. The forest seemed to have been growing, as thick black vines grew outwards. The vines seemed to be sentient as they prodded around with the tips of the vines. Turning my head, I saw that her cottage had grown old and was run down. There were broken windows, and the roof had collapsed. “Come back down here my pet. We only want to play~” Flutterlord sang in her creepy sing song voice. I got out of the hole and immediately started running towards Ponyville. I saw that plants had taken over the entire dirt path to Ponyville. On a distant hill, I saw a shadow standing underneath a tree. As I got closer I saw a Pegasus mare with a lavender blue coat. Her Jasmine and lemon chiffon colored mane, was disheveled. Her wings seemed to be more disheveled, with feathers sticking out everywhere. “Night why have you come back?” She said without turning to face me. “I came to help with the fight Cloudy.” I said bowing to her. “Oh so now you want to fight. Well, It’s too late.” “Cloudy, what do you mean?” “Look around you. What do you see” I looked around and I only saw that plants have taken over. “Plants have taken over.” “No look closer you stupid dog.” As I look around once more the vision of plants dissolved to my horror. The sky was drenched red, the sun was still shining, but not as bright as usual. The Vines had leveled Ponyville to the ground. Oh my Celestia. I caused this? “Oh my Celestia.” “You caused this Night. We needed you to lead, and you walked away from us.” Cloudy turned and glared at me. I saw deep gashes, wrinkles, and her piercing black eyes. I blinked and Cloudy had slowly dissolved. Her features melting like a candle. I backed up and bumped into something. Turning around, I saw Flutterlord giving a creepily wide smile, baring every tooth. Fluttershy-POV I had awoken particularly early in the morning. The sun was just starting to rise over the horizon, basking the land in orange hues, when I approached the library. I needed more knowledge about the dog then my current books could give. I mean do I treat him as a dog, as a bird. I hope Twilight has a book on what Mr. Doggy is? Hehe Fluttershy, you’re just being silly. Of course Twilight has one. She even had one on the elements of Harmony.’ I thought as I walked up to the library’s door. I entered to see Spike grabbing books from a pile easily three times his height. Looking around, I saw Twilight was nowhere to be found. “Hey Fluttershy, how are you today?” Spike asked as he descended the ladder. “Oh I’m good. I’m loo-“ “If you’re looking for Twilight she is upstairs. Another one of her study benders.” He pointed towards the stairs. “I’m actually here to see if you have an updated version of Winged Creatures of Equestria.” “Sure, but don’t you already know it by heart?” Spike inquired as he climbed the ladder to retrieve said book. “Well, there’s this animal I’m looking after, and I don’t know what it is. “Sure, I hope you find what you’re looking for.” Spike said giving Fluttershy the large brown tome. Fluttershy set it down on the table in the middle of the room, and started flipping pages. Fluttershy was so engrossed in the book that she hadn’t heard the gentle clip clop of hooves descending the stairs. “Hey Fluttershy, what are you doing here so early?” A recognizable voice came from behind me. I jumped slightly, well enough to almost hit my head on the ceiling, but still slightly. My heart threatened to beat out of my chest as I turned around. It steadily returned to normal upon seeing Twilight. “Hi Twilight, I’m just looking for help trying to identify an animal I found.” “Maybe I can help, what does the animal look like?” “Oh it’s amazing. It’s got the body of a Germane Shepard and has a pair of Pegasus wings. I found it out by the lake before the giant storm.” I replied turning another page. “Wait, what, did you say. A dog with wings?” A confused expression came over Twilight before going to excitement. “Fluttershy, do you know what this could mean? It could mean that you have just discovered a new species of canine. Either that or a changeling had turned into a dog. Twilight had continued to talk as a few thoughts came to mind. oh no, I left it at my house with my animals. I didn’t even think of changelings. No wonder he would be terrified, when all other animals are easily calm around me. It makes perfect sense. When I snapped back to my senses, Twilight had continued to talk. “But come on, we haven’t heard or seen hide or hair of the changelings since the failed invasion.” Twilight said dismissing the notion with a hoof, not even noticing the fearful expression on my face. I immediately bolted out the door leaving the book lying open and a trail of dust in my track. I need to get home, my animals need me. was the only though that came to me. I made it back to my cottage and entered like a mad mare. My eyes snapping to the possible changeling on the floor. My heart fluttered as I saw the most adorable thing. Night who had still been sleeping was currently cuddling with Angel who looked to be enjoying the cuddling as well. I heard a gasping for breath, as Twilight had come into the cottage as well. Point of View-Night Shield I had awoken to the smell of rabbit wafting through the air. Licking my lips as the aroma seemed to resonate around me, I had tasted fur. My eyes shot open to the vision of two black beady eyes staring at me in equal horror. “Why are you licking me?” Angel asked back peddling away from my mouth, but into my legs. Time for a little playtime. “Well, why were you by me? I mean, unless you wanted me to eat you?” I asked licking the taste of rabbit still on my lips. “By the way, you’d need salt.” “Do I have to kick you again. And I thought you were Fluttershy.” He said as he finally getting over my legs. “Aww you were so cute together.” We both turned our heads to the direction of the newcomer, and both of our facial expressions changed. His was out of love and joy. Mine was of fear mixed with terrifying pissed myself with fear. There standing in the light invading from the open doorway, stood Fluttershy. Did she just hear me speak? Oh please Faust tell me she didn’t just hear me speak.