//------------------------------// // Chapter 15: Hotline Bling // Story: The Shy Driver II: Fluttershy's Return // by Wiz Ahmad //------------------------------// The morning came with a splash and the distant sound of cars driving off to work. Fluttershy blinked and saw Bubbles splashing in the water. While she looked to be simply fretting about, Bubbles really just wanted to wake her up. Having recovered from their ordeal, the eight friends rose up, and, without even having breakfast, checked to make sure they had all their possessions with them, and then assembled by the rock where they’d met Lorraine and her kids the day before. “All right everypony,” Twilight Sparkle began, wasting no time. “We all have had quite a bit of fun today, but unfortunately some of it didn’t go well. Now it would be so easy and convenient to blame each other for the mishap of the saddlebag’s dip and the sinking of the house key, but it won’t get us anywhere. The party is over, and we need to get back home before those “government thugs” see us. We’re still considered aliens, you know.” Rainbow Dash nodded, and Pinkie Pie’s hair sagged like a balloon with a hole in it. Starlight appeared to be paying attention, but she was really observing the water next to the dock. “Hey Starlight!” Applejack nudged her. “You still there?” “Oh…yeah,” Starlight jumped out of her trance. “I was just wondering about Fluttershy’s new animal friend. She seems quite interesting.” After the discussion, Twilight and her friends put out their fire, cleaned up the fire pit, and began the long walk home, taking shortcuts to avoid being spotted. As much as she wanted to fly, Rainbow Dash stayed on the ground to prevent aerial detection – she was the most colorful of all her friends. As Twilight Sparkle came around a bend, Fluttershy, of all of them, jumped up and pointed excitedly. “Look! There’s the Pacific Coast Highway!” “I can’t believe we made it!” Spike exclaimed. “I miss my gems…sapphires, rubies, oh my…” They all ran excitedly down the sloping road to the highway, and walked on the paved shoulder. With the atmosphere opening up, Rainbow Dash and Twilight could now fly freely. “That was a great adventure in the water!” Rarity admitted as she, Fluttershy, Applejack, Starlight, Pinkie Pie, and Spike walked down a bend of the Pacific Coast Highway. “Speaking of which, how was your underwater journey, Fluttershy?” “It was great!” she said excitedly. “I met so many new species of fish, talked to eels and crabs, and played with Bubbles. She’s so amazing and graceful.” “I think I might want to come back some time soon,” Rainbow Dash said eagerly as she flew alongside Twilight. “I really want to write more on dolphins and their ability to communicate with Fluttershy and all about their life!” Twilight exclaimed in her typical speedy adorkable voice. Rainbow huffed. “I’m sure Princess Celestia will be very excited to hear all about it.” After a good hour or so, the team finally reached home. Twilight turned the rusty key in the lock, and it successfully opened. “I’m tired,” Pinkie Pie groaned, flopping down on the floor. Starlight Glimmer was beaming with joy. “We made it! We’re finally home!” Applejack was smiling with contentment. “Well, we’re back.” Spike and Twilight exchanged grins of joy, while Rarity pranced about with bliss. “I wonder if Justin has any idea about the crazy storm of events we just went through,” Rainbow Dash added. As if on cue, Fluttershy’s iPhone starting ringing. “Sounds like a bling,” Spike said. “That can only mean one thing…” Rarity thought, her ears snapping straight up at the sound. “Something’s up!” Twilight and her friends exclaimed in unison. They all ran into Fluttershy’s bedroom at once, causing a big build-up and a big crash and tumble. Rarity broke free and picked up the phone. “Hello, darling?” she said in a sweetly charming voice that made Rainbow facehoof. Justin responded almost immediately. “Hi, it’s me, Justin. Just wanted to let you know that things haven’t turned out exactly how I wanted them to. I do need you to do something though, before I return.” “And would that be, dear?” Rarity replied in her charming voice. “Stop it, you’re making me blush!” Justin snapped, holding back a giggle. “I need you to crack – or should I say, decode – the map I left on my table. It tells you where all the binders that document the building process of the portal are located. In addition, I need you to find and locate a few minerals from mines and some earth-based elements. Later this evening I’ll give you the full rundown.” “Okay, sounds…good.” That was not the news that Rarity had hoped for, but it was good to hear from him at least. She put down the phone and told her friends what Justin had asked of them. Twilight’s eyebrow cocked. “Are you serious?” Rarity nodded firmly. “Imma guess we gotta get right back on what we left off, y’all,” Applejack announced. “Back to the map!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed in a singsong voice. Rarity rolled her eyes and snatched the paper from the table with her telekinesis and unfolded it on the bed. After some time, they had it all figured out. Leaving the room briefly, Rainbow Dash flew out and returned with a world map. “Let’s see…” Fluttershy began, looking at labels and names on the map. Soon she matched them to a few on Justin’s binder map – and shook her head. Pinkie also wore a “WTF” face at the same time too as she realized what the name matching meant – three of the seven binders were located overseas – and two of those three were in Africa. (The other one was on an island in Indonesia.) “Cheer up, guys!” Starlight said, fighting back a giggle at how much her friends were freaking out over the prospect of having to travel to countries so far away. “We did agree to want to discover this new world, so why not explore a larger deal of it?” Twilight gave a nod. Starlight was right – they were too nervous. “You’ve stopped a massive centaur before, Twilight,” Spike huffed. “I’m sure you can find a binder hidden in the depths of another country. And as Rarity said, we have yet to be filled in on the details.”