//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: Fluttershy Blooms (A Flutterpie Tale) 
// by Mocha Star 
//------------------------------//

	Pinkie led Fluttershy into Whitetail Woods. "C'mon, Shy, it's not too far, right?"

"Actually they are supposed to live by the third creek in and that's about a half hour fly," she gulped and looked to Pinkie apologetically, "or two hours trot at normal pace."

"It's okay, Fluttershy," Pinkie said as she trotted back, "I don't mind the walk with you, let's go save a squirrel!"

"Raccoon."

"Raccoon!" Pinkie corrected herself and led Fluttershy.

"Um, Pinkie?  It's that way."  Pinkie looked where Fluttershy was pointing and cantered herself to the direction and didn't hear the timid pegasus giggle as she went to follow. "Pinkie, what should we talk about while we're walking?  We have time now."

"Why are you so shy?" Pinkie blurted as she slowed to let Fluttershy catch up.

"Oh, um, I don't know.  It's just my way, I guess."

"I don't believe you," Pinkie squinted then made a tsk sound, "but I can't make you tell me-"

"N-no, maybe I can tell you some of the reason."

"I'm listening~" Pinkie sing songed as she hopped between a split tree.

"I don't really like ponies, is all.  I'm anxious about what they think of me or what they'll do if they get mad at me."

"Get mad?  Fluttershy, ponies don't do much of anything when they get mad," Pinkie dismissed until she saw an expression on Fluttershy's face, "unless you think otherwise."

"Pinkie, when ponies get mad they don't always use words to, hurt, but words can be enough," she sighed and took wing hovering, "maybe I should scout ahead for, uh, monsters?"

"Shy," Pinkie said in a stern voice, "get down here and talk to me like a marefriend," she stomped a hoof and stopped where she was.

"B-b-b-but..."

"No butts but the one you sit on when you talk to me right now, little filly," Pinkie joked.

Fluttershy folded her wings and fell to the ground, scampering to her hooves and to Pinkie, sitting on her haunches. "Y-yes, Sir.  I, mean Pinkie."

"Fluttershy?" Pinkie asked in concern.  Fluttershy blinked and trembled, looking around. "Fluttershy, it's okay, I was just being silly.  You know me, always silly," Pinkie grinned at the fearful mare.

"W-well, maybe you should stop being silly and be serious!" Fluttershy shouted taking flight and leaving Pinkie behind as she flew deeper into the forest.

"Wait!  Fluttershy?!  Come back!  You're going the wrong way," Pinkie spoke at the end and looked around the woods.  "Well, at least there aren't any monsters in these woods."  She listened and waited for a monster to roar and when none did she shrugged and took to a frolicing skip after Fluttershy.


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