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Chapter 1: Just an ordinary day702 words
Chapter 2: Just a not-so ordinary day821 words

Chapter 2: Just a not-so ordinary day

Chapter 2: Just a not-so ordinary day

It was late one afternoon, after another busy day of saving Equestria from something that you would think the two elder princesses would be able to handle in just a couple of minutes. Instead, the Princess in training, and her five friends, all with heavy magical augmentation, needed almost a whole day. Typical.

"Pinkie, would you be able to give me a hoof with the animals tonight? I want to make sure that everyone gets fed before it's too dark"

Rainbow Dash replied, "If you need it done fast, why not ask me? I'm sure I can get them all fed 20% faster."

"Thank you Rainbow, but I fear that you would scare the animals. There is such a thing as being too fast," responded Fluttershy.

Applejack said, "That's something I can understand. I've got my own farm animals to feed, but Big Mac should have taken care of most of it already."

<Pronk> <Pronk> <Pronk> "Ohh, this sounds like fun. Lead the way," answered Pinkie.

"So it's pretty much just make sure that all these food items get out to different places for the different animals?" asked Pinkie Pie.

Fluttershy replied, "More or less. I've got to fly other foods out to the hills, as well as things at the tops of the trees to check out for the various birds and other creatures that live in the trees."

"So what things should I be watching out for?"

"Simple. Don't let them eat you."

Pinkie looked at Fluttershy. Looking for some sign of humor in the normally quiet, reserved pony. Fluttershy looked back at Pinkie. Slowly, a smile came to her lips. The smile unnerved Pinkie. Something about it seemed unusual. Slightly off. Uncanny.

Like it was forced.

"Okey-dokey Loki," replied Pinkie.

The sun was setting. The pale yellow of the sunset turning to orange; the pink color showing up on the mountainside. Pinkie had just finished setting out the last of the food she had to put out, and none of the animals had given her any trouble. "Silly Fluttershy. None of the animals were trying to eat me." Clearly, Fluttershy's behavior was nothing more than weariness after the day.

Speaking of which, where was Fluttershy?

Pinkie heard some rustling from the tree tops nearby. "Hello?" she called. The noise moved to a nearby tree, like a large bird was flying, but staying out of sight.

"Fluttershy? Is that you?"

The voice answered as the sun was sinking below the horizon. And the moon was rising. The voice that answered was definitely a little off.

"Did you avoid being eaten so far?"

"Fluttershy, what sort of question is that?"

Fluttershy swooped down past Pinkie Pie. Quickly, then back into the trees. And yet... Pinkie Pie looked up at the sky. The full moon was rising.

Pinkie realized that Fluttershy had been working in the mountains, and treetops. She would have been exposed to the moon sooner than herself.

"Fluttershy, what's your fruit situation like?"

"Oh dear. I was so busy today I forgot to mention it. I checked on them this morning, and some sort of fungal rot has destroyed my trees. Forgive me Pinkie, but I figured you were most able to deal with me tonight."

Pinkie looked around. The edge of the Everfree Forest. The town was on the other side of Fluttershy's hut. This area might not be a magical, deadly forest, but it was still a forest.

And it was already dark inside the tree line.

"Fluttershy, this isn't you. Or rather, this doesn't have to be you. Or rather, this is you, but you don't have to behave this way. We can get you some fruit very quickly. I know you can control this, it's been two years since your last episode.

"Fluttershy?"

Silence.

Tail-twitch; dive towards a tree.

Flutterbat screeched through the space Pinkie had been in just a moment before.

Pinkie Pie poked her head out from behind another tree. This was going to be a long night. "All I have to do is find someplace to hide long enough to fall asleep, and then I can contact Luna."

"Fall asleep? Why would I let you do that?" echoed the voice of Flutterbat from somewhere in the trees.

The next day, ponies from the Apple family, the Pear family, and the Pine family all came out to heal the trees on Fluttershy's property. Regular checks were increased from once a month to once a week.

"Eyes... those eyes... can't look away..." Pinkie muttered, in repeat mode.

"Will she be all right?" asked Twilight.

"Worry thyself not. When she sleeps, we will address her dreams and she will be fine," replied Luna. Thinking about what she would see in those dreams. Pinkie's dreams.

"Can't sleep... the Bat will get me..." uttered Pinkie.

And so ends the tale of the Joking Pony meeting the Bat Pony.

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