Pies and Knives

A friend of Fluttershy is a friend of mine!

       We walked into town, Fluttershy following closely behind. She looked frightened, and I yelled at her to keep a neutral face, or else people might get suspicious. We crossed a few paths and shuffled by some busy shops, before finally landing in Tiny Pony Coffee Shop, a personal favorite amongst many younger ponies. We entered and I ordered a black coffee. I asked Fluttershy if she wanted anything, and she ordered a hot milk tea for herself. (Perhaps so she could calm her nerves.) I paid for mine, and she paid for hers, although her hand was shaking so badly she dropped the change at first, then her face blushed pink with embarrassment while she rushed to pick her change back up. I didn't help her, I just facepalmed and got irritated.

       We left the coffee place and I suggested we go back to our original goal of picking up pie crust. We went down to Pinkie's bakery. When we popped in, we thought it was either closed or that Pinkie was out on break, because the place was empty. To our surprise, she jumped up from behind the counter and shouted at us with a delighted smile. "Hi-ya! It's really good to see ya guys! Hehe! What brings you down to Pinkie's?" I told her we were both looking to make pies and that we needed crust. "Oooooh! Your famous apple pie, Applejack? Oh boy! You'll have to bring one by for me! And yes, I have some pie crust righhhhhhhhhhhhht..." She whipped out a small colorful box. "Here!! The perfect pie crust to perpetually pleasure your pals!"

       I said thanks and got ready to leave, but Pinkie Pie said something to Fluttershy. "Why you do quiet, Fluttershy? I mean, I know you're always quiet, but you're never this quiet!" Pinkie bounces eagerly on her pink bubbly tail awaiting Fluttershy's response. She opened her mouth with a gasp, ready to speak, but I cut her off and answered for her. "Oh, she's not feeling too well. Caught a sore throat, it sounds like." Pinkie Pie's eyes got real big and sad, and her mouth dropped to an almost impossibly weighted frown that hit the floor. "Awwwww, I'm so sorry Fluttershy, I didn't know! Do you know what'll make you feel better? How about a party?" I again answered for her, saying "That's nice of you, but we do have to get back. Don't want the apples gettin' brown, you know?"

       Pinkie nodded and agreed. "I guess so. Well, I hope you feel better! Have fun! AND BRING ME A PIE!" We left the bakery, but we could still hear her inside shouting for us to remember to bring her a pie once we'd finished baking. She repeatedly screamed these reminders until we were far enough to escape the sound. I looked at Fluttershy. "See? That wasn't so bad!" She looked back, but she did not match my affected enthusiasm. Instead, she stared at me with a dispirited face, then looked back down at the ground while we walked. She seems upset about pretending she's okay, and it's like she's not even trying to hide her guilt! It's going to give us away, I'll tell you that!

       On our way back, we walked past Twilight's house, where coincidentally she was walking out to grab her mail and spotted us. "Hey girls!" she said. I nodded to her and Fluttershy looked aside. Twilight immediately noticed this and questioned it right away. Of course she would, Twilight's the smart one! She'd see right through our front. I have to keep Fluttershy from talking. "She's sick," I say. "Throat is bothering her." She raises an eyebrow at this, and says "Wait right here!" She flies back inside her house, we hear rustling and books being tossed around until she reappears with a fancy glass filled with purple sap. "This soothes a throat in an instant! I made it for Spike once and he said it worked like a charm! How's about it? Drink up!" She handed the glass to Fluttershy and then Fluttershy looked at the glass, then back at me.

       "Oh, right! Cool, she'll definitely drink that up! We just have to get going so, she'll drink it on the way! Thanks Twilight?" Twilight ignores me and insists that Fluttershy drink it immediately, smiling expectantly, and waiting for the harmonious hum of the phrase "Thanks, Twi! I feel so much better!" Twilight always did like helping her friends, and it's always been particularly annoying. I mouthed to Fluttershy, "Fake it!" She drank the whole cup and let out a tiny burp which created a giant purple bubble that floated away in the breeze. She gave a crooked smile that bender and contorted in uncanny ways, before mumbling "Mmm... much better." Then we waved by at Twilight as she smiled and called out: "Always happy to help!" and fled back inside.

       "That was a close one," I said to her. She still looked sad, and her belly slowly digested the purple anti-sore sap, which she complained made her tummy hurt. I got very mad and yelled at her. "We could've got caught! You want me dead? Do you?" She didn't answer me, just looking at her feet in a dejected way. I sighed. I pat her on the back and ruffled her hair like a big brother would. "I love ya, girly. I'm might sorry for yellin' at-cha. I'm just scared is all. I don't want to get into trouble. I'm sure you don't either. That's when she took a deep breath and looked a bit better.

       Then we heard a loud soar overhead. "HAH! CHECK THIS ONE OUT!" the pony screamed. After that shout, we saw a large, colorful, rainbow explosion in the sky, and someone was thrown down our way, landing face-first into the dirt right next to us. This made Fluttershy light up with color again, the color of concern, which she ran over to express. The pony flipped over and took off her bulky goggles. "Oh, hey, it's you Fluttershy." After I walked a bit closer and the dust settled, I could see the colored streaks in her mane. It was that idiot Rainbow Dash. Of course! Who else would be ditzy enough to crash right down and disturb us? Hah! I'd like to kill her, I'll tell you what.