A Pony Masquerade

Chapter one: The Talking Shrub

Fluttershy PoV.

I woke up lying on the floor of my room. I had that dream again. The one I always have. Where my friends abandon me and leave me with a talking shrub. I knew it would never happen because for one, my friends would never abandon me. Especially not Dashie. And two, shrubs can't talk. But I still wake up in a sweat shaking for some reason.

I drowsily flapped down the stairs to get myself breakfast. I was greeted by a family of squirrels that had to move in when their home was "repurposed" by the beavers. When I got to the kitchen I floated to the cupboard and dug through it until

I found the box of corn flakes. I plopped down at the table and started to eat.

As I was chewing my cornflakes I looked out the window and saw something strange. There was an extra bush on my front lawn. I know i didn't plant it, but bushes don't grow overnight, so I assumed somepony else planted it. I didn't think much of it, so I finished my breakfast and cleaned up.

When I had finished combing my mane and washing my hooves I trotted to the front door. As I put my hoof on the door the talking shrub flickered in my mind. Usually I just ignore the dream and it goes away, but it ket coming back this morning. I slowly pushed the door open until I could just barely see the new bush. As the dream blinked in and out of my mind I became more cautious about it. Something wasn't right.

I slowly approached the recently arrived shrub. It took most of my effort to keep from running away. For some odd reason I knew deep down that this bush wasn't normal. I eventually got close enough so that I could reach out and touch it. Which I did.

A pair of eyes in the bush popped open.

I turned and ran squealing for help all the way into town.

Twilight PoV.

"Help! A monster! My house is in danger! Somepony help me!"

Fluttershy sprinted past me. Her wings had locked and she looked like she'd seen a ghost.

"Help me! Anypony, please help!"

"FLUTTERSHY!"

She skidded to a halt.

"Oh, Hi twilight I didn't see you there."

"What's wrong?"

"There's a monster attacking my house and I would like some help. If that's okay."

"A monster!? I'll get the others. Let's go!"

Rainbow dash PoV.

We were galloping full speed to Fluttershy's house.

"What exactly are up against here?"

"I don't know," Twilight panted back, "but apparently it's really bad."

"Well hurry up then!"

We made it to Fluttershy's in record time. Except... nothing was wrong. Just an extra bush in front of her house.

"Where is it? I'm gonna tear it apart!"

"It's right there," Fluttershy squeaked, pointing to the bush.

"That's a bush" I said slightly confused.

"I've been having dreams about a talking bush and when I touched that one it opened its eyes."

"Bushes can't talk Fluttershy," Applejack pitched in.

Usually Fluttershy loves nature. Why was she so scared of a shrub?

"This is ridiculous. It can't move. It's a bush," Twilight remarked, "I'll prove that it's nothing to worry about."

She walked over to the shrub and put a hoof on it. It stirred.

"What the hay!" She screamed.

The bush stirred again. Then an ear popped out.

"Hello?" Rarity called out.

"Hello?" The shrub barely whispered.

A head slowly peeked out of the bush. It looked like a mare. When it saw the group of friends it recoiled back into the bush.

"It's okay!" Pinkie almost yelled, "You can come out now!"

The mare squeaked in terror and shook the bush.

"Stop it pinkie you're scaring her," I said.

Mumbling came from the bush.

"Huh?" I grunted.

"I... Mare... Hmph."

"What?"

"I'm not a mare."

The head was all the way out of the bush now.

"Oh sorry," I apologized.

"It's okay."

The pony stepped out of the bush. And the leaves followed.

"Your mane is full of leaves! Just filthy," Rarity remarked.

"That is my mane"

"Oh."

He was a gracefully built pegasus. He looked a lot like a mare with his slender legs and long mane. His muzzle was shorter than most stallions and his mouth was smaller. He was pale green with a dark green mane. Leaves? And his cutie mark was a smiling mask with a tear running down from its eye. His wings were tipped with the same dark green of his mane. He was beautiful.

"Wow," I breathed.

"So what's your name?" Pinkie blurted.

"I don't know,"

Fluttershy was shifting her weight from hoof to hoof nervously.

Fluttershy PoV.

I couldn't sit still. He was so... Different. He was amazing. I couldn't look away. But I couldn't talk either. I was so nervous. He was beautiful.

"You don't know your name?" Pinkie asked.

"No, I can't remember."

"Why not?"

"I don't know. I just woke up in the forest a couple weeks ago. I was walking for days when I found your house and curled up to sleep. All I know is I don't have a family or friends and I've never met anypony that cared."

" that must be rough."

"Not really when you can't remember anything."

Rainbow dash was sitting on the grass watching him with a glaze over her eyes. She wanted him too. I guess she deserves him more than me. I'm not that great anyway.

"I will need a place to stay. If any of you can help me. If that's okay with everypony."

"Youcanstaywithme!" Rainbow blurted.

I watched as they flew towards Rainbow's house. He glanced back at me just for a moment, then disappeared into the clouds.