Chapter 11: Making Plans

In the days that followed Darkhorn revealing his true form to Fluttershy, the two had attempted to come up with a scenario in which he could possibly show his true form, without the other five mares ripping him to shreds.

"What if you transformed while we are all together?" offered the pegasus.

"No." said the changeling, "If anything that would frighten them to violence. Especially Rainbow Dash."

This last comment he whispered to himself, while he was strong and good in a fight, the female had already knocked him out once, and he did not want to tangle with her again. Fluttershy thought she heard Darkhorn say something about Rainbow, but decided not to comment. Suddenly Fluttershy had a thought.

"What if I let it slip to Rarity that I finally told you how I feel about you?"

This confused the changeling, "What does that mean?"

The yellow mare blushed, "Well, when we were at the spa, she figured out I had 'feelings' for you…"

A look of interest crossed Darkhorn's face. Even back she felt something for me, Darkhorn thought to himself. Fluttershy continued with her plan.

"She will get so exited, that she will have to tell somepony. And of course you know how mares get to talking."

He stared quizzically at Fluttershy. No, he did not know. What did they do? When she realized that he had no idea what she was talking about, she giggled, and continued.

"Rarity will tell somepony, that somepony will tell somepony else, and eventually it will make its way to Pinkie."

He smacked his forehead with his hoof, of course Pinkie Pie; that ridiculously hyper pony would; he paused to think; he had no idea what she would do.

"What is Pinkie gonna do?"

Fluttershy sighed, "You haven't spent enough time here to know that Pinkie would have to throw one of her Pinkie parties, and then I can explain the situation and you can show them the 'real' you.

While he did not like the idea, he had to admit it was the best plan they had come up with.

"Alright Shy, I'll do it for you."

She giggled again; she really enjoyed the nickname he had started calling her. If anypony else had started calling her that, she probably would have assumed they were making fun of her. But since Darkhorn had started calling her such, she felt a great surge of energy.

"I'll go meet Rarity for our weekly spa treatment and hopefully she won't be able to contain herself."

The pegasus smiled at the alicorn. He smiled back; he was finding it easier to get lost in her eyes. Angel hopped into the room and let loose a loud annoyed sigh, if these two love-ponies kept this up he would have to move out, maybe live with other forest creatures. But he had to admit, he was happy for his owner. Fluttershy deserved to be happy, and she had never seemed happier then when she was around the changeling. Even if he himself still felt a little uneasy with the creature around. Fluttershy realized she was staring at Darkhorn again. She could not help it; she kept on getting drawn into his lovely eyes. She just hoped that her friends would be as understanding as she was.

Meanwhile, in the Everfree forest, a mouse was fleeing from a predator. It wasn't like anything the small rodent had ever encountered before. It was vicious and cruel; it had already caught and let it go three times, and the mouse was getting tired. It looked behind itself, but nothing was there. The mouse stopped to catch its breath. This proved fatal, as the mouse felt the eerie presence of the creature that was hunting it. The mouse quickly turned to face its pursuer, but it was snatched up in the creature's cage-like claw. As it was being lifted up, the mouse felt like it was being drained of something, it did not know what, but it did not matter as it began to accept its coming end. A single tear escaped the mouse's eye before passing on. The hooded creature looked at the husk in its claw, it spoke cold and deep.

"Aw, you poor thing. Here, let me wipe your tears." The creature began a low chuckle, "Yes, yes, your anguish sustains me."

A cruel laugh escaped the monster's mouth and echoed through the trees. There was a new creature around, and it terrified everything.

Darkhorn felt a dark chill go up his spine; he broke his gaze with Fluttershy and peered out the window towards the forest. Fluttershy became concerned all of a sudden. Why did Darkhorn look at the forest? Was something wrong?

"Darkhorn? Are you ok?"

The changeling was not sure how to answer; he had felt something. He was not sure what it was, but it felt oddly familiar. He turned back to the pegasus.

"It's nothing Shy. I thought I heard something."

He did not like lying to Fluttershy, but he felt it was best to not let her worry. Especially when she and him had such a big task at hand. He smiled at her.

"We'd better get prepared for our big party."

"Alright, let's get started." She smiled back.

Angel rolled his eyes and started tapping his foot.

The next day, at the spa, Fluttershy and Rarity were soaking in the big hot tub. Fluttershy had not told her friend her big news yet; she was waiting for Rarity to ask first. All the while, Rarity could sense that her friend wanted to talk to her about something, but she did not know what. Maybe now was the time to grasp at straws. Rarity turned to her friend.

"Fluttershy, darling, you seem quieter then usual. Do you perhaps have something on your mind?"

Fluttershy gulped, its now or never, she thought.

'It's not something, more some-stallion…" The pegasus let the statement sink in before continuing. The white unicorn was grinning ear to ear. She hoped to Celestia she knew what her friend was talking about.

Fluttershy leaned closer to her friend and whispered, "I told Darkhorn how I feel about him."

Rarity squealed like a little school-filly. "Ooh. Details, details."

"Well, he told me something important about himself, a secret he has been keeping, and he was afraid we all would shun him for it. He was very brave to tell me, even though he thought it would end our friendship. After he told me, he was so upset I had to comfort him. And well, I…" Fluttershy's words became so quiet, Rarity could not hear her.

"Excuse me, dear. Could you repeat that last part?"

"I kis…him."

"One more time."

"I kissed him!"

Rarity heard this time, so did every other pony in the Spa. Rarity looked at her friend, she was part surprised and part overjoyed, but only the surprise showed. Her look confused Fluttershy.

"What do you think?" said the quiet mare.

Rarity was so shocked she could not even articulate what to say.

"I… wha… he… you… him…" The unicorn steadied herself and continued; another large grin across her face. "Oh Fluttershy. I could not be happier for you. Did he return the feelings?"

Fluttershy started to blush again, Rarity did not need anything other then that for confirmation to her inquiry.

The unicorn had another question, "Have you told the others?"

The pegasus shook her head, "Not yet, and I'd rather you not tell them. Just yet."

Fluttershy included a quick wink at the end her sentence to indicate to Rarity that she could tell the others; hopefully she understood that. And she did. The unicorn winked back, they shared a good laugh together.

A while later, Rarity was in her shop, continuing the winter ensemble based on Darkhorn's coloring. She was pondering on some sapphires, when heard her door open. She turned and saw a familiar pink pony hop in.

"Hiya Rarity, what's up? What did ya wanna talk about that was so important?"

Rarity quickly ran up to her bouncy friend and shoved her hoof in her mouth.

"Pinkie Pie, I have something very important to tell you. But you have to keep it quiet."

The unicorn leaned into Pinkie's ear and told her everything that she knew about Fluttershy and Darkhorn. When she was finished, she pulled her hoof out of her friend's mouth. Pinkie took in a long breath; Rarity thought she was going to explode if she took in any more air. When she was full up of air, she let it all out slowly. An unnaturally calm Pinkie Pie began to speak.

"On the one hoof I can't believe it. But on the other it makes perfect sense." Then she returned to her classic Pinkie manner. "Ooo, we need to throw a party! It'll have balloons, music, and piñatas!"

Rarity looked at her pink friend, and raised a brow. Then Pinkie remembered about what happened the last time.

"Ok, maybe no piñatas." She said this a little glumly, but quickly returned to her chipper self. "Should we tell the others what the party is about?"

Rarity thought about it for a little bit, then finally said, "I think it would be better if Fluttershy told everyone else."

"Okie Dokie Loki!"

The two mares began to plan the best party ever for their friend.