Mysterious Alicorn
Chapter 14
By Aponymous
A/N, I cringe everytime I use the name Shadow Horn... Not retconing it though, yet at least...
My dearest student Twilight,
This is most troubling news, I would like to meet this "Shadow Horn" in person, enclosed are 8 tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala. We will speak more of this in person.
-Princess Celestia
"Wasn't that kind of short?" A high pitched voice emanated from nowhere in particular.
Me, Fluttershy and Twilight all looked around searching for where the voice came from. Not finding anything we all returned our gaze to the area around us to find Pinkie Pie sitting next to Twilight.
"How did you get there?" Twilight said, not looking nearly as suprised as she should have.
"Get where?" Pinkie Pie responded looking completely confused
"Right- ugh, nevermind" Twilight sighed
"So why was that so short?"
Twilight sat there for a second before frowning and saying
"That's a good point... Most of Celestia's letters are quiet lengthy, the fact that this is so short is worrying."
"I'm sure it's fine Twilight, she probubly just wants to talk to you in person at The Gala last week" Fluttershy seemed to be trying to reassure her, in the way she so often does. Twilight was about to respond when Pinkie yelled
"WAIT A MINUTE! THE GRAND GALLOPING GALA!" It seemed as though Pinkie just noticed that part of the letter.
Twilight's ears flattened "Pinkie, you had a horrible time last year."
"But this year we will be together! So no horrible dates, no bad business and no psycotic breaks!
Fluttershy looked at the ground pointedly and tried to hide within her mane, face turning a deep shade of red. "I- I thought we weren't going to mention that" Her voice was quiet and subduded, with a hint of annoyance.
Pinkie was unfazed "OH! I forgot, you guys are invited to the welcome party for Shadow Horn, it'll be super-duper funtastic!"
Conversation continued for a while until Fluttershy and I left for the cottage to get ready for Pinkie's party, bathing and having a light dinner. Once we started toward Sugar Cube Corner we fell into silence, not awkwardly, more like a comfortable silence.
As the time stretched on the silence continued, remenicent of the time I spent in recovery. It was nice, nothing was said, nothing needed to be. By the time we arrived at Sugar Cube Corner the party was in full swing, seeming as though Pinkie had invited everypony in Ponyville.
We parted ways, Fluttershy heading towards the punch table and I made my way to no where in particular, looking for somewhere quiet. Needless to say I didn't have any luck. I began looking for familier faces and after a few moments of searching found spike conversing with a pair of young colts.
I approached and he glanced at me before quickly speaking to the colts and turning to me and speaking
"Hey... you..." It was fairly clear he had forgotten my name, not that I could blame him or tell him off if I could.
I returned the smile and gestured at the two young colts sitting across from him
"Oh yeah, that reminds me, this is snips and this is snails" he gestures at each one of them in turn
I wave and they look at me expectantly. After a few moments spike remembered I couldn't speak
"Right, He's a mute" As he speaks I lower my gaze, feeling awkward. None of us speak for a few seconds and I start to think of an exuse to leave before realizing I can't talk and just gesturing vaugly before walking away.
I made a beeline for the punch table, somewhere I knew that someone I recognized would be. Sometimes Pony's tryed to introduce themselves as I passed but I wasn't sure what to do, so I just motioned vaugly and continued my pace.
After I arrived at the punch table I took stock of my surrondings. Music was still playing loudly enough to make me regret the prior night but not quiet so loud as to keep conversation from occuring. Crowded around the punch table were well more than 10 ponies all chit-chatting amoungst each other. Normally I would feel slightly left out but right now I was just trying to clear the headache still fogging my mind.
I was making a mental note to drink some water when I caught sight of Fluttershy talking to a stallion at the other end of the table, as I approached I did my best to gauge the situation, looking for a point to jump into the conversation.
Fluttershy seemed to not take notice of me as the stallion spoke to her.
"So what's a mare like you doing at a party like this"
There was an air of condecention in his voice as her gestured around at the party
Fluttershy seemed to be trying to hide in her mane, and spoke with a voice that was such a high pitch it seemed as though it would make dogs whine.
"I'm here for a freind..."
She trailed off at the end of her sentence awkwardly and as horrible as I felt for finding amusment in it, boy was she adorable.
The stallion seemed unperturbed, continuing to talk
"Yeah, I'm here with a freind as well. Are you looking for an exuse to get out?"
It was around this time I realized he was hitting on her, rather forwardly. I stepped into the converstation immidiatly.
"Who's this?" The stallion remarked, seeing someone step into the conversation
"This is my freind, Shadow Horn" Fluttershy seemed gratefull for my presence and her voice dropped a few octaves
His voice smelled strongly of alchol and he frowned
I stood there, stareing at him with the best unearthly air I could muster, doing my best to remain unblinking, unmoving and as freindly as I could muster (While remaining alienating)
He watched me for a few seconds before making an exuse and quickly walking away. Fluttershy thanked me profusely and I served us both punch.
The rest of the night went on fairly well, warding off suiters, laughing at Pinkie Pie's antics and most of all containing laughter at twilight's dancing.
After a little while Fluttershy asked if I wanted to go for a walk. She seemed far more, how do I put this? Fluttershy like than usual.
It was then I decided that I may as well just have out with it and we left on our walk.
Alright, I'm leaving for a week and this is the last chapter I had saved in reserve, so... Seeya soon