Fluttershy retired briefly to change her dress and adjust her hair. Lord Trend waited in the receiving room, reading what looked to be The Count of Monte Cristo. He did not understand the finer details, such as the detailing in the dollar exchange between Danglers and the hospital, but he rather liked the notion of sweet revenge. Trenderhoof was not quite clever enough to understand what he read.
Sure enough, upon his completion of the chapter, his fiancée entered. She was a vision, and he loved that about her. In a tight-fitting blue gown she looked slender and more full of life. Her hair was partly over her wings and partly hidden behind a decorative pin that her grandmother had bequeathed to her. Still, she was not smiling, but Trend took no notice. He took her by the hoof and the left for the dinner.
When they arrived at the grand home of the Lady Twilight, they were greeted by the servant and ushered into the long dining room. Golden plates and silverware lined the table; they seemed to glimmer underneath the candlelight. Other guests were milling around the room, greeting once another and waiting for the last of the guests to come. And in the corner was the guest of honor-the Countess Rarity the unicorn come back from Ponyland.
She was almost laying out upon the decorative couch in the corner. She was garbed in a fitted gown with a flare at the bottom. Diamonds hung around her neck and ears and her hair, a violet color, was pulled to the side. The Countess seemed positively voluptuous.
Trend dragged Fluttershy over to greet her. She saw the stallion and greeted him warmly with the wave of a gloved hoof. Fluttershy noticed she did not stand to greet them.
"Oh Trend, darling, it's been forever!" she gushed.
Trend bent down to kiss her hoof. She looked down upon him, grinning like a wildcat. Fluttershy stood alone, awkwardly, waiting to be introduced. But Trend stood up and said:
"My dearest friend, this is my fiancée."
He pushed her forward for the Countess to inspect. The Countess frowned slightly, her painted lips forming a pout. The mare was slim, almost too thin, and she looked utterly...naïve.
"Charmed darling!" exclaimed the Countess finally.
Fluttershy smiled simply and retreated from behind Trend. He ignored her and continued chatting with the Countess, who seemed more than entranced by him. Finally, after an age, everypony was called to the table.
Lady Twilight, her reclusive personality aside, threw the best parties with the best meals. Tonight's was an imported hay smothered in a rose sauce accompanied by quail eggs served over string beans. The dish itself was considered sensual enough, but Fluttershy wasn't hungry. She prodded her beans in silence.
The meal finished and again the party resumed to a social session. Fluttershy, still excluded from the wonderful conversation that Trend and the Countess were having, retreated to the gardens outside.
Though Lady Twilight was known for her library, which went mostly unappreciated, her garden was also quite nice. Some eucalypti lined the edge of the house while some hydrangeas, a blue variety, littered the yard. A willow tree grew over a marble bench, and this is where the pegasus now sat.
It was silly to feel sorry for herself, but how could she not? Her husband-to-be, (bad luck to say it or no), was ignoring her. Still...she looked down at her neck where a golden band glittered on a golden chain. He was going to marry her. And if she married him she would be safe and happy all her days. Lady Grandmother had assured her of it.
The snap of a twig awoke Fluttershy from her mutterings. In the shadows was a figure. She felt like screaming, but no noise would escape her lips. Her throat was dry. The figure approached her and it was...
A monster! A creature with a pony head, mismatched wings and antlers, and a snake tail. It's golden eyes glimmered in the moonlight. It was like he was stalking her, hunting her.
"I didn't mean to frighten you," it said.
His teeth were pointed, and one especially looked long and sharp-like that of a vampire pony. Fluttershy grasped herself and pulled away, her wings tight to her body. He saw this and bent down towards her.
"Oh there there Miss. I would never harm you. Look-"
He held out the palm of his lion paw. A candle magically appeared. He waved his opposite hand over the candle and suddenly it was lit!
Fluttershy turned to face him once more. Her blue eyes were slight with excitement. This pony, or creature, could do magic like a unicorn! She had, of course, seen magic before but Trend never used his at all.
The mysterious creature laughed, placing the candle in her delicate hooves.
"I'm a trickster, of sorts."
She smiled. Indeed! Holding the candle in her hooves she could see his face better. It was indeed somehow handsome, despite his "mixed" appearance. This, coupled with the situation, did frighten her.
"What's you name?" he asked bluntly.
She smiled and, without thinking, told him.
"Fluttershy."
It was his turn to grin. It seemed almost wolffish, but for some reason it did not scare her as much anymore.
"Lovely. My name is-"
Another figure ran into the garden.
"Who are you? Get out!"
Chapter Three
The mysterious creature turned and fled. Fluttershy stood up to fly after him him, still holding the candle with one hoof. Lady Twilight appeared by her side, her horn illuminating the darkness.
"Damn that creature, stealing from me again. He didn't hurt you, did he dear?"
Fluttershy shook her head and returned with Lady Twilight inside, utterly mystified. Before she returned to the lit room she saw a shadow in front of the moon.