Chapter 2 (Visiting the Mane Six)

They went into the town of Ponyville, heading in front of the Sugar Cube Corner. Pinkie Pie, upon spotting Fluttershy with a creature not known to her on her back, burst out of the front door with such enthusiasm and energy that it startled Fluttershy, making her step back a little.

"HELLO Fluttershy! Who's that on your back? What are you anyway, you cutie little white, um, thing… I've never seen you before" Pinkie exploded with words exuberantly.

"Hi, I'm Espie. Nice to meet you, um…" "Pinkie! You can call me Pinkie! Pleasure to meet you Espie! Please come in, both of you! Please share more about yourself Espie, I want to know more about you."

Espie explained about herself to Pinkie, making Pinkie more intrigued about her.

Realising that the allocated time for the visit is up, they had to cut short the conversation.

"Actually, now Fluttershy and I are on a tight schedule to visit some of the ponies around Ponyville, so we have to continue our chat on another day..."

"No problem Espie, it's nice to know that you are going around getting to know some of the ponies. We shall have a chat whenever you are ready after you recover. Get well soon and see you!"

"Bye Pinkie! See you again!"

They moved on to the Sweet Apple Acres, the home of the Apples to visit Applejack.

"Howdy Fluttershy, who's that injured one on your back?" "Hi, I'm Espie. I'm hurt but I'm feeling just alright with Fluttershy. Who might you be?"

"I'm Applejack. Pleasure to meet ya Espie. Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres, we are the Apples, this is Apple Bloom and Granny Smith. Do you want to eat some 'appletastic' lunch with us?" "C'mon Espie, join us, it'll be nice"

"Oh alright," Espie replied while being helped off Fluttershy's back onto a wooden chair. "Let's start. What's for lunch?"

"Espie, there are a variety of choices. Let me list all of them before ye choose some. There's apple pie, apple jam bread, apple mash…" Applejack babbling about food and paused for a while before continuing to list beverages "Apple juice, apple cocktail, apple cider…"

In the midst of being overwhelmed by the huge variety of food and beverages, Espie picked the apple pie and apple juice. "Comin' right up!" Applejack started to grab the dishes and a cup of apple juice and placed it on the table in front of her. "Enjoy ye meal. "Enjoy ye meal. Recuperate quickly so that we'd have one day to spend time together." Applejack spoke before continuing to serve food Granny Smith, Big Mac and Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom poked Espie with a hoof and initiated a chat with her.

"So how did you get injured Espie?" she asked curiously.

"Timberwolves, they scratched me and bit my arm and leg. Now I am unable to walk myself, that's why Fluttershy is letting me ride on her to get around while I'm introduced to all of you," Espie replied, showing her injured right leg and left arm wrapped in bandages.

"I hope you'd be alright soon. I'll help you take care of the dishes, and if ya need anything else, just call my sister, Applejack, for additional assistance."

"Thank you so much, Apple Bloom and Applejack for making me welcome and letting me try these dishes. I guess we're going to our next stop Fluttershy. See you Apples again when I have recovered." "Bye Espie, see ya!"

Espie was succoured and lifted by Applesjack onto Fluttershy's back and waved goodbye to the Apple Family, continuing their way to Rarity's home.

While moving in close proximity to Rarity's home, they ran into Rarity. Fluttershy and Rarity exchanged greetings. Espie and Rarity exchanged introductions and the trio entered Rarity's home.

Rarity looked at Espie closely and intently, lifting up her injured leg. "You're quite hurt my dear, you should really rest for quicker recovery. Anyway, is that make-up on your face around your eyes? You look like some beauty model with that..."

"It's not make-up. I was naturally born with the golden linings as birthmarks. It make me naturally beautifully attractive, but it's permanent." Espie replied, making Rarity a bit envious but both did their introductions to each other before they continued.

"Would you like to come with me to hunt for gems on the outskirts of Ponyville when you have recovered? I might need an additional assistant help me with unearthing some of the gems for my new design. I'll take you there for some adventure when you are back on your hooves." Rarity suggested to Espie.

"But I don't have hooves! I only have legs. And sure, I would love to, when I am able to walk again. I will see you around!" Espie corrected Rarity, waved goodbye and continued onto the next stop with Fluttershy.

"Espie, next we'll have to find Rainbow Dash. She's somewhere in the skies. Try to spot her if you can." Fluttershy told her.

"Whoosh!" Wind rushed and blew onto both their faces.

"Did someone call me? I could hear you from above. Hey! Who's that on your back, Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash questioned her. Fluttershy sighed before she answered.

"She's Espie, she is not from around here Rainbow Dash. She's a lovely Light Spirit from another place."

"Nice to meet you Rainbow Dash!" Espie greeted her with a smile, despite the tormenting pains in her leg.

"Hi Espie! Hmm… Is there any chance you are able to fly since you're a Light Spirit?

"Yes, using magic, but not in my current state. I can't even walk…"

"Since you are a Light Spirit who can fly, I assume you are some kind of magic-mystical creature. Am I right?"

"Yup! I can be considered one. I hope to race with you when I'm well again." Espie told Rainbow Dash and planned for a cloudless day race when she had fully convalesced.

"Well, with that placed aside, I've got rain clouds to settle. See you soon." After that, Rainbow Dash zoomed up into the skies, up into the horizon.

"Fluttershy, who's next. It's going to be sundown soon, so we've gotta hurry!"

"Don't worry Espie, we have only one more place to visit. We are going to see Twilight in her own castle."

"She has a castle? Is she royal or something?" "Espie, she is the Princess of Friendship, one of the four royal Alicorns and she lives in the Castle of Friendship. We will head there before we return to my cottage for us to rest for the night."

They headed towards the castle, and on their way there, they bumped into Twilight and Spike.

"Hello Twilight, I'm Espie. You have a small dragon on your back which is quite an unusual sight. I thought dragons were supposed to be big..."

"Did Fluttershy tell you my name?" Twilight was surprised momentarily but continued. "This is Spike, a baby dragon, and my assistant. He's not supposed to be big."

"Nice to meet you Espie." They both shook paw and claw while still on the backs of Fluttershy and Twilight.

"You're hurt badly Espie. So, I guess Fluttershy taking care of you at the moment?" Spike asked, a little concerned. "Yes. She's carrying around to introduce me to all of you two and the rest of the Mane Six. I can't move around myself as I have a very swollen bruise on my right leg which hurts if I walk." Espie answered.

"Espie, you should rest. You shouldn't be coming to visit my castle in this kind of condition. I promise when you are better, we would give you a tour around the castle. Fluttershy is an expert in helping to take care of animals, I bet she'll heal you up in no time. I guess we better keep going Spike, we've got books to arrange! See you soon Espie and Fluttershy!"

Twilight and Spike continued their way back to the crystalline castle, Fluttershy and Espie went a different path back to the cottage.

When they reached the cottage, washed up and prepared for to turn in for the night.

"Espie, before you sleep, I have one last question to ask you. Are those two things ears or horns?"

"These are horn-like ears. I basically have four ears to listen out for any danger. It's just typical for some of the Light Spirits like me."

"Oh. That's kind of cute. Let me help you onto the bed. You will be sleeping in this room beside mine. I hope you would recover soon. Sweet dreams."

She benignly tucked Espie into bed, hoping that she could quickly nurse her back to good health. Fluttershy went to sleep herself on her bed shortly afterwards.

Seeing that Fluttershy slept, she limped silently towards her belongings and took the bottle of Spirit Blossom Essence out of her bag and started to apply it on her painful bruise before putting it back in and returning back to the bed, soothing the agony for the night.