Chapter 12: Friends

"Come on in" Fluttershy said. She let him inside her room and he handed her the bouquet. "Oh, thank you." She placed them on the table and then hugged him. "Oh, it's so good to see you again."

"It's good to see you too," Strong Wood responded. They stopped hugging. "I've missed you. It hasn't quite been the same at home since you left."

"And I've missed you too," Fluttershy said. "So how have you been?"

"Good," Strong Wood answered. "Just tired a bit. It's been a long week. So how have you been? You've obviously done very well."

"Well yes I have," Fluttershy responded. "I love it here. It's wonderful! And beautiful."

"Yes it is..." Strong Wood started. He then noticed a blue tea pot painted with pink flowers on a side table. "Oh, what's that? Is that a prop?"

"Oh no, that's mine," Fluttershy said.

"You like tea?" Strong Wood questioned. Fluttershy nodded.

"Yes, do you like tea?" Fluttershy responded.

"Well...not really," Strong Wood admitted. "I prefer juice." Pinkie ran into the room panting and heaving loudly.

"Pinkie are you..." Fluttershy started.

"Party...soon...busy...need help," Pinkie said through her pants.

"Oh, well, I can be down to help in a few minutes," Fluttershy responded.

"Great...thanks," Pinkie replied before running out. Fluttershy turned back to Strong Wood.

"Well, not be rude, but could you..." Fluttershy started.

"Oh, of course," Strong Wood said. "But maybe when you're done at the party, maybe you could or would, like to go out with me. You know, so we can catch up and such."

"I'm afraid I can't," Fluttershy told him. "I already have plans after the party."

"Oh, well then maybe we can go out some other time," Strong Wood replied.

"I'd like that," Fluttershy said.

"Well, bye!" Strong Wood responded. He left the room and closed the door behind him.

"Sorry it took me a bit Pinkie," Fluttershy said as she ran into the lunchroom. She was wearing a simple black gown and Pinkie was wearing a pink dress with a white apron over it and there were candy corns decorating its edges.

"Oh, it's fine," Pinkie responded. She ran over and handed Fluttershy several rolls of streamers. "Could you put these up in those high places? I've got to check on the cakes." She ran off to the kitchen and Fluttershy put down all the rolls except for one. She flew up and started wrapping it around the posts and the support beams near the roof. Once she had finished with that one, she picked up another and continued until she had used up all of the rolls. Pinkie came out with a large cake on a pan on her back. She placed it on a table with a lavender table cloth and ran into the kitchen to get the next one.

"Um, Pinkie, would you like a hoof?" Fluttershy asked. Then Pinkie came out with the other cake. She put it next to the other one.

"I think we're good," Pinkie told her. The clock struck 5 and five bells rang.

"Well, I'd better go," Fluttershy said. It was about seven-thirty and the party had died down. It had been a great party and everyone came but now mostly everypony was in their room. The only ones left were Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie, Spike, and herself.

"What? Why?" Rarity asked.

"Yeah, why do you want to LEAVE me?" Pinkie asked.

"I don't, it's just that I have an engagement with a friend and I put it on hold for the party," Fluttershy said.

"But it's getting late my dear," Rarity told her. "You're not going to have a lot of time before nightfall. It is fall after all."

"Oh, it's not very far away," Fluttershy informed her. "I'll be fine."

"Well...I'll see you tomorrow then," Twilight said. She hugged Fluttershy. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Fluttershy responded. She walked out and went to her room.

"So who do you think she's meeting?" Rarity asked.

"Maybe it's Strong Wood," Pinkie said. They gave a questioning look. "What? She told me they were friends before she moved. It's possible."

"Oh, suppose they get married!" Rarity added. "Just imagine it. Fluttershy marrying the rich and eccentric Strong Wood."
"Now girls, she might just be meeting a friend in town," Twilight responded.

"Or with her old tutor," Pinkie said.

"Wait, she had a tutor?" Twilight questioned. Pinkie nodded.

"When did she get one?" Spike asked.

"Yeah, I don't remember her having one when I was here," Twilight said.

"Well it was SUPPOSED to be a secret so the rest of the cast wouldn't get jealous but it came out two weeks ago when you quit Rarity," Pinkie explained.

"Oh right, So who's her tutor?" Rarity asked.

"Gus Tenor," Pinkie answered. She turned to Twilight. "You know the stallion that helped the boys learn their parts to the last opera we did together?"

"The one that was cranky and didn't want to be there?" Twilight guessed.

"Yep, that's the one," Pinkie said.

"Oh, well good for her," Twilight responded.

"So she still visits him even though she isn't taking anymore lessons?" Spike questioned. "Is that a bit weird?" Pinkie shrugged her shoulders.

"Maybe but he seems alright," Pinkie said. "And he's funny. He actually helped me pull a few pranks on Chrysalis and Blueblood. In fact, he comes around ever so often to help me prank Blueblood. And check on everything else around here."

"Is he the one who supposedly lives under the opera house?" Rarity asked. Pinkie shook her head.

"No that's the Opera Ghost," Pinkie said. "Or as we all call him, the Phantom of the Opera. Since no pony has ever seen."

"Well how do you know he exists if no pony has ever seen him?" Spike asked.

"Because he keeps sending us letters," Pinkie said.

"Interesting," Twilight said. "Sounds like a case. Spike..."

"Don't say it," Spike muttered.

"Get my quills and some parchment," Twilight said. "We're got a mystery to solve."

"And there it is," Spike muttered. He walked off to Twilight's room to get her stuff. "So much for a vacation."

"...I found them on the ceiling," Discord finished. Fluttershy laughed. They were in his cave sitting across from each other. Discord was on the coach and Fluttershy the chaise lounge and there was a small wooden table in between them.

"Oh, Discord, I've never known any pony as funny as you," Fluttershy said. "Or any creature for that matter."

"Thank you Fluttershy," Discord said. "Now who was it at the door before I left?"

"Huh, oh..., well it actually was an old friend of mine named Strong Wood," Fluttershy responded.

"The patron?" Discord questioned. She nodded.

"He was just coming by to say hi and congratulations," she told him. "And see if we can meet up to talk."

"Oh, well, good for him," Discord responded a bit rudely. Fluttershy noticed.

"Discord, you're not jealous are you?" Fluttershy asked. Discord spat out his tea.

"What? No! No, no, no. I'm not jeal..." Discord said. Fluttershy gave him her 'be serious' look. He sighed. "Okay, fine. I am. A bit. Happy?"

"Discord, I'll still be your friend," Fluttershy responded. "Nothing's going to change that."

"I know, just...it gets boring down here," Discord said. The clock dulled eight. "You probably should head back up. They'll get suspicious if you're not."

"Okay," Fluttershy said. "But I mean it Discord. I'm still going to be your friend. I promise."

"Thank you," Discord responded. He levitated a cucumber sandwich towards her. "One for the road?"

"Oh sure," Fluttershy replied. She grabbed it and started eating it. She got off the chaise lounge and headed for her room. "Goodbye Discord." It came out garbled though due to the food in her mouth. Discord smiled.

"Goodbye my dear," Discord said.