Chapter 32: Stare Master
Fire walked toward Fluttershy's cottage as today neared its end. He arrived and saw Fluttershy standing just outside her home. She had a brush in her teeth and was running it through a familiar white cat's fur.
Fire approached slowly so as to not startle the shy Pegasus then spoke softly.
"Good morning Fluttershy," he spoke softly.
She looked up and smiled at him. "Oh, hello Fire."
"Grooming Rarity's cat I see," Fire noted.
"Yes," Fluttershy said as she returned to her task of doing so.
Fire smiled at the white cat and extended a hoof. "Hello Opalescence."
The cat hissed at him and he glared while lightning his horn.
"Oh you! Behave yourself!" he scolded.
That cat could be Ms. Hissy Prissy at times. But she shook at the sight of his lit up horn and bowed her head. He then stroked her white coat which was even brighter than her owners. To be color precise, Rarity was whitish silver, while her cat was pure white.
"So, what brings you here Fire?" Fluttershy asked.
"Oh, just wondering if you could groom Smokey soon," Fire told her.
"Of course, I'd be happy too!" Fluttershy said. "For a small fee that is. We may be friends but looking after animals is my job and I have to be paid."
Fire smiled. "No problem, Flutters. Still five bits?"
"Yes," she said.
Fire reached into his saddle bag and pulled out the bits. "There you are, five bits for my favorite Pegasus."
Fluttershy blushed. "Your-your favorite?"
Fire chuckled. "Yeah, just don't tell Rainbow Dash! I mean she's cool and awesome and all that but she can also be… well… egotistical and arrogant. You're just kind and sweet."
Fluttershy smiled. "Thank you, Fire."
She brushed Opalesence a few more times and then-
"Done! Now I just have to bring Opal home to Rarity."
"I can go with you," Fire said. "I can't let a mare walk… or fly around alone."
"Why not?" Fluttershy asked as she brought a fancy looking basket encrusted with jewels out that Opal climbed in. "Ponyville is perfectly safe."
"For the moment," Fire said looking off into the distance. "But who knows when danger will strike again?"
"You're probably right," Fluttershy admitted. "After all we did encounter that hydra a little while ago and then there was Rarity falling. I had a nightmare or two where both of you hit the ground and we lost you."
Her smile wavered at that.
"Its fine, Fluttershy. Both me and her are fine," Fire reminded her as he put a wing around her. "Rainbow Dash and my mother saved us."
She nodded. "Yes, thank Celestia for that."
With that they made their way to Rarity's shop. The sign in the window said open so they headed on in. There was no sign of Rarity downstairs, which meant she was probably upstairs in her workspace/bedroom.
Fluttershy walked up the stairs, carrying Opal in the basket with Fire and his two pets following. They opened the door to Rarity's bedroom, which rung with a doorbell strangely.
"Oh, what now?!" Rarity asked impatiently.
Fluttershy who was first to look into the doorway, quickly became apologetic. "Oh, sorry. I thought the "open" sign meant you were open, but I must have been mistaken."
Rarity gasped. "Fluttershy! Forgive me! I was so wrapped up in my work that I forgot you were bringing Opalescence back from her grooming!"
Fire now appeared in the doorway as well. He saw Sweetie Belle standing in the room with her older sister, though she didn't look like particularly happy.
"Hello Rarity, Sweetie Belle," he greeted.
"Oh, hello Fire!" Rarity said with a smile.
"Hi Fire!" Sweetie Belle greeted as well.
Fire smiled at them as Fluttershy replied to Rarity.
"No worries, Rarity. I've left her there in the basket."
Opalescence jumped out of the basket in front of Fluttershy, her fur shining as she shook herself and purred.
Rarity smiled at the sight. "Oh, she looks great! I just don't understand how you're able to
do it! I can't get near her without getting a swipe from her claws."
Opal was currently nuzzling against Fluttershy before looking at Rarity who brought her head down to the cat's level. Opal hissed and swiped at her owner, demonstrating Rarity's point.
"Ahh!" Rarity exclaimed drawing back just enough to avoid a scratch before turning back to Fluttershy and looking worried. "Did you use... the Stare on her?"
Fluttershy shook her head. "Oh, no! I wouldn't! I couldn't! I-I don't really have any control over when that happens. I-It just happens. No, I'm just good with animals. It's my special gift, you know?"
She leaned down as Opal was strangely nuzzling her. Fire wasn't sure what to make of that cat at times. She could be so mean spirited, but she had nuzzled Rarity back when the unicorn had been doing well at the fashion show.
"The stare?" Fire asked.
"It's when I get really assertive," Fluttershy said. "I usually only use it on animals that giving trouble. But that's not too often."
Fire recalled that time when Fluttershy had broken out of her shell to stand up that dragon. Maybe the stare was like that?
"Well, you should have a picture of Opal as a cutie mark instead of those butterflies," Rarity told Fluttershy with a wink.
Sweetie Belle grinned. "Ooh, ooh, oh, oh, oh, oh!" she ran toward Opalescence and turned back to her sister. "Maybe I can be good with animals, too!"
Still looking to get her cutie mark no doubt. But as she turned back to Rarity and suggested that, Opal swiped at her mane, cutting a bit of it off with a devious smile. Boy her claws were razor sharp!
Sweetie Belle looked at the cat as she felt the action and retreated. "Or not."
Fluttershy and Rarity laughed. Fire frowned, he didn't particularly find that funny. He approached Sweetie Belle as the filly took a brush and fixed her mane back to its regularly style.
"You okay Sweetie?" he asked.
"Yeah, that cat just scares me," the filly said.
"She's a nasty little thing at times," Fire agreed. "But you can't let fear run your life. Sometimes you have to be brave."
Sweetie smiled. "Maybe you're right."
Rarity then spoke up. "I'm sorry I can't invite you two to stay and chat. I've bitten off a bit more than I can chew with this order."
Sweetie Belle looked at her sister confused as she stood with Fire near the sewing machine on the desk. "But you're not eating anything."
"No, Sweetie, it's an expression," Rarity said as she walked over to her. "It means that I've taken on more work than I can handle. I've got twenty of these special robes to make tonight! They're due in Trottingham tomorrow morning."
She showed them a sample of bright golden cloth that caused Fluttershy and Fire to gasp.
"See?" Rarity asked. "I've lined them in a special gold silk. It took so long to make, but I think it adds just the right touch, don't you?"
"These are lovely," Fluttershy agreed. "But twenty by tonight? How will you get it all done?"
Rarity hesitated. "Well, I, uh..."
Sweetie Belle then got enthusiastic again. "Oh, oh, oh! Maybe I could..."
She got a glare from Rarity that shut her down. "Just... just stand over here and watch."
"I'll manage."
Fluttershy approached the door slowly. "Well, maybe Fire and I should get out of your mane so you can work."
Before she reached the door though, two others came sprinting in, moving so fast they caused Fluttershy's mane and tail to move with the wind they made. A blur of yellow and orange told Fire it was Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.
"Hi Fluttershy! Hi Rarity! Hi Fire!" the two other fillies greeted.
Rarity's own mane and tail blew with the hyperactive filly wind as well.
"Hello, uh, girls..." she greeted nervously.
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo then approached Sweetie Belle. "Hey, Sweetie Belle!"
Sweetie Belle was looking miserable, but instantly perked up as she saw her two friends. "Scootaloo! Apple Bloom!"
"You ready for tonight?" Scootaloo asked.
"Yup! Cutie mark planning session is a go!" Sweetie Belle agreed with a salute.
"Tonight is the night we each try to find our own special talent," Apple Bloom declared.
"Even if it takes us all night!" Scootaloo agreed.
"I'm ready! You ready?" Apple Bloom asked the young Pegasus.
"Very ready!" Scootaloo said with a wink.
"Cutie Mark Crusader sleepover at Rarity's! Yay!" all three fillies yelled together, giving the three older ponies an earful.
"And... look what I made us!" Sweetie Belle said as she got out a red cape with a blue shield bearing a yellow pony silhouette on it.
"Oh, wow!" the other two fillies said impressed. "That's so cool!"
Fluttershy approached Sweetie Belle to get a closer look. "What does that patch on your cape mean?"
"The Cutie Mark Crusaders! Yay!" the young fillies shouted at the top of their lungs again.
"We're on a crusade, a mission!" Scootaloo said
"To find our cutie marks!" Apple Bloom added.
"Yup. And look. I lined them with this special gold silk," Sweetie Belle said as she showed the back of her cape, which was made from Rarity's special fabric.
Fire gritted his teeth as he saw Rarity's eyes widen as she too realized this.
"It took sooo long to make, but I think it adds just the right touch, don't you?" Sweetie asked, imitating her sister.
"Oooooh!" the other filles said.
Rarity sprinted to her sewing machine and found a bit of gold silk there with three small parts cut out that were the right size for the capes. "Sweetie Belle! What have you done? That was the last of the gold silk! Oh, now I'll have to make more! Oh, I hope I can make more. I'm gonna have to work all night!
She then looked at the girls sadly. "Which means... sorry, girls, I'm afraid the Crusaders sleepover is cancelled."
"What?!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed as she her friends also looked sad.
"I just won't have any time to watch you if I want to get these robes delivered on time," Rarity told her.
"But-" Sweetie Belle tried to object.
"No buts this time," Rarity said. "I'm sorry, Sweetie Belle. It's just the way it has to be."
"Awwww." The three fillies looked down in dismay.
Fluttershy came forward. "I, uh, I suppose I could take them for the night."
The three fillies perked up at that.
"I couldn't ask you to do that," Rarity said.
"Oh, it's no problem at all," Fluttershy replied.
"Have you met my sister and her friends? A problem is all it would be," Rarity stated.
"These three are pretty hyperactive," Fire noted. "Maybe you could use an extra hoof? I'd be happy to stick with you for the night Fluttershy. If that's alright with you?"
"I don't think that will be necessary Fire," Fluttershy said kindly. "Did I have a problem with Opal? You've seen how well I handle small creatures!"
"I suppose that's true... and I do have a lot of work to do," Rarity said.
"Come on, it'll be fun."
"I assure you, they're quite a handful."
"These sweet little angels?" Fluttershy asked looking at the fillies who grinned.
Fire could have sworn he saw angel headpieces over them.
"Well... all right," Rarity finally relented. "But I think Fire's right. You should have an extra set of hooves to take care of them."
Fire smiled. "I'll be glad to help."
"Cutie Mark Crusader sleepover at Fluttershy's cottage with her and Fire! Yay!" the crusaders yelled again before taking off.
"So cute," Fluttershy said before seeing how fast they moved. "W-wait for me!"
Fire heard Rarity hum behind him as he made to follow. He turned and gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry Rarity. I'll take good care of your sister and her friends."
The fashion loving unicorn smiled. "I'm sure you will Prince Fire. Of course, I don't know if I would trust any other stallions to take care of my little sister. You never know what ruffian things might lurk beneath a seemingly smooth surface after all."
Fire nodded. "I'd sooner feed myself to Timber Wolves then do anything to hurt them."
"And I believe you," Rarity said with complete faith. "You've never given me any reason to think you would ever take advantage of them. Good luck, you'll need it."
Fire smirked. "You obviously will too if you want to make all that silk. Don't worry. With me and Fluttershy looking after them together they'll be in good hooves."
…
Fire listened to Fluttershy as she thought of plans while flying behind the girls as they made her way to her cottage.
"Oh, won't this be ever so fun? We can have a nice little tea party, and braid each others' tails, and sit quietly and color, and tell each other fairy tales, and-
She broke off as the girls ran ahead, running into Twilight and causing her to spin around. The lavender unicorn looked and saw the young ponies giggling as they played on top of a well.
She then turned to them. "Hello, Fire, Fluttershy."
"Hey, Twilight," Fire greeted.
"Where are you off to?" Fluttershy asked.
"I'm heading to the Everfree Forest to Zecora's to get some of my favorite tea," Twilight told them.
That caused Fire to worry a bit. The Everfree could be dangerous.
Fluttershy had a similar reaction. "Th-The Everfree Forest? Ah, you'll be careful, won't you?"
"Of course," Twilight affirmed. "How about you two? What are you doing with the girls?"
"Rarity has a big order to fill tonight, so I volunteered to take the girls over to my cottage for a sleepover. Fire wanted to help so he'll be staying as well."
"Well, sounds like everypony has their hooves full today. Good thing you have Fire to help, cause taking care of three little fillies by yourself would be a hassle."
"What? These sweet little angels? They'll be no problem at all," Fluttershy gestured to the crusaders who quickly returned to her side with the cutest grins.
Fire then suddenly remembered something. "I need to go and alert my guards that I'll be staying with you tonight."
By the time he finished that it was already getting dark. When he arrived at Fluttershy's cottage, his mother's sun had gone completely down and the three fillies were in the living room with a pile of broken wood on the floor.
"What happened here?" Fire asked.
"Oh, we tried to be Cutie Mark Crusader Creature Catchers," Apple Bloom said. "Pretended we were chasing one of those dangerous creatures through the Everfree Forest, and we messed up Fluttershy's table."
Fire sighed. "Girls, we've told you this before. You can't force a cutie mark to happen. I know you want your marks but you're trying too hard here."
"But how are we going to get our cutie marks if we don't try new things? Apple Bloom asked.
"And we messed up Fluttershy's table!" Sweetie Belle reminded them. "We should at least try to fix it!"
Apple Bloom then got an idea. "I know! We could be Cutie Mark Crusader carpenters!
They got hammers and tried to fix the table as Fire and Fluttershy watched. But the result was… "Um ... that doesn't look like a table," Sweetie Belle said.
"We were making a table?" Scootaloo asked, seeming to have forgotten already.
"Somepony needs to put this thing out of its misery," Apple Bloom said.
"It's not that bad," Fire tried to encourage. "Kind of looks like it could be a… sign? If you paint it and put writing on it to mean something."
Scootaloo shook her head. "We are definitely not Cutie Mark Carpenters."
"Who wants a picture of a hammer on their flank anyway?" Sweetie asked.
Fluttershy moved the table that had been remade into a blank blue sign. "Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way, how about a game?
"A game?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Yeah, we can play a game!" Fire agreed. "Like Fluttershy and I could give you girls ponyback rides!"
"Oh well, I was going to see if we could play 'Shh'," Fluttershy said.
Fire frowned. "Shh?"
"A game to see who can be quiet the longest," Fluttershy said. "I'm the world Champion."
That sounded like a… dull game.
Fire turned back to the girls. "You ever had a ride through the sky?"
"I just had one with Rainbow Dash a little while ago when we went to Cloudsdale," Scootaloo said.
Sweetie Belle's eyes lit up. "Ooh! I haven't!"
She jumped on Fire's back. "We can get our cutie marks in ponyback riding!"
Fire chuckled. So passionate, yet cute. "I don't think there's a cutie mark for that Sweetie Belle."
"Aww," she lamented.
"But I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun with this," Fire said. "Now hang on tight!"
He went outside and flew around as Sweetie Belle let out whoops of thrill.
"Whoa! Woo! Ahahaha!" She whooped and giggled as Fire moved. "Go faster Fire! Faster!"
Fire cranked it up a notch and flew faster. He then did the same with Apple Bloom.
"This is so fun!" the young Earth Pony said as she felt the wind rush against her.
"Now now I'm sure Fire is already tired. We should probably go to bed," Fluttershy said as Fire landed.
"No way, we got more crusading to do!" Apple Bloom objected.
No rest for the young. "Alright girls you want to go on a crusade? How about we make this a real crusade?"
"What do you mean?" Sweetie Belle asked.
Fire led them back inside and lit up his horn before directing it at the table they'd turned into a sign. With a red light from his horn, he turned it into a set of four wooden swords. He levitated each of them over to himself and the three young ones.
"Let's see if you can get your cutie marks in rescuing!" Fire said.
"Rescuing?" Scootaloo asked. "Rescuing who?"
"Rescuing Fluttershy!" Fire explained.
"Rescue me? But from what?" Fluttershy asked
"From me! The evil warlord!" Fire said as he grabbed her around the waist and gave a false evil laugh. "Wahahaha!"
"Oh no!" Fluttershy said in fright. "My friend Fire has turned evil!"
Fire looked at her and knew he had to clarify. "Fluttershy, I'm just playing! They need to burn some energy before bed!"
"Oh, okay," Fluttershy said, relieved this was just a game then began to play along. "Oh no! Help! Help me! I need somepony to save me!"
"Hang on Princess Fluttershy! The Cutie Mark Crusaders are on their way!" Apple Bloom said as she and the others brandished their toy swords.
"Rescue Cutie Marks here we come!" Sweetie Belle said.
Fire lifted Fluttershy up off the ground with a soft flap of his wings as they advanced.
"Hey no fair!" Scootaloo said as she tried flapping her undergrown wings. "None of us can fly!"
"Villains like me never fight fair!" Fire told them with a pretty convincing villainous glare. "Now you better think of something fast or… you're never see the beautiful Princess Fluttershy again!"
He lifted his own little wooden sword, though it might as well have been a dagger for him. He directed the harmless blade to Fluttershy's throat.
"Ah!" Fluttershy squealed.
"She's about to be sacrificed to Tartarus!" Fire said.
"Unhoof her at once dark alicorn!" Apple Bloom said as she ran.
She climbed up one of the small ladders nearby and leapt at with her wooden sword her mouth. Fire could have easily dodged it but decided to let the filly have the win. Her harmless blade came down and hit Fire on the head. It hurt just a little.
"Oh! You got me! Ah I'm dying!" Fire said as he fell with Fluttershy still his hooves.
"Fire? Fire?" Fluttershy asked in concern.
"He's just playing dead!" Scootaloo reminded her.
Fluttershy sighed in relief. "Well, that was fun. Scary, but fun! Are you girls ready for bed yet?"
"No way! That was just the start!"
Scootaloo raised her sword at Fire as he got up. "I challenge you to a duel! For my sword cutie mark!"
They bashed their blades against each other. For a long time, Fire easily held them off. He blocked them and then rolled Sweetie Belle over on her back and with a hoof began to tickle her.
"Ha ha ha!" she giggled.
Then Scootaloo and Apple Bloom jumped on top of Fire and together they all pinned him to the ground. The four of them laughed. Then the girls looked at their flanks.
"Aww, no marks for rescue or sword fighting," Sweetie Belle said.
They all sighed and Fire got up.
"It was fun though, right?" he asked.
"Yeah," Apple Bloom agreed. "But we really want our cutie marks."
"It will happen someday," Fire assured them. "But now it's late. Definitely time for you three to go to bed."
He yawned as well. "And it's probably the same for me and Fluttershy too."
"But-"
"You've had your fun crusading tonight," Fire told them. "Time for bed."
He and Fluttershy took them up to her bed as it was the only one in the house. She and him would be sleeping on the couch tonight. That would be a first for him.
"How are we gonna find our special talent in our sleep?" Apple Bloom asked as they climbed into bed.
Fire sighed. Their dedication bordered on obsession, maybe even crossed the line.
Fluttershy blew out a candle in the room that somehow provided enough light to light the whole of her bedroom. "Maybe you'll have a lovely little dream about your special talent."
"But we're not even tired!" Scootaloo objected.
Fire was exhausted. Was he ever this hyperactive when he was young? He vaguely recalled one night where he had kept Cadance up till past midnight when she foalsat him. At least he hadn't been worried about getting his cutie mark, of course he'd been younger than them when he got it.
"How about I sing you a lullaby?" Fluttershy suggested.
The three of them nodded in agreement.
Fluttershy began to sing in a lovely voice.
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed
The lullaby seemed to be having the desired effect on two of them. Scootaloo and Applebloom began to close their eyes.
But Sweetie Belle seemed to just be stirred up even more.
"I know this one!" she exclaimed.
"Oh, how wonderful! Why don't you sing it with me?" Fluttershy asked.
Sweetie Belle grinned eagerly and cleared throat her throat. Then she sang in a loud exciting voice that didn't suit the lullaby style.
Hush now! Quiet now!
It's time to lay your sleepy head!
Said hush now! Quiet now!
It's time to go to bed!
"Okay Sweetie, that was..." Fluttershy tried to speak but Sweetie Belle continued singing loudly.
Driftin' off to sleep!
The exciting day behind you!
Driftin' (driftin') off to sleep!
Let the joy of dream land find you!
"Thank you, Sweetie, um..." Fluttershy continued to attempt to talk to the young filly to no avail.
Hush now! Quiet now!
Lay your sleepy head!
Said hush now! Quiet now!
It's time to go to bed!
Ow!
Her voice carried out the open window, its rhythm had even been enough to knock down some of the things in Fluttershy's room like her clock. Then outside Fire heard chicken sounds.
Scootaloo was drawn to the sound as well. "What is that?"
Fire spotted them making a break for the stairs.
"Girls come back here!" he galloped after them.
Boy they were fast. Fire was already tired from all this running around and playing with them.
Fluttershy, meanwhile was busy putting the things that had been knocked over by Sweetie's singing. She soon noticed they were gone and looked out the window.
"Girls!" She called.
The three fillies were all out front with Fire just getting through the doorway with heavy pants.
"Fluttershy, your chickens are on the loose!" Apple Bloom told her looking up.
"I wonder what could have caused that," Sweetie said innocently, surprised or unaware she was the reason.
"Don't worry, Fluttershy, the Cutie Mark Crusaders will handle this!" Scootaloo looked up at the Pegasus as she looked down at them through the window.
"Cutie Mark Crusader chicken herders! Yay!" Sweetie said enthusiastically.
"No, I don't think that's a— ah, come back! Please!"
Fluttershy's words fell on deaf ears as the girls tried to round up the chickens. But they weren't having much luck, simply chasing them around. Fluttershy flew in and one landed on her head and she finally had enough.
"Girls!"
That caused both the chickens and fillies to freeze.
Fluttershy then gestured the chickens to the coop nearby. "Come on, in you go."
They didn't obey right away, so Fluttershy stared at them fiercely. That was a new one, Fire hadn't seen her do that before, it was intimidating. Slowly the chickens made their way in as Fluttershy continued to stare after them.
"There's some good chickens," she said with a pleasant smile before turning to her three young guests. Okay, you three. Isn't it about time you got into bed?"
"But-" they all spoke together.
"No more buts girls!" Fire told them. "You need your rest. Your cutie marks will come when they're supposed to. You're not gonna do help yourselves with all this fuss."
Fluttershy nodded. "Fire's right."
They brought the girls back inside and Fire rested on the couch while she led them upstairs. Soon she was back down with him.
"I just tucked them in," she told Fire as she took one side of the green couch while he was on the other.
"Good, those fillies are a hoofull!" he exclaimed.
"Yes, and I'm very grateful for your assistance," Fluttershy said before blushing as she noticed the minimal space between them on the couch. "Um… I think we actually better come up with a better accommodation for you. This couch isn't exactly made to have two ponies sleeping on it unless they're… well… a couple."
She blushed. Fire did as well.
"You're a great mare Fluttershy," he told her. "Any stallion would be lucky to be with you."
"Thank you," Fluttershy said with her own blush. "So, um… how is your love life going?"
"Honestly not that great," Fire admitted. "You know I asked Moondancer to the Grand Galloping Gala and it's coming up. Every day it gets closer. But, I just don't know if I feel… attracted to her. And…"
"You like Rarity," Fluttershy guessed.
"Yeah," Fire admitted. "She's just so beautiful! I mean, I know there's more important things then physical beauty but that's one of the main motivators for attraction isn't it?"
"Yes," Fluttershy agreed. "She is also very generous, sophisticated, and ambitious."
Fire nodded. "She is. But Moondancer is a great mare too. She's smart, hardworking, and kind. For a long time she was shy, like you. But ever since the Nightmare Moon thing she's been coming out of her shell more and more, coming to Ponyville to see me and Twilight."
Fluttershy looked at him with uncertain eyes. "Well, I'm… I'm sure it will all work out between you. She isn't bad looking at all! Maybe a little fashion touch from Rarity and you could be over the moon for her!"
"Maybe," Fire said. "I'm hoping that will be the case at least."
Fluttershy nodded. "Well, we should probably get you something else to sleep on, or I should lay on the floor."
"A gentlecolt would not let that a mare go through that for him," Fire insisted.
"Well, I'm sure I can come up with something," Fluttershy said as she went for her closet. "Ah! Here it is! My sleeping bag!"
She drew out a green sleeping bag with flowers on it which she spread across the floor.
Fire smiled. "I've never gone camping before."
"I sometimes do it just outside my cottage," Fluttershy admitted. "But I've never done it in an actual forest. Too scary for me."
Fire sniggered. "I'd probably love to do that."
"Yes, you being such a daring pony like Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy said before yawning. "Well, I'm tired."
"No surprise after dealing with those three," Fire looked up at the stairs to where the younger ponies were sleeping.
Fluttershy sighed. "It really wasn't that hard ... I mean, all I needed to do was just show them who's in charge. Nothing's gonna get past Fluttershy! Good with animals, good with kids. Good night, Fire."
"Night Fluttershy."
They closed their eyes and prepared to drift off into the world of dreams. For a while there was silence.
"Mmm, peace and quiet," Fluttershy muttered before gasping. "Too quiet."
She was right. They should have heard faint echoes of the fillies speaking or snoring. Fire got up from the couch and made his way back up the stairs to the bed.
"They're gone!" he exclaimed.
"Oh no!"
They looked around the house, and soon went outside when they didn't find the girls there.
"Girls?" Fluttershy as they went out.
No sign of the fillies out here either, at least at first glance.
"Girls?" Fluttershy asked as she looked in the chicken coop. But then she noticed something.
"Elizabeak! She's missing!"
Fire looked in the coop and saw there was a vacant spot inside.
"Girls?!" Fluttershy exclaimed more frantically before gasping as she spotted chicken tracks along with filly hoofprints. "Oh, no! They must have gone looking for my missing chicken! Which means... they must have gone into...
She looked after the two different sets of tracks then gasped and gulped. "The Everfree Forest!"
"Don't worry Fluttershy," Fire said as he lit up his horn and offered his hoof. "We'll get them back safe and sound."
Fluttershy smiled and took his hoof. "Thank you, Fire. I know I can count on you to keep me safe. You even the odds after all. Just please try not to get injured like you did with the hydra?"
"I'll try," Fire said.
No way to be sure he could succeed. But all he could do was try.
They headed into the forest.
"Girls," Fluttershy called softly.
Fire frowned. "I think this definitely qualifies as a time where shouting is needed. Apple Bloom! Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo!"
He yelled their names and it echoed through the forest.
They continued, Fluttershy still gripping Fire's hoof, grateful for it and the light on his horn that illuminated their surroundings. and then there was a snapping sound beneath them.
"Ahh! What was that?" Fluttershy exclaimed taking a step back.
Fire kept a grip on her hoof, preventing her from backing into a tree behind her. "It's okay, Fluttershy. You just stepped on a branch."
He looked down at it, it was visible thanks to the red light of his horn.
"Oh," she giggled. "Silly me."
"We should probably hurry though," Fire told her. "Wouldn't want something else to find those fillies before we do. Especially if its not very friendly."
"You're right! They might run into that hydra or some other monster," Fluttershy said before looking fearfully into the dark forest ahead of them.
"Come on!" Fire said as he led her by the hoof on a low flight.
They moved at a good speed. But as they continued along the path they saw a silhouette of a pony up ahead. It wasn't one of the girls, but a more grown pony and it looked like…
"Twilight?" Fire asked.
She didn't respond. And as they got closer and Fire's horn light shined on her they both gasped. It was a statue of Twilight Sparkle, her face frozen in horror.
"Twilight! Oh! What's happened to you?" Fluttershy asked as she tapped the statue with a hoof, causing it to lose its balance and fall over. "Oh, no! If you've been turned to stone, it must mean- oh!"
Fire knew of at least one creature that had the ability to turn ponies or anything else into stone. Of course, there were pony spells for that but this was monster territory. It had to be a…
"Cockatrice!" he guessed aloud.
"Yes! Oh no, the girls!" Fluttershy said before taking suddenly letting go of Fire and taking off.
She then quickly remembered the petrified Twilight. "Don't move. We'll be back for you. Girls!"
Fluttershy took off again.
"Hey wait up!" Fire called.
She was flying at near Rainbow Dash level speed! Fire could just barely keep up.
They got up high and called as they flew. "Girls? Girls?"
"Girls!" Fire called as well.
"Fluttershy? Fire Sword?" Sweetie Belle called up at them.
The two-winged ponies landed in front of the young ones.
"Girls! Thank goodness we found you!" Fluttershy said.
"We are going back now!" Fire said as he took all three of them in his magic to make sure they couldn't get away. "This forest is not safe!"
"Hey! Put us down!" Apple Bloom said as she squirmed in Fire's red aura.
"Yeah, we haven't found the chicken yet!" Sweetie Belle said.
"There's no time for that," Fluttershy told them. "There's a cockatrice on the loose!"
"A cocka-what now?" Apple Bloom asked.
"A cockatrice!" Fluttershy said. "It's a frightening creature with the head of a chicken and the body of a snake."
"The head of a chicken and the body of a snake? That doesn't sound scary, that sounds silly!" Scootaloo said.
Apple Bloom agreed as she said. "Why, if I ever saw one of them cockathingies face-to-face,
I'd laugh at how silly it was."
"No! Never look one in the eye!" Fluttershy said.
"They won't be able to," Fire said with a triumphant grin. "I've got them all trapped."
"Good," Fluttershy said in relief. "Give me one of them and we'll head back."
Fire passed her Scootaloo while putting Sweetie Belle on his back and taking Apple Bloom in his hooves. The two teenage ponies were about to head back to Fluttershy's cottage when they heard a clucking sound nearby. Then a chicken appeared out of the bushes.
"The chicken!" Sweetie Belle said as she jumped off Fire's back.
Scootaloo did the same with Fluttershy and Apple Boom managed to squirm herself free. They ran toward the chicken. But then another appeared out of the bushes next to the first one.
"Two chickens?" Scootaloo wondered aloud.
"I thought only one escaped!" Apple Bloom said.
"Grab them both!" Sweetie Belle told them.
They lunged for the two. But the second chicken rose up out of the bushes, showing its long snake like body that also came with scaled wings. The crusaders froze in fear, silently taking back their earlier comment about such a combination being silly.
The cockatrice roared and leapt out in front of the escaped chicken who ran around in fright. The monster looked into the chicken's eyes and turned it to stone. It fell into the ground headfirst with a thud.
The crusaders screamed and began running back along the path. The cockatrice chased after them, going past the two older ponies.
"Fluttershy lead them back!" Fire ordered. "I'll hold that thing off!"
"Okay," Fluttershy nodded. "Just don't look it in the eye! Or kill it! If you kill it we might never get Twilight or Elizabeak back!"
"Noted!" Fire said nervously.
He flew up behind the cockatrice as it chased the girls who tripped. Fire reached the cockatrice just in time and bit its tail before swinging it against a tree. It gave a pained squawk and opened its eyes.
Fire closed his own eyes. He heard the ugly thing emitting its sounds, alternating between chicken clucks and monster growls, he also heard the girls screaming up ahead. This was a bit of a predicament. How was he going to fight something he couldn't look at?
"Unless you want to be roast cockatrice tonight, you turn my friend and that chicken back to normal!" Fire told the foe nearby that he could not see through the darkness of his closed eyes.
He heard it squawk and then felt a sharp peck at his foreleg.
"Ow!"
He opened his eyes in response to the pain and looked into the cockatrice's eyes. It glared at him as he gritted his teeth in fear and felt his body harden.
…
Fluttershy saw Fire get turned to stone as she tried to calm the girls down.
"Oh no!" she exclaimed as she turned to the cockatrice. The snake bodied chicken turned to her as well and she covered her eyes. "Girls! Behind me, now!"
They finally started listening to her and did as she said. She heard the cockatrice roaring in front of her. She glanced behind her at Fire, and then back at Fire who stood frozen. He'd tried so bravely to protect them, but now it was her turn.
From somewhere deep down, a burst of courage came into the shy mare and she advanced.
"You!" she yelled at the cockatrice as she opened her eyes and stared at him. "Just who do you think you are, going around turning others into stone?"
The cockatrice looked at her in surprise but glared at her.
Fluttershy slowly began to turn to stone, it wasn't working as fast as it had on Elizabeak or Fire it seemed.
"You should be ashamed of yourself," Fluttershy went on she continued to stare at the monster. "I have a mind to find your mother and tell her what you've been up to, young man."
The cockatrice began to lose his will at the words and the stare in her eyes which scared him. He lost his flight and fell to the ground, his petrifying stare still active as half of Fluttershy's body was now turned to stone. But it was weakening with every second.
"Now you go over there, and turn Elizabeak and my friend Twilight back to normal, and don't ever let me catch you doing this again," Fluttershy said getting in the monster's face.
He lost his will to fight and the petrification spreading over Fluttershy's body stopped, then shattered, leaving bits of cement like debris around the Pegasus.
"Do you understand me?" Fluttershy asked.
The cockatrice nodded fearfully and ran ahead to release Twilight while Fluttershy checked on the young ones.
…
Fire felt drowsy as he came to.
"Uh!" he shook his head. "What happened. Uh must have been frozen by that thing," he said.
"Fire! You're alright!" Fluttershy said as she ran over and hugged him.
Twilight was confused about the whole thing as she followed. "Somepony wanna fill me in?"
"Probably in the morning, we've all been up supper late," Fluttershy said.
They headed back home, or at least two of them did. Fire, Fluttershy and the young ponies crashed in her cottage while Twilight went back to the Golden Oaks library. Morning came and Twilight knocked on the door. Fluttershy sat with her and Fire at a table outside and explained the whole story. The young ponies laughed and frolicked near the chicken coop.
"And that's when it brought you back from stone."
Twilight was writing a scroll to Celestia as she heard this. "This is gonna make quite a letter to the princess. I was wrong about you. You certainly do know how to handle those girls.
"Well, I had some help with Fire," Fluttershy admitted. "And a good thing as well. I assumed that I'd be just as good with kids as I am with animals. Boy, was I wrong. I really learned the hard way not to bite off more than I could chew."
"You and Rarity both," Twilight agreed.
Speak of the pony, there was Rarity looking tired.
"Good morning, Rarity," Twilight greeted.
"Did you finish all those capes?" Fluttershy asked.
Rarity sighed in relief. "Just delivered them. I have to admit, if you two hadn't come along, I might not have. Thanks again."
"Not a problem Rarity," Fire said as he took a sip of tea.
"Won't you stay for some tea?" Fluttershy asked.
Rarity smiled at the offer. "I really must get back to the shop and clean up. Girls! Get your
things. Time to go. Girls!"
She looked at the younger ponies who continued to run and laugh. Rarity continued to try to get them to listen to no avail.
Fluttershy took the initiative and stood beside Rarity. "Allow me."
She cleared her throat then addressed them softly. "Girls?"
They all heard her and despite the low volume assembled in front of her.
"Yes, Fluttershy?" Apple Bloom asked cooperatively.
"You called?" Scootaloo noted.
"Go and get your things. Rarity is here to see you home," Fluttershy told them.
"Of course, Fluttershy, right away!" Sweetie Belle obliged and all three of them ran to do as they were told.
Rarity stammered at what she just saw. "Ah, huh, ah, how did you... how did you do that?"
Fluttershy looked back at Twilight and Fire, winking at them. "I guess I'm just as good with kids as I am with animals."
"With a little practice," Fire admitted.
"Thank you, Fluttershy! Bye! Thank you, Stare Master!" All the girls said as they ran ahead to go home.
"Ah, uh, speaking of which, I could use your help with Opal," Rarity said.
"Of course. How about later today?" Fluttershy asked.
They suddenly heard a yowl and Rarity turned to reveal her was clinging to her by the claws. Had she followed Rarity and just clung to her or had she been there the whole time?
"How about now?" Rarity asked before shivering.
Fluttershy and Twilight laughed. That cat was a hooful.
Author's Notes: Another chapter down. Bit less then the last couple ones but that's fine with me. Found more I could take out this time I guess. Up next, the show stoppers in the canon episodes. But I'm not really sure what to do with Fire there. Maybe I should skip that one and go to a Dog and Pony Show? Then Green Isn't Your Color, which in this au will set up the stage for another set of new villains original to this work. Let me know your thoughts please on Show Stoppers and whether you think I can incorporate it somehow.