mylittlejamjar | Seventh attempt: request

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Seventh attempt: request

visual

[ Harvest season's coming along, and apples are being bucked down at a healthy rate. The amount of ripe apples on the trees has caused Flutterbat to surface more frequently; perhaps, late at night in the orchard, you've witnessed a shadow flitting around the trees? But now that only a few of them are left, the batpony has grown hungrier. Fluttershy has to take care of her.

When Fluttershy opens up her scroll (at the entrance to the Everfree Forest), she's out of breath, and the fangs are receding into her gums. Flutterbat is particularly grumpy today, and Shy's having some difficulty keeping her under wraps long enough to make a message for the Apple family.

Well, she intended it to be just for the Apple family, anyway. ]

A-A-Applejack? It's, um... well, it's me. And... and I know Fl-Flutterbat's caused a little bit of... of trouble this season, but... well, she's running low on apples, and I know it's a lot to ask, but I was wondering if we could, um... just- set aside a tiny bit of the harvest for her, so she has something to munch on through the colder months? She's been a little, um... upset, lately, and... I-I know it is your harvest, so you don't have to, but... if there's any way to-

[ She's been nervously rubbing at her ear as it shrinks back to normal, only now she freezes, a look of panic in her eyes. ] Did I...

[ Examining the scroll, she realizes her mistake. The message is broadcasting to everyone. Everyone. All she can do is stare at the scroll in horror for several seconds, before snapping it shut. ]

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[ Fluttershy looks down. Oh, yeah. She's not getting out of that, is she. ]

I'd... I'd rather talk about it in person. Can we... is- is that okay?

[Only because Pierrot cares about you, Fluttershy.]

Bien sûr, mon ami. Are you at your cottage?

Edited 2014-11-13 05:13 (UTC)

[ Fluttershy nods. ] I'll... leave the door open. [ And put the kettle on. She hurries off to go do that.

Ponies can be very British at the best of times. ]

[Pierrot flashes a warm smile before rolling up his scroll.]

[Moments later, just as the kettle has begun to whistle, Pierrot steps up to the cottage's welcome mat. He pats himself down to make sure his mask is still on, sweeps a hoof over his white mane, and takes a deep breath.]

...Knock knock!

[With that, he noses the door open and peers inside.]

[ Fluttershy peers around the corner from the kitchen. ] Oh! H-hello! Just a moment, please.

[ She disappears again, but reappears moments later with two steaming mugs. She sets them down on the table before embracing Pierrot. ] It's so good to see you again...

[Pierrot leans into the embrace, wrapping both hooves around Fluttershy. He breathed deeply, taking in her perfume of daisies and clovers and the sweetness of morning dew. Familiar, gentle, and charming, just like this hug.]

I missed you too, Fluttershy.

[ Fluttershy finally pulls back and offers the clownpony a seat. ] A-are you doing okay? How are you feeling? ... [ She knows how awkward getting used to an equine body can be. ]

[Pierrot very reluctantly lets go and takes the offered seat. One thing he had missed about Ponyville, its residents were certainly not afraid to touch and hug and romp with their loved ones.]

I think I really am "doing okay"! It's been... It feels like waking from a particularly vivid dream. It took no time at all to remember how to trot with four hooves. [He smiles and taps out a quiet rhythem on the cottage floor:] "Back right, fore right, back left, fore left", yes?

...Although, my wings seem to be as unresponsive as ever, haha.

[The limbs in question twitch slightly.]

You've got it! [ Fluttershy giggles a little. It's a rhythm she isn't really used to thinking about. It's just how she moves.

But she does look at his wings, suddenly a bit concerned. ] Is something... um... wrong? [ Now that she thinks about it, she's never seen him fly. She's not sure whether to inspect them herself without his permission, so she hangs back, but her hooves itch a little. ]

Oh! Ah, nothing "wrong" really...

[With visible effort, the wings creak open. Although Pierrot's poise seems otherwise confident and relaxed, his wings are cringing in a half-spread state, like a wounded animal. Pierrot looks over his limbs with wry tilt to his lips.]

...Ever since I first arrived in this world, I have never once been able to fly with these wings.

[ Fluttershy gasps. ] Have you had these... looked at?

{ She carefully touches one. Not a pony doctor; it's hard to tell if something's broken, or built wrong. ]

[Thankfully, negative on both counts. Pierrot's wings shiver and shrink a little into themselves, but she can tell these are strong, healthy wings. Feathers need grooming though.]

By Ponyville Hospital, even! Nothing wrong, just as I said; I swear by Doctor Horse's own doctorate.

[The wing Fluttershy isn't touching carefully stretches out to its full length, then slowly folds back to his side. Pierrot shoots Fluttershy what he hopes is a reassuring grin.]

See? Hunky-dory as a bedtime story.

W-well... [ She looks at them concernedly, but shakes her head with a small smile. ] I gu-guess it's probably just ... something in your mind, then. Like what I have... sometimes. [ She shrugs. ] It's okay. Though... you might want to get those groomed, Pierrot. Even if you aren't using them.

[ She takes a sip of her tea and sits down. It's been a tiring day. ]

Ahaha... and ha.

[Goodness, how embarassing.]

Certainly, I have heard that from a couple of other pegasi as well... If you don't mind, someday I'd love your advice on getting these groomed. Even if I'm not using them!

But, I do agree that the flight thing is likely only a mental block; after all, evidence suggests that Pierrot's pegasus magic is all in place!

[Pierrot briefly pantomimes sculpting a cloud house out of thin air.]

...But that is why we have friends, is it not? After all, we talk to our friends about our problems.

[His words are firmly empathetic, but not unkind, and he follows up with a gentle glance in Fluttershy's direction.]

[ Fluttershy squirms uncomfortably. Nope, not going to ~~trouble Pierrot with her problems~~ bring it up unless he does. ] I... I guess it is...

[ She looks out the window, not meeting his eyes. ] W-well, if you like, we could tr-try wing therapy?...

[Pierrot bites down on a sigh of exasperation as Flutters looks out the window. Goodness, she's going to be a tough nut to crack... Maybe another approach is called for.]

Merveilleux, that sounds like just the thing. But perhaps when the weather turns warmer!

[Pierrot picks up his mug of tea with both hooves.] Enough about me though! My memory of leaving is a little hazy, but I think I have been gone for over half a year? What, as they say, is new... with you? [Another pointed glance.]

Um...

[ She sighs, finally relenting. ] Y-you're asking about... [ She points dejectedly at a fang still in her mouth. ] ... aren't you?

[Pierrot almost relents, his heart breaking a little and his ears wilting a lot at seeing Fluttershy so upset. But he stirs himself together and smiles sheepishly at his friend.]

Do not get me wrong Fluttershy, the time I have spent away from Equestria feels liks a small lifetime, and I have missed you and all my other Ponyville friends a great deal. I really would like to catch up with you, trade with you everything that has happened while I was gone, and weave myself back into our friendship.

But today, I am concerned about a dear friend of mine, and came to find out what is happening, and why she is so upset. Perhaps in learning what is wrong, I can offer my help, just as she has so graciously helped me in the past.

[Pierrot's eyes sparkle, and his smile deepens by a fraction.] And then afterwards, we can talk of happier things, and simply enjoy our tea together as friends.

[ Fluttershy nods. She gets up from where she's sitting and embraces Pierrot in a fierce hug. Seems like a good prelude to what comes next. ]

Um... well... [ She pulls away from the hug, somewhat embarrassed, but presses on. ] A little while ago I... Twilight kind of... turned me into a vampire fruit bat. And... and I thought it had gone away! For a little while. But then Flutterbat came back and started taking over and- and I sort of, learned how to live with her? But now that fall's coming and there's less apples on the trees, she's more antsy... she wants to come out more...

[Pierrot receives and returns the hug just as fiercely. He listens patiently as Fluttershy described her ailment, only speaking up when she's done.]

This... 'Flutterbat'. She is another side of you then, that acts like a... a vampire fruit bat, you said?

[It's a lot to take in, admittedly. But the clownpony schools his face to a neutral mask of concern, to show Fluttershy he is still paying attention.]

S-sort of. But... she is a vampire fruit bat.

[ One of her wings shudders. It looks a bit more leathery. ]

[Of course the wing-shudder catches his eye - world-level eyesight, blah blah blah. But more importantly, Fluttershy can see as the pieces fall into place in Pierrot's mind, and the concern in his face becomes sharper and more clear.]

Fluttershy... Just, ah, what is a vampire fruit bad, exactly?

A, um... winged creature that sucks the juice out of fruit. [ She gets nervous at Pierrot's look, pawing at her hair and trying to will the changes not to occur. ] They r-really don't mean any harm...

Oh. Oh I see, it's a fruit bat that vampirically drains fruit. That doesn't sound so bad.

[His expression softens but quite a bit, but the concern remains.] Forgive me for repeating myself, but if I understand correctly... You turn into Flutterbat, who is... a vampire fruit bat. [A brief pause.] ...A Fluttershy-sized vampire fruit bat?

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Seventh attempt: request

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