Spike was loudly snoring, as he snuggled up against his backpack. Though not as soft as the one he has, back home, on his nice, soft, warm bed, it was soft enough for him to sleep on. The only problem he has were the grasses that were poking his skin, with their sharp tips and edges.

The young man tossed and turned, in his sleep, as he tries to find a comfortable position. He didn't have to search for long, however, when he suddenly felt something soft and warm, like his bed, except it is fluffy and smooth, like his blanket. Melting into the softness of the texture, Spike let out content sigh and yawn, as sinks into an even deeper sounding sleep. To him, he felt as if he's sleeping on clouds, flying high above the world, relaxed, at peace, without a care in the world.

Had Spike woken up, however, he'd have realized the thing he was snuggling up was no blanket. But, in fact, the mane of a certain she-beast. A lady-bat, named Fluttershy.

The next morning, the sun shines through the atrium, in the ceiling, bathing the cavern in its morning glow. The pool sparkled and glistened from the sun's ray, reflecting the water's ripples off of the cavern walls. Some of the ripples passed through the crystals that sprouted around the cave, which then enveloped the cave in a sparkling aura.

Disturbed by the light show, Spike began to wake up. Though, not before he snuggled his face against the fur, enjoying its softness and warmth.

"Ooh, wow, this feels nice!" Spike smiled in his sleep, as he snuggled deeper into the fur. "It's so warm, soft, and smooth. I can just sleep the whole day."

As he buried himself deeper into the fur, it was at that moment that his cheek happened to brush against something round, bouncy, but just as soft as the fur he was losing himself into. Without opening his eyes, he tried to wrap his arm around what he thought was a body pillow. But then, he remembered...

"Wait, I don't have a body pillow!" Spike wearily opened his eyes, before he was fully awake, and alarmed, at what he just woke up to.

Holding him close, to her fluffy mane covered chest, with her leathery wings wrapped around him, on the ground, is the bat-woman, Fluttershy.

"Aaaa...aaa...aaaa...aaaa..." Spike was on the verge to scream, but quickly covered his mouth, with his hands, so as to not disturb the sleeping she-beast.

'Wha-Wha-What's going on?' He mentally asked himself. 'Why am I sleeping with a...a...a...a she-beast? Why is she holding me so close? Is she trying to eat me, or something? And why is her hair so soft? How could her breasts be so big under all that fur?' He did a double-take, as he thought to himself, 'Why do I even care about how big her boobs are? I gotta get outta here!'

Very slowly, and cautiously, Spike tried to slip out of the bat-woman's loving embrace. However, as if by instinct, the bat-woman pulled Spike back, holding him close to her chest again.

"No! Stay!" Fluttershy muttered in her sleep. "Don't leave again...my baby."

'Baby?' Spike asked in his head. 'Is she a mom, or something?'

Before Spike could ask anymore questions, in his head, in her sleep, Fluttershy sniffed the air, smelling Spike's hair. Then, without warning, she flicked her mouth open to lick a long tongue across his face. Though, it was her sharp vampire-like fangs that scared him.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" Spike screamed at the top of his lungs, which echoed all around the cavern, startling all the other she-beast awake, though Fluttershy was the most startled.

Frightened by the man's scream, the bat-woman sprang to life, as she let out a terrified screech, before she flapped her wings, and took to the air. Spike, in the meantime, kicked himself off the ground, as he ran for cover.

"What the hell is going on out here?" Applejack asked, rubbing the sands from her eyes.

"What's with all the screaming?" Rainbow followed.

Everyone all looked to see Spike, hiding in a bush, huddling up to his knees, with his hands over his head, while Fluttershy was screeching and frantically flying around the cave, as if she was being chased.

"Fluttershy!" Twilight shouted. "Watch out for that–"

*BANG*

"Ooh!"

"...tree..." Twilight winced, watching as the disoriented bat-woman fell down and landed, near Spike's hiding spot.

"Can someone tell me what's going on?" Sunset asked.

"He screamed!" Fluttershy pointed at Spike.

"She tried to eat me!" Spike pointed at Fluttershy.

A while later, the she-beasts and man were having breakfast together, though Spike preferred to eat his rations, as far away from the hybrids as possible.

All the while, Fluttershy explained herself, "I wasn't trying to eat him! I-I couldn't sleep last night..."

"Not surprising," Twilight replied. "Considering you've been infused with the DNAs of a Chiroptera, which are commonly nocturnal predators."

"A what?" Rainbow asked.

"She says bats are creatures that commonly fly around at night," Spike explained.

"Why didn't she just say so?" The falcon-woman asked, rolling her eyes.

"Ahem," Applejack cleared her throat, before she beckoned the bat-woman. "Continue, Fluttershy."

"I couldn't sleep," Fluttershy repeated. "...So...I thought maybe I could do some...work around the place. Cleaning, exercising, you know, some things to keep myself busy, until I'm tired. But...then I got hungry, and..."

"You sucked Spike's blood?!" Pinkie Pie screeched in alarm.

"SHE SUCKED MY BLOOD?!!" Spike shrieked, as he immediately searched himself for bite marks, the bat-woman may have left behind.

"QUIET!!!" Twilight neighed loudly, silencing both man and monkey-woman. "Fluttershy would never! Grogar had infused her with the DNAs of a Pteropus Mariannus!"

"A what?" Rainbow asked, just as confused as before.

"Fluttershy is part flying fox!" Twilight clarified. "And flying foxes are fruit bats. She only eats fruits!"

"Why didn't you just say so?" Rainbow frowned.

"She's a fruit bat?" Spike asked. "Well, that's a relief. I guess..."

"Of course it is," Fluttershy explained to the man. "I would never eat you, Spike, let alone hurt you."

Still, Spike was skeptic, "Then, what..."

"Last night, when was eating some mangos for a midnight snack, I noticed you were tossing and turning, in your sleep. I guess, a part of me was worried you might be having a cold, or something, and that you needed someone to hold you close, for warmth, and comfort. And next thing I know, I must've...dosed off."

Fluttershy's ears flattened as she looked at Spike, with tearful wide eyes.

"I'm sorry," She squeaked apologetically.

Upon hearing this revelation, Spike was beside himself, as he was both touched and moved by the bat-woman's act of kindness, while also feeling a tug on his heartstrings, from looking at the bat's wide eyes, that could shame those of an adorable little puppy.

"Well...thanks for the gesture...I think," Spike looked away, as he continued to eat his rations in peace.

Wanting to get out of the awkward moment, Applejack spoke up, "Well, now that we've got the whole misunderstanding cleared up. What's say we start another day, huh?"

The rest of the she-beasts all exchanged agreements, though, not so whole-heartedly.

"Oh come on," Applejack frowned. "Surely we can shout louder than that!"

"What's the point of shouting, if it's just gonna be the same as yesterday?" Rainbow frowned. "Or the day before that? Or the days that came after, since day one? We've been stuck on this god forsaken island for what? Practically a year now? No one knows we're here. And for all we know, we're never gonna find a way off! We've got no boat, no navigator, or even a map! We're stuck on this island, in the middle of nowhere, for the rest of our lives! We've been lucky to avoid Grogar's flunkies so far, especially that bastard Shade, but how long is that gonna last, huh?!"

"I hate to say it, but Rainbow Dash's got a point," Sunset frowned.

"But you know what they always say," Pinkie chirped. "With every clouds, there's always a silver lining."

"Oh yeah, Pinkie?" Rainbow frowned. "And what's our silver lining?"

"Well, for one, we did find Spike!"

Unable to argue with that, the girls all exchanged mixed agreements, before they turned towards the single man of the group.

"Wh-Wh-What are you girls looking at me for?" Spike asked nervously.

"Well, seeing as how you're not one of Grogar's flunkies," Rainbow Dash began. "And you're a friend of Newt Chimera, then..."

"We just wanna get to know ya more, sugarcube," Applejack added. "If that's okay."

"Uh, sure," Spike replied, though he seemed rather hesitant, if not reluctant, as he still kept his distance. "I'll bite, if you, uh...gals share your stories of how you all got here in the first place."

"Gladly!" Twilight replied. "It'll all started when I won a prize at a robot contest. Mr. Chimera personally congratulated me and invited me and my friends to a month-long vacation to some tropical island or at least, that was the impression. When we arrived, we had a large beach house seemingly to ourselves. But when we went to our beds at night, that's when Grogar made his move. The memory is a bit foggy, but I do remember me and my friends being dragged out of our rooms and loaded onto a truck before we were sedated." Twilight sighed before looking at her lavender hands then each of her friends who had expressions of sadness on their faces. "When we woke up, we ended up looking like what you see right now."

"Jesus," Spike said, feeling sorry for the she-beasts, "How did you girls escaped?"

"Honestly, we don't know." Sunset replied, "One day, our cells just automatically unlocked without rhyme or reason. There weren't a lot of guards at the time, so we took that as our chance to escape but not without... complications." The tiger girl finished glumly, rubbing a scar that was on her back.

"Alrighty Spike, that's our story so let's here yours." Rainbow said.

"Where do even I begin?" Spike said as he began his story, "I was just beginning my career as a wildlife Photographer, and I learned that there's a ship that was hiring people like me, so I thought 'what the heck' and immediately signed up. That's when I first met Mr. Chimera and he seemed pretty nice at the time. After three weeks of being out in the ocean, we were suddenly pelted on by a storm. I checked the bridge to see what was going on, only to find our captain laying on the floor, maybe dead."

"DEAD?!?!" All the girls said in shock.

"I didn't have time to check, okay?!" Spike said raising his arms defensively, "I was trying to steer the ship and trying to use the radio which was turned off for some reason to begin with. Then, I got knocked out and when I came too, I realized I was here, shipwrecked, and my crew mates were missing."

"And did ya ever find them?" Applejack asked.

"Well, I found Mr. Chimera," Spike replied solemnly. "But the others..." The man shook his head, "If I had to guess, I'd say they've all become more products of Dr. Grogar's work. And I was this close to be the next one, if Mr. Chimera hadn't helped me escape. And that's about when I met you gals."

"Oh, Spike," Rarity gasped in sympathy.

"So, I guess we're in the same boat," Spike commented. "Eh, figuratively speaking, that is."

"Ha ha ha! That's funny!" Pinkie Pie chuckled at Spike's little joke.

Getting back on topic, Spike asked, "So...you're telling me that you gals were brought here, by Mr. Chimera? That for some reason, he's working for Dr. Grogar."

"Looks that way," Applejack confirmed. "Though, all the same, he seemed rather forced, like he wants nothing to do with all this mad scientist shindig, and whatnot. As if, somehow, that crazy scientist's controlling him."

"...Yeah, so I've noticed," Spike replied, recalling the final moments from yesterday, when his former friend was helping him escape.

"So, I guess we can all vouch for Mr. Chimera when we say, he's not a bad man," said Sunset Shimmer. "Though, it's no excuse for what happened to us..."

"Oh, I don't even want to remember what he did to us!" Fluttershy covered her eyes, with her wings. "I can still remember the horrible things he did to us, when he turned us into...these..." A tear fell from Fluttershy's eyes, which she wiped away, with her left thumb, on her left wing. "I...I can't even see what I've become, but...I must be awful!"

"Oh, come now, darling," Rarity tried to comfort her friend. "You don't look all that bad!"

"Yeah, as far as bats go, you look cute," Spike commented.

"...R-Really?" Fluttershy asked.

"Uh...did I say that out loud?" Spike blushed a deep shade of red.

"Yup," Applejack teased. "Right off your cuff, sugarcube."

Feeling his face burning up, and wanting to get out of the awkward moment, Spike started, "So...Fluttershy's a bat. But then, what's the story with the rest of you girls? Any particular reasons why you've been turned into your respective animals?"

"Honestly, we don't know why," Applejack replied.

"He just turned us into whatever he thinks fits our profile," Sunset added. "Like, they match our zodiac, or something. I don't know."

"You mean, he just infused you into certain animals at random?" Spike asked.

"Yup," Applejack confirmed.

"Yeah, well, he made a fatal mistake," Rainbow Dash scowled. "When I see that creep again, first chance I get, I'll wrap my talons around his neck, ripping his throat out, and then I'll tear his eyes out with my beak, and–"

"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy squeaked, looking squeamish. "Such violence!"

"What? He had it coming?"

"Yes, but please, don't put that image in my head! You know how I feel about violence and...gore..."

"So what? You watch Animal Planet. You've seen crocodiles eating wildebeests, or lions going head-to-head with hyenas. It's the same thing!"

"That was different! That just the way some animals are!"

"So? To other people, we're animals too! I mean look at us!" Rainbow Dash soon realized, "Oh, wait. I forgot. You can't, since you're blind as a bat."

In response, the rest of the she-beasts gasped, along with Spike.

"Ouch," Spike commented.

"Rainbow!" Twilight scolded.

"Oops..." Rainbow gasped, realizing what she said.

But it was too late. Hurt by her friend's rude remark, Fluttershy turned and took off running, crying a heart-wrenching cry, tripping on a rock, on her way.

"Fluttershy! Wait! I didn't..." Rainbow called, about to take flight after the bat-woman, only to be stopped by Applejack.

"Maybe ya should just...leave her alone..." Applejack frowned.

"But...I didn't mean to...I was just..." Turning to her friends, Rainbow tried to find some supports. "C'mon. You girls know I didn't mean like that, right?"

"Maybe," Rarity huffed. "But you can be so insensitive sometimes, you know?"

"She's right, Dash," Twilight agreed. "You may be a fast, and strong, and fearless, but sometimes, you just can't take the time and think before you act. It's always fly first, ask questions later."

"That's not true!" Rainbow argued. "I've asked questions, even before I started flying for real! Like, how are we going to get off this damn island?"

"I'm working on it!" Twilight shouted. "I've been formulating a plan, but first, we need to get some supplies on this island."

"Then I'd say we better get started getting those things," Applejack spoke up. "Alright gals, let's move out!"

With that, the she-beasts all turned towards the entrance of their hideout and took their leave. Before she completely left, Rarity turned towards Spike.

"Oh, uh, Spike? Darling?" She began.

"Uh, yes?" Spike replied, wearily.

"Could you...be a dear and look after Fluttershy, while she's gone?" The snow leopard-woman asked, before she whispered, "Just between you and the rest of us...the poor dear is a...bit of a klutz. If you know what I mean."

"Uh...sure. I'll...I'll look after her," Spike replied.

"That's all we're asking," Rarity smiled, before she took her leave. "We'll see you later."

After he saw the last of the she-beasts leave, Spike let out a heavy sigh, before he asked himself, "Spike, what have you got yourself into this time?"

Back in her den, Fluttershy cried a waterfall of tears. The "blind as a bat" remark was very hurtful to her, especially the condition she was in.

"It's not fair!" Fluttershy wept, hiccuping as she vented. "It's not my fault, I'm a...a...a bat. I didn't want to be a bat! I didn't even asked to be a bat. I like animals, but... I never...It's not fair that I'm blind! Or that I'm clumsy, or...I'm hideous! It's not fair!"

With that, Fluttershy continued to cry, sounding both human and animalistic with every passing second, all the while hanging upside down, from a stalactite.

"I'm not a freak, I'm not a monster! I don't want to be a monster! Why? Why?"

Of course, the only kind of answers she gets, are the silence from the rocks, and the echoes of her voice, ringing off the cavern walls. For the longest, Fluttershy kept on crying to herself, in the darkness of the cave, and in her eyes. But the damp, cold touch of her watery tears burned at her skin, as they flowed from her eyes. Her large ears suddenly twitched, to the sound of footsteps, entering her den.

"Who's there?" She asked to her visitor.

"It's...it's okay," Spike called to the bat-woman. "It's just me. Spike."

"Spike?!" Fluttershy exclaimed.

Unfortunately, in her shock, the bat-woman had lost her grip on the stalactite she was hanging from, and fell to the ground, landing hard on her face.

"Oooh," Spike cringed. "You oka–YIPE!!!" The man shrieked, as the fallen bat-woman struggled to get back up. "Are...Are you okay?" He asked, stammering, sounding flustered.

"I'm okay," Fluttershy groaned, before she felt a cold air blowing across her legs, that she realized her mini-skirt was upside-down, from her fall.

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" Fluttershy squeaked frantically, picking and dusting herself up, before she stood upright, and face Spike away. "I...I...I wasn't expecting any visitors, I–"

"Ahem, hey, uh...I'm right here," Spike cleared his throat, to which Fluttershy sighed.

Turning around, Fluttershy stopped until she stood, face-to-face with Spike. Though, speaking of which, she can feel her whole face burning an intensive shade of red, coated in beads of sweats. Fluttershy was on the verge of crying from embarrassment.

"I-I-I-I'm sorry you had to see that," Fluttershy whimpered, holding her wings up to cover her face and body.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, don't worry about it," Spike replied, before he cleared his throat. "Anyway, I...I got you an apple, in case you're hungry."

"Oh...thank you," Fluttershy held her hand out to take the apple, momentarily forgetting that her hands doubled as her wings, resulting her in accidentally smacking Spike across the face.

"Ow!" Winced Spike.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" Fluttershy squeaked apologetically.

Wanting to check on the man for any trace of blood from a cut, or bruise, she accidentally inflicted, Fluttershy tried to walk towards Spike. But she tripped on a rock and fell on top of the man.

"Get off, get off, get off!!!" Spike screamed, muffled beneath Fluttershy.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Fluttershy whimpered, as she got up on her legs and wings, allowing a squashed Spike up for air. "I...I didn't hurt you too badly, did I?"

"Oh believe me..." Spike replied, disoriented, and flabbergasted. "I could've been hurt worse..."

It was at that moment that Fluttershy's nose twitched a smell that's warm, tangy, and in a way, rustic. Her eyes widened in concerned as she inched her face closer to Spike's.

"Oh no...you're bleeding..." Fluttershy whimpered. "And it's all my fault. Here, let me..." She was about to raise her thumbs up to take Spike's face, only for the man to stop her, putting his hands on her wings.

"I'm fine," Spike replied. "I'll live...how about you just sit down and...I'll...feed you? 'Kay?"

"...Okay."

A moment later, after the awkward moment has passed, both Spike and Fluttershy sat on the floor, of Fluttershy's den, sitting across from each other, while sharing and dividing a pile of fruits together.

"Wow," Spike commented, while eating an apple. "Who would've thought, you girls have this many fruits stashed away, in your...camp..."

"Well, ever since that horrible Dr. Grogar turned us into, what you called 'she-beasts,' we've done lots of hunting for food," Fluttershy explained, while taking a bite out of an apple. "And for good reason. Since half of us are..." Fluttershy practically gulped down a lump in her throat, as she muttered, "...predators."

Spike counted on his fingers as he listed the she-beasts, until he gets the point, "Well, I can't blame you... I mean, no offense to your friends, but some of them did try to kill me."

"It's not their fault, Spike," Fluttershy vouched. "They were only trying to protect us. After all, wouldn't you do the same for your friends?"

"For the record, most of my guy pals do the protecting, for me," Spike shrugged. "Though, if it were like saving a baby rhino from poachers, then yeah. Different story. I'd give my life to save that baby in a heartbeat."

"Definitely!" Fluttershy replied. "In my honest opinion, I think poachers are the worst and don't deserve..." The bat-woman did a double take, as she turned her head in Spike's direction. "You would give your life...to save a baby rhinoceros?"

"Well, yeah, of course I would," Spike replied. "Especially the black rhinos. Those guys are endangered species, and they're in critical danger. Someone's got to stand for those guys, or else they'll be..."

"Oh, please, don't say it!" Fluttershy covered her eyes. "I can't stand the thought of those poor, defenseless creatures ceasing to..."

"Okay, okay, I get the picture," Spike replied.

Wanting to get out of the awkward topic, moving onto something more socializing, Fluttershy asked, "So...Spike. You like animals?"

"...You could say most of my friends, back home, are animals," Spike shrugged. "There's Peewee, my parrot. Plus some cats, and dogs I know, and a few horses, back in Montana. But besides them, yeah. I love animals. I'm practically dedicating my whole life to animals."

"Me too!" Fluttershy smiled. "Can...Can I tell you something?"

Spike nodded, before he remembered that Fluttershy can't see, to which he said, "Sure. Go ahead."

"I love animals too!" The bat-woman related. "In fact, when I was just a little girl, I wanted to grow up to be the best vet to every animals in the world, from the biggest of elephants to the cutest of mice!"

"That sounds great, Fluttershy," Spike complimented. "So, did you make it? Did you get yourself certified to be a vet, or something?"

"Actually, I'm more of an apprentice," Fluttershy admitted. "Before I came to this island, with my friends, I was apprenticing, under the care and tutelage of Dr.Fauna. She knows everything about caring for animals. In fact, even after the animals are healed up, good as new, they became so attached to her, that they don't even want to leave her office," She chuckled a bit.

"Sounds to me her office is a zoo then," Spike commented.

Fluttershy chuckled, "That's what I said," The bat-woman sighed, as she thought sadly about the doctor. "I just hope Dr. Fauna is doing okay. I miss her...badly."

Fluttershy sniffled, as she continued to think despondently of her beloved veterinarian. Seeing the bat-woman cry tugged at Spike's heartstrings. This was all a new feeling to Spike. It's one thing to be afraid of women, up close, as it is easier to admire them from afar. But to see a creature, like Fluttershy, cry, before his very eyes, a display of fragility, and vulnerability, was all it took to show Spike, a scared, lonely, traumatized creature, who is just as scared as him. Almost human, in a manner of speaking.

Wanting to cheer the woman-turned-bat creature up, Spike started, "Well, if she's as amazing as you described her, then I think she can handle herself, and the animals, just fine," Still, Fluttershy was quiet, "...And hey, if you're her apprentice, then I'm sure you'll be an even better vet, than her."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Fluttershy replied, with a noticeable quivers in her voice. "I mean, look at me...I'm...I'm a...a bat! I can't pass myself to be a doctor! I can't even see!"

"So what?" Spike asked. "That's never stopped you from trying to help your friends before, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, um...take last night, for example. When your friends were going up against that...scary ape, porcupine, bear thing to save me, I saw how you reacted whenever your friends were in danger! You immediately bolted towards them, to check up on them, even though you're blind and all. Though, for the record, aren't flying foxes supposed to have better eyesight than most other bats?"

"Maybe, but I'm still tripping and crashing into things."

"But still, you never let that stopped you from helping your friends, am I right?"

"Well...yes. I...I guess you're right..." Fluttershy sniffled. "But...I'll always be the same scaredy, clumsy, quiet girl I was before...and now that I'm blind. I'm an even bigger scaredy, clumsy, quiet girl..."

"Hey, don't go beating yourself up like that!" Spike advised.

"But it's true," Fluttershy wrapped her wings around herself, as she relayed, "Even before I came to this island, I was an even clumsier girl, back home. The other kids would pick on me, because I'm always so shy. They call me names, and say that my only friends are my animals. It was hurtful, and I felt more and more alone, until I met Twilight, and the girls. They're the only other people in the world, who understands me."

"But I understand you too," Spike replied. "Can I be honest with you?"

In response, Fluttershy nodded her head, "Okay."

With a heavy sigh, Spike bites down into his apple, as he began, "I know how it feels to be made fun of. When I was just a little boy, I was picked on by all the bigger kids, because...I was afraid of girls."

Fluttershy's ears perked up with piqued interest, "Oh my. Why? Why were you so scared of girls, I mean."

"That's...a long story," Spike frowned. "I'd rather not go into it, right now. But...the thing is, I understand where you're coming from. I was picked on, because I'm different from all the other kids. All the more reason why I prefer to be around animals, than with other people. So...I guess we both know how it feels to be picked on, for our flaws, huh?"

Fluttershy nodded, "I guess we are."

Feeling a tuft of her hair falling across her face, Fluttershy brushed it to the side, to reveal a sad smile. For a moment, Spike couldn't help but feel his heart thumping rapidly at the pretty sight. True, Fluttershy is a bat-woman, but that smile of her's seemed to captivate Spike for a moment.

Looking down, seeing their fruits have all been eaten, Spike got up and turned to leave the den.

"I'll...go get some more food," He said.

Before Spike could leave, he was pulled back, by a pair of long thumbs, wrapping around his shoulders, before his whole body was completely wrapped up in a pair of leathery wings. Next thing he knew, his heart was beating more rapidly, with his face burning a shade of red, when he felt a familiar fluff of fur, pressing him from behind, with some hidden features. To further his excitement, Fluttershy snuggled her cheek against the left side of his face.

"Thank you, Spike," Fluttershy squeaked. "I...I never knew how much I needed this."

"Uh, he...hehehe," Spike chuckled nervously, sweating up a storm, until Fluttershy finally released him.

Once he was out of the bat-woman's den, Spike thought to himself, 'Eek! Was she clingy...but it felt kinda nice. No! No, no, Spike! Focus! Don't think about that! Time to just think about how to escape! But she's got it all going on. The voice, the fur, the bo–AAAAAAHH!!! Make it stop!'

Back with Fluttershy, the bat-woman was beside herself, letting the recent bonding experience, between her and Spike sink in, as she thought, lovingly, to herself.

'Oh my,' Fluttershy mentally asked, smiling. 'What...what is this, feeling?'

Later, that afternoon, the rest of the she-beasts have returned, carrying piles of woods, fruits, and fishes.

"Hey! We're back!" Rainbow Dash grunted, as she helped carry some of the heavy items into camp.

"Wow," Spike exclaimed, as he walked over to see what the she-beasts have brought. "You gals have been busy!"

"Busy hunting, given to our new predatory instincts," Sunset Shimmer replied. "No thanks to our 'savior,' Dr. Grogar," She scoffed the last part in sarcasm.

"But at least these'll keep us going for another month, or two," Applejack said, as she already went ahead to build a campfire, while stacking the rest of the timbers for later usage.

"And...we'll be having FISH TONIGHT!!!" Pinkie Pie screeched.

"Ugh, ya don't have to say it again, Pinkie..." Rainbow Dash moaned as her beak drooled with hungry saliva. "I can just eat these salmons, right now!"

Rainbow Dash was just about to snap up a fish and swallow it whole, only for Rarity to stop her.

"Ah-ah-ah! Not so fast, Rainbow!" Rarity scolded. "You can't eat, until we're all cleaned up, and ready for dinner!"

"Rarity, we've been living on this island for months, and we're practically animals!" Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Why do we still need to practice table manners?"

"Just because we're animals, Dash, doesn't mean we'd have to eat like animals!"

"Rarity's right, Rainbow Dash," Twilight stated as she walked up to her falcon hybrid friend. "We've come a long way to let Dr. Grogar win. This is exactly what he wants us to do, by giving into our animalistic urges. And we can't risk that, no matter how tempting it may be."

"Fine," Rainbow grumbled, before she turned to Spike. "Hey, uh...how's Fluttershy doing?"

"Oh, she's–"

"Here I am," Fluttershy called, making herself known, as she walked up to the group, though carefully.

"Fluttershy..." Rainbow said, about to walk over to her bat friend.

"Dash! Don't move!" Fluttershy squeaked, having heard Dash's footsteps.

"But Fluttershy..."

"Don't move!"

Everyone all watched anxiously, as Fluttershy tried her hardest to come to her friends, without needing any help. Halfway across, Fluttershy had tripped on a boulder and was about to fall to the ground.

"Fluttershy!" Rainbow shouted, springing into action and caught her friend, saving her from a nasty fall. "Fluttershy...are you okay?"

In response, Fluttershy wept, "No..." She sobbed. "I'm not okay. I'll never be okay..."

"Fluttershy, I..."

"You were right, okay?" Fluttershy blubbered. "I'm blind! I'm an even bigger klutz, just like you and everyone else have been saying about me!"

"But Fluttershy, I was..."

"Do you really take me for a silly, gullible fool?" Fluttershy spatted angrily. "I've heard everything you've ever said about me, behind my back! I'm blind, I'm scared, and now, I'm even clumsier than I was before! I'm nothing but a burden to all of you!"

"We never meant it like that."

"Just for once, I want to do the right thing. I want to help! I want us to go home! And...I just want to stop feeling helpless!"

"Then what good am I as a friend, if I can't look out for you?!" Rainbow Dash screeched, silencing the distraught bat-woman. "Fluttershy...not everything is about you. We're all trapped on this island. We're all we've got left! Look, I know I may be harsh, and reckless at times, but that's just me. That's how I look out for my friends. How I'm looking out for you. Because I care. I don't want you to get hurt...because if I lose you...I'll end up regretting about it, every moment of my life..."

A tear fell from Rainbow Dash's eyes, as both she and Fluttershy closed the distance.

"Listen, I don't care if you're clumsy or shy," Rainbow cried. "But you're my friend. And I'm always going to look out for my friends. And for what it's worth, Fluttershy, you've got a good heart. And it's not fair that you have to go through this nightmare. So...I don't want to lose you..."

"Oh, Dash..." Fluttershy sniffled. "I'm so sorry...I should've realized how scared you are..."

"It's not just her, Fluttershy," Twilight spoke up, as she pointed to herself. "I'm scared too. In a way, I feel like this is all my fault. If I hadn't won that robot tournament, then maybe I could've–"

"Now, Twiliight, ya had no idea that this would happen," Applejack interjected, as she ran over to console the pony-woman. "No one blames ya."

"Indubitably, darling," Rarity agreed. "Why, if anything, that scoundrel Dr. Grogar is to blame. He did this to us! He captured us, and tortured us, as part of some convoluted experiment..."

"And he will pay for it," Sunset growled.

"But first, let's eat!" Pinkie Pie chirped, drawing everyone's attention to a surprising dinner of sushi the monkey-woman had prepared.

The friends gathered around to eat. Much to Spike's astonishment, Pinkie is an excellent cook, with the proof in the pudding. Sushi to be precise.

"Wow!" He exclaimed. "This is good!"

"Took the words right outta my mouth," Sunset smirked.

"Pinkie, you're so full of surprises," Rainbow Dash commented.

"Eh, I have my moments," Pinkie winked.

While the friends were eating, Rainbow Dash scooted closer to Fluttershy and asked, "So, uh...we're cool? Like forgiven and everything?"

"Mmm-hmm," Fluttershy nodded. "I can't stay mad at you, Dash."

"Great," The falcon-woman breathed a sigh of relief. "So, with that out of the way, how's Spike?"

"Oh, he's wonderful!" Fluttershy confirmed. "Though, probably about scared as I am, but he's a good man. In fact, like me, he loves animals and knew what it was like to be bullied, for being different."

"Really?" Rainbow asked, looking curiously at Spike.

Author's Note

Tamberlane by Caytlin Vilbrandt.