"Sign here... and here... and initial here..."
Fluttershy did as the postcolt instructed. She affixed her signature and initialed the spots on the delivery form even though she didn't have time to fully read what she was signing for. It was important, that much she was sure of and she knew the princess wouldn't trust her with it if she didn't think she could get the job done. After all, caring for animals of all kinds was Fluttershy's specialty.
Her friends waited behind her, all of them by the entrance to her cottage. They waited quietly as Fluttershy signed the postcolt's form.
The postcolt turned around his clipboard and examined it. "All right miss... Fluttershy, thank you for signing for your... velociraptor." He was clearly just going through the motions and not really paying attention to anything on the form beyond reading it and making sure it checked out. "Hope you enjoy," he hooved her a copy of the form, then turned and walked away.
"Thank you," Fluttershy said, her voice sounding uncertain. She turned to the very large package crate sitting just a few feet away from her house. It was a huge, grayish-blue box with grooves running along the sides. Dark, square, holes spaced inches apart from each other dotted the spaces in between the grooves as if to provide whatever was inside with air but not very much light.
The yellow Pegasus approached the box. She didn't know what a velociprator was, had never seen or heard of an animal like it before but she was still curious and she had full confidence that it would be safe. After all, her friends were with her.
"What is it?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I... well, I don't know," Fluttershy admitted. The box made no noise; whatever was inside was apparently sleeping or in some state of hibernation.
"I've never heard of a velociraptor before," Twilight said. "Are you sure it's safe?"
"I've never heard of what this is either. But I'm sure the princess wouldn't entrust me with it if she didn't think it was safe."
"Are we absolutely sure this is from the princess?" Applejack queried.
Fluttershy pulled out the note again. She'd received it from Princess Celestia a few days ago by way of her phoenix. The note was a tad vague but had indicated that the princess needed Fluttershy to care for some rare animal that she could be expecting in a large package.
"All it says is to expect a large package," Fluttershy said, reading off the note.
Twilight put a hoof to her chin. "So, this might not even be it? And the princess might not even want us to be taking care of a velociraptor?"
"I don't know," Fluttershy said timidly. "But there does seem to be some sort of creature in there. I think we should open it up and see what it is."
"Now, hold on there, sugar cube," Applejack came between Fluttershy and Twilight. "If we're not sure this is the right package, I don't think we should just go openin' it."
"It was addressed to you though, wasn't it Fluttershy?" Rarity asked, stepping forward.
"Maybe it's a shape-shifter! Like a changling!" Pinkie bounced. "Maybe the princess didn't write down what it is because it could be anything! This veloci-thingy might be a mystery pet!"
"Where does the form say it's from?" Twilight asked.
Fluttershy pulled out her copy of the delivery form and read it over. "InGen," she finally said.
"Engine? Like a train engine?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Fluttershy shook her head. "No... look," she showed the form to the others. "InGen."
"What does that mean?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I don't know... I've never heard of it before. It could be somepony or someplace far away," Twilight said.
Suddenly, a noise came from the crate. Like the sound of some whip followed by scratching against the wall, whatever it was that was inside was obviously awake.
"Oh..., it's okay," Fluttershy said to the box, trying to sooth the creature inside. "I think he wants to get out."
"Yeah, that's obvious, Fluttershy. Question is, is this thing dangerous?" Rainbow Dash said, hovering above.
"That is a mighty big box," Applejack commented.
Twilight shook her head. "I think we should check with the princess just to be sure before we let this thing out."
"I'm sure he's perfectly fine," the box shook violently as the yellow Pegasus spoke. "He's been cooped up in there for so long, he must be getting lonely." She took to the air and moved towards the box, looking for a way to release the creature captive inside.
"Fluttershy, no!" Twilight shouted, stopping her friend. "We don't know what it is that's in there. We need to go see the princess first."
"She's right, Fluttershy," AJ agreed. "I know yer pretty good with animals but we need to check this out. Whatever's in there could be dangerous... and might not have all its shots."
Reluctantly, Fluttershy returned to the ground. Her instinct was to try to help the poor creature, whatever it was inside the container. Certainly it couldn't be something as scary as a dragon, could it?
"We'll take the train to Canterlot first thing tomorrow," Twilight said, turning back to Fluttershy's cottage.
"Wait!" Fluttershy stopped her friends. "We should move the container inside. It might rain."
"There's not a storm scheduled until tomorrow night," Rainbow Dash said, bringing up Ponyville's weather schedule.
"Oh," Fluttershy understood. Rainbow Dash was Ponyville's weather manager so she would know. Still, it didn't feel right leaving the poor creature in the box outside all night. "Well, do you think we could just move the box into the living room? Something might happen to it at night."
The box continued shaking; the animal inside, restless.
Twilight thought for a minute. Something didn't feel right, was telling her that whatever was inside that container wasn't the safest thing in Equestria.
"We'll carry it inside your cottage... but I don't think we should leave you alone with it all night. We'll stay over, too," Twilight declared.
"We... will?" Rarity asked.
"We will," Twilight replied, making it official.
"Well, all right then." The matter was settled. The six ponies carefully wedged the large crate through the backdoor to Fluttershy's cottage. It wasn't easy but eventually they pushed the crate through and into the living room. The ponies then left Fluttershy's cottage with Fluttershy sparing one last glance before she closed the front door to her home. She'd never met an animal she couldn't befriend eventually. But she also hadn't met every animal.
And inside the large box in her living room was a creature that was very eager to meet Fluttershy.
