Shy Can See

Fluttershy opened her eyes. There was no light in the Cottage other than the soft, dim light of the moon seeping through the windows. She craned her head behind her to find King Sombra still asleep. Both her and Sombra were laying on their sides. His stomach was up against Fluttershy's back, and one of his forehooves were draped over her waist; resting in with her body curvature. She could feel his chest heave with each breath. Her body slightly twitched, considering standing up. However, she feared the possibility of waking Sombra in the process.

She squinted her eyes to focus on the clock. It was 4 o'clock in the morning. She placed her hoof onto Sombra's and slid it off of her waist gently; Trying not to cause any disturbance in his slumber. She raised herself up onto her hooves and walked across the hallway and into the bathroom. The mare leaned over the sink as she turned the faucet on. She dipped her hooves into the warm running water and splashed her face. Fluttershy looked at her reflection in the mirror just overhead the sink. The thought of Princess Celestia finding out about the king's escape stood in her mind. She knew it'd happen eventually. However, there was no telling as to when. The slightest frown emerged. "How long is this going to last..." Fluttershy muttered to herself.

Vague tapping was heard in the living room. Fluttershy shut the water off. Her ears perked up. Cautiously, she stepped outside of the bathroom and walked across the hallway. Additional tapping was heard - This time more clearly. She soon found that the source was coming from the large window behind the couch. On the other side of the window were 4 of Fluttershy's birds. King Sombra was still sleeping; unaffected by the birds' noise.They all chirped happily from seeing her. She smiled from seeing her animals begin to return, and turned around to head out the door. Once she was outside at the back of the Cottage, they all greeted her happily with hearty chirps, and perched on her back and head. A couple of them nipped Fluttershy's ear. It was clear that they were all hungry.

With that, she trotted towards the small wooden food storage connected to her cottage, and peeked inside. Nothing was there. "Oh my," She began, "You all must have been starving without me..." The Pegasus pony frowned from the fact. One of the birds - A small wood pecker - Chirped in Fluttershy's ear.

"I know you're all hungry, but I can't go to town to get anything until later in the morning. I promise that feeding you all will be my top priority once the shops start opening up." She reassured. The birds flew off in slight frustration, and perched on the nearby trees. Fluttershy went back inside the Cottage. She noticed right away that Sombra was no longer in the living room. Various faint noises could be heard upstairs; Giving a clear indication where he was. The mare ascended upstairs to find just who she expected. King Sombra's back was turned to her, as he was in the middle of putting his regalia back on. On the bed, she noticed Angel laying on a large white pillow; Fast asleep. Sombra turned his head and gave her a solemn glance; Paying her only minimum attention.

"Why are you putting your armor back on?" She asked in a puzzled tone.

"I'm more at ease with it on than without it." Sombra replied as he brushed his jet black mane back and placed his crown atop his head. "I heard your voice outside. How come you were out there?"

"Some of my animals are starting to return. I'm going to have to go to town to get some fo-" Fluttershy stopped herself. She came to the realization that Sombra would be alone in the Cottage if she were to leave. She sighed, and started up again. "I really need to get food for my animals, but I don't think I can leave you here by yourself..." Her ears drooped down; Unsure of what to do. The conversation going on in the bedroom woke Angel. He stood up and rubbed his eyes wearily.

"Sparkle said nothing about having to watch over me in your home. Besides," Sombra smirked," I'm about as harmless as your pet bunny."

Angel's large ears twitched from hearing himself being mentioned. He listened intently on their conversation.

Fluttershy shook her head, "What if more of my animals come back, notice you, and end up running off again? What if somepony finds you?!"

"It's a day, Shy." Sombra took a few steps towards her and placed his hoof on her head. "But if you want to stay here and rot with me, that's fine." He chuckled stridently.

Fluttershy lowered her head and stared at the floorboards for a good moment. Her mind wandered to try and find a solution. She then raised her head and looked back up at the king. "Maybe I can get somepony to stay here with you while I'm away?" She flashed him a partial smile.

He raised an eyebrow at the question, and slid his hoof off of her head. "Who do you have in mind?"

"I think Rainbow Dash would be willing to do it."

The king exhaled in a hint of relief. "As long as it's not the pink one."

"Pinkie Pie?"

"Yeah, whatever."

Fluttershy cocked her head and gave a quizzical look. "You don't like Pinkie?" It was a bit of a surprise for her. Everypony likes Pinkie Pie. Even the most up-tight ponies... or so she thought.

"Her first impression certainly wasn't enjoyable. Just trust me on this, Shy. It's just something about the sound of her voice..." His blood red irises shifted to the left in contemplation; Trying to find a suitable phrase. "Let's just say, some would consider it to be the last thread on a fairly thin rope."

"Just wait, I know you're going to grow fond of her over time. I know you will." Fluttershy smiled confidently.

Sombra's expression softened as he looked at Fluttershy. His lips curled into a smile, and his eyes showed a vague hint of desire. He lowered his head down to hers. Stiffness took over her body; Unsure of how to react. Sombra spoke ever so softly into her ear, "I prefer my mares quiet, much like yourself..."

Her eyes widened, and her heart rate sped from the king's words. She smiled nervously and cleared her throat; Ready to curve the subject. "Uhm... I-I should probably go talk to D-Dash whi-ile it's still early." She stuttered as she slowly backed towards the staircase. "I'll only be gone for 30 minutes tops, okay?"

Only a nod was King Sombra's response. His smile still remained as he watched her leave the room. Once she was completely out of his vision, He looked back at the bed to find Angel staring at him with his arms crossed; his facial expression stern. The bunny shook his head gravely at Sombra's actions.

♦~Fluttershy~♦

Fluttershy was just outside the Cottage. Her wings spread open to their full span. She bounded off of the ground and into the atmosphere. The sun was already halfway over the horizon. The once deep purple sky was now a soft mixture of hot pink and orange. Her yellow coat illuminated from the sun's light as she flew. Soon she landed in the quiet town of Ponyville; Where Rainbow Dash resides most often. Her eyes were fixed up onto the clouds; Figuring she'd be sleeping on one of them. Fluttershy flew above cloud layer and scanned the seemingly fluffy condensed water vapor around her. Dash was then spotted on a small patch of cloud above Sugarcube Corner. The rainbow pony was laying on her back with her head hanging off the edge. It was clear she was fast asleep.

With no hesitation, Fluttershy flew to the sleeping Rainbow Dash and gently nudged her shoulder with her hoof. Dash groaned from being awoken, and forced her eyes open slightly; Exposing her Magenta irises. "Fluttershy?" She asked groggily. "What's up?"

"I know it's early in the morning right now, but I was wondering if you could, uhm... Watch over somepony for me?" Fluttershy smiled sheepishly.

"Can't you ask somepony else? I'm sort of in the middle of sleeping right now, as you can probably tell."

"I don't think anypony else will be up to it except for you. I believe you're tough enough to keep him to check while I'm gone."

Rainbow flashed a look of confusion. "Wait... Who are we talking about?"

"King Sombra..." Fluttershy muttered; almost inaudible to her friend's ears. The yellow Pegasus was already beginning to feel penitent for even asking Dash to watch over him.

"...... Sombra?" Rainbow Dash asked for clarification. Fluttershy nodded slowly. Silence filled the air around them. Dash stared at her friend for a good moment; Processing her request. Her lips parted as if she was going to say something, but quickly hesitated. "Hold up. Just... Give me a minute." Rainbow eventually said. Fluttershy waited patiently for a decision. Her feelings of regret increased with each passing second of silence. "... Where exactly are you planning on going, and how long will you be gone?"

"I need to go get food for my animals. I also need to talk to Rarity..." Fluttershy frowned as she spoke. "I'll be back at the Cottage once I'm done shopping. It'll probably be in the afternoon by then. After I feed my animals, I'll leave again to talk with Rarity. So you'll be watching him until dusk, maybe?"

Rainbow scratched her head. She remained highly unsure of the situation, but she didn't want to say no to her friend."Do you really trust him around other ponies..?"

"I trust him enough to know that he wouldn't purposefully hurt me or any of my friends."

The blue mare let forth a long sigh. "You trust him quite a bit, even though he's only been dormant for so long."

"Just call it a hunch, Rainbow, but I really think he's a completely different pony outside of the Arctic North..."

Rainbow was about to object her statement, until she decided to just let it go entirely. "Alright... I guess I can watch over him. I just hope your hunch is correct, Fluttershy."

Fluttershy's eyes lit up happily. "Oh thank you thank you thank you!!" She pulled Dash in for a tight hug. "I promise you Dashie, he's not that bad once you get to know him. Come on; Lets go back to the Cottage. There's still some time until shops start opening up."

A yawn escaped Dash's lips as she pulled herself up onto her hooves. With a few pumps of her wings, she rose completely off of the cloud and suddenly soared higher into the air, and flew away from Ponyville with Fluttershy following a distance back. It felt as though there was a tight knot in Fluttershy's stomach as she flew. Despite what she said to Dash, the yellow mare couldn't know for sure what he'd do while she was absent from the Cottage. Only time will tell.

♦~Fluttershy's Cottage~♦

King Sombra was sitting on the floor in Fluttershy's bedroom, flipping through an unusual green book with yellow and pink stripes across the cover. The nightstand drawers were open and their contents were on top of the stand. Sombra's ominous eyes slowly moved across each page; Clearly interested in whatever it contained. Continuous thumps from Angel's back foot were heard in the background, only to be ignored by the pre-occupied king. The vivid purple mist emitting from his irises flickered with each blink as he read. Angel grunted in frustration and smacked Sombra's forehoof with his paws. Sombra didn't budge, nor give the bunny any reaction.

The familiar sound of the front door opening was heard, followed with chatter from a familiar voice. Angel bunny shot out from the bedroom and downstairs. The king continued reading; unfazed by the commotion.

"Where is he?" Rainbow asked as she looked from left to right.

"He's probably upstairs. Let me just go get him real qui-" Fluttershy was hastily interrupted by Angel bunny rocketing downstairs and to her hooves. He tugged on her pink mane and pointed the 2nd floor; His expression showed deep concern. "What's wrong, Angel?" She asked as her eyes were fixed on where he was pointing. Angel only tugged harder. Without another word, Fluttershy cantered upstairs and to her bedroom. Rainbow Dash silently waited in the living room in simple confusion as to what was going on.

Fluttershy looked over the bedroom doorway to discover King Sombra sitting in the middle of the room with what looked like one of her books. Fluttershy's mouth dropped open slightly, and her entire face flushed red. She covered her hoof with her mouth and spoke; her voice brittle and shaky. "U-uhm... Sombr-ra... What are you r-reading...?"

King Sombra remained mute as his eyes continued moving through the paragraphs. His eyes then reached the bottom of the page, and he finally looked up. Using his magic, he levitated the book up next to him; now in full view. "A little old to be the owner of one of these, wouldn't you agree?" He asked with a smug look on his face.

"That's private, Sombra!" Fluttershy huffed in agitation. "You shouldn't be reading that!"

"You shouldn't have stashed it in such a blatantly obvious location." He lowered the book and laid it by his bandaged side. "In one of your entries, I recall you writing about Discord's reformation. It feels like only a hundred years ago he was running amok in my empire; making my royal duties all the more stressful. Time flies, it seems..."

"You know Discord? He never mentioned you in his letters..."

"Letters?"

"You alright, Fluttershy?" Rainbow dash called from the living room.

Fluttershy shook her current thoughts off and turned her head towards the doorway. "I'm okay! Just a moment!" She then turned back to Sombra and changed the subject. "Rainbow Dash is here to keep you company while I'm gone. I was hoping you'd like to come down and take the time to, you know, get to know her a little?"

"I'm not one for... talking."

"Can you at least try?" The Pegasus' lower lip deliberately quivered as she looked at the king with her large turquoise eyes. He rolled his eyes at her attempt to persuade him, but he stood up nonetheless and obediently walked out of the room. His tail flicked over Fluttershy's thigh as he bypassed her; Signaling to follow.

Rainbow Dash was now sitting on the living room couch with her eyes fixed on the staircase. Her wings shifted slightly from seeing both Fluttershy and King Sombra in her sight. Fluttershy smiled at Sombra and motioned for him to speak. He walked forward, and stopped a few feet away from Rainbow Dash. He dipped his head down slightly in a nod. Dash nervously nodded back in response.

"Rainbow Dash, I presume?"

An awkward grin formed on her face, followed with another nod. "Yep, that's me!" She chuckled. She attempted to fix her sluggish posture for a better impression. The king was noticeably indulged in her discomfort.

"So how's about you tell me a bit about yourself?" He asked with only partial interest in his tone.

"Would I?!"

Fluttershy beamed with joy to see them both communicating without issue. She trotted into the kitchen to fetch her saddle bags. She emerged back out as she threw the brown bags over her back. Rainbow was already in the middle of boasting about her flying skills. Before Fluttershy could open the front door, Angel came hopping towards her, and jumped into her saddlebags.

"You want to come with me, Angel?"

The bunny poked his head out from the bags and nodded frantically. The Pegasus smiled and stepped outside; leaving Rainbow Dash and King Sombra to themselves. Just before she shut the door, she noticed Sombra glance in her direction as Rainbow rambled on. Fluttershy couldn't quite make out his expression, but it was certainly out of the ordinary.