A/N: Without reading the description the story will be confusing as it gives the necessary back story. I would recommend doing so before starting.
"Curiosity gives birth to new things and reveals many more. Without curiosity we would get nowhere."
“Are ya two sure we should be doing this?” Applebloom questioned, hiding behind the bushes beside her two best friends.
“You were all for this like half an hour ago. Or are you chicken?” Scootaloo taunted, wanting to get some sort of response.
“Ah’m no chicken. It’s just doesn’t feel right following another pony. She’s done nothing wrong.” The country filly had a proper argument.
“She hasn’t done anything wrong, yet. What if she’s some kind of demon pony that feasts on the souls of young fillies and colts? Or some kind of secret agent and the whole teacher thing is a cover job!”
“Now that’s jus’ silly. She’s just shy, not some sort of monster or secret agent. Don’t you remember what happened with Zecora?”
“Well me and Scootaloo wanna know, so are you in, or are you out?” Sweetie Belle finally joined in the conversation, taking her eyes off the school’s main doors to look at her best friends.
“Ah’m in... But can we just lay low and try to be careful? Applejack’s been on edge ever since tax season started and ah don’t want to get in trouble.” Applebloom explained hoping they would listen to her.
“Shh! There she is now.” Scootaloo whispered, pointing towards the school grounds where the mare, whom was still wearing her brown cloak, was leaving the school grounds. “Let’s go.”
The three crusaders watched as the mare in question was walking towards the main hub in town but instead of going through the town square she walked around it, as if avoiding any encounters if possible. They all stayed within visible distance of Ms. Lula but far enough so that they could not be seen, or at least they thought so. Finally after what seemed to be forever, but only half an hour, they passed the forest clearing and Fluttershy’s house was in sight.
“What’s she going to Fluttershy’s house for? Is she adopting an animal or something?” Sweetie asked her two best friends, still watching the pony as she knocked on the door. In a few seconds the door slowly opened, revealing Fluttershy who seemed strangely calm for meeting a new pony. Or at least they thought the two of them had never met.
“No I don’t think she’s going to adopt an animal. Maybe Ms. Lul, Lila, lily, your teacher-
“Ms. Lula,” The unicorn filly corrected, throwing her hoof onto her face, disappointed at her friend’s terrible memory. “How hard is that to remember?”
“Whatever. Like I was trying to say before, maybe the two of them are friends.” Scootaloo inferred, unsure of the situation. The two mares who were still unaware of the watching eyes of the three young fillies grasped each other into a short, but caring hug before going inside of the cottage.
“They are definitely friends, maybe more. You don’t see Fluttershy talking to, much less hugging random strangers unless she has to.”
“Let’s go get a closer look, maybe we can find out who Ms. Lula really is.” The orange pegasus suggested, getting ready to sprint.
“We can’t do that, they’ll see us if we do.” Applebloom argued, trying to keep herself and her two friends out of trouble as per usual.
“Not if we’re fast enough, come on!” Scootaloo galloped as fast as she could, buzzing her tiny wings, trying to gain extra speed with Sweetie Belle right on her tail.
“But ah don’t... Ah forget it.” The earth filly grumbled, following them. Quickly they ran towards the kitchen window and ducked underneath, praying that they had not been seen or heard. Luckily for them the window was wide open so they could easily listen in on their conversation.
“So how was the class? Was it as good as usual?”
“Yes thankfully. Each and every foal is absolutely wonderful and they are all enthusiastic about learning. I didn’t think they would enjoy the long lesson but they all proved me wrong.” The voice who Sweetie Belle knew was Ms. Lula, spoke happily with a voice smoother than silk.
“Did anypony see you?” Fluttershy asked.
“Nopony has seen me yet, not even Pinkie like you told me to watch out for.”
“We will now.” The young unicorn whispered, reaching up to the bottom of the window to try and sneak a peek at her mysterious teacher whom she had been curious about for the past three weeks.
“Get down Sweetie Belle; they’re going to see you!” Scootaloo whispered loudly, attempting to get her friend back under cover. The white filly ignored her words and grabbed onto the edge, hoisting herself up enough so that she could see inside. What she saw was surprising to say the least. From how the window was positioned she could see through the kitchen and into the living room. The scene that lay before her, in the living room, was no different from what she saw when she came the last time, only it was who was lying on the couch that was different. Fluttershy sat with her back to the couch with another blue unicorn resting her head on the pegasus. The yellow mare showed no signs of discomfort and was even brushing the two toned mane, one azure and the other a much paler blue, which could only come from one pony.
“She’s not a secret agent crusaders,” Sweetie Belle ducked down, completely calm until finally remembering who that actually was, but more importantly what she did. “It’s TRIXIE?!” Scootaloo and Applebloom both threw their hooves at the unicorn’s mouth, attempting to silence her.
“Shh!” Scootaloo whispered with a tinge of annoyance in her voice, releasing her hoof only after a few seconds. “You almost blew our cover!”
“I’m sorry but I just can’t believe this. I’ve been learning magic from Trixie all along and not for a second did I think it was her.” Sweetie Belle apologized. “Her voice was different but still.”
“Let me see,” Applebloom copied her unicorn friend’s previous actions and found herself observing the very same view. Her two friends joined her a few seconds later and they all were watching the two mares.
“You’re going to have to tell everypony else sooner or later.” Fluttershy urged the blue mare, wanting her to get rid of the masquerade.
“I know, but what do I say? Hello there, I’ve been living in Ponyville ever since I enslaved you all. I hope there are no hard feelings.” Trixie sighed, letting out a warm breath into the humid air.
“Trixie... The ponies in Ponyville aren’t like the ones in Hoofington. They’re all nice and forgiving. You just need to show them that you are deserving of it and I say you’re doing a good job of it right now.”
“B-but what if they want me to leave or worse lock me up in jail. I can’t stand the thought of being far away from you.”
“They aren’t going to do that, if they try, I’ll be right beside you, I promise.” The yellow mare assured, giving hope that wasn’t really necessary but made the unicorn much happier.
“Thank you Fluttershy.” Trixie reached up and gave her a small peck on the cheek. “For everything you’ve done.”
“I haven’t done much.” Fluttershy smiled, a small blush creeping its way into her cheeks. The three crusaders simultaneously thought that they had seen enough and let go of the window, landing properly on the ground without so much as a scratch, except for Sweetie Belle who had second thoughts mid drop and failed to right herself which caused her to land directly onto her back.
“Well...” Scootaloo started, lending a hoof to the fallen Sweetie Belle to which she accepted, and picked herself off the ground.
“So what do we do now?” Applebloom asked her friends, unsure of what he best course of action would be.
“Why don’t we go ask Rainbow Dash? She’ll know what to do.” Scootaloo spoke confidently, as if there was no way her idol could do them wrong.
“No!” Sweetie Belle nearly yelled, wanting to protect her teacher. “We can’t tell anypony about this.”
“Why not?” Scootaloo inquired, wanting to know why they couldn’t go and get ‘professional’ help.
“It’s like Applebloom said before. She’s just shy and scared and if we tell anypony, it wouldn’t be fair for her. She’s done so much for me, it’s the least we can.” Sweetie Belle explained, getting her point across to the orange pegasus.
“So are we just supposed to keep quiet about this and do nothing until she does?” Scootaloo asked.
“Well if we can’t say anything then how bout we help her? Like get her confidence up again.”
“We could be,” Scootaloo started, holding in her breath.
“Cutie mark crusaders,” Sweetie Belle continued, doing the very same as her orange friend.
“Confidence boosters! YAY!” This time uncaring of their volume, they yelled together in sync and followed up by running up to the front door, prepared to help Trixie.
“Oh dear...” Fluttershy heard them from inside and whispered, speaking to nopony in particular.
Author's Note
Dialogue heavy story with very very few details and explanations. This chapter is a one shot of a story that's in the alpha stages, if you will, and depending on how this does (not contest) will change my opinion on how much time I put into it. Mainly about why trixie is there, her different attitude, how she talks (3rd person), and how she got there. Living with Fluttershy changes a pony.
~SS
