Chapter 8 Part 2 - Interruptions Galore (Fluttershy and Applejack) [Rewrite]

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"Where are the supplies we need for our operation?"

"I don't know. They should be here by--"

*Poof*

"A letter?"

"It must be urgent if it was sent like that."

"..."

"... Well?"

"Bad news. Our suppliers had a bad run-in with the royal guard. They are currently laying low, but they can't continue."

"Ugh, we really don't need this. We can silence the more prominent officials in Canterlot, but the princesses will not approve of what we set out to do. The royal guard answer to them alone."

"'Them' sir?"

"Don't forget, Princess Luna was redeemed by the Elements of Harmony, and is currently trying to re-integrate into modern society. This, in turn, makes the situation even more precarious..."

"Then what should we do?"

"I hate to say it, but this is one setback we cannot avoid. Sent a message back to tell them to lay low. Attempting to speed things up will only increase chances of being found out."

"How long must they hide?"

"The Grand Galloping Gala is slowly approaching. While I originally wanted to proceed with the plan then, changes will have to be made. Tell them that the guards will be distracted by the Gala, which is a prime time for slipping by with minimal detection."

*Fwoosh*

"Message sent."

"Alright. For now, we observe."

Ponyville, Carousel Boutique, Zephyr

"Finally done are you?"

Rainbow Dash was waiting outside of the boutique when Zephyr exited.

"Yeah, so? I was just wondering how you intended on measuring 'coolness' in terms of an actual statistic."

She had a confused look. "What?"

"It needs to be about twenty percent cooler."

Rainbow Dash's face went red in a mixture of embarrassment and anger. "It... just needed to look cool! I mean, sure I warmed up to the final version but still!"

"That doesn't answer my question. You either tell me or I make fun of the image of you wearing a dress." She now looked halfway between anxious and furious as Zephyr adopted a cheeky grin. "Oh, whoops, I already did."

"I'm going to seriously enjoy kicking your flank in our race."

"Hehehehehehe, ready when you are."

"Uhm... R-Rainbow Dash?"

Hello buzzing in the back of my head. The two competitors looked at the source of the voice, who happened to be the now nervous Fluttershy. And hello headache. I need an aspirin...

"What is it Fluttershy? Can't you see we're in the middle of something here?" Rainbow was getting more exasperated because this was the third time their race was interrupted before it even began.

Fluttershy winced at her friend's harsher tone. "T-Twilight wanted to see you for something i-important, Rainbow."

Deja vu...

"Can't she wait until after this race? I've been raring to go for a while and Zephyr already got dragged away once."

"S-she said it was urgent. P-please Rainbow..."

Rainbow Dash looked at Zephyr with the same irritated look as when he got dragged away by Rarity before sighing. "Alright, fine. Guess we can't get anymore interrupted than we are now..."

Zephyr shook his head in slight amusement. "This is going to become a thing now, isn't it?"

"I certainly hope not anymore than it already is, but it might be... This is such a drag." With that, Rainbow Dash flew off towards the library.

Fluttershy looked at Zephyr nervously. "Y-you and Rainbow were going to race?" When she saw the solemn nod, she squeaked anxiously. "Oh,I-I'm so sorry. If i knew, I wouldn't of..."

Not wanting her to feel any worse, Zephyr cut her off with a sigh. "It's fine. She keeps wanting to race me in order to 'settle the score.' At least I THINK that's what she wants. I've honestly forgotten the origin of her grudge."

For all I know, It's to get revenge on me for being a hard-flank towards her. What goes around...

"Oh..."

For Zephyr, regular silence was something he appreciated. The awkward silence, on the other hoof, was not. In a vain attempt to break it, Zypher in-took air sharply. "Soooo... what do you do for a living?"

She jumped a bit. "Oh, I-I uhm..." He raises an eyebrow questioningly. "I... take care of animals..."

Zephyr barely heard her, yet for some reason, despite having difficulty hearing other ponies whisper, he could hear Fluttershy just fine. "Take care of animals?" When she nodded, hiding behind her mane, He brought a hoof to his muzzle in contemplation. "I've never really met anypony that does that."

She brightened up when she realized she could show him what it was about. "Oh, would you like me to show you? I mean, if it's okay with you..."

Zephyr was about to nod, when he suddenly remembered something and face-hoofed. "Oh buck, pardon the language, I forgot I had to go to Sweet Apple Acres! Way to screw up on the first day..."

Fluttershy flinched when Zephyr swore, but managed a small smile. "I met Applejack after Twilight asked me to find Rainbow Dash. She wanted to tell you that you didn't have to go there until later today."

His panic now aleviated, Zephyr sighed in relief. "Alright, then that leaves me free to go to your place until then."

She gave him a slightly bigger smile before walking towards her place. Zephyr noted that his headache got worse after that for some reason.

This cottage feels familiar... and not just because I saw it during the wind current crisis...

Fluttershy's residence was situated by the entrance to the forest with the nonthreatening name. It was teeming with animals of all kinds.

"Huh, the place is rather well kept." Zephyr was flying beside her as she walked. While unnecessary, he wanted to keep himself limber before the inevitable race.

"T-thank you. I like to ensure my animals are in a clean, safe environment. I take their health very seriously."

All the animals were looking in the duo's direction as they went past the fence, most likely curious about Zephyr. Despite it not being from ponies, he was still getting kinda antsy from the attention.

"Err, Maybe I should--" he felt something tap his "sensitive" side where the bandages were, causing Zephyr to spaz out. Unfortunately, his first reaction to something like that is to fold up his wings. Which resulted in his face introducing itself to the ground in a prompt manner.

Fluttershy squeaked in concern when she heard the thud. "Oh my goodness, are you alright?"

"I'm okay!" It was muffled because Zephyr's muzzle was in the ground, but he managed to get it extracted soon after.

"Edwace, that was not very nice of you!" It became apparent that Fluttershy has an easier time dealing with animals than ponies. She was not afraid to scold whatever touched Zephyr's side. Judging by the sad chirping, he figured it must of been a small bird. "He says he's sorry for doing that. He didn't realize your sides were sensitive."

"Don't worry about it. Mistakes happen"

Fluttershy started sputtering in anxiety as she checked him over. "A-are you injured at all anywhere-- oh?"

Suddenly Zephyr feel something light sitting on his head, which had already been shifted so that his chin was on the ground and facing forward.

"Elizabeak, get down from there!" All that was heard in response was a cluck.

Zephyr immediately knew what was going on. "There's a chicken sitting on my head? I know my mane is dirty blond and looks like nesting material, but this is ridiculous..."

This is highly degrading for me. I bet Rainbow would be laughing her flank off if she saw me now...

"Why aren't you getting off this poor stallion's... head..?" Fluttershy couldn't believe what she was seeing now.

Before he could ask what else was wrong, Zephyr started feeling several creatures sitting on his back and in his re-spread wings, which was tickling him a bit. "What's going on?"

"I-it seems all of the birds have taken a liking to you." Looking up to see Fluttershy stop in front of him, she lifts The chicken off Zephyr's head with a few clucks of protest, and he was able to look to see what was going on.

Several smaller birds of differing colors and species were nested both on and under his wings. Some larger birds were resting on his back as well, all chirping contently.

Well, this is embarrassing... I knew some of the Manehatten birds liked me, but this is getting--

A thought crossed Zephyr's mind which prompted a grin. "I'm going to say something I might regret."

"Oh? What might that be?"

"Gee, I sure know how to pick up chicks!" Upon saying that, Zephyr re-plants his face into the ground while laughing silently. He could tell some of the birds were face winging while others sounded like they were laughing as well.

Fluttershy let out a small giggle at the pun before going back to her worried look. "I should really see if you're--"

"Howdy, Fluttershy!" Zephyr flattened his ears in dread at the oncoming farm pony.

"O-oh, hi Applejack."

"And howdy... Zephyr?"

Everypony could tell she was trying her dardest to restrain her laughter... and slowly failing. Zephyr looked in her direction with a defeated frown. "Laugh it up, why don't you? This is more humiliating than I thought..."

Applejack let out a low cough to get her laughter out of her system. "Aw, don'' be like that, par'ner. At least I'm not Rainbow Dash in that regard."

"Point taken." Fluttershy managed to shoo away the birds so Zephyr could stand back up. From the corner of his eye, he could see a white rabbit looking at him curiously, like the Pegasus stallion looked familiar.

"I-I just wanted to show him my house s-since he has never been to an animal caretaker's house..." She kicked the dirt nervously.

Anypony could misinterpret her act of bringing a stallion to her house. "I think we should keep this between us three." Applejack looked at Zephyr curiously, but when he motioned towards Fluttershy, she nodded in understanding. The Earth Pony was thankful the stallion was considerate of her shy friend.

"U-um I really need to check you for injuries." She suddenly starts dragging Zephyr into her house.

"Wha- I'm fine, really!"

"I-I must. I feel guilty about letting you get injured near my house. Please?"

Knowing she won't feel better otherwise, Zephyr let out a small sigh and let her drag him in. Applejack started chuckling again as she followed the two Pegasi. Zephyr noted something and shook his head. "I have never been dragged around so much in one day. I feel like a rag-doll."

Applejack grins mischievously. "If ya want, ah could drag you to Sweet Apple Acres."

"Nonononono I'm good with just flying there!" When she started laughing, Zephyr realized what her grin was and frowned. "Why do I always fall for that?"

Fluttershy, ignoring the quipping, quickly checked for injuries. "Um, aside from a few bruises, you seem fine."

"I didn't fall from very high, so I hope that's all I got."

Applejack thought for a moment, then smirked a bit. "Hey Fluttershy, why don't you cheer for him not having any injuries?"

"O-oh, I don't know..."

The request got Applejack a confused look. "Why would that be deserving of a cheer?"

She chuckled. "It's fine, ya need to hear how she cheers. Ah assure you, it'll be nothin' like you heard before."

One raised eyebrow later before conceding, Zephyr nods. Applejack looks back at Fluttershy with an encouraging smile.

"O-ok, here it goes." She started in-taking air.

She's usually soft spoken. Maybe this cheer will be the loudest thing I'll ever hear.

Zephyr unconsciously braced himself for a very loud cheer. She stopped her intake of air and--"yay"

It wasn't loud, but I think my inner stallion just committed suicide. That was ADORABLE-- and why did my headache get worse?

"Uh, you okay there par'ner?" He didn't realize it before Applejack asked, but Zephyr had started rubbing his head to try and ease the pain.

"It's nothing serious. Nice cheer, it was... very cute." Fluttershy blushed and his headache upgraded to a migraine right in what feels like the middle of his brain. Zephyr started loosing some of his vision as he squeezed his eyes shut.

"Okay seriously, are you alright?"

"I said I'm fine!" Zephyr shook his head rapidly. It didn't alleviate any pain, but it helped clear his vision up. "Besides, I still have to help you at Sweet Apple Acres."

Applejack thought for a moment before nodding, recognizing that Zephyr wouldn't skip out on his first day of apple bucking. "Ah, right we should hurry along then. Ah'm keeping an eye on you though."

"If... that's what you want to do." As two of them exited the cottage, Zephyr waved goodbye to Fluttershy, who was shyly waving back with her trademark small smile.

"When we get there, I'll set a quota for you to do over the day if ya like."

Understanding her reasoning, Zephyr nodded. "That's fine. Gives me an idea of how much you want me to help."

As the two of them got further away from Fluttershy's house, Zephyr's headache lessened.

Author's Note

I should also mention, this is the only day filled with this many things going on. Other day's won't be as long, unless you guys like this much detail (if you even call it that...)

I don't know, tell me your opinions in the comments or PM. I'll most likely answer you shortly after.