A morning in Manehatten is rarely quiet. It starts very early with the first hooves of so many ponies getting out of the houses and walking to do all the little jobs that kept a city alive. The bakers were always first, followed by the post ponies. Then they opened the shops, and by eight o’clock, Manehatten was a thriving city.
But all the hooves, going clippety-clop on the concrete, could not quite wake Red Note in his bed. The earth colt would turn and toss in his bed, throw the blanket off, pick it up again, lie on his own foreleg until it goes numb - the general morning routine.
It was the street cleaners that woke him today, way too early for his schedule. With slightly red eyes the colt stared at ceiling while some pegasus yelled at somepony else to catch the falling branches. Those pegasi could not do it quietly and orderly, they had to make sure everypony was aware they were working. Maybe so nopony could claim they were lazy.
Red stared at the ceiling for some time. He could not get back to sleep. So maybe it was a good idea to just get up. As he turned and set a hoof on the ground, there was a little crack, followed by a cold feeling at the soles. Stepped in ink. Again.
The earth colt grumbled quietly as he moved carefully. As always, the entire floor of his one-room apartment was covered in paper. Open books, scrolls, magazines, notes... anything was spread out. He did have a desk. Somewhere. He’d surely seen an edge of it, just last month.
Leaving little hoof marks on the undoubtedly valuable notes and papers, he went on to reach the tiny bathroom. It was just about big enough for a colt to stand in, and generally very nice, provided he was not inclined to turn around or stretch the legs.
Ink is not easy to get out of fur. Red Note’s coat is a bright red, except for the cutie mark, showing a little quill. He often spent time thinking about the irony, since hardly any earth pony could properly use a feather for writing. It left such a bad feeling in the mouth and was way too fray.
Daddy Note, his father, has earned some fame by inventing the dip pen. It could be easily held in mouth by earth ponies and reduced a well known effect among them. Author ponies are still called ‘Blue Teeth’, it has become more of a sticking euphemism now.
As the blue water flowed down the drain, there was a mild crash in the main room. The colt jumped and banged the head on the ceiling. Then he slowly moved out backwards. There was a branch of a tree through his window.
“Sorray,” the yellow pegasus mumbled and then dragged the branch out by the teeth, so it fell down on the street. Sheets of paper flapped around the room and then out of the window, scattering onto the pavement.
“Sorray,” the pegasus repeated and then dashed out of sight.
Red sighed. What an inconsiderate filly... he did not think. In Manehatten, being rude was not just normal, here everypony called it ‘life style’ and was proud of it. Red Note was sure that all the ponies met up at their parties and boasted about how selfish they had been this day.
Well, he wouldn’t know as he is never invited to these parties. That is, except for the little get-together his editor had put up. Red had spent about four hours standing awkwardly by the punch, drinking one glass after the other. The others seemed to have fun. From time to time somepony would suddenly talk to him, trying to get into a conversation about his essays, up until the point where Red realised they had not read even one of them, and generally hat been there for the canapés.
The colt stepped into glass shards as he walked up the window. In the sky, the pegasi were herding the clouds together. The sunshine spread on his face, warming it up. He felt tired. Not because of the lack of sleep recently. Going to bed late and being woken up rudely surely had something to do with it, but that was not all.
A shadow was cast on his snout. Just another pegasus. Oh how they were also getting on his nerves, dashing about in the sky while he had to wait for overly crowded coaches and walk stairs. But once again, they did not even seem to notice. And they were...
“Postage for Red Note,” the grey coated winged pony said. For a moment, Red Note though something wrong with her eyes, but he could not see it clearly as he was given two letters and a magazine before the pegasus dashed off.
All of it fell onto the heap of paper that as his apartment. Unopened letters were not unusual amongst the thick carpet of writings. They never bore any news.
Red Note thought he needed... a vacation. Some time out. He did not know why he just though it, but it seemed very clear.
He’d never had a vacation before. At all.
And he would needed to stay in Ponyville, a Summer at the Apple Family Orchard Pension, with fresh country air, comfy bed in house or barn, breakfast included.
Come again?
Red blinked slowly, realising he had stared at an advert in the magazine. His mind was not that quick right now, but after a moment it caught up with the eyes. And they both consented that it did not sound that bad.
He picked up the magazine and put it onto the bed. Then he took the pen, the ink and an empty letter and carefully wrote down a note for his editor.
They surely can find some other pony for the theatre critics.
As the sun rose over Ponyville, it was definitely the same sun. It’s the same sun for everyone, Pinkie’s granny had told her. The same sun for everyone, and it shines on everyone equally. Pinkie Pie was trotting - or rather hopping - over the market square.
“Hey Applejack, what you up to?”
Being a friend to Pinkie Pie meant eventually getting used to suddenly hear a very high voice in your ear, unprepared. And since she was a friend to every pony in Ponyville, every pony knew to be prepared, so Applejack had only a minor shake-up.
“Hey, Pinkie, buildin’ up the stand.” Obviously. As every Friday and Tuesday. “‘ey, ya’ll busy t’day?”
“Well, duh,” the filly responded. “Am always busy.”
“I mean other than...” Applejack made a gesture with the hoof. “Spreadin’ around the... happiness an’ such.”
Pinkie Pie stared into the sky for a while, then concluded. “No. Just getting apples for Sugarcube Corner. Oh! You have apples?”
Applejack’s eyes narrowed for a second, standing by a freshly opened stand full of apple and diverse apple products. Just as every single Tuesday and Friday. After half a minute of finding nothing but true innocence and honesty in her friend’s eyes, she answered: “Why yes. What a coincidence.”
“That’s great! ‘Cos I need some.”
Applejack rolled her eyes and silently filled Pinkie’s saddlebags. “So that’ll be four bits... But can ya’ll do me a favor? Jus’ a teeny one?”
“Why, I love favours!” the pink pony grinned. Some coins clinked into the box by the stand. “What is it?”
Applejack quickly counted out the change. “We’re havin’ th’ first guest for the pension, comin’ in today. Was supposed ta be yesterday, but train was late.”
“Oh! A guest? I’ll throw a party for them!”
“No!” Applejack shouted louder than intended. “No,” she added in a quieter voice. “Jus’... fetch ‘im and show ‘im the way to the orchard, will ya? Calm and Quiet.”
“Calm and Quiet?” Pinkie Pie repeated.
“All Calm and Quiet. He’s looking for rest. Not for a party.”
“You can count on me, Applejack!” Pinkie nodded and pranced back to the Corner.
Applejack had a slightly bad feeling about this, but who else could she ask? Apple Bloom is just a foal, Big Macintosh was in Appleloosa. Fluttershy would not get out a single word towards a stranger...
Twilight, maybe. But that unicorn’s been stuck up in her tree for days. And she herself had to sell apples.
Though she was glad by now there was a guest at the pension. She needed every Bit she could get her hooves onto - legally, that is. So she could not skip a single market day, either. Just the Pension idea had been as great as it was unsuccessful. Nopony turned up at first. It had been distressing, preparing a Pension and having no guests in the first year.
Twilight had come up with the idea to advertise. And she was smart. Okay, not smart smart, just book smart, but that still counted for something, Applejack was sure. And she’d been a Big City Pony before moving to Ponyville, so she must know how those types roll. Though she said that among the city ponies, Ponyville counted as boring, sleepy countryside. They spent their vacations in Phillydelphia, mostly.
Adverts in Manehatten magazines are expensive. Twilight had helped, that sweetie, but it would be a major setback if that one and only guest would not be absolutely and completely satisfied. And as soon as this market day was over, she will make sure of it.
Red Note reluctantly stepped out of the train and blinked in the light. It was a hot day in Ponyville, but surely not as hot as in the cabins. And they had to stop three times on the road, delaying the entire trip by almost an twelve hours. Considering it is a six hours trip by train, that is simply ridiculous.
Habitually, he was composing a critic of this ride in his mind until he suddenly saw pink. It was so shocking he almost tripped over.
“Weeeeelcome to Pooooonyville!” he heard, then two low pops and a loud tweet. Colourful bits of paper fell to the ground all around him.
Pinkie Pie had done her best to get Calm and Quiet done, so she had settled for just one party horn. The effect was lacking, she thought, as the colt just blankly stared at her. Maybe it had been just not enough for this occasion. “Hello!” she tried again. “I’m Pinkie Pie, your guide for Ponyville!”
Red blinked. “Oh, hello. Name’s Red Note.” He looked around, for somepony to get his luggage. But there wasn’t anyone offering. In fact, except for this filly the platform was deserted. Just like he had imagined countryside. A rural village far away from... anywhere.
He buckled up his own luggage and wondered if five books wouldn’t have been enough for this vacation, instead of the thirty. Though you could never be careful enough, maybe the people around here have never even heard of a library at all.
“The Orchard is just this way, follow me!” the pink pony said and walked - no, pranced - onwards.
Red followed her closely, down the road, passing the village. The dusty way quickly led to an apple orchard, just like on the photographs.
“So I guess... you’re the host?” he asked after some minutes.
Pinkie Pie giggled. “Am a baker, at Sugarcube Corner. Oh! You simply have to come by and taste our cake. I’ll make one just for you!”
“Uh, I guess...”
“What do you do in the town?”
“Me? Oh, I just... write for some magazines. The Weekly Pony, mostly... ufff.” He had ran into the filly that had stopped like dead, from some moment to the next. “Something wrong?”
“The Weekly Pony?” she shrieked. “The Weekly Pony? The Weekly Pony?”
“Uh... yes?” he said, suddenly full of regret.
“The biggest all-topic magazine in Equestria?”
“I don’t know about that, I only do critiques...” He suddenly blushed. Having a red coat, his blushing always went unnoticed.
Pinkie Pie wanted to shriek “critiques?” as well, but suddenly the face of a very displeased Applejack floated up in her mind like apple bits in the morning cereal. Calm and Quiet. “J-just this way, sir,” she mumbled and led the guest up the road and to the barn.
Finally Red Note could get his luggage off the back and stretch his legs a bit. He took a look into the barn and tipped open the door a bit. A chicken ran out.
“Aw don’t mind them, they’re all just silly little critters!” Pinkie said in a high voice. “Just feel like home and I am sure Applejack will be with you in no time.”
“Applejack being...?”
“Your host. She’s all nice, really.”
Red shook his head and walked into the barn, slowly. It had a definite animal smell. Very rural. Very down-to-earth. As natural as you can get without sleeping under the sky. Indeed, surely... he slowly ran out of adjectives. Where was his Thesaurus?
Applejack pulled the cart up the road and spotted Pinkie Pie by the barn. “Is he here?”
The pink pony nodded quickly. As Applejack wanted to enter, she was pulled away and behind the corner.
“What is it?” Applejack asked, mildly annoyed. “Is he creepy? Or what did your mind make up now, eh?”
Pinkie Pie’s eyes went wide and she tried her spooky voice. “He’s a critic!”
“A critic?” Applejack repeated, face suddenly pale.
“From The Weekly Pony.”
“The Weekly Pony?” she shrieked. “The Weekly Pony? The Weekly Pony?”
Pinkie Pie nodded in utter agreement.
“The biggest all-topic magazine in Equestria?”
“Quite. But we have to be...”
“You put him into the barn?” Applejack galloped from her friend into the barn, not waiting for an answer.
She found Red Note leafing through a book. To her horror she saw a chicken on his head, and it refused to move one inch.
“Agronomic... pastoral... peasant,” the colt mumbled.
“Oh, I am very sorry,” Applejack said, shooing the chicken off. “It seems there has been a mix up with the rooms!”
Red looked up. What a beautiful country filly, he thought, and the thought filled his mind like warm, fuzzy lemonade into an empty glass. “You must be... Applejack.”
“Th’ very same. Welcome t’ The Apple Family Orchard Pension, sir.” She groaned slightly as she lifted the luggage onto her back. “Hope ya’ll had a nice trip here!”
“Oh, it’s just getting better and better,” the colt smirked. “What was with the rooms?”
“Ya’ll gonna stay in the suite!” Applejack announced. “It’s just there, in the main house,” she added and pushed the colt out of the barn.
“But that Pie girl said...”
“Aw, dun’ you listen t’ ‘er! She’s just random! Town prankster, y’know?”
“That’s me!” Pinkie volunteered. “A liar by heart!”
Applejack gave her a very sharp look, ushering the guest up to the top suite.
“Just a minute,” she said and poked her head inside. “Apple Bloom, out!”
The filly Apple Bloom was a bit surprised. “But this is my room!” she protested.
“Aww, look at her, she just loves the suite so much. Cos it’s so luxurious, y’know. All the highest standards,” she said and ushered him the way in, ignoring the pouting filly. “Oh look, you have a great view all over the orchard!”
“Oh, yes,” the colt said, slightly confused.
Behind him, Pinkie Pie sneaked up to the pouting Apple Bloom, wrapped her forelegs around the little filly and dragged her out of the room in an instant.
Applejack let the luggage drop to the floor. “If you need anything, anything at all, do not hesitate to gimme a ring, and I’ll get it done lickety-split. Day or night!”
“Uh, thanks,” Red mumbled, blushing again. Give her a ring, she said... “I... just want to rest. Calm down, you know.” He forced a smile. “So just some quiet week here.”
“Of course! Anything you want. Feel completely at home.” Applejack slowly retreated to the door of the room. “I’ll have our kitchen crew stirring for your dinner, sir!”
“That’s very nice of you, thanks,” he said. And as the door finally closed, he moved over to the bed. He had some sleep to catch up.
It did not really matter the blanket had butterflies and flowers all over, the book shelf only had titles that started with “The friendly Adventures of...” and “Filly’s First...”. He paid it no attention.
Just as he lay down on the mattress, all fours legs spread apart, he somehow wondered why the words Cutie Mark Crusaders would be written on that wall, just before he fell asleep.
“Pinkie Pie!”
“That’s me!” Pinkie Pie responded, still holding pouting filly tightly. Applejack slammed a cooking hat into her mane. “Oh!”
Apple Bloom gasped for air as she’s finally let go. “I want my room back!” she said. “Sweety Belle and Scootaloo were comin’ over fer the night and we...”
Applejack gave her a sharp look. “Apple Bloom, this is important. Like, really important.”
“I don’t see you givin’ up yer room!”
Applejack hesitated for a moment. “Ok, pumpkin, what about this: You go over to Rarity’s and stay with Sweety Belle for the week and Ah’ll make that extension ta th’ tree house. How’s that soundin’, filly?”
Apple Bloom thought for a moment. “What about the sound equipment?” she asked.
Applejack hesitated. “Fine,” she concluded. “Jus’... jus’ stay outta the way for the week, will ya, pumpkin?”
Apple Bloom sat down on the floor. “What’s so important about that colt, anyway?” she mumbled, then jumped as Pinkie Pie moved up to her ear.
“He’s a criiiitiiiiic,” Pinkie whispered in her spooky voice.
Apple Bloom blinked. “Yeah, whatever,” she said and got up. “Have fun with your... colt.”
As the young filly galloped away, her older sister turned over to Pinkie Pie. “Well, that’ll be that.”
Pinkie saluted dutily.
“Ah know these Manehatten folks. Stuck up to the limit. He’ll expect a full three course meal an’ no mistake. You up to it, Pinkie?”
“You betcha!”
“Good. Do it!” As Pinkie dashed to the kitchen, Applejack added: “And no streamers!”
“Aw.”
Red Note was awoken by a slightly comical series of crashes and clangs, scattering glass and cluttering metal. As he opened his eyes, he noticed the sun was still up and had not moved that much. Maybe an hour or less.
He noticed he was cuddling his face into a plush unicorn. It was pink. He decided against kicking it away and put it carefully onto the cushions. Then he scrambled out of the bed and moved to the door.
Somepony made a noise that had the walls rocking. As if that pony has gone completely crazy and on a rampage against all things kitchen. Red Note carefully sneaked out of the room and down the stairs.
Pinkie Pie looked up from the mess. “Oh, hi there!” she said cheerfully. “Dinner will just take a teeny weeny bit longer and... atchoo.” Black smoke from the oven filled the room.
“Eh, yeah,” Red mumbled and rubbed the back of his head. “I thought you were a baker...?”
“Oh!” Pinkie said and opened the oven door. “Oh I am! And three star cook.” She pulled out a tray of charred bits of bakery, with bare hooves. She did not even seem to notice.
“And a liar by heart,” Red note reminded.
Pinkie Pie froze for a moment. Then she giggled. “Ow, Sugar, that was just a lie.”
Red Note blinked. “Right. I’ll... just walk around, yeah?” Then he thought for a moment, why was he telling that to this pony? He was the guest, he was paying for this! And she was clearly not listening. Not at all.
So the colt walked off and out of the house, over the road. Apple trees. Left and right, nothing but apple trees. This must be the biggest apple orchard in entire Equestria. Or was it? He had no idea. Maybe all apple orchards were this size.
Maybe he should be looking for Applejack? Strange that the host never was around. A gentle breeze set in, and he looked up. Some clouds above, but not too many. And the air was refreshing.
Red Note was tired to his very bones, but he felt slightly refreshed. Ever since he’d been a little foal he had been in the city. This reminded him of the very, very rare visits at his grandmother’s. Sheesh, he thought, that had been even before I’d gotten my cutie mark.
He gradually felt better until he moved into the village. The ground was not concrete, it was simple flagstones. And all the houses were so low. And there was actually space in between them. Space for breathing and prancing around.
And that was the moment when a little filly stared at him and gasped. And then she galloped off, yelling something.
Red Note was very sure: Very single pony in this town was crazy. He felt very weird standing on the central square with every pony staring at him. So very exposed. Piercing looks.
Act normal, he thought. You’re not a tourist, you’re one of them. Just another country pony, on the way to... to... He looked around for the next building with an open door. On his way to this shop, yes.
He forced a smile and disappeared in the shop. Oh. Dresses.
“Oh, hello there! Welcome to Carroussel Boutique!” he was greeted. “Oh my, what happened to you!”
The colt blinked. “What?” He stared blankly at the unicorn.
“Your mane! That looks so... so... and your hooves! Oh my! But don’t you worry, Rarity can help you with that.”
“But I am...” he mumbled as he was pushed forward to a wash basin and dipped in.
“Oh, I know perfectly who you are. But Rarity will help you! You know that’s Rarity, written as you speak it. As in rare. And precious.”
The colt’s breath blubbered on the surface until the unicorn let him get up and gasp for air. “This is really not necessary...”
“No, no, no, I will get you all new, you will see. And it’s on the house. Curtesy of Rarity!”
Only half groomed the colt fled out of the town. Crazy! He had only gotten away because suddenly three other ponies had boasted into the shop and told him he was to come to the Spa instead of getting his mane done by a dressmaker. And then they and Rarity had a row. He knew, when other people fought, they tended to ignore him.
Before somepony else could give him something else for free, he ran out of town. It took him a minute to realise nopony was on his tail. What was wrong with the people here...
He looked up as he heard some low laughter above his head. A pegasus. Oh, sugar...
“They got you runnin’ all right,” the pegasus sneered and landed by him. “Rarity can be so obsessive, I tell you.”
Red smiled. “You telling me... uh... I am Red Note.”
“Everyone know who you are. The only thing faster than news in this town is me!” the pony said and took a heroic pose.
“Oh. And you are?”
She blinked and looked like a high speed cart horse that was stopped by a sudden mountain coming up at the road. “Name’s Rainbow Dash!” Heroic pose. Silence. “Iron Pony? Best Young Flier?” She hesitated. “Future Member of the... Wonderbolts?” she tried with a fading voice.
“Am sorry, doesn’t ring a bell.”
“I... see...” She let her head hang, for just a minute. “But! Now you know me. I know great tricks. Am the Best Young Flier!” He took off into the air. “Just watch it! People should know all about me.”
Red stared as the blue-coated pony took off into the sky. Rainbow Dash. Surely dashed along. He’d never paid much attention to the pegasus news scene. Though he had heard that actually more earth ponies read pegasus magazines than anypony else.
“Did’choo see that! Triple looping during a cork! Hey!”
“Uh sorry, you’re too close,” he said in a sudden strike of genius. “I can’t see it all at once, maybe if you moved more... away, to the mountain side?”
“Yer right!” Rainbow Dash yelled and dashed off, leaving some rainbow stripes in the air.
Red Note shook his head. Maybe a vacation had not been such a good idea...
“There you are!” Applejack shouted.
… or maybe it was fine.
Huffing, the earth pony ran up to the colt. “I am so very sorry, sir, Pinkie just does not know what she’s doing, she’s so random and... dinner’s ready!”
“Uh, is it?” Red slowly retreated. “From your star cook?”
“Sir, it’s just perfect, she knows her business and...” She looked down her nose, as a surprisingly well groomed hoof was laid on it.
“Miss Applejack, why don’t you just bring me a little snack. We’ll have a picnic. You and me, over... there.”
The pony blinked. “Er... right... right! Enythin’ ya want, sir!”
Red watched the pony gallop off up the road. She was really cute. Just very neurotic, but that may be just the environment. And there was this choir singing every time she... wait no. There had not been a choir before. But there was now.
The colt slowly walked up the green hill, quietly. There was a little shed in the middle of the nature. It fitted in perfectly. It did not disturb the nature at all, it rather seemed like it was grown into the hill.
And there was a pegasus pony sitting by a tree. Two dozen birds sung and she was directing them. And it was by far the single most perfect show he had ever seen. Completely silent, the colt took place and listened. After so many years of attending amateur theatre groups, this was... healing his very soul. He closed his eyes and drifted off.
Fluttershy smiled. “Oh that was great, my little friends,” she said in her soft voice. “Thank you all. Same time tomorr-eeeeeep!” She almost fell over, there was a colt right behind her.
And he was snoring. Sound asleep. Slowly she walked up and jumped as he smacked his lips. Nope. Sleeping like a stone.
She looked left and right. Of course, as so many shy girls she’d kind of dreamed about a dashing, stunning stallion just appearing out of the blue, but... More awake. And more dashing, stunning, for sure.
It took her some minutes to get him into the house and onto the couch. “Poor thing,” she whispered. “So exhausted...”
“Fluttershy!”
Once more she got up with a start. She moved to the door. “Oh, hello, Applejack, Pinkie Pie. What brings you here?”
“Have you seen a colt, red coat?” Applejack asked.
“He’s a critic!” Pinkie Pie volunteered. “So it’s critical he’s content.”
Fluttershy stepped out of her house and hesitated. “Uh. No. No, have seen no colt.”
“Ow sugar,” Applejack mumbled. “I swear that boy gives me more trouble than my sis. Come on, Pinkie Pie! He can’t be off too far!”
And Fluttershy smiled to herself as she saw the earth ponies run off to Ponyville.
“Oh, Applejack,” Fluttershy said in a low voice. “You... you’re back?”
The pegasus put her head into the warm night’s air. A full moon shone down the orange filly’s face. Applejack looked very exhausted and tired. Applejack often looked like that, the poor thing working very hard, every day. And night, obviously.
“We cain’t find ‘im anywhere!” Applejack exclaimed. “We’ve checked every stone in this town, ah tell ya!”
The yellow pegasus looked left and right, then stepped out of her hut. Carefully, she locked the door. “Could you... tone it down a bit? The little ones want to sleep,” she said. “I mean, if it’s all the same to you and such...”
“Oh... of course,” Applejack whispered.
“It’s fine,” Fluttershy mumbled and stretched her wings. “I will help you looking.”
“That’s sweet of ya, but we’ve been looking everywhere. Simply everywhere!” She received a sharp look by the pegasus. “Sorray.” She cleared her throat. “Rainbow’s got the sky covered.”
Fluttershy blushed. “And... you did not find him?” she asked while she led her friend down the hill. “But have you looked everywhere?”
“Everywhere, I tells ya!” Applejack insisted. This was really getting on her. Her left eye twitched.
“Also the Everfree Forest?” Fluttershy suggested.
The earth pony stopped. “Ya... ya’re not suggestin’ what ah thinks yer suggestin’?”
“Uh...”
“That’s scary ground, he wouldn’t run in there all alone.”
“Uh... are you sure?” the pegasus inquired. “I mean... you see... maybe he was curious?”
“That colt? ‘Ave you had a look at ‘im?”
Fluttershy blushed even deeper. “No,” she said after a moment of hesitation.
Applejack turned her head, as her friend seemed to have been staring as something behind her. Well, she knew Fluttershy, for years. The Fluttershy she knew would never lie to anyone. But the pegasus would smile in a strange way as she looked back at the other mare.
Applejack shook her head. “That colt’s a Manehattan boy all the way through, I tells ya. I know ‘em. Afraid of their own shadows.”
Fluttershy dipped her head and stopped walking. “Uh...”
“I dunno why he’d run off in the first place. Ya know, he’s a writer for the Weekly Pony.”
“Oh my,” said Fluttershy and blinked. “Is he now.”
“Fluttershy, it is important, ya hear, important he’s all the way content,” Applejack mumbled in an insecure voice. “He’s gotta tell everypony about about my orchard, and business will go boom!”
Again Fluttershy seemed to stare at something behind her friend. “Uh... maybe... maybe he doesn’t want to write... about the orchard?”
“Why else would a critic come out here? All the way from the big city.”
“Um... has he, you know... said so?”
Applejack rolled her eyes. “Dun’ matter, Fluttershy. I’ll be out and looking. Ya keep an eye open, will ya?”
“Um, actually...” Fluttershy began but again stared at something, as if in shock.
“What?”
“Nothing,” the pegasus eeped in a low voice. “Am sure you’ll find him soon.”
While the earth pony trotted away, down the road, Fluttershy felt very guilty. Actually, Fluttershy felt guilty all the time, but this time even more so. She went over to a bush by the road.
“Now, Angel, do you think that is...”
A white rabbit had been hiding between the leaves, only visible to Fluttershy’s trained eye. No little critter could defy her stare in any case. Except for one. The hare narrowed its eyes and folded up his forelegs.
“Of course it is...” Fluttershy whispered. She looked up to the moon briefly, then trotted up the way again. Good, nice Angel, she thought, always knows best.
As she was just pulling up the doormat to retrieve the key, she heard a little sound above her. A moment later, four hooves touched ground.
“Hey, Fluttershy.”
The yellow pegasus turned and blushed. “Good d-... night, Rainbow Dash. W-what brings you here?”
“We looked everywhere,” Rainbow Dash yelled out. “Tell me you’ve seen him.”
Fluttershy blinked. “Seen who?”
“That big city colt!”
“Please, Rainbow Dash, not so loud...”
“I’ve shown him every of my tricks and then suddenly he was gone! You know what I think?” Rainbow trotted up and down the path, more talking to herself. “I think Applejack snatched him off, that pony does anything to sabotage me.”
Slowly, the yellow pony put the key back to its place and inched towards her friend. “I don’t think Applejack would ever do that. She’s our friend.”
“Oh, no, no, no, no,” Rainbow Dash denied. “Ever since I’ve become Iron Pony and not her, she’s been out onto me. Surely she wants to stop that guy from writing about me.” She turned and took the time set off a glare up to the moon.
“Well... he’s her guest...” Fluttershy started.
“So? And that makes her think she can hog him all the time and deny me my fame?”
Fluttershy thought fast. “But everypony already knows about you. You were topic number one in Cloudsdale.”
Rainbow moved up to her fellow pegasus, until their noses touched. And there Fluttershy looked into her eyes and saw nothing but pure despair. “He. Did. Not.” Rainbow Dash was almost shivering. “He said he did not know me! He’s never heard of me!”
“Uh, that can happen,” Fluttershy whispered and inched backwards until her tail was pressed to the walls. “Maybe he is not into pega-” she said but the next thought was just unbearable to think. “He’s an earth pony.”
Rainbow Dash shook her head and took off into the air. “That is no excuse. Every single pony should know how awesome I am.” She flew some yard up into the night sky, as she stopped. “Hey, how come you know he’s an earth colt?”
Fluttershy inched backwards once again, looking down to the ground. “Er... uh... I’ve seen him in the evening...”
Rainbow turned sharply. “You did? Where’d he go?!”
Think fast, the yellow pegasus thought. Angel peered down from a branch. Does he ever sleep? “Down to Everfree, as I recall,” Fluttershy said.
Rainbow Dash rubbed her chin with a hoof. “Why would he run down to the Everfree Forest?”
“Uh... enjoy nature?”
The blue pegasus floated higher. “Maybe he got lost! Ow yeah, gotta rescue him!” And then Rainbow dashed off into the night.
Fluttershy sighed, half in relief. Doesn’t anyone ever sleep? Come to think of it, she should sleep herself. But this was ridiculous. Everyone was suddenly so obsessed with just one colt. They should really leave him alone.
Angel is right, Fluttershy thought. It’s really better if he stayed with me for the night. And the day. And maybe... another night... Suddenly Fluttershy blushed deeply red and giggled. She dared not to think any further.
Slowly she turned the key to open up the door. Maybe... maybe we’ll even hold hooves, she thought, the upper limit of her fantasy abilities. That alone painted her cheeks into a colour like red wine.
“Fluttershy!”
The yellow pegasus jumped and banged her head on the door frame. She staggered some steps backwards. In the half-darkness of the night, she saw something white galloping up the road. “Lality?” She bitten on her tongue, oh swell.
“You simply must help me. I just saw Rainbow Dash fly off and Applejack run by.”
Fluttershy just dipped her head. “I know.”
“You know? What did they tell you?” Rarity’s horn enlightened the scene and flickered as she got more excited.
“Uh, they have not found him yet,” Fluttershy said in a low voice.
“You know about him? He’s not a looker, I can tell you, I’d need hours to make him reasonable looking, but...”
“What,” Fluttershy yawned. “Is it you want.”
“Okay, nopony has seen him. If only Twilight was in town. She seems to sort these things out in no time at all!” Rarity let out a sigh. “This was surely my big breakthrough. Manehatten is the thriving centre of fashion!”
“So what do you want of me,” Fluttershy said, feeling a bit annoyed. Just a bit. A tiny bit.
“Whenever you run into him, don’t let him run away again. I will give him the makeover of his life and he’ll surely mention me. Or do a full page on me. Or... can you see me on the cover?”
“Uh,” said Fluttershy, who had been on a cover once, several, in fact, and not enjoyed it. And she just remembered that it had started similarly back then. “See, maybe he’s already gone back to the city?” she tried.
Rarity froze and stared at her friend. “Oh no, he wouldn’t... he couldn’t. Oh, darling, that is surely Applejack’s fault! Her rudeness drove him away on the first day!”
“Or maybe not...”
“Not?”
“He could also have gotten lost in the Everfree Forest... Applejack went there...”
“You don’t say that...” Rarity walked down the path. “I can’t let this chance get away again!” she said and broke into a gallop, disappearing into the direction of the Forest.
Fluttershy looked left and right, then up, then under her hooves. Finally. Slowly she retreated into the hut, holding the knob with her mouth.
“Fluttershy!”
Twitch-twitch went her eye. “What! Is! IT!!” she yelled right at Pinkie Pie, who stood as shocked as she ever was.
“Nothing,” the pink pony responded and turned to gallop away.
Fluttershy slammed the door shut and locked it. Then she ran over to every single windows and closed it. Carefully all lights were put out. Lastly, she pulled up a chair to the door and blocked it additionally. That should do it.
On her sofa, the red coated colt turned around. Fluttershy moved up and quickly re-adjusted the blanket. Then she let out a very long yawn. All this fuss for nothing at all.
There was a muffled sound from the fireplace. The shy pegasus tried to hide behind the sofa as a cloud of carbon black and splinters extended into the living room. What was it now?
And a moment later, a black rabbit hopped out and gave Fluttershy a very sharp look.
“Oh, I’m sorry I forgot you, Angel...”
But the rabbit crossed the forearms, shook its head and then hopped up the stairs, leaving black paw prints all over the carpet.
Fluttershy dipped her head. Everypony’s going to be very angry at you, she thought, before picking up the duster and went to clean the prints up.
The sun shone onto Red Note’s snout as the colt woke up. From a half closed window, bright sunlight spilled into a room he did not remember falling asleep in. He hardly remembered falling asleep, coming to that.
Slowly he got up and rubbed his eyes. At least he felt refreshed. What a difference a good night’s sleep could do. And waking up without any appointments and important meet-ups ahead. Actually he could just turn around and get back to sleep.
Although... in his foggy mind, he was very sure this was not the suite in the Apple Pension he had been assigned to. For example, this was a big sofa and not a way too small foal’s bed. And there was no plush unicorn.
He turned onto his back and almost jumped off the cushions. He was staring into a yellow filly’s face. And the filly stared back, equally shocked.
Fluttershy jumped up and retreated to the ceiling, emoting some whimpers.
Red Note fell onto the ground and and grunted. “Ow.”
The pegasus returned to the ground. “Oh! Are you all right?”
“Urgh,” he said. “Just... fine,” he said and stretched, whereupon some joints in his back cracked back into place. He winced. “All right...”
“I’m so so sorry if I hurt you,” she mumbled.
Red Note forced a smile and looked up to the blushing pony. “Hey, I know you. You’re Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy took a step back. “You... know me...?”
“Oh yes! I... I was the one editing the stories on you for the Weekly Pony.” He looked around. “That is, until you suddenly disappeared. No pony heard from you, from one day onwards.” He rubbed the back of his head.
“Ah... my... modelling.”
“You look still as dashing.”
Fluttershy tried to crawl into the wall while her head went completely red. “Thanks,” she squeaked.
The long, awkward silence was then only broken by the continued rumbling of Red Note’s stomach. “I do apologise,” the colt mumbled. “I’d... better be going... uh... where am I?”
Fluttershy swallowed a lump in her throat. “Oh, allow me to show you my house,” she said and smiled. She want over and picked up the blanket. “It’s surely not like at Manehatten.”
“I think it’s nice. Very calm and quiet, too.”
“Isn’t it just,” Fluttershy said and folded up the blanket. Then she nudged at a tray on the little table by the sofa. “I... fixed us a salad, so we can breakfast. If... that’s okay for you?”
“Of course,” the colt grinned and sat by the table. “I’ve never had breakfast with a celebrity before.”
Fluttershy turned away as she yawned, briefly. “Oh, please, don’t write about me ever.”
Munching, Red Note blinked. “Beg your pardon?”
“I just... want to be left alone.” Little moments of memory came up in her mind. All those flashing cameras and these eyes... watching every single move of her hooves, silently judging... And she remembered that the Weekly Pony had been always first making up stories about her. “Y-you wrote about me?”
“Not wrote. I was an editor, back then,” the colt said and buried his head in the bowl. “But they made me write about theatres when I refused to include that story about you and Soarin’.”
“B-but... they did bring it.” Fluttershy stomped her hoof suddenly. “And it was so not true!” she yelled. After a moment, she looked away bashfully and mumbled. “Not true at all.”
Red Note was frozen in a mild shock as the shy pegasus had exploded for just a second. “I know. Anyway, thanks for the breakfast.”
“Oh, it was a pleasure,” Fluttershy said. She had not touched a leaf of her salad. “What will you do today? If you don’t mind me asking.”
Red stretched and yawned. “I have no idea. I feel so nicely refreshed. Maybe have a walk around? What’s a pony do for fun in Ponyville?”
Fluttershy rubbed her chin. She’d answer to spend time with the critters, but she was aware that this was not what the colt had in mind. And otherwise... she only took a dip out from work in the Spa, but that is also out of question.
“Oh, did you direct a choir of birds yesterday? I seem to remember...”
Fluttershy smiled. “Oh, yes! They’re great...”
Red Note nodded. “Yes. I’d like to hear more.”
“Oh! Er... all right... I think I can gather them quickly.”
Red Note smiled softly. “That is great.” He trotted over to the door. “You know, yesterday was not a very good day here, but I think this one’s gonna be better.”
Fluttershy nodded. “I am sure it will be.” And as Red Note tried to open the locked door, she added softly: “Oh, wait for a moment.”
“What is this door locked?” Red asked as the sunlight streamed in and blinded him temporarily.
“Safety first!”
During this day, Red Note was finally able to fully relax. He attended several bird choir performances, though they did not sound as good as the evening before. Fluttershy seemed a bit tired, and so the song was often out of sync.
Generally, he would rate them much higher than any of these catastrophic amateur performances. Once he had had to attend a three hour performance with a filly in makeup drawing shapes with her hoof into the air. And he’d had to write something positive about it, too, as she’d been the chief editor’s daughter.
For some time, he wondered how good this would be for a show at Steed Way. She could be famous. But... she’s already famous. And she did not like it, as it seem.
“And this one’s a red-breasted meadowlark, he’s my favourite,” Fluttershy explained. The bird’s red chest swelled with pride. “And this is a hummingbird, he’s my favourite, too. Oh, and this is...”
“They’re great, yes,” Red Note interrupted. “Look, I should be going to the Pension, I am sure they have made lunch for the guests there.”
Fluttershy nodded. “Oh... yes...” she mumbled.
Red noticed her staring at something behind him he turned. “Aw, a little bunny. Never seen any of them up close.” He smiled. “They stay away from the city.”
Fluttershy whimpered briefly. “That is... Angel. He’s a good friend.” She blinked. “I mean, all the pretties are my friends,” she added meekly and forced a smiled, in case any of them had gotten an other impression. “Let’s have a picnic, right here.”
Red Note smirked. “Aw, what a cute little bunny he is.” He extended a hoof to pet the rabbit, but quickly retreated after meeting the hare’s stare. “Yeah... picnic?”
Fluttershy pulled out a basket from behind a stone. “I mean, if it’s all right with you...”
“I don’t mind,” Red Note said. He was hungry, again.
Suddenly, from all around birds and critters dashed across the grass. Within seconds, a big sheet was flown by, dropped and spread out by bunnies. Fluttershy put down the basket on the cloth, and mice and hamsters worked together to set up plates and bowls.
“Thank you, my friends,” Fluttershy mumbled. Angel nudged her with a leg, then made a complex, suggestive expression, grinned and scampered off.
Slowly, Red made his jaws obey and his mouth close. “That is amazing! You can control the wild animals?”
Fluttershy looked appalled. “No! No, no, no, no I don’t control them. They just do me favours. Because I care for them.”
Red looked down at an alfalfa and daffodil sandwich. “Heh. We seem to have many wrong ideas in the city.” He took a bite. “That is so... fresh.”
“What you mean?”
Red swallowed. “Freshly picked plants! I’ve not had that since I was a foal.”
Fluttershy blushed. “I’m glad you like it.”
The sun was slowly setting over the acres of the Apple Family Orchard, and Red Note was walking up the road, accompanied by Fluttershy.
“...and then I said: Oatmeal, are you crazy?” he concluded and grinned.
Fluttershy blinked, then emoted a nervous giggle. “Oh, you,” she said and blushed. And there they were at the barn. “Uh,” she said. “I guess Applejack will have dinner for you.”
“You should stay for the evening,” Red invited. “After all, you let me sleep at your place.”
“Oh, that’d be nice,” Fluttershy said and knocked at the house door.
They waited. Nothing happened. Fluttershy knocked again. The house was quiet. Red stomped his hoof at the wood. The door was locked and closed.
“Maybe she’s at the trees,” Fluttershy mumbled, hopefully.
“Yeah, what a way to treat a guest, she should’ve given me the keys,” Red said. “I can’t be looking for her every time I need to get in.”
Fluttershy swallowed. “We can eat at my place?” she said, but the colt was already walking towards the barn.
“Fluttershy!”
The yellow pegasus spun around. From the other side of the house, a violet unicorn approached her.
“Oh, Twilight. You’re back from Canterlot?”
The unicorn nodded. “What is up? I’ve not seen anyone since I came back.” She looked over the acres. “I was half expecting Pinkie Pie to spring up with a surprise party at the library, but the Cakes said she’s not been at Sugarcube Corner all day.”
“What?”
“So I went out looking for Applejack and nobody’s seen her since last night. Same goes with Rainbow Dash.” Twilight rubbed her chin. “But I am sure glad to see you, Fluttershy. I was beginning to worry.”
“They’ve not come back?”
Red Note returned from the barn looking pensive. “No one around. Not even the other guests, maybe an event? Oh, who’s that beautiful friend of yours, Fluttershy?”
Twilight’s mouth dropped open as she blushed. “T-Twilight Sparkle...”
“Very pleased to meet you. Name’s Red Note.”
Twilight grinned bashfully. “I’ve heard of Blue Note. Invented the ink dip pen.”
“Yeah, was my father. So are you employed here, too? Can you open up for us?”
“Ooooh, I don’t think so,” Twilight grinned. “I’m the librarian.”
Red’s face reddened. “Oh, very sorry, miss. I seem to be beside myself, ever since I came here.” He stepped up to the unicorn and moved a hoof to the face, whispering. “To be frank, I am quite concerned that all the ponies here are somehow...”
“Crazy?” Twilight giggled. “Ponyville’s a great town if you give the people a chance. But... back to our initial...”
“Twilight!”
The three ponies turned they heads over to the road, from where a cloud of dust moved up. Red squinted his eyes. There was a sudden crash, a rock shot past his face, and staring in shock he saw someone skip across the path, on the belly.
It took Red a while to realize it was a dragon. A baby dragon. He’d only seen one or two of them every before.
“Oh, Spike,” Twilight said, picking him up by magic. “Are you all right?”
“Rarity! Pinkie Pie! Forest! Argh!” the dragon winced as he was drop rudely on his rump.
The unicorn rolled her eyes. Fluttershy cleared her throat and smiled, giving Spike a nudge with her wing. “Calm down, Spike,” she said in a soothing voice. “You’re always so hasty.”
To Red Note’s surprise, it seemed to work instantly. There was something in the pegasus’ voice that even made himself relax. He felt the muscles in his shoulders drop. But it seemed to do wonders for the dragon. He took a mental note on that, out of habit.
Huffing, Spike came back up to his feet. “I’ve spoken to Cripps Pink... and she said she saw... Rarity head to the Everfree Forest!” Still breathing heavily, he sat back down. “And Carrot Top mentioned she saw Rainbow Dash over there in the morning, too!”
Twilight shook her head and brushed her forelock with a hoof. “Oh Spike, that doesn’t make much sense. These ponies know better than to enter the Forest.”
Red looked from Fluttershy to the dragon. Somehow, the pegasus looked more shy than ever. “What’s with the forest?”
Spike got up, exhausted. “I have no idea! They’re not anywhere else.”
Fluttershy blinked. “You really ran about all day to find them?”
“They would need a very good reason to go there.”
“Maybe Pinkie and AJ went into the forest, too?” Twilight mumbled. “Why would they do that.”
Fluttershy took some steps backwards and eeped as she slipped on a rock. All eyes were on her. “Maybe... someone told them to?”
The unicorn frowned. “Wh- Fluttershy?”
“Can someone...” Red tried to interlude.
“Do you know something, Fluttershy?” Twilight insisted.
“I...” the pegasus whimpered.
“Maybe someone can explain...”
“We must go save Rarity right now!”
“Uh...”
“If you know anything, tell us.”
“You see, this isn’t...”
“She could be in grave danger!”
“They all could be!”
“But what is the matter with...”
Fluttershy took a deep breath. “I told them all to get into the Forest so they would leave me and Red alone and he could get his rest!”
The following silence was only slightly disturbed by some birds singing by the apple trees.
“You?” Twilight asked, after she finally got over her shock. “Fluttershy, you did what?”
The yellow pegasus tried to sink into the soil and disappear from the surface. But it did not work. “Y-yes...”
The unicorn raised an eyebrow. “Somehow... I find that hard to believe.”
Spike pulled her tail. “There is no time for that! We must go to save Rarity!” he said. “And the others, of course.”
The unicorn sighed. “Fluttershy, I am very disappointed,” she mumbled in a low voice, then suddenly dashed off so quickly that Spike hardly had the time to hang on to her and swing himself into the unicorn’s back.
Fluttershy gave the red maned colt a short, bashful look, then took off to a float and went behind Twilight and Spike. Only Red was left standing by the empty barn, confused.
He rolled his eyes. “Oh, what the hay,” he told himself, took in a deep lungful of country air and set off to try his best and follow the girls.