TS&F: S1, Ep3: Til the Flutterguy Sings

"It's still so hard to believe that nopony has noticed it, this whole time."

"I know," Twilight answered Fluttershy's gentle remark, as the two mares made their way down the ravine's rocky steps, "You'd think that after sending a few guards to watch the cave's barrier, they would've seen something peculiar about the interior, before now. Though, I guess it actually helped that Spider Bite decided to take a look at the place, saying that it wasn't there two weeks prior. Since he and Captain Sentry were the last ones to actually be in the cave, and none of the guards have ever been there, before."

She remembered the excavation crew she briefly partook in, organizing the efforts of clearing the heavy debris, then aided the assembled Unicorns, along with the other regents, to set up another barrier around, and inside the walls of the Tree's habitation. She was surprised nopony had seen it then. Though, in retrospect, given how small it was and how its light blended well with the towering Tree over it, she pondered how anypony could have spotted it sooner.

"Also," the yellow Pegasus added softly, once they reached the bottom, "I could understand why they never would've seen it, to begin with, since they've been focusing on what comes in, instead of what's happening inside."

"Maybe, but still. Then there's the fact that it happened without even Celestia and Luna sensing it. They have been attuned to their Alicorn magic far longer than Cadence and I have, and were deeply connected to the Tree of Harmony long before we were. But it was such a small thing, so quiet an occurrence, that it took a simple sight of it, a failure to recognize a miniscule, yet crucial alteration of the environment."

"Do you think the Tree may have given us a new box," the soft-spoken mare inquired, "Like the last time?"

"It's highly probable," the lavender Princess tilted her head, "But if that were the case, then how come it hasn't bloomed to show us what's inside, yet? And the fact that it's such a small bud, I doubt even a key can fit in there."

They halted before the three, white guard ponies before the shielded cavern, to which Twilight presented her bright, crimson seal of credentials, matching that of her Cutie Mark, which glowed as she magically raised it. The soldiers firmly nodded, then stepped aside, allowing the two mares access into the interior.

"What I don't understand is why post guards here," Fluttershy pondered, "And what was Spider Bite coming down here for, anyway?"

"Even though the shield repels any creature who have ill intentions," answered Twilight, "It's important to observe if there's any suspicious activity within close proximity of the Tree. Which is why Cadence and Shining left Captain Sentry posted with other Crystal and Canterlot troops to watch the barricade above."

"In case Chrysalis might try to contact her trapped Changelings? Or even found a loophole in breaching the spells of the shields?"

"Exactly. As to why our new friend decided to come down here," she huffed with slight frustration, as the pair reached the object of their intended sojourn, "He's been…a bit too restless in the castle, lately. Exploring the rooms, reading several, various volumes in my library, which I have nothing against per se, then conducting experiments in whatever space that he thought was available. He even went ahead and actually pulled the cobwebs that have been accumulating on the ceilings. Just trying to make some productive use of his time, I think."

"Sounds like he's been very helpful," attempted the Pegasus with a bright comment, but then noted the slight snort from her lavender friend. "But also, like you said, restless. Maybe even anxious."

"The way he's been rambling, quipping and talking to himself aloud, I would've sworn he was hallucinating about some crazy, evil, manic villain he keeps passively reminiscing. I even jotted all the names down on a list to keep my mind from climbing up the walls. Twenty-three altogether, so far. So, I simply suggested that he went outside to get some fresh air."

"And he took your advice, apparently." Fluttershy was still attempting to regain her timid composure, after hearing such a high multitude of adversaries. "No wonder he seems unstable."

"Just…not in the way you'd think," the Alicorn lowly trailed off from their current dialogue, to eye the little bud before them, but only momentarily, "And on both statements. He began to leap off the highest point of the palace, and just kept falling, until he spun a quick web onto the nearest balcony. Swinging off of that, he landed onto the closest roof in town, then jumped out of sight."

"Considering the circumstances, for him, I'd say that's definitely a good way to help clear the webs out from his head." Fluttershy giggled at her own playful remark, to which Twilight chuckled, knowing that such a thing said from her was a rare occurrence, in itself. "Not in a mean way, though. Besides, I think he really feels uncomfortable about being kept in a castle all the time. Kind of like how you were when you first moved in."

"That, or he knows he needs to keep things to himself again." The somber addition from the Princess shifted the duo's demeanor slightly, as they regained their focus onto the little lily that seemed so feeble, and insignificant. Its white radiance emanated a form of soft comfort, as would the stars on a clear, night sky.

"You're right," the yellow mare breathed with delicate attention, "It is too small to hold anything inside. I don't even see how it's able to grow in the first place. Just, why did the Map want me here?"

The two reflected on her curious statement, as they recalled how the Cutie Map summoned Fluttershy. Once the two had reached the room, and saw her Cutie Mark hover over the table, they noticed its position to be far nearer than either anticipated. Much to the gentle mare's dismay, she witnessed her Mark make an abrupt halt over the Everfree Forest, more specifically, the gorge near the ancient ruins. That was when Twilight explained to her about the lily that Spider Bite had spotted, raising in her a slight intrigue that helped her overcome her unease about the forest. "What kind of friendship problem could be involved with this little, sweet bud?"

"Given that the flower's an enigma, in and of itself," the young Princess offered, "I think the real question for now is, who's been connected to it, since it came here, the most?"

"Well," the yellow pony quietly pondered, "It grew sometime after that big fight with Chrysalis, or more like her stone giant, because Spider Bite knew that was never there while the Tree was burning, or else it would have been a pile of ash, since it's so close. Then there's the fact that Spider Bite and his friends came to this world during that whole thing. And he was the one who discovered it. And lastly, like you said, it's a real mystery, kind of like him."

"And I believe that might be the problem you'll have to deal with."

"What makes you say that," she lightly gasped in mild shock, "How could you say that he's a problem?"

"Not him, exactly," the Alicorn answered evenly, "But more like, something about him. I think the Map wants you, out of the six of us, to know something more about him. At least, for a start."

"But what kind of problem could be so drastic that would make the Map send me here, just to let me know who I'm supposed to help? Especially when he's right here in Ponyville?"

"Whom you're supposed to help. And I think I know the answer to that."

"What do you mean?"

"Because he probably won't stay in Ponyville for very long," solemnly replied her lavender friend, "He's actually thinking about moving to Canterlot, or probably even Manehattan."