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

The countryside was opened entirely to the ponies' viewport, as they passed the mountainous regions that was their point of origin. Not so many trees as before, but enough to portray a very thriving atmosphere from the local plant life. The mare could not help but think of how much the passing spectacle gave her the artistic impression, as if from a painting in one of those dusty museums her class visited on a fieldtrip. Huffing quietly, with amusement at the prospect that she had stepped into a pavement drawing or through a looking glass, Mary Jane simply sat in her seat, staring out of her boxcar window. She felt more than comfortable with the way things have been, knowing that despite the sense of wary suspicion that loomed after current events, there still remained a profound, genuine air of peace and calm. And knowing that her wall-crawling friend was conscious of May's and Nicolas' wellbeing, along with her own, aided MJ in believing that things will turn out for the better, in the end.

She may have had second thoughts traveling halfway across this great country to find what she was searching for. However, Mrs. Parker's insistence was certainly the confirmation she needed to press onward. As the brown Pegasus mare told her, the only way of knowing for sure you find what you need, is by actually doing something about it. She knew everything May needed, for the most part, was precisely at Sweet Apple Acres, with the Doc more than happy to offer whatever help he could to her, and the rest of the farm's inhabitants. The peach Earth Pony was also well aware that Spidey can more than look after them, while also knowing that he has caring ponies to watch out for him, in the meantime, even though he has still to recognize that.

Satisfied with where events are leading, Miss Watson took a deep breath to solidify her contemplation, then turned to face the lavender Princess in the seat across from her. She was hearing the Alicorn muttering to herself, while also jotting notes on cue cards, making further preparations for her upcoming presentation in the city. Recognizing an air of uncertainty from the highly intelligent mare, Mary Jane softly smiled at the prospect of another such friend in need of assistance, the kind that was unknown by neither. She then asked Twilight, "Having a little trouble?"

The winged Unicorn shifted her focus between the cards levitating before her, and the casually spoken mare, furrowing her brow, and answered in the process, "I'm just trying to figure out how best to arrange the order of this segment. I don't know if I should mention the properties of poison joke, before describing its adaptation, or after."

"Is that sort of your world's version of poison oak," MJ smirked.

"We actually have that, also," replied Twilight, "But this is completely different. Physical contact with the plant enables it to secrete its magical substance onto the recipient with humorous results. It gave my horn blue spots and made it flop and wobble."

"Amusing," the redhead remarked with raised brows, "What other strange things about that forest can you tell me?"

"Well, there's the cockatrice," the lavender Alicorn said, "A serpentine creature with the head of a rooster that can turn you to stone with its stare."

"Don't want to ask how you found that out, I'm guessing."

"He-heh-eh, no, you don't." This casual line of discourse remained consistent as such between the two mares, as the Zebra beside Mary Jane joined in, on occasion. It was after the part of their discussion concerning the incident with the weeds and bramble that infected the Everfree, as well as the Tree of Harmony, that the newcomer decided to ask, "So, what seems to really be on your mind?"

Perceiving a slight degree of tension from the Princess, she saw a release of said stress with the relaxed motion of her shoulders. Twilight sighed, as she asked, in turn, "How'd you know?"

"We all need something to keep our minds off our worries, once in a while," answered the green-eyed mare, "For me, it's going through my lines in various, comical voices and impersonations. I remember my very first professional performance. To try calming my nerves, I went through them as fast as possible, to make sure I didn't do that on stage." This eased the air between the mares far more, as it elated the two fellow passengers with a light chuckle. Heaving another sigh afterwards, Twilight shifted her purple gaze outward from the viewport, and said, "I'm not entirely sure. I mean, the artifact is safely hidden, with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie watching the castle with Starlight Glimmer, the Changelings held captive finally seem to be calming down, with enough energy in the newly restored emerald to last them months' worth of sustenance. And everything seems to remain calm and still, for the most part. I just can't help but think I'm missing something."

"Is it about how things are going between you, your friends, and the web-head?"

"Well," she softly pondered, "It's a possibility. I don't think there's anything wrong with how my friends and I get along with him, but more about how things might turn out for all of us, including him. I mean, in what direction might his presence lead us? He's a very powerful force to be reckoned with, and that needs to be well acknowledged, yet, at the same time…"

"He doesn't make himself fully actualized, or well understood, as much as he could be."

"Yes, exactly. It's like wading in the shallow end, and not diving in. Not ambitious to test his own limits. Almost as if something's holding him back. Himself, more like. He possesses a great quantity of self-restraint, but I'm just not sure why that is."

"Trust me, girl," MJ said, with a grin, "You're not the first to ask about the wall-crawler. The fact that he tries to keep the spotlight on himself to a minimum, except for crooks, is no mystery. But when he does it in a very smart-aleck way, you just can't help but wonder, more than ever."

"How much do you know about him?"

"Let me put it this way," stated the peach redhead, "What you know about Spidey in two weeks, is almost as much as I do in the five years he's been around. The most any person or pony can really know, is that he's trustworthy, where it counts. For the most part."

"Some ponies find it very hard," Zecora added, "to be seen from their own heart. They use their wit and deeds, not emotions, to speak, for such openness is what makes them look weak. A fear for vulnerability is most common among ponies, but none more so, than the one who faces atrocities."

"Which begs the question," the young Princess lowly stated, "Just what exactly is Fluttershy supposed to do about that? She's the epitome of emotional sensitivity. How could she possibly overcome such a difficult challenge? How can any of us share anything about Friendship, if the recipient of such acts isn't entirely open to them? We don't even know how open the pony is to such things." She then took a deep inhalation, then gently exhaled through the narrow gap between her lips. "Wow. I keep forgetting how helpful it is to talk about my anxieties. Especially the ones I was completely unaware of."

"Don't beat yourself over it," MJ said, "Happens to the best of us. As far as your friend's concerned, if she keeps focused on what she's doing, that's half the battle already over. And from what I've seen of your friends, they do exactly that. It's no wonder how much you and your friends have already accomplished. You girls can practically do anything."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

"Such kindly offered wisdom from a mare shows her inner beauty, a friend most fair."

She could not have imagined this day carrying itself out any more smoothly than it already has. There was no better way to help get better acquainted with somepony than a calm, quiet, small gathering. Especially when one has a dear friend who can sand the rough edges, whenever they arose. The woodland creatures within her abode encircled the pony and draconianesque presence at table, observing the silent observance from the former two, and the glamorous orations of the latter.

"…and by the time I made it to shore, I realized my mistake of leaving the sea floor without its plug, instead of an extremely low tide, as I originally surmised!"

"Oh, Discord," lightly giggled the yellow Pegasus, "You always surprise me with how you find ways of turning something bleak so entertaining."

"Those baby sea turtles must've had a laugh of their own," the beige Unicorn quipped, "as soon as they caught their breath."

"Oh, I'm sure they would have," answered Discord, "Though I doubt they were at an age to comprehend me, even if I told them I was bathing in the ocean, in the first place."

"You certainly have a way of living up to your name, I'll give you that. Mamma and Papa must be very proud." At this, the dragon with the goat-like countenance wiped a tear onto a spontaneous handkerchief, with a sniffle, "You truly think so? I've always done my best to ensure I lived up to their memory in some way, or another."

Fluttershy noticed a light smirk emanating from Spider Bite, as both ponies became aware of a violin being played over in the corner, where another Discord stood and performed. "If I'm wrong, then you can wrap and hang me by my own webs. Seriously, how many of you are there?"

"Oh, believe me," he stated, with a snort, causing his hanky, and his duplicated fiddler to vanish. Poof! "I've lost count ages ago. I suppose you could say that I simply embody all forms of chaos in this world. I can't imagine how many of myselves would be found monkeying about in your dimension. Far too crowded for my taste, I'll wager."

"Never took you for one to draw the line, somewhere."

"Trust me, kiddo. A thousand years being turned to stone can push anypony over the brink, as well as rethink a few matters in one's life."

"Still took you another brief session, from what I've heard."

"Yes, but only because I experienced cramps in places I never knew was physically possible." At this, Discord bent, twisted, stretched and turned at every impossible angle, his frame misshaped completely with every word he uttered. "I...snap simply...pop couldn't...crunchresist my...zipunchecked...rippleimpulse to…Pop!stretch! But of course," he then placed himself near Fluttershy's seat in a poof and ping, "I never would've realized how important it is to have friends, and kept my fun to a less demeaning level, had it not been for Fluttershy."

"I heard about that, too. Nice work. Not too shabby, if I say so, myself." The two remarks prompted a modest blush from the Pegasus, to which she gently chuckled in reply, "Believe me, it was no trouble, at all. I just knew Discord needed to be aware of how much he needed friends, as much as the next pony."

"Can't argue with that." Once the wall-crawler completed his statement, the multi-bred dragon returned to his own seat, the same manner from which he left it, then idly sat, while twiddling his gator toe with his lion thumb, as he asked, "So, tell me. How did you two meet?"

"Oh," the timid mare muttered, realizing she had failed to mention so much to her friend, "Well, um, you see, that's sort of a hard story to explain."

"Well, it's not that hard," she heard the stallion evenly state, then saw him shrug, "Just fell into this world, from my own, but you already knew about that. In fact, I was wondering if you, Luna and Celestia could help me figure out what could've caused it, if I ever go to Canterlot. Anyway, my fellow travelers and I weren't exactly in the best shape to move with the crowds during the whole evacuation. Must've been those transdimensional miles we've accumulated. Should start my own dimension-fare business. Like maybe Multiversal Plane, or something. So anyway, I just called out to the nearest pony available for help. Lucky for us, it was Fluttershy, or else I don't think we would've made it out of that situation as well as we did."

"You were very helpful too, you know," she responded, with another flush of shyness, "You were the one brave enough to keep that giant's attention away from us, so we could get everypony and your friends to safety."

"Yeah, after I couldn't lift one of my own friends off the ground," he huffed, resting his chin onto the crossed forelegs on the table.

"But only because you were still learning how to be a pony," she countered, "And a Unicorn, at that. Having a horn suddenly appearing on your head would make anypony nervous. Especially under those circumstances."

"Still," muttered the stoic web-head, "Just hated feeling useless at that moment."

Fluttershy lost count of the many times she noticed certain qualities of her friends to resound most genuinely from Spider Bite. Not only in what he has done, but also in his words and expressed thoughts. The fact that he spoke whatever was on his mind, albeit with apparent reservations, as well as his fealty, made her think of Applejack. His constant efforts of lending a hoof wholeheartedly, without asking for recompense, reminded the Pegasus of Rarity, and his consistent dependability resembling Rainbow Dash. He even shared a few laughs and banters between her and Pinkie Pie, in a way she never saw anypony interact with the two lighthearted mares before. His amazing intellect, ingenuity and curiosity could even rival that of Twilight's, at any given day of the week. His modest, humble gentility, however, to the point of having anguish whenever he felt others depended on him when he could not help, showed how massive a heart he possessed. One he was striving so diligently to conceal.

"Goodness, Fluttershy," lowly remarked the draconian figure, "he went from a lively, talkative sort like Pinkie or Rainbow Dash, to resembling you or Twilight on a gloomy day, in an instant. Almost makes me want to shudder."

"Yep, that's me," commented the web-slinger, lifting his head with a smirk, "The Master of Mood Swings. Heh. Kind of makes you wonder about my own choice of hobbies, huh?"

Though she held great remorse for his sudden return to his former, comically reserved self, Fluttershy could not resist the urge to smile at his efforts of renewing the spirits of those around him. She imagined Pinkie Pie might offer her own input concerning the matter, as soon as she has the time to come by, that is.

"Indeed," Discord nodded, "I suppose that is why Fluttershy might have taken quite a liking to you."

"Come again?" "W-what?" The exasperated stammer of the yellow Pegasus, and the flustered chuckle of the beige Unicorn made the disorderly creature to beam with even brighter enthusiasm to carry on, "After all, it is quite clear how much the pair of you possess various commonalities. You both share a caring nature toward others, very meek in demeanor, at least somewhat, and often view your good acts as merely performing your own parts. Why, even your Cutie Marks reflect a distinctive arthropod, or three."

"Well, that was way out at left field," Spider Bite squinted his brown eyes, then shifted his focus onto Fluttershy, asking, "What do you think?" Seeing the blank stare of her teal irises at nothing in particular, along with her agape silence, prompted a widening of his own with concern.

"Um, Fluttershy," he said, waving a hoof in front of her, "Fluttershy, are you okay?" Struggling to aid her in regaining a full grasp on reality, he clopped his two front hooves together, directly towards her face, so as to give her a start, at least. "Madame Fluttershy. Fluttershy!"

She blinked wildly in befuddlement, before recovering, then said, "Discord, I really don't think it's come to that. We've only just been acquainted."

"Okay. Good. I thought Puccini wasn't going to work, for a second there. Or would that be Ponnini, here?"

"Yes, I suppose you're right," shrugged Discord, his playful demeanor slightly decreased, as he picked up a folded newspaper from above to inspect, "He seems more Applejack's, or Rainbow Dash's speed."

"Alright, first off-" Poom! A resounding quake and ominous pound of the house interrupted whatever discourse the web-head had intended, knocking both ponies out of their seats, and onto the floor. The yellow, timid mare felt a firm grip on her right hoof, as she was raised back up, with a slight throb from her cranium.

"You alright?" The evenly offered question helped her in retaining composure, as she answered, "Y-yes. Yes, I think so."

"Now what do you suppose could have caused that, I wonder?" The suspended draconian figure above gave a slightly startled expression, as Spider Bite made a quick leap towards the nearest window, opened it, and crawled out. Fluttershy hovered cautiously through the door upon opening it. Once she had done so, she looked outward to see a great creature the size of a bear. In fact, it was a bear of sorts. She recognized the animal instantly from a previous encounter, in which she and her friends confronted its assault against Ponyville. Its black and white fur, along with the ferociously sharp lance for a tail, resembling a hornet's, as well as its six limbs gave such a horrifying appearance she was hoping to never see again. The roar that emanated from the bellowing, beelike mammal, however, was not what caught the easily startled Pegasus off guard. She heard the sudden remark from her stallion guest in exasperated satisfaction, "Finally."

"F-f-finally?"

"Sorry," he responded, after Fluttershy's bewildered reiteration, "Guess I got a bit overly enthusiastic. You know, having something to do."

This following statement caused the frightened mare to think of another friend Spider Bite reminded her of, besides Rainbow Dash, who then placed himself in midair beside her. "Oh, dear. Now this is a rather terrible situation. How exciting!"

"Alright, Fluttershy, any idea what that is?"

"It's a bugbear," she shuddered, in answer to Spidey's question, "We had to fight it when it recently attacked Ponyville."

"Bugbear? Seriously, what is it with this place and insect hybrids?"

"Speak for yourself, Spider Bite," muttered Discord.

"Okay. Again, I keep telling everyone, spiders aren't insects. They're arachnids. Arach. Nids." Just then, he noticed the draconian multi-bred appear simultaneously around the creature in question. Three of his forms encircled the bugbear, causing it to growl in confusion and frustration. "Hello, bugbear. I believe we haven't been introduced."

"Though I do believe you are familiar with my friends. You remember Fluttershy, there, of course."

"I am Discord, reformed Master of Chaos."

"A pleasure to meet you." "A pleasure to meet you." "A pleasure to meet you."

Huh. Talk about better than one head. Seeing the animal strike furiously against the trio surrounding it, all efforts to no avail, Pete took this chance of a diversion to ask the timid Pegasus next to him, "You said you ladies took it on before. How'd you stop it last time?"

"Well, th-that's," she shakily replied, "kind of hard t-to explain. B-because we didn't."

"Run that by me one more time," asked the Unicorn, tilting his head with a furrowed brow.

"We fought it," Fluttershy clarified, "But it wasn't us who stopped it. It was Bon Bon, or at least, Pinkie thought it was her. She called herself-" Suddenly both snapped their attention towards a frightful shout, as they witnessed the bugbear pinning down one of the Discords to the House Tree. Its lethal sting held tightly against his talon and paw, and warily prevented from reaching its intended target. "Fluttershy, I know I may be new to this sort of thing, but…a little help, please?"

The wall-crawler turned to notice the other duplicates of their disorderly friend knocked down in a daze. You're kidding me, right?

"Hey, Buzzy-wuzzy," he shouted, as he casted a line onto the sharp puncture, "Why don't you go back to whatever hive you came from, and pick on something your own size!?"

The pull from his web detracted the sting away from Discord, as the growling beast shifted its attention towards him. Noticing this window of opportunity presented to him, the web-head leapt from his perched position above the two combatants, and joined in the fray. He flipped downward, with a firm kick from both his hind legs – bam! – launching the bugbear back, away from Fluttershy's abode, and onto the dirt road with a thud. Landing soundly into a crouching stance, he added, "Unless, you know, you're still looking for a hive to take."

While it rolled off its back, and shook the delirium from its head, Spidey turned back to the yellow mare, and asked, "So, you were saying something about Bonnie and Clyde?"

"Bon Bon," she gently corrected him, still eyeing the grounded creature before them, as she assisted Discord back onto his own feet, "She called herself Special Agent Sweetie Drops. And she came, sent it back to Tartarus, where she said she took it before, then just left."

Another pony with a secret identity? Maybe this place isn't so far from what I'm used to, after all. His head then profusely rang an alarm, as he turned to find the beelike bear, now assaulting him with its sting. With barely enough time to spare, he reached for it and bent back into the projectile's momentum. As the creature passed over the yoga-like feat he maneuvered into, he flipped upward, then landed squarely onto its furry, and somewhat prickly back. Wow. Guess he's a very fuzzy bear.

Once the animal halted in midair, before ramming its massive frame against Fluttershy's home, it turned its head in to spot its currently unwanted passenger. As he attempted a leap off of it, with a firm buck from all fours, however, Pete felt a massive paw from the midsection grabbing his hind hoof, and felt a swinging motion of his body. Oh, not this again.

Pow!The three friends were forcefully sent onto the ground upon the beige Unicorn's impact against the other two. As they struggled to regain their stances, they all felt a massive weight collapse atop of them. Poom! There was hardly enough time for Spider Bite to retaliate with his strength, or for Discord to cease his eyes from rolling deliriously, as the tackling bugbear loomed above them, and roared voraciously at them. "Woo-hoo! Seriously, pal…brush your teeth."

"Hang on!" He turned to share the same response as the gasping Fluttershy, as both witnessed a cyan Unicorn, at full charge towards them, levitating a bag of sorts within a golden glow that matched the eyes. Great, so where's Clyde?

"Stay back," he grunted, "Don't get too close!" The bugbear's focus seemed to detract from its prey, as it noticed the floating sack briskly being opened, then rushed towards it with a soft whish. Flying out of the bag was a great dispersion of dried, crumbled leaves, which landed squarely onto the pinned ponies and draconian malady with a puff. After a brief cough and sneeze from them, the beige stallion gruffly asked, "Aim's…a little rusty…huh, Bonnie?"

"I'm not Bon Bon," the standing mare sharply answered, still aware of the situation, "Or Sweetie Drops, or whatever! Name's Lyra!"

"Wait, what?" Just then, the towering beast bellowed in fury, directly onto their stunned faces, once again. Rooooar!