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

She was not anxious. Nor was she nervous, far from it. Today, she never felt any more confident or comfortable in another state of being, than this. Her collaborative work and research concerning the wildlife and ecosystem of the Everfree with Zecora, she felt, was a groundbreaking, earth-shattering, and hoof-stomping task, another for her personal collection of achievements as the Princess of Friendship. As a matter of fact, the reception that she and the Zebra had received was nothing short of mutual towards her sentiment. Her discussion with the peach, red-maned Earth Pony aided in calming her nerves significantly, also providing her with the enthusiasm to believe that she and her friends can, indeed, overcome any obstacle that comes their way, simply by trusting in their most Friendly Bond to one another. However, something else was not entirely sound for the young, lavender Alicorn. And since her motivation to carry on has been surged by this standing applause as well, she became determined to settle the matter the first opportunity she gets, and begin attaining a firm hoof on it.

The clopping and stomping of hooves shook the very foundations of the oratory, while the pillars and beams, themselves, were vibrating from the amplifying acoustics of the fray. The many faces of professors, scientists and arcane masters that came to congratulate the Princess and Zecora were enough to make anypony feel a slight sense of modest discomfort, causing her a momentary blush of the complexion, before reaching the exit. She saw where the green-eyed mare and Rarity's friend stood, waiting for them, and could only imagine what must travel through her striped colleague's mind, given her accustomed abode in the Everfree. She has seldom been seen in public, aside from Twilight and her friends. She noticed Spike, her assistant, carrying the projector and its slides down to where the others were also, and briskly picked up the pace to do the same.

"Great job, Twilight," exclaimed Coco Pommel, who decided to join the other ponies, and spectate the event, "I hope to bring the house down in that fashion, someday."

"Yeah, congrats," meekly nodded Mary Jane with a soft smile, "It was nothing short of amazing. Same to you, Zecora."

"Yes, and great work to you too, Spike."

"Thank you," Twilight nodded in kind, as the Zebra and young Dragon did the same, "But enough of the flattery, and let's find someplace quieter, why don't we?"

"Couldn't have said better, myself," MJ replied. The four mares and their adolescent, reptilian friend found a well, shaded area in the nearest region of Manehattan's most reputable park. With a red and white, checkered sheet underneath, and a picnic basket with their choicest snacks set among them, the five companions relished in the serenity they found themselves in. Zecora simply sat in a meditative pose, as Coco and Spike decided to talk about matters concerning Rarity, and her boutiques in Ponyville, Canterlot, and Manehattan, so as to relay between the vanilla Earth Pony, and the white Unicorn everything current with the three businesses. In the midst of these separate activities, the lavender mare viewed this as the most available opportunity, clearing her throat before taking it, and said, "Mary Jane, I was wondering if you could help me with something."

"I'll do my best," she shrugged in modest, "Spill, girl. What's the other penny?"

"Well," she began, though with an awkward change in pitch, and pressed on, "You seem to be well versed in offering friendly advice, and you're also familiar with friends you know about, yet you don't really know about, right?"

"Depends on who's asking," smirked MJ in reply.

"Well, here's the thing. I made a friend in another world, and we kind of began things rather well. In fact, we've also developed, sort of, kind of, a mutual affection, he and I. But when I got back home, here in this world, I met his alternate, pony counterpart. Because, you see, the one that I previously knew was inhabiting a human dimension, sort of like your own, only more of the Equestrian variety, though the geography, technological, cultural and dietary parallels might have been uncanny, but still…" At the raising of a hoof from the silent, though smiling redhead, Twilight heaved a sigh as she continued, "So, anyway, I know that it's highly unlikely for me to see him again, if not as often as I would like. And I see his counterpart often enough to acknowledge how awkward it is to encounter somepony I've only met, yet became very fond of at the same time. Ugh."

"Wow. Isn't that the head scratcher, for you?"

"He-heh. You have no idea."

"Look," Mary Jane began, "I'm no expert in long-distance relationships, especially of that kind. I think none of us really should consider ourselves one, as far as I'm concerned. It's just impossible to tackle. But it just sounds to me like you're dealing with another, ordinary, run of the mill issue about someone you've met before, but never really gotten to know."

"Simplifying it into those terms," pondered the lavender Princess, "is actually, very consoling."

"So, I think the best thing that you can do about that is simple, then: do something you normally would do to get to know a friend better. Just invite him to hang out with you and your group, let him know about you all in the process also. Don't really need my help, for that kind of advice."

"No," she giggled, "No, I guess not. But thank you, all the same."

"No problem. And don't worry too much about whether, or not if it's possible to have anything more between the two of you. Just savor the moment, enjoy being with each other's friendly company. Let things come and go naturally. And if it ever does come to that, well, girl, you've basically reached unchartered waters for each, and every one of us. Both guys and girls, alike. Just take a breath, casually surf each wave as they come, and don't rush things."

"You would think the Princess of Friendship would be more, well versed in this kind of thing, huh?" Perhaps she could consider Cadence's input on such matters, should it ever come to that.

"Books can be a good help, for starters. And sure, there are proper channels to go through, well established by both experience and heavy thinking. But trust me, they don't fully prepare you for the unpredictable that is called human…and pony nature." They share a brief chuckle between themselves, as they continued with the momentary solace together, before parting ways.

"After hearin' from Lyra 'bout what went down, Ah jest had to come by and find out fur m'self."

"Indeed," Rarity joined the ruggedly, orange mare, "To think that such…ludicrous events would occur a second time, and on both accounts, is beyond unusual." The two ponies simply observed the movements of their three, affected friends, or lack thereof, after hearing a jovial description of much further details from Pinkie and Rainbow. Fluttershy simply sat quietly, her head lowered in wait for any further response, while Discord essentially behaved in the same manner, which would have been considered out of his character, had he not made his signature pout of annoyance. As for the arachnid stallion, he was devoting all of his attention between the samples he has been examining, as well as jotting notes with a quill and ink, after viewing a few entries from a book that was set beside his microscope, scale and Brisket burner. His focus was so, silently determinate, he hardly had spoken a word either.

"Jest glad we don't have to waste time foalin' aroun' in the shenanigans, right this minute." Applejack could not help but smirk at the prospect of Spider Bite entirely devoid of speech, much less speaking gibberish whenever he had a quip in store. Although, his diligence and concentration on full display for the ponies was an extremely rare occurrence, in itself. It has been made quite clear that he possessed the mind of an astounding genius, however it had never been so, well shown, before now. "Recon Ah can't recall ever seein' yuh this focused, so far, Spidey."

"Two days. Forty-eight hours without even a buzzing sound close by," the beige stallion began, "The plant meant to stun the animal in the first place is not indigenous to this particular region, according to this notebook from Lyra's friend, which has been our only lead in finding out what it is, exactly, and how to use it. And, if we're lucky, we'll barely salvage a quick grab and tag before the Princess gets back to find another problem to worry about, along with Chrysalis."

"Goodness," lowly remarked Fluttershy, "All those words spoken, and still no sign of an impediment."

"That should definitely tell us all how much he has taken the matter seriously," answered the white mare, "Though I still fail to comprehend why he, or any of you, haven't taken the treatment session at the spa, just yet?"

"Too busy to make the time for it," he evenly, but quickly responded, "As for those two, Aw wan ow-ov awdee-uhs faw an eghyooph day kuhd kum up wiph."

"Say what, now?" "I beg your pardon, dear?" Both ponies sniggered, alongside the colorful Pegasus and rosy Earth Pony, to which Spidey groaned in answer, "I never bothered to ask."

"I just thought," the yellow mare giggled, as she deeply spoke, "that since he was willing to keep working on finding a solution to our problem with that bugbear, I should stay to help in some way, also."

"And you certainly did so in spades," he added, "Giving Starlight and myself an extra set of hooves to bring stuff over here, and a spare set of eyes to help find them."

"Devoting all his energy to that, instead of his own condition until later," she continued, "made me want to simply do the same, by just being a friend close by. Besides, there's no way of knowing when or where the bugbear might come back. So we need to be ready."

"Rather thoughtful of you to share the burden, Fluttershy," nodded Rarity, "as well as a sensible supposition. And I suppose Discord felt that way as well, yes?"

"I'm only waiting for these ponies to finally make enough progress, so as to attain the opportunity for said treatment," the disorderly multi-bred bitterly answered, "I would like to keep my humiliating presence in the public eye to a minimum, especially after yesterday's searching party fiasco, thank you very much." Just then, in a bright flash, the entire chamber was packed full of everypony in town, pushing and shoving to make room for themselves most begrudgingly, nearly causing the smothered web-head to lose his specimens and instruments, had he not sensed it coming. All eyes turned towards one another, in befuddlement, then looked directly at Discord with suspicion, correctly presuming, by habit, that he was somehow involved. "I meant I would absolutely cherish the spectating eye of everypony from Ponyville, and bear witness to my most recent conundrum. Except for my friends, already with me, of course. I despise having them here for this."

At that, the chamber was cleared of the town's inhabitants, excluding the company that had been present in the first place. Had it not been for the sudden discomfort of all during that incident, the four mares would have made for a substantial chuckle in turn.

"Aw cah beweef hee'th thtill naw yooth to-Ahem!"

"I'm sorry, Spider Bite, you were saying? I keep telling you, you need to speak up." Discord, fully aware of what the stallion attempted to convey, offered a brief, low snigger of his own. What happened next, was a sight none were anticipating, for the disordered malady, himself, morphed into an elongated piece of furniture, with his eyes rolling with irritancy, down from the hoof rest that was his head, and onto the seat that was his belly, and taking the shape of two bulbous vegetables.

"Hah ubawh vat, kowpht pohtaytohth!" AJ huffed with slight amusement from the pair's momentary exchange, as well as Pinkie and Rainbow's renewed merriment, then shifted her attention back towards the work before Spider Bite. A part of her wished she had not returned home from exhaustion to conduct the searching party Discord mentioned. She and Rarity both had their respective, full day's work from the farm and boutique, themselves. "So jest what exactly have yah and Starlight come up with, so far?"

"Before I was taken and sent back so randomly," they heard the light violet mare's begrudging voice entering the chamber, "I was able to determine the plant described by Sweetie Drop's log entry."

She placed a great volume onto the table, adjacent to the notes that Spider Bite had been writing, and stood beside him and the approaching Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity. "According to this, it's called impulse vera. It's native to the southern regions of Equestria, in the deserts and Badlands, past the Notorious Bog, and used in moderating the neural responses to produce vast amounts of adrenaline, mostly during episodes of provoked anger to the point of violent encounters."

Looking at the sketch of the vegetation in the book, the four other ponies examined the detailed notes of its various properties as well. Its three-tipped, rounded shape offered a resemblance of a triple-edged heart, with the color of the illustration portraying a fiery red.

"Well, that would explain why its dried, decayed state looks like any ordinary leaf," the beige Unicorn stated, "Unlike anything we have to look at here. The substance it secretes might also be the cause for rejuvenating the poison joke crumbs."

"For untamed animals," she continued, "It is widely known for use in tranquilizing them up to twenty-four hours, before sending them off to inhabit someplace that is less threatening to local settlements."

"So Bon Bon, or Agent Sweetie Drops," said Applejack, "got her hooves on this here stuff, to help her knock out that bugbear, before sendin' it back tah Tartarus. With a spell that Twah helped her with, the last time."

"And the spell for such a difficult mode of transportation is found right in here," the light purple Unicorn pointed with a hoof, "Twilight had this page bookmarked for further reference after the experience, fortunately."

"Such a pity Spike isn't here to send a correspondence to Bon Bon, asking where we could find a means to attain the plant." As Rarity commented, Starlight Glimmer returned her light blue glow onto the book, so as to flip the pages even further into the body of text. "For now, that would have to be addressed at a later date. But I think I might've found a substitute for the impulse vera, though."

At this, they looked closely at the maroon coloring of another sketched plant, portraying a clover of eight leaves. Reading the caption above and the following text, Spidey spoke, "Tranquil clover. A sleep inducing plant of the highest potency known to ponykind. Calms the senses to the point of deep slumber, which can take its effects on a subject from one to fifteen days, depending on the size of the creature induced, as well as the amount discharged."

"Sounds like a rootin'-tootin' fit, to me," the orange Earth Pony commented, "Fur the time being, anyways."

"Just where was this hiding," asked the web-head, who had scoured the shelves with Starlight extensively the night previous.

"Twilight's personal 'Volumes on Previous Encounters for Future Reference' section."

"Huh," nodded the stallion. Then Rarity stated, "Can't say that I am surprised. Twilight always finds a way to organize and prepare for every possible scenario out of something."

"Couldn't have said it better, myself," said he, as his eyes continued to travel across the ledger, "Found in small batches scattered throughout Equestria. Origins unknown. Considered to be the plant used to induce deep slumber unto Mulysses, and his crew. Myoowutheez, ha. Fugyuhth."

"There's a marked map of the country, enfolded on the other side," Starlight stated, as she flipped the page with her magic once more. On the parchment, was drawn an elaborately detailed atlas that conveyed such regions to search for the plant in maroon. As the page before dictated, scattered segments of the page were in the color matching the illustration before it, spotted throughout the map, but one place, in particular, caught the ponies' eyes.

"The Everfree Forest," shakily rumbled the yellow Pegasus.

"Perfect," beamed the wall-crawler, as he engulfed the pages in a scarlet gleam, flipped back to the previous sketch for visual aid, then turned them back to the marked section, where the spell was located. "Is there any chance this doesn't have to be adjusted for the substitution?"

"There might be," the bright violet mare muttered in contemplation, "But I'll have to do a bit more research on the magical properties concerning both plants, to see if we need to compensate."

"Alright, you do that, while Fluttershy, AJ, Rarity and I go collect the clover. We're also going to get some more poison joke, to use as a test sample for further study. You know, just in case."

"Jest need tah be sure not tah touch neither o'them, though," Applejack commented.

"Yes," spoke the white-coated mare in agreement, "Wouldn't wish to find ourselves sleeping in the Everfree, nor in some deplorable repeat from before, especially during such times as these."

"What? And nah haffeen dah chanph too thtaht an odduthee ov ah-ohn? Wehth dah fun un vat?"

"Heh, trust me partner," Rainbow Dash and the rugged mare chuckled together, "We're havin' enough fun, already."

"Yeh, too twoo. Daph alwayth me. Dah wah-uf ov dah pahtee."

"Hey," rebuked the pink pony, "You're a close runner up to me and Cheese Sandwich, at best!"

"Aw'd wahk tah tayk vat bet, thohmday." Just as he was about to depart, Spider Bite turned to Pinkie and asked, "Pheeth Thanwiph? Welee? Wuh hith pawenth Tohtht and Tohmaytoh Thohth, oh thohmpheen?"

"Spidey," snorted the colorful Pegasus, "The only way you're getting us to laugh…is by talking like that, no matter how much we don't understand you."

"Wath'n vat dah genuwaw idea," he asked, with a shrug, "Uth finawee gwohn on mee. Thoh what?"

"Of course, he, of all ponies, would develop such a sentimental attachment towards his own predicament," the white Unicorn stated, with the roll of her eyes, then trotted on ahead of him. "Much like with his costume."

"Aw. Theeth gottun yooth too ut to dah pohn ov total comwehenphun. Theeth becohm attaph to ut, too."

"I'm sorry, darling," they heard Rarity call back, "But I'm afraid you need to enunciate more."

"Thee wahkth ut."

"I most certainly do not."

"Do, thoh!" He leapt onto the walls and ceiling in pursuit of her, as Fluttershy and Applejack followed suit, with a deep giggle and amused roll of the eyes from the two, respectively.

"Now you are being a deliberate brute!" The banter between the two Unicorns made Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash roll on the floor in uproarious laughter, once again, to which the couched form of Discord rolled his potato eyeballs in response.

"O-okay-hay-hay-hee…" the rosy Earth Pony stammered, wiping the tears from her eyes, "He-he's definitely…a runner up! But only by a margin!"

"Yoo nevuh thed bah how muph," they heard his response echoing back towards them, "Oh in hooth favuh!"

"Because I like to keep you guessing!" Poof! Suddenly the draconian multi-bred transformed into a sloth, the colors of his fur matching those of his original bodice, head and limbs, to which the two ponies guffawed even further, with Starlight passively observing with a snide grin, before returning to work.

"Oh, curses again," growled the disorderly Discord, as he rose from his slouched position, then floated through the air, inflating as though his belly slowly became full of it. Pihssssssssssh.

"Of all the states of being that I am in," he said in a high-pitched voice, "it is most definitely[/I ]one filled with hot air!" To this, his stomach deflated gradually, as he carried on with another groan, still maintaining his slothful appearance. Wheeeeeeeeze.

"You two are exceedingly greater than the public eye," he vehemently spoke to the sprawled ponies, as he vanished.

"I finally got it," Rainbow Dash stifled, losing her struggle for self-containment, yet again, "Discorded! Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaah-ha-haaaaah!"

"Discorded and Web-mouthed," squeaked Pinkie, "HA-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaaah!" Eventually, at long last, the pair caught their breaths from the ordeal. "Classic."

It was not as though she were entirely frightened of these ominously foreboding woods, with every, single mention of it. As Pinkie Pie had offered, she simply faces whatever seemed terrifying at first glance with a laugh, while also knowing that she is never really alone during those situations. But, like any child that eventually grows up, though not as easily scared of something as during their youth, that former object of fear might still emanate a certain sense of discomfort. It would cause that pony to reawaken such sentiments, but only slightly. Significantly less, absolutely, but noticeable, such as that of walking into an extremely dark area, without any source of light. However, knowing how safe she truly was, when merely along the borders of the Everfree Forest, alongside her closest friends, Fluttershy, as always, plucked up the courage to step into something that was uncomfortable for her, for the sake of her friends and home.

"Alright," said the hooded Unicorn with dark blue lenses, "How do you three want to handle this? Split into two groups, and get both jobs done spontaneously? Or go find the clover first, then get a sample of joke together?"

"The more, the merrier I believe, dear," said Rarity.

"Yes," added the yellow Pegasus, in her currently dense, low tone, "Two is company. Four's even better company."

"Ah can't rightly say that Ah argue with them two," nodded the Studson-wearing Earth Pony, "Best we stick together."

"Fair enough," spoke the web-head in kind. He took a great leap onto the highest branch that could carry his weight, so as to scan the area from overhead, as Fluttershy hovered more closely to the ground with her friends, then they all progressed into the edge of the forest, keeping the clearing in sight. As the beige Unicorn jumped from tree branch to tree branch, stopping to analyze their surroundings, the three ponies below watched for any unwarranted creatures to emerge from the brush, while also checking for the vegetation they sought.

"Always glad to remember how much of a good head that pony's got on them shoulders."

"He certainly knows when to take matters seriously, when the situation calls for it," uttered softly the well-groomed Unicorn towards her rugged friend, "Fully aware of the complete necessity for communication with his comrades."

"Yep, he sure knows how to be a team player. Or else Ah doubt he'd have never even made it this far. But he only seems to be countin' on others, while at the same time, also not completely trustin' in that help. Always keepin' his fair distance, for some reason or 'nother. How 'bout you, Fluttershy? What'chyah make of 'im, bein' you're tryin' tah solve a friendship problem with him, and all?"

"Oh, um, I'm not so sure. We seem to be doing well, so far. He's very considerate and thoughtful. Always made sure to give credit where it's due, and seems fully aware of my sensitivity to jokes like the ones he usually makes towards Rainbow, Pinkie and Discord. But I just haven't really figured out what the problem is, just yet."

"Seems to me he's a mighty fine, hard nut tah crack open."

"Indeed," Rarity added to AJ's remark, "Perhaps that very, well may be the issue at hoof. Simply to find some manner of finding the slightest flaw in his defenses."

"And make 'im sing."

"It sounds like you girls are talking about interrogation, more than helping a friend to me," rumbled Fluttershy, with slight unease, "Not that I thought that's what you two meant, but still. Makes it sound even more difficult to do."

"Sorry, Fluttershy, but I do believe my point still stands. Perhaps the best way to assess and attain a firm grasp of the matter, is to simplify."

"Yep," stated Applejack, in agreement, "Can't go wrong with jest takin' a step back, and look at somethin' in a different light."

"I suppose," deeply sighed the timid Pegasus, "And if I look at this problem in that sense, you think I shouldn't try really hard to find out more about Spider Bite?"

"I believe you've done a marvelous job so far, darling, by simply being the stallion's friend throughout this whole ordeal. Speaking of which, what have you noted about his behavior concerning his current condition?"

"Well," she replied to the white Unicorn, "He seems to be taking it one step at a time, and making the most of it, as you probably noticed. Almost like he usually does. But I think that's just it. He's seems more comfortable solving really big problems, instead of finding something simple or relaxing to do, despite how stressful that could be for him."

"He did seem mighty uncomfortable at the mention of the spa treatment," said the orange farm pony, "Noticed how he tried to crack a joke after givin' a quick excuse why he hadn't done it, 'mself yet? What's that about?"

"I fear your guess is as good as our own, Applejack," Rarity answered, as the trio observed the wall-crawler remain perched on a particular branch in front of them. He then casted a short line of adhesive, as he slowly lowered himself, upside down, nearer to solid earth. After shifting his head, left and right, the arachnid stallion turned over, and touched the ground with his four hooves. They all drew their attention directly ahead of them, to find the maroon, eight-leafed clover in patches abound.

"Alright," said rugged mare, "Let's get to it, then." Just as soon as she spoke, a sharp ruffle and shift of the leaves caused the ponies' ears to twitch in response. Fluttershy took a quick glide backwards in startled terror, yelping what would have been in a light shriek. "Yipe!"

The white Unicorn, though moaning with anxiety as to what may become of her violet mane, raised her hoof in defiance, as she ignited her horn. Shuffling the ground with her own front hoof, the orange Earth Pony sent her fiery green eyes towards the source of the sound, with a great huff through the nostrils in frustration. The beige wall-crawler silently lowered himself into a readying crouch, with one hoof lifted to the side, as if he were about to pounce onto his prey.

The ruffling continued, as the four ponies heard the snapping of twigs, and the grunting and growling of whatever creature that was being heard, deep within the woods. They continued to listen intently, readying themselves for whatever might- "Haw-eeeeeeh!"

"Ahhhhhh!" The low exclamation from the yellow mare was met with great looks of befuddlement from the other three ponies at the sight of what crashed into the soil and tree roots before them. Shaking the dirt, leaves and bramble from off its grey, brown coat, it made a woeful whimper of embarrassment, showing its single fang from its disheveled muzzle. "Curses, again. I just can't seem to get a firm grasp on this sort of thing, now can I? Oh, the irony!"

"Discord," exclaimed AJ, looking with even further bewilderment at his current state, which was that of a burro, "What in tarnation are yah doin' out here?"

"We thought you wanted to not be seen in public," Fluttershy, now calm, politely stifled a rumbling giggle at the sight, "like this."

"Well, why else would I not trek this journey through the woods," he shrugged, in reply, "Nopony around to point and laugh – I-I mean, everypony besides my friends, whom I do not wish to help, especially Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie." At that, the two mares suddenly appeared in a flash, in response to the unclear statement that was made. Though startled at first by their abrupt change in location, they saw the recently retransformed Discord, knowing fully well the cause for it. This aided them in regaining their vigorous merriment, in the process. "That's not what I meant! Shoo! Away with you both!"

"Oh, boy," muttered Spidey, rubbing the back of his head. Puff! Bling! The four ponies witnessed the colorful Pegasus, pink Earth Pony, and disorderly morphed Mule vanish together, from out of their sight.

"Thenk wee phuhd wayt foh hem?" After only receiving a tilt of the three mares' heads, along with their furrowed brows that showed less amusement, he said, "I know. I know. No time for that. Come on."