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

"Spike, please tell me you've got a reply from Agent Sweetie Drops, now."

"Sorry, Twilight," the young dragon shook his head, with equal unease, "I haven't heard from her yet. Or anypony else, since we got that correspondence from Celestia at the Crystal Empire."

"Ugh!" It had been shortly after they reached the train station to transfer that Spike received a letter from Princess Celestia, explaining the current situation in Ponyville. Due to her and Luna's absence from Canterlot, they only had just received word of the incident a day after it occurred. A detailed summary explaining the event concerning her friends was quickly sent to their palace, only to be sent by forwarded mail the next day, despite its urgently labeled notice. "Why do trains always run late when you least expect them to?"

"Celestia said the train sending the mail that day was delayed by a huge landslide," her assistant replied, "But at least we got this news when we reached Stomp Clovis. We've got a very good head start." The adolescent dragon struggled to hold tightly onto the straps of Twilight's book bags and satchel that was packed with necessary equipment, as she flew with great resolve, frequently teleporting themselves further towards their destination. He was sorely disappointed about missing the Frowning Archway over the Misery River, though, meaning to take a photo of it to share with Pinkie Pie.

"Still," panted Twilight, as her wings maintained their diligent constancy, "I just wish we left things better suited, if situations such as these would arise. And how come the guards at the shielded ruins and the cave had none to spare? Have some been called back, already?"

"They must've." Of course, despite the vast strides that were made to narrow the distance between themselves and Ponyville as swiftly as possible, the young Alicorn Princess would land for brief, periodic intervals of respite, knowing the importance of pacing herself. She would allow for ten to twelve minutes at a time, before continuing another half hour, or so. It was during such a period in their hasty sojourn, when she placed herself firmly onto the ground, allowing for air to carry on through her lungs, she saw the looming mountains ahead of her, that had been growing larger with each passing moment. She grunted, as she caught her breath, "I just can't believe something like this would happen, when everypony that could help is away. Do you think Chrysalis is somehow behind all of this?"

"The bugbear was in Tartarus before, during, and after Chrysalis attacked us both times. I don't see how she could've found out about it, even if she found a way into the castle, and looked at all of your recorded entries. Believe me, two weeks wouldn't be enough time to cover even one of those books thoroughly enough."

"I suppose that's true," she heaved a sigh, hanging her head in contemplation, as more oxygen traveled into her lungs, with each breath that aided in soothing her racing mind. "Nor would she have been able to find anything on the hidden artifact from there, either, thank Celestia. It'll be okay. I know it will. Our friends have never been beaten before, always finding a way to get back up whenever knocked down."

"You bet they will!"

"I just hope nothing too bad has happened. Also hated to leave Zecora on such short notice like that. Speaking of which, you think I forgot anything that could help us?"

"Actually," her youthful, dragon friend answered flatly, as he pulled out a written piece of paper, "According to your quick-but-thorough, back-up-to-your-back-up checklist, nothing's unchecked. We went through it three times, already."

"Right. Okay. Good," nodded the lavender Alicorn, already eager to return to their urgent flight back home, "Though I wish I had been better prepared for a calamity, such as this."

"I just wish I had been there to come up with nicknames for Discord and Spider Bite," grunted Spike, "They never even gave a hint to what their jokes were."

"I'm sure there will be a chance to divulge in that later, Spike. But I'm afraid time is of the essence, and we have no need to ponder on such matters, at the moment."

"I know. I know," he shrugged, then sat down, crossing his arms, "So what's the plan, when we get there?"

"We get to the castle, right away. The moment we've assessed the current situation, Starlight and I will work on the spell and find the proper plant for it, while the rest of our friends are out, searching for the runaway bugbear."

"But it's already been two days," countered her reptilian friend, "Alot could've happened, by now. And what about Sweetie Drops?"

"If we don't see, or hear from her within the next two hours, then I'm afraid Starlight and I will have to make do. And, if necessary, have Spider Bite make another impromptu lesson on magic to help us."

"You really think he'd be able to jump to that high a level this early?"

"He's already made incredible strides. Like Starlight is, and myself previously, he's practically a prodigy, himself."

"But you think he'd be willing to give something like that a try, and so soon?"

"From what I've seen, I think he'll be more than willing to give it a shot, if desperate times called for desperate measures. Especially in striving to help us protect our home."

"Okay," he shrugged again, with a tilt of his head towards the ground beneath her, "You got eight more minutes before break's over." Looking down towards her shadow, Twilight examined its position, and recollected her previous instance of doing so, shortly after she landed. "Seven minutes, and forty-one seconds. What did we say about rounding up during a crisis, Spike?"

"No room for mistakes," he huffed, in response, "Need to be exact."

"Alright. So what do we know?"

"Well," Starlight answered Spider Bite's enquiry, with a slightly wavering attempt at self-collection, "We know that first batch we tested not only weakened your webbing, but also didn't even last five minutes with that bugbear." Looking at the creature in question, they all observed its stillness, as well as its vengeful heaves and growls, which gradually grew stronger and longer during the past half hour.

"Rarity and Applejack went to collect more clover," she continued, "With Rainbow Dash speeding off after them, forgetting to stay here, regardless of what's happening."

"She just wants to watch their backs, if push comes to shove," the beige Unicorn evenly countered, "A little reckless, I know, but can't fault her for that, completely."

"And Pinkie's busy, trying to wake up Discord," she grunted, as she progressed. She remembered the pink pony's erratic attempts to awake the draconian multi-bred, from clashing cymbals, clanging gongs and horns, to even pepper whiffs, only to forget avoiding exposure from the clover on Discord, herself, in the process. "Or, at least she was."

"We also know that the bugbear likes to eat poison joke," rumbled the timid Pegasus, "There must be something special about that flower's leaves and pedals. Or even the pollen and nectar that it likes."

"Oh, right. BugBear," exclaimed the web-head, slamming a fore hoof against his head, "No wonder the stuff doesn't bother it! Spidey, you big idiot!"

"Because it was actually affected by the joke, before, right," asked the light violet mare.

"Maybe," he shrugged, "Or that's how its species eventually evolved and adapted, over the years. Anyway, that's not the point."

"Then what's the point?"

"Here's the point. It's attracted to the poison joke's pollen and nectar, something both bees and bears have in common. It's not only immune to the joke's effects, but also nourished by it. It's probably the bugbear's primary food source, and not secondary, like we originally thought."

"You think there might also be something in the nectar that makes the animal behave so viciously," Fluttershy lowly inquired.

"It's probably got some kind of stimulus, yeah," answered the arachnid stallion, "And maybe that's exactly what we need to focus on."

"What do you mean," questioned Starlight.

"Like you said, find the solution in the problem. We can use the dried clover we've got piled up, already, and find some way to siphon the nectar from out of its system. It's lying down next to the stuff now, breathing some of it in. But imagine what would happen if we actually did feed the stuff to it?"

"There's only one way to find out," she sighed, lowering her head, and pondering how best to carry out their next test, "Think you're strong enough to hold it down, in case?"

"Whoa, hey. Bahk off thithtuh. Aw dohn pway dah toff, thtwong gah to umpweth dah waydeeth."

"Take that as a maybe," Starlight sharply remarked. Her ear twitched to the sudden stomp that emanated from behind her. Swiftly turning to see the hornet bear rising ferociously onto its hind legs, with its other four raised in venomous rage behind the surrounding piles, she took another fighting stance. Whoof! Before it could advance, however, she noticed a scarlet blur landing atop of it, to find the wall-crawler placing the creature into a headlock within a blink of an eye. Seeing him struggling to maintain his grip, while also receiving a few scratches of retaliation onto his hoody from the bear's side limbs, Starlight wasted no time to take this opportunity. "No time like the present."

However, just as she advanced onto the beast with a batch of levitating clover, Starlight felt a great weight thrust onto her, as she watched the animal throw Spidey over its shoulder, and towards her. Bam!

"Ah!" "Oaf!" They both skidded roughly across the floor, and she looked up to see the beige stallion sharply halting his horn from reaching her barrel, before leaping back onto his four, bent hocks, into a crouch. There was no chance for the two Unicorns to respond against such an attack, however, as they felt the crushing weight of the menacing wasp bear atop them both. Barely allowing enough space to breathe with whatever strength he could muster in that position, Spidey noticed Starlight's horn glowing, as she devoted whatever energy she had in focusing on a small hoof-full of parched clover from the piles. But it was to no avail, as she lost her attention on the plant, due to the frightful outburst of rage sent mercilessly towards the two ponies. Rooooaaaar!

"You stop right there!" The bellowing exclamation ceased the bestial attempt to consume the bugbear's prey instantly. Already familiar with the voice's source, it began to turn and send another vehement roar against the yellow Pegasus, only to desist at the sight of her stern, adamant expression. "I thought you would have learned your lesson from last time, but I guess I was wrong."

Her hovering form slowly progressed towards the creature, causing it to lift itself off Spider Bite and Starlight Glimmer, allowing a great gasp of air from them both. It cringed at the sight of those burning, teal eyes, not from spite, or fury, like its own, but the kind of anger one sees in a parent protecting her young. "I thought you deserved a second chance, by being away from Tartarus, and start living in the Everfree, but I guess I was wrong about that too. I know it might not be completely your fault, eating those plants you need are maybe the ones making you so angry all the time, in the first place. But until we know for sure, and until we find a better way, it's time to stop your wild rampage, and put you down for a nice nap, before taking you back to where you belong."

At this, Fluttershy sent into the bugbear's jaw a bag of dried leaves after another, prompting it to swallow with every pass into the mouth she had made. Gliding back, after seeing the creature momentarily cough some of the substance out, she turned her eyes briefly onto the two risen Unicorns with a nod. She then took a deep breath, as the animal slowly began to lower itself into a lying position, and sang deeply:

"What once was sent,
Has now returned,
Angry, Tartarus-bent,
Enraged eyes burned.
It's endless fury,
Must be ceased.
To Tartarus, bury,
Or destruction's the least.
Should there be found
A calming means,
Then heal the wound
Of imprisoned beings."

The bugbear had fallen into a deep slumber, from the consumed tranquil clover, as well as the lullaby that seemed to emanate from those seemingly masculine set of pipes. Just then, two glows of glittering energy formed around the creature, one light blue, the other scarlet. It engulfed the animal, as would a blanket, placed softly over the sleeping beast, before it vanished, out of sight.

"Whoa," heavily exhaled a shaking, beige Unicorn, "No wonder it takes an Alicorn for that spell."

"Teleportation for great distances requires vast amounts of energy," spoke the light violet mare, in kind, "Teleportation to Tartarus itself, is practically Alicorn level of magic."

"Practically is the key word there," he smirked, "Ah weetht tooh Unehcohn thtoodunth."

"Don't get too cocky, junior," she chuckled. Turning to face their friend and rescuer, the yellow hero of the day slowly landed onto her haunches, with a soft whimper.

"Fluttershy," asked Starlight, with concern, "Fluttershy, everything's okay. You did nothing wrong."

"I know," they heard her deeply speak, though trembling, "I was just afraid that…that…"

"You knew the spell," asked Spider Bite in confusion, "But you were afraid to do it, anyway? How come?"

"I only knew it from what Discord read aloud to himself," answered the rumble of the timid Pegasus, "And when I heard the last part, I knew that I couldn't go wrong with it. But I was just so…so…uncomfortable with it."

"What do you mean by that, Fluttershy," persisted the light purple Unicorn, "What could possibly make you think that you'd make something bad happen."

"Because that's what happened…before." Her teeth were chattering as tears began to roll down her face.

"You mean with the bats," Starlight asked, "But that's been over and done with, and you returned to normal after that experience."

"How could you believe something that's been used before have negative effects on you," joined Spidey, "I mean, sure we had to make a lot of changes from the original, but overall, we thtayd twoo to dah buhk."

"Not helping," gritted the light violet mare, shoving a sharp elbow onto his shoulder, then looked back at Fluttershy, "Did you think it would turn you into a bugbear, or transform you in a similar way, also?"

A swift shake of the head in the affirmative was her reply, to which the web-head responded, "But that's only happened with the bats, right? So, what? That was only temporary. Unless, you not only transformed into a…werebat, but also still remained one. I mean, I don't know exactly what happened. Never been told the details. But it seems to me that's where this story's-"

"Yes!" The sudden outburst and sob caught the two Unicorns off guard, at first, who then listened to the weeping Pegasus further. "When I found out I still turned into Flutterbat, I went to Twilight for help, and she said she could come up with something, but it would take time. Until then, I had been going to the bat orchards at Applejack's farm at night, whenever it happened, and I asked Twilight not to tell anypony else about it. And she…she…never said a word. I must've helped her with her secret-keeping, somehow. Or I…really…really s-scared her. That's why I couldn't let the others know."

"Because they would be afraid of you?"

"No. It's because…I would make them feel bad about it. That I'd…make them think it was…was t-their fault for what happened. Like the way T-Twilight…must've f-f-felt. And Twilight did find a remedy, just in time, before the next Nightmare Night."

There was total silence from the spectating ponies, as the deep sobs continued from the yellow Pegasus, uninterrupted from further questioning by either Starlight or Spidey.

Well, that's just great. Parker, you've just been promoted to Grade-A Hypocrite. Heaving a gentle sigh through the nostrils, Peter slowly approached the weeping Fluttershy, and sat on his hind quarters as well. Uncertain of what to do next, he simply brushed his hoof soothingly down the Pegasus' rosy mane. I'm just as bad at this, as before with Gwen.

"Fluttershy," he whispered evenly, "Believe me, I know exactly what that's like."

"Y-you do," she asked, finally starting to clear the crystalline droplets from her eyes.

"I mean, probably not exactly, but pretty close," he shrugged, "You see, there's a reason why I don't want to take off my hoody, despite how uncomfortable it is during the summer, let alone go to some spa for treatment."

"W-which is…what, exactly?"

"I saw the way you were looking at my scars," he answered plainly, catching Starlight's full attention, and causing her to look under the scratches of his hoody. "Fluttershy, you're so…so…precariously sensitive. And when you first saw me waking up, out of costume, seeing all those old battle-wounds of mine, you always caught yourself staring, then avoiding them. I didn't want everypony looking at me in that kind of light, because I knew it would change the way they saw their beautiful, peaceful world. Only slightly, but enough to know how fragile it can be."

"Well," she sniffled, then smiled, "If I have seen them, being so sensitive, I don't see how it could get any worse. Not everypony reacts the same way as I do. Besides, hiding that kind of truth doesn't help anypony, at all."

"No, but still," he nodded, in kind, "Can't imagine seeing somepony not looking at life more dimly just from the sight of me." It was then he felt a sudden force wrap around his neck, prompting an Oof! from under his breath. His front hooves outstretched, and brown orbs narrowed with dazed uncertainty, Peter simply sat still, then gradually returned the Pegasus' embrace.

"Thank you, Spider Bite. But you should know that there isn't a single pony who can't stand looking at you. Because you're a very, very good pony to be around."

"Um," he gulped in response, making Starlight smirk in the process, "You're welcome, I guess. And thanks, to you too."

"So," deeply offered Fluttershy, placing a gentle hoof onto his shoulder, "What are you going to do about it? I know I'm going to need to tell Twilight my own experience. But what about you?"

Before the stallion could reply, he sensed a sudden disturbance in the atmosphere of the room, as well as a slight tingle from his horn. Knowing the cause, which was just about to appear, Pete took a firm hold of Fluttershy, and leapt them both away from their original position. Startling both Unicorn and Pegasus mares, the web-head joined their befuddled gaze onto what took their place in a flash. With a pant and groan, a familiarly lavender, winged Unicorn, with a small dragon jumping off her back, stated, "Woo! Sorry we're late. Got here as quickly as we could. I never got your message from Celestia, until this morning on the train, because the train that sent the mail to the Crystal Empire, where Celestia and Luna were visiting, got delayed by a landslide. So I flew myself and Spike here, with the occasional teleportation, and brought with us everything we need. Huuh, so let's get started. Where's the bugbear? Are Rarity and Applejack still searching? Why are Pinkie and Discord asleep? And how come I can't find Rainbow Dash anywhere in the castle?"

The rapidity of Twilight's pronounced entrance, along with her exhaustive sigh near the end, lightened the mood for the three ponies significantly, causing Spidey, Starlight and Fluttershy to giggle and chuckle slightly. After a brief look of bewilderment from the two travelers, the beige pony stated, "Twuft me, Pwintheth, yoo awe in faw uh wee-oh whoppuh."

"What," both Twilight and Spike asked at once, prompting a gentle laughter from the trio, this time. Getting used to the norm of this place? Check-check.

"Sorry, Twilight," said the light purple Unicorn, still smirking, "I'll fill you in on the details. Because I don't think either of these two can manage."

"Neither do I," rumbled the yellow mare, to which Spike stifled a snort, then made an outburst, himself.

"So what made yah sing that spell, anyways," asked AJ, "if you was so uncomfortable about it?"

"Because," deeply replied Fluttershy, "after the way Spider Bite risked his own life, both when he helped save me from the stone giant, and facing the bugbear, he did it knowing there was a chance that he wouldn't make it, himself. And I saw how he kept fighting, until he thought it was the very end for him. I knew I just had to do the same thing for my friends, despite the risks."

"Maybe I should take a few pointers from that also," commented the raspy Pegasus.

"Wah? Becahth yoh afwayd tah wooth?"

"Hey! I've never lost, Web-mouthed."

"Aw dah maw tah be afwayd, den."

"And I never will. So put a sock in it, why don't yah! Oh, wait." The seven mares, stallion, and Dragon all stood near the enormous barrel filled with water, nearly steamed, sharing a great mirth together from Rainbow Dash's remark.

"Oh, by the way, Princess," he stated, "That friend of yours, Lyra, she wanted to know when our next Q&A would happen. Something about 'learning everything there is to know about humans.' Any idea where that obsession started for her?"

"And how come the spell that you got from Sweetie Drops to use didn't work the first time," inquired Pinkie Pie.

"Nopony knows," giggled the friendly, lavender Regent, "As for her friend's previous attempt with me to imprison it again, some of the poison joke's seed and pollen was probably caught onto the bugbear's fur, and somehow managed to grow in Tartarus, providing food to replenish its strength."

"Guess that means Cerberus has more of his work cut out for him, huh? Oh ith ut deh wuhk?"

"I only wish you were more open with your issue before, Fluttershy," she continued sincerely, "I never was afraid of you, or what you might do. I admit feeling a bit responsible for it, but not enough for me to doubt myself. I also never said anything, knowing that you would eventually let the rest of us know, yourself, as you and Rarity did for each other before. I'm actually surprised it took this situation for you to finally do so."

"Yeah, and imagine what it would've been like if you told us about the Flutterbat problem, sooner," Pinkie Pie stated, then shrugged, "But I guess it worked that you helped Spider Bite with his problem of coming here, to begin with, in that way."

"So, what about you, Spider Bite," Rarity inquired, "Anything you wish to share with us?"

"More than you know," he firmly answered, "I can tell how much you all expect to know more about me, so you could better understand where I come from, and even trust me more. But for me, unloading everything onto everypony is just so uncomfortable to me. In fact, I think I should take it one step at a time, and that you should too. Because I'll tell you one thing. I'm never going to complain or quip about how tranquil this place is, ever again. So, after seeing Fluttershy stepping outside of her own comfort zone, just to help out and do the right thing, I felt I should do the same. But like I said, one small step, for starters."

With that, he removed the white bathrobe that replaced his torn hoody. Seeing that the nine members in the steaming chamber were without anypony else, Spidey had also removed the shades from his brown irises, and blue hanky wrapped around his tail. After slowly disrobing to merely his beige coat, he felt a comforting touch on his scarred shoulder from Fluttershy, as he heard the soft gasps of slight shock seemingly pierce his heightened, cringing pony ears. Still, not quite used to that.

"Oh, dear goodness," uttered the white mare.

"Hatchings, matchings," exclaimed the pink mare, "That's a lot of scratchings!"

"And aren't some of those," gulped Spike, "burns, too?"

"Land sakes," exhaled the rugged Earth Pony, "Ah recon Ah ain't ever seen anypony with that many fightin' marks before in my life. Those could amount tah three lifetimes' worth, by my count."

"You got all of those in just five years," gawked the colorful Pegasus, "Are you insane?"

"Heh, appawenwee," he chuckled with awkward, downcast eyes, "Though Aw geff thith meenth Aw can thtaht wehween a cap, now, huh?"

"Only if you would like to," Twilight offered, with a small gulp to retain her slight loss of composure. She then mirrored Fluttershy's kind gesture as well, saying, "If not, then you don't have to show these in public."

"It's not so much what I'd like to do," said Pete, "as much as what I need to do."

"Maybe, wait until next week, or something," deeply spoke the yellow Pegasus, "Get used to this, first. Starting with small steps, after all."

Just then, the nine companions turned to see Fluttershy's Mark begin to glow vibrantly, radiating white beams of light, as three butterflies matching it flew inward. "Okay. What's that about?"

"We'll explain that there to yah's later, Sugarcube," replied AJ, with a grin of her own.

"So," Starlight began with a short gleam, "Does this mean what I think it means?"

"Sorry, Starlight," he smirked, "But I think I'm sticking around a little, bit longer. So sad, for you."

"Wait," stuttered Spike, "Did he just…and without…but how…?" Just then, they all shifted their focus onto the hind hoof wading in the steamed water, before it lifted with a sharp kick that splashed some onto the others. "Ohhhhhh!"

"But how," gasped Twilight in shock, from the sudden contact of hot water, "It requires a pony to completely soak for half an hour, to get its full effect."

"Wow," he chuckled, "If I had known that was all it took for me, I never would've taken the robe off."

"You're still going in, Web-head." At that, Rainbow shoved Spidey into the tub, but not before his hoof stuck onto her front leg, taking her with him. They resurfaced, splashing and tackling one another with joyful mirth.

"Cannonball!" Pinkie's excited scream resounded throughout the entire chamber, as the remaining friends playfully joined in. Yep. Still a whole lot to get used to. But this is a very good, fresh start.

The six mares and their young Dragon friend stood over it, with a slight tingle of comfort that somehow expended from the white, faint glow it gleamed. The dark cavern around them could do nothing to quell its light, nor could it be outshone by the towering Tree of Harmony before them, though still, it was less noticeable.

"Just what in tarnation y'all think it could be?"

"I'm not sure. In fact, I don't believe any one of us can be certain, until its proper time."

"So, small," hoarsely whispered Rainbow, after Applejack and Twilight, "But still, so alive. How's that little guy even hanging in there?"

"Given that it's from the Tree of Harmony, itself, dear," Rarity spoke, "I can't rightly say that it is a surprise to know what appears to be sustaining it."

"Still," said Pinkie Pie, "You can't help but wonder why something is, or why something happened, until you keep going and start to figure things out, one step at a time, and one day at a time, and when you start figuring things out, you'll realize that those things that were and happened brought you to be the pony you are now, doing the things that you're doing, right now."

"And that's what I believe is the purpose of this bud. For now, anyway," spoke the lavender Alicorn, "By pointing out to Fluttershy how she could be a good friend to Spider Bite, it showed us how we could be his friend as well. By knowing that there is so much we can learn from him, as much as he can from us. So simple, yet always part of the perfect foundation, the groundwork, and roots of Friendship."

"So," Spike muttered, "Does this mean he's going to be another Friendship student? With Starlight?"

"I surmised that also," she replied, "Which is why I offered him the chance to be one. He only accepted under one condition."

"Which was," asked her assistant.

"So long as he finds a means of earning his keep. Apparently he's interested in finding a job also."

"Well, shoot," grinned the orange mare, swinging her fore leg, "He's always got a way tah surprise yah, don't he? Nothin' wrong with havin' somepony lookin' for honest work. Ah can always hire him for the orchards, harvestin', gard'nin' and plantin', and the like."

"Ooh! Ooh! He can help me deliver cakes, and pies, and cupcakes, and muffins, and pastries for the Cake Family!"

"I could use some extra help with the woodland creatures, now and then," sweetly offered Fluttershy, "Including that poor bear, on occasion."

"Yeah," cringed the colorful Pegasus, rubbing the back of her head, "I think we could use a little R&R on the bear department, for a bit, if you ask me."

"Well, he is most certainly welcome to assist me in organizing and moving materials around, at my Boutique."

"Actually," offered Twilight to the white Unicorn, "He told me he needed a reminder of why he's really here, in Ponyville, and said he's looking into photography."

"Yep," AJ smirked, "Still surprises yah."

"Oh, well, that would be absolutely marvelous, darling," beamed Rarity, "He could most definitely take pictures for my fashion displays, and could travel abroad, if that's to his liking! Just imagine the inspiration, just from the sort of angles he could take! The possibilities are endless!"

"But on a more, friendly note," the young Alicorn said, "he doesn't have to take a job from any of us. Only if he wants to. And when he does find work in Ponyville, I'm sure Pinkie would love to host a small party for all of us to enjoy."

"You bet I would!"

"And maybe invite some other friends, so they can make new ones with us, along with Spider Bite. I'm sure Captain Sentry would like to spend time with us, too. Those two stallions seem to get along nicely, after all."

"Oh, I'm sure he would, Twilight," Rarity spoke, "But I'm afraid he was sent back to the Crystal Empire, along with the other guards that were recalled from their posts, and left the Canterlot soldiers to carry on."

"Oh. Okay. Since everything that has happened with Chrysalis has settled overall, I'm sure Cadence and Shining felt they were needed back there, now. Maybe next time, then." The slight tension sensed from Twilight could not go unnoticed by all, except for the now-silent Pegasus. "Um, Fluttershy?"

"W-what? Oh, um, sorry," she stammered, after removing her gaze from the lily, "It's just that I thought it had grown a little bit bigger, from last time."

"Yeah, that was probably you're hopeful nature imagining things," smirked Dash, crossing her front legs.

"Ah don't know," the farm pony offered, "The ways things are goin' on 'round here, and since that there bud managed to pop up, and with a great load of willpower to do so, tells me there might be more to it than that."

"Whatever the case may be," the white mare added, "As Twilight said, there is only one way to know for absolute certain."

"Just wait, and see," lightly whispered Fluttershy with a simple nod. The six ponies and adolescent Dragon continued to stare at the small lily with curious intrigue, admiring its humble glow that seemed to have sparked a deep sense of hope within them.