A Change in Strategy

The shop's bell tinkled slightly as the two pegasi mares entered the shop. Chilly morning air blasted into the warm, homely interior, and Stratus quickly shut the door. She and Fluttershy stood shivering for a moment, warming their hooves and faces with their breath.

A thick layer of snow lay draped across the sleepy town that morning, delivered last night in preparation for the upcoming festivities. The roads had been given extra attention, so when everypony woke up, they could all have fun shoveling to together! But for two rather long-limbed mares traveling at nearly six in the morning... it was quite taxing.

Soon enough, however, the sights, sounds, and smells from within the shop caught Fluttershy's attention. She batted her effortlessly perfect eyelashes in amazement, stunned by the sheer variety on display around her. The main bulk of the store was made of either oak or pine wood, including the stands and tables which had all been purchased locally by her family. Each box, bin, and barrel was fit to bursting with strange and varied bits and bobs. It looked less like a "general store" and more like a variety show.

Then Fluttershy noticed the plants section.

At first, she gasped, which Stratus didn't think was the best start.

Then her eyes went wide, and the color drained from her face. Definitely not good.

Finally, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then turned to Stratus with a concerned look in her eyes.

"Not good?" Stratus asked, cringing. Fluttershy simply shook her head without a word.

They stood there awkwardly for a few seconds as Stratus struggled to come up with something to say. She felt like she should defend her shop, but... if ponies could get hurt...

She looked Fluttershy straight in the eye. The other mare was dressed in an understatedly cute manner. A green turtleneck with a small silver necklace, with a little bauble in the shape of a snake on the end. Mentally, Stratus cocked her head.

"Fluttershy," she began, "What should I do?

The young mare blinked in surprise. Almost nopony ever asked for her advice unless it was about animals. Certainly they wouldn't have asked her about how to contain dangerous plants.

Except half her life was spent containing dangerous plants. The other half was spent corralling dangerous animals. Despite her timid nature, this mare had an iron will.

I wonder... could I have been wrong about her? Stratus thought idly.

"W-well," Fluttershy began quietly and nervously, "you see, I think you maybe should- that is, if you want to, I think that-"

Stratus held up a hoof like a foal waiting to ask a question.

Fluttershy stumbled to a halt. She sighed and asked, "Yes?"

She sounded resigned, like she expected to be interrupted, like she was used to it.

"I need to apologize Fluttershy," Stratus said, face honestly portraying sincerity, "I assumed that you would want someone else to take charge. But you know what to do here, don't you? Better than me, probably better than anypony except Twilight or Applejack."

Fluttershy blushed at the compliment, and tried to look away, but Stratus gently used a hoof to turn the pink-maned mare's face back towards her.

"You're in charge Fluttershy," Stratus said, "I promise to trust you, and work with you as you say. Alright?"

Fluttershy opened her mouth as if to reply, but the bell chimed again, and an icy blast of cold air knocked into the both of them.

"Gooood morning, my lo-" Scarlet Ember said, stopping mid-way through her proclamation as she saw the other pony in the room, "-uh... my... lovely neighbor! Yes! Ha!"

Fluttershy looked between the two of them. She smiled a small, knowing, smile and then said to Stratus gently, "I'll wait outside for a second. I wanted to play with the snow before everypony else got a chance to, anyway. It's the best part."

Skirting around the sturdy earth pony mare, who made Fluttershy seem practically willowy by comparison, she left the store with a soft jingle.

Scarlet slowly turned to face Stratus, "Sorry..."

Stratus laughed it off, crossing the distance to Scarlet and throwing her arms around the other mare, "It's great to see you, Scarlet! Finally out of the hospital?"

Scarlet scratched at her head, laughing, "Haha, yeah... we probably shoulda waited until my legs were fully healed to... you know..."

The stocky mare blushed furiously, "Oh... fiddlesticks, I'm no good at this."

Stratus chuckled and gave the mare a light kiss on the cheek, "I know, Scarlet, that's why you're so fun to tease."

Scarlet visibly shuddered at Stratus' touch, even the very light one, "Celestia, Stratus... sometimes I think you were an angel sent straight from the Sun itself..."

Stratus smiled at her earth pony mare and, as a reward, leaned in for a slower, fuller kiss.

Scarlet came away trembling and breathless, her mind dizzy with thoughts of their passionate night together. She cleared her throat, "I just came to say, uh... well I want to continue. What we did... er, I mean. I-I haven't dated in a while, and I barely know y-"

Stratus silenced the other mare by giving her a quick nip on the neck and folding one large wing around the smaller brown pony.

"Why don't..." Stratus said, very obviously eyeing Scarlet's toned physique and generous assets, "we talk about that more later? Tonight, after dinner? Your place?"

Scarlet's mouth flapped open and shut for a moment, before a small voice croaked out, "Sure!"

Stratus smiled and planted a smooch right on the smaller mare's forehead, "Wonderful. Now, would you mind if I got back to my guest? It's currently unsafe to be in this building at all."

Scarlet blinked, a bit of the hazy wonder fading from her eyes, "Oh."

"That's why we're doing dinner at your house."

"... I see."

"Great!" Stratus beamed and gave Scarlet one last kiss on the cheek before ushering her out the door with calls of "Happy Hearth's Warming Eve!" even though the holiday was still a few days away.

True to her word, Fluttershy was sitting in the snow outside, making a small snow castle with her hooves. She had on a pair of delightfully fuzzy looking mittens that matched her shirt.

"Sorry about that," Stratus said with a wry smile, "professional discussion, neighbor stuff."

Fluttershy smirked, "Right... neighbor stuff."

Stratus nodded very seriously, "Oh yes, most important."

Fluttershy laughed, and the two headed back inside.

"Okay," Fluttershy said once the white brilliance of the world outside had dimmed, "You want to do this my way?"

"I do," Stratus said, nodding firmly.

Fluttershy still seemed skeptical, "And you promise not to ask questions?"

Stratus looked at the cream-colored mare flatly, "Fluttershy, you're an Element of Harmony. Who would I even tell? But no, I won't ask questions."

"Good," Fluttershy said. A shiver went through her. She was in charge, no take backs or strings attached.

She breathed in, then got to work.

"Okay, we're going to need some things."

Three hours and two sweaty, exhausted mares later, Fluttershy deemed the store safe for habitation. All of the dangerous fauna and animal parts had been organized and sealed, odors that were somehow hazardous had been neutralized, and a bundle of something called "Poison Joke" had been burned.

At the end, the two mares sat at the service counter, enjoying some hot coco that was a local favorite in Ponyville.

"Fluttershy, I have to say," Stratus remarked between gulps, "you are a truly impressive mare."

The other mare grinned, and this time there was a gleam of real confidence in her eyes, "I can do more than ponies think I can. I just... I don't want to start a fight. There's already too much fighting."

She deflated slightly, eyes turning down to the countertop.

Stratus let the silence hang for a little while before asking, "You're the Element of Kindness, right?"

Fluttershy nodded, not looking up.

"Then where do you let out your anger?"

The question hit Fluttershy like a lead brick. She was silent for a few moments, long enough that Stratus was worried she'd pushed the wrong button, but then Fluttershy finally replied. In a very soft voice, she said, "I don't get angry."

Stratus did not respond. As the time dragged on, and the conversation bled to death on her kitchen floor, she changed topics, "Will I see you at the Fair on Hearth's Warming?"

Fluttershy immediately perked up, "Of course! It's one of my favorite times of the year! So many fuzzy sweaters, so many cute little animals around, what's not to love?"

Stratus smiled, matching her friend's energy, "Well then, Miss Fluttershy, I believe that is when next we shall meet!"

Fluttershy nodded, "It's a date!"

Almost immediately she blushed and ducked her head, as if expecting to be reprimanded, but Stratus did not correct her.

"Do you want me to walk you back to your cottage? The way might be dangerous," Stratus made sure to exaggerate her tone, overly emphasizing Fluttershy's need for protection. The other mare saw what she was doing and smiled.

"No thanks," Fluttershy said, smoothly putting on her cap and gloves, "You'd only slow me down."

She left with a wave, and the doorbell jingled. Stratus was left smiling, sipping patiently from her delicious new beverage.