Echoes of Equestria

Another day. Another shopping trip. “I don’t see why I have to accompany you when you’re doing this.”

Fluttershy, inspecting some celery, replied, “Gee, Simon. I didn’t know you were tired of my company.”

“Wow. I didn’t know I’d be subjected to Sassy Shy today.”

She gave me a playful noogie. “Never heard any pony call me that before.”

“Well, I didn’t expect sass from a pony as kind as you.”

She smiles. “Well, I have been known to be a bit sassy on occasion.”

“Yeah. Like that time with Zephyr. That was awesome.”

She begins to nod and then stares at me. However, I was too shell-shocked to notice as I saw the terrible trio fast approaching. “No, please. Not again.”

“Oh. It’s the CmC. Come on Simon. You can’t really still be that afraid of them.”

I zipped behind her leg. “Never said I was afraid. They’re just too much. One at a time—fine—two—maybe—anything, but the three of them together.”

As she tried to step away I followed. “Not this time.”

Rolling her eyes she takes flight.

“Not fair traitor.”

“Oh mah stars. You got your cutie mark? Already?”

“What? No way?”

“Oh my. It’s lovely.”

“My shoulders tensed up as I heard them. I was determined to ignore them this time. Just don’t engage them and they’ll go away.

“Hey?! You know it’s rude to ignore ponies when they’re talking to ya.”

“Yah. Didn’t yer parents teach ya manners back in that world y’all are from?”

“Girls. Wait. Maybe he’s just not used to our energy. I mean he pretty much said so himself the first time we met.”

“Pfft! Whatevs. Fine. It’s his loss. Come on girls.”

“Yah. Aw’ight.”

“Cya Simon. Sorry if we made ya feel uncomfortable.”

I turned in time to see their backs to me as they walked away. The way they walked… It was wrong. Gone was the spring in their steps. They moved very slowly and deliberately, heads hanging low. Are they really that upset that I didn’t want to deal with them?

As if she could somehow read my thoughts Fluttershy spoke. “It’s a real shame. They really like you and now they’re so sad. It’s like they lost a new friend or the chance at making one maybe?”

Swallowing hard, I glanced at her as she gave me a knowing look. Sighing I grumbled, “Should have kept that stuff about Jamie to myself.”

I ran after them calling out. “Wait!”

As one, they turned, looking back at me as I ran up to them.

Smiling brightly Apple Bloom, said, “I knew ya liked us!”

Sweetie, grinned ear to ear. “YAY!”

Scootaloo looked at me with a neutral expression, sizing me up. “I don’t know. I’m not even sure I wanna be friends with him anymore.”

Sweetie and Bloomy both elbow her in the sides.

“Ow! OK. OK. Sheesh.” Turning to me she goes on, “Glad you decided to accept our friendship, blah, blah, blah.”

Apple Bloom clears her throat.

Grumping, Scootaloo amends. “Sorry that I’m giving you such a hard time. No hard feelings?” She extends a hoof.

I hoofbump her, smiling. “I’m sorry I ignored ya.”

“Yeah. What was with that anyway? Do ya hate us or something?”

A pang of guilt bucked me in the stomach. “I would think after our first meeting you’d know better than that.”

“Then wut is it? Our energy like Sweetie said?” Apple Bloom inquired.

“Yeah. Basically. You three get all up in my face, bombarding me with questions. Questions that I either can’t or won’t answer, because reasons.”

“We’re sorry. We didn’t mean to come off like pests.” Sweetie said apologetically.

I shake my head. “Well, if ya want to avoid that in the future ya gotta take it down to about a 6. Maybe a 7?”

“Huh?” They all asked in unison?

“It’s a musical term.” DJPON3 says, who just happened to be walking by.

Woah. So she can speak. Also, so that’s her voice?

“He’s like, saying you’ve got it cranked to an 11 and ya need to bring it down to like a 6 or 7. Ya know? Tone it down.”

“Oooooo,” they say as Bloom goes on to add, “So, basically stop crowding ya, while hammering ya with non stop question like.”

I nod as both DJPON3 and I say together, “Exactly.”

“Later foals. Peace.” She places her headset back over her ears and walks off.

“Well, there’s somepony ya don’t see everyday,” I remarked.

They all nodded in agreement. Then Bloom said, “OK, we’ll give ya some space and turn down the intensity.”

“Yea, but can you at least tell us how ya found your cutie mark already?” Scootaloo inquired.

“I considered his next words carefully, his gaze shifting between the three fillies. “Alright, you know what? I think I owe all three of you an apology for my behavior earlier. I didn’t mean to make you feel like I didn’t want to be around you.”

Sweetie Belle’s ears perked up, her eyes bright with hope. “Really?”

He nodded, letting out a small sigh. “Yeah. But let’s make a deal—you three tone it down a notch, and I’ll do my best not to run off.”

Scootaloo raised an eyebrow, her smirk creeping in. “Fine, but that doesn’t mean we’re not getting answers eventually.”

I managed a faint grin, shaking my head. “Yeah, I figured.”

Fluttershy landed lightly beside me, her smile doing that infuriating thing where it said, I told you so without her actually saying it. “See, Simon? That wasn’t so hard.”

I shot her a look. “Wait. Did you set this up?”

Her innocent expression could’ve fooled anyone else, but the sparkle in her eyes gave her away. “Oh, Simon, you’re overthinking things again.

Sweetie Belle clapped her hooves together. “Ooh! What if we use this time to brainstorm for the next big talent showcase?”

Scootaloo’s wings twitched with excitement. “Yeah! And Simon can help us figure out how to make it amazing!”

I groaned dramatically, though my grin betrayed me. “Why do I have a bad feeling about this already?”

Fluttershy leaned closer, her voice so soft it was like a whisper on the wind. “You’ll do great. You just have to trust yourself.”

As the CmC dragged me off toward Sweet Apple Acres, I glanced back at Fluttershy. Her knowing smile stayed with me, a quiet reminder that maybe, just maybe, she had been right all along.