Project Uma Kyōkai

You had been living in Ponyville for what you could only guess was three months. Remarkably, with Fluttershy’s help, you’d managed to remain hidden from the town’s other residents. This allowed you to observe these fascinating creatures up close, jotting down notes and making sketches in your journal. At first, you wrote daily entries, meticulously documenting every new observation. But as time passed and life settled into a routine, the entries became weekly, then bi-weekly. Nothing groundbreaking seemed to happen anymore.

Sitting at the small wooden desk Fluttershy had provided, you began scrawling your latest thoughts into the notebook. The candle beside you flickered softly, casting shadows across the room as the sun dipped below the horizon. Fluttershy trotted into the room, her face lit up with excitement.

“Aren’t you excited? The Summer Sun Celebration is tomorrow! I can’t wait!” she exclaimed, her wings fluttering slightly.

You set your pencil down and leaned back. “Yes, I know,” you replied with a small smile. “You’ve been excited all week, teaching the birds their songs for the event.”

Her enthusiasm wavered for a moment. “Oh gosh,” she muttered, her voice trembling, “what if they mess up? What if they sing off-key, and everyone laughs at me, and then—”

“Hey, hey, calm down,” you interrupted, raising a hand. “You’re the best animal handler I’ve ever seen. The birds will do great. Trust me.”

Fluttershy took a deep breath, her cheeks tinged pink. “Thank you, Agent. You’re so kind.”

You winced inwardly at the name. It felt strange now. When you’d first introduced yourself to her as “Agent,” it seemed like the safest way to keep your true identity under wraps. But after months of sharing her home and relying on her kindness, the title felt impersonal, almost cold.

“No problem,” you said, brushing the thought aside. You’d figure out how to explain your real name later. For now, you had more pressing matters to focus on—like helping Fluttershy prepare for the festival and gathering more observations for your report.

As the day wore on, Fluttershy became more and more preoccupied with her preparations. She didn’t return to the cottage until sunset, her wings slightly drooped from exhaustion. You glanced up from your notes as she entered.

“What took you so long?” you asked, closing the journal.

“Oh, it was so exciting! We were celebrating a new Ponyville resident!” she replied, her voice brimming with quiet enthusiasm.

“A new resident?” you repeated, your curiosity piqued.

Fluttershy nodded. “She’s a unicorn from Canterlot, sent by Princess Celestia herself to oversee the celebration. Isn’t that amazing?”

“Er, are you sure I should go?” you asked, glancing nervously at the window. “How will you hide me?”

She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “I know! I’ll fly you to a nearby tree. You’ll be able to watch without anypony seeing you.”

You hesitated, then nodded. “This could be a great opportunity to study more.”

Moments later, you found yourself perched awkwardly on a sturdy tree branch overlooking the town square. The celebration was in full swing, with colorful decorations adorning every building and a large crowd of ponies gathered below. Music filled the air, and the energy of the event was infectious. From your vantage point, you had an excellent view of the festivities.

Fluttershy had rejoined the crowd, mingling with her friends while keeping an eye on the birds she’d trained. Your attention, however, was drawn to the purple unicorn standing near the center of the square. She had a small dragon by her side, and she seemed less enthusiastic about the celebration than the others.

“Hm, dragons as pets,” you murmured, scribbling a quick note in your journal.

As the unicorn broke away from the crowd, you noticed her heading toward a nearby balcony. To your dismay, it was dangerously close to your hiding spot. Holding your breath, you pressed yourself against the tree trunk, hoping she wouldn’t notice you.

The unicorn stepped onto the balcony and let out an exasperated sigh. “All of these ponies are crazy!” she muttered, her voice filled with frustration.

You remained perfectly still, watching her from the shadows. She paced back and forth, venting her irritation to no one in particular. After a while, she sat down and stared out at the crowd below, her expression softening slightly.

Eventually, the party began to wind down, and the unicorn returned inside. You let out a quiet sigh of relief, your heart still racing. That had been too close. If she’d spotted you, it could have jeopardized everything.