And Suddenly, I'm Fluttershy

Visitors

Bartholomew

I awoke suddenly, my eyes opening of their own accord. I was breathing quickly, practically gasping for air. I turned towards the bedside clock to check the time, 6:12. Far too early for me, though perhaps not too much of a stretch for Fluttershy. Knowing my sleeping habits, I likely wouldn't be able to get back to sleep, but then again, it was Fluttershy's body, so perhaps... Stop it brain, it's too early to think.

I managed to get out of the bed without too much hassle, although I was far from graceful. Once I was out of the covers, I noticed something.

It was cold. Very cold.

I trotted around the house, trying to find a way to heat up the cottage.

I came across a mostly empty fireplace. When I say mostly empty, there was quite a bit of ash. It wasn't gas-lit, which meant that I would need more than a lighter or some matches. Thankfully, there was a small stack of wood nearby, as well as matches and kindling. The problem was, I had no idea how to move the wood. I didn't have hands, nor was I a unicorn, which meant that someone else must have brought it in.

How do non-unicorn villages survive? I'm sure there are some, so how do they build houses? Cook food? Or even write?

I realized that I was still freezing and began to trot back into the bedroom. What was I going to do, sit around until something else wakes up? Not likely.

I looked around. No Telly, so that was out of the picture. My eyes settled on a bookshelf. It was unlikely that Fluttershy and I liked even remotely similar genres, but nonetheless, it was my best bet.

Then common sense hit me. I couldn't get books off of a shelf. Even if I could, there's no guarantee that I could read Equestrian script.

"Goddamnit," I said. Looks like I'm going to have to wait until some of the animals wake up.

I turned to go again, and promptly heard someone knock on my door.

"Who could be up at this Godforsaken hour?" I wondered out loud.

I trotted to the door, only then realizing something else. I could neither unlock nor open the door.

"Brilliant. Someone knocks on the door, and I can't answer it."

Truth was, I probably shouldn't answer it.

Whoever was there knocked again and my curiosity got the best of me.

"I'm coming!" I yelled, hoping that the fellow outside could hear me.

How does one unlock the door? I was about to give up, but then inspiration struck. Unsanitary, disgusting, and probably awful-tasting inspiration.

Use my mouth.

I managed to open the top half of the door without too much of a problem, although I felt that I needed to wash out my mouth with soap afterwards.

"Hello?" I said.

Before me stood a pink... female, with a slightly darker pink mane. She seemed to be filled with energy, to the point of bouncing in place, despite the hour.

"That took you while, Flutters!"

"Sorry about that, I'm not... feeling myself."

"I had a doozy last night, very similar to the new pony in town sense, but slightly different, meaning that it wasn't a pony, but it was unlike my griffon or dragon sense, so it couldn't be one of them..."

She babbled on for another several minutes. I lost track of what she was saying after she went on some weird tangent about chimichangas.

"... This is the last place that I haven't checked yet. So I was wondering, is something new here? Because if it is, I need to throw a 'Welcome to Ponyville' party."

I'm a terrible liar. Always have been, always will be. But before I could answer her, I noticed that I had begun to shiver.

"Why don't you come in?" I said, opening the bottom half of the door.

"Okie Dokie Loki!" she said with a completely straight face, bouncing into the house.

"Why didn't you just use your hooves? It's much easier than using your mouth, not to mention more sanitary," she said.

Wait what? Use your hooves? That's not... Riiight, magic.

I found that I could indeed use my hooves. So thats how non-unicorns functioned.

I trotted after her into the living room and sat down.

"You never answered my question, is there anyone new here?"

I could tell her yes, or I could say no, either way, I would run into problems.

"Well?"

"Do you want something to drink? Or perhaps some food?" I asked her.

"You okay, Fluttershy? You're looking a bit... off."

"I'm... Fine. Everything's fine."

"No, you're not fine, something's bothering you. Does it have something to do with the new thing in town?"

"Yes, it does."

"Is it a monster? I've never thrown a welcome party for a monster before."

"Actually-" I heard another knock on the door.

"I had best get that," I said.

I trotted over to the door and opened it. Standing there was a pony clad in Roman armor.

"You're under arrest by order of Their Royal Highnesses Celestia and Luna."