No Official Title Yet

Chapter Two

Shopping Day

Looking around her cottage, Fluttershy nodded to herself. Everyone had been fed and given water, and all the sick animals had been cared for, getting re-checked and medicated as necessary. She turned to look at Angel. “Ok Angel. You're in charge now. I expect you to make sure that everyone eats and doesn't destroy this place. I don't want to make everyone stop what they're doing to help me clean up a big mess again, ok?” Fluttershy said. Angel snapped to attention and saluted, and then eased up. He smiled and nodded vigorously, giving Fluttershy the thumbs up sign. Fluttershy smiled and nodded. “Ok everyone, I'll be back in a couple hours alright? Be good, momma loves you!” She said as she stepped out of the cottage, closing the door gently with her hind leg. She sighed and pulled at her saddlebag. “Angel always tightens it a bit too much.” She thought quietly out loud.

Down the path she trotted. She was feeling exceptionally happy and oddly bubbly today. Everything was going well, and that reflected in her wide smile and in the tune she was humming. It wasn't long before there was a cloud of birds following her, weaving intricate harmonies around her simple melody. As she approached Ponyville though, she stopped and waved to her friends. “By birds! That was fun, let's do it again sometime.” she practically chirped, a wide grin on her face as she trotted into town.

Reaching into her saddlebag with her wing, she pulled out her list, and flipping it between three feathers, she held in front of her and began to scan the list. “Hmmm...” She said quietly to herself, “Apples, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, cherries, potatoes, celery, cucumbers, assorted pastry treats and...” She paused, and didn't even try and pronounce some of the strange herbs that Zecora had told her of. She thought out loud as she walked, arranging the list into something more logical. “I'll get the apples from Sweet Apple Acres directly. I haven't talked to Applejack in a while. As for the rest, I can get it here at the market. I may just have to go to Zecora herself for those herbs. I can't even pronounce half of them. I don't want to mix any toxic medicine for my sick friends after all.”

She went about her shopping still humming. The sun was out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky; the weather patrol had done a good job. She wondered idly if Storm Fall had anything to do with today's weather. It was just a passing thought though and it hardly even registered to her conscious brain. Half an hour later, she had gotten half of the items on her list and her saddle bags were beginning to fill. She spread her wing out to look at the list again. “Hmm... I still have to get the celery, cucumbers, potatoes and cherries.” She looked the list over once more. “Oh, and apples... and the herbs. Oh, and the pastries...” She sighed a little bit. This was a long shopping list.

She reordered the list in a more logical order based on her location in the market, but ran into a dilemma. “Who should I go see first? Applejack or Zecora? Applejack may want me to stay for a while, but that's a given either way. Zecora is on the way home... sort of. Hmm... Applejack first. She may want to stop and chat for a while, but if I go there after Zecora's, it may be time for dinner. She'd be sure to invite me, and I don't want to impose... I should also be getting back to my sick friends soon as well. Angel does alright, but he can be a bit impatient. I guess that's becau- Oof!” She had walked into something fairly hard.

Walking with the list in front of her face, she hadn't seen anypony in front of her. Most ponies would have walked around her, but it seemed like Storm Fall had been doing the same thing she had been. The two ponies sat on the ground, trying to collect themselves. Both of their saddlebags had been relieved of their contents, being about half full each. The produce was all over the ground around the two ponies.

Storm Fall regained his bearing first. “Oh, Fluttershy. I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going. I didn't see you there. Are you alright?” he asked trotting over to her, concern written all over his face. Fluttershy shook her head in an attempt to clear it and figure out what had just happened. She looked around and saw the spilled things and then she saw Storm and heard what he had said. She was instantly blushing and apologizing at a mile a minute. “Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there, this is my fault, listen I'm really sorry--” He stopped her with a gentle wing to her mouth. “Hey, it's ok. I'm fine. Are you ok?”

Fluttershy blinked and had to process that for a moment. Nopony usually apologized to her. Of course, it usually was her fault entirely. She saw his list lying on the ground, and quickly pieced together what had happened. “Oh... yes, I'm fine...” she said quietly, now that she had regained her bearings. She blushed some more and quickly scooped up the grocery list closest to her and pinned it to her body, looking around at all the food on the ground as she brushed herself off. “Oh my...” She said. Storm Fall had done the same thing by now, pinning the remaining list to his body with his wing. “Here, let me help you get your things,” he said. He quickly stepped over to some of the spilled foodstuffs and began to put them in her saddlebags.

Fluttershy was very surprised to find him helping her. He moved quicker than she thought he should. She began to pick things up as well, silently accepting his help. She placed the things in the other saddlebag. In a minute or two, they had all of her things in her saddlebags again. “Thank you Storm Fall.” She said somewhat sheepishly. “Hey, it's no problem at all.” he said stepping back over to where he had fallen. “I did walk into you after all.” He began to pick up his own groceries. “Oh, here, let me help you.” Fluttershy said. Her kind nature kicked in and overpowered her shyness. “Thank you, that would be great.” Storm Fall said. They began to pick up his spilled items as well. A minute or two later, they were done with his mess as well.

After they had finished, the looked at each other. Fluttershy looked away, still embarrassed by the whole event. Storm Fall just smiled though, and then began to laugh. Fluttershy shied away even more. “Well, no harm done then.” he said easily. Fluttershy perked up a bit at this. “Yeah...” She said, chuckling a bit. “It's good to see you again Fluttershy.” Storm said, preventing an awkward silence from growing. “Although, I hadn't imagined meeting you again like that.” Fluttershy laughed a bit. “Yeah. Ponyville is a small town, so I knew I'd run into you at some point, but I hadn't thought I'd literally run into you.” At her comment, Storm's face contorted as he suppressed a laugh. He snorted a bit in this effort. Fluttershy smiled. Storm took out his list and looked it over.

Fluttershy was beginning to feel a bit out of place. She wasn't sure what to say next, so she took her list out as well and looked it over. Storm looked over and stole a peek at her list. “Hey it looks like we have a lot of the same things to get.”

Fluttershy looked over at his list as well, and nodded. “Seems so...” She said.

“Uh...” Storm said, pawing at the ground. “Want to pick up the last few things we have to get together?”

“Um...” Fluttershy looked away for a moment to hide a blush. She looked back a moment later. “Sure.”

“Cool.” Storm said simply. Fluttershy began to walk off and Storm followed her closely. “I figure that  we might as well pick up our things together. If not, we're likely to run into each other again.” Storm said rolling his eyes. “Literally, and figuratively.” Fluttershy giggled at that.

Fluttershy felt completely out of her comfort zone. She normally didn't walk around with somepony she didn't know all that well. He didn't make a big deal out of it though. “I'm actually kind of glad that I ran into a familiar face.”

Fluttershy looked back at him, curious. “Oh, really? Why is that?”

“Well... this market place is a bit confusing. This is only the second time I've been here since I moved here and it's a lot different from the way Cloudsdale has things set up.”

“Yeah, it is different from Cloudsdale. I'm glad I could help you out. So, you came from Cloudsdale?”

“Yep! Born and raised there.”

“Oh. Me too. When did you move here?”

“About a week and a half ago. Something like that.”

“Uh... How do you... like Ponyville so far Storm?”

“I actually really like it. Everyone here is pretty friendly, and it's so much easier to live here than in Cloudsdale.”

“Really? I thought I was the only one who thought that.”

“No, you aren't the only one. I needed a change of scenery really. I'd just been in Cloudsdale too long I guess.”

Fluttershy nodded her head. They continued their easy banter as they picked up all of the items their lists had in common until finally they approached the cherry stand. Flutterhshy looked over at Storm nervously. He wasn't paying any attention to the stand, but he was looking around at the other ponies in the market. Fluttershy spoke up, unsure as to what to do.

“Oh... There's only one bag of cherries left.” She bit her lip gently.

“Hmm? Oh. So there is.” Storm said simply. He tossed four bits onto the counter which were quickly scooped up by the shop keeper. Storm picked them up, and flipping up the flap of her saddlebag with his wing he dropped the cherries into it. Fluttershy stared at him, jaw ajar slightly.

'How... kind...' she thought to herself as she shut her mouth.

“Where to next?” He asked, an easy smile on his face. Fluttershy returned the smile warmly.

“Well, I think that's everything here in the market. Sugarcube Corner next. That's where we split up. Different things after that and all.”

“Ah right. Sounds good to me.” he said. As Fluttershy walked, he followed.

The walk over to Sugarcube Corner was quiet, as they both simply enjoyed the day. Fluttershy was surprised with herself. This whole thing had started out so embarrassing, but Storm had just brushed it off be been a perfect gentleman about it all. It was so easy to walk with him and talk to him. Fluttershy couldn't get over the fact that she had held a perfectly normal conversation with a pony she barely even knew with ease! She'd have to tell Angel and Rarity about that. They'd be so proud of her.

They turned a corner and at the end of that block was, Sugarcube Corner. Storm laughed a bit.

“I suppose Sugarcube Corner is over there?” He laughed, knowing he was right. “I can smell the sugar from all the way back here.”

Fluttershy laughed. “Doesn't it smell amazing? My friend Pinkie Pie does a lot of the baking. She's really good at it too.”

“It does indeed smell wonderful. A friend of yours? I'm excited to meet someone you call your friend.” He said, paying her a quiet compliment. It wasn't lost on Fluttershy, but she forced herself to move on without blushing. She couldn't resist a smile though.

Stepping through the door of Sugarcube Corner, the bells above the door jingled musically. Pinkie Pie turned from the oven with a sheet of brownies in her hooves and almost dropped them when she saw Fluttershy.

“FLUTTERSHY!” Pinkie cried in excitement. She was suddenly hugging Fluttershy harder than Fluttershy thought possible.

“Hi... Pinkie...” Fluttershy managed to squeeze out before the cascade of words came pouring out of her mouth.

“Ohmygosh! I haven't seen you for like a week! I didn't know what happened, like maybe you fell in the river, or got lost in the Everfree forest, or you became a shut in forever! I just didn't know, but now I see that you're just fine and that's GREAT!” She said faster than anyone in the shop thought possible, a huge grin on her face.

“It's... Good to see... you too... Pinkie...” Fluttershy squeaked out. Pinkie put her down after that.

“Ooooo! Who is this Fluttershy?” Pinkie asked, turning her gaze to Storm, who smiled, but backed away some.

Taking deep breaths, Fluttershy responded, “This is... Storm Fall...” She was still somewhat out of breath. Storm saw this and  stepped forward to introduce himself.

“Hi Pinkie Pie, my name is Storm Fall.” he said simply, extending his hoof to her. Pinkie took one look at it and grinned again. Shortly, Storm's body was vibrating a good six inches up and down faster than he thought possible. “Ohmygosh! I'm so happy to meet you Stormy! Welcome to Ponyville! Ooo! Ooo! I'll have to throw you a party some day here real soon! It'll be tons of fun!”

Fluttershy, having recovered herself more fully now, flew over to Pinkie quickly and put a hoof on her shoulder. Pinkie stopped shaking Storm's hoof so vigorously and looked over at Fluttershy.

“Yes?” Pinkie asked smiling.

“We came in here to say hello, but we also came in her to buy some things.” Fluttershy said. Looking over at Storm, she couldn't help but smile and giggle a little. He looked pretty shook up.

“Oh! That's totally awesome! We have a bunch of really tasty things for sale! I'm sure you'll love 'em all!” Pinkie said as she bounced over to the register.

After a moment, Storm had collected himself and began to make his way towards the counter.

“Wow.” That was all he could manage to say about Pinkie.

Fluttershy giggled again. “Yeah, that's Pinkie Pie for you.”

They all talked and laughed a bit as Pinkie forced Storm to sample just about everything in the shop. Fluttershy only escaped because she pointed out that she had already tried everything in the shop.

Storm was nearly sick by the time Pinkie was done giving him things to eat, but he was certain of what he wanted now.

Exhausted, he managed to mumble, “I'll take five of the chocolate eclairs.” It was an effort to get that much out, and he was satisfied with that. Fluttershy looked at him, a little concerned; Pinkie was oblivious to the near pain that Storm was in. She made her selection quickly and helped Storm to his feet. She put their pastries in their respective saddlebags and helped him limp out of the shop.

Pinkie could only smile and giggle at the two as they walked out of the shop, for reasons only known to her.

Outside, Fluttershy attended to him more.

“Are you going to be ok, Storm?” She asked, concern in her voice.

He chuckled a bit. “Yeah, I'll be fine. Thanks for the help out of the shop Fluttershy. I'll be more careful next time about letting Pinkie convince me to try things.”

Fluttershy looked at him for a moment, trying to judge if that was true or not. She'd known ponies to be unable to walk after Pinkie got a hold of them in Sugarcube Corner. She smiled. “That would probably be a good idea.” She giggled a bit. “It's been... well, fun. I have to go though, so um... maybe I'll see you around some other time Storm?” Fluttershy said, her shyness coming back.

Storm straightened up as much as he could. “It has been fun. I'm sure I'll see you around sometime or another. Until then Fluttershy.” He said with a wave. He turned and walked away,  flapping his wings a bit, testing to see if he could even lift himself.

Fluttershy turned and began to wind through the streets of Ponyville, headed for Sweet Apple Acres. She began her to hum her tune again as she reached the outskirts of town, and the birds once again joined in.

After spending about half an hour at Sweet Apple Acres talking with Applejack and Apple Bloom, Fluttershy paid for her apples and left, not mentioning her afternoon shopping with Storm Fall at all. It would have only gotten Applejack talking even more, and the sun was already sinking rather low. She still needed to get to Zecora's and get those herbs.

Knocking on Zecora's door, Fluttershy began to search for her list in her saddlebag. Zecora promptly opened the door and smiled at Fluttershy, who returned the expression.

“Ah, sweet Fluttershy, I wondered who might come by.” Zecora said as she stepped out of the way so Fluttershy could enter. “I trust that your day has been ok?” Zecora asked as she returned to her current brew.

“Oh yes Zecora, my day has been lovely, how about yours?” Fluttershy said, fishing her list out at last.

“My day has been busy, putting me in a bind. For you to ask is most kind.” She replied, stirring the pot in the center of the room for a moment.

“Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you get caught up on everything. I came by because I wasn't sure I could pronounce all the herbs you described for me, and I didn't want to mix up something poisonous for my animal friends.”

“They are indeed complicated things Fluttershy, you were wise to come by.” Zecora said walking over to Fluttershy. “Just tell me what you need, and I'll see if I have the weed or seed.”

“Thank you so much Zecora.” Fluttershy said looking down at her list. She frowned though. This list didn't contain any of the names of the strange herbs. “I don't need a new couch, or chair! Oh no... I must have grabbed the wrong list when Storm and I bumped into each other in the market.” Fluttershy said, her face falling even more at the realization. Storm would get home and realize he didn't get the things he needed. She hoped he hadn't spent any significant amount of time looking for her to give her her list back.

“If you have misplaced your list, I still believe I can assist.” Zecora said. “I remember all the things you need. I did not forget the medicines you must make even though I've been busied.”

Zecora smiled at Fluttershy and turned to begin looking for the things Fluttershy required. “Oh thank you so much Zecora! I don't know what I would have done for my friends if I couldn't make these medicines.”

“No need to thank me, it was the least I could do for thee.” She said.

Fluttershy chose not to stay longer than necessary with Zecora. It was getting pretty late as it was and she didn't want to keep Angel waiting. Thanking Zecora again, she left the hut in the woods, and began the short walk back to her her cottage.

When she arrived, she had gotten over the shock of having switched lists and thought it rather funny. 'Storm must be so confused' she thought to herself smiling. Opening the door, Angel came running to her. “Angel! You won't believe what happened today. You'll be so proud of me!”