Flutterbat's Return

Chapter 3: Pointless Chatter

The warm morning light poured through the window, illuminating the wooden walls of the room. Several stray objects of clothing lay strewn about the room, a few socks and other things only worn for special occasions. The brown Stetson hung from it's post at the foot of the bed whilst the orange mare atop it lay peacefully asleep.

She stretched out, expecting to feel the warmth of her lover next to her, but only found the cool sheets of the bed. Cracking one emerald eye open, she confirmed that she was alone in the room. She also noticed that the window was left half ajar, letting a warm summer breeze seep through the crack. She ruffled her brow at this, since she knew that Rainbow Dash would have no reason to leave before she woke up. Looking around, she saw that half of the blanket was on the floor, and it looked like Rainbow had been struggling from the look of it.

"Rainbow?" she wondered aloud.

She got up, still half asleep, and looked at the bedside clock. 11:30am.

"Oh, jeez..." she muttered, "I slept in."

She got off of the bed and sleepily walked into the hall, closing the bedroom door behind her. She took a left, heading for the stairs, and headed down. Landing in the living room. Big Macintosh was sitting on the sofa, eyes slosed and chewing on a strand of hay. She could also see Apple Bloom and Scootaloo sitting together.

That's strange, where's Sweetie Belle? she wondered to herself. Deciding that if she was going to find Rainbow Dash, she would have to get herself noticed, she groggily said; "Mornin' y'all."

Big Mac looked up to the stairs and saw his sister halfway down them. "Mornin' AJ," he replied, "sleep well?"

"I know I slept in, Mac. No need ta rub it in," Applejack said defensively. "Any o' y'all seen Rainbow Dash today?"

"Nope," was Mac's reply.

"I haven't," Scootaloo said.

"Me neither," Apple Bloom finished.

"Where could she be...?" Applejack wondered.

"She wasn't in yer room when ya woke up?" Mac questioned.

"No, and I'm a little worried. She hasn't been in the best of shape recently," Applejack replied.

Mac sat there silently for another minute or two before he spoke again, pondering anything that Rainbow Dash could be doing.

"Well, I guess ya better go find 'er," he suggested.

"Was already plannin' on it," Applejack agreed before heading for the front door, swinging it open and dashing outside. Hoping she would find at least a small trace of Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy sat patiently in the chair while Twilight scanned the third book in a row about mutations. As she flipped through the middle few pages, her expression changed from one of concentration to one of shock, meaning she had found something.

"What is it, Twilight? Did you find something?" Fluttershy asked excitedly.

"Yes, but..." Twilight replied.

"But what?" Fluttershy asked.

"I don't think you're going to like it," was Twilight's response.

"What is it?"

"It says here that if a pony has two fangs sprouting from the top row of teeth that he or she has become a vampony."

"But, didn't you cure that?"

"I thought I did. But I guess it was only a theory at the time. Looks like you're still a vampire fruit bat pony--"

"Actually," Fluttershy interrupted, "I don't think I'm a fruit vampire..."