Chapter 27

Fluttershy stared wide-eyed at her friend. “Sunset…are you sure?”

Sunset nodded. “I’ve spent all week thinking about it. I want to be like you…no more pain, no more fear of death…” She stopped when she saw Fluttershy nervously rubbing her shoulder. “Oh, I mean…if it’s OK with you.”

Fluttershy looked her. “OK with me?” she asked.

Sunset put her eyebrows up, waiting her Fluttershy to clue in. “Um…you know, cuz I would have to…borrow your boyfriend…” she said. “That’s why I came to talk to you about it. I mean, it’s up to you. I don’t want you to be jealous and end up hating me…”

Fluttershy drew in a breath. “Oh no, Sunset…I’d be OK with that just once. I know it’s not for love. Besides, I hate the thought of you guys getting old and dying while I live on…”

“Exactly.” Sunset nodded. “We can just do like a ‘wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am’…it doesn’t have to be a big deal.”

“A quickie?” the shy girl asked.

“Yeah.” Sunset answered.

Fluttershy scowled, making Sunset feel nervous. “It’s OK, Flutters…you can say no if you’re not cool with it.” She said, putting her hand out.

Fluttershy smirked. “It’s not that, Sunset…it’s just…where’s the fun in a quickie?”

Sunset was stunned. “Huh?”

“Well, if we’re gonna do it, we might as well do it right and have some fun.” The pink-haired girl said.

“We?” Sunset repeated.

“Well, of course. I want to be there, too. He is my boyfriend after all.” Fluttershy answered.

“Oh…right. Yeah, I guess that’s fair…I can’t very well say you can’t be there.” Sunset agreed, starting to feel weird, but also a bit curious about what it was going to be like to see Fluttershy in action.

“My main concern,” Fluttershy continued, “is that…you are sure you want to do this?…there’s no going back once it’s done…you’re going to be alive forever. There’s no way out if the world goes to hell…”

Sunset nodded without hesitation. “Absolutely.”

Fluttershy shrugged. “Well I guess that’s it then. We can talk to Goldie when he gets home.”

Sunset fidgeted a bit.

“Don’t be nervous, Sunset. It’ll be fine, I promise. Just ask Rarity how much fun we can be.” Fluttershy said with a wink, then looking briefly over at her TV.

Sunset shook her head with a chuckle. She was surprised how easy that conversation turned out to be.

Fluttershy turned back to her friend. “Would you like to use my bathroom?”

Sunset cocked her eyebrow. “What? Why?”

“Well, you’re going to look the way you do now, well…forever. Is this how you want to look?” the shy girl asked.

Sunset looked down at herself, then back at Fluttershy. “What’s wrong with me?”

“Oh, nothing…I wanted to make sure you’re not stuck with picky legs or something…” Fluttershy answered.

“Ah…I see what you’re saying.” Sunset said, rubbing her chin.

“You can use my bathroom,” the shy girl answered. “Shave your legs, armpits, maybe pluck your eyebrows…maybe do some other trimming…” she said, pointing her finger at Sunset’s crotch.

Sunset looked down between her legs, then back at her friend before rolling her eyes. “Ugh, I don’t get you humans and your obsession with your pubes…”

Fluttershy giggled. “You don’t do anything with it?”

Sunset laughed. “No, haha…it’s like a ketchup and mustard coloured forest down there.”

Fluttershy cringed. “Are you sure you want to be stuck with it forever? Like, you might be OK with it now, but…”

Sunset rubbed her chin. “Well…maybe I should think about it. What did you do with yours?”

“Me?” Fluttershy asked, blushing a little. “I don’t have any. It’s gone. I had a shower just before me and Goldie did it the first time…and I shaved it all off, I guess to make myself more presentable for him. Who knew I’d never have to do it again?” she giggled.

Sunset raised her eyebrows. “Like, it’s totally gone?”

The pink-haired girl nodded.

“Hm.” Sunset mumbled, thinking to herself. “Maybe I should get back to you guys later. I honestly didn’t plan on doing it today anyway…I was just coming over to talk about it.”

Fluttershy nodded. “That’s a good idea. We don’t need to rush into it.”

Sunset nodded in agreement. They sat there for a minute, looking at each other somewhat awkwardly.

Fluttershy drew in a breath to ask if Sunset knew where the Saturday get-together was going to be, but she was interrupted by another knock at the door.

Both girls looked at the front door over the back of the couch in surprise.

“Another visitor? Way out here? Who wants to fuck my boyfriend now?” Fluttershy wondered.

She looked at Sunset, who also looked caught off guard by the visitor.

Both girls got up from the couch. Fluttershy headed to the door while Sunset leaned on the big table a few feet away, folding her arms.

Fluttershy looked at Sunset one more time as she grasped the doorknob, then pulled the door open.

It was a man in a black suit. He was wearing aviator sunglasses with gold frames that had blue accents across the top. He was only about an inch taller than Fluttershy, his light brown hair was short and gelled heavily in place. He had a chiseled face, appearing to be in his mid-thirties.

Fluttershy looked over his shoulder to the driveway where she saw a large black SUV parked. Her eyes then lowered to his right hand, where he was holding a briefcase. She looked nervously back at the man’s face as he spoke.

Sunset was trying to see who it was from the table, leaning over get a better view, noticing that he looked like somebody from the government.

“Hi there.” He started. “I’m Agent Cody.” He pulled out some ID from his suit jacket and flashed it quickly at Fluttershy, who only had time to make out the big blue letters ‘CIA’.

Fluttershy’s heart stopped. “No wonder Golds was so quick to clean up the yard...” She thought to herself.

Sunset managed to see him flash the ID over Fluttershy’s shoulder. “CIA? Here in Canada? Do they have permission to be here?” she thought, raising her eyebrow. Then a shot of worry ran through her as she realized what it must have been about. “He’s after Golds!” Sunset quickly scanned her eyes around the room to make sure none of my things were laying around in the open…clothes, watches, etc. She didn’t see anything in the room, but continued to worry about the agent possibly wanting to look around the whole house…he would be sure to find something in the bedroom or bathroom.

“May I come in? I just have a few questions.” he asked, glaring at Fluttershy through his shades.

Fluttershy struggled to answer. “Um…oh, sure. Come in.” she said softly, stepping aside and gesturing with her hand.

Cody stepped inside, taking off his glasses. He noticed Sunset standing there, looking at him skeptically. “Hi.” He said shortly, glaring at her with his intense blue eyes.

Sunset suddenly put a big smile on her face. “Hi there! How are ya?”

“Fine thanks.” He answered as he made his way to the table, sitting at the end closest to the couch , facing the counter. He gestured to the spot across from him. “Please have a seat.” He said to Fluttershy.

The shy girl nervously walked around the table, holding her hands together in front of her, keeping her head down as she sat facing him.

Sunset walked around the table, passing by them as she looked back at Cody with a ditzy look on her face. “Would you like something? Coffee? Tea?” she asked cheerily.

Fluttershy raised her eyebrow as she looked up at the red-head with her eyes while keeping her head down. “Why is Sunset acting like this?” she wondered nervously.

“Uh, sure. I’ll have a coffee, thanks.” Cody answered with a little nod as he placed his briefcase on the tabletop, flipping the latches open. He lifted the lid, blocking Fluttershy’s view of what was inside.

“Coming right up!” Sunset said, turning to head to the counter, briefly locking eyes with Fluttershy as she went. “Come on, Flutters…hold it together…” she thought, silently coaching the nervous girl.

As Sunset went about making the coffee, she asked Cody what he wanted in it.

“Uh, black is fine.” He answered flatly. He pulled a file folder out of the briefcase, setting it on the table. He didn’t open it…instead he just folded his hands and set them on top of it. “We are looking for a certain individual. We think he may be in the area.”

Fluttershy tilted her face up towards him.

Cody took in a breath before he continued. “We received a report of an assault at a bar in Canterlot last weekend. Three men were brutally attacked by an unknown individual at approximately 8:30pm, on May 28th. One was found in the alley by paramedics and two were upstairs in the manager’s office.”

Sunset turned to look at Cody. “Three??” She thought to herself. She turned back and watched the mug fill up with the hot, dark liquid, then she headed to the fridge.

Fluttershy remained motionless.

Cody continued. “The employee outside working the door reported seeing a man matching the description of our suspect with a group of women. One of whom matches your description, miss…?”

The shy girl hesitated before answering. “Um…Fluttershy.” She said quietly.

“I’m sorry?” Cody said, not hearing her.

“It’s Fluttershy…” she said, even quieter.

Cody sat back in the chair, sighing as he glared at her.

“She’s a super shy girl, aren’t you Flutters?” Sunset said, approaching Cody and setting the coffee down in front of him. He frowned as he looked at the coffee, which had a light cream-coloured hue to it. His eyes darted up at Sunset as she smiled back at him.

Sunset looked at him, then the coffee, then back at him…then she broke out in a ditzy laugh. “Oh, haha…how silly of me! Didn’t you say you wanted it black?”

He nodded as he continued to glare at the red-head.

“Let me fix you another one.” Sunset said, leaning down and letting her palm gently rest on his hands in a gesture of friendliness. She turned her face towards him and smiled. “I’ll be right back.” Sunset assured him, picking up the mug and taking it back to the counter.

Fluttershy’s eyes widened when she saw Sunset touch him, knowing exactly what she was up to now.

As Sunset went back to the counter, Cody shook his head slightly in frustration of the seemingly air-headed girl. He finally lifted his hands off of the folder, opening it up and pulling out a few papers. He slid a photograph across the table to Fluttershy, who looked down at it.

The image sent a tingle up her spine. It was a colour photo, but the colour was faded, leaving behind a reddish hue across the entire image. There were three men in the picture, wearing dark camouflage, standing beside a black helicopter. One of them was me.

Fluttershy did her best to keep a pokerface.

“Do you recognize this man?” Cody asked, using his pen to point at my face in the photo.

Fluttershy stared at it for a few seconds, then looked at him, shaking her head.

“Where were you on the evening of May 28th?” Cody asked her suddenly.

Fluttershy looked up at him. “Um, I was here at home, looking after my animal friends.” She gestured with a nod over to the floor in front of the couch, where Angel Bunny was crouched down, nibbling on a piece of carrot.

He glared at the animal for a minute, before he shook his head. “Right. I guess you really don’t seem like the type to be at a place like that. We have to ask, that’s all.” He said, putting his hands up with the pen laced between the fingers of his right hand as he spoke.

Sunset came back with the cup of black coffee, setting it on the table as Cody was writing something down on the papers in the folder. “Here you go. Sorry about that, hun.”

He ignored her. When he finished his writing, he looked back at the shy girl. “So you don’t recognize the man in the picture? Or any of the others?” he asked as he took a sip of the hot beverage.

Fluttershy played dumb. “No…um, w-wouldn’t he be a lot older? This p-picture looks like it was taken a long time go…”

“The photo was taken in 1981, however, the report from the bar last week states that he looks very much the same, based on eyewitness description. He should be easy to recognize from this picture.” Cody informed her, taking another sip.

Sunset went back to the counter to clean up, listening to the conversation.

“Hm…w-well, I’m sorry Mr. Cody, I don’t know who he is.” Fluttershy answered again.

Cody leaned back in the chair, folding his arms across his midsection, keeping one arm vertical, holding the pen to his mouth as he thought for a moment.

He finally put the pen down and started gathering up his papers, putting them back in the folder, then he put the folder back in the briefcase.

“OK then.” He started. “Thank you for your time. That’s all I needed.” He said, closing the briefcase. He took one more sip of his coffee.

Relief started to wash over Fluttershy for a second, until he spoke again.

“We’re going to remain in the area for a bit.” He stated. “Just to keep an eye out for the suspect. We don’t want to see anyone getting hurt around here…like you two ladies. So you might see me around sometimes, I might even be parked in your driveway at some point, however there is no need for alarm. Just pretend we’re not here.”

“OK…um, thank you.” Fluttershy said.

“Oh, and if you see anything, please don’t hesitate to contact me.” Cody said, reaching into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and pulling out a business card.

Fluttershy nodded. “Oh, um…sure thing. Thank you.” She replied as he set the card down on her table.

“No problem.” Cody said, turning for the door. “Thanks for the coffee.” He said, briefly looking at Sunset, thinking she was an idiot.

“Have a nice day!” Sunset said with a wave.

Cody forced a smile, then put on his sunglasses as he opened the door and walked out.

As soon as the door closed, Fluttershy looked at Sunset, sighing with her eyes wide.

Sunset started rubbing her chin as she thought.

Fluttershy shook her head with a confused look on her face. “Well that was a short-“

Sunset suddenly glared at Fluttershy with her eyes wide, putting her index finger to her lips, signalling the shy girl to stay quiet.

Fluttershy stopped, looking confused at the red-head.

Sunset pointed to her mouth, then at her ear, then at the door. Then she shook her head.

Fluttershy cocked her eyebrow.

Sunset rolled her eyes and silently walked over to the chair where Cody had been sitting. She bent down, pointing upwards at the bottom of the chair as she looked back at her friend.

Fluttershy frowned, sliding off of her chair. She squatted down, looking at the bottom of Cody’s chair. To her surprise, there was a little round, black object with a small red LED light in the middle of it stuck to the bottom of the seat. Fluttershy covered her mouth, standing back up to look at her friend.

Sunset thought for a second, then looked around for something to write on. She saw a sticky-note pad on Fluttershy’s fridge at the far end of the counter. She put her finger up in the air as she walked to the fridge.

“Well, that was weird, eh Flutters? Hopefully they find that guy.” Sunset said out loud, looking back at Fluttershy, waving her hand in a circle, signalling Fluttershy to respond.

“Um, oh…yeah. It’s scary knowing there are dangerous, um, people around.” The shy girl said back.

Sunset quietly came back to the table with the note pad and pen. “I’m sure they’ll find him. They know what they’re doing.” She said as she started writing.

“Um, so do you know where dinner is tonight?” Fluttershy asked, continuing their mock conversation.

Sunset held up the note so Fluttershy could read it.

‘We have to tell Golds not to come back here. That bug Cody planted can pick up our voices. He’ll be listening, probably even right now. It also picks up data going to and from your phone so DO NOT text Golds, even if you leave the house. Once the bug reads your phone, it is linked to it through the wireless network. Delete Golds’ contact and all conversations with him or anyone else who’s mentioned him.’

“I’m not sure, have you talked to Rarity?” Sunset replied to Fluttershy’s question as she started writing again.

“Um, no. I haven’t talked to her. Or any of the others.” Fluttershy said. “I don’t even know if they’re doing one this weekend, now that I think about it.”

“Well, there’s gotta be one as far as I know. They said we were doing it…” Sunset said, holding up another note.

Fluttershy read it.

‘He’s not supposed to be here. The CIA doesn’t know he’s doing this. That bug is stolen CIA property. He’s going to be watching this house for 2 weeks, then he has to report back to headquarters for another assignment. He’s obsessed with finding Golds and is hoping to find him here.’

“Um…” Fluttershy said, trying not to let her voice shake, “maybe I’ll call around after I shower and get groceries.”

Fluttershy took the note pad from Sunset and started writing with her fingers trembling.

“Good idea." Sunset said. “I’ve gotta head out myself pretty soon actually.”

Fluttershy held up her note.

‘How do we tell Golds not to come here if we can’t text or call? We need to get rid of this bug.’

“OK well, thanks for coming out today, Sunset. I had fun chatting with you.” Fluttershy said.

Sunset quickly shook her head when she read the note. She grabbed the pad out of Fluttershy’s hand and started writing frantically.

“Yeah Flutters…anytime…” Sunset spoke somewhat absent mindedly. It was proving to be difficult to keep up both of these conversations at once.

The shy girl was confused by Sunset’s flustered reaction. “OK, I’m going to get in the shower in a few minutes...” Fluttershy said as Sunset held up the next note.

‘DO NOT remove the bug! He’ll know that you found it and that you know he planted it. Then he’ll be more suspicious of you. Just leave it and be quiet about Golds and stay off your phone as much as possible. Play dumb and he won’t suspect you. I will handle telling Golds not to come here. But I have to do it NOW before he comes home from work or texts you. It’s too hard to talk like this, we’ll talk somewhere else later. Leave here, find out where dinner is, and find another phone to use.’

Fluttershy nodded.

“OK girl,” Sunset said, folding up all the notes and taking them with her to her boots and jacket. She put her things on and stuffed the notes into the inside pocket of her jacket. “I’ll see you later. Let me know about dinner.”

“OK.” Fluttershy said in a shaky voice.

Sunset put her hand on the doorknob, looking at her friend one more time, giving her a comforting smile.

Fluttershy smiled back, but was still visibly uncomfortable.

Sunset opened the door, looking out to see if Cody was still there. Sure enough, he was parked just around the bend of the driveway, half obscured by the trees.

Sunset walked out and got onto her bike, starting it up and letting the engine warm up while she put on her helmet.

She put the bike in gear and made a big circle in the driveway as she turned to leave. She gave a friendly wave at the black SUV as she rode by, unable to see if Cody waved back due to the sun glare on the windshield.

Sunset pulled onto the road and headed to the next closest place she could think of…the Apple Family farm.