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Fluttershy takes a deep breath and steps onto the deck. She focuses her gaze on the birds migrating for summer as the waves give playful jostles to the boat. It’s a modest sized boat, not much bigger than Trixie’s caravan. Fluttershy is glad she found a seapony willing to take her to an island as faraway and elusive as the very island she seeks. Ivory birds with a stark, cool streak of blue on their wings. Fluttershy calls out to the birds,singing a simple melody, hoping they will notice her and one slides in Fluttershy’s direction. These kinds of critters have never been spotted in Equestria and Fluttershy is determined to make the most of her trip. The bird lands on the railing Fluttershy is standing behind and Fluttershy sparks with joy. She produces some birdseed from her soft brown fauxleather satchel for the creature and lays it flat on her outstretched hoof. Fluttershy strikes up a conversation with the bird, learning about it’s family, plans for migration, diet and many other important and interesting facts that Fluttershy is sure to journal when she has a spare hour. Fluttershy gives the bird one last stroke before parting “Uhm it’s been a pleasure little one, but you best be off on your vacation.” The bird flies towards the horizon before hiding within the horizon. Once the bird is out of sight, Fluttershy turns around and decides to take some time to focus on the purpose of her trip.
Fluttershy opens the door to her cabin, takes her pen and journal out of her satchel, placing them on the desk before hanging her bag on the chair and sitting down. She documents the bird while thinking about her mission. A short while after Twilight ascended the throne, Fluttershy was given the privilege to attend research missions as Twilight named them. Occasionally Twilight finds mention of a mythical or rare beast within texts and sends Fluttershy mail which if Fluttershy is lucky, leads to her getting to try and meet said beast. It’s still a lot of travel, commotion and being alone and far from home than she is used to, but she knows between her students, Applejack and the rest of Ponyville, her animals are in good hoofs, after all who wouldn’t wanna pet sit for Fluttershy? Fluttershy is glad to have this correspondence with Twilight, even if she rarely gets to see her in the flesh. Fluttershy is brimming with excitement and lets out a little “Yay!” Her task this time is to confirm the existence of and then commune with a bird known to be able to alter its appearance and shapeshift. Fluttershy has dealt with shapeshifting creatures before, but hunting an elusive shapeshifter down is a first.
A knock on the door snaps Fluttershy out of her mind. “We have docked, I’ll be staying in the boat to catch up on my reading, I suggest you finish your business here before I finish my book.”
“Oh uhm thank you again for bringing me to such a remote location.” Fluttershy responds. She prepares her things for the island and starts walking to the gangplank.She takes a moment to take in her surroundings. A lush tropical forest prevents her from seeing much. Trees with colourful large fruits hanging from their leaves. “I wish I could bring some of that fruit home for Pinkie, but they would spoil before I would even be in Equestria again.” Fluttershy laments to herself. She takes in a deep breath to be fully accustomed to the fresh fruity air and trots off the ship.
Fluttershy lets her hoofs sink into the sand, the texture being finer than Equestrian sand the colour as dark as if the sand was permanently in shade. As Fluttershy departs from the perimeter, the ground gets rockier and more solid before evening out to grass. “It’s nice to feel the grass nestle around my hooves.” thinks Fluttershy, who didn’t realise just how much she missed that sensation. This grass felt a lot more homey than the sand did, a welcome comfort for Fluttershy. Fluttershy believes her best chances at finding this creature is to find any sort of clearing within the density of the forest, She searches for a while before hearing the sound of splashing water. “I could use a drink, I’m out and I really don’t want to return to the boat empty hoofed unless necessary.” Fluttershy worries. Fluttershy follows the noise until the trees give way and she is greeted with a glade with a waterfall hugging the far side. Fluttershy leans down to the water and begins sipping away at it. Once Fluttershy is refreshed, she decides here is the perfect spot to wait for the creature. She finds a comfortable patch of grass on the opposite side of the waterfall and loafs down, keeping an eye out for any signs of life and begins fantasising about what the creature may be like.
Hours pass, still not even a notion of any other living being on the island other than Fluttershy when her ears prick up and she feels ready for whatever may happen next. She attempts to focus on the slim, quiet swish sound she can hear. It feels closer, yet the sound remains still. Fluttershy sees the trees rustle around her and the sound reaches its zenith as a fwoosh parses through the ground and Fluttershy can feel it on her fur. Standing before her is a large, red and white winged legless creature floating 20 hooves away from her.” “Fluttershy stands up and prepares to greet the creature. “Uhm hello there. I’m Fluttershy.” The creature turns to look at Fluttershy with a blank expression, unsure how to read the intent of its surprise visitor. “It’s alright little one, I won’t hurt you.” Fluttershy slowly so as to not cause alarm, looks at her satchel and takes out some berries she purchased during her trip. “Would you like some… uhm I never asked your name did I?” Fluttershy doesn’t hear a noise, but feels a voice in her head “Latias and yes please.” the voice says, putting some trust in Fluttershy and a smile on the pegasus’ face.
Fluttershy lets Latias eat from her hooves and she begins the second phase of her task, she has seen and proved the creature is fact, not fiction, but now she wants to learn about the creature. “Uhm I suppose I should tell you why I’m here. I’m from a faraway land called Equestria. The princess of this land and my friend Twilight Sparkle, she sometimes finds undocumented animals while researching magic. She has a really impressive library full of books. Uhm anyway when that happens, because I have dedicated my life to the care of animals, she tasks me with well documenting these animals. I always jump at the chance to see new animals.” Fluttershy realises that no matter how many times she has done this introduction, she can never condense it due to her excitement of meeting such rare animals. Fluttershy feels the voice again, but this time it is warmer. “Oh that sounds lovely, we have met kids before with similar goals, always happy to help if it helps understand us and assists in keeping our distance from society. There have been some… bad people who wanted us captured.” Fluttershy feels a pang in her forehead as the last words are felt. “Oh my that sounds awful Latias. I’m glad there are others looking out for you and uhm what did you mean by we?” Fluttershy responds with kindness, care and concern. “Oh silly me did I forget to mention I have a brother? Oops. We can also do this.” Fluttershy gets blinded by a stray shard of sunlight and when her vision returns she sees herself staring back at her. “Oh wow that’s wonderful, how are you able to do that?” Fluttershy feels Latias. “ It’s not real shapeshifting, it's a trick of the light, our trick hehe.” Fluttershy is amazed. “Twilight is going to really enjoy hearing about you and your brother.” Fluttershy and Latias hit it off and begin talking about both their lives while Fluttershy journals the details Latias is comfortable with. The sun is near setting and Fluttershy realises she may have overstayed the welcome the seapony would be more than willing to give her. “Oh uhm I think I need to go now, hope you and your brother enjoy your evening playing together and it’s been a pleasure Latias.” Latias doesn’t talk, but a smile and a chirp is all Fluttershy needs to see to know her regards are mutual.