Title:           Ephemeral (Mothpony Story) PART 2
Author:          AngryWino
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/XaipphCp
First Edit:      Friday 29th of January 2016 02:44:28 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Tuesday 16th of February 2016 09:37:06 PM CDT

>The dark brown mass still waits quietly under the eaves.
/It's a cocoon, obviously./
/But what will come out of it?/
>Your mind pictures a moth of gigantic proportions.
/How long will it take?/
>Entering your cottage, you light a lamp and sit at your desk, returning the journal you brought with you to its place on the shelf.
>You survey your small cottage, with its simple furnishings.
/This is also a cocoon./
/One day I will emerge as a brilliant and respected scientist./
/Until then, I really don't have time for frivolous things like parties./
>You were destined to make your mark in the world.
>That's what your cutie mark meant to you - a question mark.
>It symbolized that you were always on the lookout for answers, never taking anything at face value.
>It symbolized that you would be the one to find those answers.
>With a sigh, you put away the things you had bought, and turn in for the night.
 
>You are surprised to find yourself awakened while it was still dark out.
>You look around sleepily from under the covers, wondering why you're awake.
>And then you hear the noise.
>Coming fully awake, you try to identify the noise.
>Another downside of proximity to the Everfree Forest - occasional nocturnal visitations.
>Nothing dangerous yet, but it's at times like these you are glad you can fly.
>Something outside makes a rattling noise.
>No, that's not quite right.
>More like somepony shaking out bed sheets, getting them ready to air.
>You quietly get up, lighting a lamp by the bedside.
>The noise outside is repeated.
>You look out the window, but the inky darkness of a moonless night gives up no secrets.
>Taking your lamp, you head to the door and unbar it.
>Cautiously, you open the door a bit and peer out.
"Who's there?"
>You receive no answer.
>Opening the door, you step out onto the small porch to better survey your surroundings.
>When you look up, you see that the cocoon has split completely open.
>Curiosity takes over, and you go to inspect it, realizing quickly that it's empty.
/Is that the noise I heard?/
>A chill wind brings a shiver, and you decide to head bak in for a coat, a ladder, and a better light.
>As you reach your door, you hear a soft thump behind you and turn around.
>A light tan, almost white pony is standing directly behind you, regarding you curiously with jet-black eyes.
"WHOA!"
>The stranger squeaks in alarm and rears up, scattering a cloud of dust.
>A broad pair of wings rises and the stranger lifts off to hover just beyond your porch, but still watching you.
/It's a pegasus?/
>But those don't look like any pegasus wings you've ever seen.
>Getting your breathing under control as you overcome your initial shock, you also notice long, feathery antennae just beside the ears.
>The strange pegasus flutters back down, coming closer and finally landing in front of you.
 
>The strange wings fold back, and it approaches you, ears, feelers and nose twitching.
>It's a bit smaller than you, so you can see that it has a large pair of primary wings, and underneath a smaller pair of secondary wings, which are pink in color.
>It's mane is quite fluffy, and extends down from its neck and withers and onto its chest.
>Its fetlocks and tail are also quite fluffy.
>Its antennae brush your face inquisitively.
>And then, with a feminine voice, it speaks...
>"Is it you? It IS YOU!"
>Its face breaks into a delighted grin and it nuzzles into your chest.
>Under the circumstances, you make the most articulate, insightful, and intelligent response you can...
"Huh?"
>"You're the one who fed me, and kept me safe, and helped me to grow up big and strong!"
"Hold on a minute... Who are you?"
>It stops pressing into your chest and takes a step back to look at you.
>"What do you mean, 'who am I'? You must remember me!"
"I do, of course, what I mean is, do you have a name?"
>"Do I need one?"
"I mean, what do I call you?"
>It looks at you blankly, as though it finds the question utterly alien.
>You notice that it has left a white powdery substance all over your coat where it had been nuzzling you.
"For example, I'm Anonymous."
>"Anonymous?"
>It pronounces your name perfectly.
"You never spoke before, why do you speak now?"
>You begin to circle around it, examining the strange pony from all angles.
>"Oh, well, my mouth wasn't for speaking before, it was for eating so that I could gather energy to metamorphose."
>The creature's wings fold flat against its back, but don't articulate like yours.
"That's an awful big word for someone who only just started talking..."
>"Speaking of eating, do you have anything to drink? I just got out of my cocoon, and I could use an energy boost."
"Drink?"
>The fluffy tail twitches as you walk past, and you get a powerful, familiar scent.
>"Like from a flower."
>Estrus. It smells like a mare in heat.
 
"From a flower... You mean nectar?"
>"Look, are you going to just keep asking questions? I don't really have a lot of time here, you know."
/Unquestionably female, but what?/
"What? Oh, right. Hang on a moment."
>You go to your pantry and retrieve the jar of nectar you bought earlier that day, open the lid, and offer it to her.
>"Thanks!"
>She sits back on her haunches, and clutches the jar between her fluffy forelegs.
>A long, thin proboscis uncurls from her mouth into the jar, and begins to suck up the nectar.
>She smiles in satisfaction at the taste.
>You sit back on your own haunches, fascinated.
/Wait, what am I doing? I should be taking notes!/
>You dash to your desk and collect your camera, your notepad, and a pencil.
>She looks at you inquisitively as you raise your camera and photograph her drinking from the nectar.
>"Oooo, that was pretty! What was that?"
>She seems to have no trouble talking and drinking at the same time.
"Um, that was the camera flash."
>"Do it again!"
"Er, sure!"
>You oblige her by taking half a dozen more shots while she drinks.
>The powerful smell of estrus coming from her is becoming a distraction.
>You set aside your camera and begin scribbling notes on your notepad.
>She, meanwhile, sucks the last of the nectar from the jar.
>"Ah, that was just what I needed."
"Okay..."
>You mutter distractedly as you write down your observations so far.
>"Now let's get down to business!"
"Right."
>You write some more.
"What business?"
>"Well, what are you waiting for?" Se says impatiently.
>You look up from your notes to find that she has turned around and is presenting her hindquarters to you, her tail raised, giving you an unobstructed view of her winking sex.
>Your pencil and notebook slide to the floor from your suddenly slack grip, and you feel color rising in your cheeks.
>Not to mention other things rising.
"What..."
>"Come on already, I told you I don't have a lot of time here."
 
>She actually backs up towards you.
>You back up away from her.
"Uh, look, I'm flattered and all, but I don't even know your name!"
>She stops, and turns around to face you, frowning in disappointment.
>"Well, if it's so important for me to have one, why don't you give me one?"
"Oh, ah... er...uhhhmmmm..."
>You rack your brains, trying to come up with a suitable name.
>More because she challenged you, not because....
>Wait, what was the name of that one girl from school? The one who used to tease you all the time?
"Izzy!"
>You blurt out the name as it comes to your mind, and immediately facehoof.
/Oh, sweet Celestia, that's an awful name.../
>"Izzy," she repeats the name thoughtfully.
>A smile spreads across her face.
>"I like it."
>She advances on you again, grinning and giving you the bedroom eyes.
>"Well, Anonymous, you know my name, and I know yours, so let's get on with it!"
>It's not as if you were inexperienced with girls.
>But this was not the way mares acted in your experience.
>It's unsettling enough that you decide on the only escape option you have.
>You take wing, and fly out your open front door.
>Once outside, you loop back and alight on your roof, trying to slow your breathing.
/What the heck is going on here?/
/It's some kind of cross between a pony and a moth, and now it wants to mate with me?/
>Oddly enough, this is not something that your academic career thus far has prepared you to handle.
>To the East, the first red streaks of dawn have begun to color the sky, along with the barest sliver of a new moon.
>And then something flutters into your view.
>"Let me guess, you brought me up here for the scenery? Or did you just forget that I can fly too?"
>Izzy lands on the roof, looking slightly cross, and trots towards you.
>"Again, I don't have a lot of time, so quit messing around!"
>But her earlier question gives you an opportunity, and you seize upon it.
"It's for the scenery, yeah!"
>She stops, looking at you quizzically.
 
"I uhh... just thought that if we're going to do that, you might like some more romantic scenery."
>Even as you say it, it sounds lame.
>But she smiles, seeming somewhat flustered.
>"I appreciate the thought, but I don't really need..."
"Well, I do."
>She stops again.
"I'll make you a deal. Do this for me, and then we can do whatever you want to do, okay?"
>Maybe she's nocturnal.
>It would give you time to think.
>"Whatever I want to do, eh?"
>The way she licks her lips makes you feel like merchandise with a price tag on it.
>"Okay, fair deal, if that's what it takes to get you interested."
/Phew./
"Okay then, let's see how well you fly!"
>You take off, climbing hard towards a small fluffy cloud nearby.
>Maybe if you tire her out...
>Oh yeah, she did just eat a whole jar of nectar.
>Looking back, you see her flying after you, flapping her wings with determination.
>"Anonymous, wait!"
>Something in the tone of her voice makes you slow down.
>"I can't fly this high!"
>Well there's a thought, the cloud's close now.
>If she can't follow you...
>But you see her face, and she is genuinely frightened.
>It awakens something in you.
>To your surprise, you circle back to her, and hook her forehoof with yours.
"It's not much further, I'll help!"
>And with your help, you both make it to the cloud.
>She is winded, but can apparently walk on the cloud, the same as you.
>"This... had better... be worth it..."
>You point to the East.
 
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