Next Gen Happenings (Anthea)

“Am I close?”  Anthea asked her mom as she reached for the bowls.

“Oh, a little more to the left sweetie.”  Fluttershy told her as she put the lettuce in the steaming pot.

Anthea got to the bowls and took one down.

“Here you go mom.”  She said as she put the bowl next to the pot.

“Thank you, now be careful, this is hot.”  Fluttershy said to Anthea.

Anthea agreed and nodded her head as Fluttershy began to pour the mixture into the bowl with a slow and tender grace.

“There.  Can you go give this to Rarity now?  I have to take care of Angel and some other animals.  Plus, you can see Turquoise again.”  Fluttershy said as she put some cold water in the pot.

Anthea nods in excitement as she hears Turquoise mentioned and quickly puts the covered bowl in the basket before trotting off to Ponyville.

“Heya Annie, do you have the medicine my mom needs?”  T asked.

“Yep, it's right here.”  Anthea said as she put the basket down in front of him.

“Oh, thank you.  You don't know how much my mom has been complaining.  Do come in and stay a while.”  He told her as he picked up the basket and headed upstairs with it.

Anthea walked slowly into the familiar clothing shop and could hear the slight banging and smashing of Opal refusing to take her medicine.  Finally, it all stopped and Turquoise came back down the stairs with a sigh escaping from him.

“I bet you heard all that?”  He asked her.

She nodded and before he could explain she chirped, “How about we go on a walk in the Everfree Forest?”

“Yeah that sounds good.  Let me just go tell my mom.”  He said as he headed back up the stairs.

They walked out of the Boutique just as Clarity called out into the house.  The two eventually passed Anthea and Turquoise and gave a slight wave as they headed onto the train.

“Was that Clarity and I'm going to guess Illusion?”  Anthea asked as she looked in Turquoise' direction.

“Why, yes it was.  You never cease to amaze me with what you can 'see' and what we need to explain to you.”  He answered as he chuckled.

They walked over to Fluttershy's house and told her where they were going to be and got her approval quickly before she had to check on another animal in pain.

“What do you think we'll find in there?”  Turquoise asked as they came to the entrance to the forest full of mystery.

“Maybe something cool, maybe something scary, who knows?”  Anthea replied as she eagerly took a step forward.

“Hold on there, maybe we should get a plan of where we're going top head so we don't get lost?” T asked the excited filly unicorn.

“We'll just walk along the path to Zecora's and head back after a while.  You can fly up if we get lost and guide me.”  She said as she dragged along the dragon pony into the darkness.

Anthea always loved going to Zecora's house since she could always intrigue her with all the different smells and tastes in the little hut.  They walked along the path until T jumped back from a fright.

“What is it?  Is something wrong?”  Anthea asked her friend.

“Y-yeah, I just saw a massive shadow fly across our feet, and it looks like it's circling back!”  He exclaimed as he grabbed her hoof in his tough claws and put her on his back.

“Is it really moving that fast?”  Anthea asked, as she had never been on his back when he had to fly.

Suddenly, Anthea heard a voice call out her name.  She tried her best to see what was behind her, and she could swear she could see purple figure flapping its wings furiously to catch up to them.

“...need to talk to you!”  Anthea was able to hear over the whistling wind.

“Turquoise, maybe we should stop and talk with what's 'chasing' us.  I think it needs to tell us something.”  Anthea said in her friends ear.

“No way, it just wants to eat us!”  He replied as he looked back and started to slow down.

“Thanks you guys.  T, your sister has been gone for a while.  We need your help trying to find her, you can come too if you want to Anthea.”  Spike huffed as he caught up to the pair.

“You can go.  If you could just drop me off at my house on the way.”  Anthea told Turquoise before he could respond.

“You sure?  I think there might be a spell you can use to try and find her or something...”  Turquoise began to tell her.

Anthea gave him a look that meant no arguments were needed.  He landed nearby Fluttershy's cottage and let Anthea hop off.

“Thanks for all the fun today T.  Maybe we can do it again sometime.”  Anthea told him as she gave him a quick peck on the cheek before trotting off into her home.

She could see the crimson appear on his face as clear as day, even from how far away she was.  She waved goodbye as he flew off to meet his father and heading off to Canterlot.

“So how was it Pumpkin?”  Fluttershy asked weakly from upstairs.

Anthea went up the stairs she had become so familiar with over the years and could see her mother laying in a heap on the bed.

“Just fine.  Do you want me to make dinner tonight since you seem to have a 'fine' day yourself?”  Anthea asked as she gave a wink.

“If you want to sweetie, then you can.  I'm just so tired and I-”  Fluttershy started before Anthea hushed him.

“I know.  I saw before I left you were taking care of all the animals, that's why I want to take care of you now.  You deserve a break.”  Anthea told her mother as she pulled the blanket up higher to comfort the kind mare.

Fluttershy began to tear up and pulled Anthea into a tight hug.

“I love you Anthea.  You're just so perfect in every possible way.”  Fluttershy sobbed.

“I love you too mom.  Thing is, you're the reason I'm mostly like this.  All the ways you take care of everything and make sure things are right, how could I not become like you?”  Anthea replied.

They stayed like that for a while before Anthea went and made dinner for the two, a dinner full of oats and love.