When morning came, Shining Eyes was already taking care of the menagerie when Fluttershy woke up.
Strangely, she hadn't heard him get down from the guest bedroom.
Moving stealthily must be a changeling skill...
“Hello, Miss Fluttershy.”
She petted his head.
“Hello, Shining Eyes.”
He still looked as giddy as he looked yesterday, when she showed him the guest bedroom.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Wonderfully, Miss Fluttershy!”
His enthusiasm made her smile.
However, a certain small bunny was not happy about it, and made it known.
Loudly tapping his paws on the ground, he crossed his forepaws and glared at Fluttershy.
“Oh, hello Angel! Is something wrong?”
She went to pet him, but he turned around, his paws still crossed.
“Don't be so jealous, Angel.”
He didn't bulge.
“I'll make sure to cook your favourite carrot cake tonight.”
He half-turned, then changed his mind and got back in place.
“...with a cherry on top.”
He finally relented, but with a look that sent a message.
Fluttershy knew she'd better make sure to greet him first tomorrow morning.
After having accepted her apology, the bunny left, hopping away proudly.
Fluttershy didn't giggle.
It was not easy while looking at Angel's antics, but she did her best not to let it heard. He would never accept it.
When she turned back to Shining Eyes, he looked like he didn't understood what happened.
“Oh... Don't worry about him. He was just concerned because I didn't greet him first.”
The look of confusion still present on Shining Eyes' face was making her feel a bit nervous, until he finally answered.
“Okay, Miss Fluttershy.”
With that, they went to the kitchen.
That bunny was showing a great lack of respect for his Queen; yet, Fluttershy didn't even reprimand him.
Shining Eyes was not sure why, but the bunny must have done a lot for her to show such leniency.
He was now curious and hoped to find more about it later.
But, first things first.
The Hive must be fed, and he was happy to help with the catering.
“I started the preparations, Miss Fluttershy. It should be identical to what you did yesterday — but some of the ingredients are running low.”
“Oh! That's very nice of you! Do... Do you think we have enough for tomorrow morning?”
“We do, Miss Fluttershy.”
It was wonderful to be allowed to directly help the Queen, even if it was for such small things.
The smile on Shining Eyes muzzle was a testament to that.
Fluttershy put a hoof in front of the other, not speaking immediately.
“I... I was wondering...I'm supposed to go meet the girls later today for a picnic... Would you like to come, too? If you're not too tired. And... And if you want to, of course.”
She was asking for his opinion?
“Do you prefer I stay here, Miss Fluttershy?”
“Oh no! No, not at all.”
“Then I will come.”
If the Queen asked him to come, it means she trusted him enough not to be found out.
He already spent a few hours with Twilight Sparkle herself and she didn't spot him out, after all.
Moreover, a picnic with friends of the Queen is an honour he would not refuse.
And what's the worse that could happen?
The door to the cottage opened and a black pegasus ran inside, changing into a black changeling without even slowing down.
Only once he was safely under the sofa did he look back at the door, where Fluttershy stood, giggling at him.
That was insane! That was madness! Shining Eyes was still trembling from fear.
“Do you think she followed us, Miss Fluttershy?”
“Don't worry, she now has a party to prepare. But you will be hard-pressed not to attend your 'Back to Health' party when she knows you're well enough.”
Shining Eyes shuddered at the thought.
What on Equestria could be that thing? Was it really a pony?
Oh, she looked like it, with her cheerful pink coat and her large smile.
But even a unicorn would not be able to do what she did, and no pegasus was as quick as she was.
Yet, she has neither wings nor horn.
Finding out that the friends Fluttershy mentioned were none others than the infamous Elements of Harmony was already a shock, but he learned today that if Twilight Sparkle the Sun's Protégée, the Librarian, the One who outed Queen Chrysalis may be the leader, Pinkie Pie was by far the most dangerous.
And she just invited him at a party soon to be thrown for him... *Yikes!*
He was still trembling when Fluttershy came closer and wrapped a wing around him.
“Shh... Everything is fine.”
“But... But Pinkie Pie!”
His answers were not very coherent right now, but he was still under shock.
“Don't worry. She can seem strange at first, but I assure you she is a very good pony when you get to know her.”
“But how can she do all of that?”
“Oh, it's just Pinkie being Pinkie.”
That raised a whole lot of new questions...
Fluttershy was a bit surprised to see Shining Eyes panic so much all of a sudden; he certainly didn't show any sign of it during the picnic itself.
At the time, she actually thought he liked the picnic as much as she did, even though he was clearly taken aback when Pinke Pie showed up.
Still, it was kind of cute to see him react this way.
He looked like a frightened little bunny.
She didn't mind reassuring him.
“Pinkie Pie aside, did you enjoy the picnic?”, she asked to change the subject, a wing still around him.
He looked at her strangely.
“Did... Did I do well, Miss Fluttershy?”
The question surprised her.
“...Why, yes. You were very nice to my friends, too, even when Rarity asked you so many embarrassing questions”, she said, blushing.
She remembered how embarrassing they were, and how much Rainbow Dash was snickering when she heard them.
“I wouldn't have handled them as well as you did...”
It seemed to be enough to make Shining Eyes feel better.
Not for the first time, she thought that he could panic over nothing, and get back to his senses just as quickly.
She petted his head, like she would do to most of her animal friends, and wondered once again if she should tell her friends that he was a changeling, especially since they now have met him.
But that was not the right time to discuss it with him.
“Now, are you ready to get up from below the sofa? I still have a special cake to prepare for Angel Bunny.”
“Yes, Miss Fluttershy.”