This Picnic is Nuts {open}

[Deleted]

The sun had just started to rise and show through the trees, illuminating the sky in a soft pink light as Fluttershy walked through the park grounds. In one hand she carried a large woven basket, weighted and barely holding the overflow of food and items she had stacked inside of it. In the other hand, she held up a pastel blue parakeet perched on her finger. Upon closer inspection, you would also notice the four mice resting on the shoulder, the hamster on her head, and the ferret that was busy peering out from the picnic basket. Yes, Fluttershy had missed having a picnic with critters as she had usually done back in Ponyville, and so today she was going to try to have one here in Tenebrae with a few of her pet shop animals. She was a bit happy at the idea of it, even though everything was different here. Having a picnic was just another event to help her feel that everything could be normal.

Fluttershy found a nice area by the shaded base of a tree to set up her picnic and pulled out a blanket to spread across the ground. It was true that she could just set up her picnic at an actual picnic table that was nearby, but that just didn’t seem natural to Fluttershy. Besides, how would all of the critters join in at a table without feeling too crowded? She had to be sure that they had enough room to move.

As she was pulling the first items out of the basket, she looked around at her company and frowned a little. She loved having the pets here, but it still felt like something was missing. Not something, someone. A wave of sadness hit her as she remembered that Angel would always be with her on her picnics, usually begging for the first bite. It upset her to think too much of him and of the others she had left back home. Instead, she tried to ignore it, imagining that it would be just like if Angel had decided to stay home to relax. No, all she needed was more critters to join in the fun, that’s all. More cute and fuzzy faces always made Fluttershy feel better inside.

The girl glanced around and looked up at the trees, hoping to see a wild animal or two that could join them. She wasn’t disappointed, as she could spot a couple of large squirrels nearby, climbing the tree trunks. “Excuse me squirrels, I was hoping that you might like to join my nice picnic? It is very fun, and well, I would be very glad if you could join us. We all would.” Fluttershy approached the tree and spoke quietly up to the furry-tailed creatures. To her dismay, they didn’t seem to notice her, and continued to climb. “Oh, I hope I’m not interrupting, but we really would like it if you could come please… if that’s ok with you,” The girl peered up at the tree branches with slightly pleading eyes. She could now see rustling and movements of many squirrels among the tree tops now that she was paying attention, but none seemed intent on coming down from their branches to join her picnic. 

[Jack Frost]

The sun was just beginning to rise, but for some reason Jack had found himself out here in the open rather than in bed. Then again, sleep was a novelty that was taking some getting used to, along with everything that went with being mortal again. He still had no idea how or why this had happened, or had to get back for that matter. The suits had promised him a way back to the North Pole, but now that he was in this place their interest seemed to have waned. Had he been tricked? To be honest, he felt at the time they weren't being entirely sincere in their concern. Without his powers, and tired from his last encounter with Pitch, there wasn't a lot he could do about it. Now though, he was determined to find out what was going on around here, but for now he supposed he could enjoy the scenery.

Glancing up toward the sky, it seemed as though the sunrises here weren't so different to home. After seeing three hundred years worth, such things had lost their novelty a little. Not only that, but he much preferred a cold wind and plenty of snow and ice to mess around with. Normally, he could have created a snow day himself, and he wondered if he would ever be able to again. Being mortal and powerless again after so long was really taking some getting used to.

Climbing a tree in order to get a vantage point of the area, his eyes settled upon a pink haired girl carrying a basket making her way through. Intrigued as to who else could be up at this early hour, he followed her with his gaze and quickly realised that she wasn't alone. Was that a hamster on her head, and what was with the mice and the ferret. The bird to, which only served to remind him that he still couldn't fly. How much easier things would be if only he could get that back, then he could leave and make his own way back to North's place.

Continuing to watch as the girl laid out her blanket and her animals, he chuckled as she then addressed the squirrels in the trees above her. As if they would understand her, but then what if she could? Considering he knew Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, it really wasn't a long stretch to think outside of the box like that.

Sighing, he jumped down from the tree branch he had been perched upon and glanced at the one that also held her attention. There had to be some way he could have a little fun, even without his powers. It hadn't stopped him three hundred years ago and it certainly wouldn't stop him now!

Staff in hand, for he never went anywhere without it just in case, he approached the girl and her menagerie, whilst of course wondering how exactly she had convinced them not to run off into the wilds. Everyone here could see him, and he thought he might as well take full advantage.

"I don't think they're hungry", he piped up in reference to the squirrels unwillingness to join her.

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TAG Fluttershy, any
NOTES Hi, mind if I join you?

[Eva Vogel]

Eva wandered around admiring the beautifully kept gardens. She loved doing so at this time of morning, the sunrise was always beautiful and it was quite empty, allowing her to see everything without much chance of encountering anyone else. But that was not for today, apparently. It was not long that she had been out before Eva spotted someone moving through the gardens in the direction of the picnic area. This person, a girl, had pink hair and... a bunch of animals? What could she possibly plan to do with all those animals.

Well, Eva was certainly going to find out. She followed behind the girl, keeping a little ways away so as to stay hidden. There was no real reason she could come up with not to be seen, but she really did not want to disturb the girl going about her morning, as that would be rude of her. When she got near the picnic clearing, Eva observed the other girl setting up a picnic beneath one of the trees. Was that what she planned to do with the animals, have a picnic? It seemed a little strange, but that might have been completely normal where the girl had come from, just like her pink hair. And then the other girl started talking to the squirrels... right? But for what reason was she doing that, Eva couldn't quite hear her.

That was it, Eva could not stand making all of these assumptions, assuming was terribly rude. As she opened her mouth, someone else spoke up, surprising her. Eva let out a surprised squeak instead of whatever words she might have uttered. Oh, she hoped neither of the others heard that, but they probably had. She had squeaked quite loudly.

[Deleted]

Fluttershy had been so focused on the busy squirrels that she hadn’t noticed anyone else nearby among the treetops, though to be honest she wouldn’t have thought to look for people up there in the first place since they did not appear to have wings, nor did she ever see them anywhere but on the ground. The pink-haired girl immediately jolted at the sudden voice and squeak, and then fearfully tore off into the nearby bushes in search of a place to hide, not even taking the time to see who it was who had spoken and where he had dropped in from. The rough branches scratched at her clothes and arms as she hid herself defensively as best as she could… though due to the size of the bushes, it meant that her legs were completely sticking out a little hopelessly. Ok, maybe it would have worked better when she had been a pegasi. She sometimes forgot about how much she had grown upon shifting.

The critters scurried across the ground in confusion and alarm, some having leaped off immediately as the girl had jumped. The parakeet was fluttering around the bushes, flapping his wings as he tried to figure out how to get through the branches and find her. He eventually ended up perching on her shoe and eying the boy with almost skepticism in its beady gaze as he tilted his head.

“I-I- I… didn’t know anyone else was picnicking here… I-I’m sorry- I’ll just go…” Fluttershy whispered squeakily from somewhere in the bushes before somewhat trying to crawl her way back out again. "Ouch…Ow…" she breathed quietly every time a branch scraped up against her. She was starting to wish that she had picked a better hiding place.

[Jack Frost]

Okay, that he hadn't expected he thought as he watched the girl dart into the bushes. If he hadn't be so surprised then perhaps it would have been quite funny really, although he hadn't meant to scare her. In fact he felt rather bad, but on the plus side she could see him or at least hear him! Definitely a novelty, but as he jumped from the tree branch he had been precariously perched on, careful not to land on any of the animals as he did so, he knew he had to think quickly of a way to rescue this situation.

Turning and smiling confidently and in a friendly manner at the younger looking girl who had approached, he made his way carefully over to the legs that were unceremoniously protruding from the bushes, crook balanced on his shoulder as he stopped a few feet away.

"Woah, take it easy there", he implored before thinking of a way to coax her out. "Didn't mean to scare you, I was just trying to have a little fun, that's all. A mischievous grin then broke out on his face as he jumped backward. Do you like games? Why don't we play...hopscotch!" That was maybe a little random, but according to the memories he had recovered, it was something that he played with his sister every day during his mortal life. The first one that is, but even at her most scared it had eased her mind just a little. Enough to coax her out of immediate danger anyway, so hopefully it would have a similar effect here. It wasn't as if he could create any snow right now anyway!

Drawing a grid in the ground with his crook in order to play, he would need to take the first turn after all, he turned to the other girl who was apparently still watching.

"You can see me too right?", he asked seemingly the obvious. "Then why don't you join in?" The more the merrier, after all!

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TAG Fluttershy, Eva, any