“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!” The shriek of disgust rang through the entire park. Everypony’s head turned to see what could have caused it, but when they saw it was Rarity, most of those out picnicking went right back to their checkered tablecloths and picnic baskets. Applejack, however, decided that somepony had better go make absolutely certain that the flighty fashionista was all right, so she trotted over to see what was going on.
“You all right there, sugarcube?”
“What in the world is that thing?!” Rarity pointed with one hoof towards a bit of shrubbery. Applejack peered at it, then blinked in surprise as she saw something peering out from under a bush at them.
“I… I don’t rightly know. It looks like some kind of grub.”
“It is the size of Sweetie Belle!” Rarity danced back from the pale, rubbery creature beneath the bushes. Its eyes were large and solidly blue, but the rest of it was pale and squashy and perhaps just a little bit slimy. It had a pair of mandibles under the eyes too, which weren’t helping things.
“Hey girls!” Pinkie Pie bounced over to the pair. “Whatcha’ looking at?”
“Some kind of horrid thing!” said Rarity.
“Ooo!” Pinkie Pie bent down and put out a hoof, as if to poke the unknown creature.
“Don’t touch that!” shrieked Rarity, pulling her back. “You don’t know what it is! You don’t know where it’s been!”
“Where what’s been?” asked Rainbow Dash, swooping down to see what all the commotion was about. “Woah!” she added as she landed and got a look at the creature. “What the hay is that?”
“I reckon it’s a grub o’ some sort. I’ve seen things like it before, usually trying ta eat my garden.” She scowled at it.
“It looks… weird.” Rainbow made a face at the thing. It worked its mandibles at her. “Oh man, look at that! That’s so awesome! I wonder if it could bite through a stick? Does anypony have a stick?”
“Hey girls!” Twilight Sparkle trotted up. “What are we… woah!” She noticed the creature. “Is that a grub?”
“Sure looks like it. Dang varmints,” muttered Applejack.
“It’s simply horrid!” said Rarity.
“Why can’t I poke it?” Pinkie bounced up a down excitedly.
“Yeah, I want to poke it too,” said Rainbow Dash, peering at the creature’s mandibles.
“You might hurt it,” said Twilight. “Grubs are sometimes quite delicate. They’re the young of various kinds of insects, especially beetles.”
“Must be some beetle!” said Rainbow, grinning.
“I ain’t sure I want to see what a grown up one would look like,” was Applejack’s contribution.
“It is true that I’ve never seen a grub this big before,” said Twilight, rubbing her chin thoughtfully with one hoof. “I wonder what it is?”
“It’s a baby!” that voice, soft but with a startling enthusiasm, had hardly interrupted before Fluttershy swooped in, picked up the grub, and started cuddling it. The other five stared at her in shock.
“Uh… Fluttershy? Maybe you shouldn’t cuddle strange grubs?” said Twilight.
“It’s not strange at all, Twilight.” Fluttershy smiled tenderly at the creature. “She’s just a lost little foal, and I know just what to do with her.” She chucked it under the mandibles fondly with one hoof.
“O-kay…” Twilight shook her head.
“Everypony should pack their things,” said Fluttershy serenely. “It’s a two day journey to the changeling hive. I have no idea how the poor dear got so far from home, but I’ll need help carrying her back.”
Five pairs of shocked eyes were now fixed on Fluttershy, but then one by one her friends all gave resigned shrugs and went off to pack their things. When Fluttershy wanted help with a baby creature, she got it.