Fluttershy’s heart was racing as she stood on the edge of the clouds that belonged to Cloudsdale. “You can do this…” Fluttershy mumbled to herself. Her blanket, pillow, and stuffed bunny named ‘Angel’ in her mouth. She was escaping her father, who beat her up every night along with her older brothers. Her brothers took her and hid her from him with the help of their loving mother, Camille. The young filly watched as her mother was brutally murdered by her so called “father” and her brothers saved her from being killed herself. But she knew deep down in her heart that she was going to be safe now. She wondered if her older brothers, Achilles, Chocolate Breeze, Moonshimmer, and Shadow Dreams, would come find her.
Her wing had healed since the last beating. She was able to fly down to her sanctuary now. She placed her hoof on the edge and closed her eyes. The wind started to blow a bit and the baby dived without hesitation down towards Ponyville.
So this is what freedom feels like.
It seemed like hours she was flying before she felt the soft and rocky dirt beneath her tiny hooves. She shuffled a bit on her skinny legs and looked at the bright lights of the houses. She was amazed. It was so different from Cloudsdale, where the skies were clouded with pegasi of different sizes and colors. The skies down here had a pegasus or two, but the streets were abundant with earth ponies and unicorns. There were even a few fillies out with parents. She particularly noticed a unicorn with curly purple hair and a white mane that smiled and waved at her. Her mother pushed her along to the closest store.
Fluttershy loved Ponyville already. So many ponies trotted by her as she walked through the stream of ponies. She glanced at a window of a busy restaurant. She saw fancy mares with beautiful elaborate dresses and stallions that looked their best sitting with each other as waiters and waitresses brought out food that Fluttershy never seen before. This made her stomach ache with hunger. The filly continued to walk along the cobblestone path until she found a bench outside the village. She climbed up on top of it and looked up at her old home. Cloudsdale floated above the tiny city of Ponyville. She missed it, but it was too risky being up there. She was tired. The sounds of the city kept her eyes open. She heard footsteps and wanted to see who it was. Her tiredness got the best of her and she started to dream.
“Should we take her home? She looks homeless and tired!”
“Will Granny Smith like her?”
“Is it even a her?”
“What’s with all the bruises and cuts on her?”
Fluttershy was too tired to even see who was talking about her. She felt hooves and then movement below her. Was she being carried? She opened her eyes to see her on someone’s back. It was a colt, who trotted along his younger sister.
The three got back to what looked like a giant red barn. They placed Fluttershy down in the hay and examined her. She opened her eyes and saw a colt and a filly looking at her. The colt was red and had orange hair. The filly was orange and had blonde hair that was in a ponytail. “Are yah okay?” The filly said. She had worry in her voice. “Um…” Fluttershy stuttered. She began to tremble until the colt placed the blanket on top of her. She stopped the shivering at once. “Applejack! Its bedtime!” A voice that was from their old grandmother rang throughout the barn. The filly ran quickly out of the barn. “I’m Big Macintosh, what’s your name?” The colt said. He laid himself down next to Fluttershy. Fluttershy looked into his green eyes. He seemed like the gentle kind of colt who protected his sister. “I’m...I’m…Fluttershy… “Fluttershy said.
“Where did you come from?”
“Cloudsdale…I escaped my father…”
Fluttershy told him the whole story about how she was abused her whole life and about her brothers. Big Mac pushed up against her. His warmth made Fluttershy feel…odd. But she couldn’t resist. She rested under his strong arms and the two of them fell asleep.
The next morning, Fluttershy woke up to the sound of rustling hay. Big Mac was getting up. “Where are you going?” Fluttershy was scared that he was going to abandon her. She had the best night sleep she had ever gotten mainly because she felt protected. “I’m just getting food, that’s all. You hungry, Fluttershy?” Big Mac said. He shook off the hay that had woven itself into his scruffy mane. “Anything, I guess. Whatever you are having will be fine for me too. I really am not too picky. Where I lived, what you ate was what you ate and you had to eat all of it. If you didn’t, the rest was shoved down your throat until you couldn’t breathe any longer.” Fluttershy said with her light and airy voice as Big Mac looked at her in shock. “No one should live that way. That’s it; you’re staying with us from now on.” Big Mac said. He left the barn and came back a few minutes away with some eggs and a piece of toast. This food was new to Fluttershy, but she was eager to try the delicious looking food. She ate it slowly while Big Mac wolfed it down quickly. She wasn’t even halfway done when he put his plate off to the side and sat down next to Fluttershy. “Hey, do y’all wanna meet the rest of my family? They are really nice people!” Big Mac said when Fluttershy finished. “Um…sure. Will they hurt me?” She said with caution. “Of course not! They are the nicest ponies a filly like you could ever meet! Come on!” Big Mac lifted Fluttershy onto her hooves and the two walked into the house. The house was a decent size and was farther back from the barn. They walked in to see Applejack sitting with who Fluttershy guessed as Granny Smith. There was another filly, which was really small. She had red hair and was a beautiful bright yellow. She was probably a month old.
“Everyone, this is Fluttershy. She was abused so I took her in until she can find a place to go.” Big Mac said to his family. “Poor girl!” Granny Smith said to her. Applejack walked over to her. She smiled at her. “Ah’m Applejack. Ah hope y’all like mah big brother.” She said cheerily. “He is really nice. Thank you all for being so kind to me.
With that, the two walked back to the barn.
Months were passing. Fluttershy was growing up and so was everyone else. Applebloom, the little filly that was just a newborn at the time, was enrolled into the schoolhouse down into Ponyville. Applejack introduced her to the friendly ponies of Ponyville. Big Mac slept with her in his arms every night. She was actually happy now, and not to mention safe. She was even developing feelings…feelings of love for Big Macintosh. She wanted him near her at all times. He felt the same way about her.
Applejack and Fluttershy found a tree house that was perfect for Fluttershy. She was old enough to be on her own now. Fluttershy loved it, but dreaded the fact that she would have to leave Big Macintosh. He was always there, holding her so the monster called Dad wouldn’t find her again.
“Hey, Big Mac, Applejack found a place where I can live.” Fluttershy said as she stepped into the barn for the last night. She would be moving in tomorrow. Big Mac looked at her in disbelief. “R…really?” He said. “But, can I tell you something before I go?” She was going to say what she has been feeling for the past months. They leaned in closer to each other. Their eyes met and were locked into each other’s gaze. Then, Big Mac kissed her. Fluttershy’s cheeks lit up red. Her eyes shut slowly and she kissed him back. The two of them sat down for one last time and fell asleep.
Fluttershy walked into her new house. It was fully furnished, and her only possessions were already there too. She walked upstairs to her bedroom. Her blanket and her pillow were neatly made up on her bed and Angel was lying there on the sheets. She climbed on the bed and shut her eyes until she heard a knock. She opened the door to find four familiar faces.
“Hey little sis!” Achilles said as he embraced her. They flew in and sat down on the new couch. Fluttershy told them about Big Mac and her observations throughout her new life.
“Fascinating!” Moonshimmer said as he brushed his mane out of his eyes.
“Um sis, by the way…”Chocolate Breeze said. The room fell silent.
“What?”
“Well...”Achilles said. “We got your letter. Dad burst into our room with his eyes all bloodshot and a knife in his hoof. We escaped and called the police. He…”
“He was sentenced to death. He was killed last night.” Shadow continued.
The boys expected tears, but got hugs and happy squeals. “Yay!” She said. Her older brothers couldn’t help but laugh along with her. After Fluttershy made tea, the boys took off. “We are still in our house. Come up to visit whenever you want or need us. Okay?” Moonshimmer said. Fluttershy nodded as she kissed her brothers. They flew off as she noticed a red stallion trotting up the road.
“Fluttershy, I missed you. Are you okay all alone?” He said as he caressed her face with his hoof. “I am fine, really. But come in.” The two of them walked into the house. They just sat down on the couch and cuddled under the blankets.
She was finally safe.
Safe and sound.