Fluttershy landed on the ground with an audible pop of her joints, and wiped away the murky sweat pooled on her forehead. In front of her, a shaking lamb, its hide pink and bare, was pushed back into the center of a crowded corral; sheep of all shapes and sizes, also skinny from lack of wool (as well as a lack of... well, anything else...), laid in the dry dirt. In just a few moments the frightened little critter went mewling into the crowd and was lost in it. Behind it, Fluttershy swung the wooden gate closed with a squeak of finality.
She was so tired.
Fluttershy adjusted her wrinkled, dirty clothing and wiped some more mud from her face, before turning around with a sigh. When she did, she looked around at the busy ranch surrounding her, now calming down for the day as the sun kissed the earth goodnight. Hot rays of sun finally cooled, and the night air chilled Fluttershy's aching body. Stars danced their place into the sky in a cheery display; one last show of defiance, to be seen by all those in Equestria and beyond.
It would have been so beautiful, Fluttershy thought, if everything wasn't so gray.
But, oh, it wasn't her place to complain. This war was absolutely awful for everypony in Equestria, and she was lucky to have so much. The Crystal Empire, the army made up of all those poor twisted ponies... from some ponies, they had taken everything. Fluttershy should have been happy that she was fed and clothed, and had the glorious opportunity to work for her country and its Cause. That's what everypony said, and that was what Fluttershy should believe-- what she did believe. Truly, she did.
She sighed again. Behind her, the poor animals snorted and sniffed. She thought about petting them, or perhaps saying some sweet words to get them through another hard, anxiety-inducing day tomorrow, since all those dears were so scared and tired these days.
It would have been the kind thing to do...
--But in front of Fluttershy, the gray world was darkening. As soon as it began to brighten in the morning, she would have to get up and get going for the better of all Equestria, and for the better of herself. Even if that meant just mindlessly giving feed, and cleaning, and corralling, and sheering, without giving a single moment of precious time towards love and affection.
Fluttershy coughed. When she did, some of her mane fell loose from the rest and fell over her forehead, soaking wet and ice cold. The dirt ground into her hooves made them ache deep into the centers. All around her the gray world kept being torn apart in ways she couldn't see right now, in ways she would never want to see. It would be too awful, and Fluttershy wasn't sure if she... if she could handle it...
Maybe the kindest thing to do... was to just do her job.
Despite the odd tingle in her Cutie Mark, and the frustrated tears welling in her eyes, Fluttershy walked away.