//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 - Samey90 - Fluttershy // Story: Bringing Back The Laughter // by Flutterpriest //------------------------------// Contrary to a popular belief, Angel Bunny wanted only two things in his life. Many ponies, seeing the way he treated Fluttershy assumed that he was a needy, spoiled rodent who didn’t care about the feelings of other creatures, be it ponies, bunnies, or other animals, including predators. In fact, most of what ponies considered to be jerkassery stemmed from the fact that all Angel wanted in his life were peace and stability. It was quite natural, given that soon after Angel was born, his mother and eight of his nine siblings were eaten by an eagle and his remaining brother died a tragic death under the wheels of a speeding carriage. This, as he thought, was enough; when Fluttershy found him, he quickly realised that it was his only chance to live a peaceful life, away from eagles, foxes, or speeding carriages. Except that now it wasn’t peaceful at all. Angel tapped his paw against the floor, looking impatiently at the couch. Fluttershy didn’t move; in fact, Angel was sure that she didn’t even acknowledge his existence. He rolled his eyes and hopped on the couch to examine the matter further. Fluttershy shuddered when she felt him brush against her back. Unceremoniously, Angel jumped on her wing, causing her to turn rapidly, accidentally dropping him on the floor. “Oh, sorry!” Fluttershy exclaimed. She sighed with relief, seeing him getting up. Contrary to what Angel thought, she wasn’t crying; he’d seen her do that before, usually during long, Autumn evenings. Seeing that she was fine, he crossed his paws and looked at the clock standing on the shelf. “It’s not the time yet,” Fluttershy said. “Besides… You know that I’m going out today, right?” Angel nodded. He didn’t quite hear about all the details of the incident; all he knew was that a few days ago, Fluttershy came to her cottage crying; she also brought Gummy with her. Angel, for once, didn’t mind; of all the pets belonging to Fluttershy’s friends, Gummy was the most intellectual. Angel didn’t understand half of the profound thoughts of the alligator, but he always felt slightly wiser after listening to them. “The worst part is that I didn’t even like her that much…” Fluttershy said quietly, as if ashamed of her words. Angel’s ears perked up. He looked at Fluttershy, who sat on the couch, trying to straighten her tangled mane a bit. “It’s not like I don’t miss her…” Fluttershy muttered. “Just… You know how there are times when you just want to be alone, but then someone just appears out of nowhere and drags you into something insane?” Angel shrugged. His mind was filled with the images of eagles. “Well…” Fluttershy blushed. “That’s how I felt… Sometimes. Just… She was always so loud and…” Her voice trembled and she lowered her gaze. “She was my friend… But I wouldn’t call her my best friend. Sure, she was there for me… Even if I didn’t really need her. When I didn’t want her help.” Angel scratched the area behind his ear with his paw. He wasn’t sure what to tell. Bunnies’ feeling were simple; there were many of them and their lives were often short. He didn’t have time to answer deep questions about what other bunnies thought about him and barely paid any attention to them himself. Ponies, as far as Angel knew, were different. From his perspective, they seemed immortal and, as far as he noticed, none of them ever thought that a sudden death was possible. Pinkie Pie lived longer than Angel, his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather combined and yet, everyone thought her death was untimely; and after she died, everyone had a lot to tell about her. More than it had ever been said about any bunny. “Sometimes, I really hated her,” Fluttershy said. “Once or twice, I wished she was dead. She was everything I wasn’t… She could do everything I was afraid to do. And now… everyone is talking about her.” She sighed. “I wonder what’d happen if it was me…” Angel hopped away from the couch. He knew what was coming; sometimes Fluttershy would just get in that special kind of mood when even Angel was afraid of her. All he wanted were peace and stability; he liked clear and predictable situations. This was far from it. “Of course, I won’t die during a party, surrounded by all those ponies that love me…” Fluttershy whispered. “I’ll die here, old, forgotten, and alone and no one will notice. Maybe the pets will eat my body so I’d be useful for once… And no one will come to the funeral. Or worse, they’ll come and say things like, ‘Poor Fluttershy, if we only knew…’ How are they supposed to know if I’m too afraid to speak?” Angel stopped. He hopped back to the couch and sat next to Fluttershy, hugging her tightly. “Don’t worry, I’m fine.” Fluttershy lowered her head. “I’m so afraid. And I just don’t know what to do.” Angel pointed at the shelf. “Yeah, I have to go soon.” Fluttershy looked at the clock. “Don’t worry, I remember about your food.” Angel shook his head and pointed at another item on the shelf. Fluttershy got up from the couch and flew there, finding an old, almost forgotten photo of her and her friends lying behind the clock. Of course, Pinkie Pie was there, smiling at the camera while Fluttershy tried in vain to hide behind her. Fluttershy nodded. “Yes,” she muttered. “I know I have to talk to my friends. I just don’t know if I can…” She shuddered and looked at Pinkie’s bright smile again before the photo fell out of her hooves. “I don’t know if I can laugh again…”