//------------------------------//
// Haste and regret 
// Story: I Met Kindness 
// by FALG 
//------------------------------//

I went to the park and found a tree to repose, and started reading the book of this “Mare Do Well”. It described in detail about her: her feats, her doings, her skills; just like Twilight said.
What confused me was her skills, because the book said she used magic and that she could fly. If I didn’t know better that the only alicorns that existed during this time were Celestia and Luna, I would have thought that the mare was one.
There existed more than two alicorns, I know that; but the chances of another alicorn besides the princesses (at the same time) were very slim, though not impossible.

To be honest, I was usually a pony that had an open mind. Even the most unlikely of myths had it's pinch of real for me. Even if it wasn't plain real, just some kind of reference or hint.

I looked at the covers, to see if the name of the author was written, but nothing said about it, it just said “Anonymous”.
Now it made a little more sense; maybe the writer was the Mare Do Well herself, or somepony close to her.

I stopped focusing on the book for a moment and I saw Fluttershy a couple meters away walking around a little worried; I actually saw her when I arrived at the park, but didn’t greet her to not bother.

I put the book inside my bag and walked towards the pegasus:
"Hi again" I greeted a bit nervous.
"Oh Flare hello, didn’t see you there." she said
"I didn’t want to bother; you seem worried, is everything alright?"
"Well... I lost one of my animals, a squirrel, he should be at my house by now and I’m worried."
"But your animals don't live in your house all the time?" I asked
"No, they get out every now and then when they need to do something outside, but they come back in a few hours"
"Well maybe he got late or… something." I suggested
"Maybe, but, I’m just scared if something happened to him" she looked more worried now.
"Okay try not to think of that. Let’s see, why don’t you go back to your cottage and see if he returned now? I’ll help you looking around here." I proposed.
"Oh I can’t ask you to do that for me" she replied.
"It’s no big deal, I love to help" I told her with a smile.
She thanked me and left for her house, meanwhile I would look for that squirrel.

She came back in a few minutes, with no new info of the rodent. Then she helped me find the squirrel. Everytime I found one I called the pegasus to check if it was the one we were looking for.
After several attempts we finally found it in a bush:
"Fluttershy, is this the one?" I called her.
"Let me see" she said coming from above "oh gosh there he is! Thank you!" the rodent ran to Fluttershy as she lowered her hooves to grab the little animal.
"No problem, I told you not to worry." I told her again.
"Sorry, it’s just that I care too much for the animals." she said.
"I can see that, well everything turned okay in the end."
"Thank you very much Flare, I would have lost him if it weren’t for you" the mare kept saying.
"Stop thanking me, it was nothing" I blushed, not being able to contain a smile.
"Is there some way I can repay you?"
"Seeing you are happy is enough repayment" my mouth slipped those words.

Fluttershy looked at me, oblivious of those last words.
"Oh gosh I can’t believe I actually said that" I said. I bit off my lip, if I haven't said anything more she wouldn't have suspected anything.
"What are you talking about?" Fluttershy asked.
"Ugh, I guess I have to say it now" I took a deep breath "it’s nothing really, but I think you are really pretty Fluttershy."
The pegasus looked at me steadily:
"You think?"
"Yeah, I do; you are too pretty"
She blushed.
"Thanks but; you know? I am not a very sociable pony, I don’t think you would like me anymore after some time."
"Well, if it makes you feel better, I don’t talk much too; I always feel nervous when talking to a new friend, because I don’t know if I’m being sociable or I’m being a nuisance." I tried to explain.
"You aren’t a nuisance for me, I like seeing you around, like in the library."
I couldn't respond, so instead I stuttered something I didn't even understand. She giggled, and I couldn’t help but join her too, then she said:
"Well I better take Squirrelie home, we talk later?" and she pointed her head to the squirrel that still was on her hoof.
"Oh yeah sure, I’ll see you later."
She then walked away, I resisted the impulse to ask her something else, which it was getting harder to deal with.

I couldn’t help it anymore so I took the chance, as hasty as it could be:
"Fluttershy!" I called her while running.
With my heart beating so hard, it made me lose my breath faster than normal.
"What’s wrong now?" she asked.
"I want to know if you…"
Pause.
"I want to know if you" I took a deep breath and let it all out at once "wouldgonadatewithme!"
"Um, what?" she looked confused.
"Uh, I want to know" I repeated, now embarrassed "if you would go on a date with me?"
Now she looked shocked, trying not to make eye contact with me (or even visual contact at all) stuttering some things I didn’t understand.
Until I snapped of total embarrassment:
"Oh gosh, sorry sorry SORRY!" I ran out like hell, feeling that my heart would bail out of my ribcage any moment now.

I didn’t know why I was even sorry for, it just came from my mouth; after all I already told her what I thought, but I used to make hasty decisions, which I always regretted.

I kept running without course, until I stopped; good thing I found myself in front of Sugarcube Corner, it was still open and I could see Pinkie bouncing as usual.

I turned my way to go home, now calmer than before.