//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: A Red and Yellow Affair // by Horsegirl123 //------------------------------// Perspective: Fluttershy Fluttershy smiled as the short blonde tail of her stallion companion disappeared the bend as he chatted with his friend. She was happy to see him happy. Fluttershy continued over Ponyville Bridge. She stopped and hung her forelegs over the edge, staring at her reflection in the water. Usually, her reflection would be disturbed by her falling tears. But today was different. Instead of an ugly, crying mess staring back at her, a bright, happy, smiling face greeted her as her face peeked over the ledge. She was so happy with Big Macintosh. He understood her, didn't force her into anything, and didn't make her talk much, which she appreciated. She especially appreciated him not making her talk about what had happened last week at her house. Fluttershy felt really bad for not being able to fulfill his manly needs, but she really wasn't ready for that. Either way, she was content with how their relationship was unfolding. She wanted to tell him that he was her special somepony, but who would want to be seen with shy ol' Fluttershy? "Ahem." An annoyed voice rang in Fluttershy's ears. They perked up at the noise that came from behind her. Both the word and tone spiked Fluttershy's curiosity. It was snarky and impatient, but Fluttershy didn't have an enemies. Except that one time she asked a young colt to stop throwing rocks at her animals. Was he angry? Had he come back to get revenge? Was he going to kill her? Eek! The voice was unfamiliar, and she wondered what she had done to deserve such a tone. "Oh, Im sorry. Is this your spot on the bridge? I can leave." Fluttershy turned to leave without looking at the mare that was behind her. "Um, no. I need to talk to you." The mare stated in an obnoxious voice. Fluttershy was suddenly whipped around by a hoof on her shoulder. In front of her was Berry Punch, followed up by Colgate and Bon Bon who backed her up from behind. Their stares were intimidating and malicious, making Fluttershy fall on her rump from cowardliness. "I hear your dating Macintosh Apple?" the pony said in a faux curious tone. However, Fluttershy didn't pick up on it. The gentle pegasus blushed and smiled, ecstatic to hear 'dating'. It made her feel like it was really happening. "Yes, hi Im Fluttershy. We're so happy together." Fluttershy momentarily forgot her shyness; she loved to talk about Big Mac. Not only that, but if this pony was mad at her, she wanted to fix that right away. Fluttershy hated having enemies, like the minotaur from that confidence lecture that turned her into a big meany pants. "Humph, how long you been together?" Berry Punch popped a piece of gum loudly between her teeth, making an audible 'SNAP' sound. "About a month and a half." Fluttershy started to get nervous as the stares of the three mares around her intensified. "Okay, not bad, not bad. I'm surprised your not knocked-up yet." "What? Big Mac? He'd never…" "Oh darling he would," hissed Berry Punch as her eyes narrowed and her face contorted into a scowl. "I heard that he got a mare pregnant on the first date, and never called or helped raise the foal. I think… it died because the mother couldn't afford to feed it, and I remember hearing that he refused to help support it. Isn't that right girls?" she called over her shoulder. Berry Punch's posse nodded in snickering agreement. Fluttershy's pupils narrowed to the size of a pea. 'That can't be true." Fluttershy didn't want to accuse the mare of lying, that would be rude. She wouldn't let herself believe that Mac had did that. He wouldn't. Would he? Would he do that to her? "Its okay. That wont happen to you. Who would even think of touching you?" The way Berry said that… sounded intentionally vicious and hurtful. Was she right? Fluttershy wished she could look over at her reflection and see what she looked like right now. Probably horrible. She started to get a really bad feeling about the mares surrounding her, and started to sink into a scared heap. The three mares circled Fluttershy as she sunk into a ball of fur beneath her mane as her tail curled around her legs to obscure her from the view of the threatening mares. Fluttershy recognized Berry Punch. She had remembered Big Macintosh saying how he dated a pony by that name. This had to be her. She had fruit as her cutie mark, a lavender coat, and a fluffy purple mane. She matched his description. But Big Mac hadn't said she was so mean. Well, of course he wouldn't, he's too nice. Her eyes pierced through Fluttershy's the second she looked up, and the pegasus mare quickly recoiled in her heap. Bon Bon laughed. "Wow, Big Mac sure has taste in ponies." The other two giggled. "So your Big Mac's new mare-friend, huh? Look at you, who would want you? You pathetic lump. You can't even stand up for yourself. No pun intended!" Berry Punch's posse laughed as they continued to circle the helpless mare. 'Oh, where are you Big Mac?" thought Fluttershy desperately. Colgate spoke next. "Look at her mane. Heard of a brush, honey?" The other two laughed manically. Berry Punch stomped her hoof, and Colgate and Bon Bon closed in on Fluttershy. They held her wings in their hooves. Fluttershy squeaked from the sharp pain that ran through her spine as they lifted her out of her ball. Her wings felt like they were about to be ripped off as the intense pain surged through her bod. Her body weight strained them, but Colgate and Bon Bon didn't show they cared in the slightest. They held the innocent mare in front of Berry Punch who walked curiously towards Fluttershy. "Listen here, slut," hissed Berry Punch, "Big Mac was mine first. I'm his only love, and he'll never forget me. Let's say we broke up on, uneven ground. I can tell by the way he looks at you that he's not satisfied. You don't deserve him! So you little piece of worthless shit, if I see you with him again, well, let's just say, you'll really regret it. So stay away. Give him a week, and he'll be running back to me. So stay out of my way you ugly crap." Berry Punch stopped for a second, eyed Fluttershy for a moment, and spat in her eye. Fluttershy screamed as the liquid burned, but she was unable to rub her aching eye as the posse started to restrain her arms too. Berry Punch circled Fluttershy, and continued on. "And don't worry, I'll make sure to stop by the farm and give him a taste of what he's missing out on with you!" Berry Punch winked seductively, and started to walk down the bridge. As she turned, she whipped Fluttershy across the cheek with her tail. Fluttershy's cheek stung, and tears ran down from her eyes, intensifying the pain form the whip and the spit. A few drops of blood dripped from the fresh wound. Berry Punch stopped in her proud walk away from Fluttershy, looked back at her pain filled, hunched over body, and whistled. Her two minions hoisted Fluttershy higher up by her wings. 'What else can they do to me?' she thought to herself. Colgate and Bon Bon lifted the innocent mare up, and flung her over the ledge of the bridge. Fluttershy screamed in fear, but her scream was interrupted by water rushing into her lungs. Her head went below the water. When it shortly bobbed back up, she heard maniacal laughter from above, before she was swallowed under the rapids again. Fluttershy gasped for breath as her hair stuck to her face and the freezing water cut her body. Her back legs struggled to find ground on the bottom of the river, but to no avail. She splashed about with her forelegs, trying to save herself in any way possible. Her head was engulfed under the current again, and her nose burned from the water rushing up it and into her head. She struggled in agony to keep from drowning. She knew how to swim, but the shock of the fall kept her totally off guard for the impact. She swallowed mouthful after mouthful of the disgusting water. Her eyes burned like a thousand suns as pollution and dirt contaminated them from the river. She was carried a little downstream by the river, but caught herself on a bank. She chocked on the mucky water that she hurled from her stomach on the beach. Fluttershy vomited up the water from her stomach, her head between her front legs, her back curved upward in a heaving position. She shivered, gasping for breath and crying simultaneously. Fluttershy looked back at the bridge where the same three mares had crazy, satisfied looks in their eyes. They laughed, content with their work. Fluttershy didn't want anything else to happen, so she quickly lifted herself up. She stretched out her wings, and winced in pain. One was out of the socket. She quickly sucked some water off her wings with her mouth, spitting it on the sand, In hopes that they would get dry enough to be useful. She pushed herself through the pain as the laughter got louder and shot herself into the sky, heading for the safety of the clouds, away from the evil Earth ponies that wanted her dead.