It was picnic time for Fluttershy and her precious pets just outside her cottage, a distillation of pure harmony compared to the bleak Everfree Forest nearby.
Some would consider this area among the most dangerous to inhabit in the world, let alone Ponyville, but the resident pegasus didn't see it that way.
After all, the animals she adored lived nearby, and utilising her innate gift to communicate with them afforded her the opportunity to make many new friends of different species.
Such an ability could also prove useful when setting up an outdoor meal: the birdies could unfurl the tablecloth, the field mice could position the plates as a unit and Harry the bear could carry out some of the heavier consumables in a hamper.
Yes, you read that correctly. Not to worry: he's as gentle as they come (unless you unwittingly interrupt his hibernation) and gives the best back rubs this side of the local spa. Poor Bulk Biceps, for all his professional expertise, never stood a chance.
The fresh air and the relative peace were also key factors in her decision to permanently settle down in that particular spot, with only the occasional howling timberwolves providing an obstacle to a good night's sleep.
Despite all these clear positives though, and the fact nearby property values were going down year upon year, nopony had ever seen fit to think of becoming Fluttershy's neighbour.
She reassured other ponies that the location's spooky reputation was far more exaggerated than the reality, but one look at that deep, dark forest was even enough to send most ponies galloping for their lives.
"Oh well." the unfazed pegasus thought, as she distributed the creatures' favourite snack items to them one by one that sunny afternoon, their loss. "I'm perfectly happy here anyway, on my own now. Isn't that right, Angel Bunny"?
The aforementioned rabbit had no idea what his reclusive owner was referring to, nor did he particularly care. What did bother him immensely is the fact it looked like he was about to be served last yet again, something he plainly indicated by petulantly folding his paws and beating the ground rapidly with his left hind leg.
"Oh Angel, don't be so impatient!" Fluttershy gently chided her long-eared companion, whilst handing Badger his favourite Grub Pud. "Some of these poor animals haven't even eaten all day, and you've been filling up on carrots since early this morning! Don't think I didn't know about you sneaking into the larder at the crack of dawn, to help yourself to a veritable feast of vegetables! It's wrong to take food without permission, something I've told you time and time again! Do you really want me to have to put that padlock back on the door again?! Don't test me, mister!"
Angel was about to enquire (by sign language, naturally) about how the vigilant pegasus had been alerted to his not-so-foolproof plan, after he'd heard her snoring up a typhoon underneath her sheets from downstairs (for normally such a quiet pony, she sure made the windows rattle during her slumber hours).
But then a chorus of tweeting could be heard from up above the sour-faced rabbit, and made any speculative game of charades practically moot.
For Fluttershy's spies were none other than the laughing ornithological lifeforms that currently clustered around her, waiting for delicious breadcrumbs to be scattered haphazardly around.
The phrase 'a little bird told me' had never been more apt, and an incensed Angel vowed the most terrible schemes of revenge in response to their vile treachery.
'Tarturus hath no wrath than a bunny forced to wait five minutes for his green salad' indeed. Another truthful adage to remember well.
At last the rascally rabbit's food finally arrived, and his mood turned in a split second from annoyance to sheer delight. The belly rub Fluttershy gave him also might have had something to do with his improved spirit, all thoughts of plucking the feathers from his saboteurs' pretty plumage gone... for now.
It was just as the ravenous rabbit had relaxed into a steady rhythm of swallowing and listening to his owner's soothing words that it happened.
Completely out the blue, a redwood that'd been weakened by the storm earlier that week at last collapsed under the pressure, its damaged trunk snapping the main body of the tree from its roots once and for all.
Alas, there was no lumberjack around to yell 'Timber' to the unsuspecting picnickers, and most were so absorbed in stuffing themselves silly they didn't even see the heavy tree descend unstoppably towards them.
Only Angel, as occupied by he was of the crucial decision whether to begin his palette with the cabbage or the lettuce saw the looming shadow... and that was because he was the only one who directly faced the impending danger.
Unfortunate, with a few scant moments until impact, the wide-eyed rabbit could only look on in horror as the approaching redwood looked to crush everything in its path.
This included a lot of small mammals and a few roosting birds (as much as he despised them right now, he didn't actually want any to die), but worse, far far worse in fact, was the first potential victim who looked about to be turned into a giant yellow pancake.
F-Fluttershy! No... The normally self-absorbed bunny exclaimed in his head, all thoughts of his own upcoming doom completely absent as he reflected on the inevitable demise of the one he loved more than anything else.
More than a lie-in on a Sunday.
More than his cute little cotton tail.
And yes, even more than the cherry on top of his favourite salad.
Eventually, it became too much for the former woodland creature. He could only close his eyes in anticipation of what was about to happen, and all he could hope for was the suffering he and the others would endure would be swift and painless.
A-At least, when me and Fluttershy die now, it'll be together. Angel gulped, tears rolling down his white fuzzy cheeks. He knew it was selfish, but one of his biggest fears had been his markedly shorter lifespan than his equine counterparts. As sure as nature itself, It would be an absolute certainty he'd grow older and feebler sooner than the rest, and the unfairness of this situation often drove him to despair.
This way, although he'd never wish it by choice, him and his beloved owner could perish at the same time. After all, if by some cruel twist of fate Fluttershy were to be killed first, probably on one of her hazardous quests around Equestria, he'd feel exactly the same sense of desperation and loneliness .
After all, my world is nothing without her. Not that I've ever told her that, I have to maintain my 'tough' image after all, and that level of mushiness is beyond me. B-But now... i-if I had a second chance... I-I kind of think I'd like to say... all the things I wanted t-to... hang on, this is taking longer than I thought! Do trees usually fall this slowly?
Angel's touching epiphany had been interrupted by cold, hard logic. He'd been musing over the fragility of life for the best part of thirty seconds, which was more than enough time for the redwood to topple over and put a premature end to his entire existence. But it hadn't happened.
Summoning all the inner strength his stout bunny heart could muster, he dared to sneak a peek at what might be postponing his deadly fate... and what he saw not only opened his eyes fully, but also made him drop a delicious radish onto the dirty, unsanitary ground.
Truly, this was a day of firsts.
"Oh, what a shame. That ancient tree has been around for years, at least as long as I've been here." The one hundred percent alive and unflattened Fluttershy remarked with sorrow, at the fallen redwood which'd come down roughly ninety degrees to her right. "Never mind, these things happen. Come on everyone, we better finish our picnic inside just in case there are any others waiting to drop. I'll inform Twilight later, and as soon as the area has been declared safe again, we'll go play Hide And Seek! How does that sound?"
Momentarily shocked by the collapsing tree, the entourage of animals soon sounded their approval at the pegasus's proposal using their traditional calls.
The only creature there left somewhat dumbfounded by the experience was Angel, who kept staring at the fallen giant, then at it's now barren stump. Hold on a tick... I'm no expert with angles, but there's no way that tree managed to topple all the way over there from it's starting position. The wind isn't even that strong today, and it would take a major hurricane to move the remains to where they are now. What on Equestria could have happened...
As if to answer his question, a mocking laughter could be heard in his bunny brain, and a familiar voice communicated to him in an amused tone. "Did you really think I'd ever let my darling Fluttershy ever come to any harm? I have eyes on her everywhere, in fact if you look closely, you might just find a few of them staring at you now from the treetops. Cooey! I don't even mind saving your hide too, as an added bonus."
Angel spun around quickly, his expression a mixture of puzzlement and bewilderedness, but the hybrid he was looking for was nowhere to be found. In the meantime, the voice in his head was about to offer up some advice... whether the stupefied rabbit liked it or not.
"One of the things I can't help you with though, is your emotional constipation. I've been looking to say a few loving words to Flutters myself, but they never come out quite right. You know all that coughing and wheezing I do, during our Wednesday tea parties together? That's me trying and failing miserably to tell her how I really feel, and she believes me when I tell her I have draconequus flu. For the past year. That poor, sweet, gullible fool. Who's absolutely perfect in every way."
His mind a total blank, Angel could do nothing but continue listening to this internal monologue, wondering if perhaps it would eventually make some kind of point.
"You're right, I apologise. I hate long speeches too, but if you'll humour me for a few more seconds, I have a simple request I wish to ask of you. That is, if you want to show any gratitude to me for saving your insignificant bunny life."
Angel didn't like that last comment too much, and was on the verge of hopping away to leave the tiresome prattling of his long term rival in the distance.
"...Oops. Again, I'm sorry. I'm not used to being sincere quite yet, even though your mistress is the best teacher around at self-improvement. And yes, I'm including that intolerable bookworm princess in the equation, too. If there's one thing we can both agree on, it's that Fluttershy is too good for either of us, and we are truly blessed that one so wonderful has seen fit to shine her light on two such unworthy creatures, Comparably speaking, of course."
As much as Angel's huge ego nearly rivalled his ginormous appetite, he gave no argument back.
"Good, I thought you might agree. Maybe my classifying you as a 'dumb' animal along with the rest so early on was a bit premature after all." The disembodied voice continued, thought this time there was noticeably more warmth to its tone. "The favour I have to ask, is that you take those loving thoughts you have but never expressed to Fluttershy, and tell her them right now. How much she means to you. How she's your entire world. How she's more than just a meal ticket. Because, believe me... if you don't and something terrible happens and I'm not around, you'll regret it for the rest of your short life. If you can do this, then consider your debt well and truly paid. Also, if it makes it any easier, let me tell you a little secret. Her feelings, towards you at least, are entirely mutual."
With everything that had been going on the last few minutes, Angel was currently far too preoccupied to make such a serious commitment that so went against his usual unsentimental nature.
The ubiquitous voice was somewhat heartened to hear a stray thought from the rabbit however, just as he was ushered inside by a completely unaware Fluttershy.
L-Let me think about it. And thanks by the way, for the whole saving-my-life thing. Don't think this is going to make you a welcome visitor if you gatecrash the cottage again while I'm having my ears scratched, though. That was just plain rude.
And with those parting 'words' and a defiant full-tongue raspberry, both pet and owner had the door closed firmly behind them, leaving the mysterious being alone with his private thoughts.
"...Because if a simple bunny can do that, maybe one day I can pluck up the courage to do the same." He said wistfully, before his serpentine form was sent back to Limbo with a single snap of the fingers.