For as long as she could remember, Fluttershy loved the denizens of the forest and the place they call home. While everypony else in Ponyville was scared of the dangers that lurked beyond the borders of their hometown, the pegasus had always been seen caring for the creatures that lived outside of it. Her small cottage was a sanctuary for them, from the smallest bird to the biggest bear and every animal in between. Even if she stood face to face with a monster, she would treat them with kindness and only use anger as a last resort.
Yet, there was a time when she was younger that things weren’t exactly like this. Where the pegasus that would become the element of kindness was scared of the forest and the animals that would become her friends. Scared of anything and anypony that she didn’t see as her family or friends.
Though, as if by chance, one fateful meeting changed all of that.
Every time she tried to close her eyes, Fluttershy couldn’t fall asleep.
It was the first night inside her cottage and no matter what the pegasus tried to get some rest, different lingering thoughts in her mind prevented her from doing so. It was the first night where she was by herself. Despite not being a filly anymore, the thought of being alone was still scary to her. She couldn’t even muster the courage to go into town to say hello to anypony.
“E-everything will be fine,” she told herself, squeaking under the covers as she tried to talk herself to sleep. It had worked previous times when storms would be happening across Cloudsdale. Yet, tonight, it didn’t seem to work. Maybe it was because her parents weren’t here? No, it couldn’t be that. The notion of that was just silly.
Then, from outside, a soft emerald glow peaked through her curtains. It was faint, but enough for Fluttershy to raise her head and wonder what it could be. Curiosity gently pushed the timid pegasus to look outside. Maybe it was something in the forest that she hadn’t seen before.
Whatever it was, many of the animals that lived in the forest looked to be as curious as she was. But none of them were getting closer. Were they… scared like she was? Or were the critters waiting for something? Was it safer to stay in here or let her curiosity guide her out of her cottage to see what this was?
“M-maybe i-if I g-get this off my mind, i-it could help me sleep.”
Slowly and carefully, Fluttershy left the warm confines of her home and trotted outside. As the pegasus moved closer, she was careful enough to avoid the animals that gathered around the glow. With each hoofstep, she felt as if her doubts and worries were not even present. Evaporating like rainwater after a storm.
Then, a discovery was made. It didn’t come from just something, but instead someone. Another creature, unlike anything that the pegasus or the denizens of the forest had seen before. It stood like a bear on its hind legs, but could maintain balance. Its mane was the same color as the grass her hooves trotted on and tree branches extended from the top of their head like small antlers. They did not have fur, but it didn’t seem to matter that much to them.
Then, it turned its head towards her. The figure seemed a little bit shocked at first glance when it saw her, but then gave a warm smile. “H-hello, Konfauna! C-can you hear me?”
Fluttershy was shocked. Many thoughts raced through her mind as she shook a bit in place. Yet, the sight of that seemed to make the figure sad. “No no, it’s okay! I’m not scary. P-please don’t be afraid.”
At that, when many of the animals were either scared or trying to leave, the pegasus instead tried her best to speak. “W-who are you?”
“O-oh my gosh. You can-” the figure paused, surprised by the question. Yet, she was quick to provide an answer, “I’m… Fauna. And you’re Fluttershy.”
The pegasus gasped at that, pupils shrinking a bit. “H-how… do you k-know my name?”
“O-Oh, uh…” Fauna said again before exhaling a deep breath, “I-i… am like you. The forest is my home, just a-as it is yours and the little critters all around you in the fields and trees. Some even call me Mother Nature.”
When Fluttershy heard that, some of the animals around her bravely moved closer as Fauna took a seat on the ground. Despite her friendly nature, she was very hesitant. Even though they sounded so kind and sweet, there was an overwhelming feeling to just leave. She couldn’t even say hello to anypony in town, or even maintain a conversation with them. So, why-?
“Is… something troubling you? Are you scared about something?” the question was followed by a gentle pat on the grass nearby along with a soft voice, “It’s okay. You can tell me.”
Despite everything the pegasus felt, Fluttershy stepped forward and sat down. This… Fauna didn’t seem so scary. In fact, she was almost like her. Maybe if she gave them a chance, then she could help them somehow.
“I-I… don’t feel at home yet. It’s… my first time living on my own and it’s s-scary. I-I don’t know anypony in town and every time somepony tries to talk to me, I-I run and hide. I-I promised m-my parents that t-they don’t have to worry about me, but… how can I-?”
Gently, Fauna touched her shoulder as any sign of anxiety soon disappeared with it. “Living by yourself can be scary at first. But, the longer you stay, the more comfortable you will feel. As for conversations,” she paused again, before an idea came to mind, “Have you… tried talking with animals? I’m sure that if you give them the chance, they will listen.”
Despite the words of encouragement, Fluttershy still seemed a bit uncertain. Though, as it happened, Fauna noticed something. A rabbit was hopping closer to both of them, curious by what seemed to be happening as it looked to Fauna first, before looking at the pegasus.
“Why don’t we try it now. I think this little one won’t mind if we ask him to volunteer.”
“R-really?” the pegasus asked, “W-well uh… h-hello, mr. bunny. W-what’s your name?”
The bunny tilted its head, before squeaking a little as they looked to be trying to say something. Not with words or noises, but body language instead. Yet, after a couple of moments, Fluttershy was surprised by the answer she received.
“Y-You don’t have one?” The bunny shook their head, which prompted another question from her. “W-would you like one?”
The follow up nod led to both the pegasus and the rabbit looking back to Fauna, waiting for her to say something. “I-I’m not the best with names. Though, they do look adorable. As cute as an angel.”
Almost instantly, the rabbit looked back over to Fluttershy and tried to say a couple things to her. “Y-you think that’s… a good one?” her question led to a nod, before the pegasus smiled, “Y-yeah… Angel Bunny. T-That’s a good one.”
“See? It’s not so hard,” Fauna happily told her, “If you can be able to speak with Angel, then anything is possible. You can do anything. Be anything. All you need is an imagination and anything is possible.”
“C-can I be a tree?”
The question sounded silly… but still, mother nature just smiled and nodded, gently holding her as the pegasus sat down with her. “Yes. Even a tree.”
Fluttershy found it comforting in her arms, and eventually found the rest and respite she was looking for that night as the stars shined brightly.
When morning eventually came, remnants of the dream she had lingered in Fauna’s mind. It was only a few days ago that she had talked about the subject with her Saprolings, but the dream she had woken up from was something else. As if she truly was there with one of the ponies she watched when she was just a young girl.
“It was just a dream,” she thought. “But it still felt very real… and peaceful. Come on, get it together Fauna. I was eight back then, it couldn’t have actually been the real Fluttershy.”
As Fauna was about to get up from her bed, the embodiment of nature didn’t notice that a single strand of long pink hair fell off of her bed and onto the floor of her cozy cottage.