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// November 14th 
// Story: Finding Fluttershy 
// by SamFaith 
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This story can also be found on GoogleDocs




I stepped off the bus, bleary-eyed from a database lecture in which I spent more time worrying about my house-guest than code. This was the first time since she had arrived that she had the house to herself for so long. I knew Fluttershy wouldn't get herself into trouble, but I still couldn't help but worry.
Alex was kind enough to stay with her while I worked myself to the bone on Monday. Now it was the next day, and Alex had a meeting with her publisher. 
I put one foot in front of the other as I slowly made my way home. As I navigated the residential roads I looked up. What I saw lifted the fog from my mind. Fluttershy was skimming the rooftops heading for the park. The thought of meeting her at the park sounded like the perfect way to end the day. So I changed my course.
As I got closer the my destination something seemed off. At first I did not see Fluttershy. I looked around until a child crying drew my attention to the playground. Cautiously, I approached, and as I drew closer I saw the child under the care of someone; a hooded figure with yellow wings.
I walked around the scene, careful to not startle anybody, or anypony. As I did I caught sight of the little girl's scraped knee. Fluttershy had apparently done a fine job of applying a bandage to it. I finally stepped in front of the yellow pony and saw that she had my first-aid kit in-between her and her patient.
"There you go, all patched up," said the unmistakable voice of Fluttershy.
I stood there dumbstruck. I knew that Fluttershy couldn't resist helping the girl, but at the same time I was terrified. I didn't want this event to come back and hurt us later.
I could see the girl, running back to her parents and telling them of the kind pony who helped her. Her parents would not believe her, at first, but the girls insistence would prompt an investigation. They would eventually find out about Fluttershy.
That would just be the beginning.
They would spread the word, and soon everyone who cared would come knocking on my door. The kind, gentile pony would find herself surrounded by fans, and I would be helpless to assist her. I'd probably make a few enemies on the way, by trying to stand in between the star and her adoring fans.
Ultimately the armed forces would get involved, hunting for an "illegal alien". They would take Fluttershy and try to discover how she arrived on this planet. This would be an impossible task, of course, but there's a reason some of us consider 'military intelligence' an oxymoron.
A little voice brought me back to reality.
"Thank you, Miss!" said the girl, as she drew her legs under her and stood.
"Remember," said Fluttershy.
The girl held her finger to her lips, a child's promise to keep a secret.
After what felt like an eternity, I found my voice, "That was a really nice thing to do,"
"Oh!" She yelped, "I didn't see you there"
"Here, let me help you with that," I said, starting to pick up the disposables, "How did you manage to apply her bandage so well?"
"I've had practice ... caring for my animal friends."
"Well, yeah, but it's not like you've got hands and fingers."
"After I calmed her down a bit, she helped me with it."
"Are you sure that was the right thing to do?"
As soon as the words came out I bit my tongue. She gave me a hurt look that nearly caused me to choke on my own heart.
"But, she's just a child... What could a child do?"
I thought about this. The question she asked stopped me completely, because I knew, deep down, that she was right. The girl had promised not to tell. Even if she did tell her parents, would they really believe that a talking, yellow and pink pony from a cartoon show had descended from the sky to tend to their daughter's wound? She didn't even refer to Fluttershy by name, perhaps she didn't even recognize the pony.
"Whats wrong?"
I barely heard her question.
"Excuse me?"
"You're so scared," Fluttershy whimpered, "Why?"
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, in an attempt to center myself.
"I don't have the words to name this paranoia, only to describe it. I have learned that fear can be my greatest ally. It keeps me from making mistakes, and from getting myself into trouble, but sometimes it gets the better of me. Sometimes, I need a friend to tell me to get my head on straight."
For a brief moment I saw my sister reflected in Fluttershy's face. The look she gave me was that same knowing look a knowing look of "I've been there," that only exists between siblings. Except, neither of us have completely grown past it.
"I- Is the world really as scary as you see it?"
"I'm sorry, Fluttershy. You're the most gentile, caring pony ever. But, this world... Not everyone's like you, or that little girl. Some people just want to watch the world burn... and it kinda ruins it for the rest of us. I hope you never meet any people like that."
"Like your bullies?"
"Yeah," I said, as I lowered my gaze to the first aid kit.
I know she knew better. She knew that I was talking about people far worse than schoolyard bullies, how could she not? If it showed on her face, I didn't see it, I was looking away. Instead, we finished repacking the medical supplies in silence.
By the time we had finished I could finally bring myself to look her in the eyes again.
I broke the silence by saying, "Ready for dinner? I was thinking of making a stew."
With a sparkle in her eyes she asked, "With beets?"
"Sure, why not?"

Dinner was a lot quieter than I had grown used to. Normally I'd talk all through dinner, answering various questions Fluttershy had about this world. I explained my thankless job working as a part-time dishwasher, described the various types of media in the world, I even attempted to detail the intricacies of how a computer worked; as it turns out no one is cute with a glazed-over look in their eyes. Any question she had I would make a valiant attempt to answer.
This night the questions were few and far in-between, and I gave simple answers. I knew she was still thinking about the events from the park. A part of me wanted to talk to her about it, but I could find no easy way to bring it up. Another part of me was happy to let it drop, if she needed to talk about it, she could bring it up on her own. 

After dinner was all cleaned up I retired to my office. It had been a while since I had the urge to just watch a show. I had to help Fluttershy with the DVD player, considering her hooves were a little too big to press the buttons, and we saw a lot of nostalgic movies and TV shows. Somehow, she decided my collection of Ducktales was one of the greatest things ever, even though something about Darkwing Duck seemed to make her uncomfortable. Either way, that meant I never got to watch my most recent addictions.
Even this morning we watched about four episodes of Ducktales before I gave up and insisted that we should watch something else. To my chagrin she delicately pulled out the box for The Secret of NIMH. After watching it so many times, I had started to feel sick of what was one of my favorite films. Soon enough, however I would run out the door and head for class. She knew this, and she knew that without fingers, she had little hope of successfully playing the DVD.

I opened up iTunes, and fiddled around with the market before I came across something that interested me. I still had a gift card or two left over from my birthday. So I used them, and soon enough I was watching the episodes download to my computer.
I still remember the first episode of Doctor Who I ever saw. It was called 'Forest of the Dead', and was part two of River Song's first appearance. Yet, even though I started part of the way through a 'part two' I stuck around for the next couple of episodes. Ever since I've been addicted, so as soon as the first episode of my new purchase finished, I opened it.
'Blink'
I knew Fluttershy's story sounded familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Suddenly, the answer was in front of my face, covering its own. The brown pony she encountered before she appeared in front of Free Radicals wasn't talking about her pet bunny. The Doctor had tried to warn her about a Weeping Angel.