//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Butterflies and Flowers // by Obscure //------------------------------// Something soft gently brushed Fluttershy's flank startling her into a squeaking crouch. “Oh, I'm so sorry...” came a quiet and demure voice from behind her. “I was just so busy picking flowers that I didn't see you there.” “Oh, no. I didn't mean to get in your way,” replied Fluttershy peeking out of her mane at the new pony. “No, it was my fault. I should have looked where I was going,” the delicate yellow earth pony mare with the most startling green eyes, replied. “Oh, it's okay, I should have been looking where I was going to...” The Fluttershy and the strange mare both dug shyly at the ground with there hooves, refusing to meet each others eyes. A long moment passed. Flowers swayed in the breeze and butterfly’s drifted about. The sun light felt pleasantly warm on their yellow coats. A basket of posies sat half filled at the hooves of the other pony. A small packed picnic basket beside Fluttershy. Another long moment passed. “I'm s...” that both started and stopped. “I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt you,” the pegasus apologized. “Oh, no that's perfectly okay, I'm sure what you had to say was important.” A moment passed. Short then the last one. Peeking out from her pink bangs Fluttershy was startled to see the other mare peeking out at her from behind her own pink bangs with those marvellous green eyes. The other mare was also startled. They both retreated behind their bangs. “Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare at you like that,” the other mare excused. “That's my fault, I shouldn't have been staring at you either.” Fluttershy tried again. peeking just a little with one eye. She caught the other trying peek just a little to. With one half eye each looking at each other Fluttershy offered a little smile and it was returned. Wanting nothing more then to coax that eye out from cover Fluttershy dug deep into her reserves of assertiveness. “Maybe it's okay... to stare... um, I mean look... just a little. If you don't mind that is... do you? I can stop if you want...” “No... um I mean... Okay. Yes. It's okay if it's okay with you I mean. I don't mind. As long as you don't mind that is...” Boldly the two ponies looked at each other in the eye. The earth pony was certainly delicate and graceful. Her eyes were so soft and kind. Her posture so timid and quiet. Like a timid mouse waiting to be befriended. A strong emotion swept through Fluttershy's heart. An overwhelming desire to protect and guard this precious creature. To help her to grow and become strong. A different emotion struggled it's way up her cheeks in a rapidly growing blush. Terrified of showing such emotions before a strange pony she looked down at the ground. The grass and flowers on the ground were swaying less. The wind was calming down. Fluttershy looked up wondering if the other pony had left. She was also looking intently at the grass and flowers. Her cheeks where kind of red probably just from the heat of the sun. The sun! It was hot out! She might be suffering from the initial stages of heat stroke! The poor dear! Here she was distracting her from what could become a serious condition in another hour or so! Had it been an hour already? Not a full hour, no, but close and getting closer. She was such a terrible pony! “I...” chocked out the pegasus, struggling to overcome her terror and take responsibility for her actions. “I'm...” The timid earth pony looked up at her in slow surprise and admiration. You can do this Fluttershy! I can do it! Believe in myself! Believe in the ewe that believes in me! His name is Phil. He's a very good ewe. He always eats he vegetables and always goes to bed on times. I can't let him down. “ah, I'm... I'm F...” Oh sweet Celestia this was hard. A bead of sweat was rolling down from her mane. “Er, um.... Ah! I'm Fluttershy!” She quickly hid her head under her hooves. The pegasus panted with exhaustion after the effort of having been the first to introduce herself. It was worth it. For Phil. “I'm...” started the other mare quietly. Her eyes locked shinning in admiration on the pegasus. With a deep breath to bolster herself and with suddenness and violence more appropriate for setting a broken bone into place declared “Meet you pleased! Posy I.” Posy blushed fiercely at her grammar failure and also hid her face under hooves. Peeking out from under a yellow hoof Fluttershy levelled an eye toward Posy as she calmed herself. She was such a nice pony. A little shy though. With infinite patience Fluttershy waited for Posy to peek out of hooves. She ambushed her with a soft reassuring smile. Posy countered with one of her own. “I brought a lunch. There's an extra soda. If you want it. If I'm not being too forward. I'm sorry,” apologized Fluttershy. “No, that's okay. If you want. I can. If that's okay with you, I mean.” “It's perfectly okay. I want you to. Please.” Fluttershy and Posy sat on the hilltop side by side, drinking their soda's. Butterflies and flowers moved merrily in their timeless dance. The yellow pegasus took a deep relaxing sigh. She felt a slight blush crawling up her face, but it was likely just the heat. Her own tail flipped carelessly and landed across Posy's. “Oh, I'm sorry.” “It's fine. You can leave it.” “But...” “Please?” “I'm sorry.” Tails entwined they sat. Fluttershy's blush deepened. It sure was hot out today. A butterfly settled delicately upon a flower's velvety petal. It reached it's delicate proboscis into the nestled and soft stamen in the flowers heart and began to hungrily sip away at it's nectar. Very hot out today.