//------------------------------// // The Animals // Story: Flutterheart // by lilinuyasha //------------------------------// “She’s not going to fall for you.” “I’m not expecting her to.” “Why are you going?” “To be a friend.” Trey Battled with his inner doubts as he woke up. He was still looking for any and every excuse to exclude himself from a romantic possibility. It was a bad habit he’d developed after having some bad experiences with fillies. He shrugged it off and got ready to trot to Fluttershy’s cottage. Trey arrived early, as he always did. He had a tendency to leave early and get there early. It bothered him when things didn’t start on time. Trey knocked on the door, awaiting for Fluttershy. She never came to the door though. Trey was perplexed by this. Suddenly, a soft, melodic tune was being sung from somewhere off in the distance. Trey followed the source of the sound, surprised at how in tune it was. He soon spotted Fluttershy picking up flowers and putting them in a basket, accompanied by several smaller animals she was singing to. Trey trotted to her. She was still unaware of his presence. “Hey!” said Trey. “EEEEK!” screamed Fluttershy, scared at the sudden, unexpected noise. Her wings clasped to her sides and she jumped behind a boulder nearby. Trey was also confused by this. She got frightened really easily, apparently. “Fluttershy, it’s me.” he said, as she peeked her head from behind the rock. “Oh...I’m sorry...I hope I didn’t scare you...” “I’m the one who scared you, it seems. Looks like I’m the one who needs to apologize.” he said, smiling, trying to dissipate any awkwardness. “So...what do you need help with?” “Oh!” she said, suddenly remembering what he came for. “Um...well...I could always use some help with the flowers...but I don’t want to bother you...” “I want to help! It’s no trouble at all!” he said, smiling again. It seems he had to do a lot of smiling to reassure her. She straightened up and smiled at him. This was the first time he’d notice her straighten up. This was certainly a good sign. “So, what do you want me to do?” Fluttershy and Trey spent the rest of the afternoon gathering flowers and berries. Fluttershy would occasionally sing a tune when she wasn’t chatting with Trey. She had a very beautiful voice, and Trey let her know that. “Oh...thank you.” she said. She obviously wasn’t familiar with compliments and didn’t know how to accept them. Trey didn’t like receiving them either. They were in the same boat, once again. “Don’t thank me for speaking the truth.” he said, smiling at her once again. “I believe in letting ponies know what they’re good at. You have a talent with animals and singing.” “Oh, yes, I love animals. They’re my life! Singing is just sort of...recreational.” she said, drifting off from enthusiastic voice tones after animals stopped being mentioned. She had more of a passion for animals than anything. That seemed to be the one topic she could talk for hours about. Trey kept a mental note of it and stored it with his other observations. He was almost making his attraction sound purely analytical. Trey and Fluttershy kept working until late in the afternoon. “Um...I think that’s good.” she said, checking the baskets. Trey helped Fluttershy carry them in to her cottage. She had a very nice setup, with lots of animals roaming around. Mice, birds, smaller creatures, and, of course, Angel, who kept an eye on Trey as he helped put the flowers down. “Thanks for the help...I appreciate it.” she said. Trey smiled and started to trot out the door, trying to avoid staying too long like a bad guest. “Oh...you’re leaving?” she asked timidly, shrinking her body once again. Trey started to catch on that she did that when apprehensive, almost like she wanted something. “Did you want me to stay and talk?” he asked, making sure not to force himself into her company. “If you wanted to, I wouldn’t mind...” she said, looking at him. Trey smiled and came back inside. Fluttershy smiled and the both of them sat on her couch talking for hours. Fluttershy really opened up to Trey, talking about nearly everything, including, of course, animals. She talked about her friends, Angel (Who had been keeping an eye on Trey the entire time. He seemed protective of Fluttershy. He couldn’t yet figure out if Trey was a good character or bad character yet.) and eventually herself, which Trey provoked. “Tell me more about yourself though, Fluttershy. I’m yet to hear anything about you.” he said, kindly. “I don’t know...I’m not that special...” ‘You’re special to me...’ Trey thought, before saying “You are special. I want to find out just how much.” he said, hoping he found a good way to phrase that without giving his secret developing affection for her away. She looked at him and blushed a little, looking away. “Nopony’s ever wanted to hear about me before...” “There’s a first for everything.” She looked at him, still blushing, and smiled the biggest smile he’d ever seen from her. “Well...” she began. Trey found out how to make her talk. He smiled to himself as he listened to her, captivated by her untapped ability to describe herself. Eventually, something she said struck at him. “Well, I always feel left out by my friends...please don’t tell them I said that...” “Never.” he said, reassuring her. “Why do you feel that way?” “Well...they’re always together...and I usually have to wait for an invitation...or just stumble upon them...but Rarity and I go to the spa...and it feels good...” “So you like the social aspect of friends, but you’re unsure how to go about doing that?” “Well...yes...I guess that sounds right...” Trey glanced over at her, unsure how to react. He knew exactly what he wanted to say, but was unsure if he should say it. He decided to go for it. He had a certain sense of Deja Vu that he just couldn’t place. This situation felt very familiar. He shook it off and replied with what felt right. “Do you want somepony to hang out with?” he asked. That didn’t come out the way he wanted it to. Crap. That was the second time he’d slipped like that. Nothing he could do about it now. Fluttershy blushed a little, put her ears back and looked away from him. “Well...um...yes...but I don’t want to bother you...” Trey scooted closer to her as she tried to look at him. She just couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eye. Trey was unsure whether to say something or put her hoof to her chin. Trey decided to go with the safe option. He wasn’t a big risk-taker where fillies, especially those he thought he could stand a chance with, were concerned. He didn’t believe in taking risks, especially after his past experiences. “There’s nothing you could do to bother me. I’m new to town, remember? I need a friend too. Maybe we could help each other out.” he said, trying to smile at her. She was still looking away, however. “Hey...” he said, calmly. She looked up at him with those blue eyes he’d come to adore. “I...that would be...nice...if it’s ok with you...I don’t want to bother you...” she said again. She seemed to worry about bothering ponies a lot. “There’s nothing you can do to bother me, remember?” he said kindly, while trying to reassert his position. “Oh...yes...sorry...um...yeah.” she said, looking away from him again, blushing. “So, wanna hang out tomorrow?” he asked. She looked at him, smiled, and nodded. “Yes.” she said. Trey smiled back at her, trying not to get lost in her eyes. They were so blue...deep...full of life... “Are you ok?” Dammit. He got lost. “Yeah. I just like your eyes.” he said. She blushed again, looking away, smiling. “Thanks. I haven’t heard that before.” “Really?” “Nopony other than you and my other friends seem to notice anything about me. You’re the first one to say anything about my eyes...” Trey was astounded. How could a pony as beautiful as her go so long without being complimented? “I find that hard to believe.” he said. There was no way she’d never been complimented. “You’re far too...” he started before he caught himself. He almost told her most beautiful she was. Not good for his social security. “...reclusive...I know...” she finished. Trey took a breath of relief, now that the pressure was off of him. “No, that wasn’t what I was going to say. I was going to say that your eyes are far too striking to have never been complimented on. It saddens me that nopony’s ever commented on how nice they are, because they’re one of the things I really like about you.” he said, suddenly realizing he slipped again. At this rate, he should just tell her he was starting to fall for her. If he hadn’t been trying to analyze his emotions scientifically and diplomatically, he might have already done so. He had the patience to bite back. He was still new in town, and he couldn’t go about making a bad impression, or that of a weirdo. She looked at him, her eyes filled with a sense of wonder. “You like me?” Trey didn’t know what to say to that. He had to come up with something quick. Silence would give away the answer that he wasn’t ready to give yet. He didn’t know how she would react. Diplomacy, he though...Diplomacy. What could he say to that though? “I think you’re a really nice filly. Anypony that doesn’t like you is a moron.” he said, smiling what he felt was a awkward smile. The sense of wonder in her eyes suddenly vanished as she looked away. “Oh...ok...” she said. She sounded almost sad. Almost as if she was expecting a different answer. Trey realized that but thought it would be best if he didn’t change his answer. “Are you ok?” he asked, hoping beating around the bush would yield an answer to a question he’d been wondering for the last few days. “Oh...yes.” she said, refusing to look him in the eye. He wasn’t going to get anything out of her tonight. As much as she opened up earlier, she wasn’t going to open up here. Trey had to think of something...something that could show her hope, yet not give something away. If she was looking for a sign, she’d get it. If she was oblivious, it’d simply be another social gesture. In an awkward moment of inexperience and not being sure what to do, he reached out and put a hoof under her chin and made her look at him. He loved those blue eyes. He’d do nearly anything to make them be his... “Hey...” he started. “I always look forward to seeing you. I enjoy your company. You’re the nicest pony I’ve met yet.” He smiled at her. A sense of enjoyment flooded back to her eyes as she blushed. Trey decided to screw social security as he reached out and hugged her. She was warm...soft...and she smelled good. “Oh!” she said, a little surprised, caught offguard by this sudden burst of emotion. Maybe she’d never done this either. She quickly returned the affection though, as the two of their heads rubbed against each other, cheek to cheek. Everything about her was warm...caring...kind...perfect. They hugged for a good minute or so before Trey let go and looked at her. “Thanks.” she said, looking at him, blushing slightly and smiling. He thought she was irresistibly cute when she blushed...but he wasn’t going to say anything. “Anyways, as much as I’d love to stay all night, I’d better get back home and get some sleep. I’m sure your animals need a break from me anyhow.” He noticed Angel had a bit of a sad expression on his face. Trey nodded and smiled at him while on his way out, before stopping at her door. “What time do you want to meet tomorrow?” “Oh...um...10?” “Not soon enough. Let’s shoot for 9.” he said, smiling at her and trotting off, smiling to himself. He’d hugged her. Physical contact. That’s all he’d ever wanted. It may have just been a hug, but he was on cloud 9 for the rest of the night, as his happy emotions carried him into another night of dreaming about her.