//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: A Forgotten Past // Story: My Girl Fluttershy // by White_Cloud //------------------------------// There are no words that can explain what my times with Fluttershy were like. The best I can do is magical, freeing, and alive. But these words do not capture my true feelings for her. These were some of the happiest times I had ever had in my life. We had been seeing each other for about 2 months now, and each and every day was better than the last. She even introduced me to all of her animal friends. At first, they were very hesitant of me. I mean, I was a new pony in their group, and I think that scared them a little. But soon, they warmed up to me and even began to look forward to my visits. Fluttershy was always very busy taking care of her animals, but she always had time for me. I was the happiest pony alive, and nothing could ever spoil this for me. Or so I thought. …… It was just around the two month mark of me going out with Fluttershy, and I was getting ready to take her out on another picnic. That was one of our favorite things to do. We both loved the outdoors, and especially during the fall, we both enjoyed just looking at all of the beautiful trees as their leaves began to change color. I was very much looking forward to today, and I was expecting Fluttershy to show up at any time. I heard a knock on the door, and I smiled to myself as I trotted over. I began to open the door and I started to say, “You’re a bit early…” but I was cut short, for standing on my doorstep was not Fluttershy. In fact, it was the last pony I had ever expected to see. “Hello White Cloud. I didn’t think the rumors were true. That you had left all of us and came to live with these, ponies.” She said this last part with a hint of disgust as she pushed her way past me. “Oh my, what a quaint little house you have here.” She started to trot around, looking at everything, but not touching anything. “W-what are you doing here?” I stammered, not really sure what to say. I was speechless. “Oh, I just wanted to come see for myself if the rumors were true. I mean, a pony like you leaving all of what you had to come and live here. It’s perfectly barbaric.” “That life was not for me. I wanted to get out and find my true calling. I was not happy there, and I never will be. But I found Ponyville, and the ponies here accepted me. I am happy here, and I have a good life here. And I am never going back.” “Not even for me?” she said with a sly grin on her face. “I’m sorry, but I have someone else. And we are very happy together. Now, I think you should leave.” “Oh, aren’t we the assertive one. Fine, but this is not over.” I opened the door to let her out as she stormed past me. I watched her leave, but then I saw that Fluttershy passing her on the lane. Fluttershy stepped to the side as the other pony entered the carriage that she had arrived in. As the carriage took off, Fluttershy began to trot back up to my house. “Who was that?” she asked. I wasn’t able to speak. “Oh my, you don’t look well. Maybe we should wait to have that picnic.” I shook my head yes as a wave of dizziness began to wash over me. I felt faint and my legs were getting weak. Why did she have to show up now? Just as I am beginning to truly be happy, why now? “I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I fainted right there in front of Fluttershy. As I fell to the ground, I heard Fluttershy frantically say, “White Cloud? White Cloud!” as I blacked out. …… I must have been out for a while because I was laying on my couch with a wet cloth over my head. I heard noises coming from my kitchen, and I remembered that Fluttershy was here. I tried to sit up, but I promptly fell back down as a wave of dizziness washed over me. I let out a little moan, and I quickly heard Fluttershy come over. “Now, don’t try to sit up. You took a nasty fall and you hit your head pretty hard. Here, I made you some broth.” She handed me a small cup of what smelled like vegetable broth. I took a small sip and then closed my eyes as I felt the warmth flowing through me. “You looked terribly sick when I got here. Did it have something to do with that other pony?” I had almost forgotten about her, when the memory came back to me. I didn’t want to tell her. That part of me was no longer alive. I had buried that past, and I only cared about present and my time with Fluttershy. But, I knew that I couldn’t keep it buried forever. That pony showing up today proved that. I felt very sick to my stomach, but I decided to tell her. “Fluttershy, I have a past. A past that I am not proud of. A past that I wanted to forget about. I wanted to start a new life because my old life was not for me. It is kind of a long story so you might want to take a seat.” I motioned to one of the chairs in the room. She trotted over and pulled it up to the couch. “It all starts in Canterlot.” …… “I was not born here in Ponyville. I was born in Canterlot to a very wealthy family. I had several siblings, and we were all very happy. My father was very well known around Canterlot, and my mother attended all of the parties that people in that society like to throw. I was always drug around to these parties where I had to wear these fancy clothes that made me feel so uncomfortable. I hated going to those gatherings. I never felt comfortable around those rich ponies, always talking like they were the only important ponies and none of the other ponies mattered. Every night, I would go to sleep and dream about a life outside of Canterlot. Away from all of the jewels and sophistication that comes with that type of life. I wanted something more. Not long after my 6th birthday, I was outside playing in the dirt, and I noticed a small flower just beginning to bloom. I was fascinated by this flower. It called to me in a way that nothing had ever called to me. It made me feel happy inside. I carefully dug it up, and took it in to my mother to show her this beautiful treasure I had found. But when I showed her, she began to get upset. “Get that filthy thing out of here! Just look at you! You’re covered in dirt! You need to get cleaned up right away, I have guests on their way over and I want you to look your best.” And then she called the servants in to take care of my filthy gift and to clean me up. I was heartbroken. All I wanted to do was show my mother this flower, and she only cared about how I looked for her guests. It seemed like she cared more about her friends than she did about me. I cried myself to sleep that night, wishing that I could just escape this life. Several years later, on my 9th birthday, my mother threw me a very lavish party. She invited all of her friends over to celebrate my birthday, and told them to bring their children. I was not a very outgoing pony. I didn’t have any friends because I felt like I really didn’t fit in with the other children. They were always talking like their parents, like they were better than every other pony. They were always making the servants do humiliating things because they could. Most of the time they would just sit around, drinking very rich drinks and talking about how bored they were. I didn’t like to be around them. But, if my mother wanted them to be here, then I would try to be nice. Soon, all of the guests had arrived and the party was in full swing. Most of the adults had grouped together, leaving the children to do whatever they wanted. I was in the corner, trying to remain inconspicuous. I didn’t really want to be there. I wanted to be outside, wandering around all of the beautiful plants and animals. But I knew that my mother would be furious at me if I tried to leave. So there I was, in the corner, trying to just fade away. And then, one pony came up to me. She was about my age, and I had seen her around before. She was always hanging out with the other fillies, always laughing and making fun of everypony. I really did not like her, so I just continued to stare at the floor. “Hey, whose stupid party is this? Oh right, it’s yours. We hate this party and we are going to go to another party that’s up the street. See you loser!” And then she left with the other children, laughing as they went through the door. I was crushed. I rushed upstairs and threw myself onto my bed crying for hours until the tears would no longer come. And then a thought came into my head. “I should just leave. No one wants me around here. I don’t fit in.” So I grabbed a small saddle bag and began to pack what few little things I wanted to take. It was night time by now and all of the guests had left. My parents were fast asleep as I quietly snuck out of my room, down the stairs, and out the front door. When I had gotten a little ways from the house, I looked back as tears began to roll down my cheeks. “Goodbye. I will always care about you.” I quietly whispered, and then I turned around and never looked back. I wandered through the fields and valleys of Equestria, never really knowing where I was going. I slept wherever I could find some shelter, and I did small little jobs to make some money. I did this for several months, and soon I had forgotten about my past life. Every once in a while though, I would dream of my life growing up, and a deep sadness would come over me. I continued this way for a little longer until I came upon a little greenhouse out in the middle of nowhere. I heard a pony inside humming to himself, and I decided to check it out. I knocked on the door. The humming stopped and I heard a pony trot to the door. It opened up and there was a grizzly looking pony with with a tall hat, a grey beard and mane, and a stalk of wheat sticking out of his mouth. “Can I help you?” He asked in kind of a gruff voice. “Hello sir. My name is White Cloud. I heard you humming and I wanted to see what this place was. I have never seen so many beautiful plants in one place other than back where I used to live. I was wondering if you might have a little work I could do for you? Maybe taking care of some of these plants for you?” “Heh, you think you can take care of all of these plants? I would like to see you try. These are my pride and joy, and they are like my children to me. How can I trust you?” He looked at me from under that hat and gave me the worst glare I have ever seen. “Well sir, just give me one week, and I’m sure you will be happy with my work. If you aren’t happy, then I will leave. But I will prove to you that I can care for these plants just as well as you can.” “Well son, you seem like a decent enough fellow, and you seem pretty confident of you gardening abilities. Ok. One week it is. And If I am not 100% satisified with your work, then you are getting the boot. Do we have a deal?” He stuck out his hoof towards me, and I smiled inside like I had never smiled before. “Deal.” I said as I touched his hoof. “By the way, what is your name?” I asked the grizzly pony. “Oh, my name is Mr. Greenhooves. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Come on, let me show you around the place.”