The first few days after the bonfire were very relaxing, despite the fact that I was left with cleaning duty. It didn't take long, so I shouldn't be complaining. All it took was to pick up a few, crushed, plastic cups, bring in the pillows and blankets, and take down the decoration Pinkie brought. Half an hour and I was finished with it all.
The only problem was how to spend the rest of my days. It was only noon and I had already done my chores. I cleaned the cottage, fed the chickens, cleaned their coop, massaged the bear, groomed Angel, did the laundry, taught the newborns a thing or two on survival, and sung a lullaby to the sleeping owls.
It's usually the first day of Spring that the animals need help. Afterwards, they can handle it on their own. I've done all I can this week, leaving me with a very restful day.
I could do what I want, now that it looks like the creatures don't need my help, I thought to myself, sprawled across my small, green, couch. What could I do? I looked over to my left to find my white, bunny, eating his special-made salad. He caught my glance, and gave me a small smile. Maybe my friends won't mind in hanging out. On that thought, I stood up from my soft place on the couch, and grabbed my telephone from the kitchen.
"This is Twilight Sparkle speaking, how may I help you?" answered a voice in distress.
"Oh, Twilight, it's Fluttershy. How are you?" I started.
"A little busy. Sorry to be rude, but did you need anything? I'm performing a dangerous experiment at the moment and can't really talk on the phone." I could hear soft clinking of what I assumed to be test tubes and beakers filled with one of her new solutions, on her side of the line.
"I'm very sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted to ask if--" I was quickly cut off by an earth shattering boom and ear piercing static.
"Spike!" An angry Twilight yelled soon after. Something must have happened to her telephone because the quality was affected, causing her to sound a little muffled. "What part of 'do not touch' did you not understand?"
"Gee, sorry Twi'. I didn't mean for that to happen." answered the poor, little, dragon. "I just wanted to help."
"Fluttershy, are you still there?" Twilight grunted.
"Yes. Is everything alright? Are you okay?" I leaned in on the green arm of the couch, squeezing the telephone closer to my ear in hopes of being able to hear over the sharp static ringing on the call.
"Of course. We're doing fine, just a little burn and... uh... a hole on my wooden floor. I'll have to call you later, 'Shy. I need to clean this up and hope to Celestia Spike doesn't blow up the library."
"Oh, alright. Goodbye Twi'--" Before I could end my sentence, the phone was hung up, leaving me with a ringing ear.
Of course Twilight was going to be busy, I thought dialing Pinkie Pie's cell-phone number.
At least one of them have to be free, right?
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I was wrong. All five of them were busy. Twilight was cleaning up her broken, wooden, floors, Pinkie was out on a date with Pokey, Applejack was catching up with the apple-bucking she missed for coming to the bonfire, Rarity was trying to make a new clothing line for stallions (she actually invited me over to give an opinion. I gently declined her offer in fear of her making me try on the clothes and model for her), and Rainbow didn't answer at all.
Maybe a little time to myself wouldn't be that bad? I could always just walk around Ponyville, maybe pass by the lake to see how the newly hatched ducks are. After a moment of silence, I decided on making my way through the small town to just clear my mind and relax a little.
I flew over to my restroom to clean myself up a bit and make sure I look okay to be out. In the mirror, I saw the normal, yellow, mare, I see everyday.
"Ya know, if ya pulled your mane back more ya'd be able to notice more. You've got beautiful eyes.", a voice rung in my head as I looked at my plain, pink, mane.
I guess I could always go for a change.., I thought to myself, grabbing the only hair tie in my whole home. I gathered all my mane and tied it neatly together in one, curly, ponytail. After the while it took me to do that, I stood there to look at the new style. It wasn't bad, but it felt so unnatural. Having most of my neck exposed, sent chills down my spine every second I felt a small wind blow.
I brought with me a bag of bits just in case I wanted to treat myself with something from Sugarcube Corner. Around this time, the Cakes make a Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness cake to celebrate a successful winter. Unfortunately, they only last for about two days since it's a yearly slice of heaven. I'll make sure to stop by there today too, I thought opening my wooden door.
The scene was so different compared to a few weeks ago. Back then, the cold blast of winter's wind would keep me from flying at a normal speed. Thank goodness the weather's changed. I was starting to get tired over the amount of melted snow in my living room I had to clean up.
I took in a refreshing breath of the sweet, spring, air, as I fluttered through the sun's warming, golden, rays.. I could smell the comforting scent of clean laundry hanging on a line, and the sound of the school's bell, alerting the foals the beginning of their recess, as I drew near to Ponyville. The beautiful day made me sort of glad that my friends were too busy for me. I could go about the day just to myself and my thoughts. Giving my wings a break, I set myself down and trotted along the towns gravel road, absorbing the pleasant crunch that sounded from beneath my hooves every step I took.
The soothing sound, unfortunately, started to become quieter as I walked closer to the noisy town. There was an oddly high amount of ponies walking around that day, talking, and pulling creaky, old, carts. I could barely see the road in front of me as I was strolling around. It was a good thing that I remembered the town so well or else I would've never found my way through the crowd. If I just head straight I can make it to the lake. It was hard to listen to my own thoughts through all the booming chatter.
"Excuse me," I said trying to get through a brightly, colored, group of mares, standing in the middle of all the chaos.
"--I won't be able to make it today. I've gotta see somepony. Maybe tomorrow?" One of them yelled at the other.
"What about next week? Tomorrow I--"
"Pardon me," I tried again, this time tapping one of them.
"Excuse me, but we're talking here." The first one snapped at me, giving me a nasty stare.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to--" I started to explain but was then pushed by somepony behind me. The strong force caused me to fall down right beside the mares, landing on my left wing. I felt a sudden, sharp, pain, on my left side. As I tried to move, I could hear shouts somewhere near me.
"Hey, watch out!" I looked up to see an overflowing cart of apples, rolling quickly towards me, through an opening the crowd of ponies were creating as they were trying to get away from the scene. I was paralyzed at how fast the cart was uncontrollably moving. In a few seconds it had moved from the top of a hill to a couple of feet away from me.
At the last minute, the giant cart pulled back, missing my muzzle by a few inches. For a split second, I thought I was safe. The sudden halt of the cart, sent the fruit it carried, flying to me, proving me wrong.
A few moments had passed and I was buried in ruby-red, apples, from head to hoof. The fruit muffled all the voices surrounding me to silent whispers.
The surprisingly heavy pressure of the apples, kept me down, and prevented me from moving. I tried to yell for help but that didn't help either. I began to hyperventilate after trying numerous times.
I felt as if I was in there forever, and that I'd never get out. I began to feel light headed and claustrophobic. It was starting to get harder to breathe when I felt the apple pile settling down on my chest.
Help me please! Somepony! I can't-- I can't move! Please!
Just when I felt myself slipping away, I saw a thin beam of light stretch wider and wider from a hole somewhere above me. The sudden flash of light blinded me as the apples were pushed away. I couldn't see the face of my rescuer too clearly. The only thing I could make out was the fact that it was a stallion.
Right before I fainted, I felt somepony pick my bruised body up from the pile.
I muttered something inaudible using my last bit of energy to squint my eyes and focus on my rescuer.
"Fluttershy..." their voice trailed off as my vision dimmed and my body strength weakened. All the small noises silenced and the sun's once warming glow, turned into a dark curtain.
Then, I blacked out.
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"Ya' sure she's fine? She's been sleepin' for a while now." asked a mare voice.
"'Course! Can't ya see her breathin'?" replied an older mare. "Look here! She's wakin'."
I rubbed my eyes with my bruised hooves, and opened my eyes to a happy, green, wrinkly, face. At first she startled me, but then I figured out who it was.
"Mornin', sleepy head!" Granny Smith greeted me with a toothy smile.
"Oh, hello Granny Smith." I tiredly said. "Hello Applejack." I quickly sat up, and regretted it right after. I forgot about my injuries, but was quickly reminded by the shots of pain that ran through my whole body. "Ow," I grunted with closed eyes.
I glanced beneath me and around to find myself in one of the rooms I've never been in before, in the Apple's home. The wooden room we were in was very clean and had a giant, green, bed, big enough to fit a whole family of bears in. It had a few dressers in and a few drawings hung up on one of the walls, clearly drawn by a foal. There were some of what I assumed was Applebloom, Applejack, and Big Mac. Then there was one with an unfamiliar mare and stallion with hearts around them.
"Don't worry 'bout yer' bag, 'Shy. It's over here if ya' need it." Applejack nodded her head to the corner by the drawings, where my bag sat. "How're ya' feelin'?" She asked.
"I'm doing fine, thank you." I lied. "Can you tell me what happened?"
"Well, ya' were knocked out when we got to ya'. I don't really know what happened, but maybe if ya' asked Big Mac, he'll tell ya'."
"Big Mac?" I asked.
"Yeah, he's the one that brought ya' here, sugarcube." answered Granny Smith.
"Oh. Where is he now?"
"He's makin' supper in the kitchen. It's a good thang ya' woke up, he just finished!" Applejack stood from a chair beside the bed and looked at me.
"Ya' hungry, 'Shy? We always have an extra plate at the table!" she smiled.
"Oh, no thank you, Applejack. I'll just go home. You all have done so much for me already, I wouldn't want to ask for anything else."
"Fluttershy, I insist. Ya' look a li'l sick, maybe some food in ya stomach will help. Come on." She grabbed my hoof tightly. "Ooh, sorry 'Shy!" She quickly apologized after seeing the pain in my face. Applejack took off my blanket with her other hoof so she could help me up. Before I could move, i was able to see how injured I really was.
I had a lot of blue and purple bruises around my chest and hooves and a few, small, scratches, here and there. I tried to extend my wings to see if they had some too, but immediately shut them as I felt a wall of pain fall on me. I clenched my teeth, to hold back a scream, and instead grunted.
I glanced back at them, to see that they were improperly wrapped with a big, white, band, tied onto my body instead of itself. The band was so wide, that it covered about two thirds of my body.
"Oh, my," I mumbled. Going up the stairs, was the sound of tiny hooves stomping down on the wooden steps. Soon, a yellow, Applebloom, popped into the room.
"Hey! Big Mac said to-- Woah! What happened to ya', Fluttershy?!" She yelled, trotting over to me. "Yer all blue!"
"Hi, Apple Bloom." I smiled at her the best I could through the pain I was getting from her gently touching the spots.
"Apple Bloom! Will ya' get yer hooves off her?! She's hurtin' right now. Ya' just can't go 'round touchin' ponies." protested Applejack. "What'dya need?"
"Oh," she said after a moment of staring at my bruises. "Uh, Big Mac said to go downstairs to eat."
"Okay, we'll be down in a minute." AJ replied. She turned to me and asked, "Will ya' be stayin' after all, 'Shy?"
"If you don't mind, I'd like to." I smiled. She smiled back at me and guided me down. Granny Smith walked behind us, while we slowly descended to the first floor. After what felt like days, we finally made it down.
Apple Bloom was the first to sit at the table, in front of an empty plate. Big Mac came from the kitchen carrying a big bowl of apple salad, and a full plate of celery and carrots. When we arrived at the table, Granny Smith and Applejack sat down.
"Thank you," I said to them both. I raised my hoof slowly to pull my chair back as painless as possible, but stopped when I saw Big Mac pull it for me. I looked at him in the eye and smiled. He smiled back at me, then walked to his seat.
I noticed something different. I didn't have my pink hair dangling in front of me, to block my view. I felt different and not like myself at all. I felt somewhat confident.
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"Whad'ya think o' the food, Fluttershy?" Granny Smith asked me after we had all finished with supper. Apple Bloom stood up quickly and collected the plates and cups. She threw them all on her head in one single tower, ready to collapse. She slowly walked to the kitchen, balancing the wobbly, kitchenware, tower.
"Oh, it was delicious," I said watching a wide-eyed Apple Bloom. "But, I'm kind of surprised, there wasn't as much apple in the dishes as usual."
"Oh, that! Well--" Granny was cut short by the sudden crash of breaking plates and cups in the kitchen floor. After a moment of silence, a tiny "oops" slipped out from Apple Bloom. Big Mac sighed in her direction and got up.
"I got it," he said, excusing himself from the table and walking to the kitchen.
"What was I sayin'?" Granny Smith asked with a confused look bringing us back to our conversation.
"About the food?" I answered.
"Oh! Well, Big Mac said somethin' 'bout dedicatin' this dinner for ya'. That's why he made foods he thought ya' liked."
"Really?" I looked over at the kitchen door, where I can see Big Mac and Apple Bloom cleaning the mess together.
"Yep! He felt so bad 'bout what happened to ya'." Applejack added. "He wanted to make it up to ya'."
"That's so sweet." I commented.
"Speakin' of sweet, I should probably make mah night tea before I go to bed." Granny Smith said, getting up from her seat and walking slowly to the kitchen.
Did she say bed? "Oh, no! What time is it?" I asked. I forgot all about poor Angel. He's probably starving, waiting for me. How long have I been gone?
"It's close to bein' eleven." Applejack answered, looking at the the apple-shaped clock they had above their heads on one of the walls. I gently pushed myself from the table and tried to get up.
"It's late. If you don't mind, I'll be going now." I told them. "Thank you for everything."
"Ya' sure, ya' wanna go home? Ya' can sleep in mah room tonight. It's kinda too late to be walkin' around." She offered me.
"No, thank you. I don't want to be a bother. Plus, I have Angel waiting for me at home." I smiled at her.
"Okay, well lemme get yer bag for ya'." The orange mare said, climbing up the stairs, soon after. I slowly limped over to the door, and waited anxiously for Applejack to return. I need to get home. Oh, Angel, I'm so sorry to keep you waiting.
"Fluttershy?" Big Mac walked over to me from the kitchen. "Do ya' mind if I come?" he asked me.
"Oh, you don't have to Big Mac. I'll be fine." He stared at me with a worried look as if he didn't believe me. It hurts to walk, but I can eventually make it home. I just have to brave it out for today.
"Here it is!" Applejack silently made her way to us with my bag moments later. "Be safe!" She said, outstretching my bag to me. Before I could even raise my own hoof to grab it, Big Mac swooped it out of her hoof and threw it on his back.
"I'll take it," he said opening their wooden door. "See ya in a few, sis." He looked at Applejack, then back at me, signaling me to go through first.
"Thanks again, Applejack." I told her before I walked out.
"No problem, sugar cube."
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The sky was a peaceful shade of dark blue, and covered in white, twinkling, specks, softly lighting up the town. One thing I loved about Ponyville, were the nights. Every night was unbelievably beautiful. Night time in Cloudsdale was great too, but all the lights from some of the factories, and some races that dragged into the night would scare it away. On the rare occasions where the sky was clear, Milky would come over to my home, and we'd just lay close by outside to watch for hours.
"Fluttershy," Big Mac's voice gently rumbled, bringing my attention back to the present. "Why doncha climb on?"
"I'm sorry?" I asked confused. I glanced at him to see Big Mac kneeling down and looking up at me.
"Yer too hurt to walk anymore. It'll be much better for ya if I carry ya."
"No, it's fine. I'm feeling better." I smiled through gritted teeth.
"Please, 'Shy." He's right. I thought, hesitantly grabbing his back to climb on. I don't know how much longer I could've gone walking like this. I pushed myself up, until I was seated with both my back hooves dangling off one side of him.
"Thank you, Big Mac." I told him.
"Eeyup." He said, slowly standing back up.
Oh, this is embarrassing, being carried like this. What if I'm too heavy for him?, I thought feeling a small blush creep. I look down at his back. He looks pretty strong. I shouldn't be too heavy. With every step he took, his muscles would move rhythmically down his back.
"Big Mac?" He hummed to note that he was listening. "How long have you been bucking apples?" I curiously asked.
"Most of mah life."
"Oh." That's probably why he's so fit. Bucking apples for so many years, must have gotten easy for him.
"What about ya and yer critters? How long did ya have with 'em?" He asked looking back at me craning his neck.
"Uh, I guess since I was a filly."
"Ya must love 'em."
"Oh, very much." I smiled, just thinking about them. They've given me so much joy and things to look forward to in life. For a while, I could only be myself around them. They showed me who I really was, and I'm very thankful.
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Big Mac walked around a small pond close to my home, filled with croaking frogs sitting on their lily pads. It was close to silent, compared to the town. The only other noises there were, were the chirps of the grasshoppers and 'hoo's' from the owls waking up. I could see my cottage from the hill we were standing on. A three minute walk, and I'd soon be back home.
"It's so quiet." Big Mac mumbled.
"It always is." I said just above a whisper.
"Ya live alone?" he quietly asked.
"I have Angel, he's my rabbit."
"Do ya have anypony living with ya?"
"No, it's just us two."
"Hmm." Then, we walked in silence. I felt him tense up a little before he asked gently, "What about yer parents?"
"My parents? My parents are..." Should I tell him? I don't really want to talk about it. The only other pony that knows about my situation with my parents other than Miss Cheerilee and Rainbow Dash, is Milky. They've been kind enough to steer conversations away from parents whenever we're together, because they know it still hurts me. After all these years, it still does. Having them taken away from my life so quickly and without warning, has left me so fragile.
"'Shy, I'm sorry. Forget what I said." He said facing straight ahead after a moment of silence.
"It's okay. My parents are... gone." I explained everything to him, slowly, piece by piece. I didn't want to tell him too much, but I couldn't help it. Once I started, I couldn't stop. That was the only time I ever spoke to anyone about them like that. I kept in all those horrible years of mourning and sadness until that night. In the beginning, I didn't think I could go through with telling him, but by the end of it, I was smiling, telling him all about the goofy things my dad did to cheer me up. Sometimes he'd tell me an embarrassing story when he was a colt, or make silly faces. I told Big Mac about my mother too. He was so easy to talk to.
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"Thank you," I grunted, climbing off of him, and standing on my doorstep.
"Don't thank me. If it weren't for me, ya wouldn't be like this." He said looking over my injuries.
"What do you mean?" He sheepishly looked down, and rubbed one of his hooves.
"The cart that ran ya over, was mine." He stared back at me. "It just ran from me, I didn't mean to--"
"It's okay," I smiled at him. His face was pink from embarrassment. I have to admit, it's adorable to see him with a blush. He smiled back at me.
"Goodnight, Big Mac." I told him, limping into my home.
"'Night, 'Shy." He quietly said, still pink. I closed my door and glanced over at my couch where Angel sat impatiently.
"Oh, Angel! I'm so sorry. You must be starving." He hopped over quickly to me. For a second, I thought he would punch me in anger, but instead he hugged my hoof and looked up at me with a worried look. He must have saw my injuries.
"I"m fine, Angel." I grinned and gently petted the top of his white head. "I'll get you something, okay?" He smiled at me and followed me into the kitchen, where I made him a small salad.
After I set his plate down, I went straight to bed. My eyes were so heavy, I almost fell asleep on my way to my room.
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I woke up to a furry paw tapping my face. Angel had woken me up, which was a surprise to me. It was too early for him to be wide awake. He squeaked at me to get up. He said something about an 'emergency'. Angel squeaked so fast I could barely understand him.
"Okay, I'm coming." I tiredly said. I moved my hoof one inch, and I groaned from feeling so sore. My whole body felt so heavy, it was a trouble to even sit up. Angel was hopping around my room, running in and out of my doorway in a hurry. He was pointing down the hallway and squeaking 'emergency'.
"Yes, yes, Angel. I'll be there." I set a hoof down on my wood floor, then slowly, another one, until I was standing up properly. "Okay, what is it?" I tried to catch up to Angel, who was zooming down the hallway, but it was so hard to when it took so much energy to move one hoof. "Angel, slow down please." I calmly told him, as he turned into the living room.
When I finally made it to the living room I found a big, red, stallion, waiting on the rug in the middle of the room with two bags.