//------------------------------// // Part 17 // Story: Butterflies In Her Tummy // by Hivemind //------------------------------// The interior of the cottage was swarming with the resident animals within minutes. Tenderheart somehow managed to keep up with the pace, whipping up fairly simple vegetarian dishes with the accordance and aid provided by none other than Fluttershy herself. She didn’t even flinch at the sight of commonly known predators when they skulked into the living room with growling stomachs. More or less, she enjoyed their company, taking the opportunity, and the adorable, dog-like tongue licks she received as sufficient payment for her effort. In all the years you have been together, you have never seen Fluttershy work at such a feverish pace. The seemingly-gentle pegasus barreled through orders necessary for proper animal nutrition, excluding meat of course. She gave the primary meat-eaters a special substitute of her own creation prepared for their respective species. When had anypony ever seen a fully-grown grizzly bear devour a giant rice cake rather than something more or less…living, like a deer or a rabbit? To what you could recall, never. “Oh! H-Hey there, dear!” Fluttershy exclaims after just now noticing that you had returned while she clumsily walked into the crowded living room with a tableware platter on her back. “Did you find Angel and Remi yet?” “Sorry, Fluttershy,” you apologize. “I searched high and low. I couldn’t find those two anywhere!” “Angel and Remi?” says Tenderheart, following Fluttershy out of the kitchen while wiping her brow with a clean rag. “Who are they? More friends of yours, dearie?” “Oh yes! They were our first real pets! Angel is mine, and Remi belongs to him,” Fluttershy smiles, gesturing between the two of you. “Angel is a white bunny. I’ve had him as long as I can remember. And Remi is a long ferret, kinda playful. Did you happen to see them anywhere?” “A…ferret?” Tenderheart raises an eyebrow, confused. “I’m…not sure what a ferret looks like, dear. I’m not too keen like you are when it comes to exotic animals.” “Oh…” “But if you’re looking for a certain white bunny…” Tenderheart giggles, turning to expose her side. “Then look no further!” Both you and Fluttershy shared a fit of good-natured laughter when you discovered Angel’s plump, little self snoozing and snoring on Tenderheart’s back. His furry belly was stained a light orange, leading to no other conclusion but the one you had in mind from the start. “I found this little guy in the pantry a few minutes ago,” Tenderheart continued, stifling her giggles whilst carefully setting Angel on the soft living room rug. “He has quite the appetite!” Suddenly, Fluttershy felt something tug at her front left hoof. Everypony’s gaze was redirected to the attention of slender female squirrel with slightly matted red fur. Grey bags were visible under her eyes, and she slumped over as if she had yet to have a good night’s rest for days. “Oh! Hello there, Melina!” Fluttershy chirps, bending down to greet the withered rodent with a warm smile. “How are the little ones doing, hmm?” “Little ones?” You and Tenderheart say in unison, briefly glancing at each other afterward. “Oh, yes! Melina here gave birth to triplets a few days ago. She hasn’t left the cottage since, and she only comes out into the open when she’s hungry.” The mention of food catches the attention of the young mother. She tugs harder on Fluttershy’s hoof while giving her a pleading stare. “Aww…” Tenderheart coos. “That’s adorable!” Fluttershy picks a few large vegetable leaves from one of the bowls on her platter and passes them down to the squirrel, who smiles and scurries away towards a corner of the room near the fireplace sheltered by a layer of tiny patchwork blankets. “Would you like to see them?” asks Fluttershy, rising up. “See who, dearie?” “The babies of course!” Fluttershy replies. “Oh, they’re just wonderful! They’re only a few days old, but they’re sooo cute!” “Oh, of course, dearie! I’ve never seen a…well, come to think of it, I’ve never seen the babies of any land animal before!” Tenderheart’s wings jitter with excitement for a moment. “This should be quite the delight!” “Alright, but be very careful. Stay close to me and don’t make any sudden movements. We don’t want to startle her when we get up close,” Fluttershy cautions as she leads the three of you towards the corner. Carefully stepping past various sizes of animal all taking a breather after a hearty meal, you all finally reach the nest of the woodland community’s newest members. After giving the signal to remain silent, Fluttershy instructs both you and Tenderheart to duck down low while she slowly but surely lifts up one of the blankets, pouring light into a small, darkened chamber and revealing the three little infants curled up together in a tight circle, fast asleep while their mother harmlessly nibbles on one of her vegetable leaves, keeping close vigil over her young ones. “Aren’t they just the cutest?” Fluttershy whispers, sharing the peaceful moment beside her own mother. Melina, as you trusted Fluttershy had named it, didn’t seem to mind the company, but scooted closer to her newborns as a precaution. “They’re adorable, dearie!” Tenderheart excitedly whispered back. “Oh, I wonder what it would feel like to hold one of these little cuties!” “I could try…but she wouldn’t like that,” Fluttershy responds, watching as the mother squirrel carefully steps over her pint-sized infants and inspects their calm faces. “Looks like that’ll be you in a year or so, yes?” Tenderheart giggles. “I can’t possibly handle triplets, mother!” Fluttershy giggles back, recovering the squirrel shelter and rising from the floor. “Just…one for me, thank you.” “It’s at least good to know I’ll be getting a grandchild soon.” “I think you’ll be waiting quite a while, mother. You…do remember that I’m not--?” “Yes, yes, dearie. I know. I remember. Speaking of which, do you remember Floral Breeze? Your old babysitter?” “Floral Breeze?!” Fluttershy grins, turning to face Tenderheart. “Oh, yes! I adored her when I was younger!” “You did, didn’t you?” Tenderheart smiled. “In fact, just a few weeks ago, she was over for tea and she shared with me the strangest story…” You were drawn away from the girl’s conversation with the startling realization that the noise in the cottage had suddenly died down to normal levels. You turn and look around to find that most of the animals had already vacated the living room, leaving the smaller residents to go about their day as usual within the comfort of the cottage walls. Thinking of one animal in particular, you recall that you still had neither eye nor ear’s sense as to Remi’s whereabouts. You were starting to get worried sick about him, your beloved pet of many years was suddenly nowhere to be seen for several days at a time. He was a smart ferret, but you hoped that wherever he ran off to was someplace safe. ~~~~~ I know I had it right there! Right there! In the back of the book! I know it was supposed to be there! thought Redheart as she nervously trotted through the various districts of Ponyville. That photo meant…so much to me…where could it have gone? I can’t take this anymore. I just can’t! A pony’s mood is weighed in smiles, as Pinkie Pie once told Redheart during a visit to the hospital’s children’s ward one warm summer day. She herself wasn’t smiling much that day, and she sure wasn’t smiling now. Her whole life was a mess and her fiber of her body teemed with worry. A dark cloud of the ill feeling loomed over her head, its ilk falling like rain. Positivity was but a figment that not even the world’s greatest pleasures could return to her. All she had was its shadow as it fell behind her, joy for her sister’s next big step in life as fleeting as the wind. Her job wasn’t much of a discussion piece, but the things she had seen in her lifetime were enough to fully categorize pain itself, physical or mental. She ambled through the fairly-busy market district like an aimless fly, not even the sweet scent of freshly-picked flowers or exotic fruits to tame the feelings inside her. Every so often somepony would turn their head and curiously eye her restless expression. Clearly, some of them knew her, be they a long-time friend or just a one-time face in the hospital lobby. She paid no attention to their stares and went on, her clouded mind having been long adrift. This is hopeless. I am hopeless. I’ll never find that picture… Redheart looked up. I just don’t understand. What did I do to deserve to feel such— Then, out from behind one of the buildings ahead, Redheart noticed a bulky, red stallion trudge out into view and take a turn into the market district. In descriptive favor to the average mare, he looked to be everything one could imagine: Tall, strong, and strikingly handsome from his straw-like hairdo to his muscular neck. At first glance, one might expect such a stud to strike a pose and bath in the sea of fainted mares soon to follow like so many comical movie scenes. Alas, Big Macintosh, while full within the description, was not that kind of pony. He was Ponyville’s own Shy Sebastian. Redheart was mortified by his presence. …pain. Redheart slowly backed away, suddenly catching the attention of Big Mac, who, when his eyes met with hers, jolted in shock. He watched with a strange sort of disbelief in his eyes as the mare began mumbling to herself before suddenly turning and fleeing down the street. Redheart did not know how far she ran before her legs started to hurt. Every muscle in her body ached with pain, but she continued to charge on, determined to get as far away from Ponyville as possible. She sped past carts and passing ponies without even the slightest care for social decency. She sped past the hospital and even cursed it under her breath. I’ve had enough of this! Redheart thought angrily, intermixing it with grief. I just can’t take it anymore! I just…can’t! I have to be there for her, just to make sure! Just to make sure! The humble woodland home of her dearest sister was the only sanctuary she knew of where her past could not follow her. After what she had been through, all of Ponyville was dead to her now, at least that’s how her mind felt towards it. The hospital where her once most treasured memories were made was nothing but the root of all her problems; where they began…and where have yet to end. She came to a traveler’s junction and took the main path that led to the front door of her sister’s cottage, slowing to a stop upon arrival. It was like nothing had changed about it even through all these years. The birds sang and the bees paid a visit to every flower in the vicinity, while the squirrels and chipmunks went about their business of food-collecting as per usual, squeaking and scampering among the uncut grass and lofty trees. It relaxed her a bit, but nowhere near enough to stave was what about to come. With new breath fresh within her, she raised a hoof and moved to— *WHAM!* …knock. Rather than politely knock on the door, Redheart landed a rock solid punch directly in the middle, rattling its ancient hinges. The sole of her hoof turned red quickly, her earth pony muscles throbbing with new pain, pain of which she paid no mind to other than her emotional cataclysm. She stared meaningfully at her swelling appendage for a moment before slowly pulling it back. Her mind went blank, and she caressed her hoof softly while listening to confused voices rise up from within the cottage. Seconds later, the door was cracked open just an inch or two, leaving enough room for somepony to peek out and see who it was that came around and began beating on their door. “H-H-Hello?” whispered the frightened, tender voice of her sister. “…Fluttershy…it’s me,” Redheart replied, sniffling. “Redheart?!” Fluttershy gasped. The door slammed shut then reopened, fully this time. Fluttershy stood silent in the doorway, shocked by what she was seeing. “R-Redheart?” She continued softly. “Are you…crying?” “…yes,” said Redheart with a whimper, wiping a row of tears from her left eye. “Who is that? Redheart?” Tenderheart came running to the door, gasping at the decrepit state her flower-prone daughter was in. “Oh, Redheart, dearie! What on earth happened to you?!” Hearing the commotion at the door as well, you abandon your task of cleaning up the animal’s leftover food and woodland refuse, trotting to the door in a hurry. You were the third to discover your boss stricken with tears, standing outside and heavy with sorrow. It looked as if she had finally broken down. Redheart stepped closer to Fluttershy before, to the amazement to each of you, leaned onto her sister’s shoulder, burying her tear-laden face within her yellow coat. “I don’t want to go back…” Redheart whispered, sobbing. “I don’t ever want to go back…” Fluttershy and Tenderheart could only stand there and exchange confused glances with each other. The length of an eternity felt within a new light, Tenderheart stepped forward and pulled Redheart away and into her motherly embrace. “There there, dearie…” Tenderheart whispered into the white mare’s ear. “It’s ok…it’s all ok.” She patted her back softly, rubbing gently at her shoulders in an attempt to sooth her weary soul. “I don’t want to go back…” Redheart repeated, now openly crying tears of sadness. Fluttershy stood by and looked at her mother, deep concern in the shape of a frown perfectly molding the situation at hoof. Tenderheart briefly met her gaze with the same expression before returning to comforting her miserable daughter. “Come here, dearie. Let’s get you to someplace comfortable,” said Tenderheart, signaling Fluttershy to help walk Redheart over to the living room couch where they help her up and lay her head down on a throw pillow. “There we go. Nice and easy.” You follow them over, but feel that there is nothing you can do to help. Redheart’s standard makeup was now smothered and plastered all over her cheeks where her salty tears cleaved a path through a hell only one pony in the entire world would know. “W-What’s wrong, Redheart?” asked Fluttershy in the most sincerely fretful voice she could muster. “…Fluttershy…please…” Redheart murmured with each new word, fragmental tones of inner suffering convincing her present family that she was far from well. Tenderheart turned to Fluttershy, exchanging her emotions through eyesight alone. It didn't take long for the mother of two to realize the sudden change in her directive. They may have grown up over the years, but they were still her beloved children. She had to support them no matter what. She took on a serious expression, mellowing it out just enough to fit within Fluttershy’s comfort zone. “I’m sorry, dearie, but there’s been a change of plans,” Tenderheart spoke sternly. “It looks like I’ll be staying for longer than I thought.”