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// Prologue: A Day to Cry 
// Story: Gwenwyn 
// by BronyWriter 
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Today was a day to cry. 

Fluttershy cradled the squirrel under her wing and gently carried him inside her house. He was very sick, and couldn't make the journey alone. It was a very important journey, though. It would make him very happy. He was suffering now. A nasty run in with a hawk, that had been run off when Fluttershy had used her Stare, had taken the strength from him. She could prolong his life if she had the desire to, but it would only mean more suffering for him. It would only mean an hour of suffering at best. 

She closed the door behind her and gently laid the squirrel onto the table. She flashed him a warm smile and gently patted him on the head. "It's okay," she soothed. "Everything is going to be okay. I'm going to make it all better." 

The squirrel gave her a weak squeak and took a heavy breath. It wouldn't be long now, but it was too long for Fluttershy's liking. She trotted over to the pantry and flew up so she could reach the top shelf. Behind the bags filled with various medical supplies was her box. The wretched, evil, peace-giving box. She pushed aside a box of bandages and reached inside. Her forelegs clamped around the hard wood of her box, and she pulled it out of the pantry. Landing on the ground, she placed it on the counter-top and gently lifted the lid. She flinched when she saw what was inside, as she always did, but she knew it had to be done.

It was an evil box. It brought the days to cry. It was a wonderful box. It brought peace.

She made a little tea for the squirrel and put just a smidgen of the contents of the box inside. Just a smidgen was all it took to make it work. It would be so fast.

She heard a squeak behind her and she turned her head to see her beloved Angel Bunny standing beside her, grinning happily. At the sight of Fluttershy's face, his grin and ears fell, and his gaze flickered between the box and his mistress. Fluttershy nodded sadly and closed the box. "It's a day to cry, Angel. It'll all be better soon."

Angel looked at the box with more than a little apprehension before hopping away. He was probably going to his favorite spot on the couch. He never watched. 

Fluttershy balanced the tiny teacup on her hoof and flew back to where the squirrel lay on the table. Reality dripped from his body, staining the normally pristine tabletop. 

She smiled comfortingly at the squirrel and placed the teacup down next to him. "It's okay, Mr. Squirrel. I can help make you all better." She used a wing to gently lift the squirrel's head up, and she looped one of her thicker feathers around the handle of the small teacup. She brought it to the squirrel's lips, and tilted it, allowing the squirrel to drink the droplets that were trickling towards him. 

When he had finished, Fluttershy set the teacup down and lifted the squirrel with her wing. She nuzzled the top of his head and began humming a gentle lullaby. A small smile graced the squirrel's lips, but after a few seconds it was over. His body went limp as he closed his eyes. 

Tears began forming at the corners of Fluttershy's eyes as she laid the squirrel back down on the table. He looked so peaceful, yet so empty at the same time. Like a carriage without a driver or passengers. 

Knowing she could do no more, Fluttershy trudged back to the counter, her drooped wings dragging along the floor. Her box still sat there, right where she had left it. Some days she wished that she would come back to it to find that it had disappeared. It would be gone, and she wouldn't have to do this anymore. It never was. It was always right where she had left it. She lifted it up and slid it back into its normal place in the pantry. She moved the bandages back in front of the box. 

Maybe if she couldn't see it, it would go away. 

No, it couldn't go away. It was just as important of a tool as any of her other medical supplies. Sometimes it needed to be done, and she was the mare who had to do it. Besides, the animals she had used the box on would be in paradise, right? They wouldn't just cease to exist altogether, they would be in a place where they were eternally happy, and she had helped them get there. It had to be the truth; there was just no other option.

She shut the pantry door and landed again. It was time to see about arrangements for Mr. Squirrel. Some cleanup would be required too. 

Before she could make her way back to the table, she heard a sharp knock on her door that caused her to squeak and jump back. She froze and stared at the door, wondering who could possibly want to disturb her now. Her cottage wasn't exactly on the beaten path, after all. 

Another knock made her decide that she had best go answer the door. She trotted over to it and opened it a crack. "Hello?"

"Hiya!" 

Fluttershy flinched back and almost slammed the door, but held back when the owner of the voice registered in her mind and she opened the door a little more. Behind it were her five friends; some old and some new. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash had been friends with her as long as she could remember, but Rarity, Applejack, and Twilight had only become friends with her recently. Twilight hadn't even been in town for more than a few weeks. 

"Hello, girls," she said quietly. 

"Good afternoon, Fluttershy," said Rarity. "The others and I thought that we should have picnic today, seeing as how there isn't a cloud in the sky and there is quite the lovely breeze." 

"Me 'n Pinkie got some good food for it.” Applejack grinned and motioned to a picnic basket on Pinkie’s back. “Ah think it'd be a good time ta get ta know each other a little more."

Fluttershy's eyes scanned her friends, but her stomach clenched at the memory of what she had just done and she almost slammed the door in their faces. "I... uh... I don't know if today is the best day," she whispered. "I-it is nice out and all, but..." She sniffled and the tears that had been building up began streaking down her face. "I don't think so, girls."

Pinkie Pie, who had been previously bouncing up and down, screeched to a halt in mid-air and gently floated to the ground. Her smile had faded, and the lively aura that she normally had faded. "Oh..." Pinkie flattened her ears. "Is it a day to cry?"

Fluttershy whimpered and let out the quietest sob, but managed to gain the strength to weakly nod. "Yes."

"Okay." Pinkie gave Fluttershy a weak smile before turning to the rest of the group. "It may not be the best day after all, girls."

The other girls had looks of understanding and various degrees of sorrow on their faces, while Twilight merely looked confused. "Day to cry? What does that mean?"

Rarity put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "You haven't been in Ponyville long, darling, so you wouldn't understand. We'll explain later." Rarity turned her gaze back to Fluttershy and copied Pinkie's weak smile. "We'll leave you be, darling. If you do need anything, and I mean anything at all, do not hesitate for even a moment to ask." 

"Okay," said Fluttershy weakly. "I... I'll be sure to do that, then."

With a round of solemn goodbyes, the five departed and Fluttershy closed the door behind them. She sighed and flattened her ears before collapsing onto her haunches and quietly sobbing. 

Today was a day to cry.