Pinkie was on her way as soon as she heard.
A small robin, surely one of Fluttershy’s animal friends, had stopped by Sugarcube Corner and landed on the front counter, holding a small parchment in its beak. Pinkie’s eyes scanned the letter, and before the robin could follow, she had already taken off.
Pinkie ran as fast as her little legs could carry her, making a mad dash for Fluttershy’s cottage. The note had been very clear-- something was wrong. And somepony had to help! With Twilight away on her new royal duties, Applejack busy with the farm, Rainbow Dash off clearing the skies, and Rarity running the boutique, who else would be there?
Speeding through town, Pinkie offered many apologies to the ponies she bumped into. She was worried. Fluttershy was always able to handle her animals…what could possibly be wrong?
Pinkie’s heart lightened up when Fluttershy’s cottage was finally in sight. Upon reaching the door, she stopped to catch her breath. Still panting, her hoof met the door several times with a frantic tap tap tap tap!
No response.
Tap tap tap tap tap!
After a moment’s pause, the ruffling of sheets and the movement of hooves hitting the floor came, and a light “Coming…” was heard.
The door slowly opened, and Fluttershy poked her head outside, meeting Pinkie’s gaze.
“Fluttershy!!” Pinkie cried, hugging the pegasus tight, “I came as soon as I got your letter! What happened? What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Did somepony break in? Did you--”
Pinkie was cut off by Fluttershy’s breathless flailing, realizing that she was suffocating her friend.
“Oh!” She said, releasing her grip. “Uh…sorry.” she giggled nervously, allowing the pony to catch her breath.
Fluttershy shook her head, and sighed. “Oh, no. That’s quite alright, Pinkie Pie…I’m just glad you came as quickly as you did. Please come in…” she turned away, leaving the door open behind her. Pinkie bounced in line behind her, catching the door with her hind leg and pulling it shut as she entered the house.
However, the pink pony stopped in place when she saw the interior of the cottage.
Fluttershy had pulled all the blinds down over her windows, and most of the lights were off, save for one in the kitchen. Sheets were down over the floors, and very light music was playing in the background, a tune that even Pinkie couldn’t name.
“Please do your best to be quiet,” Fluttershy asked. “I hope it isn’t a problem, but I’ve been trying to keep things nice and relaxing around here.”
Pinkie nodded vigorously and pretended to zip her lips shut. “You have my-!” she stopped, then dropped her voice to a whisper.
“You have my word! It’s a Pinkie Promise.”
Fluttershy smiled at her silly friend and motioned Pinkie to follow her. “It’s this way…”
Pinkie Pie gently trotted next to Fluttershy, surveying the room. “So…why are there all these sheets lying around? Is it a game?”
“I wish it was…” Fluttershy sighed, looking down at the floor. “It’s so the sound of my hooves don’t make any noise when I walk.”
Pinkie Pie watched their hooves. Sure enough, the usual clip-clop they made was being muffled by the sheets, and no noise permitted. “Oh.” she said, finding this amusing. She wondered where the sound went? Did it just go somewhere else? It had to be somewhere. Pinkie decided that after she helped Fluttershy, she’d go looking for the sound.
“Here.” Fluttershy said, pushing a door open. Inside, many animals were crowded around a small bed. There were so many, Pinkie couldn’t even see who was lying on it. Bouncing up a few times, she could see a small rodent-like creature curled up under a blanket.
Fluttershy stepped forward, and a few animals moved aside, allowing her to pass through. Pinkie was hesitant at first to follow, unsure of what to do with herself. But Fluttershy motioned her over, and the earth pony nodded in affirmation and joined her. At a closer glance, Pinkie noticed that the rodent looked different, and not like it should. It seemed cold, as it shivered, and looked very unhappy. Besides the shivers, it barely moved.
“It looks…bad.” Pinkie said gently, her eyes unable to leave the poor thing.
“His name is Twigs.” Fluttershy said sadly. “He’s a chipmunk…and he’s very sick.”
“Sick?” Pinkie asked, looking back to Fluttershy. “Like…bad sick?”
“I’m afraid so…” the yellow pegasus sighed. “And…I’ve tried everything. Twilight came to see him, and she said there was nothing she could do…she said, ‘Sometimes magic just can’t fix it’. I’ve sang to him, fed him, and he won’t eat…”
“Won’t eat?!” Pinkie exclaimed, albeit quietly. “Nothing?”
Fluttershy shook her head. “Nothing at all. But, you see…he’s very old. I’ve had him for such a long time…I just…sort of lost track of his age. He’s very loved here. I love him, Angel loves him, we all do…I just don’t know what to do…”
Pinkie nodded in understanding, a frown on her face that was very out of place. She thought for a moment, then brightened up. “I know! We could throw him a party! That can cheer anypony up! Remember? I used to come over and dance and sing with you whenever you were sick, and you felt sooooo much better!”
Fluttershy smiled, although it was a bittersweet one. “…I wish that would work,” she whispered. “But, it isn’t Twigs that I wanted you to cheer up…”
Pinkie Pie blinked at her friend, watching her.
Light tears filled Fluttershy’s cerulean eyes. “It’s me…” She sank to the floor, covering her face with her hooves, shaking slightly and sobbing.
Shocked, Pinkie dropped to floor with her, resting a hoof on her back. “Fluttershy? Don’t…don’t cry! It’ll be okay! Cheer up! Twigs will be okay!”
Fluttershy looked at her, and shook her head. “No Pinkie…Twigs has lived his life, don’t you see? He’s older…and when animals get older, they leave us…just like anything else. I haven’t had to do this in so long…it’s been a very long time since I’ve lost one of my little critters…I forgot how much it hurts…” she buried her face again.
Pinkie watched Fluttershy, then looked back to the bed. Twigs was very small for his age, and didn’t appear to be healthy, as if he were withering away. Finally understanding, Pinkie felt a few tears of her own beginning to build…
No.
No! She blinked them away.
Fluttershy had called her here to be supportive, and help her though a hard time. She had to be strong for her!
Pinkie stood up, and helped Fluttershy to her feet. “Don’t worry, Fluttershy. Your friend loves you! I’m sure that he’s super grateful that you took him in all those years ago!”
Fluttershy sniffled. “You…do you think so?”
“I KNOW so! Anypony would be lucky to have a friend like you! Just look around!“ A finch landed on Pinkie’s head, offering Fluttershy a smile. A squirrel ran up Fluttershy’s tail, hugging the back of her mane. Soon, many other animals gathered around them.
“They all love you, and so do I! And Twilight, Dashie, AJ, Rarity, Spike…all of Ponyville! And Twigs. You’ve just gotta be strong for him. Just like I’m trying to be strong for you! It’s what friends do.”
Fluttershy’s eyes watered, and she nodded knowingly, a smile creeping across her face. “You’re right, Pinkie. Twigs is a dear friend, and he wants me to be by his side every moment until the end. Twilight taught us all that…”
Pinkie jumped for joy, giggling. “Yes yes yes! That’s the spirit!”
Fluttershy walked back to the bed, resting a hoof very gently on Twigs’ side.
“Twigs…you’ve been a very dear friend. I know you have to go soon…but…you will be very happy wherever you go…and you can eat all your favorite foods again. They’ll be flowers, and trees, and a pretty sky that never goes away…you’ll be so very happy.”
Twigs sighed gently in understanding.
Pinkie bounced next to her, and nodded in agreement. “Yeah, and you can party all day, everyday! How lucky are you?”
Fluttershy gently lied down next to him, humming softly. Pinkie, realizing that she needed time, quietly stepped out of the room.
A few moments later, Fluttershy exited the room, a sad, but content look on her face. Pinkie rushed to join her.
“Is he--?”
“Yes.” Fluttershy said. “Peacefully.”
Pinkie bit her lip, nodding sadly.
Fluttershy hugged her friend, the smell of cotton candy attacking her nostrils. “Thank you, Pinkie. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself, I was just scared. The animals were looking to me like they expected something of me…and I as I laid there with him they all seemed content again.”
Pinkie returned the hug. “No problem! I’m glad everything is okay now.” She looked around. “Do you need any help?”
Fluttershy looked at the sheets, the blinds, and the door hiding the small chipmunk who needed a proper send-off.
“Yes, please.” she said. “That would be wonderful.”
~~~~~~~~~
Standing at the small mound of dirt in the forest, Fluttershy and Pinkie stood side-by-side.
“Hm…it’s missing something.” Fluttershy said meekly.
“Yeah, it is…” said Pinkie, looking around. Her eyes caught something, and she was off.
Fluttershy had barely a moment to blink when she was back. A small white flower was lying on top of the mound, adding a graceful touch.
“What do you think?” Pinkie grinned, looking to her.
She smiled, looking at the mound then back to Pinkie. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
They stood for a little longer, before Pinkie looked at the sky. “Yikes! It’s getting late! I still have some deliveries to make back at Sugarcube Corner! I almost forgot!” she looked back at Fluttershy. “Are you gonna be okay? I mean, because I can just tell the Cakes that--”
“No, no, that’s alright. You missed last week’s deliveries for that pie eating contest at Sweet Apple Acres. I don’t think they’d like it much if you missed it twice…”
Pinkie giggled with a snort. “Heehee! I guess that’s true. But hey…if you ever need a pony to lend a helping hoof, you know you’re pal Pinkie Pie will always be around!”
Fluttershy nodded and smiled. “Yes, I know. Thank you so much.”
“No problem! That’s what friends are for! I’ll see you at Rarity’s tomorrow! Tea party, remember?”
“Oh, I’d never forget.”
“Ooooookay! See ya!” and she bounced away.
Fluttershy turned back to the little resting place, laying gently next to it, a sigh escaping her lips.
“That’s what friends are for.”