It was a recipe for disaster
A four course meal of no sirree
It seemed that happily ever after
Was happy everyone was after me
It was good intentions
A table spoon of one big mess
A dash over-reaction and I assume you know the rest.
I am very dissapointed in you, Kyle...
I HATE YOU!! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!! I HATE YOU!!
Oh, my little baby boy...where are you?
Don't leave me...please...I don't wanna be alone again. .
I...I just wished I...had more time with him...my son.
Sacrifice...sacrifice...sacrifice...
"M-Mr. Kyle?" I heard a quiet spoken voice call out timidly as my eyelids tried and tried again to open-up entirely. In my groggy state, I felt something soft and warm rub against my hand, of which was hanging procariously off the side of the couch. When I looked down to investigate, I saw the small yellow pegasus tentatively nuzzle the palm of my hand with a cheery smile. That was odd, what happened to the ultra-shy little filly? I smile sleepily and moved my hand to brush her mane lazily. When she noticed that I was awake, she recoiled, glanced up at me and shied away. I couldn't help but notice the tinge of pink in her cheeks.
"Buono matina, Fluttershy." I greeted with a yawn and a tight stretch, this couch just wasn't meant for sleeping on.
"I'm s-sorry but...w-what does that m-mean?" She asked curiously but still with that tone of nervousness. Too bad too, I really thought she was warming up quickly to me but what can you do?
"Mornin'." I smile down at her and she replies with a silent 'Oh'. "Ya feelin' peckish?" I ask, Fluttershy just tilts her head at me curiously. I gesture to the kitchen and her eyes shine with understanding, she grins wide and nods her head excitedly. Huh, guess she must be hungry, then.
I managed to fix up a meal of broken up carrots for her to eat after establishing that I was out of cereal or bread. She seemed content with it and nibbled away happily at the vegetables while I savoured a couple of apples from the neighbouring famous orchard.
I probably haven't tapped into this yet but after AJ had left, I went to go see how Mac and Granny were taking it and to take whatever verbal lashing that my haven given me. I had assumed Applejack has told them that it was me that gave her the money to go to Manehatten.
Which was something that made me feel all the more guilty, thinking on it now.
In the show, Applejack had managed to get the funds on her own...not by the helping hand of a human. It would seem that I've affected the timeline beforehand. Hell, I hadn't even seen any of the fourth season before getting sucked into Equestria, so, who knows what else I've potentially ruined, intentionally or not.
Getting back on track, I had gone to Sweet Apple Acres the weekend AJ had left, I had less hours on Sundays at "The Corner", as I had come to call it, so I decided to pay my visit then.
Thus, I began to saunter up to the farmhouse, weaving my way through the trail, lined by rows and rows of lucious, alive and fresh apples, hanging procariously from their host-trees. The sight was almost nostalgic, if not, delicious.
Doubt began to settle in as I spotted the farmhouse, eerily quiet and with a somber sense to it. There was little chance that they'd even want to speak with me, given what I had helped done but still, even with that, even if all Granny or Mac did was yell at me, I'd be left with a sense of responsiblity and that was enough for me.
So, with this in mind, I gave the door a firm set of knocks and waited. The wood creaked open to reveal the stout, lanky red colt, looking up at me with bloodshot emerald eyes. They looked so much like hers...
"What d'ya want?" He asked sternly and as hard as he could manage. His voice wasn't quite yet the baritone he was portrayed with having but it was getting there, he was certainly the oldest foal I had seen, probably roughly catching up on me in years.
Still, the boy asked a question. "I...just came by...to say I'm sorry." I began. Mac looked disinterested but I continued. "Applejack...had a dream, Mac. She would go on about it whenever she could, always sayin' that she'd make it big in the big city. Believe me, I always said to her that family comes first and that she shouldn't leave Sweet Apple Acres behind but...she wouldn't take my word for it."
Mac wiped a stray tear from his eye. "Then why'd ya'll give 'er the money to go?"
I sighed. "It was her path to take, it's a lesson she needs to learn on her own and I see that now. You should too. Applejack made her decision and kept her eyes dead-set on her goal and whenever somethin' was thrown at her to slow her down...she'd be more miserable than I'd ever seen before."
I knelt down, Mac was now at eye-level with me. "She needed to follow her dream, Macintosh. No matter how bleak it may look right now, this was for the best and I guarantee that AJ'll be back before ya know it." I smiled down at him and tentatively placed a hand on his shoulder. He barely flinched, just staring back into my eyes, holding back the tears he had behind his own as best he could.
He nodded resolutely. I nodded back. He looked like he was about say something but was quickly cut off by a high-pitch elderly voice screaming through the house. "Big-Macintosh!! Whose at the door?!"
"It's just Applejack's friend, Granny!" Mac shouted back, I rubbed a pinkie into my ear at that. For an old mare and a little colt, Apples could really yell.
My heart sank a little as I heard the approaching hoofsteps coming up to the door. Somehow, in the back of my mind, I knew Old Granny Smith wasn't going to be as...docile as her grandson.
I quickly looked to Mac. "Listen, I gotta go. Remember what I said; she'll be back before ya know it." I gave him a firm nod before he could reply and dashed off into the orchard right about when Granny reached the door.
"Was that that fella that gave Applejack that money?" I overheard her asked the young colt.
"Yup."
"Well what'd he have to say?!"
"...Just said he was sorry."
I haven't talked to the Apples since then and when I do, it's just to buy a bit of their produce. It's always through Mac though, which I'm thankful for but we don't talk. A nod or a look is all the conversation either of us need to understand the other. I know he's still hurt from the loss of his sister but he's grown up considerably since then, I can see it. I also know that he still blames me, can't be helped I suppose, the kid needs something simple to believe and if that means that he needs to blame his pain on someone...so be it.
I only hope he can move past it by the time AJ comes back.
"Mr. K-kyle?" Fluttershy timidly spoke up.
"Hmm, what's up, lass?"
"Oh, umm, nothing. It's just that you were...just sorta standing there and..." She trailed off and hid behind her mane. I looked down and found that my feet were frozen in place, one on the floor, the other leaning on the cupboard behind me for support. In my hand was a half-eaten large green apple. Huh, figures.
"Ahh, no worries, darl'. I was just kinda thinkin'."
"Oh, okay."
We lasped into another silence at that, the only noise was that of both our jaws crunching down our respective breakfasts.
Though, it wasn't long before I took a seat on the opposite side of the table and faced her.
"Fluttershy?" I began.
"Hmm?" she murmured with a curious look in her eye as she gazed up at me.
"Listen, I-uhh...Have to go to work today."
"Oh...I see."
"And so I was wonderin' if you'd like to come with me into town today." That got a frightful look from her. She turned away from me and hid behind her mane again. "Look, I just...don't wanna leave ya alone here while I'm gone, ya'll can understand that, right? I'll be worried as Hell 'bout ya all day." I stood up and walked around to kneel down beside her. "And then we can try to find a way for you to get back home, alright?"
She was silent for a while...but when her head turned and she finally looked me in the eye again, I swear I felt my heart explode from the expression on her face.
"Alright." She said with a firm nod of her head.
"Alright? Alright, then." I smiled down at her, stood up and gave her mane a quick scruff as I made my way to the stairs. It was just barely audible but I swear I heard her giggle a little at the action.
So, after throwing on some more presentable clothes, courtesy of the ever-generous Athena, I walked back downstairs to see Fluttershy, just sitting there on the couch, staring at the ground below her hooves that dangled over the sides. It was odd seeing her sit like that, it was odd seeing a pony in such a...human position.
"Ya'll set?" I asked.
Fluttershy gave a slight start at hearing my voice. "Oh...uhhh, yes...I think so."
I walked up to her. "Glad to hear it, let's be off then, shall we?" She gave a nod and hopped off the couch and onto her hooves and followed closely as I moved to the door and swung it open.
I gave a noticable cringe at the splintering marks in the wood upon seeing them again.
"W-what d-did that?" she stuttered fearfully.
I was quiet for a few moments, silently contemplating. "...Nothin', a racoon, I think." I lied. "Reckon it was mighty hungry and desperate to get inside."
That made me shiver on the inside.
Fluttershy didn't seem to acknowledge my answer and instead just followed me out the door and with a swift movement, we were locked out...as was anything else that didn't carry the key I had.
I looked down and gave the timid young pegasus the warmest smile I could muster. I crouched down beside her and made sure I was lower than her. "Let's be off, ay, lass?" I gestured for her to climb up with a flick of the wrist. She seemed hesitant. "C'mon, it'll be faster gettin' there and I really want you to take it easy, not everyday some filly just falls from that kind of height and walks it off." I chuckled.
Fluttershy gave a firm nod and tentatively lowered her hooves onto my back. She looked unsure of how she was to climb up. So, with a steady motion, I managed to lift her up onto my shoulders, both of her hind legs hanging limply and bumping against my chest. With a terrified squeak, she wrapped her hooves around my head, shielding my eyes and therefore blocking my vision. She was shaking.
"Fluttershy?...Fluttershy, I can't see, you're gonna have to trust me." I began before reaching up to her with both arms. "Just gimme your hooves and hold on tight, ya hear? You'll be okay."
To be frank, it amazed me how quick she was to trust me. I mean, this was Fluttershy, right? The same pony that needs an entire cheerleading team to get her across literally a hoof's length gap. Even still, however, she was quick to obey my instructions, no matter how timidly she might carry them out. I suppose I can never quite tell what a pony's going to be exactly like in this world...
...seeing as I've royally fucked it up.
That wasn't the time, there'd be time for that later. So, with great patience, I watched as she extended her hooves out to my hands, clenching her eyes shut, fearing that she'd fall off and gravely hurt herself. It wasn't until I wrapped my fingers around her hooves that her eyes opened and she looked down to see my grinning face staring back up at her, shaded mostly by the hair in my eyes. Fluttershy took a deep gulp and I nodded.
"Ready?"
"Mhmm."
With that, I carried her like that all the way down the road to Ponyville.
She was understandably and obviously scared at first but after a while, she seemed to...enjoy herself. When I would pick up pace, she'd make the most adorable little giggle and I could feel her tiny wings ruffle in bliss as the wind flicked and batted against her mane and my own hair.
I suppose we did look a bit silly but what was I to care? There was nopony around and we were barely halfway there.
So we had as much fun as we could like that on the way to town...and it filled my heart with joy to see her so happy. It seemed as if all was right and that it would always be right in those fields, nothing but laughter and expanses of grass.
Then suddenly, Fluttershy went silent. I looked up at her and saw her eyes locked onto a single pink-winged butterfly just hovering in the air in front of her, not a care in the world. I stopped moving and just simply watched her. Fluttershy was all but in-tranced by the flying insect, observing every beat and flutter of it's wings and whatever grace it possessed. To me, it was just an insect, a bug but to her? It must've been something else entirely. I don't think she'd ever seen one before and merely observed the creature as a newly-found phenomenom. I decided to speak up at that.
"Oddly pretty little things, aren't they?" I asked. She nodded twice, still enthralled. "They're called 'butterflies', first time seein' one?" She nodded again.
As if not in control of her own movements, she reached out a hoof towards the creature. Slowly, her hoof approached the insect with all the timidity in the world but before it could make contact, the butterfly instead looped around it and flapped it's way over to Fluttershy's face. She let out an 'eep' and clenched her eyes, all as the winged creature simply perched itself upon her nose, staring right at her with bug-like eyes. Fluttershy calmed down and was greeted with the image of the butterfly, now up close when she opened her own eyes.
It was silent for a few solid moments.
Then the creature flapped it's tiny wings and flew off without a care once more.
Fluttershy looked down at me and met my gaze. She tightened her grip around me and buried her head in my neck, letting out a content hum.
"I like butterflies." She said simply.
"Yeah...thought you might."
It was little bit later in the morning, so more ponies were out and about than usual by the time I get to the Corner. Fluttershy had apparently noticed the large populace and hid lower behind me. I chuckled and reached behind to allow her to cradle there in a sort of piggy-back fashion. With different anatomies, you had to make due.
I got the usual wave from some of the more friendly residents in town and even still, a few resentful glances but they were getting more ignorable.
"Hey, Kyle!" I heard a chirpy young voice call out.
I looked about and found a small cream filly waving over at me. "Howdy, Rose."
"Whose your new friend?" She asked, gesturing to the cowering pegasus latched to my shirt.
"Oh, well, this here's Fluttershy." I looked to her but she seemed just fine with burying her face in my spine. "Sorry, she's more than a little bit timid but what can ya do, right?" I chuckled lightheartedy at that.
"Well, okay, you off to work now?" Rose asked.
"Aye, missed yesterday 'cause o' this one but that's how it goes, I guess." I sighed. "Well, I'll catya later, kay, lass?"
"Alright, see ya later!" She gave one final wave before trotting off.
I gave a slight shake of my head, feeling a smile worm it's way onto my face. Roseluck was a nice enough filly.
With little distraction, I managed to make it to Sugarcube Corner, bit later than I'd like but I was sure to make up for that plus my day off yesterday today. Just hope the Cakes are as reasonable as I hope they are. I walked inside with the filly still clinging to my body and give a quick look around, neither of the married couple were at the register, something that wasn't all that strange, alot of times they'd be in the back baking something. I always liked when I got to work the counter, between taking orders, I snuck a look back into the kitchen and I'd see both Cakes covered head to hoof in dough, sweat and flour, laughing estatically with one another while a freshly made and delicious pastry sat there displayed before them.
On the off chance, it was utterly destroyed...but they'd laugh anyway.
Every time this happened, they'd look eachother in the eye and I could see it. The love they shared between each other, still after years of marriage, the fire of passion still burned in their hearts and it was plain to see. The look Cup would give Carrot as her disheveled mane clung tightly to her sweat-soaked body was something any man would've given his life to see day in, day out.. Before long,one or the other would lean forward and lock their lips in a loving kiss, even while dirty beyond comprehension in baking residue, it was something to behold.
More so than not, they'd catch me staring and tell me to get back to work. Carrot would always sternly go off like that while Cup just giggled amusedly. I, however, just grinned, shrugged and greeted the next customer at the counter, ready to take the order that would surely end up in creating yet another scene just the one before.
Though, today was all about putting the work in and I was right on the path of doing so.
"Cup? Carrot?" I call out for them. Though, it goes in vain. What struck me as odd was that the place was...barren. Not a soul resided in the bakery. "Must be in the back, I guess." I shrugged and looked back at Fluttershy. "Go on, grab yourself a booth and I'll be right with ya. I just gotta find the ol' buggers that run the place."
She nodded and kicked at the air beneath her. I smiled and hunched down which she responded with steadily climbing off and back to her hooves. The pegasus looked up at me and I smiled. I was glad to see the same on her face before she scampered off to the booth at the back. She was barely noticable there, probably what she was going for in case anypony came in.
So, as it would turn out, I was wrong. Mr nor Mrs Cake were in the kitchen. Naturally, after that, I discovered myself looking through all the draws of said kitchen. Of course I had to check the pantry and every cupboard, who knows? They could bloody well be in there. Alas, they weren't and I began scratching my head. It was...Thursday? I think, not overly sure but it was a week day, I'm certain.
I walked out into the main shop again, Fluttershy was still in her spot in the booth, idly fidgeting with her hooves, bored. That was when I remembered the upstairs room, looking at the staircase leading upwards.
"In the loft, then? Can't for the life of me think of a reason why they'd be in there." I muttered to myself. I began to make my way to them but was stopped when I heard a set of familiar hoofsteps clip-clopping down the stairs. "Cup?" I inquired.
By the time the mare had descended enough so that she was visible, she looked absolutely buggered. Her mane was ragged and messy and her entire body was soaked in...something, I presumed sweat. Though, her face was adorned by a dreamy smile, it was entirely replaced by a surprised frown by the time she caught sight of me.
"Oh, Kyle! W-what are y-you doing here this early?" She managed a nervous grin at that.
"What do ya mean?" I cocked an eye-brow. "It's like nine o'clock."
Mrs. Cake's eyes widened. Her head spun to the clock on the far wall and her jaw dropped. "Heh, so it is."
I nodded my head slowly. "So...where's Carrot?" I asked. I was given an answer instantaneously as the orange stallion himself popped out from behind the cyan mare and continued down the stairs, the same nervousness about him with every step as he trotted into the kitchen. He looked just a dishevled as Cup.
I looked at the archway to kitchen...then back to Cup...to the kitchen...to Cup...
"Oh...Ugh! God, really?"
Mrs. Cake trotted up to me. "Everypony has needs, Mr. Mercer especially if you're married and in love." She took on a sly smirk. "One day, you might not find it so unwelcoming."
"I'm 15!" I blurted out. "I get it! It's just that...Well, I'm glad you two are damn quiet, last thing I need is Fluttershy hearin'...that."
"Fluttershy?" Cup asked. I gestured to the yellow pegasus in the corner, she apparently hadn't taken any interest or notice of us and continued to just trying to keep herself entertained. "Whose she?"
"Lyra didn't tell you?"
"Why would Lyra tell me that?"
I groaned. "'Cause I asked her too but that's besides the point." I glanced over at the pink-maned filly. "She's...kinda the reason I couldn't come in yesterday."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I'll fill ya in 'bout it." I said as I turned towards the door. "Just gotta let ponies know it's safe to come in now." I added with more than a hint of sarcasm. "Seriously, Cup, ever heard of a lock?"
The rest of the morning was anything but special. I managed to get through what happened with Fluttershy pretty quickly, talking to Mr and Mrs. Cake. They were understanding enough, more than enough, really.
So that was that, up until the afternoon was all but me and the little yellow cute bugger up at the counter together. Of course she was abnormally quiet for a pony, some of the customers were even inquiring about her. Though, with Fluttershy, 'quiet' is anything but abnormal. Not that anyone knew that...yet.
Every time I glanced down at her, I couldn't help but think about how her life was going to turn out. Will she choose to live on the ground? Would she still end up to be the Element of Kindness?
I couldn't say. All I could do was keep her safe...and relatively happy.
I handed a bag of muffins over to a familiar customer, I never managed to catch her name but she gladly took the it in her teeth and gave me a smile through it. I nodded and rested my arms over the counter, I looked down beside my feet and saw the small pegasus idly poking at the floor with a hoof. "How ya doin' there, sugar?" I asked.
Fluttershy tilted her head up to look at me, seemingly much more alert than before. However, when she caught my gaze, her ears splayed back and she turned to the ground again. "Oh, I'm...f-fine." She muttered.
"Thinkin' 'bout home, are ya?" She gave a timid nod. "Hey, I promise we'll get ya back up there soon, alright? It's almost 'bout time for me t-"
"Excuse me?" I heard a...strangely familiar voice speak up.
Forcing myself to not facepalm for forgetting my job, I turned back to the counter. Standing there was a light tan Earth-Mare that sported a darker shade of brown for her neatly combed mane that was tied at the end by a simple blue band. I looked up into her expressive light blue eyes. She looked so damn familiar. "Uhh, G'day. What'll it be, shela?"
For the life of me, I can't remember what she ordered but I managed to give it to her. Oddest thing was, I had never seen her before and she didn't give the slightest hint of unease or disgust upon seeing me. All I can tell ya is that she was, by all standards, remarkably beautiful.
...and I think I saw a tiny bulge in her stomach as she exited the shop.
Naturally I shrugged it off and was about to turn back to Fluttershy...
...if it wasn't for somepony abruptly walking into the store and clearing their throat.
I glanced back up...and my jaw dropped.
Standing there was a small white-coated filly, her mane curled up into one of the most decorative hair-styles you'd see in Ponyville. Her large sapphire eyes were mesmerizing and they locked directly onto me.
"Rarity..." I breathed.
"Hello, Kyle." She smiled back, beginning to trot towards me. "Did you miss me?"
I grinned widely. Before I knew it, I vaulted over the counter and dashed over to the little filly. Rarity laughed and scampered up to meet me halfway right before I opened my arms and knelt down. The young porcelain pony gave a short leap and wrapped her front hooves around my neck. She buried her muzzle into my shoulder and squeezed. I hugged her back, almost desperately, probably ruining her pristine coat, which was anything but well-managed by then but I didn't care and neither did she, uncharacteristically.
The last time I saw this pony was when she was ripped from my arms, screaming and taken off to God-knows-where. Now, she was here, she was safe and that just made me nearly burst into tears right then and there.
I had already failed one pony, I couldn't bare to fail another.
"Yeah...yeah, I missed you." I managed. "Ya gave me a real scare, ya know."
Rarity gave me a tender nuzzle at that. "I know and I'm sorry, Unicorn magic is...well, unpredictable. Even at the best of times." She smiled. "And I missed you aswell."
I chuckled and made to stand up, reluctantly letting go of the unicorn. I checked back to see Fluttershy peeking out from around the counter and eyeing the seen with much confusion. I smiled and turned back to Rarity."C'mon, ya got yaself quite the story to tell."
"Indeed I do." She said, matter-of-factly, trotting briskly alongside me back to the counter. "Though, we must make it brief, I require your help with something." She continued before glancing over to Fluttershy. "...and who, my dear, might you be?"