//------------------------------// // Chapter Seven: Opening Up // Story: The Greatest Show of Kindness // by Sonik //------------------------------// The Greatest Show of Kindness Chapter Seven: Opening Up The next morning, Fluttershy went up to wake Bumble up and give him his love. She had just fed her animals and herself their breakfast, per usual. “Bumble?” she asked, softly pressing against his short, spiky mane and stroking down it. He yawned and stretched out, rubbing his eyes with his good hoof. “Good morning, Fluttershy,” he said, letting his mouth open to a smile. “Good morning, sweetie,” she repeated, giving him a warm kiss on the forehead. He blushed, bringing his good hoof around Fluttershy. “Did you sleep well?” she questioned as she pulled him into her embrace. He cooed, almost purring with delight. “Yes, Fluttershy. I didn’t have any bad dreams thanks to you…” he happily replied. “That’s excellent, Bumble! I’m so glad that you’re starting to feel better,” she said, setting him back down. “I would’ve never been able to feel this way if you hadn’t come along, Fluttershy. I owe everything to you, and I promise that I’ll find a way to repay you for helping me,” he pledged. She looked at him with a small frown, placing her hoof against his chin. “Oh, sweetheart, you don’t need to do anything to repay me. I was more than happy to give you joy,” she explained, winking at him. “R-Really?” he asked, surprised. Tears filled his eyes. “Oh, sure! Kindness isn’t a service-it’s a given of life. Most ponies are kind by nature, and if you get to know them better, you’ll see that they really will stick out for you and that they really will help you through the tough times,” she hinted, nuzzling him against the cheek. “Oh, Fluttershy… Thank you for everything you’ve done for me up to this point… you’re the only creature that’s ever been willing to look out for me, except for one friend I have back home. It’s so unreal to me, being able to know that someone’s there to protect me and be there for me… You’re my hero,” he praised, putting his head into her chest. She looked down to him and gave a deep smile, kissing him on the forehead. “Your hero? Aw… that’s so sweet, Bumble,” she talked, getting close to his ear. “You know what, sweetie?” she whispered. “What, Fluttershy?” “You’re a true sweetheart, and I’ll never let you go.” In an instant, a grin ten miles wide was painted on his face. His cheeks flushed with green as buzzing was created from his happiness. He wrapped his hoof around Fluttershy, sucking in the love she was giving off. It was the sweetest love that he had ever tasted-like a mixture of chocolate, strawberries and peanut butter all mixed together. It was perfect. “Thank you,” he whispered. Fluttershy rubbed her hoof down his mane and backed away, softly setting him back down on the bed. “You’re welcome, Bumble,” she said. “Well, I think that I should get to doing my chores now. I’ll be back later, but if you need me for anything, don’t be hesitant to call for me, okay?” “Okay!” With that, she gave him another love-filled smooch on the head and went off to do her daily activities. As she did, Bumble fell back asleep, allowing him to sleep more. Later that day, Bumble was awoken to the lovely sound of Fluttershy humming to herself as she was organizing some books on a bookshelf. He found himself starting to hum along with her, causing the two voices to weave into each other and create a melodic sound. He smiled in the warm tones of the hum. She looked back at him and saw him softly nodding his head as he hummed. His small, fanged smile was always alluring to her, and she couldn’t resist jumping up on the bed and cuddling him. She shifted herself so that his head was laying down on her stomach. Bumble snuggled up into it, burying his face deeply into the yellow fur. They had laid there for a few minutes before Bumble started to mumble. “Oh, mama…” he murmured, rubbing his head along her belly. Fluttershy looked down at him in surprise; he looked almost dazed. “Sweetie?” she asked, looking down to him, placing a hoof against his carapace. “…Yes, mama?” he said, entranced. “Bumble, it’s me, Fluttershy,” she said. The moment she said that, he immediately stopped moving. Suddenly, she felt a warm liquid against her belly. Lifting his head up, she saw that tears were streaming down as he sobbed. Taken aback by his sudden change in attitude, she stared at him. “No, mama!” he shouted unexpectedly, almost causing Fluttershy to recoil. “Bumble! Are you okay?” Fluttershy concerned, moving herself so that his head could rest in her soft chest fur. “Fluttershy… I-I-I’m such a failure! How can you love me!?” he yelled at her, bringing a sad look on her face. “Sweetie, you aren’t a failure! You’re a sweet little boy, and you deserve all the love that I have to give to you! What makes you think that you’re a failure, Bumble?” she asked. “I’m the whole reason that my… my… my…” he stuttered. Fluttershy softly stroked as his head, nuzzling him at the same time. “It’s okay, sweetie. Just let it out,” she instructed. He sat there for a bit, sniffling and thinking about what he was going to say. “If I hadn’t gone… to Canterlot, my… my…” “Your…?” “My… mama would still be…” He found himself unable to complete that sentence, but Fluttershy could tell what he was going to say. “Is she… gone?” she reluctantly asked, tearing up. He nodded, beginning to cry again. Fluttershy stroked him against the back of his head with one hoof as she rubbed at his eyes with the other. She started to shed tears for him as she comforted him. At that moment, he felt so worthless and weak-like an ant about to be crushed under a pony’s hoof. He couldn’t do anything against it except pray that he would get caught in the cracks of Fluttershy’s kindness. He seemed to be on a lucky streak, with the crushing feeling being suppressed by Fluttershy’s gentle personality. He felt that this; however, was going to flatten him completely. “She’s gone… and it’s all my fault…” he moped, saddening Fluttershy further. “Oh, Bumble… can you tell me what happened? I’m sure that whatever happened to her was not your fault! If it’s too personal, I completely understand, and you don’t have to say it.” Fluttershy assured. “I… okay, Fluttershy. Can you just give me a minute?” he requested. “Of course, sweetheart. You can take as much time as you think you need. My ears will be open as long as it takes you to say what you want to say,” she let on. “Thank you.” For a few moments, Bumble sighed a few times and took some deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself. After giving himself these few seconds, he began to tell his story.