Pink and Orange Butterflies

by RachWrites

Pink and Orange Butterflies

Wet tears were drowning her. Scootaloo had been crying into Fluttershy’s coat for the past half an hour.. The yellow mare hadn’t said a single thing, but she snuggled with her daughter with the remorse she’d been retaining for so long.

“Are you alright, now...Scootaloo?” She asked. Her quiet voice was even quieter than it usually was and Scootaloo sniffed and nodded.

She had questions….So many questions, like, why was Fluttershy so afraid of the pegasi in Cloudsdale? She asked her this and Fluttershy sighed.

“I-I guess….I was just….well…” She sighed and continued. “ I guess I wasn’t afraid of the pegasi….I think….I think I was afraid of my family...and how they would react.”

“I….I guess that makes sense, but why? Didn’t your family love you?” Scootaloo asked, her voice quivering.

Fluttershy sighed again; these were her burdens, and hers alone. She had no intention of sharing them with her daughter, but she knew that she must, or else she’d question her to the end of her days.

“My mother was not the most….understanding pony around. I actually get my kindness from my father, he was always so supportive of me, even when I left Cloudsdale with Rainbow Dash. He knew I was having trouble in flight camp, and he probably assumed it was because of that...But, even if I told him the truth, he’d probably still support me.” Fluttershy replied.

Scootaloo nodded slightly and she saw Fluttershy’s eyes filling up with tears. As the two sat in the park, they watched Celestia lowering the sun; the alicorn’s domain moving slowly, just like their conversation. The little orange pegasus smiled as she remembered Rainbow Dash.

“So, is Rainbow Dash still my sister? Or...is she something else now?” She asked.

She knew Rainbow wasn’t her actual sister, yet saying it like it was true made the little filly beam with glee.

Fluttershy chuckled and smiled, “I suppose she could be….If you need her so much.”

Scootaloo realized that this comment made her sound like she loved Rainbow more than Fluttershy, which wasn’t true at all. In the slightest. Scoots smiled and shifted towards her mother some more; she gave her a kind look and began nuzzling her.

“You know I love you too, right?” Scootaloo asked.

Fluttershy wanted to sigh in relief, but she only smiled with eyes filling with tears. She didn’t want to hurt Scootaloo’s feelings, but hearing her daughter saying that...After so long, it really helped her heart heal.

“Yes, Scootaloo...I know.” She replied, hugging her daughter.

After a while of hugging and preening, Scootaloo released her mother and sighed again. “I just...don’t understand one thing!” She exclaimed.

Fluttershy tilted her head; her light pink mane falling with it. “Oh?”

Scootaloo’s concerned look turned into a small smile. “Why did you trust Pinkie Pie with your secret? And how in Equestria did she keep it?” She asked.

Fluttershy giggled from Scootaloo’s question. “You’d be surprised….Pinkie is actually a very trustworthy pony. When she promised me that she wouldn’t tell anypony, her tone was genuine. It was something I’ve never seen in her before, and I knew I could trust her.” She replied.

Scootaloo smiled and nodded her head. “I think Pinkie’s pretty awesome, Dash always says how her pranks are some of the best!” She replied, not noticing the touch of nostalgia in Fluttershy’s voice, and the feeling behind her words.

The giggle Fluttershy gave was a little less happy. She was still loving this contact: anything that gave her and Scootaloo this much freedom, was a good thing.

⁂
As Scootaloo finished her dinner, Fluttershy busily fed some of the night dwelling animals in her backyard. The orange filly jumped off her chair and trotted out of the kitchen and into the backyard.

Fluttershy’s night animals were crowded around her. They had woken up, just for Fluttershy. Scootaloo was amazed at how well she communicated with them.

“Oh, thank you Mr. Hootington, I really like your new home. It wasn’t too hard to make, but I am ever so glad you like it.” Fluttershy cooed softly to the large barn owl.

The owl hooted back at Fluttershy and picked his food off of his bowl; Fluttershy smiled and counted all of the animals dishes. When it seemed that every animal was accounted for, she turned around and saw her daughter standing behind her with a proud smile on her face.

Scootaloo wanted to chuckle as she saw her mother blush a bright pink that copied the colour of her mane.

“Wow, mom! Your so good with the animals...I-I was wondering if I could help out?” Scootaloo asked.

She didn’t know if Fluttershy would let her, but she was surprised when the yellow pegasus nodded. “Of course you can! I haven’t fed the rabbits for the night yet, and I think somepony as small as you will help them with their….timidness.” She replied.

Scootaloo beamed and nodded. As Fluttershy walked her over to the rabbit's hutch, Scootaloo couldn’t help but notice how her mother looked tired. It must have been such a strenuous day for the young mare, and Scootaloo felt empathy for her. She looked down, and couldn’t help but ask:

“A-are you okay, mom?” She asked, looking back up.

Fluttershy’s ears perked up and she smiled. “Oh, yes...I’m fine. Why?” She asked quietly.

Scootaloo frowned, for she knew from her mother’s tone that something was indeed, wrong.

“I’m just...worried about you, that’s all.” Scootaloo mumbled, her eyes not looking at her face.
Fluttershy stopped and sighed. “I’m fine, Scoots. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m just glad you are alright, and that we’re finally together.” She replied.

Scootaloo’s smile grew tenfold and she tried not to cry. They reached the rabbits hutch and four...no five, tiny little baby bunnies hopped out of the hutch when Fluttershy looked at them.

“Oh my goodness! It looks like somebunny’s had a little baby! I think it’s Snuggle's, she’s been expecting some for some time now. I wonder where the others….oh….no….” Fluttershy yelped quietly, making Scootaloo sigh sadly from Fluttershy’s sharp cry..

“It’s okay mom, they’re kinda like us now, right?” She replied, looking up at her mother with bright hopeful eyes.

Fluttershy sighed, Scootaloo didn’t understand death yet, but this sentiment did help her.. She cuddled her daughter with her left wing and smiled. “I guess it sort of is.” She whispered.

⁂

Scootaloo’s new bedroom was very nice. Fluttershy had tried her best to make it seem more….Scootaloo’s style. She had given her new bed sheets, less flowery ones, and a brand new curtain. A night breeze shifted through it and Scootaloo snuggled deeper into her bed.

Fluttershy smiled and kneeled down to her daughter. Her eyes looked tired and Scootaloo felt bad for her. She looked about as tired as she felt.

“M-mom? Are you okay?” She asked once more. Fluttershy sighed and nodded.

She’d never been happier. Scootaloo smiled as she bent down to kiss her forehead.

“Hush now, quiet now, little one, it’s time to lay your sleepy head.” Fluttershy sang.

Scootaloo smiled and her ears flicked with rapidity as she heard this familiar song.

It seemed that Fluttershy had made another verse, and Scootaloo tried to raise an eyebrow in confusion, but she was far too sleepy.
“My little one it’s time to sleep. Hush now, quiet now, little one….I hope you have sweet dreams.”

Scootaloo finally fell into a deep, blissful sleep when Fluttershy finished her melody.

“So hush now, quiet now….little one, and go to sleep.” Fluttershy sang again, as the yellow pegasus smiled trying to move her hoofs failing.

Carefully, as to not wake her sleeping daughter, she crawled up onto her tiny bed and tried to shift her weight to the end of the bed.

Scootaloo, however, felt her mother’s weight and she shifted over and Fluttershy’s eyes widened. She fell as she crawled into bed with her little filly. After so long, she slept in tranquility, with whom she loved, than she’d had in years.