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// December 5th 
// Story: Finding Fluttershy 
// by SamFaith 
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     Even though I was well known and accepted in the school’s computer lab, this was not where I wanted to be. Bathed in the glow of computer screens, and artificial light, I sighed a heavy, pensive sigh. On a normal day I would have been home already.
I considered that word, "normal". It way usually my policy to be anything but. It's not that mainstream was too mainstream for me, more just that I enjoyed looking at the universe from a different point of view. Ever since Fluttershy showed up, however, what had been 'normal' or 'average' or 'usual' for me had taken on still different meaning. Ever since Thanksgiving she had been acting depressed. She wouldn't tell anyone why, but no one had pressured her for an answer, either.
I looked at the clock in the lab, just as it read fifteen past five. Mike had asked me to stay late to see a project he had been working on. I was about to refuse him when he said that it was a gift for my 'house-guest'. So, there I sat, staring blankly at code for a bubble-sort routine, pretending that it was much more interesting.
Mike pulled me from my bored trance soon enough. He held an object out in front of me. It was an odd looking piece of hardware, with sliders and oversized buttons. It almost looked like it belonged in someone's sound studio.
"What is this?"
"Duh! Don't you know a keyboard when you see one?"
I gave the object a second look. This time I saw it. Each of the sliders, ran from the top of the board to one the buttons that lined the bottom. Twelve sliders, twelve related buttons. Two more columns of buttons lined the side of the board, and were labeled for their unique functions. It was bigger than any normal keyboard, but about the right size for a pony with 8-inch hooves and a very soft touch.
"See? You're already starting to figure out how it works!"
"Yeah! ... Mike you're a GENIOUS!"
The entire lab reacted to my outburst. Embarrassed, I apologized to the room, logged out, and left, with Mike in tow. I was amazed, even though he had not known about Fluttershy for more than a couple of weeks, he designed and built an entire keyboard for her. He got away with using school resources, too submitting it as his project for electronic engineering. We continued discussing this new keyboard until it was time for us to part ways.

I was a little apprehensive about letting Fluttershy onto the internet by herself. I had given her a guided tour and shown her all the sites that I thought would interest her. Some of them we had started visiting regularly, but I had always been there running the keyboard. I had installed some parental control software on that computer, just in case. Even so, the idea of innocent Fluttershy being on the world wide web by herself did not sit easy.
On the other hand, I was excited. I imagined how grateful she would be to have access to that computer without relying on me. Perhaps this would bring her out of her funk. This gift might help her open up about what's been bothering her, or rather help me feel more comfortable asking her about it.
"Flutter, I'm home, and I have a gift for you!" I announced.
On cue she appeared from the living room. I set my backpack on the ground, and extracted the keyboard that was sticking out of it. She looked at it curiously, before asking the obvious question.
"What is it?"
"This is a keyboard, like the one I've got attached to the computer," as I started to explain, a smile consumed my face, "Mike designed it specifically for you. See, you slide these to the letter you want, and when you push the button it sends the letter to the computer."
"Oh, that's ... nice."
"Flutter, what's wrong? You've been down for a while, now."
"I... I don't want to offend-"
"Fluttershy, there's nothing you could say to offend me, please just tell me."
She sighed, before looking up at me with forlorn eyes. I held my breath, not wanting to interrupt, or discourage. To my relief, she did her best to explain.
"Well, I spend a lot of time alone here... and I understand that everypony has their own work ... everypony, except me. At home I'd be taking care of my animals."
She shuddered, presumably worrying about the critters at her cottage. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. To no one but herself she said, "My friends know how important they are, and will take care of them for me."
I took the opportunity to lower myself to my knees to make sure she knew that I was there for her, and so that I could listen to her at eye level. She recovered, opened her eyes and continued talking.
"My friends are doing extra work for me, and I'm here playing in the park. What good am I doing? How am I helping?"
I was at a loss for words. I knew this would come up, but only felt like a bigger idiot for not having done anything about it. I looked towards the door behind me, thinking about the lawn. It was but an instant before I realized how stupid that sounded. Even in a neighborhood like this; so quiet that no one would notice a bright yellow pony mowing the lawn, Fluttershy would get no fulfillment from such a poor excuse of a job.
"So," came a voice from the living room, "you've done so much for her already, why don't you go and find a real job for her to do?"
"Sky?" I gasped, "Please tell me Flutter let you in."
"Um... I did, I'm sorry," said Fluttershy.
I smiled at Fluttershy, saying, "No, it's okay... just as long as I know that."
She returned my smile, and I turned my attention to Sky. She always seemed to show up when I least expected her. She had followed me inside without my knowledge before, but somehow this was different.
"So? How about it?" She said, "Let's go sign this pony up!"
I grimaced. Now I was the one who needed a deep breath to center myself. I looked at her, doing my best to keep the anger out of my face, and my voice.
"I'm assuming you have a plan of sorts."
"You know I don't normally plan things out. But, I do have an idea... The library a couple blocks from here is looking to start a children's program."
It took all my strength to keep from exploding, right then and there. I had to keep reminding myself that Fluttershy was right there, and I didn't want to do anything to scare her. I gulped down another breath of air.
"Okay, how do you think a brightly-colored pony could possibly work at a public library without drawing unwanted attention?"
Sky's smile always sent a chill right through me. No matter what the context, whenever those cold, green eyes hovered over that large grin, a pit of fear would form deep within my soul. This time was no exception, the world was all but lost to me as I worried about what I had gotten myself into.
"Shy, dearie," Sky said mockingly, "run along and put on one of your outfits."
Fluttershy looked right at Sky. Something about this girl had caught the attention of the meek pegasus. I began to wonder if Sky scared Fluttershy as she scared me.
After her moment of contemplation Fluttershy left. As I stood, I remembered the keyboard in my hands. I crossed the living room to the couch sky was sprawled across. Looking down at her I set aside the forgotten keyboard, and gave voice to the thought on my mind.
"For someone who doesn't plan things out, you sure sound like you have something."
"Okay," said Sky, "Maybe I outline things a little. Doesn't stop me from making things up as I go."
I glared at her, testing my will against her mischievous smile. This fight would rage on for centuries if allowed. The few minutes it took Fluttershy to return was not nearly enough time. I was mildly disappointed, but was ready to hear the rest of Sky's 'idea'.
"Your choice of disguise was perfect," Sky stated, "Look at her. She's a person in a pony suit."
I turned to look at Fluttershy. I did not wish to admit it, but Sky was right. Even I could not deny that from across the room I could see Fluttershy's own face as a part of a costume.
"You can read, can't you Shy?"
"O-of course!" said Fluttershy.
"And in a library, even your quiet voice will be enough," quipped Sky, "You'll make a great reader."
"Wait," I said, "If she's going to be that close to the children, wouldn't someone notice? What about the interview for that matter?"
"The children will be fine, they're allowed to believe in a little magic. They get to believe that a pony from a TV show came to read to them and no one else would suspect that they're right. As for the interview, leave that to me."
"You can't be serious."
"As a heart attack."
"Are you sure this will work?"
"No," Sky admitted, "But that's never stopped me."
There it was again, that sinking feeling that froze me to my core. I was convinced that this had to be some cruel joke at Fluttershy's expense. Before I could complain, however the timid pony had crossed the room and addressed Sky.
"What if it doesn't work? What if ... what if someone gets hurt?"
"Well, Shy, that's just a risk," Sky said, "C'mon, it'll be fun!"
Fluttershy backed away, shaking her head. Sky's answer was not one that anyone would have approved of, anyone except Sky herself. I did not have to react, as the yellow pegasus was about to address the problem herself.
"No! Not unless you can promise that no one will get hurt!"
"She's right, Sky," I said, "It's her choice."
"Fine, I promise that if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Nobody will suffer."
Fluttershy thought about the opportunity Sky had offered her. For a moment I imagined Angel running the wheel in her head. Looking away I did my best to stifle that thought, and bring my own head back on topic.
"I really do want something to do..."
"Then it's settled!" Sky announced, "I'll be by tomorrow!"
With that she picked herself up from the couch and headed straight for the door, leaving Fluttershy and myself stunned and confused in her wake.
"What just happened?" asked Fluttershy.
"Sky is Sky... She's random and a little psychotic, if she was nicer I'd ask if she reminded you of anyone."
"Pinkie!" Fluttershy offered, without any hesitation at all.
I smiled, "I imagine that she'd be easier to put up with."
"Then, why do you put up with Sky?"
"I don't know."