Chapter 3-Feeling Safe At Home
Throughout our time in flight school, Fluttershy and I hung out a lot. We did many things, but one big pastime was flying. I always flew, wherever I went, I loved flying. Fluttershy however, was the opposite. She didn't fly a whole lot, only to the places where she needed to be. With that, came the obvious setback, she wasn't a very good flyer, period. I tried to help her with that, usually to no avail, but I hoped that one day, my training could pay off for her.
Even though we had our good times together, school was still rough on Fluttershy. The insults were getting worse, and they started getting physical with the shy pony. Fluttershy's worst fear was to get hit, by anyone or anything. And one day, she did. One of the kids knocked her to the side, and she went flailing to the floor, while everyone laughed. I could see her about to cry. I took the initiative, and I quickly picked her up, and got her out of that situation as quick as possible. When we were at a safe spot, a deserted hallway that no pony ever walked in, Fluttershy sat down against the wall, put her head in her lap, and cried to next period. I felt very sorry for her.
Every night was almost the same thing. We would have discussions on the day, and all the bad things that happened. It hurt Fluttershy to have to talk about all the things that happened to her, but she knew that talking about it with someone else, was the best thing to do. She would cry and sob for a while, and I would cheer her up. Then, we would talk about anything good that happened, or plans for the next sleepover or get-together. That always seemed to make her happy. Most of the time, she slept at my place, which again, I didn't mind. It was fine. If she felt good here, then be my guest. One day though, she said something that really warmed my heart.
It was a warmer spring night, and we were talking about an incident at school, were some kid in science class totally mixed the wrong ingredients in the test tubes, and all the stuff came gushing back at him like a hose. We have science together, so we both saw the whole thing happen.
"I know right? That was by far, the funniest thing I've ever seen!"
"Yeah, it was, but I really feel bad for that kid. I know he didn't mean for that to happen..."
"Yeah, I guess I do too, but hey, his mistake..." I stopped and snickered. "Was one of the funniest things I've ever seen!".
We laughed at that. Hearing Fluttershy laugh was always nice. She had the best little laugh, so light, so soft...
The room grew silent for a moment. Fluttershy opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She was very hesitant.
"What is it Fluttershy?" I asked, munching on apple.
"Um...I...um..." She looked up at me, then down at the bed, then back up, back down. I wondered what she had to say...
"Come on Flutershy. Remember, you can tell me anything." I said. She sighed.
"You want to know...the biggest reason I like staying here?" She asked.
I stopped eating. "Sure. What is it?"
She started, then stopped. Finally, she spoke. "The reason...I like staying here...is because..." Her mouth trembled. What did she want to say? It was eating me up!
"Yes?"
"It's...because..." She hugged me tightly. "It's because I feel safe here! I love being here, because I know nothing bad will happen!" She started sobbing in my fur. I looked down at her. 'She feels safe...' I kept repeating the thought in my head. I returned the hug, stroking her soft pink hair.
"Aw, Flutters...that's, really sweet. I'm glad I can make you feel that way." I said. I wasn't really into the mushy gooey talk, but for Fluttershy, there was an exception. I truly was glad that I could make this sensitive, shy pony feel safe, when nothing else could. It really warmed my heart.
She nuzzled her head into my shoulder, her soft breaths on my body. I looked down at her, still stroking her hair. She was so soft, and I could almost feel her slow, steady heartbeat. I felt something rise in my heart in that moment, some sort of, feeling that I had never felt before. I looked back down at her. She was asleep, breathing ever so slowly on my body. I smiled and layed her body down on the bed, pulling the covers over her. She snuggled herself into them without knowing. I stared at her for many seconds, thinking about something that was on my mind.
'Was it? I mean...we've been hanging out for a while, and, she seems to be enjoying her stays more and more...'
'No, it can't! That would be wrong...wouldn't it?'
'Maybe not...if it is true...she feels safe, Rainbow...she feels safe...with you.'
I smiled at her sleeping body. I had that thought in my head the whole night, and even longer. I would be contemplating the choices for...not a very long time...because that same night, the answer soon came to me.