//------------------------------// // Lady Bug // Story: Black Clouds & Silver Lining // by Lucky Seven //------------------------------// Black Clouds & Silver Lining Lady Bug Written by HarimeNui777 “S-so, have you lived around here for a while?” “Ever since I was just a little filly,” the butter colored pegasus responded with a smile. It was a disarming smile, and Tenna suddenly felt very comfortable around this pony. She supposed that she had lucked out, meeting her first. “What about your parents?” the tiny changeling asked meekly. “Oh, they stayed in Cloudsdale after I chose to stay down here,” Fluttershy took a small sip of her tea. “What about yours?” “Oh…” Tenna struggled to think of a good way to put it, but eventually she managed a tiny smile. “They’re in a better place now…” “Oh, I’m so sorry, I had no idea! Stupid, silly Fluttershy!” the pony across from Tenna began scolding herself, causing her to speak up. “N-no, it’s okay. You didn’t know, and it’s only natural you asked about m-mine after I brought yours up…” The way this pony reacted stunned Tenna. Instead of making fun of her because of her lack of parents, she had apologized profusely. Up until now, she had been taunted or made fun of by every pony she had come across. Life had been… difficult, to say the least. With Tenna’s words finally seeming to seep in, Fluttershy refocused herself, and took another sip of her tea. “I’m very sorry to hear that. Do you… um, mind if I ask what happened?” Much like Tenna, Fluttershy felt oddly comfortable around the girl in front of her. She was nothing like those other changelings that had attacked Canterlot. She was… nice. “O-our home was attacked by ponies when I was just a little ‘ling,” Tenna recalled her past calmly. “But m-may I ask you something?” “Go ahead,” Fluttershy gave her that smile again, curing her of all her worries. “W-why are you being so nice to m-me? M-my kind hurt you badly…” “Well, everyone deserves a little bit of kindness every now and then. I-I wouldn’t even have the friends I do if we weren’t kind to each other…” Fluttershy finished softly, taking another sip of her tea. “W-would you excuse me? I’m going to get some more tea.” With that, Fluttershy rose from her seat and went off to her kitchen, leaving Tenna alone. The kindness this pony had shown her so far was mind-boggling, and she had no idea how she could possibly begin to repay it. It had been Fluttershy that had found her in the woods outside of her house. Scared, shivering, and alone, she had been in pretty bad shape when the animal-loving pegasus had stumbled upon her. Rather than leaving her there, though, she had taken her into her home and offered her refuge from the harsh elements. It had been raining rather hard when she had come inside, and the rain had yet to let up since then, Tenna noticed. In fact, it seemed to be coming down harder with every passing minute. After a couple more moments of pondering her situation Tenna was broken out of her thoughts be the sound of a plate being placed down on the table between she and Fluttershy, who had just returned. For what seemed like hours, the two simply stared at one another. Every so often, Fluttershy would take a sip of her tea, but that was it. It was Fluttershy who ended up breaking the silence, though. “S-so what bring you to Ponyville?” “I-I was hoping to start over, and make a name for myself,” Tenna quickly replied, smiling widely for the first time in what seemed like years. “I-I’m just glad I met you first, and not some m-mean pony…” It was true. Fluttershy stumbling upon her was possibly the best thing that could have happened since she had started staking out Ponyville from the forest. Had it been someone else, someone that felt nothing for changelings, she likely would have been left to die. “Oh, none of the ponies here are mean. Some can be a bit rude at times, but I’m sure any one of them would have helped you like I did.” Tenna wasn’t entirely sure if that was to be believed, but then again, Fluttershy had known them for most of her life. Maybe she had finally found a place where she could fit in? The chances were slim, she knew that, but she’d already made one friend. Who was to say she couldn’t make more by displaying the same kindness Fluttershy had shown her? “A-are you okay?” Fluttershy’s voice broke her out of her thoughts once more. “Y-yes, sorry. I-I was just thinking.” “Oh, okay then,” Fluttershy gave her that smile yet again before taking a big sip of her tea. Looking at the changeling across from her, she could tell that she was scared. Of what, the pegasus had no idea, but she was almost certain it had to do with what she had said earlier. It reminded Fluttershy of… herself. Or at least, how she used to be. Scared to meet new ponies, and scared of the unknown in general. “Fluttershy, what’s it like to have friends?” the sudden question left Fluttershy stunned. Did Tenna really not know what having a friend was like? Had her life really been that rough? “Well, it’s hard to explain, but I suppose having a friend is like having a personal guardian angel. Friends are always there for you, and they’d do anything to see you happy.” “Well, I hope we can become ‘friends’,” Tenna looked up a bit, catching Fluttershy’s confused gaze. “S-sorry, nevermind…” “I just… I thought we were already friends,” Fluttershy took another sip of her tea and smiled. Tenna became confused herself upon hearing that. “W-we are?” “I’d like to think so. I helped you when you needed it, and we’ve really opened up to each other. I know a lot more about you now than I do about most ponies,” she explained, making Tenna smile this time. “W-well then I’m just happy you’re my first friend.” The statement gave Tenna a warm feeling, and she suddenly felt a lot happier than she had before. As all of the excitement finally began getting to her and building up, she exploded with joy. “I made a friend!”