//------------------------------// // Fluttershy // Story: Happy Hallmark Day // by ColdFlame //------------------------------// By some miracle you had managed to so far make it through the day without seeing any ponies on your way to the library. They were all still probably getting ready for Hearts and Hooves Day, something you didn't have to worry yourself over. All you needed for the day was a couple of books to pick up from the library so you could distract yourself from the festivities. It wouldn't be so bad if you weren't alone on the day dedicated to romance because you were the only one of your species. Granted you never had too much luck romance back on Earth either, but at least there it seemed possible to eventually find someone. Here, where you were basically an alien, it seemed about as likely as the sky raining flaming dogs while giant rats run amok in the town square. Actually Nevermind, this crazy world probably has seen something like that before. Okay, your chances of finding love in Equestria are about as slim as the apocalypse I mentioned above happening back on Earth. Yeah. You continued your walk down the streets of Ponyville lost in your depressive mind until you felt your face become acquainted with the ground. You cursed to yourself before getting up to look around for what might have tripped you. It wasn't something, however, rather than someone. "Hi, Fluttershy," you said in a voice that was low enough so as to not startle her. "Oh, hello _____," Fluttershy said in her whisper level voice. "Sorry I got in your way. Um, are you alright?" "Yeah, I think I'm fine. I might have to sue you though if I'm not," you said jokingly, though Fluttershy seemed more confused than even the reader who wondered why that stupid line was used as a joke. "Fluttershy calm down it's just a dumb joke. You good? " you asked as you helped her up and brushed yourself off. "Yes," she said with a blush as you fixed her mane. "I um, I should go." Yeah, she always bolts when you're around. At first it seemed to be because she was afraid of you, but you managed to one day sit her down and convince her you were for the most part harmless. After that it seemed like she wouldn't shut up or leave you alone up to about a week ago when she reverted back to being Yellow Quiet with you. Today was no different except you figure she's off to go get ready for her date this time. Shrugging it off, you go on your way until you notice Rarity struggling with a couple of boxes of what seems to be fabrics or cloth for her store. "Hey Rarity let me get some of those for you," you said as you walked over to help your friend. "Thank you darling!" Rarity said as you took a few boxes off the top of the stack she levitated in the air with her magic. "Yeah no problem," you said as you two walked to her shop together. "It looked like these were about to fall off the top." "Yes, I'm afraid I'm not quite as proficient in magic as a unicorn such as Twilight," Rarity admitted. "But you're really good at other things," you said as you began struggling with the load in your arms. "How much farther is it?" Rarity smiled and assured you it wasn't too much farther. Once you both reached the Boutique you put your boxes down so you could hold the door open for Rarity who looked at you in surprise before walking through. You picked up the boxes you had left on the ground and followed her through to set the boxes down next to where she had laid the ones she carried. You decided you weren't in a hurry and asked Rarity if she needed anything else while you were there. "Oh? Well that's awfully kind of you darling, but you surely must have plans for today." "No, trust me I don't," you said suddenly remembering why you had been so down earlier. You decide to turn it around on her to have a little fun. "In fact, I'm surprised you don't have any plans for today." "Yes, well I received a rather large amount of last minute orders this Hearts and Hooves Day and I'm afraid I simply can't afford myself time to go out this year. As for yourself, I'm astonished that a gentleman such as yourself did not find a partner for the day." Now she turned it around on you, maybe that's why you considered her your best friend. You felt a little flustered by the compliment and sheepishly admitted that you figured nopony in town saw you as anything more than a friend. Rarity shrugs and mentions that there have been stranger couples in Equestria, causing you to wonder if maybe it wouldn't hurt to go out on a limb to ask somepony out today. "Actually, I have thought of a task you can do for me, darling," Rarity said with a grin. You ask what it is and Rarity says that she had left a sketchbook for her dress designs at Fluttershy's house. Obviously she wanted you to go retrieve it. You agree and walk off with a hope Fluttershy doesn't faint at the sight of you like she seemed to always be on the verge of doing recently. "Fluttershy?" you yelled knocking on her door. No answer. "Fluttershy?" you tried again with a much quieter tone and softer knocks. "Hello?" a barely audible voice sounds through the door. "Oh... _____. Would you like to come in?" "Sure," you said as Fluttershy moved out of the doorway to let you in. You had never been to Fluttershy's house before and you had a feeling she never really had many ponies there at all. It definitely looked like the home of someone about to enter the crazy cat lady stage of her life, but then again so did Rarity's Boutique. "So um, why are you here? I mean, you don't have to answer," Fluttershy said as her voice began to trail off. "I'm here to ask you what your fetish is," you teased as Fluttershy blushed redder than a drunk ginger. As much as you tried not to rustle her jimmies, sometimes you couldn't resist. You weren't enough of a d-bag to actually ever do anything that you thought would hurt her, of course. But it also wasn't in your nature to pass up an opportunity to mess with someone. "Fluttershy relax, I'm just kidding. I'm here for Rarity's sketchbook." "Oh, ok..." Fluttershy said looking down and walking over to a nearby table to give you the sketchbook. You thank Fluttershy and go to leave when instead your brain decides to rustle more jimmies. "Hey Fluttershy?" "Yes?" "What are you doing for Hearts and Hooves Day? You got a stallion to take you out?" you asked with a grin. "Um no..." Fluttershy says looking down, embarrassed. "Oh come one you can tell me!" you said moving closer to her. "I bet you get all sorts of attention since that modeling you did." "_____ please stop..." Fluttershy whimpered. What was she so upset about? "Fluttershy I'm sorry I was just teasing you," you said leaning down and pulling her into a hug. "I didn't mean anything, you don't have to ell me who it is if you don't want to." Fluttershy hasn't moved since your arms wrapped around her and she mumbles something inaudible. You hold her a little farther away so her voice isn't as muffled, asking her what she said. Fluttershy responds with another mumble you can't understand. "I said I don't have a special somepony," she said sadly. "What? Okay now that's a good one," you said with a laugh. "I'll see you later, Fluttershy." "I don't," Fluttershy said louder than was normal for her. "I never had a special somepony." "Well, if it makes you feel better," you said, "I never had a special someone back where I'm from either." "I'm sorry, _____," she said moving in and hugging you. You felt your heart skip a beat and returned the hug as you realized your eyes were stinging. Why is everything getting so blurry? Oh, your crying. Wait, seriously? "Are you okay, _____?" "Yeah, don't worry," you said with a forced smile. "I just... it just sucks being alone... doesn't it?" "It does," Fluttershy said looking at the ground bashfully. "Sometimes I feel like nopony ever actually notices me. Even when I'm with my animals I just feel so lonely. No stallion ever gives me attention. I just feel invisible, even when I'm with you and all our friends. Um, do you ever feel that way?" "All the time," you related. "I'm sorry," Fluttershy says looking down again. "It must be even harder being the only one of your kind here." "Yeah, I mean it was at first when some ponies would just run away at the first sight of me," you said with a playful nudge. "But now things are better." Fluttershy apologizes again and keeps her eyes to the floor. You roll your eyes and tell her it's just another joke as you run a hand through her mane to try to loosen her up. Fluttershy smiles and lays her head against your chest as you continue stroking her pink mane gently. "I'm sorry, _____," Fluttershy says out of nowhere. "For what?" you ask in bewilderment. "I can't be your special someone," Fluttershy says turning to look at you, "but I can be your special somepony." You both got a few looks from other ponies in town as you walked back to Rarity's store but they weren't of disapproval. Turns out Rarity must have been right about weirder couples, because nopony really seemed to make a big deal of you and Fluttershy walking together as a pair. "There you are! Don't you know how imperative it was you returned my sketches to me?" Rarity fumed as you walked in the door of the Boutique. "And you! You should be ashamed of yourself, darling! Why, with your grace it should not have taken nearly as long as it did for you to seduce, ____!" Rarity said as she turned to Fluttershy. "Wait, you planned this?!" you asked in shock. "Of course! Do you really believe me so absent-minded as to leave my sketches behind? I must say I am disappointed even further in you right now, _____," Rarity said with a flip of her mane. "Well, in that case why didn't you just leave a bunch of papers at Fluttershy's that you didn't need and ask me to go get them?" you said. "Please, darling! You have no sense of theatrics!" Rarity said as she rolled her eyes. "But do tell, how did it go?" "How what went?" asked Fluttershy innocently. "Oh I give up! You two are perfect for each other! You're both the most clueless individuals I have ever met!" Rarity said as she used her magic to snatch the sketchbook from your hands and retreat into her inner sanctum. Well she was right about one thing, you two are pretty clueless. Oh yeah and I guess you do make a nice couple, too.