Fluttershy's Wynter Sonnet

by Night Rush


Chapter 3

It was still the middle of the night when Fluttershy was awoken by the desperate cries of her young charge. The young foal was thrashing, caught in the throes of what appeared to a vivid and nasty nightmare.

“It’s okay little one, I am here. Nothing is going to hurt you, I promise.” Fluttershy whispered softly to the young foal as she brushed lock of indigo hair out of her face.

As she did this the young foal started to wake. She slowly opened her big azure blue eyes and saw Fluttershy by her side. The young foal nuzzled closer to her side as if Fluttershy’s warmth and gentle heart were all she would ever need to keep whatever it was that had scared her away, and soon the foal drifted off to sleep. It was moments like that, which Fluttershy would later remember. These are the moments that make a lifetime and, in this moment, Fluttershy could not think of a life without that little foal in it. In the short time she had been with the filly her heart had been completely and utterly captivated like a bee drawn to flowers in the spring .

She did not know why, but for some reason she could not help but to think of the foal as her own. This tiny precious life whom, without her help, may not have survived. All this time she never once took her eyes off the young foal who was sleeping with her face nuzzled up to Fluttershy chest with her head placed ever so gently against Fluttershy’s heart.

Fluttershy gently stroked the young foal’s mane as she came to a decision. It was a decision that would hopefully allow the two of them to remain together indefinitely, that is assuming her family could not be located. Fluttershy had decided that she would ask Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor to let her adopt her, and while this decision excited her it also scared her. She knew if she did this, things in her life would change, and change can be a very scary thing.

The next thing she knew she was waking to the plaintive and hungry cries of her young foal, for not only was the foal hungry also needed cleaned and changed. When Fluttershy undid  the messy diaper on the foal’s bottom she was assailed by a stench far worse than any she had dealt with before. It was the smell one would expect if they came across a mixture of rotten eggs, and vegetable that had been let to ferment and fester in pool of swamp water.

“For something so cute you sure can make quite a nasty smell.”  Fluttershy said in an exasperated tone of voice. With that she began her search for something she could use to clean and change the foal with. She went around the bedroom stumbling and bumping into things. The first thing she bumped into was the nightstand on her side of the bed. It was that very same night stand that a few moments later she stubbed her right forehoof on. Having searched their bedroom she exited into the main living area of their suite of rooms.

It was in the main room that she came across a package wrapped in utilitarian brown paper with a card on top. The card appeared to be the standard type of card one would receive with a gift. On the front it had a cartoon image of two foals playing. Inside the card written in crisp, clean, elegant handwriting was a message.

Dear Fluttershy,
        After leaving last night, I realized that you did not have some things that you might need,  so I took it upon myself to make sure you got them. I hope the supplies will meet needs and make things a little bit easier on you.
        
        Hope this helps,
        Delicatessa.

        Fluttershy closed the card and quickly opened the parcel. Inside she found a package of high quality diapers with pictures of what she took to be a baby version of Princesses Luna and Celestia on them. Beside the diapers were foal wipes. The packaging had a picture of a smiling foal on it

Picking up the package, she rushed back to the bedroom so quickly it was a miracle she did not create a small tornado in her wake. Once she had returned to young foal who was still lying on the bed where she had been left, the smell once again assaulted Fluttershy’s senses. Taking a deep breath Fluttershy began cleaning her.

She started by lifting her hind legs into the air and pulling the dirty diaper out from under her. Having successfully managed that, she took the wipe in her free hoof and began wiping the foal clean. Having finished wiping her clean Fluttershy took one of the new diapers Delicatessa had graciously provided her with and fastened it around the foal. It was as she finished tossing the used diaper away that Fluttershy’s stomach made itself known, gurgling its discontent at being empty. Her face flushed a bit in embarrassment at the sound, but decided that it was time for breakfast for both herself and the filly. She picked the filly up and placed her in the pouch she secured around her neck, but the foal began to scream and cry. Fluttershy’s ears fell as she looked down at the crying infant, her eyes wide as she scanned the filly for anything that would cause her discomfort or pain. She pulled her from the pouch and checked her over, finding nothing. What could have been wrong?

The foal would not stop even as Fluttershy crooned to her. She tried stroking her hair, humming to her, and even nuzzling her, but nothing seemed to work. It was she sat back down on the bed that she noticed that the foal was reaching out for the old scarf that she had been previously wrapped in. The foal seemed desperate to have it reaching for it like a pony starved would reach for a piece of bread. Fluttershy reached across the bed to where the scarf lay and took it on to her hoof. Once she had it, she gently secured it around foal's neck so that it would not come loose.

 Once the foal was settled and in place, secured in her little pouch, Fluttershy ventured out into the hall. She was met with a silence like no other as she found herself standing alone in the long crystal corridor and with her memory guiding her, she made a right and ambled along. She was careful to not jostle the filly, who was babbling happily with the scarf around her and Fluttershy smiled as she watched the infant with kind eyes. She seemed content, but Fluttershy’s grumbling stomach told her that the filly would begin to cry again if she did not get to the kitchens soon. Fluttershy reached the end of the corridor to the glimmering crystal stairs and with cautious steps, she began her descent down.



 Its best if I find someone soon. If I don’t, we could get lost in this part of the castle.

While these thoughts ran rampant through her mind she temporarily stopped paying attention to what was in front of her and as she watched her hooves, she ran right into the side of another pony.

“Oof! Watch where you are walking will you-- Oh it’s you.”  

Hearing the familiar baritone voice, Fluttershy looked up on to find the guard from the previous day standing before her. Without his helmet and armor, she almost did not recognize him. Had he been a normal pony, without the crystalline glimmer to his coat, he would have been a gunmetal grey, but instead his coat was that of grey stibnite, shining in the morning light. He was a unicorn with a carnelian mane with topaz like streaks throughout. He was quite large, a little bit taller than Shining Armor yet not quite as well built. His body was lithe and looked like that of a runner or acrobat pony with supple, corded, wiry muscle instead of the normal bulk that most guards seemed to have.

“I want to apologize for yesterday. I should not have treated you the way I did. I had a lot on my mind and ended up taking some of it out on you, and for that I do apologize. My name is Blast Centurion. If I can do anything to make up for it please do not hesitate to ask for me.” Blast Centurion said. He began to turn and walk away when Fluttershy gasped and reached out a hoof.

“Wait! Um...well...there is one thing you can do.” Fluttershy said softly as she tried to hide her face behind her mane, retracting her outstretched hoof. “Um...Could you maybe show me to the dining room? If you want to that is?”

With a slight smile, Blast Centurion nodded. He did not seem so bad now that he was not being rude. Signaling for her to follow with a wave of his hoof, he started walking down the hall to their left.

 It was a few minutes later that they arrived at a set of navy double doors, and in the background you could hear ponies calling out orders as well as the shuffling and clanging of pots and pans. Those sounds were accompanied by the smell of fresh baked breads and other delectables being cooked up, ready to be eaten.

“Here we are, Miss. I hope we meet again some time.” With a bow,Blast Centurion went on his way.

Smelling all the fresh food, the foal began to cry and while Fluttershy focused on quieting the young foal down, Delicatessa came through the kitchen doors as if summoned to them by a spell.

“This will not do at all.” Delicatessa tsked, “If you would both follow me to the dining room we can take care of both of you.”

With a beckoning nod, Delicatessa lead them to a room just a little further down the hall. The large navy doors were wide open like the arms of a waiting mother, inviting them to enter her embrace and be taken care of. Inside the room, three tables were set up and lined with food like a buffet. A little further away were smaller tables with flower centerpieces in the middle of the table. It was to one of these smaller tables that Delicatessa lead them to.

After they were at their table, Delicatessa left and started to gather food onto different platters using her pink magic. The only time she stopped was to make a request of the pony at the end of the buffet tables, who quickly left and returned with what looked like a bottle. When she returned she had a plate for each of them. On the plate she sat in front of Fluttershy was a fresh garden salad with a turnip and arugula sandwich, followed with fresh oatmeal and a glass of milk. For the foal, she had a small bowl of applesauce and a plate containing  what appeared to be a bottle of formula.

“Now Miss Fluttershy, if you will hand me the young foal, I will feed her while you take care of your own needs.” Delicatessa said as she began gently lifting the baby out of the pouch with her magic.

“Aah!!” Fluttershy screamed. She had not been expecting anypony to try and take the foal from her and Fluttershy instinctively wrapped one arm around the foal and backed away from the table.

The foal, having been scared by the sudden motion, started screaming at the top of her lungs. The noise of the foal’s cries gathered attention from not only the those in the dining room but the people in the kitchen, as well as those passing by in the hallway.

“What is going on here?” Said a concerned stallion somewhere near the door to the dining room. Turning in the direction of the voice, Fluttershy saw Blast Centurion, who was slowly making his way in her direction.

“I just… Please don’t...Don’t Take Wyntre from me!” Fluttershy gasped while trying to calm the foal who was still screaming and crying.

“Its okay. No pony is going to hurt you. Who is Wyntre? Is that the foal’s name?” Blast Centurion asked Fluttershy in the calmest tone he could muster while a foal screamed in his ears. Fluttershy, seeing that her fear was causing the already scared and cranky baby to cry more, began trying to calm herself enough to return her to her demure behavior. She ducked her face behind her pink mane, her cheeks red from the embarrassment as she nodded, still holding the filly close to her chest.

“Uh...Well you see… I, uh,sorta over reacted when Miss Delicatessa tried to lift her to feed her. And, umm, Wyntre is what I call her… I mean if that is okay… I would like to name her Wyntre Sonnet. If that is okay that is.” Fluttershy said with hesitation, as if fearing someone would tell her she had no right to name the foal in her care.

“I think it’s a beautiful name” Delicatessa said trying to both calm and appease Fluttershy from her previous action.

“I would have to agree. It is most certainly a pretty name and I don’t think anyone would have a problem with you naming her, but if you are still worried about it you can ask the Prince and Princess what they think.” Blast Centurion stated.

        “The reason I came to the dining room was because I was given orders from the Princess to tell you that she and Prince Shining Armor will be coming by to see you later today and that should you have any concerns they will be taken care of then.” He said, placing a gentle hoof on the yellow mare’s shoulder.. Realizing neither she nor the foal had eaten yet, Fluttershy went back to the table.

        “Umm...Miss Delicatessa….Would you still like to feed her.” Fluttershy asked the chestnut colored mare, her face flushing from embarrassment due to her brief episode of panic. “I mean you can…if you still want to.” Nervously pawing the ground and trying to hide her face, Fluttershy waited for Delicatessa’s response.

 Delicatessa gave the pegasus a thin lipped smile in an attempt to hide the small bout of offense she had initially taken at Fluttershy’s reaction and nodded. “Yes, Miss Fluttershy. I would love to feed her, if you will allow it, of course.”

Although she was hesitant, Fluttershy handed the young filly to the hoofmaid. Delicatessa was gentle with the foal, but the shaking of Fluttershy’s hoof did not slide by the hoofmaid unnoticed.  

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 Later that morning, Delicatessa led Fluttershy out to the gardens behind the palace for some fresh air. Fluttershy took a deep breath of the spring air, a gentle smile on her face. The fed filly cooed and hiccupped happily in her spot while Fluttershy made her way through the garden behind Delicatessa. Flowers bloomed in the warmth of the Crystal Empire's love; a beauitful garden of reds, blues, purples and yellows stretched before her and Fluttershy took a seat, lifting the filly from her pouch and placing her near the flowers.

The infant babbled happily as she reached for the colorful petals. Fluttershy watched the filly make motions of crawling, reaching and clutching the flower petals in a staggered pattern. It was not until she tried to stuff a petal in her mouth that Fluttershy finally intervened. She picked the filly up, making the little one giggle. Fluttershy's laughter  caught Delicatessa's ears and the crystal pony turned, finding the pegasus mare happily chuckling at the foal in her hooves.

The pale blue foal tapped Fluttershy's cheek, smearing dirt on the yellow pegasus' face. Fluttershy laughed as she nuzzled the small filly, holding her closer to her heart. Upon closer inspection, Fluttershy could see that the filly had gotten herself dirty. With a laugh she turned to Delicatessa.

"Delicatessa?" she asked.

"Yes, Miss Fluttershy?" the crystal mare replied, turning towards her with a smile.

"Um...I think I'll take her to the room." Fluttershy said with a light chuckle as the filly smeared more dirt on her cheek, giggling. "She's got herself covered in dirt and petals. I think I should give her a bath."

"A wonderful idea." Delicatessa said, watering some of the flowers. "Go on ahead. I'll check on you shortly."

Fluttershy nodded and flew off with the foal, finding her way back to their room with a bit more ease than before. The filly giggled at the gentle flight and as Fluttershy let herself into her room, she chuckled at the light tug on her hair. The filly cooed and began to happily munch on her caretaker’s hair.

“Oh, no.” Fluttershy chuckled. “I don’t think that my mane is good for you, little one.”

She pried her locks from the infant and took her into the bathroom. It was not long afterwards that the little foal, being worn out from playing, fell asleep. As the infant slept, Fluttershy decided to write a letter in response to the one Twilight had sent her.

Dear Twilight,

I’m glad everything is well back home. Oh, I have so much to tell you girls!

I have had a great time with the Frost Bears and learned a lot about them that weren’t in the books you have at the library, but there is something more exciting than the bears that I want to tell you about! But I don’t know where to start.

I am staying at the palace right now. Princess Cadence graciously let me stay and I would hate to bother her with this, but I had to. Oh Twilight if you could see her, you’d love her! She’s so cute and likes flowers. I didn’t know that foals liked scarves either. I just can’t believe it, Twilight! This little thing is just so adorable! Who would leave her out in the mountains? I just can’t imagine it!

        I miss you and the girls, but I have to see if I can find this poor little thing’s parents. I just have to try, so tell Angel Bunny that I’ll be home a little later than I planned. I just wanted you girls to know I’m okay! I promise, no Pinkie Promise, that I will explain everything in detail when I come home!

        I can’t wait to see you all!

        Your Friend,
                Fluttershy
 

After she finished writing her letter home to her friends, she folded it and put it on the table ready to send out first chance she got. Walking back over to where the young foal was sleeping, she briefly re-wrapped the blanket and scarf back around her before going and taking a seat at the table and sitting with her head in her hooves to think about the days to come.

She must have dozed off because the next thing she heard was a knocking at the door. She quickly rubbed the sleep from her eyes and ran a hoof through her mane trying to at least make a halfway decent appearance. When she opened the door she was greeted by two ponies One was Delicatessa and the other was an older crystal earth pony mare with a faded pink fur and a mane grey from age. She appeared the happy grandmotherly sort and reminded her a little of Granny Smith.

“Hello.” The older mare said in a voice that carried both weariness and kindness, “I am Doctor Soft Heart I am the local pediatrician. May I come in and take a look at the foal?”

“Uh...Umm...Yes...She is right over here. She might still be asleep so please...Please be gentle.” Fluttershy said showing the two mares at the door into the room.

“I did all I knew to do for her when I found her and she seems okay and all, but I wanted to be sure, so I asked for Delicatessa to get you if you were not busy.” Fluttershy said, her rambling disappearing into nervous looks of fear that she might have done something wrong.  Doctor Soft Heart smiled as if hearing Fluttershy ramble and stutter was something she had heard a thousand times. She took her stethoscope from around her neck and blew on it to warm it up so that when she put it to the young foal’s chest it would not scare her.

The moment before she put the stethoscope to the foal’s chest, her eyes popped open as wide as saucers and she began to whimper, seeing a strange person standing over her. Hearing the filly whimper, Fluttershy rushed over to comfort the foal. With the foal in her arms, she stroked her mane making the young foal relax. Reassuring her that she was safe and nothing would harm her. Doctor Softheart placed the stethoscope to the baby’s chest and listened to her lungs and heart. she then had Fluttershy get the foal to open her mouth so she could look down her throat. he looked into the infant's ears next, completing the basic steps of the check up before getting into the part that neither Fluttershy or the child would like.

Doctor Soft Heart sighed knowing what was to come, “I need you to hold the child while I get a Blood sample. This requires me to use a needle and draw out a couple of vials of blood.” Hearing this Fluttershy turned white as a ghost and nodded her agreement the best she could. Holding onto the baby firmly so that doctor could draw blood Fluttershy turned a further shade of white and began to get woozy. It was as the second vial of blood was taken and the needle had been pulled out that fluttershy fainted dead away.

She came back to her senses a few minutes later stutter and apologizing. “Uh ...I can’t believe...I am so so sorry… I...I...Sorry I do not do well with needles or blood.” Fluttershy said blushing deeply.

“Dear me, I think this might be the first time the parent and not the child had the problem with this. Usually The child throws a fit, cries and screams.” Doctor Softheart said chuckling all the while, “This time it was the parent who did the passing out and making things interesting for me, but onto business. I half expected to find she had the makings of pneumonia and an ear infection after I was told by Delicatessa what your foal has been through but it turns out she is perfectly fine if little on the thin side. I will know more when I run tests on the samples I took, but from what I can deduce she is roughly about five month old putting her birthday roughly in the First week of November. My advice to you is to give her lots of tender love and care and she should be just fine. I will have one of my associates send a list of things you will need for her care so that you will know what to expect in the coming months. “

With that being said Doctor Softheart gathered her stuff and left with Delicatessa following in her wake carrying the doctor’s gear and samples. All that was left to do now was wait on Princess Cadence and Prince Shining  Armor.