//------------------------------//
// Blueblood the Pariah - Fluttershy 
// Story: A Blueblood for Everyone 
// by Macgyver644200 
//------------------------------//

It's a nice day.  I'm serious, this is one of the best days of the year.  I've got to remember to complement the weather team later.  There has simply been no better day this year to go out into the Royal Gardens and admire the animals than this one.  Provided said animals don't get too close.  I love them, but there's no telling what they've picked up in their travels.  Kind of ironic given that my cutie mark involves travel in uncharted lands.

I am Prince Blueblood, President of the Equestrian Exploration Society.  I've got an awesome airship and I have my name on more Equestrian Exploration news articles than I can count, with discoveries that earned me the title of Prince.  I am possibly the greatest thing a pony can aspire to shy of being made an alicorn.  Or somepony who can hold a conversation.  That would be nice for me to have.  Especially with the mare in the garden.

Oh, she's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life!  She's gorgeous; long mane and legs.  And she's so gentle with the animals.  I... I think I like her.

No.  No, I'm not the romantic type, not after last time.  Besides that monkey just ran from her.  I imagine he's got a good reason not to like her.  But she seems so gentle.  Maybe if I spoke to her, I could... no.  I'm not that kind of talker.  I'm the kind of pony that knows how to classify moths blindfolded.  I'm not a talker.  I'll just screw it up and ... oh Celestia, she's crying.  I've got to do something.

"Are you alright?"

Rats, I should've dropped the accent.  Too late, she's seen me.  I already regret this, I'm going to make this worse.  She's wiping her eyes.  "Oh, yes.  I-I'm OK."

There you go, it was nothing.  I know she was crying, but she probably just got something in her eye.  But then, why would she be slumped over like that?  Ugh, never mind.  She doesn't want me to talk to her.  Unless she needs to talk to someone but just doesn't want to admit it.  Why don't ponies just say what's on their minds?  I turn my head away, but I force myself to turn back.  "You're sure?"

She's frowning, but her eyebrows haven't gone down.  I guess that's-

She sighs.  "No.  But I don't want to talk about it."

"Why not?" I ask before I can stop myself.  She turns away.  "It's OK," I say.  I've got to lighten the mood.  OK, something funny, something too extreme to be real.  "I mean, it isn't as if you stampeded the animals through the castle."

She sobs and I hate myself.  Of course I mess up a joke.  But why did the joke fail?  Did she actually do that?  Oh don't be silly.  There's no way that she could do tha... wait a minute.

Now I remember her!  She was that nutcase a few months ago that drove the animals through the Gala!  No wonder they hate her!  And she thought she could actually talk to these creatures again?  Why...

...I should know better.  She seems to regret what she's done.  Unless she's- no.  I've been accused of being insincere a lot; I'm not doing that to anypony else.

I kneel down next to her.  "What happened?"  I ask, hoping my tone is right.  "I mean, why did you..."  I stop.  Should I mention it?

The mare does nothing, and then she continues to do nothing.  Maybe I should prompt her?  "It's alright," I tell her.  "I've done plenty of stupid things myself.  I promise I'll hear you out."

She looks over at me and I sincerely hope that my face is right.  Finally, after a long wait, she talks.  "I run an animal shelter," she says.  "I'm also a veterinarian, so I often have to practice emergency medicine on some of the animals I find.  The week before the Gala, I found a gosling that was very sick.  I did my best, and it looked like he'd recovered..."  She swallows again.  "I know now that I couldn't have done anything, but I'd gotten attached to him and... it really hurt."

Ah.  "I'm sorry."

"I was sure I could handle myself by the time the Gala came around, but when things didn't turn like I'd hoped... well, you know what happened."  She sniffles and turns away from me.  "I'm sorry.  I just wanted something to go right that week.  But I just wound up doing everything wrong.  Just like now."

I try to put my hoof over her, but she shies away.  Wait, why wouldn't she?  Oh no, she's starting to cry again!  What do I say?  "I understand!"  Wait, that sounded wrong.  "I understand.  It's alright."  I smile.  "When my father..."  Wait, should I be mentioning this?

She looks up at me.  "Oh, I'm sorry."

That's a no.  I need to get the conversation off of me.  "Don't worry, it was months ago.  How are you feeling?"

She pauses.  "I'm better now," she says.  "I only needed a little time to recover."  Her frown deepens.  "I really shouldn't have gotten attached though.  That was very unprofessional of me, and I was so pushy with poor Gil and Angel."  She winces.  "Especially Gil."

I shrug.  "Well, if you thought he was healed, then I don't think you were wrong in getting attached."

She doesn't say anything.  As she continues to say nothing, I begin to worry about saying something.  "Everypony makes mistakes and everypony has moments where their feelings take point over what they should have done.  I don't blame you for either of those."

Still nothing, but her frown has softened.  "Would you like me to help you with the animals?" I ask.

"No, it's OK."  She sighs.  "I imagine they don't want to talk to me."

"It was just a temporary thing," Blueblood said.  "If I vouch for you, I'm certain they'll trust me."

Wait, that sounded stupid.  Given that incredulous look she's giving me, it probably was stupid.  "Well, what if I start with an animal that's new here?  One that doesn't know you yet?"

She's silent for a few seconds.  I give her silence to let her think.  Finally, she nods.  "That would be nice."

My heart lifts.  I know the perfect creature and I call.  Soon, a kookaburra comes flying in.  He just arrived from the San Diecolt Zoo so he should... no, no, STOP!

I accidentally scream that last part out loud, but Kingsley stops right in front of my hooves.  I motion to the mare.  He looks at her, then looks back at me.  I motion at her more firmly.  Finally, Kingsley hops over to her.

She stares at Kingsley for a moment before she clears her throat.  "Uh, h-hello," she says.  "M-my name's Fluttershy.  I'm guessing you know that I was here a few months ago, on the night of the Grand Galloping Gala.  I'm sorry for the way I behaved last night, and I would really like to make amends.  It's alright, you can trust me now.  I promise."

Kingsley looks at her, then back at me.  I motion for him to move closer.  He stares at her for a while, but he comes within range.  Slowly, she reaches out her hoof.  Kingsley looks into her wide eyes.

And then he flies away.

I can see Fluttershy start to cry, but she holds it in.  "Are you alright?" I ask.

Slowly, she nods.  "I'll be fine.  I just..."  A tear falls down her cheek and she goes quiet again for a while.  I try to think of something to say, but she beats me to the punch.  "Is that giant hogweed?!"

I look over where she's looking and after a moment, I spot what she's talking about.  "Garden angelica," I say, walking over to it.  "Also known as Angelica archangelica, wild celery, and Holy Ghost.  The gardener planted them to try and attract local insects that the animals here eat.  That's actually how we found out that lacewings are very fond of-"  I stop myself.  "I'm sorry.  Am I boring you?"

Fluttershy shakes her head.  "Oh, no.  Not at all."

Wait, she works with animals.  Why would she be bored?  "It's also used in the kitchens, and it's one of my favorite ingredients."  I take a bite out of it and chew it over.  Then I remember and I swallow quickly.  "I'm sorry, did you want some?"

She shakes her head.  "No, thank you.  Do you grow arugula?"

I wince.  "Yes, never could stand the stuff."  I stick my tongue out.  Then I remember that's rude and put it back in my mouth.  "I'm sorry."

Fluttershy looks at me.  "For what?"

I sigh.  "...never mind."  I look like an idiot.

Fluttershy smiles.  "It's OK.  At least you're apologizing for what you don't need to instead of not apologizing for something you should."

"I'd prefer to do neither."  I groan with my face in my hooves.  "I'm absolutely hopeless with people.  Can you imagine what I'd be like with a girlfriend?  Pfft, I have no interest in torturing somepony like that."

I take my hooves off my eyes and realize that, once again, I've said something stupid.  Fluttershy's eyes are watering.  I open my mouth, but I shut it again.  Finally, I open my mouth again.  "Fluttershy, I-"

"No, it's OK."  She wipes her eyes.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

She sniffles a few more times, but eventually she answers.  "I just got out of a relationship," she says.  "He was a good stallion, and we broke up very peacefully, but we just grew apart."  She looks at me.  "I didn't mean to take what you said so badly.  I know you didn't mean to insult me.  It's just, you're colored just like him, and I couldn't help thinking of him.  I'm sorry."

She wipes her eyes some more, but she's still slouched over.  I try to think of a way to cheer her up, putting that negative voice in my head aside.  I want to help her.  If she has a problem with how I look, maybe if I try to look different in a silly way, she'd laugh?  I look around.  There's flowers, that won't do.  I'm not letting animals sit on me.  Then I see... no.  No, no, no.  I refuse to consider it.  There's no way...

...well, no.  There's one way.  Two, if I count making up for the Gala.  So, I walk up to the mud puddle from the recent rain and...

SPLORP!

She turns around as I start rolling around.  I rub some mud into my face and mane with my hooves, forcing down my revulsion.  'It's just mud', I keep telling myself.  'Dirt and water.  You can wash it off later.'  Finally, I stand, and with an effort, I smile.  "How do I look now?"

Her chuckling is wonderful, and my soul soars.  I, the mass murderer of the art of conversation, have made somepony laugh.  I even forget that I'm covered in mud.  "You look filthy," she says.  She smiles at me.  "Thank you."

"My pleasure."

"You know, I don't believe I caught your name."

"It's Blueblood.  Prince Blueblood."

My daydream bursts as her smile vanishes.  "What is i-"  Wait, no.  My heart sinks.  It has to be the Gala.  I haven't done anything else that bad.

She doesn't glare at me, but I can see her eyes narrow just a little.  "Your highness," she says in a cooler tone than before, "do you remember a mare named Rarity?"

Oh, no.  "White?  Purple mane shaped like this?"

"Indigo, actually, but yes.  She's a friend of mine, and you were a bit of a jerk to her."

I can feel my joy collapse in on itself.  "I know, and I'm sorry."

"Why?"

Why doesn't matter.  I've tried to say why, but nopony ever believes me.  I don't really blame them: my explanation of one event is too many peoples' chronic excuse.  "It doesn't matter."  I turn away from her back towards the castle.  "Good luck with the animals."

I walk off, resolving to take a shower, but she's in front of me again.  "You can tell me," she says.  "I promise I'll hear you out."

I look at her again.  She looks sincere, but I don't know if that'll continue.  If she really wants to know, though... I take a breath.  "There's something... different about my brain," I say.  "It has its benefits, but it also causes me a lot of headaches.  It gets worse when I'm stressed out, and the Gala came at a very stressful point in my life."

"Your father?" Fluttershy asks.

"He died in surgery two weeks before the event.  Furthermore, I was named Prince and President of the Equestrian Exploration Society around the same time and I was still trying to settle into my two roles.  Also, I've always hated crowds.  I still can't filter sounds well, so it can be hard to hear anyone I talk to.  I usually try to stay out of the way."

"Rarity said you invited her over."

I'm sure I'm turning pink right now.  "Well,  I didn't intend to.  Part of my problem is that I sometimes act out daydreams, and I didn't have the heart to tell her I was flirting with a mare that didn't exist.  If you're going to ask about the rose in my mouth, I'd already spat that out and I thought she wouldn't want it."

"What about the rose on the bush?"

"I didn't realize she wanted it.  I just heard her complement it, and I decided that it would look good in my lapel.  The same thing goes for the cushion: it was there, so I sat down.  Again, when I'm under stress, I tend to forget my finer manners.  I didn't mean to steal them from her.  And I also didn't mean to dominate our conversations when I did."

I'm about to continue, but I catch myself.  Fluttershy's face hasn't changed.  "What about the puddle?" she asks.  "Why didn't you put your coat over it?"

I'm confused.  "I don't wear coats.  They're too itchy.  I was just wearing a lapel that night.  Did she think I had a coat on?"

Fluttershy nods.  "She was kind of confused after the Gala.  What about Applejack's fritters?  You made Rarity pay for something, and then you insulted it."

"Well, I have a problem with-"  Wait, how does she know the name of the food cart pony?  Was I a jerk to two of her friends that night?  Ugh, wonderful.  "It's called theory of mind, and it's the concept that other people don't think as you do.  At the Gala, I thought she was aware I didn't have any money on me, being without clothing and thus without pockets, and at an event with a free buffet."

"That doesn't explain why you spat it out and insulted it."

She doesn't quite look like I have lobsters crawling out of my ears, but she's getting there.  "It was the texture.  Ponies like me have issues with texture as much as they have issues with taste, and some of our senses are far too sensitive.  I spat it out because it felt funny to me.  Then I remembered what a fritter was, and I tried to save face with the snobs.  It was for the same reason that I made Rarity open a door for me.  Well, that and I was tired and my temper was shortening.  Please tell both of them I'm extremely sorry.  I don't know their addresses."

She nods.  "I will.  And I suppose the cake was because..."

"I'm a neat freak.  When I'm in the field, I go to greater measures than others to keep clean.  That night, I was unable to keep that part of me under control.  Is there anything I missed?"

Fluttershy shakes her head.  "No, I think you've explained everything."  I see something flash across her face.  "Forgive me, your highness, but do you have-"

I nod.  "It's more severe than average, but yes, I have high-functioning autism.  I can make eye contact, but I have a lot of other problems.  And the night of the Gala was when all of them decided to surface at once."  I sigh as I slump forward.  "I have them back under control now, but now everypony thinks that's who I am all the time.  And I just don't care anymore."

I lay on the grass.  I don't feel any relief from having brought all this up again.  I know better than to hope for that.  Now she's going to say-

"I believe you."

Not what I was thinking.  I look up and see Fluttershy lying on the grass and smiling at me.  "I read a lot of your articles when you went in the field, and you were actually one of my favorite writers.  While I was disappointed after the Gala, you've shown me a better pony today, and I believe your behavior to Rarity was a fluke.  I forgive you."

This makes me smile, and it takes me a moment to find my voice.  "Thank you."  Something occurs to me.  "Wait, why didn't you recognize me?  My photo was in the magazine when I was made President."

Her small drops a little.  "It wasn't on the cover and I was... preoccupied that month, so I just never got around to reading it."  She smiles again.  "What was in it?"

I'm about to answer when I remember something pressing.  "Perhaps I can show you in the library in a few minutes?  I'm starting to uncontrollably desire a shower."

She chuckles as we get up.  "I'll be there."