//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: FlutterPie's Beginnings // by Mocha Star //------------------------------// “...And then she said we’d have a better chance if we weren’t friends! I couldn’t believe it Gummy, what the hay does she mean? Mares are so confusing I just don’t get it. I’ve had a dozen coltfriends and not one of them was confusing in what they wanted. They weren’t happy when I gave them my special cupcakes like they asked but they said what they wanted. “‘Hey filly, I wanna taste your swirly cupcake’, and then I’d get dinner and free stuff and they’d get my super secret special recipe for double chocolate red velvet marzipan cupcakes~,” she shuddered slightly and drooled, “with three flavors of icing and a cherry on top that’s soaked in honey.” Her body trembled and her rear legs crossed tightly as a usual sensation filled her lower body and traveled at a quick pace through the rest of her. “~Ohhh~ “Sorry you had to see that again Gummy, I’ve gotta stop talking about my desserts out loud. Darn, my legs are soggy again. Be right back.” Pinkie walked to her closet opening it quickly and looking in with a frown. Toys, bouncy balls, pogo sticks, baseball bats, and all other manner of foal toys were perfectly packed in chaos as she reached in and withdrew a towel and closed the door as the chaos rumbled. She sat on her left flank and wiped her legs giggling as she did. “I’m glad I got this towel made of Manticore wool, it’s so ticklish. Gummy, what should I do? I really like ‘Shy and I think I’ve kinda started to like her a lot more over the last two days since I realized we’re both special someponyless.” Pinkie tossed the towel to the laundry basket by her door and jumped to the bed from halfway across the room. Bouncing on the bed a couple times with a laugh as she watched Gummy fly freely through the air tumbling as she landed on her belly. She crossed her rear legs and caught Gummy upside down in her forehooves and looked at him. She craned her head upside down to look at her pet. “You’re right Gummy, I’m overthinking this. If I want an answer I have to do what she wants. Gummy, you’re a genious!” Fluttershy woke up in the field and gasped, blushing slightly, at the emptiness she felt. “She left me alone at the acres? I guess I was a little harsh on her, next time we talk I’ll make certain to apologize and let her know I can have feelings for her just not as fast as she can expect.” She stood and stretched briefly before taking to the skies. “I really think Pinkie Pie would make a great special somepony for somepony someday while I, I,” she sniffed as she began to glide as she passed over the fields and felt her chest tighten and vision blurring. She angled her wings and dove to the ground barely landing safely as she bawled her heart out. “Sugarcube?” Fluttershy snapped her head to look through the haze of tears flooding her vision as she tried to stop crying for a second only to release her breath outward with snotty mucus and tears. “Fluttershy, what in tarnation’s the matter? I ain’t seen ya this busted up since Twilight turned that frog inta an orange. Did that happen again? Is it an apple this time? We can find it, I promise.” “N-n-n-n-n-no~,” Fluttershy wailed loudly as Big Mac walked past trying his best to avoid the crying mare. With all his strength mares weren’t one of them, and a crying one would have been a nightmare.” “‘Shy, ya got me worried now, what’s wrong darlin’. How can I make you all better?” Applejack said trotting around and laying beside Fluttershy on the dirt path and moving her hat so the morning sun was out of her eyes. “I-I’m gonna be alone forever~,” she cried, almost yelling, at Applejack before falling into her hooves and covering her head and upper body with her wings. “Now, what the? What’re ya talkin’ about?” Applejack asked taken aback by the louder than usual timid mare in front of her. Several minutes passed as well as Apple Bloom heading to school and Granny to see what the commotion was, each only to be hushed and waved off by the orange mare. “A-Applejack,” Fluttershy said when her crying had subsided enough to talk, “I don’t want to live and die alone, surrounded by my critters. When I get old and die years from now how long will it be before another pony finds me? What if… What will… Oh Applejack,” she said lunging her friend into a hug crying again. “Sugarcube, ya can’t think like that, ya hear?,” she replied wrapping a foreleg tightly around Fluttershy, “Ya got a good spell o’ time ahead o’ you and ya can find somepony to spend yer life with.” “No, I won’t. I can’t even look a stallion in the eyes. I tried dating and it was awful Applejack. I told Pinkie no last night and now I’ll never have anypony,” she cried burying her face into a surprised Applejack’s shoulder. “Wait, Pinkie?” Fluttershy hiccupped between sobs as she realized she said something she shouldn’t have in the moment. “P-please don’t tell anypony, I can’t hurt her like I’m hurting. I’m really sorry Applejack, I should go.” “Not on yer life,” Applejack said locking her grip on Fluttershy, “ya said yer gonna be alone but ya turned down Pinkie and yer too shy ta talk to any stallion, or mare Ah’m guessin’. Can I give ya a piece of advice ‘Shy?” “Ugh, if you let me breathe,” Fluttershy strained before gasping as Applejack released her grip. “Sorry sugarcube. Look, ya are who ya are and no pony is gonna change ya ‘cept you. Now, Ah know ya’ve always been like this, shy and emotional and such but ya can’t think no pony will love ya. Pinkie is a catch and I can guarantee ya that she’s gonna be a pony like no other if’n ya wanna be with her or,” Applejack looked around trying to think of a stallion, “Big Mac,” she shut her eyes tight at the thought of her brother living with Fluttershy, “no matter what we’re all here for you and support you.” Fluttershy slowed her crying to controlled sobs and met Applejack’s eyes. “Applejack, thank you. I really appreciate it but I have to get back to my cottage, I have critters to take care of.” “Yeah, I have a lotta trees ta buck myself but if ya need help I’m here fer ya, okay?” “Thank you Applejack, if I need help I’ll come find you, as long as it’s not a bother...” Applejack placed a hoof at the bridge of her muzzle and sighed. “Ah just said it’d be okay, don’t fret it none.” “Oh, sorry Applejack. I’ll just go now,” Fluttershy raised herself quickly and put her weight on her rear legs opening her wings. With a strong push she was airborne flying away from Applejack as quick as she could. Tears leaving her eyes still she blinked them away and cleared her mind as best she could as she reached the city and flew over the town. She glanced down only once and lost balance for a few seconds as her eyes locked on Sugarcube Corner and her mind raced through the events of the previous night and her emotional outburst and whether or not she should dive right into the top story window and tackle the pink mare and take a shot at it. Then she leveled her wings and fixated her eyes ahead again knowing that the next time she saw Pinkie she’d freeze on the spot and not be able to speak because that was her way. As much as she hated it she couldn’t deny her nature. She focused on her critters and who was in more need based on the time of day. Landing outside her cottage she sighed and folded her wings to her body before opening the door. A small box was just inside the door with a bright pink bow on it. No bigger than a hoof she wondered what it could be. She looked around behind her and around the area and saw nopony and her critters chittered telling her it just appeared there when they weren’t looking. “Odd, maybe it’s a gift or a cupcake from Pinkie.” She pulled the string hoping for a nice sweet treat to greet her. She screamed and fell back as a skunk’s tail raised and a fine mist left it’s glands at her, coating her in its distinct species’ aroma. The skunk turned and looked at Fluttershy and gasped apologizing profusely and suggesting a tomato bath to help. Fluttershy gagged and coughed as she scrambled back from her doorway so as to not track the stench into her home she blinked a few times and spit the flavor from her mouth as Pinkie fell from a tree landing on her back in front of her laughing maniacally. “Oh I got you good. The first prank I’ve ever pulled on you and it was a doozy! Wait ‘til I tell Dashie about this one, she’ll never believe it.” Fluttershy took a raspy breath in trying to suffer in silence while she looked in shock at Pinkie. “Y-you pranked me? But, why?” “You’ve never been pranked before and now. You. Have,” Pinkie said punctuating each word as she pointed her right foreleg at the yellow mare before she flipped and galloped away at a speed that shouldn’t have been possible. “B-but that wasn’t very funny or nice Pinkie,” she said under her breath as she took another raspy breath in, “and it was very smelly.” Fluttershy lowered and shook her head. “Is this because I said no?”