//------------------------------// // Plans // Story: The Featherweight Files // by bahatumay //------------------------------// Fluttershy paced nervously in place in front of the oven. “Oh, no,” she murmured, looking over at Angel. “What if I put in too much vanilla? I know it said one teaspoon, but…” Angel Bunny rolled his eyes and hit her on the back of the head with a paper towel roll. Fluttershy winced. “Oh, I know I'm probably overreacting; but it has to be perfect!” Angel shook his head and hit her again. “You're right,” she said, a hint of confidence entering her voice. “No matter what happens, I know he'll be happy because I tried my best!” Angel nodded triumphantly. Fluttershy looked back at the timer. It seemed to slow down and tick even more slowly as she stared at it. She glanced back down at the cake inside the oven, but couldn't see much through the tiny window. She stood up. Maybe she could mix the frosting while she waited for it to finish baking. It had to be perfect! Fluttershy gently loaded the cake onto a little cart, and held the pan in place with a few well-placed ropes. She pulled them tight, then looked over her cake and bit her lower lip. She couldn't do anything about the cake, of course; but if she walked slowly, it should be perfectly safe. With a nervous little sigh, she hitched herself into the harness. The time for planning was over; the time for action was now. Angel Bunny waved goodbye as she started off on her journey. She made it safely over the bridge and back through town. A relieved smile crossed her face. She had chosen her time wisely; traffic on the roads was limited to a few early risers and foals enjoying a day off of school. She slowly pulled the cart further through town, taking it gently over the rough road. She had made it within sight of her destination when suddenly, her ears pricked up. She knew that sound. That was the sound of distressed quacking. Ears swiveling, she pulled a little further until she found the source. A mother duck was fussing over a hay pile, with three little ducklings walking around her. From inside the hay, there was more little quacking. They must have been playing on top when it came unbalanced, and the ducklings had been buried underneath. Fluttershy glanced over at the ducklings, then back towards her destination. Then she sighed. She knew what she had to do. She pulled the cart to the side of the road, out of the way, then ducked out of the harness and scampered over. The mother duck looked up and quacked hopefully. “Don't worry,” Fluttershy said comfortingly. “I'll get your babies out.” She explored gently with her hooves and uncovered one, then two, then three grateful little ducklings. The mother duck quacked thankfully, and Fluttershy scuffed a hoof demurely. “Oh, it's no trouble, really,” she said. She waved goodbye as the duckling train continued on its way, further from town and any dangerous hay. Fluttershy looked up just in time to see two fillies step off the sidewalk and intentionally bump her cart. They giggled as the cart began to roll down the hill and picked up speed. Fluttershy gasped in horror and flew to catch up; but she wasn't fast enough. The cart hit a bump, and the cake flew out of its restraints and exploded against the nearby wall in a spray of frosting and cake. Fluttershy skidded to a stop and sank to the ground, tears brimming in her eyes. Ruined! Everything, ruined! All her plans for her anniversary, ruined! “Huh,” Diamond Tiara observed blithely. “So that's what happens when ponies leave things where they shouldn't be.” “B- but it was off to the side-” Fluttershy whimpered. “Too bad,” Diamond Tiara shrugged. “Oh well. I've got plenty of bits. Maybe if you've learned your lesson-” Her voice trailed off as Fluttershy turned and Stared at her. A cold chill ran up her spine, and ice encased the back of her skull. “I…can… buy you… a new… one…?” “I'm really sorry I missed our lunch date this morning, and I'm really sorry I couldn't bring the cake,” Fluttershy apologized again, kneading the picnic blanket under her hooves. “Something… came up, and I ruined all our plans.” Bulk Biceps leaned in close and nuzzled the top of her head. “S'fine,” he said comfortingly, holding her as tightly as he dared. “I just wanted to spend time with you today, anyway.” He glanced over at his brother and scowled. “If anything, I should apologize,” he grumbled. He had asked Featherweight to stay at home today; so, of course, Featherweight had tagged along, unseen, until they had arrived at Fluttershy's cottage. He was currently taking pictures of some of the many mice that frequented Fluttershy's house. They seemed to enjoy the attention, and were posing for him. As annoyed as he was, he couldn't help but crack a smile as the mouse in front of him reared up and flexed her muscles for the camera. “If you're sure… Thanks for bringing the sandwiches,” she said. “I know it's not a nice cake, but I like them.” Bulk Biceps shrugged modestly, finding it prudent to not mention that Featherweight had made most of them. Ok, all of them; but really, who was counting? A scraping sound made him look over. His eyes widened as he saw Diamond Tiara, her mane rumpled and her tiara skewed, shoveling out the old hay and other gunk from the bottom of the chicken coop. He heard her grumbling something about this not being the way she'd planned on spending her Saturday when she froze and looked up. She met Fluttershy's eyes and flinched, and quickly ducked back inside the chicken coop. The sound of scraping came even faster. “What was that all about?” Bulk Biceps had to ask. Fluttershy shrugged. “She volunteered.”