Fluttershy breathed in. Then she breathed out. Nothing seemed practical or sensible. Her head, wings, and legs were all sore and in considerable pain. Yet, there was no loud wind or energy zaps. It was quiet, with a gentle breeze, but also dark and lonely. That in itself was strange.
In her dazed state, Fluttershy regained consciousness, and almost immediately Princess Luna and the other ponies hit her mind.
“Ummm, hello?” she called out. “Princess Luna? Are you there? Anypony?”
There was no response at all, just the chirp of birds in the tree above her. It was then that Fluttershy noticed there was a considerable amount of light around her. Soft but luminescent lights glowed from behind various structures lined up to her right and left. She walked around, feeling and observing her surroundings. A rectangular area fenced off. One large building. Several items lined up next to a small shed with a lock on it. A smooth, well-kept deck with an array of pretty flowers and plants planted in neat rows in a large container on it. And was that…a door?
Oh, Angel, Fluttershy thought sadly as she recalled her happy times with her bunny friend. But, would that door be locked? I feel rather cold out here…
Fluttershy limped onto the deck and pushed at the door latch with her hoof. To her amazement, it moved. She undid the latch all the way, pushed the door open, and walked in. It was darker inside than outside, with just the LED lights from appliances dimly lighting the kitchen and accompanying family room. There was also a distinct hum from the fridge. However, due to light shining in from the open patio door, Fluttershy soon noticed a soft armchair with a pillow in the family room corner near the kitchen tiling, clambered onto it, and soon nodded off to sleep, her body still achy. Most of the pain had worn off, though.
The next morning came with quite a start. Fluttershy awoke to the buzzing of an alarm clock. Judging by its low, faint sound, it came from much further away than she would’ve thought. Then came the sounds of energetic, noisy creatures. Some spoke with softness, like her; others spoke with a deeper tone. It was a family.
“Ah!” Fluttershy stretched awake and darted behind the chair, just as the family members reached the bottom of the steps and turned to walk towards the kitchen.
“Did you hear something?” Carter asked his father, Jack.
“I didn’t hear much.”
“No, I heard it clearly. It was a quiet ‘ah’ sound, likely a sound of fear. In addition I heard the carpet rustle a little,” Carter replied.
Lorraine smiled. Her son always seemed to be the one who could pick up on things easily, even if they were faint or tiny. Carter’s little sister, Ashley, on the other hand, often took time to notice detail and often took time before she noticed the tiny details.
From her hiding place behind the armchair, Fluttershy watched as the family filed into the kitchen and began preparing a hearty breakfast of pancakes. It reminded her of the times that she’d plan a picnic with her animal friends, or Twilight Sparkle would invite her over to a picnic at Sweet Apple Acres. Will I ever see my friends again? she thought sadly, and began to sob.
“Ok, that’s enough guessing,” Carter declared as the rest of the family sat down to eat. “I hear crying and no one’s sad here. Someone is hiding in this house and I’m going to find him.”
At that moment, Fluttershy’s crying only amplified slightly. Then Lorraine, Ashley, and Jack observed a moment of silence, and heard it, clear as day. Repetitive sobbing and a few sniffles.
Even before he began to start searching, Carter regretted what he’d said, and softened his tone. “Maybe I should…just walk around, see what I can find. It won’t take long. Ok Mom?”
Lorraine sighed. “All right. But not more than five minutes.”
In fact, it took less than five minutes. Carter began by peeking behind the sofas and the couches. Then he looked behind the armchair…and saw the little pony, who had stopped crying.
“OH MY GOSH!” Carter yelped, jumping backwards.
Fluttershy gasped and wrapped her mane around her face and shrunk into a ball.
“Well, I…I now know wh-who’s hiding,” Carter stuttered, struggling to pull himself together. “But it’s nothing dangerous as far as I can tell.”
“Uh-hm!” Ashley huffed.
“Yes,” Carter shot back. “See for yourself.”
The family walked over, and they too tried to hold back their gasp as Fluttershy still quivered in fear.
Carter sighed and tried to reason with her. “Come on out, you’re already scared as it is.”
“There’s no need to be afraid,” he then said softly, repeating the sentence ten times.
Finally Fluttershy came out of her hiding spot, and cautiously approached Carter and the rest of the family.
“You can sit in my lap…if you want to,” Carter said softly, crossing his legs and sitting down. “By the way, what’s your name?”
“I…I’m, my name is…Fluttershy,” she said.
“How on earth did you get into our house, girl?” Jack demanded, and Fluttershy shrunk back a little as if she was about to cry.
Carter shot his father a nasty look and gently motioned for Fluttershy to come over. She then quietly walked over and settled in his lap.
“Boy, you’re heavier than I thought,” he replied with a giggle. “Are you hungry?”
“Uh, um, yes, I am,” Fluttershy replied in her quiet voice. She got off his lap and Carter turned to face his family.
“Well…”
“Can we keep the pony, Mom? Please?” Ashley begged.
Lorraine sighed. “All right, even if we don’t know where she’s from.”
Jack just grunted and turned back towards the kitchen, when he noticed the patio door behind the blinds, and managed a chuckle and a little squee.
“All this time I never realized I left that door unlocked. You’re one smart girl.”
Carter got out an extra chair and they invited Fluttershy to eat with them, in addition to learning their names. She’d never eaten pancakes before, but with some encouragement from Ashley, she tried it – and loved it. Jack was a bit disgusted that she had to eat off the plate, but Lorraine explained that she couldn’t grasp a fork, spoon, or knife. Jack grunted and agreed. After eating, Fluttershy helped with the dishes and swept the kitchen floor, holding the broom with her mouth. But as she proceeded to go outside, she noticed Ashley and Carter running back to the stairs.
“Wait! Um, where are you going?”
“To school,” Ashley replied.
“I see. Could I stay home here, upstairs?”
“Sure, come on up!” Ashley said excitedly.
Fluttershy ran excitedly down the hallway and darted up the stairs.
“Let me show you my bedroom first!” Ashley said excitedly before Carter could even say a word.
“Sure,” Fluttershy replied. Carter sighed, marched back into his room, and shut the door. He could care less about his over-excited sister and her pony friend. His kindness in the beginning was just to stop Fluttershy from being afraid.
“What was that all about?” Fluttershy asked as she walked through the doorway.
“Sorry about my brother,” Ashley replied. “He’s generally nice but can sometimes be a real pain when he feels he’s not getting any attention. Probably has to do with the bullying he was afflicted with at a younger age. But you know, he really likes you. Normally he doesn’t like anybody.”
Fluttershy’s face fell. She knew exactly what that felt like – not being able to stand up for yourself, being called names, being picked on, etc.
Ashley then introduced the various toys and hair accessories she had, and soon Fluttershy wanted her mane combed and styled.
“Sorry, Fluttershy, but I really have to go to school. Don’t worry, I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Um, okay,” Fluttershy replied, and left.
Ashley changed a lot faster than her brother, who still had his door shut. Fluttershy ignored it and gently knocked on Lorraine’s bedroom door.
“Come in, Fluttershy,” she replied.
Lorraine sat on her bed, flipping through a magazine. Fluttershy kindly asked to sit on the bed, and she agreed.
“So tell me, Fluttershy, where did you come from?”
Fluttershy scratched her head and tried not to cry. “I can’t exactly recall, but it was horrible! I remember being pulled from the ground into the air, Princess Luna trying to save me, and…then…”
“Then what?” Lorraine pressed.
Fluttershy wiped a tear from her eye. “I can’t exactly recall, but when I woke up, I found myself behind your home, sore and in pain. It was a bit cold that night, so I opened the patio and slept inside.”
Lorraine’s eyebrows shot up. “We don’t have another pony around here, do we?”
“No,” Fluttershy replied. “I couldn’t find Princess Luna after I awoke.”
Lorraine sighed. Poor Fluttershy. You really must miss your home and friends, she thought, realizing there was no way to return back.
“Do you think there’s a way for me to return home?”
Lorraine choked up and sighed. “I’m afraid not. Portals do not exist here on Earth, and even if they did, I don’t think it would be possible to travel through them to a fantasy world.”
Fluttershy buried her head in a pillow and cried and cried and cried, nonstop, the reality of the situation hitting her mind and soul like a rock. There was no way to return home, and she was stuck here. Forever.
No matter what Lorraine tried, she could not cheer Fluttershy up, and it made her feel sad too, having uttered a sentence that spoke with truth and authenticity, but also crushed the little pony’s hopes and dreams.
“Fluttershy!” Carter called from the stairs. “I need to talk with you for a second.”
“I…I’m coming,” Fluttershy sobbed, getting up from the bed.
Carter could already tell she was in a sad mood, so he dumped the original topic. “What happened? You were sad and frightful one moment and another you’re happy and joyful, now you’re back to being happy again? Please, explain.”
“I…I’m not from around here. I landed in your backyard from my…world, and…I can’t return!” Fluttershy sobbed.
Carter’s face changed, and he became serious but gentle. “Look, Fluttershy, I know life sucks sometimes, but you have to accept reality and move with what life gives you. You’re lucky you survived that crazy storm. Get back up on your feet and welcome your new life.”
“But…my friends—” Fluttershy began.
Carter cut her off. “I assure you, your friends are not gone forever. They’re still with you, in here.” He pointed to her heart. “I’d bet right this moment they’re trying their very best to find you and bring you back home safely. Only Almighty God knows if that will happen though. But at least you landed with us. At least you landed in a place with family, care, shelter, and love. And isn’t that what matters the most in life?”
Fluttershy swallowed and nodded sadly. “Yes, Carter, I do agree.”
Carter then gave her a kiss on the cheek, threw on his backpack, and ran off to the front door. Ashley’s bus was already leaving. He and Ashley attended different schools, so Carter just rode his bicycle to school.
Fluttershy watched from the window as he strapped on his helmet and rode off down the road. While she still felt sad having “lost” her best friends, she was also content that she’d found a new, happy life with people who truly loved and cared for her, as Carter had said.