Hours went by and the clock of the wall now reads 3:15.
Fluttershy was sitting down on the couch contently with a book and a few rabbits, squirrels and birds lying next to her figure. The book she held was the same book that Bab Seed showed her earlier this morning. She peered between the illustrated form of Discord’s destruction and the sleeping piranha plant whose pot sat on the kitchen windowsill.
Right after Discord left her, she tried several foods to make it stop biting before it can hurt her. Luckily a few animals from a day before saw what happened and try to help to bring berries to her. Completely surprised by her friends coming back, she appreciated the help and they worked together to satisfy the plant’s hunger. It only took a while for it to stop biting and started dozing off to sleep.
All was well for now, but Fluttershy couldn’t stop thinking about the creature that abruptly showed up into the hut all those hours ago.
She thought back of how he used to bring all of Equestria into their knees and how he was repeatedly turned into stone due to the ‘elements’ powers. She wasn’t sure why, but something about him had her intrigued. Was it because of his mismatched appearance? Was it because he holds an incredible amount of magic? Was it because she was curious about how he managed to stay hidden after he escaped from his impending addition to his imprisonment? Did he know where she’s from and why she had come to the Everfree forest yesterday? For the last question, she hopes he didn’t.
But she was also confused. Why should she be interested in him? Bab Seed told her that he is an enemy to all of Equestria and should stay clear away from him, so she needs to do just that since she had a hunch that she’ll be seeing him more.
But why can’t I stop thinking about him?! She mentally groaned in frustration.
The front door opened, and she squeaked in alarm as she turned to see Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo entering.
“Fluttershy, Babs just told us what happened— “Scootaloo stopped as she saw the alarmed look on Fluttershy’s face along with the curious looks from the animals surrounding her. This worried the girls as they took notice of the sleeping piranha plant that indicated that Discord indeed had been here.
“Are you okay?”
“Oh, yes, yes. I’m fine. Why did you ask?”
“Well, Babs told us that you met…. Him,” Sweetie Belle mentioned the creature with discomfort. “He has hurt you or anything?”
Fluttershy replies with an unsure tone, “Not really.”
“Well, that’s good to hear,” Scootaloo replied worriedly. “But Fluttershy, are you really going to be okay?”
Fluttershy raised her eyebrow in confusion, “what do you mean by that?”
“She means... Uh…” Sweetie Belle nervously hesitated, “what we mean is that… Discord is strong- really, really strong- and we don’t want you to get hurt. And we can’t do much and— “
Fluttershy noticed their guilt over her and tried her best to reassure them, “No, no, it’s fine! I might’ve gotten scared at first, but I can handle it. Really, it’s okay. Besides I don’t think he’ll be coming back here again.”
Fluttershy had partially lied at the end of her sentence, but it was so that she can ease their worries. As for how she will take care of herself, she will think of that later.
Sweetie Belle looked at Scootaloo, both with uncertainty, before going back to Fluttershy, “I hope so, but if anything happens, just let us know. If you want, we know a friend who can help, and she lives near us.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Fluttershy smiled back.
“Good, and now that’s out of the way,” Scootaloo said, “Me, Sweetie, Babs, and Apple Bloom actually went to talk with Applejack.”
Fluttershy looked at her with anticipation, “Apple Bloom’s older sister?”
“Yeah, we told her all about you, that you’re nice and sweet, but Applejack wanted to know you in person soooo…” she trailed off to signal Sweetie Belle to announce excitedly: “You are invited to dinner at Sweet Apple Acres with the Apple family!”
Fluttershy grew surprised, but not in a pleasant way that she would’ve liked, “Dinner… with her family?”
“Yeah!” Scootaloo said, “You would love it there! They have great food, not to mention the apples; they have the sweetest and juiciest apples in Equestria.”
“And they make the best family dinners that it makes you feel like you’re a part of the family, even if you unrelated!” Sweetie Belle excitedly, “Oh, I love their family dinners!”
They then saw Fluttershy’s worried expression.
“Did we come a little strong?” Scootaloo asked her confused.
Fluttershy shook out of her paralysis,” No, dinner sounds nice. It just that, well…. It’s all happening so fast, and I’m a little… nervous. “
“Hey, there’s nothing to be nervous about,” Scootaloo assured, “Applejack is the nicest, honest pony we know; she wouldn’t hurt you.”
“Yeah, and we’ll be right by you through it, including Apple Bloom,” Sweetie insisted. “We can imagine how hard it must’ve been, separated from everything and all. But I’ll bet that if you can get know the world a little more, you wouldn’t be so afraid as often if you give it a try.”
Although she is scared at the idea of meeting new ponies and going into a strange new territory outside the treehouse, she felt encouraged by Sweetie Belle’s words. She did make a vow that she would do whatever it takes to save herself from her family and to take a chance in a new life, so this is something she really must do. Besides, she couldn’t think of a worst-case scenario of what would happen if she didn’t go, as she tried not to.
Giving it much thought, Fluttershy looked back to the girls with a small smile on her face, “Okay, I guess I can try.”
“Great!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, “We can go right now; it’s a long way to Sweet Apple Acres.”
“That’s fine with me.”
Fluttershy got off the couch and walked near them to the front door before motioning to her furry friends who are still on the couch.
“Okay, little ones, time to go.”
With just her sweet small voice, the animals obeyed and scurried past the door and into the wild as she waved goodbye to them.
The girls looked at Fluttershy with surprised amazement. Scootaloo’s the one to speak out, “How did you do that?”
“I don’t know,” Fluttershy said bluntly, “I had it for a long time, ever since I got my cutie mark.”
“So, your special talent is talking to animals?” Sweetie Belle asked before letting a high-pitched squeal, “Awwwww, That’s so cute!”
Scootaloo and Fluttershy giggled as they closed the front door of the hut.
The two fillies lead Fluttershy to a path they know will drive them out of the forest and into Apple Bloom’s home quickly.
Fluttershy looked in awe as she observed the collection of apple trees that took over the field. True, she’s never had an apple before and the sight of them set her imaginations of how they would taste. But the fact that the field is lined up with all those apples made her understand that the family orchard was very special.
A thought then struck her and she asked out loud: “Where’s Diamond Tiara? Isn’t she coming?”
“No,” Scootaloo sighed, “her mother had a dinner party tonight with her Elite Club and Diamond has to attend.”
“Elite Club?” Fluttershy asked curiously.
“Diamond is an aristocrat, meaning that her family’s rich,” Sweetie Belle implied, “and Elite Club is where the rich people go to enjoy themselves.”
“Yeah, as like drinking cocktails and act and talk like zombies is fun for them,” Scootaloo said sarcastically, which made Sweetie Belle giggled.
“Well, it’s nice that she gets to see her family,” Fluttershy said, to which made the girls slightly frown at the remark.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” Sweetie Belle answered, “It’s just that… let’s say that her mother isn’t the most supportive and understanding type.”
Scootaloo jumped in to fill in the rest, “She cares about her reputation and social status other than her own daughter. The reason why we include her in our club is that we thought she needed a friend to be with her. If it weren’t for Sweetie Belle asking her parents to have a place for Diamond, she would’ve been living home alone.”
Fluttershy started to feel sorry for Diamond. As she was the only one who gave her not so much as a welcome, she never would’ve thought that Diamond would be so troubled. Especially since she knows what it feels like.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Oh, that’s okay,” Sweetie Belle reassured, “Plus on the bright side, putting her on the team seems to help her a lot. She’s getting comfortable around us, and she’s not as mean as she was back then.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“She used to bully us,” Scootaloo answered bluntly.
Fluttershy’s eyes widen from that statement, “She wha—!”
“Girls! You’re here!”
Fluttershy was interrupted by the shouting of Apple Bloom as she realized that they are near to a large, red house that sat on a clear opening around the apple orchard. She also saw that Bab Seed was right by Apple Bloom’s side.
“Applejack, she’s here! She’s here!”
“Alright, Apple Bloom; I heard ya.”
That southern accent came out of nowhere from Fluttershy’s point of view, but as she got closer to the house with the girls, she saw the owner of the voice walking through the door and walking towards her.
“Well, howdy there! You’re Apple Bloom’s new friend, right?”
This pony held a friendly demeanor. She was an earth mare, with an orange coat, light blonde hair tied into a ponytail and Stetson hat lying on the top of her head. She held a friendly smile and looked at Fluttershy with the warmest set of green eyes.
Fluttershy grew a little nervous but tried to speak out as loud as she can, “Yes. I’m Nam—I mean Fluttershy.”
Applejack raised an eyebrow and then asked politely, “I’m sorry, what was that?”
Fluttershy repeated what she said only with her voice getting quieter.
“Didn’t quite catch that, hon,” Applejack asked again.
Scootaloo stepped in excuse Fluttershy much to her relief, “She’s just a little nervous. This is the first time she left the treehouse.”
“Well, is that so?” Applejack asked before turning to Fluttershy with a soft chuckle, “Oh, it’s alright, sugar cube. There’s nothing to be nervous. The girls just told me everything about you and, I am willing to help you whatever I can. “
Fluttershy has gotten comfort from her as her voice had gotten a little louder, “Thank you.”
“Say, do you like apples?” Applejack said playfully.
Fluttershy shook her head in response, “Never tried one.”
Applejack’s eyes grew wide as frying pans, “Whooo, those changelings are worse than I thought! Well, guess it’s high time that you try one. “
She guided Fluttershy towards the house with her hoof and along with her, “Come on in, my brother Big Mac’s setting the table.”
“Oh!” Scootaloo spoke out, “Applejack! Speaking of apples, I have a surprise for you.”
Applejack raised an eyebrow at her suspiciously, “what?”
“Oh, nothing, just something that I found around the orchard.”
“You do realize that we have apples everywhere?”
“But it looks so cool; you should see it! And it’s not fake this time, I promise.”
Applejack continued to stare at her before giving in with a sigh and walking towards Scootaloo, “What is it?”
“I thought you could use this apple for your table!” Scootaloo brought forth her hoof to Applejack’s face, only to find that she was holding nothing.
Applejack’s stunned face turned into a frustrated groan as Scootaloo and the other fillies laughed so hard while Fluttershy watched puzzled.
“How many times do I have to tell you; DON’T use the invisible apple at me!”
“What invisible apple?” Scootaloo said in an innocently playful manner, “All I see is a nice, red, juicy apple right here in my hoof. Look, I’ll even eat it just to prove my point.”
She demonstrated just that, which made girls laugh even harder and Applejack frown even deeper. Even Fluttershy got a little chuckle out of her.
“Can we just go inside please?”
“Fine with me,” Scootaloo said with a smirk, walking along with the snickering fillies towards the house.
“I hate it when they do that,” Applejack grumbled under her breath.
Fluttershy, the girls, Applejack and the rest of her family are all sitting together spreading cheerful laughter that contagious enough not to join in. The family had acquitted each other to the shy guest while sharing stories and taking bites from their dinner plates.
As predicted, Fluttershy did try an apple; at first a normal red one from a bowl near her and then from her plate that holds a generous portion of apple crisps casserole and a side salad with apples and walnuts. From the very first bite, she couldn’t get rid of the eye-popping amazement that had spread on her face. Its sweet juicy flavor had adorned her taste buds and she was smiling of how good it was. Applejack once chuckled at her expression, to which Fluttershy was embarrassed at first but through a silent understanding that she read off on Applejack’s face, she relaxed and ate her meal peacefully.
Applejack was glad that she could make a new friend happy and comfortable, but inside she was nervous. After years of her hometown being hurt by everything that Equestria is facing, she worked so hard to repair Ponyville and make it safe for everypony to live. Whether it is taking care of whatever problems they had, organizing and setting up rules and strategies to keep the town safe and protected against this Dark Age’s natural causes. In the mindset of other ponies, having an unknown foreigner will cause a suspicion will make them believe she had come to bring the end of life as they know it. But being the practical leader that she is, they saw that this pony kept in the shadows for no know how long and had no knowledge of the world or a home to go to. If changelings are looking for her, this will cause a panic in the town. But she doesn’t care if those negative incomes will happen in the future; she is more than willing to let her stay with her sister, cousin and their friends and will protect them and her home or die trying!
But right now, she can try to push these thoughts away for the moment, as she needs to relax and enjoy what she got right now.
During their never-ending dinner conversations, Granny Smith, an elderly, green earth pony, grandmother to the Apple siblings and sole owner of the orchard, called out to Fluttershy, “So dearie, tell me, how do you like Ponyville so far?”
“Um, I haven’t been there yet, but I’m sure it’s nice.”
“Oh, you’ll be impressed how much has changed by dear Applejack here. I’ll bet it’s a lot nicer than what your home was.”
Fluttershy grew silent at that comment and Applejack glared at her, whispering, “Granny!”
“What? I mean it in a positive way,” Granny said defensively, “I wouldn’t call it a home if I were being mistreated all the time. Why being born with no name at all is worse than being called a ‘blank flank’!”
That last sentence had caught Fluttershy’s attention, “Blank flanks?”
“Oh, them words were the name-calling the fillies always use to describe a pony with no cutie mark. Diamond Tiara used to say that to Apple Bloom and Babs back in the past. Heh, it even helped them become crusaders.”
“Really?”
“You darn right it did!” Granny Smith exclaimed proudly, “why, I’m even more surprised the girls never told you that?”
The girls looked between Fluttershy and Granny Smith bashfully.
“We told her a little about Diamond,” Scootaloo said nervously, “We never got a chance to tell her the rest.”
“Well, could you tell me the rest of it?” Fluttershy asked in interestedly, “I very much like to hear it.”
“Well… uh…” Apple Bloom said hesitantly when she looked between her friends and Fluttershy. She then gave in with a smile and responded, “Well, okay. I better start it like this.
“It was about two years ago when the first classmate at school gotten his cutie mark. This was a sign from the others that they are almost old enough to find their special talent, which the cutie marks show as their sole purpose in life. By the end of the school year, everypony in the class had got their cutie marks—except for me. But it wasn’t like I didn’t care; I did try. I helped distribute help to my family, but I honestly wasn’t very good at it. I even try growing my own farm, but it didn’t work out--maybe I didn’t have enough soil? Anyway, it’s common for me to be called a ‘blank flank.’ But nopony took the name-calling seriously but Diamond Tiara and her friend Silver Spoon. At whatever chances they got, they would always taunt us of how worthless and pathetic we are simply because they were entitled to their superiority. I kind of understand why Diamond did that now, but it still hurt.
“Anyway, Babs moved here from Manehatten during the summer. I didn’t understand why she lived with us since no one in the family would tell me. Her time here was awful at first, with her being aggressive to me and the family all the time and being disrespectful. I used to hold a grudge against her from treating us so badly while the others tried to work through. But a few months later, I learned from Applejack that Babs was severely bullied at her school for being a ‘blank flank.’ It was so bad to a point when it wasn’t safe for her to live there anymore. So, Granny Smith took her in while her parent stayed behind since they couldn’t afford to go with her. That fact gave me well enough courage to have Babs talk about her problems to me and to have me talk about my problems to her to make her feel comfortable. And by time, Babs became calmer around us, and we became like best friends.
“We got a little nervous going back to school since I had her about Diamond and Silver’s bullying. But I was willing to stick by her side and defend her when I needed to. At one time Diamond went a little too far when she tripped us into a puddle of mud and humiliated us in front of the playground. That was the same time that we met Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. They went up to protect us from Diamond and helped us out of the mud. When we first asked why they would help us, they showed us that they are blank flanks too and we were friends from the start. And after sharing our desires of getting a cutie mark, that’s when we decided to create….
“The Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Apple Bloom and the girls exclaimed as they hoof bumped and started a fit of laughter.
Fluttershy looked at the smiling girls with her almost teared eyes. She can tell that these girls struggled so long with their identity and flaws, very much of how she struggled herself. But she can also see the love that radiated through the laughter of these little fillies. This alone had her looking at them in amazement.
“Wow,” she said while rubbing her eyes, afraid that she would get caught, “You girls had gone through a lot. How long have you been together?”
“For almost three years,” Babs Seed responded, “if you want to include when I first moved here. I was about 11 when I moved here.”
“Oh, you’re older than you look.”
“Yeah, we kind of get that,” Apple Bloom joked with a giggle.
Then a thought came to her, “I’ve never heard of Silver Spoon, Diamond’s friend?”
“Oh, she… she actually moved to Canterlot a year ago when she had accepted in a private school. Her family isn’t fond of Applejack’s values, so they moved to be closer to higher society,” Sweetie Belle replied, to which the girls’ eyes rolled when she mentions the last words.
Sweetie then stated with a sad frown, “I felt sorry for Diamond when Silver left; I mean they were best friends.”
“Yeah, but at least they didn’t have to do that ‘sugar rump’ anymore. That used to annoy the heck out of us!” Scootaloo exclaimed which the girls laughed again, which made Fluttershy and the rest of the family joined into the laughter.
“Well, there about our story!” Apple Bloom stated, “And since you always told ours; guess we’re even now.”
Fluttershy nodded, “I guess we are. Though I’m curious to know; how did you make that tree house?”
“I can answer that one,” Applejack said when she finished a glob of food in her mouth, “We actually had a treehouse in the orchard, but it got destroyed from a storm. I asked a good friend of mine to build a new treehouse since she carved her home out the trees in the Everfree. She later told me a safe route from here to the forest so that the girls can go, and she started carving right away.”
“And Applejack used the parts of our old treehouse to make the upper part of it!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed with glee.
Fluttershy took in this new information with fascination as the family laughed at Applejack’s blushing cheeks and returned to their meals merrily.
It was then dinner had ended that Applejack announced her decision to have her live in the girl’s treehouse.
“Oh, thank you so much to letting me stay, Applejack,” Fluttershy stated as she hugged the earth pony.
“It’s my pleasure, sugar cube,” Applejack assured her with a warm smile.
“But now remember, you can’t tell anypony about the changelings; the ponies here aren’t ready to face such a conflict. And if there’s anything you need with, simply go over to me or Zecora’s; she lives not too far from the treehouse.”
“I’ll keep that in mind and thank you for dinner; it was lovely.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” she then turned to the fillies standing behind her, “And now I think it’s time for you girls to get in bed. Does Rarity know you’re here, Sweetie Belle?”
“She knows,” Sweetie Belle replied, “I asked her permission before Scoots and I went back for Fluttershy.”
“Okay then, I’ll just send Big Mac to get you home,” Applejack said before turning to Fluttershy and Scootaloo who are just ready to leave.
“You be safe now, you hear?”
“Got that,” Scootaloo responded, “Oh, and one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“You forgot your apple,” Scootaloo said as she took Applejack’s hoof and gave her practically nothing.
Scootaloo and the two girls watching her from behind laughed so hard as she and Fluttershy walked into the orchard, leaving Applejack with an angry eye twitch.
Scootaloo had laughed to herself for a long time until she calmed down after a few minutes walking with Fluttershy into the forest.
“Boy, that joke never gets old,” She said to herself in satisfaction.
Fluttershy giggled at her response. After a few moments of silence, she asked the filly, “Don’t you have a family to go home to?”
Scootaloo grew embarrassed in front of her companion, “I don’t have a family. I ran away from the Canterlot Orphanage a few years ago.”
Fluttershy flinched, immediately regretted asking that question, “I’m so sorry…”
Scootaloo shrugged, “Nah, it’s no big deal. I got my friends to help and support me and if it is technically our clubhouse, I’d considered the treehouse my home.”
She then grew silent and frowned sadly as she walked a little further with Fluttershy.
“Though….” The filly thought out loud, “It would be nice to have somepony… putting me under their wing…. Putting me in a family…. Teaching me how to fly and stuff…. since I’m not ….” She sighed sadly when she glanced back to her undersized wings.
Fluttershy hated to see the filly, who had given her sanctuary and company, bringing herself down like this and she felt like she needed to do something.
“Hey…” She said empathically to the filly, “Don’t give up just that. You’re a special filly. I’m sure that in time, somepony will take you in and teach you how to fly. And who knows, maybe you’ll get a cutie mark for that.”
Scootaloo smiled and chuckled nervously as her cheeks grew pink, “Yeah, that would be cool.”
She then thought of something and then looked up to Fluttershy, “Hey, I’m curious; how did you get your cutie mark?”
Fluttershy halted for a second, “What?”
“Well, I know you’ve been captive for all these years, but that would mean you got no cutie mark if you stayed there forever? So, what happened?”
Fluttershy stayed silent for a moment until she replied to her in a quiet tone, “I…. I really don’t want to talk about it. Let’s go home.”
Fluttershy walked further into the forest while Scootaloo catches up to her. She felt a little disappointed that she didn’t get the answer she needed, but she knows how she was uncomfortable about the subject, so she decided to drop it.