Grace before Mealtime

by helmet of salvation

8. The Contingency Plan

"I give up."

The manticore started to cry out in protest but Fluttershy held up her forehoof to silence him. "I'm truly sorry, but my friends and I have done all we can for you. If you aren't prepared to eat the food we have to offer then you'll just have to take your chances back in the Everfree Forest."

The creature pondered this declaration for a few seconds, then gave a brief, rumbling reply that filled Fluttershy's previously implacable face with amazement and hope.

"You are? But, but you didn't like the taste of any of it."

The manticore's next utterance translated into the ponies' language as "True, but if there isn't enough in the forest to feed me then I might have no choice".

Fluttershy thought fast, excited by this unexpected turn of events. "We'll have to try a few different dishes, and I'll need to check up on you regularly to make sure you're staying fit and healthy. Are you sure about this?"

"Fluttershy, you and your friends have gone to a great deal of trouble to help me, even though you have every reason to hate and fear me. The least I can do is try."

A wave of exhilaration surged through the pony, bringing a broad smile to her face for the first time that day. This ferocious, fire-breathing predator was willing to try something he didn't want to, and would probably find difficult, for the sake of a group of prey creatures who had shown kindness to him. Her mind filled with an image of a grassy field on a gorgeous, sunny day, the huge manticore sitting incongruously amongst a collection of critters who would normally flee at the first sign of him. A copious picnic was laid out before the group. Fluttershy also envisioned herself, proudly describing the monster's lifestyle change to her friends, who had gathered to witness the scene.

"He joins our friends here for lunch every week. Don't you, boy?"

The manticore nodded contentedly, letting out a low rumble.

"That's a kerr-razy amount of food you've laid on there, Fluttershy," observed Pinkie Pie, her eyes even wider than usual. "How do you manage that every week?"

"It's an effort, I know," the pegasus replied, "but it's worth it. With this dietary supplement, the prey in his forest territory can recover their numbers, so he won't be driven to come hunting in Ponyville again".

"In other words, you're buying his good behaviour with a food tribute," snorted Rainbow Dash, hovering in mid-air with her forelegs folded in disapproval.

"Oh Rainbow, I'm just helping him like I would any other critter."

"But he's not just any other critter, is he? He's an apex predator," Twilight Sparkle pointed out. "I know I'm not the animal expert here but are you sure having him associate ponies with food is such a good idea?"

"He thought of us as food before this anyway, Twilight. And this isn't his favourite food. He tolerates it because he wants to avoid eating us."

"Are ya sure he's gonna keep wantin' to avoid eatin' us?" Applejack's eyes were flooded with grave concern.

"Why, yes. He's changed."

"And if he changes back, or throws another tantrum like he did in my boutique, what will you do?" asked Rarity. "Curl into a ball and beg for mercy again?"

"You don't understand. He's very sorry for what he did. He said so. We've put all that behind us and he's going to be nice and gentle with us from now on."

"Do you have any idea what you sound like?" asked ... Fluttershy?

"Wait, what?"

There, in Fluttershy's mind's eye, was her own self, glaring incredulously, growing and crowding the other ponies out of sight. "You're just making excuses for him. You remember how out-of-control he was, how dangerous he can be. What are your grounds for thinking it will be any different this time?"

"I ... um ... ohh!"

The sudden rush of questions and doubts began to overwhelm her. Her mental image began to spiral out of control, the sounds and colours rushing into a vortex that disappeared as quickly as it formed. Fluttershy found herself staring at the manticore, who was waiting expectantly for her to accept his offer.

"No. I won't risk you losing your temper again. You must leave Ponyville and never return."

Deflated, the manticore opened his mouth to plead for a second chance, before realising that Fluttershy had already granted him that chance, and he had let it go up in flames. Almost literally.

"I understand," he replied shamefacedly. "If I were in your position, I wouldn't be in a mind to forgive either."

"This isn't about forgiveness. I don't want to see you starve or thrown into Tartarus or anything like that. I forgive you, all right. What I'm afraid I can't do is trust you. Not when the safety of my friends and me is at stake. Trust is something you earn, something friends have. And while we might have been able to get along peaceably for most of the day, let's face it, we are not friends."

The hunter fell silent, unable to argue. Eventually he spoke up. "For what it's worth, because of your grace and generosity, I vow never to harm another creature in Ponyville again. Unless they're causing you trouble, of course."

"Thank you, I appreciate that," the pony replied with quiet pensiveness.

"No, thank you for doing your best to help me. Now it's time for me to march back into that forest and think about what I've done. I'm sorry for disappointing you. Goodbye." He turned back towards his home.

"Goodbye, manticore."

The two creatures walked slowly away from each other, the manticore's final words playing over again in Fluttershy's mind.

Back into that forest.

The forest.

"Of course, that's it!" Fluttershy galloped excitedly back towards the wilderness.