Lament of a Shy Pony

by Ripcord

Melancholy Dinner

I sat at my cart, drifting in thought between the velvet bunny and my work. Her actions confused me, I didn’t understand why she would carry something so personal around. The day dragged on, heating up as the sun rose in the sky. Sweat began to drip from my mane dotting the wood floor below and my muscles tired under the oppressive heat. Between that and my worry over Fluttershy I decided to close shop early, I usually don't do this sort of thing but when I saw how she acted it felt right.

As I tried to stand up my muscles protested and spasmed. I kicked the counter in frustration sending my chair off tilt and me to the ground in the shade behind the cart. The cool wooden floor was rough but for a brief moment I was at ease. I laid there, allowing my body to relax and breathed softly letting each breath I took embrace my lungs. After a few minutes I rose slowly. Rearing up I used the countertop to steady myself as I grabbed the rusted red handle and pulled the tarp down.

I made my way to the back of the cart again. Grabbing the extra fruit from today, I looked intently at each of them. Inspecting them for any imperfections, bugs or bruises. After a thorough analysis I tossed away the refuse and gathered the rest into a small sack. As I did I counted out two apples, three pears, and two carambola. I knickered at the sight of the last, such an absurd name for an intricate fruit.

Finishing up I gathered my fruits, grabbed my coat, and walked out of the shop. I managed down the steps nearly falling as I did, my legs still feeling weak from the recent hot spell. I took a deep breath, turning around and grabbing my key. Locking the door behind me I began my walk to Fluttershy's for a surprise visit. Standing outside my cart I let the wind tickle my fur, it was still getting warmer but the cool breeze felt wonderful. Releasing a contented sigh I returned my focused to the task at hand and walked off towards Fluttershy's house. I stopped every now and then allowing the wind to cool my slowly chafing body.

As I walked my mind was filled with thoughts of Fluttershy. How her wonderful pink mane curved perfectly into the image of a heart. Her luxuriant yellow coat. Her Cutie Mark. Was it possible she shared my feelings? It was a thought that remained entwined within my soul. It had a deadly lock on my heart whose key could kill as easily as free. I wanted to know, but I was afraid and she is so shy and easily hurt. I couldn't put such a burden on her. I was so lost in my thought that I didn’t notice when I stepped through the open gate. Nor Fluttershy tending to the plants, listening as I muttered my thought aloud.

"Um... Ripcord, are you um... alright?" Fluttershy asked. I blinked a few times and shook my head. I looked at Fluttershy and realization hit me like a buck to the head.

"Y-yes. I'm fine. I, uh, brought you a few treats," I said smiling awkwardly.

"Oh boy, thats so nice of you. Oh... what are they?"

"Fruits. I was hoping, you know, maybe we could have supper together at your house?" I said awkwardly. Setting the bag of fruit down I rubbed my head.

Fluttershy smiled, “oh that sounds nice. Please come inside..” She reached down and picked up the bag with her mouth before heading towards the house. When she turned I noticed that she had the velvet bunny on her back. It sat on her back tilting slightly towards the left, hoping as she trotted up the pass. Those black button eyes stared at me, watching me, waiting it seemed for me to ask.

My heart was skipping in my chest as I followed her up the path to her cottage. I was amazed that everything was going so well, maybe she really did feel the same. Fluttershy was already at her door. When she set the fruits down the bunny slipped off her back and into a spring flower patch. She didn't notice. Opening the door she retrieved the bag and continued into the cottage. I walked over to the patch to get a better look at it. It was an aged, tear stained bunny. The wear on the stitching showed it was almost never set to rest, always

in motion, always held. I picked it up and felt a sense of joy come over me yet with a bittersweet aftertaste.

I carried the bunny into the house while Fluttershy was diligently working on making the salads. She looked regal as she carefully diced the different fruits and tossed them into the

bowl. I walked in and set the bunny on the table. Slowly I crept up from behind and nudged her flank. She let out a high pitch squeak and took to wing, floating a few hooves above the ground. When she calmed down and turned around she smiled and pushed me out of the kitchen.

Her face turned into an adorable frown and she pushed me out of the kitchen, "haha you can wait out here now mister." She said blushing a little.

I laughed to myself and sat on the chippendale couch, patiently waiting for her to come back. My body was tingling with glee, my heart jumping nearly out of my chest and breathing became slightly harder. Soon Fluttershy emerged from the kitchen with two large wooden bowls filled with the chopped up fruits I brought her. She walked out back to the picnic table and I happily followed her lead. I watched as she placed them on the table and sat down.

"Oh... um, Ripcord, are you coming? Your salad is getting warm,” she said.

I gulped loudly, my anxiety couldn't be more obvious at this point but I proceeded to sit down anyways. I looked at the salad, it was extravagant and smelled divine. I dove in rarely stopping to breathe. The one time I did my mane was littered with lettuce. Fluttershy spat her food on

the table in laughter and we had a good time. I looked at her and watched as she smiled, it was rare to see this but a wonderful thing to look forward to. I sat up in my seat, my heart slowed down and I began to feel more comfortable around her.

"So Fluttershy, I have to ask about your bunny," I said breaking the silence. The wind whistled by, it moved her air making it dance and revealing her bereaved face.

"I-I don't like to talk about it, if thats alright with you." She said hiding behind her mane.

I got up and walked around the picnic table to sat next to her. I put my arm around her letting her know that it was okay. I waited a while, allowing Fluttershy to understand that I meant no harm in my questions. “Please? It would mean a lot if you told me.”

She glanced at me from the corner of her eye and I gave her an encouraging smile. She was silent for a moment before taking a breath, "I've had it since I was born, it's very special to me."

"Yeah, I know Fluttershy, but why?"

"It's the only thing my p-parents gave me before... before they died," Fluttershy barely managed to finish before a heavy sob shook her and tears began flowing. I held her, embracing her in my arms. I wanted to help, I wished I could go back and fix it. Make it so her parents were still alive today. Yet time only pushes us forward, never letting us go back, never allowing change. It was a hard truth to swallow but it's all I could do at this point.

I waited for her to calm down, "what happened to them,"

"They *sniff*... they were killed by Equine flu. I remember my d-dad sitting next to my mother’s bed, holding me while I played with that bunny. *squeak, ah*One day h-he laid down in bed, I crawled onto his chest and fell asleep with the bunny. When I awoke the next morning he... *sniff*... he..." she cried burying her face in my shoulder, unable to finish. I placed my head on hers as she whimpered softly. I felt the tears fall to my

coat and I hummed softly, only imagining the pain she felt. I was at least left with a mother for a short time, but only a short time. I couldn't help but feel like I was the only one who cared, I held her tighter as she bawled in the setting sun.

When she stopped and laid her head in my lap I felt an urge that I shouldn't have, but I held it back. I began to understand finally that her bunny was her family, or at least what’s left. She cries to it like she would a mother and takes it everywhere to feel safe like with a father. I teared up at the thought and let one escape, plummeting to Fluttershy's head. She felt it and looked up at me.

"I-I am so very sorry Fluttershy," I said softly.

"It's *sniff* ok Ripcord," She asked.

"How is it ok, you never had a mother, a father, and were rejected from your society. H-how is that ok, how is that alright Fluttershy?"

"It's not, but it's the only life I knew as a child," She said quietly. I couldn't hold it back anymore and I too began to cry. I couldn't help but feel utterly indebted to this poor mare, forced to raise herself and forgotten. My heart shattered and my soul burned. I wanted to give her everything, trade lives and let her live in my place. That way she would at least have a mother, even if it was only for a while. Fluttershy got up and hugged me, I looked at her and saw the anguish in her eyes. I was sure she saw it in mine too, Though for different reasons.

"Tell me the story about your jacket Ripcord? That is if you don’t mind." She asked.

I sighed knowing I couldn’t deny her request, "it was my fathers, he was in a militia group in the Dragon Mountains. My mother was a nurse in the town, tending to the ill and injured of the militia. I was a young filly at the time, I adored my father’s bravery. One day a dragon

ransacked the village looking for my father. He had killed it's brother not to long ago and it was hungry for revenge. My mother tried to stop him but all he did was give her his coat. She cried a little and wrapped me in his coat. I looked at her and smiled and soon she did too. I didn't know what happened to my father but the dragon came close to the house. My mother ran outside and tried to stop it, but all that happened was she became mortally wounded. A year passed and I laid at my mother’s bedside, I held her hoof praying she would stay but it was

helpless. The wounds would never heal properly, and she didn't make it through the night," I finished and tried not to cry again.

Fluttershy and I hugged again and we both tried to comfort one another. I wanted to trade lives, and Fluttershy wanted to save my mother. I felt like a weight was pressing down on my lungs, I could barely breath from the sorrow. Fluttershy was used to it so she knew how to help, I looked at her. I saw her eyes glisten in the setting sun, she looked back and we moved closer. I felt like dying and so did she but we had hope. Our lips meet as the sun dipped below the horizon and for a moment it all felt right. The world had slowed to condemn the worries of two ponies, letting us hold on to what we have for a while longer.

Comments

[Medic]

Bad spacing try to seperate the sentences after periods not in the middle of a thought

[Longshot]

"Our lips meet as the sun dipped below the horizon and for a moment it all felt right."

i.imgur.com/RTgM2.gif

[Ripcord]

^^^^^^^HAHAHAHAAAA

[Honey Mead]

751171, 752839 yeah that's what we call an author who doesn't listen to his editor and check for formatting errors.

[Longshot]

754553 It is partially my fault for posting such a funny comment, but I could not resist.