Don't Ask What the Third Greatest is
Chapter 1 - A Mother's Past
Once upon a time... In a high school high on top of the clouds.
"You there!" The teacher point at a colt. "For this project I'm teaming you up with Fluttershy. You two can do what ever you like, just put a lot of effort into it. And maybe you'll get a C for once, boy."
"Um... I'm Fluttershy."
"Hello, how long have we been in the same class and never interacted?" The colt asked.
"I have no idea..."
"I like music too."
"Really?"
"Yes. I'd wish I could compose." Fluttershy lamented.
"I could teach you."
"It's not necessary."
"No insist."
"I don't wanna be more of a burden."
"You're not a burden."
"I like animals too."
"Ohmygosh do you really?"
"Yeah."
"Fluttershy. It's your mother. I bought you and your friend Pizza. It's waiting downstairs."
Both of their hooves bumped into each other while trying to take the last slice. "Sorry." They simultaneously said as they got flustered. "You can have it if you want. No really you can have it. Don't make me feed you."
"We've being each other a lot lately. Does this mean we're a couple?"
"I guess so, 'Shy."
"We've been together for two years 'Shy. Should we..." He suggestively suggested.
"Um... I'm not too sure about it..."
"I'm pregnant!"
"They peer pressured me. 'And you haven't even slept together. What loser.' They said. I'm so so sorry Fluttershy. I hadn't foreseen this. I'll never forgive myself for this..."
"Look, Fluttershy. If you wanna keep it do it, but it ain't gonna be easy, you are far too young for a foal and you know it! You also know he is not going to come back and take care of you either." Rainbow 'Voice-of-Reason' Dash said.
"Why did I say yes?" Fluttershy said rubbing her belly.
"Congratulations Miss Fluttershy! It's a girl." The doctor said.
Fluttershy looked at her newborn daughter with tears in her eyes. The foal looked like Fluttershy if she was Orange with a Dark Pink mane. "She... She is beautiful..."
"So what's her name going to be?"
"..." That kept Fluttershy thinking.
"Her name?"
"I... I still need to think about that..." Her tear intensified and her ears drooped.
'I hope taking her to an orphanage far away from home will be the best for her. I'm so useless.' She thought to herself approaching the Ponyville Orphanage at night. Clasped in her jaw was a basket, and in that basket was her baby wrapped in a blanket.
"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry." Fluttershy said, setting off her tears once again. She ran off home.
"Fwuddewshy~" She could hear her foal say. "Fwuuuuddeeeewshyyyyyyy~"
Chapter 2 - A Mother's Joy
Present Day...
"Fluttershy!!" Fluttershy snapped out of her flashback induced trance. She was standing at her cottage's entrance, talking to three familiar fillies. "Are you okay? You zoned out for like a full minute there." Scootaloo asked. The rest of crusader were standing to the right of her.
Fluttershy thought of an excuse quickly. Good thing she's a convincing liar when needed. "Oh... Yes I'm sorry. I was just, um... thinking, what can I do for you girls?" She asked. Angel stood next to her, makes you wonder why he didn't wake her.
"Will ya sigh our petition to save the Ponyville clock tower? Mayor Mare wants to tear it down and build a new parking lot there!" Apple Bloom explained.
"It's part of Ponyville's history you know!" Sweetie Belle chirped in.
"And it will get us a cutie mark for sure this time!!" Scootaloo said as they all smiled. There's almost never any other motive until they got it, it seems.
"Oh of course... Let me just go get my quill and I'll sign your petition..." Fluttershy said turning around. Angel however quickly fetched it for her. "Oh thank you, Angel." Sweetie Belle hooved over the petition and Fluttershy wrote. "There you go, one signature." Fluttershy said with the quill still in her mouth.
"Thanks Fluttershy!" The Crusaders thanked her loudly. "Your full name is Fluttershy Quickwing?" Scootaloo asked raising her head from the clipboard.
"My parents thought I was going to be either going to a wallflower or a brash competitive flyer. My family has a strange history of children with polar opposite personalities. They weren't sure if was going to break the tradition, so they gave me those two names."
"That's strange..." Apple Bloom said.
"Anyways, we'll be heading off now." Sweetie Belle said.
"We still have a lot of ponies to see." Scootaloo said.
"Bye." Apple Bloom finished as they were on their way.
As soon as they turned their backs Fluttershy felt a rush of sadness wash over her. That usual happens after a visit from the Cutie Mark Crusader. She sighed. "I'm so so sorry..." She muttered.
"Uh?" Scootaloo caught that.
Fluttershy thought of an excuse. Actually she's just crazy prepared, she has an excuse for everything. Or more accurately an allusion. "No-nothing! I-I was saying I'm sorry about the tower." She did her best to mask her sadness.
"Oh yeah! But we're on the case! We'll save it, just you watch! Bye Fluttershy!" Scootaloo said as tried to catch up with her fellow crusaders.
"Have a nice day." She watched them run off. Her eyes started to water. "I'm so proud of you... You'll grow up to be a better mare than your mother ever was..." She whispered to her baby off in the distance... 'I'm so glad you have a good home with Rainbow Dash now, Scootaloo...'
Chapter 3 - A Mother's Sorrow
A Few Days Later...
Fluttershy was enjoying the day. She had a clear agenda for the day, she decided to take a nap on her couch. Angel was leaning his back against her. "Mmmm..." She moaned in her sleep. She had an enjoyable dream.
"PINKIE EXPRESS MAIL!" A familiar voice said behind Fluttershy's door.
"Mm. Wha?" Fluttershy woke up, along with a lot of the animals. She noticed the pink envelope that's been shoved under her door. She got up and opened it.
Hiya Fluttershy,
Scootaloo's birthday is soon, and I'm inviting as many ponies possible. So you're more than welcome to attend. Presents are optional but Scootaloo would appreciate them. We're celebrating it at Sugarcube Corner at 13:00 next Friday.
Your Friendly Neighbourhood Pinkie Pie
"-Pinkie Pie." Fluttershy finished reading it out loud. "Oh my," Fluttershy looked at her calender. "is that the time already?..."
Another Few Days Later, Scootaloo's Birthday...
"Angel." Fluttershy caught the Bunny's attention. "Can you please join me on my way to the toy store?" Fluttershy said softer than usual. Angel fetched her saddle bags a jump on her back. "Thank you. I appreciate it..."
One her on her way to the store, Fluttershy was lost in thought. 'Every year I buy a nice, well thought-out present for Scootaloo's birthday.' Before Fluttershy knew it she was in front of the toy store. 'I also buy a small, meaningless one.' She walked around the store a few times for the perfect gift. Fluttershy payed for it and went on her way to Sugarcube Corner, time, once again, seemed to speed up for Fluttershy, whether Fluttershy noticed it or not. 'While everypony is out to pick up Scootaloo at the school I sneak in and leave the big one at the party, without a name of course...' She finally arrived at the pre-party. She did her best to stop to tears from coming out. 'The meaningless one has my name on it naturally, I keep that one for when I show at the party...' She put the big present down. The tears finally started to stream. 'If I even have the courage to show up, that is...' She almost started to crumble down. She didn't let that happen though. 'It's stupid, but I see it as my way of saying' "sorry I couldn't be there for you... My poor Baby..." She let out. Angel climbed of her back to hug her she really needs it.
They didn't notice Pink Party Host herself piecing it together from the stairs, she quietly shed a tear.
Chapter 4 - A Mother's Daughter's Birthday
An Half-an-Hour Later...
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOOTALOO!!" Everypony shouted, that included the her fellow Crusaders, her class mates who did hate her, Mr. Cake, Mrs. Cake and Pinkie Pie but they were expected at their shop, Rainbow Dash and for some reason a few adults. They have their reasons.
"Open the big one! Open the big one!" Apple Bloom repeated.
"Alright!" Scootaloo replied. "Geez, you guys are more excited then I am?" And Scootaloo is really excited. Fluttershy smiled at the sight from the snack table. "WOW! That's so cool! Look at this you guys!" Scootaloo was really happy.
"WOW!" Sweetie Belle said.
"That's so awesome." Apple Bloom agreed.
"Congratulations Squirt." Rainbow said.
Pinkie Pie hopped over to the snack table. "It's a very nice gift Fluttershy. You should be proud of yourself." Pinkie kept quiet for only Fluttershy to here.
That took Fluttershy by surprise. She let out an inaudible gasp. She followed that up by looking at Pinkie Pie flabbergasted. "..." She hoped she didn't make it public.
"Don't worry about it." Pinkie Pie kept it quiet, she sounded just look Fluttershy honestly. "I won't tell anypony." Pinkie started to tear up.
"Thank you..." Was all Fluttershy could say.
"Do you want to talk about it, Flutters? I doubt you ever talked about to anyone but your parents." Pinkie offered.
Fluttershy thought about it. "Thank you Pinkie, I think I could use it."
"See me in my room after the Party's over."
Chapter 5 - A Mother's Terms
After the Party, Pinkie's Room...
"Hi 'Shy." Pinkie's room was surprisingly organized, less party favors and more blueprints for some party centered inventions.
"Hello Pinkie."
"Take a seat, lie down if you want. It's all possible on this couch."
"I'll lie down..."
"Where do you what to begin?"
"How did you find out?"
"I accidentally overheard you and saw you drop off the giant gift before the party. I'm sorry." Pinkie Pie apologized.
"It couldn't be helped, Pinkie." Fluttershy said.
"So what are you comfortable talking about, or what do you want to talk about?"
"I had an idea, but now I'm not so sure I want to talk about it."
"So you don't want to talk about your possible ex-boyfriend?"
Fluttershy began tearing up.
"Sorry I brought it up. Bad memories?"
"Not for him. It's all teasing I got in school more than anything. It's was one of the reasons I moved to Ponyville."
"What about the father? Was it Dumb Luck?"
Fluttershy mustered a tiny smile. "No it wasn't him. He was one of the nicest Stallions I've ever met, or colt at the time. We had a genuine romance. His older 'friends' teased him for not sleeping with anypony. You probably know how that goes. And that's how Scootaloo came to be." Fluttershy sighed. "That's when he abandoned me, he felt so ashamed at what he did that he ran away..."
"That's how that usually goes..." It suddenly went quiet in the room, more quiet then before. "Who was it?"
Fluttershy started to full out cry.
"Um... You're confusing me, Fluttershy. I thought you said you had fond memories of him." Pinkie got concerned for her friend.
"I'm ashamed to say that I don't remember much of him, I remember the good times we had. But I forgot how he looked, how he sounded. I even forgot even his na-hay-hay-hame." Pinkie let Fluttershy sob. She even gave her a pillow to relief some stress into.
After a small while, Pinkie started to speak again. "Any regrets?"
"Yes, but none of them are Scootaloo. I'm happy for her. She has a good home with Rainbow Dash. She's a great role model and sister for her. And before that, the orphanage wasn't bad. I made sure to drop her off at the best orphanage within flying distance. She's a lot happier than she would've been under my care... I'm so proud of her. I wish was like her when I was younger... I have no reason to take her in. I don't have any proof she's my daughter anyway. Scootaloo isn't the name I came up with. The birth certificate has her original name on it, and her picture as a foal. Not enough I'm afraid."
"Doesn't that mean Rainbow Dash is technically your daughter now too?"
Fluttershy giggled lightly. "Maybe... Actually I have one regret. But that still can be achieved."
"And what is that?"
"I hope she at least sees me as a second cool big sister figure one day, just as a different kind of cool." 'But in all honesty that's probably wishful thinking.'
"Aaaaaaaaaw, that's so sweet." Pinkie hugged Fluttershy.
"Thank you, Pinkie. I needed to let it out. I feel a little better."
"Want a snack or five? It's on the house."
Chapter 6 - A Mother and Daughter Talk
The next day, midday...
"Mr. Spry Sparrow! Mr. Spry Sparrow! It's lunch time! Where are you?" Fluttershy was looking for her animal friend. She was walking around a park where the sparrow usually hung out. She surprisingly came across Scootaloo, who was sitting on a bench. She looked quite down. Fluttershy walked over to her. "Scootaloo?" She said.
"..." Scootaloo said nothing.
"Is something wrong?" Fluttershy said a little louder.
The filly jumped. "OH! Fluttershy. I didn't notice you there..."
"Can I sit here?" Fluttershy asked.
"Sure..." Scootaloo said.
"Is there something troubling you?"
"No." Scootaloo shook her head. "Not really. I always get like this after my birthday. The orphanage staff told me once I was old enough to know what happened to my parents." Fluttershy silently gulped. "They said that my parents abandoned at the door step in basket, they didn't even leave my actual name behind. Those thoughts keep coming back every birthday after the party. It really bothers me."
"They probably had a good reason..." Fluttershy realized she was digging a hole for herself.
"What good reason would they have?!" Scootaloo said in that gave away a tone that sounded annoyed.
'Well here it goes.' Fluttershy thought. "Well, I knew a mare who put her baby in your situation, at the very least the result is the same. She did it because her boyfriend didn't want to have a baby at a young age, and the newly ex-girlfriend was too young too, she regrettably left her at orphanage. She thought it was the best option." Fluttershy explained, comforting Scootaloo. Half hoping Scootaloo caught on who that mare was supposed to be, but half not. Either way it felt good for Fluttershy to admit Scootaloo's origin, even if she didn't directly tell her.
"...I'm not sure what to think right now." Scootaloo said.
"Think what you want you want to believe. I'm sure your mother's proud of you." Fluttershy said as she got of the bench. "I need to go now. Have a nice day." She smiled.
"And to think I thought I came from a stork once..." Scootaloo said. "Anyway, thank you for your gift again, Fluttershy. I liked it."