I’m So Sorry.
Written by: Midnight Rose
Based on the comic by: Matty4z,inspired by the youtube reading.
Fluttershy smiled at the sight of her best friend. Rainbow Dash had always been there to support and help her, so it was no wonder that she had come over the moment she had told her the big news.
“Fluttershy!” Rainbow squealed.
The rainbow-hued pony rushed over and flew happily over to her.
Rainbow Dash gave her best friend one of the biggest hugs, and one of the most careful ones, she had ever given her. Fluttershy’s smile was a little wider, if that was even possible.
“Oh, Rainbow Dash! I’m so glad you’re here. I really need some advice.” Fluttershy exclaimed in her usual sweet, quiet voice.
Rainbow nodded understandingly, she was smiling, but her smile had faded just a little.
“Are you sure about this? I mean...It’s a big deal, and you’re so young, what if you can’t take care of the baby?” Rainbow asked.
Fluttershy sighed and shook her head slowly. “I know, I’ve been thinking about that too. But I’m going to try my best.” She replied with another sigh.
She knew in her heart that Rainbow was probably right, but her mother had said that she would help her...so that would probably make it easier.
“My mother said she would help me…” Fluttershy mumbled. Rainbow shook her head and nickered.
“Really? What happens if the baby gets sick? What about if they’re disabled? Nopony’s gonna want to deal with that, Flutters.” Rainbow said, not too kindly.
Fluttershy eeped and hid in her bangs. “I’m still going to try.” She replied.
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and sighed in defeat. “Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
The hospital room was almost silent, except for the soft crying noise of a tiny orange pegasus. Her mane was purple and cropped short, like her father’s.
“How are you now, Ms. Fluttershy?” The doctor asked, smiling at the sight.
Fluttershy smiled brightly, she was so happy and felt very peaceful, considering the almost full two hours of pain she had just endure. But, the painfully shy pony only replied with a, “oh, I’m fine...thank you.”
Nurse Redheart smiled brightly, “well you're welcome to stay as long as you need.” She replied, now looking at the new baby’s health chart.
“Isn’t she just beautiful?” She asked the now busy nurse. Nurse Redheart depressed sigh was audible to Fluttershy, who smiled with concern.
“Uhm, miss is there something wrong?” Fluttershy asked.
Nurse Redheart hated this part of her job. The looks of hearts being broken, and the guilty feelings she had for days afterwards.
“I’m...I’m so sorry, Miss. Fluttershy. You had, well...A little accident when you were in labor with, uh...What’s her name going to be?” She asked, looking at the orange filly.
Fluttershy gulped, her heart was racing wildly and she looked down at...What was she going to name this filly? Oh goddess, what if she couldn’t even name her! What had she gotten herself into!?
Nurse Redheart blinked at Fluttershy, who woke up from her little freakout. She giggled nervously and sighed.
“Well, I’m not too sure yet.” She replied. Making the nurse nod in understanding.
Breathing a sigh, Nurse Redheart smiled a kind, sad smile. “It seems that you’re little filly had a little accident. It seems that, somehow, her wings got crumpled.” She replied, speaking the latter in a very quiet and meek whisper.
Fluttershy’s ears pricked as she heard the words ‘crumpled’ and ‘wings.’ Her heart began to race again, and she looked down at her new daughter with tears filling her eyes.
“So...what does that mean?” She asked, her voice quieter than usual.
Nurse Redheart sighed and shook her head sadly. “I’m afraid that your little pony will….well she won’t be able to fly for a very, very long time. She possibly might not be able to fly at all.”
Now distraught, Fluttershy’s heart skipped. She had worried about this for a long time, but now….She couldn’t believe it. Fluttershy knew that her mother wouldn’t help her now, nopony in Cloudsdale would. A pegasus who couldn’t fly was as good as dead...It was a hard truth that Fluttershy hated.
“I’m so sorry, miss.” Nurse Redheart said.
She left the now crying Fluttershy alone with her sleeping orange daughter, who had no idea of what had just conspired.
The dark street was clear and Fluttershy thanked Celestia for that, Scootaloo was asleep in her mother’s basket, she was curled up in the pink blanket the Rarity had made especially for her. As Fluttershy moved closer to the obscenely large orphanage, the tears in her eyes that had been threatening to flow for so long broke, like a dam had been broken.
Scootaloo….I’m so sorry. She thought, she wanted to say that but her voice had completely left her. What she did say though, was this.
“I’m so sorry…” She quietly mumbled.
The baby filly in the basket cooed and began to open her eyes. With a surprised jump, Fluttershy bit on the basket’s handle and quickly placed it on the mat and flew off. Her melodious voice sobbing as she flew down the street and back home, where she had cried herself to sleep.
“Hey, Fluttershy!” Scootaloo’s voice burst through her memories and she blinked in surprise.
“Oh, hello girls. What can I help you with?” She asked.
Her immense surprise and happiness at seeing her daughter when she had been just reminiscing about her birth, she almost felt a little choked up.
“It’s about the town clock!” Applebloom said, her smile bright.
“Mayor Mare wants to trash it, and we wanna keep it. It’s such a big landmark!” SweetieBelle cried.
Fluttershy sighed in relief. She had been quite worried that the crusaders had been worried about her, but no, they were just on a little escapade, like they usually were.
“Yeah! We’re hoping that we’ll get our cutie-marks in diplomacy because of this!” Scootaloo finished, hopping excitedly.
Blushing, Fluttershy smiled. She was just so proud of her little daughter, but she was sad too, Scootaloo not knowing who her real, true mother was had been a huge shadow around her life for a long, long time.
But Scootaloo was looking at her now, her big purple eyes smiling up at her. She blinked again and smiled. “Of course I’ll help you girls out! I love that old tower.”
Not as much as I love you, Scoots. She added silently.
The three crusaders laughed and happily trotted off, leaving a happy, but saddened Fluttershy in her doorway.
Scootaloo’s birthday, the day that both the filly and secret mother had been waiting for all week. Now, the day had finally come. The party, as always, had been held at Sugar Cube Corner, and Pinkie had been very busy, preparing with Mrs.Cake a giant strawberry four tiered cake.
Fluttershy however, only had one task for today. She had gone to every single toy store, looking for that very special present, and one not-so-special one.
She always did this, every birthday. She’d given Scootaloo a very expensive, but worthwhile toy, one that meant something, and one from just Fluttershy...not Mother Fluttershy, one toy that kept her secret stable all these years.
But this plan almost had a hitch this year, and that hitch had been Pinkie Pie. She had seen the look of pride and joy in Fluttershy’s face as Scootaloo unwrapped the large gift.
“O-oh...Uh, I….I’m not.” Fluttershy mumbled.
Pinkie just smiled, two tiny tears were leaking out of her eyes. “It’s okay, Flutters...I won’t tell anypony.” She replied.
Fluttershy sighed in relief. Knowing Pinkie, she would keep her secret. Laughing joyfully as Scootaloo opened her brand-new, one of a kind scooter that took Fluttershy hours to find.
“Wow! This is amazing! Thanks….Oh, there’s no name tag. Did you give this to me, Rainbow?” Scootaloo asked.
This made Fluttershy’s heart crack, but she smiled along with all her friends. Unaware that Pinkie had been giving her kind smiles the whole time.
The wind rushed through Scootaloo's hair as she soared through the sky...On her brand new scooter. This thing was beyond awesome! It had amazing balance, and those racing stripes! Scootaloo wondered why Rainbow had been so adamant about saying she hadn't given this scooter to her. But, Scoots knew that Rainbow was probably being bashful.
"Whoa, Scoots!" Applebloom called as she rounded the corner, almost knocking into her. "Would'ja look where your goin? Ah mean, Ah know your excited, but jeez!" Applebloom scolded.
Scootaloo blushed and sighing she nodded as she skidded to a halt. "Heh, oops. Sorry AB, I promise I'll watch where I'm goin'." She replied.
Applebloom smiled, "thanks...What's on yer mind? Yeh seemed lost in thought." She replied, looking at her friend with wide, concerned eyes.
Scootaloo just laughed, making Applebloom's concern lift a little. "Oh, it's nothing really! I was just wondering who gave me this scooter, y'know, since Rainbow seemed to deny buying it." She replied.
"Ooh! Maybe we can be detectives, ones who will solve this mystery!" Scootaloo exclaimed as she got the brilliant idea.
Her wings fluttered and Applebloom smiled brightly, "yeah! Maybe we'll get our cutie marks! I'll go call on Sweetie-Belle, I'm sure she'll wanna help!" She said, still with a bright smile.
Scootaloo nodded and Applebloom raced to Rarity's, where Sweetie had been staying for the past few days. Scootaloo was super excited, and she just had to rush home and get her detective gear!
The orphanage loomed over Scootaloo's small body and she smiled. This place had been home to her for so long, its scary exterior didn't even frighten her anymore...Okay, well, maybe a little. She giggled at herself as she opened the door.
Everypony was either upstairs, or down in the kitchen, it seemed. She could hear the staff preparing for lunch, and she hopped it would be her favorite, tomato soup and grilled cheese. However, she had no time to figure that out, for she wanted to solve this mystery right away!
Rushing upstairs to her bedroom, she was just about to grab her detective gear when she heard one of the staff talking to somepony. They were very quiet, and Scootaloo had to preen her ears.
"So....this is her room, it's quite lovely." Fluttershy's quiet voice was saying.
Fluttershy? Scootaloo asked herself. What's she doing here?
The staff laughed, "well I wouldn't say it's lovely, but it does have it's charms. Your little filly turned out to be quite the tomboy." She replied.
Scootaloo's heart soared, her mother was....Wait, Fluttershy!? With a surprised blink, her heart began to race as her little mind put the pieces together. Fluttershy was her mother...and she had...abandoned her. Why?
Anger raced through Scoots as she heard Fluttershy's musical laughter. "I'm sure her father would be quite proud then." She sounded a little sad when she said this, but Scootaloo didn't care.
How DARE she!? Scootaloo growled in her mind. The door was still closed, and Scootaloo hoped nopony on the other side could hear her steaming.
"Would it be okay if I see her? Where is she?" Fluttershy asked.
This comment made Scootaloo's anger subside, if only a smidgen. Fluttershy, no...her mother, obviously still loved her if she wanted to see her. However the staff's response chilled Scoots yet again.
"I....I don't think that's a good idea. We have always told Scootaloo that her mother didn't want to see her, but now you do. Wouldn't that cause confusion and hurt? We don't wanna have to deal with that. We've got so much pain here already." The staff was mumbling, like she didn't even believe this herself.
Scootaloo couldn't see, but on the other side of the door, Fluttershy's eyes widened. Tears began to leak out, but she tried her best to stay calm.
"Oh...Okay, I'll just leave then, if she doesn't want to see me...That's fine." She replied.
Sighing, both ponies exited Scootaloo's room, just to find the crying and shaking pony they were just speaking about on the other side.
"Scootaloo! Whatever are you doing here? You said you were going off to play-" Scootaloo's glare of pure hatred stopped the staff member in her tracks.
She gulped and backed away, and Scootaloo, shame ridden and very, very angry, galloped down the stairs...Before Fluttershy could even squeak out a 'hello'.
Scootaloo sat crying on the edge of a pond. Her tears splattered into the water and molded into the water. She sniffed as she saw her friends trotting towards her from the corner of her eye. She did not want to have them see her cry.
Applebloom, as always, was the first to notice what was wrong.
"Scootaloo! What's wrong? I thought you wanted to play detective." She asked.
The crying Scootaloo simply shrugged, she tried to play it cool, but tears were still leaking out of her eyes. "I don't think we have to figure...i-it out any...m-more." She said, gulping back tears every now and then.
Sweetie Belle gasped and sat down with her friend. She didn't like seeing anypony this upset, especially not one of her bffs.
"Scootaloo, tell us what's wrong...We're your friends, whatever happened...We'll support you." She said, smiling kindly at her.
Scoots sighed and smiled back. "Well...uh, it turns out...Fluttershy is my mom." She said, after a long while of waiting.
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle gasped, they had not seen that coming. "Really!? Fluttershy? I always thought it'd be somepony else....no offense." Applebloom replied.
Scootaloo laughed a little, "yeah I was surprised too." She said.
"I bet. Were you mad?" Sweetie asked, when Scoots nodded she nuzzled her.
"I'm sure Fluttershy had a very good reason to do what she did...Maybe she didn't know how to raise a baby." Sweetie replied.
Scootaloo was about to say something, but Fluttershy's kind, quiet, voice cut through.
"I'm sorry to say that, that was exactly the problem." Fluttershy squeaked.
The three girls turned their heads. Their expressions were mixed, Applebloom looked protective, like if she harmed her best friend again, she would do something...Fluttershy didn't want to think of what that something would be. Sweetie looked almost scared, but not the kind of scared that you are for yourself, she looked scared for Scootaloo, who was just looking depressed and angry.
"Go away, Fluttershy. Haven't you done enough?" Scootaloo asked, her voice deadly quiet.
Fluttershy flinched, but she stood firm. Applebloom rolled her eyes. "Ah think she said to go away!" She repeated, shooting daggers at the yellow pegasus.
"No. I will not leave you again, Scootaloo. Not anymore, I promise." Fluttershy replied, looking at her daughter with kind eyes.
Scootaloo huffed, "sure you won't! What makes me wanna believe that!? I DON'T want you to stay!"
Sweetie Belle gasped as the anger in Scootaloo's voice shone through. "Scoots...she's still your friend, right?" She said, trying to calm the situation.
It worked, Scootaloo saw how hurt Fluttershy looked and she sighed in regret. "I'm sorry...It's just...It's just." She couldn't get the words out.
Sweetie smiled. "Would it help if we left you guys alone?" She asked.
Scootaloo nodded and Sweetie hugged her, Applebloom simply smiled a sad, small smile and walked off with Sweetie Belle.
After a long while of ragged crying from Scootaloo, quiet, kind words from Fluttershy, and a giant hug that the two shared. Scootaloo was ready, she was ready for her mother to explain why she abandoned her. As she told her this, Fluttershy's eyes widened.
"You know I never wanted to 'abandon' you, right? I had too. Cloudsdale is very strict when it comes to their fliers...if anypony there had found out about your....problem." She said, looking at her wings. Scootaloo flapped them and it sounded like buzzing, Fluttershy smiled. "Well I don't think things would've ended up well...for either of us." She continued.
Scootaloo sighed, she knew from her history lessons at school that Fluttershy was probably right. If she couldn't fly, the she couldn't have walked on the clouds either, it was a very strange situation, and pegasai didn't take well to strange things.
"But, no matter what had happened between us. I always loved you." Fluttershy said softly, smiling at her daughter's bewildered expression.
"R-really? I-I always thought my real parents hated me, that's why they left me at such a horrible place..." Scootaloo replied, sniffling softly.
Fluttershy's smile flipped upside down and she gave an odd sound, like somepony had hurt her. "No...That wasn't true, not at all. Did you ever wonder who gave you those 'awesome' presents on your birthday? Who always went to your little plays and concerts, and even when nopony seemed to like them, I did. I have always been so proud of you, Scootaloo...I've just been so very...well, shy. I've never had the courage to say all of this to you. It was actually Pinkie who told me I should tell you this."
Fluttershy's heart-felt statements made Scootaloo's heart soar. She known that somepony had loved her, those presents were proof, but now...Knowing that it was Fluttershy, no, knowing that her mother was Fluttershy. One of the kindest ponies in Ponyville. Well, this fact no longer made her angry.
"Wow...I....I really had no idea." Scootaloo said, she was far too emotional to say anything more.
Fluttershy understood, she pulled her daughter close to her with her wing and snuggled her. She was so soft. Scootaloo hadn't felt this loved, this cared for...in a long time.
She knew now though, that she always would be.
