> FlutterPie's Beginnings
>  by Mocha Star
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fluttershy sat in her cottage, alone, except for the animals that were doing their best to give her privacy. Her couch had been her bed recently, feeling so alone in the world. She cried softly holding Angel Bunny. “Oh, Angel, why can’t I be more open? I want more than a friend lately and I try my hardest, really I do, but every time I try to talk to a stallion my body freezes and my mind turns off.  I can’t breathe, can’t talk right and all I can do is say I’m sorry before he even notices me.  

“Can you give me any advice, Angel?”

Angel looked at Fluttershy with a soft set of eyes and wiggled free of Fluttershy's grip, then stood on the arm of the couch looking at her.  He reached out and patted her head, smiling compassionately.

“You're right, Angel.  I've got to get out there and make myself known as a proud mare.  A mare of my own making,” she sat up and opened her wings fully and pumped a hoof, “a lover of and by all animals.”

She slumped and her wings sagged.  “That sounds pathetic, Angel.  What am I going to do, really?  I love you and every other critter I help and take care of but, I want love like they do in my books,” she said falling face first on the couch weeping again as Angel rolled his eyes and hopped back onto Fluttershy, beginning to pat her lightly.

...

Pinkie Pie slunk away from the window after looking into Fluttershy’s living room and walked the path away from Fluttershy’s cottage with her head low.  The sun was low in the sky nearing sunset as she walked through town, simply smiling to the ponies that passed instead of her usual exuberant greetings.

Ponies were slightly taken interested by the typically happy pink party pony dragging her hooves, deep in thought.  How do I help her?  What can I do to make her happy and not feel alone?  She walked into Sugarcube Corner and past the Cakes’ greetings to her room and laid on her bed.

“This’ the most not funnerriffic thing I’ve seen in a long time.  I can’t throw her a party because of how sensitive she is, so what can I do Gummy?”  

She rolled to her belly and looked to her green alligator at the foot of her bed and watched as he licked his eye.  

“You’re right Gummy, I have to find what she likes and not think about what makes her all mopey in the first place.  Let's see,” she sat up and tapped her chin with her hoof in thought. "I was going to ask her if she wanted to have a party for any of her pets when I saw her, but now I've gotta hunker down and think this out."   She stood and walked on her hind legs as she thought.  She balanced on a huge beach ball as the thought.  She cartwheeled back and forth while whistling the POny Pokey before realizing she wasn't thinking anymore. “I’m not getting many ideas here Gummy.  Maybe I should try something silly, that usually helps me think.”

She hopped off the unicycle and to all fours before bouncing out of her room to the sales area and placed a bit on the counter.  “I’d like to buy a muffin please,” she asked Cup Cake.

“Pinkie, you know you don’t have to pay for food here.  Why are you buying this?”

“I need to help a friend and I have to think so I’m trying some different things.  I guess buying a muffin instead of grabbing a cupcake is a good start.”

Cup looked at the pink mare before her and thought about the logic then shook her head. This’ Pinkie Pie.  Don’t think about it.  “Okay dear, one muffin for two bits.”

“Oh yeah,” Pinkie said looking at the counter, “they cost one bit last week.”

“Well, Dear, they’re two bits this week.”

“Well, I’ll pay one.”

“Two bits for the muffin, sweetie.”

“Don’t ‘Sweetie’ me, one bit,” Pinkie said scowling.  Cup looked at Pinkie and narrowed her eyes.  

“Two.  Bits.  For the muffin.

“One bit.”

“Two bits.”

“One bit.”

“Two bits.”

“Two bits.”

“One bit.”

“Two bits,” Pinkie shouted loudly.  Carrot poked his head from the kitchen in surprise at the volume of the mares.

“One bit and that’s final,” Cup shouted glaring at Pinkie.

“Fine, one bit.  I’ll never buy another muffin here as long as I live!”  She pushed the bit to Cup and grabbed the muffin tossing it into the air landing it on her head with a smile.  “Thanks, that really helped.”  Then Pinkie pranced happily out the door and into the street.

Carrot walked next to Cup who was smiling herself.  “You know it costs one bit for the muffin, right dear?”

Cup looked to her husband and nuzzled him softly.  “I know, but she needed that and I knew it.”





Pinkie sat in the park and watched the small lake host a group of various birds enjoying themselves.  She nodded her head and the muffin tossed in front of her landing perfectly between her forelegs.  She leaned down and smelled it.  “I remember when Fluttershy ate a muffin she got in the mail one Hearts and Hooves day.

“Ditzy makes great muffins, maybe that’ll cheer up Fluttershy.”  She sat up and bumped the muffin with her right hoof and watched as it wobbled slightly.  She bumped it with her left hoof and watched it wobble then fall over.  “Why is this so hard to figure out?  It should be the easiest thing in the world. 

“Plan a party and make her happy. It's simple math, as long as I don't forget to carry the sprinkles. Maybe a picnic,” she sighed.  “That’s the problem I guess.  She has friends but doesn’t have love and love isn’t a party.  I know what she feels, I don’t have love either.  I guess I have love from friends but I don’t have a special somepony.. and she wants a special somepony.”

She widened her eyes as she thought about it.  A smile crept across her muzzle and she stomped the muffin flat.  “Eat up birdies I’ve got a plan,” she said as she jumped into the air and scrambled her legs running midair towards town, touching the earth several seconds later and creating a dust cloud following in her path.
> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pinkie knocked on Fluttershy’s cottage door and waited as patiently as she could. 

The door latch clicked and Fluttershy’s face appeared as the door cracked open. “Hello, Pinkie Pie.  It’s 4 in the morning, is something the matter?  Can I help you?”

“Yes! Only you can help me," she nodded once. "I have this amazing friend who's really shy and sad and needs a pick me up! All I need is for you to come with me right away.”

Fluttershy yawned again and nodded.  “If it’ll help somepony, I’ll come along and help any way I can.  You look very nice in that suit, Pinkie Pie,” Fluttershy said softly as she opened the door to exit her home. She looked Pinkie over, back to front with sleepy eyes.

“Oh, this old thing?” Pinkie said smirking as she walked alongside Fluttershy slightly in the lead to guide her.  “I got this a few months ago for the farewell party for Night Rain, the earth pony.”

“Oh my, didn’t he, um, pass on?”

“Yeah, it wasn’t really a party more than it was a remember how great he was.  What’re those called again?” Pinkie inquired honestly.

“A memorial, or a wake, Pinkie Pie.  I didn’t go though, I don't care for those kinds of things,” she spoke softly.

“Don’t cry, ‘Shy.  He was 115 years old, it was his time.  Why, if I’m lucky I’ll be that far along before I go,” Pinkie stopped with Fluttershy and looked at her.  “You don’t have to worry though, we’ll always be friends and you know Pegasi live for 80 years easy so-” Fluttershy turned her head away and whimpered.

“I don’t wanna die, Pinkie Pie.  Can we, maybe not talk about this?”  Pinkie laid in front of Fluttershy and let her head rest on Fluttershy’s forelegs.  

“‘Shy, let’s hurry.  My friend really needs this, then she'll be happy again.”

They stood up and Fluttershy sighed deeply and shook her head before trotting alongside the pink pony.  “Where are we going? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“The hills outside town, near where we picnic.”

“Oh my, that’s a half hour walk.  Is your friend going to meet us there or is she already there.  Oh, it is a he?  I’m sorry if it’s some stallion that we need to help and I insulted him.”

“No-no-no, it’s okay, ‘Shy.  She’ll be there at the same time as us.  She’s always on time.  Say, lookit that sky and all those stars out tonight.  Do you ever wonder if Celestia and Luna really make them or if they’re actually giant balls of gas burning hydrogen or some other base element through a complex process of fission and fusion in a burning plasma that also creates light and heat that could help lives on other planets like ours?”

“When I was a filly I always thought they were just fireflies that got stuck up on the sky. Now I know what they are, aren't they are quite pretty tonight?  I remember my parents telling me about the constellations and their importance to our culture as ponies when I was a less silly filly. ”

“That’s so neat, what if we prayed to them.  Could it rain candy or maybe chocolate milk?  What if it rained chocolate candy and we ate it and it turned into gum?  What flavor would it be?  All of them?  No, all the flavors in one bite would be gross.  I tried that once in a cupcake and,” she shuddered, “it wasn’t very good.”

“Well, I believe anything is possible but some things may be too fanciful.  I don’t mean any offense by that, but if it rained candy what good would that do the land or critters or ponies?”

Pinkie thought and slowed.  “You’re right again, Fluttershy, all those cavities would only be good for dentists and not fow tha reths ug uth,” she said with her hoof in her mouth touching a molar.  “I had a cavity once and it was from eating cupcakes for breakfast lunch and dinner.  I also had to go to the clinic.  Did you know ponies can’t live on cupcakes only?  I do now. I had to have a strict diet for three weeks and no sweets was part of it. I'll never do that again.”

Fluttershy giggled slightly and shuffled her wings.  “Pinkie, you’re so funny.  Any friend of yours is sure to be happy no matter what,” she yawned again.

I don’t understand, why am I feeling tingly inside?  Usually my outside twitches, not my insides.  I haven’t felt this way since that triple layer cupcake covered in blueberry frosting I made for Silver Spoon's Cutecinera. “Say, Fluttershy?  Have you ever been in love with somepony?”

Fluttershy looked to Pinkie as they turned to the street that would take them to the hills.  “Well, I love my friends and all my critters.  So I guess so.”

“No, what I mean is have you ever had a special somepony?”

“Oh,” Fluttershy looked to the ground, “no, nopony has found me interesting enough, I guess.”

“That’s silly.  And trust me, I know silly," Pinkie grinned with a sqeak noise, "I can think of at least one pony who likes you.”

Fluttershy blushed deeply and let a single nervous laugh quietly leave her.  “Who?” she hesitantly asked.

“Well, they’ll be there too.”

“Oh my, so the pony that needs our help also... might like me?”

“I really think so,” Pinkie said under her breath.

“What was that Pinkie?  I didn’t hear you.”

“Oh, nothing.  Oh, look!  We’re almost there.  Don’t the trees look pretty tonight?”

“Oh yes, they do.  They silhouette very well with the stars in the sky.”

“Yeah, and they're shadowy too.”

Pinkie hopped into the air slightly and fell as gracefully as a leaf from a tree onto her belly.  Fluttershy stopped to look at Pinkie. "What are you doing?"

“Oh, just thinking.” Pinkie said happily as she bounced once on her belly and up to her full height landing on all fours and walking again.  “I just thought of how romantic it would be for a pony that likes you to take you on a moonlit night walk through town and beyond, alone.”

“Well, that’s a nice thought, but no pony would do that with me.”

“Well there have to be some ponies out there who want to, but haven't asked yet. Certainly a night like tonight would be perfect, right?"

Fluttershy giggled and nodded in agreement. “It’s really nice to talk with somepony for once about things.  I usually only have my critters.”

“I know, that’s why we’re going to help my friend find a special somepony,” Pinkie said smiling before she stopped put a hoof over her mouth.

“Special somepony?  Pinkie, what’s this about?  Are you trying to get me to meet some new pony that just moved to town and is lonely?”

Pinkie pulled her hoof from her mouth with a pop sound and waved both forelegs.  “No-no-no, what it is is really really important and you have to hurry.  C’mon, before it’s too late!”  Pinkie turned and began cantering ahead as Fluttershy watched.  She shrugged and opened her wings taking a few foot gait from the ground she paced after the pink pony who was already ahead of her.

“Pinkie?” Fluttershy said in a loud whisper so as to not wake anypony. “Can you slow down?  I don’t know where to meet you," she stated, looking around her to see if anything was awake.

“Well, duh silly,” Pinkie said hovering above Fluttershy, “I wouldn’t leave you behind, ever.”

Fluttershy fell to the ground in surprise and looked up at Pinkie who was swimming in the air.  “P-Pinkie?!  How, what?”

“Oh, I’ll explain it to you someday.  C’mon, we really have to get there before it’s too late, early, you know what I mean!” Pinkie said falling to the ground and scooping Fluttershy onto her back.  “We’ll be there in no time, hang on.”  With that she galloped so quickly Fluttershy had to hold on to Pinkie’s neck as she whimpered and shut her eyes tightly, not thinking of how fast Pinkie could gallop.

“We’re here, you can open your eyes and let go of my neck,” Pinkie said straining the words out.  Fluttershy opened her eyes and looked at the purple hue on Pinkie’s face before she fell off her pink body.  Pinkie gasped and exhaled three times in a calculated rhythm before her color returned to normal and she sat on the grass.

“Fluttershy, I had to show you that,” she pointed to the mountains in the distance.

“What Pinkie?  Is your friend over there?”

“No,” she pointed to the sky above the horizon, “that.”

“Do you mean the darkness on the horizon?  I don’t understand Pinkie.” Pinkie lowered herself to her belly and sighed.  Fluttershy laid down too and looked at her friend.  “Pinkie?  Is everything okay?”

“You’re the friend that needed help, Fluttershy.”

“Me? You thought I needed help?  But, why?”

“Fluttershy,” Pinkie said raising her head to look into Fluttershy’s eyes, “neither one of us has a pony that understands us, and that's I think... that we'd be able to understand each other better if we were better friends.”

Fluttershy reassured Pinkie by reaching a hoof to Pinkie’s chin moving it to face her.  Pinkie felt her heart race more than it had in months at the touch and her blushing was obvious.  “Pinkie, you’re special to everypony and someday we’ll each find that one special somepony.”

“‘Shy, when I look at the horizon,” she turned to look at the expanse of darkness below the stars, “I think of my life and how empty it is.  I know I’m funny and happy but, I don’t have love from another pony.  And you don’t either.  We could really use a special somepony and I think we’re a good fit.  What do you say?”

Fluttershy sat up taller as she understood what Pinkie was talking about.  “Pinkie, I’m really sorry, but I can’t be your special somepony. I don't know where to start even.”

“Fluttershy, look at your cutie mark and mine.  What do you see?” 

“Um, butterflies and balloons?”

“Right,” Pinkie said excitedly, “how many?”

“Three.”

“Right again!”  She pulled three balloons shaped like butterflies from her mane that were tied to her hoof and pointed to them.  “See, three balloons.  Three butterflies!  I make ponies happy spread cheer while you show them that kindness and open their hearts.  We’re so much alike, Fluttershy. I think we were destined to be together, like cake and frosting or a hay burger with fries,” she smiled and looked at the sky wistfully as she dreamt of the perfect cupcake.

“But Pinkie Pie, I don’t love you that way.”  

The world came crashing back onto Pinkie. “What?  But, the balloons?”

“They’re very nice and I like them a lot Pinkie, but we’re friends and I don’t know what else we can be because of that.”

“So, if we weren’t friends you’d be my special somepony?”

“Maybe, but that’s not going to happen because you’re one of my best friends.”

Pinkie sat up and smirked.  “What about Rainbow Dash?”

“Yes, she is a very good friend. However she is very,” Fluttershy looked to the stars for a second trying to think of what to say, “energetic and impatient.”  She giggled when she looked back to see Pinkie using one of the balloons as a pillow.  “Fast asleep?  You certainly are special, Pinkie Pie.”  She laid next to her and began to fall asleep as well.  “Pinkie, I would love to be your special somepony, if only I knew how,” she whispered as she dozed off facing her friend in the grass.
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“...And then she said we’d have a better chance if we weren’t friends!  I couldn’t believe it Gummy, what the hay does she mean?  Mares are so confusing I just don’t get it.  I’ve had a dozen coltfriends and not one of them was confusing in what they wanted.  They weren’t happy when I gave them my special cupcakes like they asked but they said what they wanted.

“‘Hey filly, I wanna taste your swirly cupcake’, and then I’d get dinner and free stuff and they’d get my super secret special recipe for double chocolate red velvet marzipan cupcakes~,” she shuddered slightly and drooled, “with three flavors of icing and a cherry on top that’s soaked in honey.”  Her body trembled and her rear legs crossed tightly as a usual sensation filled her lower body and traveled at a quick pace through the rest of her.

“~Ohhh~

“Sorry you had to see that again Gummy, I’ve gotta stop talking about my desserts out loud.  Darn, my legs are soggy again.  Be right back.”

Pinkie walked to her closet opening it quickly and looking in with a frown.  Toys, bouncy balls, pogo sticks, baseball bats, and all other manner of foal toys were perfectly packed in chaos as she reached in and withdrew a towel and closed the door as the chaos rumbled.  She sat on her left flank and wiped her legs giggling as she did.

“I’m glad I got this towel made of Manticore wool, it’s so ticklish.  Gummy, what should I do?  I really like ‘Shy and I think I’ve kinda started to like her a lot more over the last two days since I realized we’re both special someponyless.”  Pinkie tossed the towel to the laundry basket by her door and jumped to the bed from halfway across the room.

Bouncing on the bed a couple times with a laugh as she watched Gummy fly freely through the air tumbling as she landed on her belly.  She crossed her rear legs and caught Gummy upside down in her forehooves and looked at him.  She craned her head upside down to look at her pet.

“You’re right Gummy, I’m overthinking this.  If I want an answer I have to do what she wants.  Gummy, you’re a genious!”





Fluttershy woke up in the field and gasped, blushing slightly, at the emptiness she felt.  “She left me alone at the acres?  I guess I was a little harsh on her, next time we talk I’ll make certain to apologize and let her know I can have feelings for her just not as fast as she can expect.”

She stood and stretched briefly before taking to the skies.  “I really think Pinkie Pie would make a great special somepony for somepony someday while I, I,” she sniffed as she began to glide as she passed over the fields and felt her chest tighten and vision blurring.  She angled her wings and dove to the ground barely landing safely as she bawled her heart out.

“Sugarcube?”

Fluttershy snapped her head to look through the haze of tears flooding her vision as she tried to stop crying for a second only to release her breath outward with snotty mucus and tears.  

“Fluttershy, what in tarnation’s the matter?  I ain’t seen ya this busted up since Twilight turned that frog inta an orange.  Did that happen again?  Is it an apple this time?  We can find it, I promise.”

“N-n-n-n-n-no~,” Fluttershy wailed loudly as Big Mac walked past trying his best to avoid the crying mare.  With all his strength mares weren’t one of them, and a crying one would have been a nightmare.”

“‘Shy, ya got me worried now, what’s wrong darlin’.  How can I make you all better?” Applejack said trotting around and laying beside Fluttershy on the dirt path and moving her hat so the morning sun was out of her eyes.

“I-I’m gonna be alone forever~,” she cried, almost yelling, at Applejack before falling into her hooves and covering her head and upper body with her wings.  

“Now, what the?  What’re ya talkin’ about?” Applejack asked taken aback by the louder than usual timid mare in front of her.  Several minutes passed as well as Apple Bloom heading to school and Granny to see what the commotion was, each only to be hushed and waved off by the orange mare.

“A-Applejack,” Fluttershy said when her crying had subsided enough to talk, “I don’t want to live and die alone, surrounded by my critters.  When I get old and die years from now how long will it be before another pony finds me?  What if…  What will…  Oh Applejack,” she said lunging her friend into a hug crying again.

“Sugarcube, ya can’t think like that, ya hear?,” she replied wrapping a foreleg tightly around Fluttershy, “Ya got a good spell o’ time ahead o’ you and ya can find somepony to spend yer life with.”

“No, I won’t.  I can’t even look a stallion in the eyes.  I tried dating and it was awful Applejack.  I told Pinkie no last night and now I’ll never have anypony,” she cried burying her face into a surprised Applejack’s shoulder.  

“Wait, Pinkie?”

Fluttershy hiccupped between sobs as she realized she said something she shouldn’t have in the moment.  “P-please don’t tell anypony, I can’t hurt her like I’m hurting.  I’m really sorry Applejack, I should go.”

“Not on yer life,” Applejack said locking her grip on Fluttershy, “ya said yer gonna be alone but ya turned down Pinkie and yer too shy ta talk to any stallion, or mare Ah’m guessin’.  Can I give ya a piece of advice ‘Shy?”

“Ugh, if you let me breathe,” Fluttershy strained before gasping as Applejack released her grip.

“Sorry sugarcube.  Look, ya are who ya are and no pony is gonna change ya ‘cept you.  Now, Ah know ya’ve always been like this, shy and emotional and such but ya can’t think no pony will love ya.  Pinkie is a catch and I can guarantee ya that she’s gonna be a pony like no other if’n ya wanna be with her or,” Applejack looked around trying to think of a stallion, “Big Mac,” she shut her eyes tight at the thought of her brother living with Fluttershy, “no matter what we’re all here for you and support you.”

Fluttershy slowed her crying to controlled sobs and met Applejack’s eyes.  “Applejack, thank you.  I really appreciate it but I have to get back to my cottage, I have critters to take care of.”

“Yeah, I have a lotta trees ta buck myself but if ya need help I’m here fer ya, okay?”

“Thank you Applejack, if I need help I’ll come find you, as long as it’s not a bother...” 

Applejack placed a hoof at the bridge of her muzzle and sighed.  “Ah just said it’d be okay, don’t fret it none.”

“Oh, sorry Applejack.  I’ll just go now,” Fluttershy raised herself quickly and put her weight on her rear legs opening her wings.  With a strong push she was airborne flying away from Applejack as quick as she could.  Tears leaving her eyes still she blinked them away and cleared her mind as best she could as she reached the city and flew over the town.

She glanced down only once and lost balance for a few seconds as her eyes locked on Sugarcube Corner and her mind raced through the events of the previous night and her emotional outburst and whether or not she should dive right into the top story window and tackle the pink mare and take a shot at it.

Then she leveled her wings and fixated her eyes ahead again knowing that the next time she saw Pinkie she’d freeze on the spot and not be able to speak because that was her way.  As much as she hated it she couldn’t deny her nature.  She focused on her critters and who was in more need based on the time of day.
Landing outside her cottage she sighed and folded her wings to her body before opening the door.  A small box was just inside the door with a bright pink bow on it.  No bigger than a hoof she wondered what it could be.

She looked around behind her and around the area and saw nopony and her critters chittered telling her it just appeared there when they weren’t looking.

“Odd, maybe it’s a gift or a cupcake from Pinkie.”

She pulled the string hoping for a nice sweet treat to greet her.  She screamed and fell back as a skunk’s tail raised and a fine mist left it’s glands at her, coating her in its distinct species’ aroma.  The skunk turned and looked at Fluttershy and gasped apologizing profusely and suggesting a tomato bath to help.

Fluttershy gagged and coughed as she scrambled back from her doorway so as to not track the stench into her home she blinked a few times and spit the flavor from her mouth as Pinkie fell from a tree landing on her back in front of her laughing maniacally.  “Oh I got you good.  The first prank I’ve ever pulled on you and it was a doozy!  Wait ‘til I tell Dashie about this one, she’ll never believe it.”

Fluttershy took a raspy breath in trying to suffer in silence while she looked in shock at Pinkie.  “Y-you pranked me?  But, why?”

“You’ve never been pranked before and now.  You.  Have,” Pinkie said punctuating each word as she pointed her right foreleg at the yellow mare before she flipped and galloped away at a speed that shouldn’t have been possible.

“B-but that wasn’t very funny or nice Pinkie,” she said under her breath as she took another raspy breath in, “and it was very smelly.”

Fluttershy lowered and shook her head.  “Is this because I said no?”


	
	

> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Woah, Woah, Woah.  You pranked Fluttershy?!  I thought you said to never to prank her cuz she was too sensitive.”

The mares had met by the lake on Pinkie’s request to hang out and joke for a while during a slow part of their day.

“I know, and it was totally funny!  I almost got the hiccups,” Pinkie said bouncing her height off the ground in front of the hovering mare in front of her.

Rainbow looked at Pinkie with an incredulous look.  “And, your first prank, ever, on Fluttershy, the mare we know,” Rainbow blinked trying to understand what she had heard and was saying, “was to pack a skunk into a box, upside down,” she placed a hoof to her temple and looked at the ground below her, “with it’s tail up and to wrap it and shake it before putting it at her doorstep-”

“IN HER DOOR~ WAY,” Pinkie screamed with an excited grin.

“Inside her house?!  Ugh, okay and then she opens it and gets sprayed with skunk stink…  And that’s funny?”

Pinkie stopped bouncing and covered her mouth with her hooves and stifled another laugh nodding furiously.

“Pinkie, that was just mean.”

Pinkie’s eyes widened slightly and her laughing stopped suddenly.  “But, I thought you’d love it.”

“Pinkie I’m all in for a great prank and you know it but a first time prank should be funny for everypony.  I don’t think she’d laugh at that, did she?”

“Well,” Pinkie thought placing a hoof to her chin tapping as her eyes looked up.  “Oh no,” she said as her eyes fell and locked onto Rainbow Dash’s muzzle.  “She didn’t laugh, not one giggle.  She wasn’t even a little happy, Rainbow,” her irises shrank, “I didn’t prank her, I bullied her.”

The realization was devastating to Pinkie as she froze in place.  Her curled mane lost some of its poofiness and began to fall flat against her neck and back and her bright pink coat darkened slightly.  “I-I’m a bully.  I was mean, not funny.  What if she hates me Dashie?  What if, what if I lost her as a friend?”

Rainbow looked at Pinkie with concern, the memory of the last time she thought she lost a friend wasn’t lost on her and the party she threw with those weird items made her mane hairs tingle.  

“Pinkie, it was mean but Fluttershy wouldn’t not be your friend.  You’re too cool to be hot at,” Rainbow said trying to smirk as she flew next to Pinkie and placed a hoof on top of her head.  Pinkie still didn’t move and she felt like touching a statue.  “Are you okay Pinkie Pie?”  

“I-I lost a friend…  I’m a bully, to the prettiest mare in the city.”

“Hey now, I take offence to that,” Rainbow joked patting Pinkie’s head, “seriously though you don’t have to worry, you’re everyponies friend and Fluttershy can’t hate anypony.  You should just talk to her.”

“I-I’m a bully, a bully can’t have friends like her.  I-I don’t deserve her love now or ever,” Pinkie said falling as flat as a pancake onto the ground below a surprised Rainbow Dash.  Pinkie began to reinflate to her normal size but stayed darker and sullen looking.  

“Um, Pinkie Pie you’re kinda freaking me out here.  Do you need help, like, I can have the girls throw together a party or something if that’d help.  Just don’t throw a party for yourself okay?  Look, I’m gonna get Twilight and I’ll be right back, she can help.”

“I-I’m gonna be alone forever now.”

“Wait, what?” Rainbow Dash said turning back around and returning to the pink mare on the ground laying as low as she could. “What’re you talkin’ about Pinkie, you’ve got everypony in Ponyville.”

“I’ll never have a special somepony and Fluttershy was my last shot.”

“Woah, Woah, Woah.  You and Fluttershy?!  Special someponies?  Well, never thought I’d hear that but congrats.”

“What congrats?!  She hates me now and I’m never going through this again, EVER!” she screamed at a volume that shouldn’t have been possible making Rainbow Dash cover her ears and close her eyes as the shockwave pushed her back and swayed trees nearby and sent ripples across the lake.  

Rainbow opened her eyes to peek at Pinkie but she was gone, a small puff of dust where she was was settling and the sound of her scream echoed across the land several times as Rainbow flew higher to try to find Pinkie from the sky.  

“What the flock just happened and where did she go?” Rainbow inquired as she scanned every inch of the ground she could see with her skilled eyes to no avail.  “I think we need another intervention,” Rainbow said.  Her ears perked up and listened for a random response in the distance from Pinkie like what usually happened when she said something to herself like that.  Her ears sagged as silence returned.

“Great, I’m going to see Twi, she’s got some egghead answer I’m sure.”





Fluttershy had finished instructing several critters and a bear on how to bring her tub outside and had a parrot leave to town to gather several bunches of tomatoes and any unicorn that could dispel smell.  She sat on her haunches sullen and looked at the empty tub before her in the grass on the hill behind her cottage.

I really wish I didn’t have to do this, I really don’t care for outside baths but, she sniffed the air and felt her sinus sting.  She felt a tear stream down her cheek and scowled.  “Why me?” she said softly.  “Why?  WHY?!  I do everything nice for everypony and help and listen and don’t ask for much at all and now,” she frowned and squeezed her eyes shut forcing the last tear out as she gritted her teeth.

“Now I’m alone except for these critters and animals and it’s ALL PINKIES FAULT!”

Animals scurried and flew away hiding as Fluttershy stood aggressively, wings flared, and teeth bared she radiated anger like she rarely had before.  With a final grunt she relaxed and sat again folding her wings to her body and tussled her mane.  “But I won’t do anything about it because I knew this is how I was going to be anyway.”

A small bird flew overhead chirping and garnered her attention telling her to look a certain direction.  Turning her eyes just behind her to the right she saw a pink tail disappear through the bushes.  “Oh dear, thank you mister bird.”

“Chirp!”

“I’m sorry, missus bird.”  Fluttershy nodded and galloped toward the spot she had last seen the pink hair.

“Pinkie?  Was that you?  I didn’t mean what I said, are you here?”  Fluttershy asked the brush and trees around her as she cleared into the forested area.  A caw from the distance told her a creature was running to danger.

“Danger?  Pinkie?!  The Everfree!  Oh no,” she gasped and galloped ahead toward the next clue to Pinkies location.  

Several minutes passed in her gallop before she began to feel her mouth drying but she pressed on.  A blackbird flew alongside her and chirped.  “Mister, bird, thank you.  I need you to tell the others to keep, an, eye, out for my pink friend…  And, maybe some, water?”

The bird chirped and nodded taking higher to the skies leaving the panting mare galloping in her own way.  

“Chirp chirp.”

“Oh, thank, you.”  Fluttershy cantered her gallop slightly and slowed to a trot in the direction her friend had told her to go.  

“Chirp.”

“...I-I don’t know, I guess I forgot,” she said stopping and blushing.  She opened her wings and took to the canopy and began gliding ahead, seeing a cloud she flew to and through it quenching her thirst mildly but enough to wetten her mouth.  She glanced down and scanned the ground ahead trying to see any indication of Pinkie that could show where she went.

Finally she decided to go higher to get a better view and saw Pinkie.  “Finally, there she is.”  She flew and landed behind the dark pink mare who was trotting blindly ahead.  Her legs were scratched and bleeding lightly, her mane had numerous burrs and some sticks across it while her tail was reletively clean, she noted a few leaves.

“P-Pinkie Pie?  Are you okay?”

Pinkie kept her head down and her trot steady without a noise she walked through a small thicket that snapped and cracked under her, Fluttershy flapped her wings to go over and saw a new cut bleeding slowly from Pinkie’s left foreleg. 

“Pinkie!  You’re hurt, please stop so I can help yo-” Fluttershy clasped her muzzle where she had just flown into a low branch and squeaked before hovering after Pinkie to catch up.  Landing she looked at her muzzle and sniffed as she tried to sideline Pinkie again.

“Pinkie?  Are you okay?” she asked panting slightly looking ahead to make sure she had a few seconds to look at Pinkie.  “Pinkie, are you mad?  I didn’t mean what I said, it was only yelling.”

She stopped and let Pinkie pass her and lead her through two tight trees with rough bark that Fluttershy did not want to go through.  She followed Pinkie closely and winced as the bark pulled a couple feathers from her wings as she pushed through.  “P-Pinkie, please stop.  I-I don’t know what to do and you’re worrying me.  Please, talk to me before you get hurt, more.”

Pinkie slowed giving Fluttershy a chance to catch up.  The scene before them was quite impressive.  The forest had cleared to show a view of the forest at a long distance from a cliff face the Pinkie stopped at and sat firmly looking blankly ahead.  A bunch of clouds were rolling across the forest letting rain fall below it as it moved freely across the landscape.

The air chilled suddenly as Fluttershy felt every pressure change that indicated rain which made her knees tremble since weather was supposed to be managed by Pegasi not by the forest.

“Pinkie please talk to me,” Fluttershy asked cantering to Pinkie and sitting facing her.

“Alone.”

“What?  You’re not alone Pinkie, I’m here.”

“No, we’re going to be alone forever.” Pinkie looked to Fluttershy with the saddest expression she’d ever given.  Her mane was messy and flat as was her tail.  Her forelegs were scratched and bleeding, her coat was dark and her most notable qualities of joy and happiness were gone from her eyes.

“Pinkie?”

“You, me.  I realized something and now I can tell you too.  We can never have love.  We aren’t like the others, Fluttershy.”  Pinkie’s eyes were darker than normal and her voice wasn’t cheerful, it was almost dreary.

“No, we aren’t.  We are each our own pony.  We have each other, right?”

“Rainbow Dash has dozens of ponies after her because of her speed, Rarity has her styles, Twilight has magic, Applejack has her farming.  What do we have?”

“Pinkie, I don’t understand.  We’re all useful and unique and our cutie marks-”

“Don’t tell us what we’re going to do with our lives to better others, only what we’re good at.  Tell me Fluttershy,” Pinkie turned and faced the timid mare before her narrowing her eyes, “how is helping forest animals gonna help other ponies?”

“Wha, well, I guess if a pony has a sick pet they can-”

“Bring it to you?  What about a doctor?  A veterinarian?  A unicorn?  And what about me?  Balloons for a cutie mark?” She turned to glare at her flank while she continued, “who the hay can’t throw their own parties?  Who can’t find any pony to blow up balloons and get a cake from the only bakery in town?”

“P-Pinkie?  You’re scaring me.”

“Well at least that’s one thing I’m good at, being mean.  I tried to be nice to you and be silly and prank you and all I did was be a bully, I don’t deserve this cutie mark,” she said glaring at Fluttershy’s flank, “and neither do you.  We’re some of the rare ponies that don’t have a useful cutie mark.  Don’t you see?  It’s all a lie,” Pinkie said twitching as a bolt of lightning scattered across the darkening sky.

“A-a lie?  No it isn’t.  A cutie mark-” thunder shook the ground they sat on drowning out all ambient noise for as far as they could hear for three seconds, “c-can we go, um, not here to talk?”

“Fluttershy, I can’t believe you.  Are you okay with dying alone?  Surrounded by your animals and not one pony you love in sight?”

“Are you Pinkie Pie?  You, you keep being mopey and sad and not the Pinkie Pie I know and love,” Pinkie huffed at that, “and, Pinkie, I don’t know how to say this.”

“Then don’t, there’s nothing that’ll help.  When I was a filly I was alone on that boring rock farm.  When I ran away to start a new life as a traveling party pony I was alone.  All my life all I’ve wanted is true love and I know I can’t have it,” she shuffled closer to the edge as Fluttershy glanced to the leaves blowing above them. 

“You’re wrong Pinkie and I’m not sorry to say that.  Y-you are right, I guess.  My cutie mark takes me away from ponies and into the forest but there has to be a reason.  And your parties are very important because we, everypony needs a break and you help the Cakes stay in business.  

“Since you started years ago they’ve been the best place to have fun in town and you’ve even given them time to start having fun themselves.  Don’t you remember what it was like when you first came to town?  They worked all the time and nopony knew anything about them except they baked.  Now they’re known as the Cakes, bakes and caterers extraordinaire.  They’ve even started entering contests and it’s all thanks to you.”

Pinkie smirked a little at the thought of her parties actually doing good but it faded as another bolt of lightning streaked the sky.  “What about you Fluttershy?  What’s the good in-” she waited and watched as Fluttershy matched her gaze through the rumbling earth without flinching for once.

“You tell me, you have to have an answer because I don’t right now.”

“Okie dokie loki, your talent is critters but, what if its not.”

“What?” Fluttershy ruffled her wings.

“You have three butterflies and take care of critters and animals but, what if it’s not about animals.  What if it’s about ponies?”

“I don’t understand Pinkie, I got my cutie mark after caring about the critters.”

“You got your cutie mark after caring about their feelings.  You just made me feel a little better when I was ready to jump from this cliff a few minutes ago.”

“Y-y-you were going to…  Oh Celestia, Pinkie that’s awful, why?”

“Because,” Pinkie said rolling her hooves together as rain began to fall around and upon them, “I kinda like you a lot and when I hurt you with that prank I dunno.”

“You didn’t hurt me Pinkie.  I just smell bad and it hurt my feelings more than my body.”

“But, I don’t want to hurt you and to know that my first prank on you was almost, evil, just hurts so bad.”

“Pinkamena Pie, I can’t believe what you’re saying.  You’re ready to throw away your whole life over one prank?  Nothing could be that bad, not even living alone for life.”

“You don’t understand Fluttershy,” Pinkie said lying on the muddy ground two lengths from the edge, “you have your critters.  I-I don’t have anything but Gummy and desserts to keep me company at night.”

“You may be right Pinkie Pie, but that doesn’t have to be how it is forever.  I-I have to confess something.”

Several bolts of lightning streaked the sky directly overhead sending waves of thunder down upon the mares rumbling the ground and vibrating them out of their places.  Fluttershy opened her eyes and looked in startled fear to see Pinkie’s tail cresting the cliff over it.  

“Oh no,” she gasped opening her wings and jumping into the air and over the edge as quick as she could onto to be caught by Pinkie inches before her face impacted a stone outcropping a few yards below the edge.

“Fluttershy, why’d you do that?  You could have killed yourself at that speed,” Pinkie said with wide puppydog eyes and a bottom lip that trembled for a second before she pulled Fluttershy into an inverted hug.  Fluttershy whimpered as her vision telescoped back and she saw the rock that she almost hit.

“P-Pinkie, I thought you were gonna fall to your, death.”

“What?  I’d never kill myself silly filly,” she said breaking the hug and inverting Fluttershy to rightway up before setting her down, “I’ve tried and it doesn’t work.”

“You’ve actually tried to kill yourself?”  Fluttershy asked incredulously.

“Yeah, when I first got to Ponyville I had a confidence problem and got really down, like I am now.  I went to the cliff over there,” she pointed a hoof at a spot with a large stone near the edge and several smaller ones just past it, “seven times I jumped and seven times I woke up fine and dandy at home in the Cakes house, in my bed in my room.  Now I just jump here and have time to think about it all without waking up at home.”

“Pinkie, that doesn’t make any…  You know what, I’m glad you’re okay but I think I love you, no I really like you too.”

“Wait, you said love.  Do you love me?”

“Um, well you see,” Fluttershy shuffled nervously, “no, not exactly.  But I think we can try and see where it goes.  After all, we have to find a pony so we don’t live the rest of our lives alone right?  And, I really think it’s a sweet idea for the best of friends to try something like this.”

“So~, you’re saying there’s a chance you could love me?”

“Well, if there’s a 1:1,000,000 chance I’ll try it with you.”

Pinkie squealed and reverted to her joyful self, mane, coat, and all as she bolted at Fluttershy who gasped and ducked covering her eyes.  

“O-oh no, PINKIE!?!” She screamed looking back behind her and at the falling pink mare who was near the bottom.  Shutting her eyes she prayed to Celestia that what Pinkie had said was true.  She heard a thud and her heart leapt to her throat as she fell to the stone below her and cried loudly as another clap of thunder trembled the ground.

She crawled to the edge and looked over to see nopony at the bottom.  Looking to the stones she gasped to see a new stone falling into line from an unseen place.  

“Pinkie?”  She hopped up and flew to the stones counting them.  “1, 2, dadadada, 8.  Eight times, eight stones.  She’s okay, thank Celestia.”  She took to the skies quickly again and flew high above the storm and caught a glimpse of a pony flying away in the distance but he dipped into the storm before she could make it out, ignoring the mystery pony she turned and flew back to ponyville as quick as she could.

”I’m so glad my new, oh my, fillyfriend is okay.”  She thought smiling to herself.
          

> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Fluttershy glided out of the Everfree and sighed a happy sigh to be out of the forest, back where the world made sense and where she could find Pinkie.  She aimed into town and with a few flaps to stay level she headed to Sugarcube Corner.  Even though it was night she caught a glimpse of a brown stallion pegasus flying away.  It wasn’t totally odd to see except that she noticed him near Sugarcube Corner.

She turned to the upper floor window that led into Pinkie’s room to find it open.  Pinkie had a habit of forgetting things but she always slept with the windows closed so bugs wouldn’t get into the bakery and infest the flour and ruin the cupcakes.

While the idea was sound it was kind of silly to Fluttershy.  Every creature needs to eat and maybe if Pinkie and the Cakes would share the cupcakes it would keep the bugs out.  Fluttershy was always sure she could work out a truce between the two but the Cakes would never have it.  Too much risk and waste of product.

Fluttershy landed just inside the window to see Pinkie laying on her belly on her bed with Gummy climbing up the side at a slow careful pace.  Fluttershy sighed to see the sleeping pink mare safe in her bed snoring softly with the covers covering her rear legs.  Her forelegs were splayed out with her left hanging half off the bed near where Gummy was climbing while the other was parallel to her body crossing the bed.

Fluttershy walked over to Pinkie and looked at her face closely.  A line of drool hanged from her mouth to the bed without moving or breaking, save for a wiggle when she’d inhale.  Fluttershy took in the sleeping mare in her most innocent state and felt a smile creeping on her muzzle as she reached up and ran her hoof through the curly hair.

“I think I can love you, Pinkie.  I don’t know why I didn’t see it sooner but you’re truly beautiful.”

Pinkie snorted and a rumble began in her stomach then she burped.  The scent of carrot and pickles wafted across Fluttershy’s muzzle making her wince and step back holding back a cough.

“Well, you’re still beautiful but your breath stinks.”

Pinkie snorted and turned her head the other way curling into a more comfortable position.  

Mrs. Cake called upstairs to Pinkie.  “Are you up dear?  It’s almost 9:00 and we could use your help for the late breakfast rush.”

Fluttershy walked in her usual quiet way, opened the door, stepped out and closed the door almost completely.  She walked to the stairs as Mrs. Cake started to climb them and with a startled gasp Mrs. Cake took in Fluttershy at the top of the stairs.  “Fluttershy?” She asked.

Fluttershy shushed her.  “Pinkie isn’t well this morning so I’m looking after her until she wakes up.  I’m sorry I didn’t tell you but it was quite sudden.”

“Oh,” Mrs. Cake said softly, “I understand.  She has episodes sometimes.  Has her hair gone flat?” she asked with mild concern.

Fluttershy smiled lightly.  “No, it’s better now.  She needs to sleep and I’m making sure she’s okay.”

Mrs. Cake let a breath out she was hiding in a sigh of relief.  “Oh, that’s good,” she said softly, “please make yourself at home and our kitchen is open to you if you need anything.”

Fluttershy nodded and watched as Mrs. Cake turned and walked down the steps.  Fluttershy returned to the room and closed the door softly and returned to the bed to see Gummy chewing on Pinkie’s mane.  Pinkie giggled like she felt it to Fluttershy’s amusement.  She walked to the other side of the bed and climbed in laying next to Pinkie.

I don’t know if this is going to be okay with the others or the city but I’m willing to try it, Fluttershy thought looking at Pinkie.  A smile crept onto both their muzzles as a squeak sound emanated from Pinkie’s mane.  Fluttershy looked at Gummy chewing intently and noticed something in her mane.  Reaching out she poked it and a yellow rubber duck popped out tumbling across Pinkie’s face and landing on the bed between them.

Pinkie reached and scratched her head and balloons, confetti, a roll of streamers, some candy, and a deflated beach ball fell out landing in the bed or tumbling to the floor.  Fluttershy laid there wide eyed and mouth agape.  “H-how?”

Pinkie reached in front of herself and scooped the items and with one motion turned over and held them tight.

“Hmm, so comfy ‘Shy,” Pinkie muttered as the duck fell to the floor with a squeak; the only item to escape her grip.  Fluttershy laid at the far side of the bed watching Pinkie’s sides rise and fall in a steady rhythm and Gummy release his grip and crawl to the top of her head and slowly go to sleep.

“Sweet dreams, Pinkie.”

“OH NO,” Pinkie shouted jumping into the air, “Did I oversleep the day again?  Oh no, Fluttershy, she saw me fall.  I hope she’s okay.”

Pinkie had started running in the air and an engine noise filled the room.

“Pinkie, it’s okay.  I’m here,” Fluttershy said at a slightly higher than normal volume.

Pinkie’s legs stopped in place and silence filled the room as Pinkie looked behind her at the mare in her bed slightly cowering.  Pinkie fell to the bed and laid comfortably on her side facing Fluttershy.

“Heya ‘Shy, sorry ya had to see that.  I don’t go squish, only poof.  Kinda scary I guess, sorry I pranked you then fell to my death,” Pinkie said flatly as she grabbed Gummy with her free hoof and rolled over placing the sleeping alligator on the floor before returning to face Fluttershy.

“Pinkie, I’m just glad you’re safe.  I was so worried and scared that you were going to be hurt and I wouldn’t be able to help you,” she said as her bottom lip trembled.

“Hey now, no saddy waddy ponies in this room.  Lemme see a smile, ‘Shy.  The smile I look for every day I see you.”

Fluttershy smiled at the thought of Pinkie being alive and well.  They laid there for what felt like minutes before Pinkie scooted closer to Fluttershy.  Closer and closer until their muzzles were inches apart.  Pinkie leaned in slowly.

“Pinkie?”

“What’s up ‘Shy,” she replied softly.

“Your breath really smells.”

Pinkie snorted and laughed wholeheartedly followed by a series of soft laughs from Fluttershy.

“Fluttershy you’re worth your weight in cupcakes.”

Fluttershy stopped laughing and looked at Pinkie with a scowl.  “Are you saying I’m fat?”

“Oh, nonono-”

“Gotcha,” Fluttershy said booping Pinkie’s nose sending them into a giggle fit.

“‘Shy, you smell really bad too.  I’m really sorry I skunked you.  Twilight can fix that in a jiffy.”

“Oh, okay then.  I have a full bath setup at my cottage though.”

“Well, that’s not gonna do anything to make my bed any less smelly-welly.”

Fluttershy closed her eyes.  Pinkie was right, she was stinking up the bed with skunk.  “Okay, I’ll go get her.”

“Don’t move an inch.  I like how you smell, turn over.”

Fluttershy raised an eyebrow but complied and squeaked as Pinkie pulled Fluttershy close to her body and nuzzled her.  “I like this most cuz it’s called spooning and you eat desserts with spoons.”

Fluttershy moaned softly as the comfort she felt was filling her with joy.

“Yeah, you really do stink Fluttershy, go get Twilight and we’ll try this again some other time.”

Fluttershy blushed quickly and deeply as she opened her wings pushing Pinkie back.  Rolling off the bed she landed on all fours.  “I really liked that Pinkie, I can’t wait for next time.  But, can you have less stuff in your mane next time?”

Pinkie smiled and nodded.  Fluttershy trotted happily to the window and flew out as Pinkie fell onto the bed looking at the ceiling.  “Best not dying ever, right Gummy?”

> Chapter 6
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Fluttershy closed her eyes and exhaled her breath like Twilight told her to and winced as the wave of magic washed over her front to back and again.  “Okay, you can breathe now,” Twilight said as Spike gasped for fresh air outside the window by the desk.

Fluttershy opened her eyes and inhaled deeply refreshing her body with air that she needed so desperately.  The library was bright and clean and the sight of the baby dragon smiling as he turned to Twilight and ran to the center of the room to Twilight’s side.  

“Wow, that was a stink that I thought was gonna last for weeks.  Good thing you learned that cleansing spell last year, Twilight.”

Twilight smiled slightly looking at Spike.  “I learned it because you, Spike, kept helping the Crusaders and-”

“Yeah yeah,” he interrupted turning to walk away to a bean bag in the corner of the room with a small stack of comic books, “tree sap and mud and blah blah blah.”  He waved a claw dismissively as he walked away.

“Sorry to be a bother, Twilight but thank you for helping me.”

“You haven’t told me why you got skunked Fluttershy.  Usually animals love you, was this one crazed?  Let me know so I can prevent another panic,” Twilight said with great concern.

“No, nothing like that.  You see I was pranked by Pinkie.”

“Pinkie pranked you?” Spike said loudly, “that was a bit rough but I guess as far as jokes go it stunk.”

Twilight and Fluttershy rolled their eyes.  “It was supposed to be funny but she didn’t know it wouldn’t be as not funny as it was.  Some things happened and I found her at home and well,” Fluttershy began to look at the floor.

“Wait, you two?  Are you two,“ Twilight leaned in close to whisper, “special somponies?”

“What?  Oh, um.  Maybe, I guess.”

Twilight slowly smiled wider and wider until she couldn’t hold back anymore.  She lunged Fluttershy into a hug.  “I’m so happy for you!  I always hoped you’d find a special somepony!”

“Fluttershy has a special somepony?  Who’s the lucky stallion?” Spike asked looking over his comic book in detached interest.

“Oh just read your comics this is girl talk.  C’mon Fluttershy, let’s go for a walk and tell me everything,” Twilight said hopping to the door.

“Twilight, you’re very happy about this, are you okay?”

“I’m fine Fluttershy, I’m just happy.  I’ll tell you why when we’re out and away from dragon ears.”

Spike grumbled something under his breath but kept reading as Twilight opened the door and motioned for Fluttershy to lead the way out.

“I’ll see you soon Spike.  Um, enjoy your time alone.”

Fluttershy left and Twilight followed turning to poke her head in before she closed the door.  “Spike, make a list of ponies in town that would be a good match for me.  I’ll be back soon and I want to go over it with you.  Try to find stallions but maybe a date with a mare would be okay too.  Oh, include Canterlot.  Some royal guards are really-”

“Twilight, are you coming?”

“Be right there.  Hurry Spike, this’ important.”

Spike waited until the door closed before lowering the comic and glaring at the door so hard it could have caught fire before he grunted.  “I’m finishing my comic then I’ll start her new love list.  Every time a pony finds a special somepony I have to make a list.  Good thing I got smart and made a dozen copies of the same list.”  He smiled and sagged deeper into the beanbag sighing, slightly pleased with himself.





“Pinkie, it’s so good to see you’re okay.  Fluttershy said you were sick, would you be a dear and help the customers at the counter?  I have to help Carrot in the kitchen.”

“Okie dokie Mrs. Cake,” Pinkie said trotting happily to the counter and greeting the first customer in line.  “Hiya Roseluck, would you like a fritter today?”

“Pinkie, you always know exactly what I need.”





“So Fluttershy,” Twilight said slyly, “now that you’re in a relationship have any advice?”

Twilight was walking close to Fluttershy as they walked into town from the library.  The market was set up so Twilight figured a pass through wouldn’t hurt while they talked.

“Advice?  What do you mean?”

“Well, since I finally have a friend in a relationship I was really hoping you could give me advice on starting my own.”

“Twilight, I don’t really know what to tell you.  Just, I don’t know, take a chance and go for it.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that before.  What about details?  How many flowers should I expect to get on the first date?  Should I bring some if I’m going to their house?  Cider or wine?  Where should I go on my first date?  I like burgers but what if he, or she, doesn’t?  How far should I compromise?”

“Twilight, you’re overthinking this.  Just let it happen.  Let them make the choices if you have too many options.  Then, plan based on what they like and just, I don’t know Twilight. I’m not too comfortable talking about this.”

“But you’re the first one to be in a relationship that I know.  A real one, not like that time Pinkie wanted to marry that cheesecake she made.”

Fluttershy giggled softly.  “Sir Fromage of Cakington.  She’s so silly.”

“SEE!  That’s what I mean, how can I get that?” Twilight emphasised.

“Twilight,” Fluttershy said stopping to look at her unicorn friend, “you have to find the right pony and earn it.  I have to get back to my little friends but I enjoyed this talk, I guess.”

Twilight was about to ask another question but Fluttershy opened her wings and took to the air and flew over the houses to the next street before landing.  “As much as I love to talk with Twilight she can be a bit much.”





“So, what you’re saying Pinkie is that you weren’t sick?” Cup Cake asked looking at Pinkie from the kitchen sink.  She was finishing the last muffin pans before starting the cake pans.

“Nope Mrs. Cake.  I had a fall and Fluttershy made sure I was okay.”

“Do you need to see a doctor?  A real one?  Any injury that can make you go to sleep must be dangerous.  And what were you two doing when you got hurt?”

Pinkie’s smile faded slightly.  “We were talking in the woods and I fell over a little cliff.  I’m fine though.  I woke up in my room and Fluttershy was so worried.”

Cup looked at Pinkie before nodding.  “I’ve never had a reason to doubt you Pinkie, but if anything feels wrong please let somepony know.”

“Right-o Mrs. Cake-o.”

Pinkie turned and happily trotted out of the kitchen through the doors and into the living room.  Letting out a sigh she dragged her hooves to the couch and laid on it.  I didn’t lie but I still feel bad for fibbing to Mrs. Cake.

Pinkie reached up and into her mane and pulled a small wooden framed picture out and looked at it.  She felt a smile cross her muzzle but this was different.  A rare smile she felt that happened when she was truly happy and not just happy for somepony else.  The photo was of all 5 of her friends and herself posing outside the library.

She traced Fluttershy’s silhouette and looked at herself in the photo and huffed humorously as she noticed her eyes in the photo looking at Fluttershy.  I hope you don’t smell so I can hold you again.  “I’m sorry I skunked you ‘Shy, I’ll make it up to you somehow.  But first,” Pinkie said returning the photo to her mane and standing up, “I need to bake a sorry cake.”

	

> Chapter 7
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Pinkie hopped back from the stove as she opened the oven to see a perfect cake on the hot rack.  Three tiers, each from a different type of cake, but each the shape of a butterfly.  It’s because of her cutie mark if you didn’t get it, Pinkie thought then shrugged at her stray though.

“Fluttershy is gonna love this.  A quick decoration and icing, then,” with a quick grab of her oven mittened hooves she threw the cake to a decorating table across the kitchen and spun hitting the oven door with her tail slamming it shut.  With a pounce she left the mitts on the floor and she landed at the cake with two piping bags in her left hoof, a trowel with a huge mound of icing in her right hoof and a small backpack slung over her back.

With a motion the trowel splatted the cake with a perfect base coat of icing, dropping the trowel she tossed a piping bag to her right hoof and twisted them while they spun locking them under her forelegs.  She kicked at the base of the cake with her right leg causing it to hop in the air with a slight spin.  

Catching the trowel with the top of her right hoof as she lowered from the kick she swung her leg back tossing the trowel.

Squeezing her forelegs to her body icing spat from the piping bags and across the cake as it descended to the table with a light bump as Pinkie looked down to her empty icing tools and blew at the one on her left smirking as she moved and tossed them onto the table before spinning on her left leg to bow at the sink.	

With a splash the trowel landed in the soapy water sending a wave of water up and onto the window looking out to the alley.

Pinkie turned back to the cake holding a box and with a huff she hopped into the air and centered the box and fell, perfectly encasing the cake as she landed.  With a careful pull the cake lifted from the table as a ratchet sound emanated from Pinkie’s mane.  Using her curls as a jack she raised the cake an inch from the table and slid a piece of wood slightly larger than the box under the cake and then pulled her head clear as the cake fell.

She stood back and admired her work then nodded rapidly.  “Off to Fluttershy’s!  Aren’t you glad I stopped talking to make this cake?  Who knows what might’ve happened if I just made it and left, you might’ve gotten bored.  Bored!  Not on my watch.”




“Wait,” Pinkie cried as the bar fell, “Don’t you wanna know what I do with the piping bags and clean up?  Am I just gonna leave this place a mess?”



”But…”



”Fine, just go on and read, I’ll take care of things here by myself and leave you to guess it was done right.  Because it was!”







Fluttershy turned over city hall aimed to return home as she felt somepony above her.  Looking up she smiled to see Rainbow Dash grinning at her.  “Hey Fluttershy, heading back from a long night at Sugarcube Corner?”

“Oh,” Fluttershy said as she wobbled in the air, “no Rainbow, it’s not like that.  We-”

“Woah woah woah, it’s okay I don’t need any details.  Ever.  As long as you aren’t flying sideways you’re fine right?”

Fluttershy gasped and held her breath as her face flushed pink.  “Rainbow Dash,” she finally said in a scolding voice as she exhaled, “you know that’s a horrible rumor and is completely untrue.”

“Hey, I don’t plan on testing it out anytime soon so I’ll have to take your word but if you start doing cart wheels in the air I’m telling everypony you’re crazy as a cover-up.”

Fluttershy gasped again as she wobbled and lost height for a few seconds before catching herself and flapping back up to Rainbow.  “Rainbow, you and Twilight are just alike.  Wanting to exploit my new friendship for laughs or lessons.”

“Lessons?” Rainbow asked letting her face fall neutral.  “Egghead is trying to use you to learn something?  What a dork.  It’s good talking to ya ‘Shy but I’ve gotta date with AJ to hang out at my place tonight.”  With that she turned and flew off to parts unknown to work and be herself.

Exhaling again Fluttershy began her descent and landed a few minutes walk to her cottage and began to trot, humming a soft lullaby.  Critters popped their heads out from their hiding spots and homes to listen and watch their favorite pony walk past, some elated while others simply watched with detracted interest at her seemingly empty hooves and non-existent food packed saddle bags.

A small group of birds landed on a tree branch ahead of her and began to harmonize making her stop and listen with a slight nod.  “That was very pretty my friends.  I would love to listen more, but,” the birds began to harmonize then several chirped in time as others chirped just after creating a nice melody.

“That’s very special, I guess one song couldn’t hurt.”

Beginning an octave lower she joined them in harmonizing.  An hour had passed before she realized it.  “Oh, sorry my friends I have to go.  I have to take care of some other critters around my cottage.  I’ll see you soon though, okay?”

The birds chirped twice in unison as they flew off in their own directions leaving Fluttershy to watch them scatter.  Hopping back to the path she began skipping lightly as she hummed a version of the smile song.  She heard a horn blow from Ponyville but didn’t let it distract her as she continued.  

Seeing her cottage as she cleared a small bunch of trees she silenced her song ending on a long held note.  Another noise from Ponyville made her ears twitch but she continued to her home opened the door.  

Her animals were scurrying about minding their own selves then stopped to look at her.  With a smile she greeted them as they swarmed her covering her with a living blanket of affection she, at one time, could never imagine living without.  “It’s so nice to see you all again.  I hope you’re ready for some quality time,” she said happily as she trotted to the kitchen.

Opening a cupboard she reached in and began gathering tea and sugar while several other animals prepared a pot with water and set the table with a single saucer, cup, spoon, and extra plate.

Fluttershy turned to see the table setup and three birds standing proudly with a squirrel. “Oh it’s lovely.  Thank you.  Can I tell you something very exciting?”

The squirrel chirped.

“Well yes, I don’t smell anymore, thank you.  But what I was going to say is I met my special somepony.  Isn’t that great?”

The clatter and bustle quickly died to a deafening silence.

“I-is everything okay friends?”

A roar of animal noised bombarded her with questions and comments.  She quickly placed the tea on the floor and covered her ears as they folded to her head.  “Please, please be quieter,” she said firmly yet kindly.

The house silenced again and she felt her heart pounding.  As she stood tall again she looked at her critters and animals and realized it wasn’t a mutual friendship.  Every single critter in her house asked about who would feed them, who would care for them, who would help them.

Not one congratulations or question of who.  Not one positive feeling among the bunch, except. “Angel,” Fluttershy said as her left eye freed a single tear.

He was standing tall on the couch smiling at her.  He hopped to the floor and scampered quickly to her side then hopped onto her back, he walked to her neck and held her tightly.  Reaching back she hugged him back and sighed with relief.  

“At least one of you really loves me,” she said softly.  Lowering herself she picked up her tea and trotted to the stove.  Several small critters and animals moved away and let her turn on the stove as they left the room.  “Thank you Angel, you’re the only one who asked me if I was happy.”

“And yes, I am.  At least I think I am.  It’s been a day and I’m already feeling something new, a feeling I haven’t had before.  It’s a good feeling so it has to be about Pinkie being my special somepony, right?”

Angel looked at her for a second then smiled again and nodded.  As Fluttershy turned to the counter she placed the tea on it and went to get some bread to toast Angel’s face turned to worry as he remembered at least a half dozen times the pink mare made nothing but trouble.

Every creature's ears turned to the direction of Ponyville as a tone came from the city followed by a clamor of screams far in the distance.  

“What the hay is going on in Ponyville?” Fluttershy asked as Angel frowned and began tapping his foot.  “Don’t worry Angel sweetie, whatever it is it won’t bother us.  If it does the other girls will let us know so we can escape or, help if we have to.”



	

Pinkie had finished her small lunch of a fruit basket with a few flowers she had filled with borrowed items from across Ponyville.  She was climbing down from her favorite tree to hide in when she made the town upset at one of her jokes when she decided to hop the rest of the way to the ground landing with a light puff.

She felt her mane bounce a little more than it should have as she reached up to poke then remembered she had a cake to deliver.  “I have a cake to deliver,” she said looking at the tree branches above her.  

The noon sunlight shone through the breaks and gaps in the leaves just enough to make her have to squint before she looked to Fluttershy’s cottage and adjusted her hat.  “Time to see my ‘Shy side.  Oh, I like that name.”

Turning and motioning like she was sitting on a motorcycle she moved her right hoof and imitated an engine roaring as she raised both legs and hovered in the air to her sides as she began vibrating.  With a flick of her left hoof she sped off toward Fluttershy’s cottage leaving a dust cloud behind her.

Arriving in great time she hopped to the ground and trotted to the door knocking several dozen times before she looked closely at the door then shrugged.  Turning and descending the path she trotted around the house spotting a bear in a bath tub.  She smiled and closed her eyes, then she peeked over the bears shoulder.

“Heya mister bear, whatcha doing?”

With a startled grunt the bear looked over to see the annoying pink pony as he stood tall and faced her.  Bellowing a loud roar at her she stood firm and leaned back as her body exaggeratedly recoiled from the noise.

“Wow, you should brush your teeth too.  Do you know where Fluttershy is?”  The bear cocked his head before his eyes darted to the forest.  “Thanks mister roars a lot with bad breath,” she said waving quickly and darting in the direction he looked.  

With a curious grunt he sat back down in the tub and looked at the sky imagining being a bird and flying to the clouds.

Pinkie galloped ahead into the treeline and sniffed the air.  “That way,” she said cantering left.  Seeing an increase in animals she knew she was going the right way.  A clearing opened up and Fluttershy was at the edge looking into a small stream running through it.  She was quietly sobbing, tears dropping into the water being washed away to places unknown.  

Pinkie stopped at the edge of the clearing and walked slowly into the area.  “Fluttershy, are you alright?” Pinkie asked softly so as to not scare her.

“M-my critters are…  I can’t say it, but it’s not good Pinkie,” she sniffled as another tear dropped into the stream.  

Pinkie walked slowly behind Fluttershy and sat just behind her and sighed.  “They don’t love you, do they?”

Fluttershy sniffled again and looked back to see Pinkie with an air horn strapped to her head like a party hat and a sullen look on her face with a slight smile, for Fluttershy’s sake.

“Pinkie, why do you have that on your head?”

“It was my prank for the day.  I was a uni-horn.  But, it’s not funny anymore,” she said as she reached up and pulled it from her head, “the air’s almost gone and I don’t wanna prank you.  I wanna do something else, if it’s okie dokie with you,” she said slightly reserved and softly as she placed the air horn between her forelegs.

“I don’t know, what’re you going to do?”

“Yes or not ‘Shy.”

“Yes then.”

Pinkie pressed the horn and the last air escaped sending a shocking noise that scattered all the animals away.

“Pinkie, why’d you do that?!”

“Because I can do something I’ve wanted to for a long time,” Pinkie said softening her gaze and smiling while scanning Fluttershy’s back.

> Chapter 8
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Pinkie stood and took the couple steps to Fluttershy and sat behind her pressing her body to Fluttershy’s and wrapping her forelegs around Fluttershy and she pulled her into a tight hug from behind and rested her chin on Fluttershy’s shoulder.  The scent of an entire bakery of sweet goods wafted from Pinkie to fill Fluttershy’s sense of smell.

Fluttershy felt her body slacken slightly as she gave into the embrace and her body warmed from the feeling of being held by another pony.  She reached and placed a hoof on Pinkie’s that was wrapped around her chest and sighed with relief as the stress of her critters left her.  

Pinkie released her embrace and grabbed Fluttershy by the shoulders throwing her to the ground heavily and holding her down.

“Ow, Pinkie that hurt.  What’re you doing?  Ow, Pinkie?”

Pinkie, sitting on Fluttershy’s croup and was pressing between her wings going up and down.  “Massaging you silly, just relax.”

“I don’t want a massage Pinkie, I don’t like this,” she said as her voice softened and she relaxed, “maybe it’s not that bad,” she sighed as a slight moan left her as she let her body relax and her wings unfold.

“Got ‘em!” Pinkie shouted reaching and grabbing her right wing at the middle before they could close again.

“Pinkie?!  Let my wing go,” Fluttershy said sternly trying to close it as she tensed again and tried to get up.

“Relax, this’ part of your relaxation and relief treatment.  You might be not loved by those animals but I really like you and you need this.”

Fluttershy relaxed her body again when Pinkie finished speaking. She’s right, what do I have to lose by letting her give me a massage to make me feel better?

“Okay Pinkie, you can, oh my!  What’re you doing?” she gasped falling flat to the ground smiling slightly.

The sound of a soft kiss reached her ears as her wing registered the feeling of a light tug on a random feather.  “Preening you, I heard it’s really relaxing for pegasi and you need it.”

“B-but,” she replied as Pinkie grabbed a feather in her teeth and tugged it lightly, pulling it straight into line with it’s neighbor, “no ponies ever given me a preening since I was a foal.”

With a soft kiss on the arm of her wing Pinkie began the next out of place feather.  “Then I have a lot to learn too,” she whispered as she looked at her work so far and moved to the next feather that was out of place.  With a light tug the feather popped out and she spat it to the ground.  “Uck, I heard they came out but didn’t know they tasted yucky.”

“They,” Fluttershy said uncertain how to answer, “they do?  I never noticed, I’m sorry Pinkie.”

“Don’t you go getting all mopey.  It happens and I didn’t complain,” she sternly opposed to Fluttershy’s sorrowful reply.

Returning to a laying position on Fluttershy, she she resumed and quickly finished the right wing before admiring her work and taking the wing, extending it to full length while climbing off her then standing perpendicular to Fluttershy.  Beginning to softly kiss from the tip to her wing she went the entire length ending at her back..

Chills were visible going down her spine as Pinkie reached the base and kissed with a slight swirl of her tongue.  A giggle panted from Fluttershy as Pinkie started at the base of her next wing.  Extending her wing herself she kept it straight as Pinkie kissed the length of it and began tugging lightly at feathers bringing them into line and spitting out a few secondaries that came loose.  

Finishing she sat and looked at the wings stiff and straight to her sides like she was gliding on the ground.  Looking at Fluttershy’s face she noticed the shy mare’s hoof clenching her teeth with her eyes shut and a strong pink shade to her cheeks.  Her breath was more of a restrained pant as she shuddered slightly.

“‘Shy, I think I’m done, wanna check?”

Fluttershy’s wings fell limp to the ground as she placed both hooves to the ground and began to force herself up.  Her wings slowly lifted from the ground and folded to her body before she stopped and held them out looking at them as she regained her senses and composure.

“You did really good Pinkie.  Almost perfect in fact.”

“Almost?!  But I read a book on birds preening, and you got a wingboner,” she replied pouting.

“Pinkie,” Fluttershy said after a short gasp, “pegasi are different than birds,” she stated matter of factly as her wings returned to her bodies sides tightly, "and I don't get, those things."  She turned to face Pinkie who was smiling again.

“I brought you a present.  Want it now or later?”

“Thank you Pinkie, but I don’t need anything right now.  I’m getting hungry so I should head back home, would you like to come with me?”

Pinkie reached into her mane and removed the box handing it to Fluttershy.  “You’re gonna want this, then.”  Fluttershy took the box from Pinkie and looked at it.  “I thought it would help and I made it special for you.  I even got a little audience to watch while I made it so you know it’s gonna be good.  It’s also a lot smaller than I made it seem but that’s kinda what I do.”

“An audience to watch you make this?  What is it?”  She asked opening the box cautiously by lifting the top.  “Oh my, it’s so pretty.”

“I knew you’d love it!  Like how I, nevermind.”

Fluttershy smiled and looked at the detail on the cake as Pinkie offered a fork to her.  “Pinkie, where’d you get that from?”

“From the sink of course,” she said smiling wider.

With a glance to Pinkie’s mane Fluttershy took the fork and placed it to the cake taking a bite to her mouth.  With a pleasurable moan she chewed quickly and swallowed the bite.  “This’ delicious Pinkie Pie.  Would you like some?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” she said holding a fork of her own.  

“Pinkie, your hooves were empty a second ago, how?  Nevermind, here you go.”

Sharing the cake bite for bite they finished and Pinkie made sure Fluttershy had the last bites as they laid on the ground and looked at each other.  Pinkies blue eyes seemed to sparkle more than usual in the sunlight that shone its rays through the trees.  A life and energy that radiated from her instilled a sense of belonging in Fluttershy she wasn’t used to as she scooted closer until their forelegs crossed.

She laid her head down on their forelegs and hummed.  “I feel so happy right now, Pinkie.”

“I’m glad.  It’s my special talent after all and even if it wasn’t I think I’d do anything to make you happy.”

Fluttershy felt a smile on her muzzle that got larger with every second until it almost hurt herto cheeks.  Then something happened she’d never forget.  Pinkie raised her hoof under Fluttershy’s head to her eye level and just peered with wonder into Fluttershy’s aqua eyes.  

“‘Shy, I could go swimming in your eyes they’re so deep and pretty.”

Fluttershy, without a second thought, leaded forward and let her lips connect with Pinkie’s for a brief second before she pulled back and curled up on the ground in a move so fast it impressed Pinkie.

“I’m so sorry Pinkie, I didn’t mean to kiss you.  I don’t know what came over me.”

Pinkie began to laugh jovially and hopped to her feet and bounced around the clearing giggling until she was stopped by Fluttershy who was watching with more confusion than embarrassment.

“That was so much fun and you taste like vanilla and cake!  Did you know turquoise is one of my favorite colors and your eyes are that color?  Most ponies think my favorite colors would be yellow or red or green or blue, well turquoise is kinda blue but you know what else is kinda blue is aqua which means water in another language but I think it’s pronounced ‘ah-gua’ but I don’t see how the letters are so similarthe same but sound different and speaking of different you’re a pegasus and you aren’t like a bird but you are and I’m an earth pony but I’m not like the earth at all.  Can you imagine me made of dirt or plants?”

When Pinkie stopped to take in a breath Fluttershy took the opportunity.  “Pinkie, please stop.”

“But, I was just talking.”

“Yes, but how do you do that?”

“Do what?” she asked laying on her belly again near Fluttershy’s front and placing her forelegs between Fluttershy’s again.

Fluttershy was slightly taken by surprise at Pinkies calm return to relative normalcy.  “Talk so much in one breath,” she said softly.

“Fluttershy, that’s a secret.  I can’t just tell you a secret with them reading,” she whispered with a flick of her mane, “without one in return.”

“Them?  Who’s reading and what…” Fluttershy shook her head quickly and dismissed the statement as another Pinkie randomness.  “Fine, I’ll tell you one if you tell me how you do that.”

“Pinkie promise?”

“Yes, I do Pinkie and I won’t tell another soul ever,” she said beginning to make the motions before Pinkie reached up and stopped Fluttershy’s hoof before she finished crossing her heart.

“I trust you ‘Shy.”  I expect you to do the same, just cuz I can’t see you doesn’t mean I don’t know you there and as a reader I expect a Pinkie Promise that you won’t tell!  

Well?  

I’m waiting.

…

I hope you did it and meant it!

“Pinkie, why’re you glaring at the trees?  Do you see something?  Is it dangerous?”

“Oh, it’s nothing Fluttershy.  Just making sure of something.  Okay, I can talk like that because of circular breathing.  It’s really easy once you practice it and singers do it all the time.  What you do is you make a loud word and as you’re starting the next word you breath in a little.  It only lasts so long that’s why I have to gasp but now you, and they,” she whispered, “know!  Your turn.”

“Well, I-I don’t like to say this out loud, especially where they can hear but sometimes… often times I have to end my animals’ misery or pain.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad silly.  Like with candy or medicine in candy?”

“No ,Pinkie, I have to kill them.”

Pinkie stared at Fluttershy for a few seconds before exhaling the breath she had held.  Fluttershy waited for the usual reaction of shock, concern, and fear.

“I once killed a pony,” Pinkie replied at the end of her exhale in a whisper as her expression fell to one of deep sadness and remorse.  Her eyes lost their shine and her hair lost some of its bounce without going flat.

“Pinkie, really?  Was it on purpose?” she asked with slight concern.

“N-no,” Pinkie said softly as the memory unburied itself and random flashes went through her mind.  “It was at a party for a pony in Eaten Springs, in the north east.  Small town and really sweet ponies that lived simpler happier lives than we do here.  It was a few years ago when I was trying to be a travelling party pony just after I moved here to Ponyville.

“It was the usual kind of party; balloons, streamers, confetti, cake supplied by the Cakes.  Same stuff as always, only this time I wanted to try something new,” she said wincing at the memory as her hair fell flat to her head and the ground beneath her tail.

“Everything was going like usual, the stallion was having fun and the party was in full swing,” she said as a tear dripped onto Fluttershy’s foreleg, “and I sprung my surprise.  I-I was so stupid back then and selfish and I thought only about what I thought was gonna be funny. 

“It was a colder place so they didn’t have too many insects and I thought it’d be funny for them to see bees.”

“Oh my, what happened?” Fluttershy asked speaking softly as she raised a hoof to Pinkie’s face.  Pinkie tilted her head and rested it slightly in the palm of her hoof as she continued.

“It was supposed to be a few bees to make them scared and run around but when I opened the box it turned out to be full.  Hundreds poured out and started havok ruining the party and stinging the dozen ponies there.  The birthday pony was allergic and nopony knew it and the unicorns were all scared away or too distracted to help.

“I-I picked him up and did my moving trick and we were blocks away before we knew it but it was too late.  He,” she stopped and choked as a hiccup escaped her followed by heavy sobs, “he died in my forelegs.  I looked into his puffy face and saw how scared he was and how much he was hurting and,” she paused her story to sob as the memory of watching the life leave a pony flooded her mind.

“And he cried.  As I watched his eyes close he cried because of what I did.  I didn’t even know his name until the next day when the funeral was held.  Robins Will.  I’ll never forget that name and that I’m the reason it’ll… It’ll,” she stopped again as the tears began pouring from her eyes, down her cheeks and wettening the ground.

Letting her head fall she laid on her forelegs as Fluttershy moved hers and gently began rubbing Pinkie’s mane from the top of her head to as far down her neck as she could reach with her right hoof while her left cradled Pinkies trembling head.

Several minutes passed before Pinkie calmed down enough to lift her own head and look at Fluttershy who had the softest expression of understanding.

“I understand what that feels like Pinkie.  Maybe not as deeply as you do but when I have to end a critters’ livfes it always hurts.  I spoke to a friend once while on a trip and he said that we’re not carnivores and for us to take a life is against our nature but sometimes it has to happen for us to know and respect our place in the food chain or as helpers in the world.”

“That’s a really smart stallion.”

“He’s a colt.  Really smart and trying to find his place and cutie mark.”

“Wow,” Pinkie said looking to the trees above her and imagining a colt like Snips giving prophetic advice and smiled wearily.  “You’re the first I’ve told that to since it happened.  That’s why how I found that cliff where you found me this morning.”

“Can you tell me about him?  Robins Will?”

“Well,” she said wiping her cheeks with her postern and looking to the stream, “Pegasus.  Brown.  Grey eyes.  Blue mane.  That’s about it.”

Fluttershy gasped as she remembered the pony that she had seen twice that morning already.  She shook her head dismissing it.  “Well, you’re a better mare for knowing all that.  Now you know to not use bees in ponies parties right?”

“Oh, Fluttershy!  That’s why I know everypony.  I swore I’d never make that mistake again, now I know everypony, their birthdays, every major holiday they like, favorite foods, allergies, blood types, everything!” she excitedly exclaimed.

“So, even me?”

“Yuppers!  Especially my bestest best friends.”

“Well, that’s a great thing to hear Pinkie.  You turned what happened into what made you the famous mare you are now.  One of the best party ponies in Equestria.”

“And you’re the kindest pony in Equestria.  Kinda weird how we’re so different but are kinda alike too.  Fluttershy?”

“Yes, Pinkie?”

“Thanks for listening.  I feel so much better now, but I’m thirsty,” she got up and took a couple of paces to the stream and quenched her thirst before turning back to Fluttershy and laying next to her, their sides firmly pressed against each other as they laid in silence with only the distant sound of nature and the stream lapping.

Crossing their forelegs again and Pinkie laid her head down followed by Fluttershy who laid her head across Pinkie’s neck and flattened mane as they enjoyed each others company, slowly drifting off to sleep content with what had just transpired.