"Oh, there you are darling! I've been looking high and low for you!" Rarity said catching sight of Fluttershy whom had just made a trip to Ponyville's marketplace.
"Hi there, Rarity. I was just getting a few things for the little animals as they were getting a little hungry. Did you need me for something?" Fluttershy responded.
"Well, yes, unfortunately. I've got a very important delivery to make. This particular client would like me to be present at the time of delivery for custom tailoring. I tried to assure this pony that there are many tailors in their local area, but they insisted that I make the trip. You know how I can't say no to such flattery and high regard."
"I understand, Rarity. But you really shouldn't let every pony dictate how you run business."
Rarity was shocked by this response. The nicest pony in town was telling her how to be more strict.
"My word, Fluttershy. I can certainly see those self-confidence seminars paid off, didn't they?"
"Not really. I just learned a long time ago to not over extend myself to what everypony wants of me."
"Fascinating, darling! But I really must ask your help in a small matter. Would you mind babysitting Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Applebloom again? I would be most indebted if you could undertake this task while I make the delivery."
"Oh, yes! I would love too!" Fluttershy accepted the request with a bright smile.
Rarity walked with Fluttershy to her boutique where three fillies were outside causing all kinds of mischief. It was in each moment that a pony passed by the boutique that the fillies would run up to them demanding if they needed help with anything. The bewildered pony would stutter a few words, run off, and be given a short chase by the fillies. They repeated this until catching sight of Rarity and Fluttershy.
"Hi Fluttershy! Is there anything we can help with?" chimed in all three at the same time stopping in their excitement with a hoof raised by Rarity.
"That's enough, girls. I know you are still trying to earn your cutie marks by helping other ponies but you really must find a less bothersome way of doing it," Rarity said to the three fillies jumping up and down in front of Fluttershy.
The three fillies stopped hopping around seeing the end of their endeavors.
"But Rarity..." Sweetie Belle pleaded.
"But nothing, little sister. Harassment is different than helping," Rarity chided.
"Oh, man. Just when we were about to get our cutie marks," Scootaloo disappointingly remarked.
"Well, what do we do now?" Applebloom asked the other two. "We're kinda running drier than a barren desert with ideas for gettin' our cutie marks. We jus' know that everything will be better once we get 'em."
"Not really," Fluttershy said attracting the attention of the three fillies. "Cutie marks tell you what your special talent will be. They don't say who you are, what you should do, or what life will be like after you get one."
Rarity interrupted the conversation as she was on a tight shift to get the delivery to her client.
"I hate to barge in like this but, girls, Fluttershy is going to watch over you three again tonight. I expect you to be on your best behavior."
All three fillies ran circles around Fluttershy in anticipation for an afternoon and evening full of fun.
[/hr]
In her cottage, Fluttershy was in the midst of tucking in the three worn out fillies into bed after an afternoon spent having all sorts of fun in meeting and playing with many animals. The day's remaining energy was spent in rounding up chickens, chasing bunnies, and having tea time with Harold the bear. Now, all the fillies wanted to do was get to sleep. However, it is common for the young to seek an outlet to wind down from an adventurous day. Little colts and fillies spend their entire day expending energy while building up adrenaline. A calming and soothing bedtime story provides such an outlet.
"Fluttershy?" Scootaloo asked Fluttershy after all three were tucked into bed.
"Yes?" Fluttershy asked.
"Can you tell us a story?"
"Well, I'm not sure I can recall any right now from memory."
"Plleeeaaassseee," all three fillies pleaded in unison.
"Oh, ok. But what kind of story?"
"How about what happened after you got your cutie mark?" Scootaloo asked quickly. "Did everything get better after you got it? You made a remark earlier today that things didn't get better."
The question's purpose was obvious pertaining to mistreatment of blank flanks and the hopes that cutie marks will make everything better. Fluttershy pondered whether she should tell the fillies about what happened to her wondering if the story was suitable for little fillies. After a while of no response, the fillies got impatient.
"Oh come on, Fluttershy. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon humiliate us blank flanks every day. We just want to know what to look forward to," Sweetie Belle entreated.
"You three promise to go to bed right after?" Fluttershy asked.
The three fillies nodded in agreement.
"Do you three know about my guardian?"
"Guardian? What guardian?" Applebloom asked.
Fluttershy raised her hoof to request silence.
"My guardian is with me at all times. He watches over me to ensure that I'm fine at the end of each day. We met a long time ago not long after I got my cutie mark. He is stubborn, brash, arrogant, and all other sorts of similar things. But he is always there for me when I need him most. On the inside, he is a pretty sweet guy. Now girls, I'm said to be the nicest pony that one could ever meet. That doesn't come without consequence, though. Twilight said it had something to do with my amygdala—whatever that is. The point is girls that my guardian keeps watch over me when others hurt me. His opposite personality to mine provides a much needed balance.
It wasn't long after the cloud race that Rainbow Dash flew down to the ground below to find me. She couldn't believe her ears when I said I didn't want to go back to Cloudesdale. So, instead, she grabbed my front legs and we both haphazardly flew back. I wasn't too great at flying and she was only a little filly like yourselves but we managed to make it back. There was no welcoming committee or celebrations when I returned. A few ponies were excited when they saw my cutie mark but not much else happened. Well...except for being made fun of. Being nice and helpful to other ponies doesn't always show you in a better light. Ponies might have a different opinion about you based on first appearance, personality, or actions. Your antics today should have shown you that. The Pegasi are always focused on the nature of flying: performing it, practicing it, and perfecting it. Though I got my cutie mark, I was still not a good flier and no amount of niceness can get around that. The other pegasus ponies repeatedly pointed this out to me."
Scootaloo tried to hide her tiny wings under the blankets to which Fluttershy didn't notice continuing the story.
"The other ponies' attitude got worse as the days went on. They pushed me off taller objects each day laughing hysterically when I failed to fly crashing into the clouds. They even came up with a cheer when I failed to fly, 'Fluttershy, Fluttershy, Fluttershy can't hardly fly' they would chant without end. Of course, Rainbow Dash would protect me, but she wasn't always there during some of my worse moments. The worst moment came only a couple of months or so after my return from the ground below.
Cloudesdale was a nice place, but I wanted to be on the grounds below. There I could be in company of my true friends—my animal friends. They didn't mistreat me, call me names, push me off tall ledges, or chant my failures. Often I found myself looking over the edge of the clouds at the ground below curious to the animals I left behind. I should have known better than to do this for it led to the worst day of my life.
I'm not sure why I didn't notice what day it was until it was too late. It was on this one particular day I chose to look down that I noticed a large movement in the sky. That day was to be marked as the Annual Dragon Migration. Although, I couldn't see the ground, I was a bit fascinated with the number of dragons flying below. At that moment, something terrible happened. I'm not sure who or why this pony did it that day. Maybe they are sorry for doing such a mean thing."
"Somepony was mean to the dragons?" Applebloom interrupted the story.
"No, not exactly."
"Then, what happened?" Applebloom asked.
"Are you sure you fillies want to hear this?"
All three fillies nodded in agreement.
"I was pushed."
The three fillies opened their mouths in shock.
"I was pushed off the cloud and into the passing dragons flying below. My flying ability was a little better but I still couldn't catch myself in time before landing on top of one of those dragons. I screamed which only attracted the attention of the surrounding dragons. Many of them tried to eat me crashing into one another. In the confusion that followed, I fell to the ground below with a few dragons giving chase. Luckily, I landed in a stream below losing my pursuers.
Pulling myself out of that stream, I was humiliated, miserable, and soaked. Drying myself out was an easy task except for the water coming from my eyes. For what seemed like an eternity, I cried my eyes out. I didn't want to go back to Cloudesdale and I was not sure how to live down on the ground below...so I cried. Then, when all seemed lost, I felt the comforting touch of another. In my distraught state, I didn't look up and accepted whomever's gentle touch was on my back. That was the moment my guardian arrived.
My guardian tried his best to cheer me up but it didn't work. He called for others to arrive and that was what did the trick. He orchestrated the gathering of materials nearby trying to find whatever would cheer me up. It was when I received forty acorns and watching a few hungry squirrels run off with some of them that I couldn't help but smile. When he saw this my guardian gave a smile and hugged me. We've been together ever since that fateful day."
"...And your guardian is always with you?" Applebloom asked.
"Yes. In fact, he is right outside the door," Fluttershy said in a matter-of-fact tone.
The three fillies looked beyond Fluttershy to the door behind her.
"Is he mean?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Only when he needs to sweetie," Fluttershy assured them. "He is the sweetest guy in the world with a heart of gold."
"So, he saved you, huh?" Applebloom asked.
"In many more ways than I'll be able to tell in one evening. After the day we met, he showed me the surrounding area including Ponyville. At the time, I was too scared to approach other ponies in fear of what they would do to me in addition to the fact I've only met Pegasi. My guardian would stomp his foot and continually urge me to socialize with the town's residents. For the longest time, I refused. It was a mistake to do this and he knew very well what I needed most. He is very pushy and that is one of his most endearing traits.
My fear of socializing with ponies in that village led me to stay on the outskirts of it with my animal friends. I was completely at home with them. After what seemed like a long time, Rainbow Dash found me among my little friends urging me to go back to Cloudesdale. I tried to explain what happened, but Rainbow Dash has a way of not listening sometimes. She poked and prodded eventually setting me to tears of frustration in my inability to explain why I don't belong in Cloudesdale or with the other Pegasi. Dumbfounded, she watched me run off in this state but didn't give chase. Don't get me wrong as Rainbow Dash is my best friend, but she could never be my guardian.
Much time was spent among my animal friends. They were all I ever needed in life...that is until the change of the seasons. In fall, all my animal friends went to their various homes getting ready for the coming winter. I realized I didn't have a home anymore...unless I wanted to return to Cloudesdale. Even if I wanted to return, I lacked flight. In addition, I couldn't gather the courage to ask the residents of Ponyville for shelter. So, I went through that cold winter finding what little warmth I could find. I lived through the harsher side of nature; a side I would never have seen if I stayed in Cloudesdale. All my animal friends left me in that winter except my guardian. He had a home but I couldn't fit in. So, he worked tirelessly in the dead of winter to build me shelter from the outside elements. That is but one way my guardian was there for me.
Another way my guardian helped me was when the town's residents were performing their annual clean up getting ready for the coming spring. I was discovered by a few of the ponies in my makeshift shelter and they called for the mayor confused as to why a Pegasus was living like this. The mayor came by and asked me many questions but, out of fear, I couldn't word any responses. The mayor soon became frustrated until my guardian stepped in. In his own charade way of pronouncing himself, he let the mayor know of my dire need in shelter.
This was the day I found out not all ponies are mean-spirited as the mayor gave me this very cottage we're in, little ones. She saw the need for an animal caretaker as the town didn't have one and gave me the position. I quickly went to work to show my appreciation for the mayor's hospitality. In the first few months of me residing in Ponyville, I took care of any and all animals. The ponies liked my kind behavior but didn't want to approach me because the shyness was off putting. My guardian followed me everywhere to ensure that I expressed myself more openly. At times, he would show ponies what I wanted in his own cute little way. After a while, I didn't need him around all the time so he stayed behind in the cottage allowing my confidence to overtake his guidance.
Without him around, I took on more than I could do. I was so worn out at the end of my days that being nice was taking its toll. My guardian, once again, followed me in my day to see what was happening. He saw that my niceness was becoming a bigger burden than I could carry. So, he put a stop to it by temporarily pointing out a schedule and slapping me on the hoof if I didn't follow it. It was not until a few weeks later, I noticed an easier flexibility in performing my duties in animal care. I also felt like a better and more confident pony.
My guardian is and has been a part of my life in every way. He keeps my best interests at heart and knows me better than anypony I've ever met. Those who meet my guardian see only his stubbornness, but he is the sweetest little guy I have known. Girls, I might not be able to change who I am, but I can change the way I act. Sometimes, we just need a little help from a guardian angel."
At this final word, Fluttershy gave a wink to the three little fillies now having heavy eyelids.
"Will we ever meet this awesome guardian of yours, Fluttershy?" Scootaloo asked sleepy-eyed.
"Oh, you've already met him. You just didn't know it. Good night little ones and know that someday you might get your own guardians. Maybe you'll get a guardian to help you get your cutie marks. But, for now, that can wait until tomorrow as I know three little fillies need their sleep."
Fluttershy walked to the bedroom door opening and stepping through it. She turned around to see three little fillies dozing off to sleep hoping that they would see one day that they, themselves, are guardians to another. The three fillies continued to watch Fluttershy close the door. It was not until this moment that they noticed a small fluffy white bunny peer curiously into the room perched on Fluttershy's back. Its nose wriggled as it nudged Fluttershy lovingly and she returned the gesture in kind.
