The green-scaled python wasn’t any threat to Fluttershy. He was long enough that he could have coiled around Fluttershy three or four times if he ever had the inclination to do so, and it’s true, snakes like these have been known to eat ponies, from time to time, but it was rare. It only happened in particularly tragic, or negligent circumstances, and in Fluttershy’s case, not even the most ferocious beasts of the forest would ever dream of hurting her. Perhaps they sensed her kindness and love, and that’s why they would always be so calm and gentle around her.
Still, Fluttershy was afraid. She was used to dangerous beasts, but she wasn’t completely immune to them. She’s a pony, after all. She knows fear just like any other pony, she just hid it well.
The dry autumn leaves crunched under her hooves as she stepped toward the snake. It would be a few hours at least until sunset, but the trees on the sides of the clearing were tall, and they cast a long gloom over the leafy forest floor. It was cold out, but not cold enough for Fluttershy to need a jacket. The air was just crisp, signaling the arrival of the fall. Soon, Fluttershy would be sending some of her friends off to hibernate.
Getting nearly close enough to touch the snake, she leaned down, and held out a fore hoof limply. “Come on, it’s okay, big guy,” she said in her sweetest voice. She waited, perfectly still.
The snake might have repulsed any other pony, but Fluttershy didn’t pick and choose when it came to her love of nature. Her feelings went beyond an affection for cute and cuddly animals. It even went beyond animals themselves. She saw beauty in nature itself, even its ugly side had a kind of majesty, in Fluttershy’s eyes. Her love for animals wouldn’t be true love, if she didn’t accept them for everything that they are.
“Gosh, I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Equestrian emerald python quite as big as you before,” she complimented.
The snake decided to accept her invitation. Fluttershy twitched, only slightly, when he pressed his nose against her ankle. His movements were deceptively gradual and calming, but Fluttershy knew better. She knew precisely what this snake could do to his prey. If he chose to attack her, his leisurely movements would change into an explosive lunge faster than Fluttershy could blink.
She tilted her hoof and, very gradually, very carefully, ran her soft, furry ankle against the snake’s jaw. “There you go. Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you.”
A trapped breath escaped Fluttershy’s lips when the snake laid its body on her foreleg, and slithered close. The two creatures seemed to mirror each other’s mannerisms flawlessly. Their movements were gradual and graceful, like they both moved in slow motion. With time, more and more of the snake’s cold, smooth scales slid themselves up against Fluttershy, progressively wrapping her legs and neck in his bulky coils.
“Careful, you’re pretty heavy,” she reminded him politely.
The snake paused his movements abruptly at Fluttershy’s words, and turned to look at her. He lurched his large body, and coiled himself around her back and croup to distribute his weight against her more evenly.
“Oh, that feels much better. Thank you very much.” They met eyes. “I have lots of animal friends. Can we be friends too?”
Their cheeks touched, and the snake cuddled up tightly. His scarlet tongue flicked gently across Fluttershy’s jaw and muzzle, and he vibrated her neck with a loud, but unthreatening hiss. It tickled. The corners of Fluttershy’s mouth twitched weakly, trying to pull up into a smile, but she pulled away.
The snake blinked, then hung his head. He started to untangle himself from her.
“Oh no, no. Don’t go,” Fluttershy protested with a start. “Don’t worry. I like to hug. I’m very sorry. I’m just distracted right now.” Hesitantly, she drew back in to hug pressing her face into his smooth, cold neck.
Even though he was a simple creature, he had enough awareness to feel the teardrops running down his body, and to recognize what they mean. Something was bothering his new pegasus friend. He wormed his way out of the hug and drew back.
He tilted his head curiously, giving Fluttershy an inquisitive expression that seemed to ask her what was wrong.
“Don’t worry. It’s okay. I’m not angry at you,” Fluttershy insisted.
The snake tilted his head. His concerned expression had a hint of confusion in it now. Try as he might, the snake just couldn’t understand. He reached out with his nose, proffered tiny nuzzles against Fluttershy’s chin. With every one, he would draw back, and see if they were cheering Fluttershy up, and with each one, she only seemed more heartbroken.
Fluttershy choked up. “I’m sorry. It’s not your fault. Don’t be sad.”
The gentle nuzzles grew more distressed and nervous. There was a pained grimace on his new friend’s face, that was only getting more intense. He hissed with apprehension, and his long, heavy coils sloughed off of her body. What was happening? Had he done something wrong?
Fluttershy reached out across the snake’s body, drawing her hoof lower until she reached the large lump at the midsection. Her eyes drifted closed.
“Goodbye, Angel.”
She couldn’t contain her feelings anymore. The sound of her own words, now finally spoken, released all the pain that was building inside her. Her agonized expression clenched, and her teeth chattered. She sputtered out a tortured sob.
Confused and frightened, the snake hunkered down, and hung his head.
The trees and bushes rustled, and, with cautious steps, dozens of heartbroken animals emerged, and looked up at Fluttershy. Their ears were low and their eyes shaking with sympathetic tears. Several tiny paws reached out to gently touch at Fluttershy’s flank.
“I love you too. I love all of you. D-don’t worry. Don’t worry about me.”
