Loss of Innocence

Celestia's Sunlight pierced through the soft clouds, the blue sky stretched from horizon to horizon. The creatures of the night returned to their homes to sleep while the critters of the day have yet to arise. In a cozy cottage at the edge of the Everfree Forest, slept the adorably gently, innocently dreaming Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus awoke to the light shining from to her sweet face. Slowly sitting up Fluttershy gently shook her head, letting her pink mane flow like silk.

"Another lovely day." She said with a kind smile, her arms stretching a tired feeling away.

Fluttershy casually got out of bed, and approached the window. Opening the window, Fluttershy greeted the various birds that tweeted and chirped outside.

"Good morning." Fluttershy whistled back to the birds. "Oh my...I still have to feed all the critters."

Racing down the stairs, in her usual graceful manner, Fluttershy made her way to the kitchen, Within the kitchen were several rodents, rabbits, cats and even a ferret or two were all running about the kitchen waiting for Fluttershy. Upon seeing their angelic caretaker, the animals went into a frenzy.

"Now now little ones." Fluttershy spoke in her soft voice, reaching into a large bag of dried food from the cupboards.

Pouring the dried food in countless bowls for each critter, Fluttershy suddenly felt a hard smack on her succulent flank.

"Oh!" Fluttershy turned around to see her pet bunny Angel tapping his little foot impatiently. "Angel Bunny. You shouldn't do that to mama."

Angel ignored Fluttershy's comment and pulled out a large book with a certain, very fancy looking salad image in the book.

"Oh you want that?" Fluttershy inquired, looking over the book. "But wouldn't you like something simpler?"

Angel shook his head in disagreement, repeatedly pointing at the image; going so far as to shove it in Fluttershy's face.

"Okay okay." Fluttershy reluctantly agreed. "I guess i can make that."

So while Fluttershy was busy making Angel's fancy and complicated breakfast, three uninvited fillies were coming into view of the cottage. On their merry way in Scootaloo's scooter-wagon ride came the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Inside the wagon were Sweetie Belle, the white unicorn filly with the purple mane, Apple Bloom, the yellow earth filly with the red mane and finally, using her tiny wings to help drive her scooter was Scootaloo, the orange pegasus filly with the purple mane.

"So you think will work Apple Bloom?" Asked Sweetie Belle.

Apple Bloom patted her little hoof on Sweetie's shoulder. "Don't worry Sweetie Bell, with Fluttershy's help we won't be the Cutie Mark Crusaders......We'll be..."

"THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADER: ANIMAL CARETAKERS!!!" All three fillies shouted in unison.

Fluttershy, after feeding the critters in her house, now had to feed the critters outside the cottage. Worms for the birds, carrots for the bunnies, corn for the chickens and fish for the otters.

"Now eat it all up, but be careful not to eat too fast." Fluttershy told her animals with a kind smile. "And don't forget to-"

CRASH!!!!!!!!!!!

Fluttershy quickly turned her head, to her shook was the Cutie Mark Crusaders crashed into the chicken coop, several chickens panicking and flapping about.

"Okay Crusaders." Apple Bloom quickly go to her feet. "Let's gather up these chickens!"

"THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADER: Chicken Catchers!!!" All three fillies shouted as they galloped about trying to catch the chickens.

"Uh girls?" Fluttershy tried to call out but it came out too quietly for the fillies to hear. "Girls?" Fluttershy was loosing patience. "GIRLS!"

The fillies stopped chasing the chickens and lined up in a row in front of Fluttershy. "Yes Fluttershy?" All the fillies asked at once.

Ever since the day the Cutie Mark Crusaders spent the night at Fluttershy's and the business with the Cockatrice, the crusaders showed a form of deep respect for Fluttershy. That and they didn't want Fluttershy to give them "The Stare".

"What have I told you both about scaring the chickens?" Fluttershy gently lectured. "So please wait there while I put the chickens away."

Fluttershy took only mere seconds to "persuade" the chickens to returned to their cope. After the chickens were dealt with, Fluttershy looked back at the crusaders.

"Oh Scootaloo you're hurt." Fluttershy kindly said, holding up Scootaloo's little hoof. It was bleeding a little; probably from the crash. "All of you come inside, I'll treat that."

Inside Fluttershy's house, while Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle watched, Fluttershy slowly cleaned and bandaged Scootaloo's cut. As an "extra precaution" Fluttershy even kissed the bandage to help it feel better.

"What are you doing?" Scootaloo asked with a blush on her face. It was a cute expression, cute enough for Fluttershy's face to faintly blush.

"Just helping it feel better." Fluttershy replied, kissing it again.

"It's fine...stop it." Scootaloo said. Though she said 'stop', Fluttershy's kisses felt good.

"How about we have some lunch?" Fluttershy suggested, trying to diffuse the tension.

"Sure." The fillies responded.

The lunch consisted of simple oats, daisy sandwiches, fresh fruits and some cider. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle casually ate their food, but Scootaloo was having some complications. Fluttershy, not only sitting a little too close to Scootaloo but unbeknownst to the other fillies, she's been slowly feeling up Scootaloo's hind leg for a few minutes now.

"Fluttershy...what are you..*faint moan...doing?" Scootaloo quietly asked, trying not to draw attention.

Fluttershy, realizing what she was actually doing, quickly moved her hoof away. "I'm sorry Scootaloo." She answered. 'I didn't know what I was doing.

"It's fine." Scootaloo blushed.

"Scootaloo are you okay." Apple Bloom asked, sipping down some cider. "Your face is getting red."

"Oh it's nothing." Scootaloo tried to cover it up, but her face became brighter when Fluttershy gently pressed her smooth forehead against Scootaloo's soft forehead. "Fluttershy?! What are you doing?"

Fluttershy removed her face from Scootaloo's. "You're getting a slight fever." Fluttershy replied. "Maybe you should rest on my bed."