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                       Birdwatching                        
                    -by Emerald Flight-                    
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                        Chapter One                        
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Chapter One
Day six.
It'd been six straight afternoons sitting quietly against the hard bark of the apple trees. She looked up and out over the fields, seeing the bright orange form walk slowly backwards, dragging the pathcomb along in front of her. Six days ago, she was finally able to muster up the courage to come in and sit near the gate, and stare uncomprehending at her birdwatching guide, making sure that she didn't notice her taking quick glances upwards.
Celestia, she was something. When they met - or, when she noticed her - it was the second time that she'd seen an earth-pony, and the first time she'd seen one so... well, she was something. It was unbelievably strange to see somepony with a back so smooth and - soft-looking. And the eyes, and the mane...
With a sudden shock, she heard hoofsteps nearby and curled up a bit more, burying her face in her book. To her surprise and relief, the older stallion barely glanced over at her, and simply continued along his way. She glanced up at him. Same thing, but he was larger and more thickly-set. He just didn't move with the same fluidity. The other one had a smaller, lighter body and was accustomed to gravity more than any pegasus.
She was blushing. She could feel it burning on her cheeks. For some reason, the book in front of her face suddenly felt very small. So she rose quickly to her hooves and trotted out of the acres, glad she didn't draw any attention. Tomorrow would be day seven.
Mac sighed as he leaned over the pruner. As the days passed, he couldn't help but get more and more worried about the young yellow pegasus who came in every day and just sat against a tree for hours at a time. He remembered the brief words they'd exchanged.
"Hullo?"
"Y- wh- I'm sorry, I'll - I'll just -"
"Nah, it's fine if you stay, I was just gonna ask why you were here in the first place."
"Oh - uh - um, birdwatching."
And with that, he'd left her alone. She was harmless, and quiet, and never got in the way. Didn't know her name, just that she wanted to watch birds. She always walked silently in, alone, tired-looking, with a book, and sat down and stared at it. Barely ever turned the pages, unless she thought he was looking.
And that was fair. Whatever she was thinking about was was her business. But why did she have to think - or whatever - in the acres?
His sister interrupted his thoughts, as was par for her character. "Hey, big brother," she called out from across the barn. "Somethin' the matter with the pruner?"
"Nah, I was just about to... get the wheelblock," he said, trailing off. "You noticed the young mare out front all the time?"
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I've seen 'er."
"Well, what d'you suppose is the matter?"
"With her? I don't know. She's probably just shy and wants to find a place to relax." She dropped the pathcomb into a large toolbox and tossed the keys into the air with her snout, catching them in her teeth. "Celestia knows I could use that. If you're not gonna use the pruner, move so I can."
"I got it," he replied, catching the key and bending down to unlock the large back wheel. "Hey. Could you... you know, talk to her?"
Applejack scoffed. "I'd rather not. Ten to one she's just quiet."
"There's gotta be a reason for her bein' in the orchard. There're fields on the outskirts of town everywhere."
She frowned. "Right. I guess I'll see what's up if you're so uncomfortable," she replied, emphasizing 'uncomfortable' sarcastically. "I'm headin' that way anyways to tighten that main in the front." Mac said nothing as she grabbed a wrench and headed out the way she came.
The sky had grown dark as they finished dinner, but the lights were on and the shades were drawn, and the dull yellow of the old bulbs gave the dining room a quiet feeling.
"But, yeah, she was gone before I even got there," Applejack finished her thought tiredly. "I don't know what her problem is, but I'd bet money that she'll be back tomorrow." It was quiet - Granny Smith had finished rather early and was taking a nap in the living room, and her snoring was the only white noise audible.
"Who?" Applebloom asked loudly, the uneaten greens from dinner pushed stubbornly to one side of her plate.
"You've seen her, she sits by the front gate."
"No!"
"Okay, well, tomorrow, we can take you out there to meet her."
"I dunno, AJ, I think that's kinda rude. You don't know, she might have serious problems or something or maybe she's in a tough spot."
"Hey," Applejack replied, pushing the plate to Applebloom, who pushed it away again, "if she's gonna keep spending her afternoons on our property, and Applebloom wants a new friend, she's our first canidate."
Mac sighed. "She could be dangerous. Or, you know." He tapped his head. "Crazy."
"You said you talked to her."
"I did!"
"Then you'd have booted her if she was 'dangerous'."
He leaned back in his chair. "Do what you like."
"... You know what, you're the one that asked me to talk to her in the first place!"
"I meant, you know, ask her stuff, one-to-one. I don't know whether I want you introducing her to the family."
"Oh, is that it? It's suddenly rude when I try to be friendly rather than weird and suspicious?"
Big Mac opened his mouth for a moment, searching for a response. "Rude wasn't the right word." He sighed, sitting up straight. "It's probably nothing. Do what you like."
"I was going to. Applebloom, it's time for bath."
"No!"
As his sister carried his other sister upstairs and the wails grew louder, Mac closed his eyes and put his head down. Maybe it was just for the good of the family to get rid of her. Unless she had no place to go. He'd see her tomorrow after lunch, one way or another, and he'd ask her then.
She trotted lightly down the path with the book in-between her teeth, her hooves clip-clopping on the stone beneath. She knew she should stop going back - she felt kind of unwelcome, but as long as she wasn't tossed out, she felt that compulsion to return.
It was such a nice day. She might be out doing something about apples. It was too early for harvest, but every day, it was something. Maybe today she'd be able to talk to her. She shook her head. Or she could not pass by me at all, she thought, a bit more forcefully.
As she rounded the corner, the book almost fell out of her mouth. There she was, with a very young filly by her hoof, partially hiding behind her, a huge pink bow in her hair. Without even thinking about it, she turned on her hooves and began to trot quickly away, her heart racing.
"Wait a moment!"
She winced, and turned around, already feeling the tingly, embarrassing blush. "I -" she began, the book falling out of her mouth. She pushed it under her hoof. "Oh, uh, I - I'm sorry, I..."
"It's fine, sugarcube," she replied, stepping out of the gate. "Hi, my name's Applejack, this -" she nudged the filly behind her "- is my little sis Applebloom, and welcome to Sweet Apple Acres. You are?" she asked, holding out a hoof. As if it were just that easy.
"I - I - uh, I'm..." she trailed off, her tongue going numb.
"You're who?"
"F-fluttershy," she replied quietly.
"Well, good to meet you, Fluttershy!" she said amicably, putting her hoof down. "Applebloom here wanted to meet you, but now it looks like she's not so sure," she added, smiling and looking behind her.
The filly hid her eyes behind her big sister and clutched tightly onto her leg. It made Fluttershy wish she had a leg to clutch. But she could only touch her own legs to one another, which did nothing but enhance just how skinny she was. She smiled as much as she could for the situation at the filly, who made no motion to return it.
"Aw, it's okay. She's just a bit shy."
I would know.
"So... any reason you keep comin' back to the acres? Maybe you wanted to talk to the family?" she offered, and, getting little more than a shake of the head as an answer, offered something else. "You know, I'm trying to settle somethin' with my brother. Kinda. If you wanna call it that. Anyways, I just would like to know, you know, your reasoning for..."
"I - I'm b-birdwatching," she managed, internally hating herself for the broad blush she could still feel on her face.
Applejack looked down at the hoof that was covering the book. "Alright. Again, it's fine, I was just makin' sure. ... You alright, by the way, sugarcube?"
She nodded quickly, and turned to leave. "Sorry - um, sorry, I'll just -"
"You know we don't mind. You can birdwatch!" she called out after her as she trotted quickly away.
'I'm good, thanks,' is, of course, what she meant to say, but nothing came from her throat but a squeak. She put her head down and tried not to think about it as her trot turned into a gallop.
Another day, another humiliation. But, today, in front of her. It made her want to cry. Why in front of her? The universe was always like that to her. It never let her be. She opened her eyes, thinking she was far enough away from the farm, and slowed to a stop. Did she turn right, or left...? In front of her, right outside of the trees lining the path, was the small stone bridge leading to town - Ponyville, as she recalled.
She'd only been actually inside the town twice since she'd begun renting the cottage, and both times it was for groceries. It certainly wasn't a bustling city, but it was enough to make her want to leave as quickly as she got there. But it was all pretty much uphill from what happened less than five minutes ago, and she hadn't eaten lunch... might as well find someplace in town, rather than risk walking back past the acres again.
It was quiet in the small diner she chose, and when she walked in, the smell hit her first. It was just friendly and warm in a way she couldn't begin to describe. It was almost discombobulating. She was seated at a small table near the window, where she could watch ponies pass by, all so unaware of her.
"Hi, I'm Rarity and I'll be your server today."
It made her jump a bit. She turned to see the young, snow white unicorn smiling brightly, but with an air of clear exhaustion. "Can I get you started with something to drink?"
"J-just a water," she stammered quietly, cursing herself inwardly as the waitress walked away. She couldn't seem to dig herself out of that hole. That aversion to speaking sat heavily on her mind, always pressing onto her life. She looked over at the book that she'd placed next to her, the pages worn on the sides and the spine beaten up. Midwestern Avian Species, Compendium Six. So unassuming.
She glanced behind her and opened it up, looking over the last few entries.
July 17
There was a problem with Henrietta today. She's not eating like she should. I'm thinking about switching seed brands. Otherwise, it was a nice day. The acres were warm, but I'm getting this feeling that I'm not wanted. But I can't keep from going. I don't know why.
I think it may be her. I don't really want to even write it down. It seems weird. I don't know her, and it feels creepy to think about it, but there's something about her that I don't want to stop being around. I can't explain it. I tried to talk to her again today, but at the same time I can tell I really didn't. I want to so badly.
She sighed, running a hoof over the margin of the words so the lead smeared a little. That hadn't changed. But she was one step closer now.
"Is she here today?"
"Nope."
Applejack sighed, kicking the dirt path in disappointment. "Well, I suppose I scared her off."
"I told you," Mac replied, frowning, walking back into the house.
Applejack rolled her eyes, walking down the path. She'd been gone for three days now. It wasn't entirely her fault. She - what was her name? Shutter... Fluttershy. She seemed so touchy. There wasn't much she felt she could have said to keep her from leaving. It still sat uncomfortably with her. Maybe it was just because she could still feel the hat on her head.
"I was gonna give this to your brother, but I have a feeling great things are gonna happen for you," he said, gently. As he took it off, his wildly uncontrollable mane poofed out around his head like a fuzzy halo. "Remember, you're the helper, honey crisp. You help me and your mom and that's gonna come back around in time. You just keep helping."
She shook her head. It was like opening a wound that was trying to heal. At least she knew what she had to do. If she ever showed up again, she'd be a friend. At least, as much as she could.
She lifted her head as she heard slow, soft hoofstep on the path in front of her. A bright yellow appeared from behind the tree nearby, with a short drapery of pink capping it. She froze in her tracks, trying to make as little movement as she could as though she was a deer or another one of those weird reclusive species.
At the gate, she stood by the post, looking back up at her, the book in her mouth like it always was. Her eyes were bright, tinted green, like her own with a splash of blue to them, and her features were soft and slender at this slightly-closer range. Plus, her mane wasn't in her face quite as much.
After a moment, she decided to speak. "You can come on in, sugarcube," she began as friendly as she could.
She just blushed and looked away in response, making Applejack scoff, accidentally audibly. Whoops. This isn't going well. "Fluttershy, it's absolutely okay. You're welcome here. Did I say that right? Fluttershy?" she asked, trying somehow to get conversation out of her.
Only a nod.
Applejack turned and walked back to the tree she usually saw her against and patted the ground next to her. "Do you wanna sit down?" she asked, more gently.
To her great relief, she finally walked over, and, after glancing at her and the ground four or five times in succession, sat sheepishly down next to her. It was quiet, but as far as she could tell, she seemed more comfortable than she did yesterday. "Howdy, Fluttershy," she began. "It's not a bad day, is it."
She put the book down onto the ground in front of her, covering it with her hooves, but made no offer of conversation by any way other than a soft 'uh-huh'.
Applejack sighed. "You ain't from around here, are you? You new in town?"
She heard an audible swallow from Fluttershy. To Applejack, who never really understood shyness to begin with, the level at which she seemed to feel so uncomfortable was really strange. "Y-yeah," she replied.
Yes. A word, she congratulated herself, now determined to keep on this line of thought. "Where are you from?"
Another moment of silence.
"I apologize if I brought up the past -"
"N-no, I'm..." she paused again. "I'm f-from Cloudsdale."
"Ah." She kind of expected it, considering how close by Cloudsdale was this time of year. "So you moved in, what... a few weeks ago?"
Another small 'uh-huh'.
"Where?"
"Um... just d-down, um, to the left, when -" She stopped, and adjusted the book between her hooves. "A left d-down the path," she finished.
"Oh, near the West Fields? Isn't it bloomin' this time of year?"
"Yeah, i-it is."
"...Well, I'll leave you alone now," Applejack said, standing. "Thanks for the talk. Literally," she added, grinning and turning to leave.
"Th - thank you for letting me... letting me stay here every..." she trailed off with a squirm, that constant blush still evident on her face.
"Oh, it's no problem, sugarcube," Applejack replied. She tipped her hat with a smile. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
She gave a small nod and buried her face in that book again. Applejack almost wondered what was so fascinating about birds, but remembered what Fluttershy really used it for - to hide. Perhaps tomorrow she could squeeze a bit more talk out of her. Perhaps she could find a way to help.
Fluttershy watched her go, and felt her heart slowly begin to climb back up from the pit of her stomach. She was so kind. They didn't know each other, not by a long shot, but she still took the time out to come talk to her - and, with even more understanding, didn't ask her to talk much. Of course, she had to open her mouth just before she was about to leave.
Every time she spoke, she felt as though she was being judged. She had a feeling that Applejack couldn't understand that, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Celestia knew she couldn't start a conversation, so somepony had to.
A silence fell over the area like a heavy blanket, and she sighed, dropping her head. Applejack thought she had a problem, or that she was depressed or something. She knew it. Why else wouldn't she just tell her to leave, or not talk to her? How could she say what she wanted to?
Suddenly, a discomfort grew in her and she stood, taking her leave quickly without looking to see whether anypony took notice. And, after a moment's deliberation, headed right, to town, for lunch. She felt an odd desire to look out on ponies in that one quiet little diner again and think for a while.