Chapters Mommy Has the Best Kisses
It had been a day since mother and daughter were reunited. It didn’t take long for Fluttershy to gain legal right over Scootaloo and to move her, thankfully few, things in the cottage. At this point it was morning, the two had shared a peaceful night in Fluttershy’s bed, they hadn’t talked much since their last awkward conversation but neither minded too much.
Waking first, Scootaloo wriggled out from under her mother, taking a moment to gaze at her sleeping form dreamily. Stifling a yawn, the little filly stretched and ran over to the window to observe where the sun was in the sky “Almost time for school…” she muttered, peaking back over to Fluttershy who shifted slightly.
Scootaloo moved to the bed and looked up at Fluttershy, she hated to admit it but she was kind of nervous. Not setting any rules for the filly, Scootaloo didn’t know what action she was supposed to take, and despite observing how Sweetie Belle acted around her parents, she was too nervous to do much the same. Scratching her chin, she recalled how when the three woke up after their sleepover at Sweetie’s house she had dragged the three downstairs and had gotten them all a bowl of cereal and her parents didn’t mind ‘I guess that’s fine...’ she thought motioning for the stairs ‘But what if it’s not ok, what if she wants me too wait...’ she thought, but shook the thought away ‘Nah, she won’t get mad over something like that…’
Meandering downstairs she came upon the kitchen, it was clean and homey ‘My home.’ the filly thought happily before moving towards a cabinet that was far too high for her to reach on her own. Turning, she spotted a chair and pulled it over with her teeth, stopping at the front of the cabinet before leaping on. Now, stretched out, she strained to reach the handle, just barely batting it with her hoof. Realizing her efforts were pointless, the filly tried to use her wing, fluttering them with as much force as she could only for her to fail, tumbling to the ground alongside the chair as they both fell with a loud thump.
Awoken by the noise, Fluttershy darted her eyes every which one until finally she realized Scootaloo was missing. In a panic the mare ran down the stairs to see the toppled filly getting up, rubbing her head while muttering. In those few moments, a thousand scenarios played out in Fluttershy’s head about the possible, though unlikely, problems that would arise from the filly’s fall. Rushing over, she scooped the filly up, much to Scootaloo’s surprise, as she began to coddle her.
Surprised, and uncomfortable with the sudden assault of affection, Scootaloo wriggled out of Fluttershy’s grip, flopping to the ground ungracefully before turning to the older mare, whose eyes were beginning to fill with tears. Taken aback by her moms sudden crying fit, Scootaloo stood stock still before asking “Um… are you okay?”
Fluttershy wiped a tear away and nodded “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to over sleep…” she apologized.
‘Oh no, this is all my fault.’ Scootaloo thought ‘Stupid stupid stupid.’ she berated herself “I-I’m fine, you don’t have to be upset, see.” Scootaloo smiled widely
Sniffling, the buttery mare slunk down nervously, looking away timidly “O-okay…” she muttered, thinking to herself ‘It’s all my fault she got hurt, I’m so terrible.’ Clenching her eyes, Fluttershy laid on her belly quietly.
Rubbing her hoof with the other, Scootaloo turned up at the shelf and then back too Fluttershy, too nervous to speak. As the two sat, Scootaloo looked back out the window, realizing the time she started to move “I-I should get ready for school.” she muttered
Looking at the filly as she walked for the stairs, Fluttershy said weakly “Y-you d-don’t go t-today.” as soon as she finished she slunk back down “I t-told Cheerilee y-you wouldn't b-be…”
“Oh…”
Now that her tears had stopped running, Fluttershy retreated behind her hair shyly, glancing at the filly then to the chair and then the shelf “Umm, what were you getting?” she asked
“Umm, cereal?” Scoots replied questioningly.
“Oh…” Fluttershy hoofed at the ground for a moment before speaking again “It’s not up there, that’s filled with animal feed.”
Scootaloo blushed and rubbed the back of her neck “Oh, so uh-” she started before Fluttershy lifted herself up and hovered over to a different cabinet, pulling out a bowl, then too another pulling out a box of oats n’ mallows, setting it on the table, then she moved over to her fridge, pulling out some fresh milk from her favorite cow, Betty, placing it on the table besides the rest. Finally, she pulled out a drawer by the fridge and placed a spoon next to the bowl on the table. Once all was done the timid mare slunk away from the table. “Th-thanks.” Scootaloo thanked softly, sitting herself on a chair, quickly being shifted as Fluttershy pushed her in closer.
Breakfast was short lived and awkward as Scootaloo sat, munching nervously, while Fluttershy watched intently from behind her mane. Once she had finished, she moved to put the bowl into the sink but was stopped as Fluttershy hurriedly washed and put everything away herself.
When cleaning was done, Fluttershy and Scootaloo stood awkwardly once more, avoiding each others looks. Eventually Fluttershy muttered something about animals and flew off, leaving Scootaloo alone in the cottage. After internally scolding herself more for upsetting her mother, Scootaloo began for the direction of Fluttershy before feeling something hit her leg “Huh?” she turned to see none other than Angel, who glared up at her menacingly. Scootaloo was not amused, as she had become aware of Angel’s behavior from Rainbow “So, you’re the little jerk who’s been giving mom trouble.” she glared at the rabbit in return before smiling “You know, Sweetie Belle loves playing dress up with Opal, maybe she can come for a sleepover with some of her “beauty” supplies, what do you think?”
The bunny folded his arms, his foot thumping in thought. Deciding he wanted no part of that madness, from what Opal’s described anyways, he surrendered the moment, but wouldn't leave it without a small victory. Hopping over to the fridge, he motioned at it.
Tilting her head in thought, Scootaloo came quick upon what the rabbit was trying to get across “I think mom just went to feed you guys.” she mentioned, but the bunny wasn't convinced as it rubbed it’s belly, giving a pair of sad looking eyes.”I don’t think there’s anything for you in there little guy.”
“Oh, there you go angel.” the soft voice of Fluttershy sang out, noticing the two interacting “How sweet, are you playing with Scootaloo, what a good bunny.” she spoke softly, popping open the fridge before pulling out a fresh, orange carrot. “Here you go angel, be a good boy for Scootaloo.” she said happily as she handed the bunny his prize. Fluttershy turned to Scootaloo, her smile fading into anxiety as she waved briefly before rushing back outside.
Taking her moms behavior for her being upset, Scootaloo sunk down, ears folded. “At least somepony makes her happy.” she sighed into her hooves.
Chomping into his prize, Angel noticed the orange filly, and she looked sad. Turning around Angel decided he didn’t care, he got what he wanted yet. Huffing to himself he threw the carrot down and hopped to Scootaloo, kicking her in the face, arms still crossed. Looking up, Scootaloo glared “What the hay was that for?” she asked, getting chattering and flailing arms in return “What?”
Hanging his head annoyed, Angel moved away and began to hop up and down. Once the filly was paying good attention, Angel put his paws together and flapped them like a bird. The filly tilted her head, one eye squinting as she stared in confusion. Angel then pointed at the filly who pointed a hoof at herself, then he waved his arms, like he was motioning something about bigger. “Me big? Oh, big me!” Angel nodded and pointed at her again “Big me what?” Angel face pawed before taking his ears and folding them to resemble his owners mane “Oh, mom!” nodding excitedly he ran and grabbed a small cup of water “Mom’s thirsty?” Angel shook his head as he left his ears folded like Fluttershy’s mane, taking some drops of water and placing them on his eyes, pointing at Scootaloo. Ears flat, Scoot sighed “Rub it in why don’t you.” before looking away.
Splashing the water at the filly, Angel recaptured her attention, pointing at her and shaking his head “Me...no?” Angel nodded “Me yes?” face pawing, he picked up some of the splashed water, placing it on his eyes again and pointed at her, shaking his head “Mom, sad, me, no? So, she’s not upset with me?” the bunny nodded happily “But, she seemed really upset earlier…” she rubbed the back of her mane. Angel, still looking like a sad Fluttershy, pointed at himself “So she’s upset with you? You little jerk!” she scolded, much to the rabbits chagrin as he pointed to his earmane “She’s upset with her mane?” the bunny glared back at Scootaloo “Oh, she’s upset with her… herself?” the bunny nodded rapidly “Why?” she asked as the bunny reenacted Scootaloo’s tumble with a rock. “So, she’s upset at herself because I fell?” the bunny nodded “Oh… OH!” it dawned on her “I should talk to her!” she shouted, running outside. Proud with himself, Angel took his carrot back and began eating it again.
Tending to the birds, Fluttershy sighed to herself, as she watched the momma bird feed her babies. The momma bird turned to Fluttershy confused, chirping at her. Listening, Fluttershy blushed “OH, well… you see, as you all may know by now I have a little filly, Scootaloo, and, well… this morning she got hurt trying to get some food. It’s all my fault, I should've woken up soon.” the bird, unamused, crossed her wings and chirped “I’m no overreacting… am I? I mean, I thought I might, but I was just so upset, what if he cracked her skull and went into a coma, or forgot how to speak, or, oh, developed a different personality, oh that would be awful.” Facewinging, the bird flew up and continued it’s chirp rant “It’s not ridiculous… uh huh… oh, but… well, I know that but… what if… I know it wasn’t a far fall but… I know but…” the bird finished her chirping before settling next to her babies
Fluttershy sighed acceptingly “I know, I know, but I’m so nervous. It’s different, I didn’t always have Scootaloo like you have Percilious, Percinnamon or Persnickety, I don’t know what I’m doing.” down from below, Fluttershy heard the pitter patter of a squirrel, otter, chipmunk, cat, flamingo, and several more animals. The squirrel crawled up the tree and chattered at Fluttershy “Oh, it’s not as easy taking care of a filly as it is you guys.” the squirrel chattered some more causing her to blush “Oh, I don’t do that great…” down from below the flamingo squawked “Yes, well, the breezies needed my help.” next came from a buzzing bee that flew by her ear “Yes, I did make you apologize, but… “ next came from a frog, who croaked loudly “Oh, well that was nothing, really. Oh, maybe you’re all right, I’m acting silly.” she admitted “I just want to do a good job, but I don’t know how to be a mom… it’s not like she taught me anything…” Fluttershy pondered for a moment “Well, she at least taught me how not to raise a filly.” her ears unfolded “Oh, thank you all, I shouldn't overreact over such small things.”
“Mom!” Scootaloo screamed as she ran out the house waving her hoof frantically. Fluttershy motioned towards Scootaloo who proceeded to trip over a rock before rolling into a half empty bag of feed.
“Oh no, Scootaloo!” she shouted before feeling a tug at her mane. Fluttershy turned to see a squirrel glaring at her “Oh, right, it’s not that big of a deal… it’s not like she couldn't broken her hoof… or is going to suffocate in that bag… or accidentally swallowed some feed and has to go to the hospital for some unknown feed allergy!” she ended in a panicked yell as she rushed over to the bag, pulling Scootaloo out and coddling her as the animals all placed whatever appendage that had over their faces “Oh it’s all my fault, I should've seen that rock!” she cried into Scootaloo’s neck
Struggling out of her moms grip again, Scootaloo flopped to the ground for a fourth time that day “Jeeze, I’m pretty sure I’m more coordinated than this…” she mumbled, standing up and brushing herself off
“Oh Scootaloo, I’m so-” Fluttershy was cut off by a hoof to her mouth
“Mom, hold on for a second.” this caused Fluttershy to quiet down “Look, um, Angel told me how upset you were when I fell, but you don’t have to be upset, really, I’m fine. It’s not your fault, so, don’t be upset ok?” Scootaloo looked up at her mom with pleading eyes. Fluttershy returned the gaze, lifting a hoof to her mouth, eyes looking as if about to tear up again ‘Great, I’m making her cry more, this is going swell.’ Scootaloo thought before she heard the delicate chuckles of her mom
Fluttershy began to erupt into laughter (erupt being a strong word, more like slowly float to the top with laughter, but still) as she wiped a tear away “Oh, sweetheart, you’re absolutely right. I’m sorry, I’m just nervous is all.”
Scootaloo looked up at Fluttershy confused “Nervous?”
“Oh, um, yeah.” Fluttershy bit her bottom lip “I mean, I don’t really know what I’m doing, and I just want to be the best mom I can be and…” she was cut short by the filly who rushed into her with a hug
“You’re already doing good by being here.” she cooed, holding her mother tight “Besides, you take care of all these animals, and I can practically take care of myself, so, it’s not a big deal. And, too be honest, I was nervous too.”
“Oh, but why?” Fluttershy asked, stroking the filly’s mane
“Well… I just didn’t want to make you upset, I mean, I know how soft you are and…” the filly trailed off “I’m afraid if I make you upset…”
Fluttershy wrapped the filly up with her wings “Now now, no matter what you do mommy will always love you.” she said placing a soft kiss on Scootaloo’s head.
Author's Note
Here we go, 'nother chaptah. Nothing super fancy, but serviceable I guess. I don't know, on one hand I feel like it's a bad chapter, but I hate everything I write and on the other hand I can't find any glaring flaws with it, it's conveying what I intended for it too convey hrmm, whatever. If I bad I bad, that's life. Enjoy!
“Wow….” was all the small, yellow filly could say at the sudden news. The thought alone was shocking in and of itself, but then for it to be real, that was a game changer
“So… do you live with her now?” Sweetie Belle asked, leaning in curiously to hear the answer.
Scootaloo, having just told her friends that she found her mother, and that her mother was none other than Fluttershy, had left her beaming, granted, she’d never thought much of Fluttershy beyond she’s pretty and she’s nice but still she was excited. “Yup, she got custody of me yesterday! I don’t have my own room yet so I sleep with her.” Scootaloo explained from under her Rainbow Dash poster and life size plush in the CMC treehouse. As usual the three gathered there, looking for the next breakthrough in cutie mark gaining techniques, however their crusading stopped short when Scootaloo made her announcement
“That’s so weird!” Applebloom spoke excitedly “Ah’d never’a thought’a dat!”
“Yeah, this is super exciting! Oh, oh, do you know anything else like, like, your daddy or or…” the screeching filly was cut off by an orange hoof stuffed in her muzzle
“Let’s not bring up the daddy thing, ok?” she asked almost pleadingly, ears folded, downtrodden look in her eye. Accepting the look alone as proof to the uncomfortableness of the question the other two moved the conversation
“So, do you get to help with the animals too?” Sweetie asked
“I did a little this morning, I just fed them but they were pretty cool. Mom says…” Scootaloo stopped, feeling a rush of excitement shoot up her spine at the words “uh, yeah, she says I can have a pet too! I don’t know what to pick so I’m waiting for something cool.”
The filly’s perched a brow each “Ah thought yalls wanted a turtle.”
“Tortoise.” Sweetie corrected
“Oh, yeah I did… but…” Scootaloo scratched her chin thoughtfully but could find no answer “I guess I just don’t anymore.”
The other two looked at one another and shrugged, Applebloom turning back to ask “So what’s she like, ah mean, does she do mom stuff?” she asked innocently
Taken aback by the silly question, Scootaloo answered “I guess? I don’t know what mom stuff is.”
The two turned to the only filly with mom experience “What?” Sweetie squeaked
“We wanna know what mom stuff is.” Scootaloo asked
“Uh, well…” Sweetie stuck her tongue out in thought for a moment “I guess, mom stuff is like, reading you books before bed and making you go to school and yelling at you, like, a lot.”
“Fluttershy yellin’? Well, we can cross that one off.” Applebloom giggled
“She didn’t read any books and I didn’t go to school today…” Scootaloo added
Sweetie Belle gasped “What if she doesn’t know how to do mom stuff!?” her final word squeaky enough to break glass had there been any nearby
“That’s silly, yalls are silly.” Applebloom sat matter of factly.
“Maybe she’s right, but, where do you learn to do mom stuff?” Scootaloo asked “Think about it, you have to learn mom stuff some how right?”
“Ah guess…” Applebloom muttered
“Oh, oh, maybe you learn it at school?” Sweetie pondered
“Duh, of course, we just need to go to school and get a mom book!” Scootaloo announced matter of factly
“Why would they have a mom book?” Applebloom protested
“Duh, they have books for everything, like science and history, even for dumb things like math! They have to have a mom book.” Scootaloo assumed
“Then it’s settled, let’s go see Cheerilee and get a mom book!”
‘Is this real life...’ Cheerilee thought behind her desk, staring down at the filly’s known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders ‘Where do kids get these things.’ she thought woefully, shaking her head “Girls, there’s no such thing as a mom book, well, not here anyways.”
“What!?” They shouted in unison
“Yep, this school doesn’t teach that stuff girls.” She reiterated
“But how do mommy’s learn to be mommy’s” Sweetie asked
“That’s actually an interesting question Sweetie.” Cheerilee said with a smile, getting up from her seat. If anyone had asked what a princess and a teacher had in common, the CMC would answer the tone they have when they wanna teach you stuff, and Cheerilee had it in spades. “You see girls, it’s not that simple of a question, there are multiple answers. The first is instinct, a mare will naturally know the basics inside of her of how to take care of a foal, and that in itself is a vague answer. For instance, instinct will tell the mare she needs to feed and protect the foal but not how to change a diaper.”
The girls all stared intently at the explanation though the information seemed to find it’s way in and out of their ears “When it comes to specific things when raising a foal, it’s generally learned from other mothers, like a mares own mother. However, as you may have guessed, there are places that teach a mare how to care for foals and there are indeed books on the subject, just not here.”
The three groaned “Again, how come yalls always gotta send us from place to place to learn thangs.” Applebloom complained
“Do you know how to do mom things?” Sweetie asked, only to be jabbed by Scootaloo
“Of course she doesn’t, she’s not even a mom, she’s a teacher.” Scootaloo stated, much to Cheerilee’s chagrin
“Anyways, let’s go to the library. Ahm sure Twi’s got a book on mom stuff.” Applebloom said, rushing out the door with her friends.
There, Cheerilee sat as the fillies escaped, frown on her face, sighing “Story of my life…” she muttered aloud
“What do you mean she’s not here!” Sweetie yelled at the purple dragon in front of her, a broom clutched in his scaley mitt.
“What else would it mean? She’s gone, not here, away, your princess is at another castle, what do you want from me?” Spike complained back
“Well, can we go through the books anyway?” Scootaloo asked
“Just… don’t destroy the library ok?” Asked, pointing them to the books before wandering off to continue his work.
Rummaging through the books, it didn’t take long for the filly’s to come across ‘Motherhood: A Guide’, the three taking it to a table and splitting it open to read it’s contents. The three had been there for over an hour, trying their best to decipher the many words that seemed to hold no meaning in their young heads, the occasional blush arising then they had to flip passed something they’d rather not see regardless of what information might be available. After having tore through the book, the three sat in a group daze.
“Ah don’t thank that helped…” Applebloom was first to admit
“Yeah, they didn’t mention any of the stuff my mom does…” Sweetie added
“Ms Cake has children…” Scootaloo announced.
Bewildered, Ms Cake stared down at three fillies who frequented her place of business, trying to process the question ‘Would you teach us how to be mommy’s?’ though her brain wanted nothing to do with the information. Despite this, Ms Cake had to ask “Why?”
Taking a sharp intake of air, Sweetie Belle spilled out the contents of their day and thought process behind why they believed Fluttershy be in need ot mommy training.
“Uh-huh…” Ms Cake replied, though something didn’t quite click “And why would Fluttershy need to know how to be a mother exactly?” in reply the girls pointed at Scootaloo “Oh, how sweet, she adopted you!”
“What, no, she’s my mom.”
“That’s what adoption is deary.” Ms Cake replied
“No no, she’s my actual mom.”
“It’s so sweet you have such a connection with you foster…” Ms Cake began, stopping mid sentence at the sight of a raised orange hoof
“So, you know how you went to the hospital to have Pound and Pumpkin?” Scootaloo said, forcing a nod from Ms Cake “Ok, so do that, but with Fluttershy and then me.”
Blinking, Ms Cake could only gape as she searched for understanding “I’m, uh…” feeling the need, Scootaloo, with little detail, explained the scenario in which she was placed “Oooh, oh my, that’s so sad…” Ms Cake replied “But, I don’t think I could help even if I thought she needed it… girls I’m raising two foals, I don’t know anything about children your age. Even then, don’t you think this is a bit silly?”
“Ah told yalls…” Applebloom interjected
“I don’t think Miss Fluttershy needs any help.”
“But she didn't do any mommy stuff yet!” Sweetie Belle argued
Giggling, Ms Cake pat the filly on the head “What exactly do you think “mommy” stuff is?”
“Well, reading books at night, tucking you in, yelling a lot, making you go to school, making you do homework, more yelling, making food, yelling at your sister…” Ms Cake stopped the filly
“Has it crossed your mind that mother’s don’t all do the same thing?” She asked, knowing the answer full well “Look girls, not everypony raises their children the same way. Besides, from the sounds of it it’s been all of a day since she got you back, right? Well, maybe give her some time before making these random assumptions?”
The girls looked at the ground together, each feeling rather ridiculous after their long day of futile searching for something that, they had to admit, did sound a little silly “S-sorry Ms Cake, it’s just, we didn’t know and since Sweetie was the only one with a mom…”
Ms Cake chuckled “Oh, don’t worry about it dearies, you’re just curious little fillies. Here.” Ms Cake reached down and pulled out a small box “Why don’t you girls run along and have these, we’re about to close up soon and these would go to waste otherwise.” she said giving the girls a small package of four cupcakes.
Taking the confections, the three scurried away, rather embarrassed “Good job Sweetie Belle, you made us waste our entire day!” Scootaloo complained.
“Well, you didn’t, umm… nyah!” She retorted by sticking her tongue out at her.
“Well, at least we got some free cupcakes, so, ah guess this is a win?” Applebloom insinuated.
“I guess… anyways, I have to go home or mom’s going to kill me.” Sweetie said, levitating a cupcake onto her back “See you later!” she said as she trotted away
“Yeah, ah don’t wanna get yelled at by Applejack either.” Spoke Applebloom who picked a chocolate cupcake with pink frosting from the box “Bye!” she too trotted away
“Mom, I’m home!” Scootaloo shouted, the words making her chest warm
“Oh, hi honey.” Fluttershy said as she came from the kitchen “Did you have fun today?” she smiled
“Oh, yeah. Here.” Scootaloo shoved the half empty box in front of her mother
“Where’d you get these from.” Fluttershy asked as she placed the box on the table
“Oh, well, Ms Cake gave them to us before she closed shop.” Answered Scootaloo hesitantly
Sensing this hesitation, Fluttershy asked “Is something bothering you?”
After an awkward silence came the awkward explanation of the awkward questions they awkwardly asked everypony though had no idea it was awkward until they awkwardly talked to Ms Cake.
Fluttershy took the explanation in stride, giggling the entire way through at the ridiculous ideas the fillies had, pausing her laughter only to bite into her cupcake “I didn't realize mommy stuff required me to yell and read books.” she replied to a blushing Scootaloo who was rubbing the back of her mane
“Yeah…” she replied, fiddling with the frosting of her own cupcake
“It’s ok, if you really want I can read you bedtime stories, though, I’m volume challenged as Rainbow put it, so there might not be much yelling.”
“That’s fine, I think I’ll manage.” Scootaloo smiled, turning to her cupcake to jam the entire contents into her mouth “Ah’ re-ee fur ah ory ow!” she said through a stuffed mouth
Getting up from her seat Fluttershy walked over to Scootaloo, placing a wing over her and guiding her to the stairs “Well, the first story will be about a filly who had to brush her teeth and wipe the icing from her face.” Fluttershy smiled as the two shared their second night together as mother and daughter.
Mommy Has the Best...oh..oh no...
“Good morning mom!” The little orange ball of energy screamed into the ear of her slumbering mother early in the summer morning.
Fluttershy, the ever cool, calm, collected and brave pegasus that she was, took this sudden disturbance with grace. If grace was leaping out of your bed screaming before leaping out of your second floor window and running as fast as possible into whatever random direction you were pointed at.
“Mom…?” Scootaloo mumbled as she watch her mother more than likely break every record Rainbow Dash has ever set in those short moments of blind, irrational fear. “Maybe I shouldn’t of yelled…” she hummed to herself as she trot out of the room.
“What?!?!” Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie collectively gaped at the words they’d just heard, the thought itself was shocking enough, let alone it being truth.
“Yes, Scootaloo is my… um… daughter…” Fluttershy whispered, head mostly hidden under the table after having been spooked by their outburst.
“Lahk, daughter, as in… adopted or…” Fluttershy shook her head “Oh wow… but h-” Rainbow Dash shook her head “Okay then…” Applejack dropped her line of thought
Noticing Rainbow dissuading her, Fluttershy pulled herself up “N-no need for that Dash… I w-want to tell them…”
Ears folded nervously, Rainbow replied “Are you sure, I mean, if you can handle it…”
Fluttershy nodded and inhaled before exposing her tragic backstory to her friends receiving a series of enraged outburst, sad expression and apologies, none of which were out of the ordinary “And that’s what happened…” Fluttershy ended weakly, tears glisten from off her cheeks
“Ah just, ah mean…” Applejack chose to take the less obvious path, deciding talking anymore about her incident would be unwise “Ah mean, so, how’s livin’ with’er?”
Fluttershy perked up a bit “Oh, it’s been… interesting. She’s so excitable sometimes, but very well behaved…” Fluttershy smiled briefly but just as quickly her eyes shimmered with thought before her ears folded as she muttered something to herself “No thanks to me…”
The others felt a pang of sadness at Fluttershy’s words, the hurt in her voice resonating between the six. Rainbow Dash, never one to let somepony kick themselves when they were down, gently rubbed Fluttershy’s back and was given a weak, albeit genuine, smile.
“Is she adjusting well?” Twilight asked
“I… um, think so.” Fluttershy muttered unconfidently
“I’m sure she’s doing great!” Rainbow spoke confidently, smiling wide as ever “The squirts as tough as her mom after all, she’s probably loving it!” Rainbow boasted to a rather unresponsive Fluttershy
“Darling, you seem depressed,” Rarity mentioned, tactfully neglecting the ‘more than usual’ she let cross her mind
“Oh, I’m fine.” Fluttershy feigned, twiddling her hooves anxiously on the table the six were surrounding.
“Well shucks, fer what it’s worth, ah think it takes a mighty strong heart to do what yall did fer yer child, an’ besides, yer Fluttershy, ah can’t think of a more fit care taker in all of Equestria! Ah reckon no one could.” Applejack urged, bringing a delicate smile to Fluttershy’s lips.
Fluttershy was never one to boast or brag, quite the contrary more often than not, but when she was given praise it always made her feel better, even when she didn’t believe any of it herself. “Thank you.” she said softly
“Of course, anytahm.” Applejack grinned back
“Speaking of time, I’ve got to go pick up Sweetie Belle, I promised her I’d show her how to style her mane like yours truly and, with me being quite free for a few days, would hate to be late.” Rarity spoke as she stood from her seat.
“I-I’ll come with you… I mean, if that’s ok…” Fluttershy muttered
“Oh course, Applejack, you should come as well.” Rarity offered
“Ah reckon, not that those fillies need us to pick’em up, but, heck, ah’ve nothin’ better t’do ah suppose.” Applejack shrugged nonchalantly as she too took from her seat.
“Well, you girls have fun!” Twilight waved
“What are you girls going to be… where’s Pinkie?” Fluttershy asked, receiving a series of shrugs from the group “Oh, well, what are you two going to be doing today?”
Rainbow jumped a bit, looking from side to side nervously before kicking her hooves up overdramatically “Just flying around, hanging out, you know, the-”
“We’re going to do our first book club meeting!” Twilight blurted excitedly
As Applejack stood by the door she did a double take, a playful grin on her muzzle “We’re, as in you an’ Rainbow? As in THE Rainbow Dash?” she teased
“Laugh it up Applejack!” Rainbow hissed
“Well that sounds lovely, who else is going to be here?” Rarity asked, a few awkward moments of silence passed as the two shifted awkwardly “Did nopony else want to join your little club.”
“Who cares, this club is too cool and exclusive for them anyways” Rainbow huffed
“Not much of a club, but whatever…” Applejack muttered “Anyways, let’s get a move on girls, if we leave’em to their own devices one of us will be payin’ a settlement before long.”
“Celestia knows we can’t let that happen again, anyways, toodaloo.” the three waved the supposed book club off as they began toward the ponyville schoolhouse.
Moments into their travel, Applejack chuckled, gaining a few curious looks from her friends “And what, exactly, is so funny Applejack?”
“Nothin’ really, just a thought ah had.” She replied, looking away from Rarity
“Care to share it with us?” Rarity asked
Applejack turned to Fluttershy nervously, scratching the ground with a hoof for a moment “N-nah, it’s not that important.” she smiled
Fluttershy’s gaze softened as she watched the nervous eyes of her friend fall on her ‘She’s scared to say something in front of me, isn’t she...’ Fluttershy let her head dip slightly, cueing the others into her slowly building worry.
Upset with the farmmare beside her, Rarity nudged Applejack and whispered at her “Look’s at what you’ve done now.”
Offended, Applejack, using a more than necessary amount of her earth pony strength, nudged back “Me, if yalls just kept yer trap shut this wouldn’ta happened.” she whispered back
Fluttershy, quite aware of her friends argument over her, felt tears beginning to form at the corners of her eyes. Maybe she shouldn’t be so hurt, they just wanted to take her feelings into account afterall, but she loved her friends and she cherished their relationship and to have that change hurt her. The thought that she’d force her friends to tip-hoof their words when around her made her feel awful, and it was beginning to show as he timid form began to shake.
“Well you shouldn’t try hiding anything, if you would have said it before you should say it now.” Rarity, forgoing the whisper in her anger, scolded
“That was before ah knew she-” Applejack was cut off by the sudden whimpering of Fluttershy who’d stopped walking and now struggled to stay on her hooves “Ah-ah mean… uh…” Applejack gulped “No, yalls d-don’t understand, ah was just, ah mean.”
Rarity gave her quite the death glare before turning her attentions to the pre-cowering phase Fluttershy “Darling, please, don’t cry. We apologize, it’s just a bit hard to adjust to afterall.”
Fluttershy barely turned to see the ivory mare behind her, rubbing her back with a single hoof. Fluttershy sighed and turned to Applejack who just hoofed at the ground, looking quite upset with herself “I-it’s ok, I, um, shouldn’t be so sensitive.” Fluttershy forced a fake smile on her muzzle
“Look, ah… ah was jus’ thinkin’ how odd it was, y’know, ah mean… “ Applejack thumped her head several times in irritation with her sudden murder of the very idea of eloquence “All ahm sayin’ is ah was so sure ah’d be the first to be a mother among us, that’s it, really.” she forced out, and much to her comfort it brought a small smile to Fluttershy’s face, not quite a happy smile, but it was real atleast.
“Oh…” she hummed weakly, a small blush on her face “I would of put money on… umm… Rainbow Dash.” she chuckled lightly
“What?” Rarity raised a brow, drawing away from the, now, less tense mare
“Ah jus’ gotta know, why?” Applejack fell on her rump and crossed her hooves.
“Well… let’s just say I had to explain to her that ‘the first time doesn’t mean you won’t get pregnant.’” Fluttershy’s smile widened as Applejack and Rarity began to share in mirthful, and ladylike, laughter “Two months ago.” she added before joining in the laughter
“Wow, y’alls is kiddin’ me. Who in their right mind believes somethin’ like that?” Applejack asked
“And where in Equestria did she hear that?” Rarity followed
“Apparently she heard it when she was a filly and believed it, to be honest, she was very convinced. At one point I offered to get Twilight to lecture her, but if anypony would be more shy than me about the subject it’s probably her.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you told her, but now I wonder how that was even brought up between you two.” Rarity asked, beginning her way towards the school house, prompting the others to move forward as well
“Well, umm…” Fluttershy’s face was beet red at this point “Oh, well…” she shuffled a bit but steeled herself “I… I mean…” she gulped, inhaled, gulped again “Well… Rainbow knows, and I want to t-tell you all this stuff but…”
“If yalls is uncomfortable…” Applejack began
“No, I mean yes, I mean…” Fluttershy sighed, feeling her confidence drain away “Maybe it’s a talk for another day.” her ears folded against her head
“Of course darling, getting so much off your chest in one day must be more than enough considering your month thus far.” Rarity reassured.
Fluttershy’s face formed into a frown “It only get’s worse…” she muttered much to the others confusion as they finally reached the schoolhouse, just in time to see the filly’s leaving school no less
Rarity and Applejack turned to one another, hoping the mare would turn back and claim her statement to be a joke, but that wasn’t Fluttershy and they weren’t quite so lucky.
The two perked up when they say the bright, proud smile of Fluttershy form as she eyed Scootaloo, whose wings buzzed in delight as she ran into the barrel of her mother.
“Hey mom!” she yelled as she squeezed tightly into Fluttershy who hugged just as tightly back, prompting Applejack and Rarity to audibly ‘D’aww’. Blushing profusely, Scootaloo pried away from her parent, sweeping her mane back and tried desperately to regain the sense of cool she tries to hard to pick up from Rainbow Dash “Uh, hey…” she said blandly.
Fluttershy giggled and pat Scootaloo on the head “Oh you and Rainbow Dash, never wanting to let anypony see those big hears of yours.” she teased as she tickled the orange filly with her snout until she collapsed onto her back
“M-mom, hehe, s-stop!” Scootaloo, losing the war of coolness, giggled madly at her mother's affectionate ministrations, mad that much worse when she heard chuckling from behind, the chuckling of the other two thirds of her little club.
“Havin’ fun.” Applebloom asked
“Sh-shut up.” Scootaloo said wriggling away just before being grabbed by her mothers hooves
“Ooh, look, momma’s little foal is being craddled.” a pink filly said mockingly from a safe distance away beside a little grey filly in glasses
“Yeah, look at her, acting like a foal, that’s so sad.” the two shared a laugh at Scootaloo’s expense.
Suddenly, Rarity, Applejack, Applebloom , Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo felt the most terrifying chill of their life as Fluttershy set her filly down a wide, creepy smile on her face “Stay here sweetheart.” Fluttershy ordered as she began over
“Did yalls feel that?” Applebloom asked Applejack
“Uh…” Applejack sputtered nervously
“It’s just Fluttershy, she’ll just talk to them nicely and surely they’ll behave…” Rarity said to reassure the group.
“Yeah, it’s just Fluttershy, right?” Applejack joined
Sweetiebelle, unlike the rest, was smiling and rubbing her hooves together “Wish I had popcorn.”
Fluttershy made it to the filly’s and sat in front of them “Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon right?” she asked
Diamond Tiara whipped her hair and looked up at her elder smugly “Yeah, and?” however, upon looking at the mares face she felt her smugness bleed wildly away from her “I-I mean, uh… no?”
“Oh, don’t be so scared, let’s just have a few words.” Fluttershy offered, her smile never leaving her face
“M-my daddies very rich… h-he…”
“Oh, how cute.” Fluttershy pat the filly on the head “You think your daddy can help you.”
Suddenly the pair of filly’s regret every action they’ve ever made in their short life, especially being born.
The next few moment would never be spoken aloud to anypony, the four onlookers would only have known the event from afar without ever having the excruciating details of their chat, never to be heard by any ears other than three involved.
Not but a few moment passed before Fluttershy and the two, now thoroughly disturbed fillies returned. “Now missy, what do you have to say for yourself?”
“We’re very, very, very sorry…” Diamond Tiara spoke in a half whisper
“Yeah, we, uh, we’re sorry…” Silver Spoon added
“Very...very sorry…” Diamond Tiara spoke again, almost in a trancelike way “C-can we leave now, um, m-mam?”
Fluttershy gave the two a nod as they booked it with all the strength their little legs could output before Fluttershy turned around “Would anypony like ice cream?”
“No thanks, that was all I needed for the rest of my life.” Sweetiebelle squeaked, a look of disturbingly great pleasure on her face. “Mmm… “ Sweetie hummed, eyes closed
“That’s messed up.” Applebloom said what everypony was thinking
“Wha-what did you…” Rarity began, but she wasn’t a fool “I mean, yes, ice cream, let’s.. um… yes…”
“So, they won’t be bugging us anymore, right?” Scootaloo asked
“Oh my no, but that’ll keep them off your back for a while.” Fluttershy smiled
“ What the hay was that.” Applebloom muttered into Scootaloo’s ear
“And how can I capture it to look back on for the rest of my life.” Sweetiebelle joined in
“First off, I don’t know. Second off, you’re messed up.” Scootaloo answered, trying to move away from the white unicorn filly beside her
“Maybeh it was the stare…” Applebloom muttered with a shudder
“Oooh, those poor souls, now I feel bad…” Scootaloo added
“I don’t.” Sweetiebelle chirped happily
Rocking back and forth in the corner of Diamond Tiara’s estate “Silver Spoon…”
“Yeah Diamond?” Spoon replied
“Can you hold me?” Diamond asked as the two balled up together “Spoon?”
“Yeah?”
“Are we dead?”
“I don’t think so…”
“Ok… Spoon?”
“Yeah?”
“Wasn’t she supposed to be the nice one?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t think she was very nice.”
“Yeah.”
“Spoon… can you sleep with me tonight?””
“Ok… do you think she meant that thing about the fishing line and 17 liters of Sulfuric Acid.”
“Why 17 liters, why that exact number, why, why!?”
“Let’s hope we never find out…”
Mommy has poor priorities sometimes...
Fluttershy sat patiently on her living room crouch, belly flat against the soft cushion, neck craned down so that her eyes could rest on a little orange filly who, for some odd reason, felt it necessary to show her something she’d learned. Fluttershy didn’t mind of course, quite to the contrary, it was these little, calm, innocent moments with Scootaloo she’d once thought would be forced to remain in the confines of her dreams. Fluttershy smiled, seemingly to no one as her filly was clearly more pre-occupied with the scooter parts disassembled in front of her.
“Hold on, wait, I think it’s slot C-1 into port A-2… o-or was that…” the filly muttered to herself, straining to remember the instructions on her own. “Ok, I know I need the phillips for port B-3, where’s my pliers…” she continued. One thing was certain, Fluttershy was already impressed, she hadn’t the slightest what a phillips of plier even was.
The filly grabbed what looked to be a handle part and a long toobie part and began prodding them at one another tentatively before putting it back down and scratching her chin. “I think I have the box still upstairs… maybe…” the filly raised a hoof to hush her mother as she continued her work, determined to impress her already easily impressed mother.
Scootaloo stuck her tongue out as she lifted the wooden party thingy and flipped it, beginning to place bits of metal onto it and begin turning them with a big red… thingy. Just as Scootaloo finished with the first squarish metally things the pair received a knock at their door. Fluttershy perked her ears and lifted from place with her wings, gently fluttering over to the door to open it. And much to her fear and chagrin…
“P-P-P…” Fluttershy sputtered as the form of a large white alicorn looked down at her
“Hello my little pony, may I come in…” Celestia asked with a calm smile, receiving a squeak in return before making her way forward, stopping before the small orange filly on the carpet “My apologies, I hadn’t realized you were baby-sitting.”
“Guh, uh, I mean… um…” Fluttershy stammered helplessly
“Hey, I’m not a baby…” Scootaloo whined, crossing her hooves while, in to process, causing the things in hoof to tumble onto the ground loudly “Oops…”
Celestia giggled and proceeded further in before setting her flank on the carpet across from the filly “And what are you putting together Scootaloo?” she asked
Scootaloo perked her eyebrow “How do you know my name?” she pondered
“Letters, Luna...Discord?” she said, ending with a raised brow of her own as the filly shrunk, sheepishly grinning to her diarch while twiddling her hooves.
“Oh, Discy and her were just playing!” Fluttershy defended weakly.
“I think Ponyville recalls their time together as more than just ‘playing’” she teased “But that is unimportant at the moment. I’ve come to request your help.”
“M-me!?” Panic beginning to set already as the filly prepared to retreat at the slightest hint of danger
“Yes, I have a small request that I know you’ll be perfect for.” Celestia smiled warmly, dispelling a small portion of the fear inside Fluttershy “It’s something I know you’d enjoy, Fluttershy. You see, many moons ago my sister, Luna, had it in her head to play with nature. Don’t get me wrong, this was when we were very young ourselves so no blame is to be parceled out. However, it seems our sisters plaything has come around again and we need it calmed.”
Fluttershy gulped, having retreated behind her hair, somewhere along the way pulling her daughter into a defensive hug. Scootaloo, on the other hand, was excited, this was the kind of adventure she knew her mom and Rainbow Dash got into all the time, it was something she’d wanted to take part in first-hoof since they first found the elements of harmony.
“Oh yeah, sign us up! What is it? Some super giant moon beast, a creature made of pure shadow? Ooh ooh! Did she create Slendermare? Please tell me it’s Slendermare!” Scootaloo shouted excitedly, hoofing into the air as if fighting a non-existent opponent. By now, the filly’s mother had barricaded herself behind her kitchen door, shaking with enough for the cause the kitchen door to vibrate.
Celestia chuckled and moved to the door “Nothing of that sort, it’s nothing more than an animal.” with that the door burst open and a beaming Fluttershy was beating her wings ling a Hummingbird in excitement
“Oh boy, an animal, oh, oh, whatever could it be?” Fluttershy smiled, he case going up a fifth of a decimal, from quiet to almost audible.
“Bleh, booring.” Scootaloo complained in the background.
“It’s none other than… Le Chupacabra!” Celestia said with flair
“The Chupacabra? Oh, I heard about him, I bet he’s a cutie-pie. Oh, but he’s got to learn to be nicer to those poor goats.”
“Cutie-pie? The chupacabra is a massive, blood drinking, pony tearing, flesh gobbling monster whose only desire is to feed on the weak!” Scootaloo said excitedly, causing her mother to reform her barricade/
“You should really watch what you say, she’s quiet timid.” Celestia scolded
“Er, I mean… yeah, cutie-pie… who, um… like snuggles?” Scootaloo offered, prompting her mother to poke her head out
“A-and nuzzlies?” Fluttershy asked
Sighing heavily the filly blushed and looked away “Yeah, nuzzlies…”
“Well… why do I have to find him anyways? Is he being bad?” Fluttershy asked
“Well, not so much bad as destructive. Le Chupacabra has a tendency to be reckless. Luna failed to teach him to behave before she got bored of him, you see, so his bad habits were never dealt with. Eventually we ended up sending him away to live on his own, but, when Luna returned Le Chupacabra must have noticed and is likely looking for her. In fact, she’s out there now trying to find him but every time she gets close he runs away.”
“I see, no worries princess, I’ll make sure the little cutie comes home to his mommy.” Fluttershy said with every drop of confidence she had, so it’d take more than ten seconds before she panicked this time.
“Thank you, my guard, Gleaming Crest, will lead you to Luna, follow him when you’re ready.” she said as she made her way for the door
“Ah yeah, this is so awesome mom! We’re monster hunters!” Scootaloo cheered, hoof-pumping fervently
Celestia stopped dead in her track, ears perked up as she turned “Excuse me?”
“Oh no, sweetheart we’re not monster hunting, we’re pet finding.” Fluttershy smiled uneasily to Celestia
“Hmm, no, not that. Did this filly call you mom?” Celestia asked, almost dumbstruck
“W-well… she is my, um, daughter. Not adopted…” Fluttershy pointed out
“Hmm… I see. I’ll see you later Fluttershy.” the princess gave her final goodbye with a frown before taking off.
“That was weird… did the princess seem upset to you?” the filly asked
Fluttershy’s face grew somber as she stared out her door “Maybe…” she muttered before a large brown stallion blocked her viewed, dressed in the royal guards armor
“Miss Fluttershy, are you ready to go?” the stallion asked concisely
Fluttershy froze, shivering violently as she nodded. Rolling her eyes Scootaloo mounted her mother to meet eye to eye with the stallion “Yeah, she’s ready, let’s roll.”
The stallion eyed the filly on briefly before nodding back, turning before lifting off into the air.
Fluttershy watched as the stallion flew off, her gaze seemed far as she muttered “Why would she lie…”
Scootaloo looked down at her mom “Lie? Who?”
“Oh, umm, nothing. Let’s get going.” she offered with a smile as she took off as well
“Chupacabra! Your master, Princess Luna, diarch of the moon, demands you show thyself at once or feel the consequences of my wrath!” The booming voice of Luna came crashing through the airs of the three pegasi as the approached deep into the Everfree forest.
“Oh, that’s no one to treat your pet…” Fluttershy muttered worriedly as she picked up her pace
Unprepared for the sudden speed up, Scootaloo nearly fell back before gripping onto her mothers mane causing a small grunt of pain “You gotta warn if you’re gonna move faster!” Scootaloo huffed
“S-sorry…” Fluttershy apologized as she and the stallion moved into land not to far from the princess who was intaking air to yell again “Luna no!” Fluttershy shouted, laying the filly on the ground before tackling the princess much to the royal guards annoyance.
Taking the action as aggression towards his princess Gleaming Crest leapt into action, charging the timid pegasus who had just untangled herself from Luna. Reacting almost instantly, Fluttershy reached out with both hooves, latching one onto the guards wing while bringing the next to his throat, throwing him back with a devastating lariat, leaving him on his back coughing and weaving.
Bot Luna and Scootaloo gaped as the sight as the guard rolled in pain with a completely untouched Fluttershy over him. The mare blinked twice before looking down, shrinking to the protection of her mane as she apologized profusely. “Sorry, sorry, sorry.” she repeated, tears now starting to leak.
“What the heck was that!” Scootaloo pointed at her mother, staring Luna in the face. Luna looked down then back to the filly before moving to sit on her haunches, ending with a brief shrug.
Gleaming Crest was two things in these moments, furious and embarrassed. Furious as himself for completely underestimating the mare and embarrassed for being taken down so easily. Once his eyes dried of the tears that followed his immense pain he looked to see the crying pegasus who just moaned and groaned her regret and apology. Clearly she meant no harm, Gleaming knew this, he was just reacting on instinct much like he was sure she did, but that didn’t keep him from feeling bad as he stared at his ‘assailant’. With a sigh he struggled to his hoof and patted her on the head “I-I’m fine… I shouldn’t have reacted like that.” he struggled to let out “If you’ll excuse me, I must see a doctor now.” he spoke weakly before pushing off into the sky.
“We believe our guards are in need of training if the meek Fluttershy could beat him.” Luna remarked
“S-sorry…” Fluttershy said with a sniffle
“That.. was… AWESOME!” the filly screamed as she clung to her mother like lint “The way you just completely wrecked him was so cool.”
Fluttershy looked disapprovingly at the filly, frowning with enough intensity to cause the filly to remove herself and fold her ears “There’s nothing cool about hurting other ponies.” she scolded “Or anything for that matter.”
“B-but he totally charged ou, he shoulda backed off!” she replied only to be brought down to size by her mother's soul crushing stare
“I shouldn’t have tried to hurt him, he was only doing his job. I-I coulda…” she looked down and hoofed at the ground a few times
“Ahem.” Luna announced her presence, causing the other two to look at her “Scootaloo, she is right, if one can avoid it one should try their best to avoid hurting another. But, Scootaloo does have a point, my guard did charge you, I would of done much the same in that situation… maybe not with such a deadly blow, but still, let’s just be gladly no one’s seriously hurt.” the two nodded, unbeknownst to both that the Lunar princess was internally patting herself on the back for such fine deliberation
“Because I’m her biological daughter.” Scootaloo was on the ball this time, getting the answer out quickly
“O...k, now, how does that answer why you are here?” she asked again
“Oh… uh…” Scootaloo turned to her mother who shrugged “I think I just tagged along…” she offered sheepishly
“Hmm, biological daughter huh, fascinating, but unimportant now. You are here to aid me in the acquisition of Chupacabra yes?”
Fluttershy gave a short nod “Y-yes.”
“Excellent,” Luna turned, pointing a hoof upwards “We shall have ye, uh, you yet Chupacabra.”
“But first,” Fluttershy moved over in front of Luna, looking at her quite upset “You need to apologize.”
“Wh-what? Apologize? For what exactly?” Luna spoke aggressively, even so the mare before her was unflinching
“You made him, th-then you just leave him? Like that?”
Luna frowned, regret shone through her eyes “We, erm, I was young. Twas a mistake.”
“What was.” Fluttershy frowned, dreading the answer
“His creation of course, I shouldn’t…” Luna was cut short by the glare Fluttershy shot her “Why look at your princess with such disdain?”
“Would you like it if your mother called you a mistake?” she asked
“I- what?”
“A mistake, would you like to be called that?” the forest grew eerily quiet, Scootaloo looking at the two in hushed silence “Do you know what a mistake is? Something that’s not suppose to be, something unwanted… would you like it if I called you that?” Luna folded her ears back.
“I suppose not, not when you say it like that. I… did what I say strike a chord perhaps?”
“That’s not important right now, right?” Fluttershy mumbled, with a nod from Luna she continued “Now, we need to work on something more than finding him, and that’s you.”
“W-what are you…”
“You need to be nice to him, he’s not coming because you’re shouting at him, I know it.” Fluttershy turned and looked out into the forest “He probably thinks you’re mad at him, or upset.”
Luna huffed, stomping a hoof angrily “What reason would he have for that?”
“Well, he’s an animal. Animals don’t understand things like we do. What to you seemed like just simple disinterest, to him, could have meant alot of things. You hurt his feelings and you need to apologize for it.”
Luna looked somberly out into the forest, a brief smile flashing as she muttered “‘Tis why she’s so fond… I see…”
Fluttershy’s ear twitched lightly before she turned to her questioningly “H-huh?”
“Nothing Fluttershy.” Luna smiled “My sister sent you for a reason, surely you’re more gifted in this art than I, so we, curses, I mean I will heed thou, grr, your words.”
Scootaloo, bored of the sidelines, hopped deftly on her moths back to speak to Luna “Still not getting a hang of modern equestrian huh?” she asked
Luna groaned “We understand not the reason for a change of tongue. We were among those which first spoke the language, why would the peasantry make such changes.”
“Umm, I think that’s a question for Twilight…” Fluttershy muttered
“My teacher said it’s because language always evolves or something,, like, accents and stuff, and then foreigners come in and jumble the words than they use their slang and stuff so than it mixes in with our stuff so then it changes.” Scootaloo explained, though poorly.
Luna seemed to break, her head tilted as she tried to process the incoherent jumble presented by the filly only to have her malfunction cut short by a loud, throaty roar from within the forest. “That is him!”
“Awww… huh...” Fluttershy fell silent for a moment “What could that…”
“What’s wrong mom, what’d he say?”
Fluttershy broke from her thoughts “He’s lonely and misses Luna.” she turned to the princess who looked back
“He said that? But ho- no matter. Worry not Chupacabra, your master-”
“Friend.” Fluttershy corrected
“Er, Friend will be there shortly!” She shouted before rushing into the forest, only for her tail to be caught by Fluttershy’s teeth “What now?”
“You don’t chase a critter. They’ll either think they’re in trouble or that you’re playing and in the Everfree that’ll get you both lost.”
“Than what do we do?”
“Well, what does Chuppy like?”
“Chuppy? The Chupacabra is a wild and vicio-” the filly flailing her arms wildly urged the princess to cut her sentence short “Right, Chuppy. Well, he has a penchant for goats.”
Fluttershy sighed, placing her hoof over her face “Lunaaa, why does he eat goats?”
“Those dirty grass chewers know what they’ve done.” Luna crossed her forelegs
“Luna! That’s racist and just wrong.”
“She is really old mom.”
“W-what? Do-do we not hate the goats anymore?” Luna pondered
“Heavens no! That’s bad!” Fluttershy gently scolded
“But-but…” Luna began
“One problem at a time Luna. Let’s just get Chuppy home and not on a sentient being diet.” Fluttershy thought briefly “Maybe a toy or…” Fluttershy stopped upon feeling a tap on her shoulder from Luna
“Question, what about Elk, we can still hate them right?” she asked seriously
“Wha- no, I… no!”
Scootaloo whistled “That’s old.”
“We are young for our kind!” Luna yelled at the filly
“Well, it’s not your fault. Old people are always super racist!” she yelled back
“Th-that’s...oldcist! Yeah, how does that feel?”
“What? That’s not a word!” Scootaloo argued
“Now it is, we’re a princess and we can make it a word if we want.” Luna ended by sticking her tongue out
“That’s cheating, mom!” the filly nudged her now annoyed parent
“I-if you two could please just calm down, I think I have a plan.” she offered, holding in her frustration
“Yes, excellent. So, what is thine plan?” Luna asked eagerly
“Yeah mom, what’s the plan?” Scootaloo nudged excitedly
“We wait.” the buttery mare said with a smile
“That… is dumb.” Luna said
“Hey don’t call my mom dumb! But yeah that sounds pretty dumb.” Scootaloo added
Fluttershy’s head hung low as she moved into a bush to sulk “Oh… okay then…” just as she reached it her ear flicked but she was otherwise silent
“Er, dumb means good now right? That is today's slang, yes?” Luna lied through her teeth, staring down at Scootaloo
“No, it still mean- ow.” Scootaloo glared up at the princess after she’d been hoofed in the sided, noticing the princesses eerily large smile “Oh, uh, y-yeah. Like, umm, my moms cooking is really, uh, dumb.”
“Yes and my sisters stories are dumb as well.” they offered, turning to Fluttershy who just pouted
“Why does everypony think I’m a silly gullible fool?” she lied down before using her back hooves to push her into the bush.
Scootaloo looked at the bush sadly before turning to Luna “Good job, you made my mom sad!”
“What, did thou not just call her plan dumb as well?” Luna spit back
“Wanna know what’s really dumb?” she asked, eyes narrowing
“Oooh, don’t say it, do not, you will receive quite the thrashing if you do.”
Eyes narrowing more, Scootaloo uttered a single word “coffee”
Luna drew back in a gasp so sharp it could break glass “Taketh that back you-you scoundrel?”
“No regrets mother-bucker.” Scootaloo whispered tauntingly
“That is it!” Luna shouted as she pounced at the filly who jumped out of the way and began running around
“Can’t catch me. Nyah nyah, maybe you’re the cake-butt and not you sister!” She teased
“We are not fat, thou is a liar and a scoundrel!” Luna yelled as she continued to chase after the filly
“Ugh, this is just madness… at least Discord isn’t quite so malicious with his chaos.” just than a strike of thunder lit up the sky as a note fell into Fluttershy’s hooves that read “Thinking of you too XOXO” in big letter right before chocolate milk began to rain on her “Can it atleast be green tea?” just than small, green letter t’s began to pummel the mare “Ow ow ow!” she mumbled again in again as she attempted to run away from the cloud.
The madness continued for a few minutes before Fluttershy landed into something with a thump. Looking up, she saw a large, scaled and furred creature who seemed to be the cross between ad possum and wolf, it’s body lanky and mangled looking, it’s face a grimace of wrinkled flesh and fangs
“Uh, is that..”
“Erm, hi chuppy?” Luna offered with a smile
“He… is… so...CUTE.” Fluttershy drew it’s head in and began to pepper the massive creature with kisses “Who’s a big cutie patootie, you are, yes you are.” she babied it relentlessly unaware of the massive claw reaching back to strike.
“Mom, no!” Scoot shouted as the mare was dragged back by Luna’s magic as the three began running awa.
“Aww, he wants to play!” Fluttershy giggled
“Play? Who plays with giant razor sharp claws?” Scootaloo yelped as she bounded over a fallen log
Looking back Fluttershy examined the creature “Hmm, he seems upset.”
“No, doth thou think?” Luna yelled
“Hmm, I wonder what’s got him so cranky.” Fluttershy pondered non0-chalantly.
“Seriously? This is a life or death situation and you’re worried he didn’t get a good nap?” Scootaloo questioned, her little heart ready to burst from her chest
“Oh, maybe he did have a bad nap, I know you get cranky when mommy wakes you up early.
“Not the time mom!” Scoots screamed
“Don’t yell at ponies missy, it’s rude.” she scolded
“How art thou not filled with terror? We’ve seen your nightmares, one was about a chair with a slightly shorter leg than the others! You were traumatized for months!” Luna hollered panickedly
“Short legs can be dangerous, why, you could fall and hurt your poor little head.” she explained ducking under a branch
“And he can EAT US!” Scootaloo replied angrily
“Oh, he’s not going to eat us. He’s never eaten ponies. He’s probably just going to trample us.” Fluttershy muttered thoughtfully
“Fan-fricken-tastic!” Scootaloo cried “Aw man, I don’t wanna die like this… mom, please, judo chop him or something!”
“That would be mean.”
“Aren’t thou the expert? Stop him already!” Luna demanded
“Oh, sorry, he looked a little pudgy, I thought this would be good for him.”
“And us?” Luna asked
“Well, Scoots did have a point.” Fluttershy answered
“Hah!” Scoots pointed at Luna
“Don’t hah her missy, you’re still in trouble for arguing with her.”
“What? Come on!” Scootaloo whined
“Fluttershy, today?” Luna asked
“Oops.” with that Fluttershy turned around completely, lifting her head to meet the beasts ees before staring intently, at first slowing the beast as it trampled forward until it began to stumble into a complete halt, entranced by the mares mesmerizing gaze.
“*huff* That was *huff* unfun *huff*” Luna struggled to breath
“Ugh *huff* my poor *huff* legs *huff*” Scootaloo complained
“Now,” Fluttershy began “What do you have to say for yourself mister?” the Chupacabra looked at Fluttershy sadly before entering a series of small grunts. “I know, you poor dear… uh huh… oh my… that wasn’t very nice of her… all of it? ...I see… uh huh…” Fluttershy grew serious for a moment, staring at the beast for a while, a grimace on her face “and you’re sure… and what did you do… I understand… and about Luna... and does that make it right… I know you poor thing, and she’s very sorry, right Luna?” Fluttershy turned to Luna
“Oh, um, yes we are most sorry. We meant not to treat you so harshly. If thou would, we’d like to welcome thee back home.” Luna smiled at the beast who seemed to smile back before lifting her up in his massive paws and began licking her
Fluttershy watched happily as the two seemed to get along, the two cuddling up against one another like a pet and pony should, though Fluttershy did almost forget one thing “Ahem.”
“...” Luna turned away pretending not to here.
“Ahem!” Fluttershy tried again more forcefully
“Ugh, and you’re sure we don’t hate them anymore?” Fluttershy just stared “Ok, Chupacabra, no more goats.” the beast whined “We were apparently ‘wrong’ about them.”
“Good, now, let’s go home, today certainly has been exciting. Too exciting for me.” Fluttershy smiled, motioning for Scootaloo to join her.
“Mom, how’d you know we should wait?” Scootaloo asked
“Because critters always come back home eventually, especially if there’s a pony they love there. I knew if we just let him come, he’d show up on his own. Though, I didn’t think he’d be so upset.” Fluttershy tapped her chin
“Yeah, Luna must have been pretty mean.”
“No, it’s not that…” Fluttershy frowned “Something spooked him…”
“No way! He’s so big though.” Scootaloo said in astonishment
“I know… It’s kind of weird…” Fluttershy looked as if to ponder for a moment, causing Scootaloo to look at her concretely “Hm, oh, it’s nothing, just a thought.” She smiled “Now, let’s go see you finish that scooter ok?”
With a smile and a nod the two were off.
The trek from Twilight's house to Fluttershy’s was usually very short, and one the pegasus would think much about, however, with her beloved child in tow, every moment felt special in a way, so much so the seconds felt like wonderful minutes. Scootaloo, smiling but still nervous, clung close to the pegasus, and this affection caught the eye of a nearby weather mare.
Descending from her cloud perch, she hovered overhead the two, confused by the display. “Hey, what’re you two up too?” she asked.
Fluttershy smiled at Rainbow, and gently she said “She knows now.” and with that Rainbow’s jaw dropped, in all her time knowing Fluttershy she never thought this day would come.
“That’s, I mean, wow…” Rainbow sputtered, taking in the sudden information “Well, I won’t wanna bother you two for long then, heh, I’m guessing you wanna, uh, get to know each other I guess, hehe.”
Scootaloo’s mouth stood agape in understanding, and though a little upset Rainbow would hide her mother from her, cared little about it. With a wave Rainbow dashed off as the two finished their walk to Fluttershy’s house.
Though Scootaloo had been in the cottage many times, suddenly every inch of it felt new and magical, from wall to wall she gazed, taking in the sight, on the verge of tears as the thought dawned on her “Is… is this my home now?” she asked her mother, who smiled sweetly
“Of course, I’m certain getting legal right as your guardian will be easy enough.” Fluttershy became enamored by her daughter as she clung tightly to her, weeping gently into her fur, happier then she’d ever been. Stroking the filly’s head, Fluttershy knelt down to bring Scootaloo into a warm hug, and though the embrace lasted for sometime, when they broke it they just fell into silence.
Truth be told, neither knew what to do now. Fluttershy was, by most standards, still too young to know where to start as a mother and felt as if walking on glass with her inexperience. Likewise, Scootaloo had always dreamt of having parents, but never really understood the experience, the only trustworthy experience coming from Sweetie Belle who had more complaints then praise, much to the parentless Scootaloo and Appleblooms chagrin.
Soon, though forced, Fluttershy broke the silence “So, um…” she rubbed the back of her neck, this was weird, but she was resolved to do her best at whatever it was she was supposed to be “Do you want to see where we’ll make your room?” she asked, happy to have thought of a good place to start.
The thought of her own room was enough to make Scootaloo wanna scream in joy considering sleeping in the same room as a bunch of other ponies tended to some unpleasant nights. “Yeah, sure Flut-” Scootaloo stopped to correct herself, a giddy smile and energy pouring from her features “Mommy.” she finished, though she admitted the ‘my’ part was a little lame she didn’t care, she never got the chance to call her mommy so she was taking it now.
Fluttershy giggled and with her wings ushered the filly outside where they could look at the exterior “I’m going to have an extension built right there, next to mommy’s room upstairs. It’ll take a couple days, so you’ll be taking my bed until then.” of course, what Fluttershy didn’t mention was she was basically thinking of this all on the spot, but she was reveling in the facade that she had even the slightest clue what she was doing.
“Cool, when are we gonna get my stuff?” Scootaloo turned questioningly
“Oh, well…” Fluttershy hoofed the ground nervously, everything felt quick and rushed, and it was. Too Fluttershy, it was a laundry list of expensive, scheduling, planning and a lot more, but to the filly at her side it was the thing she’d always longed for, and Fluttershy wouldn’t be wrong to say she felt the same. Fluttershy let her anxiety go for the moment, deciding that, for the time being, she’d try and look competent “Let mommy make some lunch for us first and then we can get moving.”
“Ok.” Scootaloo accepted happily with a chirp, trotting back into the house.
Fluttershy was in awe at how easily this was being accepted by the filly, honestly she expected something much different, maybe angry, or confused or unsure, yet the filly seemed to take the series of events with stride and an eagerness to settle in as soon as possible. Sure, it would be easier for Fluttershy to accept this to subside her anxiety, but she wanted to be the best mother she could be, and the fact was, she didn’t feel the filly was speaking her mind.
Fluttershy followed Scootaloo in, sitting the filly on the kitchen table and sitting across from her, much to the filly’s confusion. Fluttershy’s heart was in a frenzy, with how quick everything was happening she didn’t have time to think how she wanted to approach the daughter she knew nothing about, hoping for some time to adjust to one another before they talked about anything deeper than… well, she hadn’t even thought that far ahead either, only that she admitted to being her mother and, without a second thought, subconsciously decided to take her child back. Still, this conversation had to happen, and she’d make it happen, even if it killed her.
Clearing her throat, Fluttershy put on her gentlest smile “Scootaloo, i-is there, um, something wrong?” she asked. Shuffling nervously, Scootaloo shook her head though Fluttershy could see the lie from a mile away. “Scootaloo, please, I want us to get out whatever it is we can now.”
Looking down at the table, Scootaloo rubbed her hooves together before speaking “I just… I mean… I don’t wanna mess anything up…” she said sadly
Confused, Fluttershy pressed on for more “Whatever do you mean?”
Blushing, Scootaloo looked away and spoke quietly “I didn’t wanna upset you with stuff that was important.”
Frowning, Fluttershy wanted to establish as soon as possible that the filly could come to her about anything “I promise, you can talk to me about anything.” this seemed to ease Scootaloo a bit.
Swallowing roughly, Scootaloo looked at her mom “A-are you sure you want me?”
The question appalled Fluttershy, it seemed despite their talk in the library Scootaloo seemed unsure of everything that was happening “Scootaloo, of course I do, I swear I do.” she urged
Scootaloo looked away again “The papers… I mean… they, you… you didn’t…” Scootaloo choked back a lot of mixed and pained feelings, that had happened to her mother was a scary thing and knowing the dark deed behind her birth stung her chest furiously “You didn’t choose to have me…” she muttered, too nervous to look back at Fluttershy as she felt as if she didn’t deserve any affection because of the circumstances.
Without hesitation, Fluttershy took a more authoritative stance, not a threatening one, but one that seemed to want to impose something as fact in a sense “I already told you that you don’t need to worry about it, please, mommy would never, ever consider it important when it comes to you. You’re my little girl, so please forget all about it.” her words were clear and sincere, but despite that Scootaloo seemed unsure “Even if I had the chance, I would endure twice as bad to keep you in my life.” Fluttershy spoke with teary eyes.
Scootaloo choked back tears at the thought, and though not in explicit detail, the words from the paper were clear and the letters seemed to etch themselves into the filly’s head ‘Raped and impregnated, severely injured and traumatized.’ the simple summary ran her head abuzz with heart tearing thoughts, and though she knew very little, growing up among less than savory children like those of an orphanage, taught you things you may be too young to know about.
As if from nowhere, a yellow wing materialized over the filly comfortingly as Fluttershy smiled down at her “Despite all that happened, I still had you, and I’ll do anything to make you happy.” her words brought the filly up from her down, and thought Fluttershy seemed strong it was clear on her straining face that the conversation was tearing her up “Scootaloo, I love you, I do, and though I don’t want to keep anything from you, I need you just… stop talking about that. Anything else, please.”
Scootaloo had always known Fluttershy was frail and delicate, but now seeing her as a mother, the filly had a deep want to protect her heart. “Ok, I’ll stop.” she agreed, wanting as much to forget the truth too, even for a while. Leaning in to her mother, Scootaloo brought another question to her lips “Why didn’t grandma or grandpa-” Fluttershy’s face grew dark immediately, and unbeknownst to the filly she’d just hit the glass beneath her with a hammer
“Never, EVER, call or think of those… people as that. I don’t think of them as parents, and as far as we’re concerned they don’t exist.” Fluttershy spoke bitterly, a surprise to the filly, making wonder what could have been so bad that Fluttershy of all ponies could see them with such disdain.
Scootaloo, at this point, was afraid to ask anything else, she wanted to know more about her mother but her entire past seemed like a minefield, and she did not want anything more to do with it. However, the filly let slip a question that she immediately scolded herself for letting out “Do you hate them more than-” and with that Fluttershy’s face strained and warped until she’d fallen huddled onto the floor in tears “Oh, n-no, I didn’t mean…” Scootaloo felt her heart shatter in a mix of fear and self disappointment as she leapt off the chair and began to shake and lean into her huddled form. “I’m sorry, please don’t hate me, please….” she begged, almost immediately snapping Fluttershy out of her trauma induced state
Turning to the filly, she wrapped her up into another hug, rocking her back and forth “Mommy will never hate you, ever, ever.” she assured through her weakening voice. “That’s enough questions, mommy can’t take anymore…” she said.
Heart racing in fear, Scootaloo resolved to just shut her maw, and that she did for almost ten minutes as Fluttershy, in a deep panic, hummed to herself and to Scootaloo until the attack paused.
Though still shaking furiously, Fluttershy tore herself away from Scootaloo with a pained smile of conflicting emotions. Fluttershy wanted the filly to feel assured but the hurt seemed to cripple her. Despite that, she raised to her feet with a shakiness that resembled a newborn foal and turned to her fridge “I-I-I…” Fluttershy shook her head to break the repeating “I’ll make lunch.” she finished.
Before Fluttershy could make it far, she felt a tugging on her tail before turning to see Scootaloo with outstretched hooves “Just one more…” she asked, and with a smile, Fluttershy complied as they fell into another embrace.
Author's Note
Yo, hope you all enjoyed. If you notice any serious issues in grammar lemme know!