When Kindness Entered In

Chapter 5

We talked through dinner that night and then late into the night. At first I was unsure how such a shy creature would be able to communicate, especially how much she was willing to reveal about herself. But to my surprise all it took was showing that I meant no threat to her for Fluttershy to drop the invisible wall between her and me. After that the pony slowly and carefully did remain calm but remained open for the most part. It was like a dance between the two of us when speaking. I would take the lead and she would follow in the conversation. At first the Pegasus didn’t ask much about my life, not that she felt that I would not reply but that she felt that perhaps my secrets should remain just that, secrets. But then the dance became two sided as she began to ask me questions.

Fluttershy told me amazing tales about her life in Ponyville and specifically her wonderful friends. She spoke about all of them and their wonderful adventures together. Some of them were mundane even by the standards of a pony like picnics and parties. Others were adventures that were beyond comprehension, about meeting dragons and magic. There were darker times too, like times when her friendships and even the fate of the world was in jeopardy. I could see her tremble at those memories each time she spoke of such bad times, but upon asking whether she wanted to stop she would simply shake her head and continue.

My stories about my life paled in comparison with the wonderful tales that Fluttershy told of her life. Yet she remained transfixed on what I said, like it was just as magical as what she told. I guess it was all just a matter of perspective. To Fluttershy, her life was ordinary with brightly colored ponies, flying, and magic where my life about driving, computers, and traveling to different places was magical all to its own!

After what felt like an eternity of getting to know each other, our mouths grew tired and so did our eyes. I could see that Fluttershy desperately wanted to remain awake to hear about my life no matter how much lack of sleep she would get. I didn’t want to see her in such a state especially considering the fact I could only imagine the day she went through and how taxing it was on her body and mind.

“You look tired Fluttershy. You must be after the day you had. Do you want to try and get some sleep?”

Fluttershy passed as if she felt ashamed that she was not focused on what I said but then with another yawn she nodded.

“Ok, well I don’t have another bed, so will the couch you’re on be ok to sleep on?”

Fluttershy looked down at the couch and nodded again, taking a liking to where she was. That was all the confirmation I needed as I went into the closet and got a spare blanket that I used on my bed only during those cold winter nights and grabbed an extra pillow from my bed. In that short time that I left the living room, Fluttershy had already curled into a yellow and pink ball, her bright blue eyes closed. I carefully lifted her head so as not to disturb her and set a pillow on the couch before setting it back on the fluffy mass. She let out a little mumble but remained in sleep as I pulled the blanket over her.

With her comfortable, I turned and was about to retreat to my own bedroom when I heard the faintest whisper of my name from the couch along simply a “thank you.” Smiling I turned off the lights in the living room and after getting ready for bed retreated into my room. Although I was tired I felt that I couldn’t end my night like this, not with my mind filled with so many questions about the yellow Pegasus. Even though she explained much of her life there was still one question that remained: Where did she really come from? She spoke of Ponyville, but that could be anywhere in my mind. I had to find out the truth, and I knew exactly how to do so.

As the mare slept soundly in the living room, I turned on the computer and went straight to the Internet to search. If she truly was some character from a cartoon there must be something about her no matter how short or obscure the series would be. It didn’t take long though to find the answer as with a typing out with her name and searching, there was an instant reply. Now the truth came to light: Fluttershy and her friends were from a show called My Little Pony: Friendship.

On one hand I wasn’t surprised. After all Fluttershy certainly didn’t look like she belonged in the world I lived in. But still the revelation shocked me. Perhaps I thought that it would take a long time to find the answer or perhaps that when I found the answer it wouldn’t be so easy to describe. But now that I think about it I think the shock was that Fluttershy had a home and friends somewhere else. She was such a kind creature and yet I knew more than before that she belonged somewhere else. Well I knew that there was no use in lamenting over what would happen anyway. I had to enjoy the time I had with such a nice creature. This was especially true as I had no idea how she would get back to Ponyville!

Knowing the truth gave me another problem. While I could learn all I wanted about Fluttershy from the show, there was no way that I could tell her that she was a cartoon character and should not be real. The revelation would tear her apart! It would be strange learning about someone and yet not being able to share it with others, but this was the burden of knowing. For a moment I thought I would just stop and learn things as they came to me from Fluttershy. But me hunger to know all about her grew and I knew there was no turning back. I only could hope that my research into this new world of ponies didn’t return with a vengeance.