Introspection

Fluttershy sat there, looking over her animals. They played with one another, occasionally forming groups that would go on their little adventures. It was amusing to watch, and it comforted her to know her animal friends were safe in her home. But how safe were they really? She could provide them food and shelter from the elements, but could she ever protect them from anything? No, she didn't think she could, she was so helpless, so weak. A dainty little flower like her, whatever could she do to protect someone she cared about? All she had was a hut and food, things that her animals could get without her. It was slowly dawning on her that her animals didn't really need her. But, why were they here then? Could it be that she was forcing them to stay? Conditioning them to have a psychological need to have her around them? Another question came to her mind, did she need them? Was it not out of generosity, but rather desperation that Fluttershy kept these animals around? Why did she even care about them? Did she even? Maybe she was simply using them for company, but that didn't make sense. She had plenty of friends, they were never mean to her, never hurt her feelings, or at least not on purpose. Weren't they enough for her? Was she just being selfish? Fluttershy couldn't help but wonder. All this wondering was making her sad, and she couldn't help but tear up at it.

It was then that she noticed her animals had stopped playing, and were looking at her with concern, even Angle Bunny, who had always put the air of being independent on, was looking at her with worried eyes. Why? Why did they care about it?

"Eep!"

Fluttershy started with surprise when she found herself being picked up, and was immediately pulled into a hug by a bear, and she softly cried into his bear chest. It didn't matter why they cared about her, what matter was that they did, and she loved them to. It wasn't selfishness that led her to bring all these animals together into her house, it was affection. She had a lot of affection to give, but not enough people to give it to. Sure there were the ponies of Ponyville, but she couldn't bring herself to approach most people. This was her way of sharing with the world her surplus of good fortune, her way of making the world a better place. So what if it benefits her to? That isn't a bad thing at all. Fluttershy looked up to the bear with a smile, and he let go. She went back to her animals and took them all out to play in the front yard. And so they sat, unaware of the eyes probing them from the forest.