Fluttershy had just returned home from a tiring day. Her friends were busy cleaning the castle of the two pony sisters again, and having to keep Angel in check was pretty tiring. The said bunny was fast asleep on the cream pegasus' back; making a small smile to cross her pale lips; as she pushed open the red door to the cottage as Angel woke up and hop off her back. Fluttershy gasped and tired to catch him quickly; only for the snow white bunny to run into the Everfree Forest; shocking the poor pegasus.
Gulping, Fluttershy began considering her options. She could get Angel by her self; but she could also wait and contract her friends. A thought stuck her as she began considering the former; Angel could be hurt or worst, she didn't want to take her chances. Thus, terrified; Fluttershy opened her wings and flew off to the scary forest.
The snow coated bunny; however had already bolted into the trees. Fear gripped hold of Fluttershy's heart; threatening to crush it. She was more then terrified; for both her life and the life of her rabbits. But she had to get Angel before he hurt himself; or possible killed. She landed and began slowly trotting through the woods; jumping at every sound and movement of the wind and trees.
However one sound draw her in; it was different to the rest which had terrified her; threatening to kill her all-ready cracking heart. It was muffled and weird; but it was a recognized easily by her ears. A cry, and judging by the sound; it was a very small foal. Following the sound; Fluttershy walked into a small clearing in the forest; which was still clinging to a chill of winter; which had long past in the rest of Equestria.
There in the center of the forest; in the only grassy part of the clearing, which was coated in 3 hoof deep snow; was a basket. A small brown, wooden basket with a patched quilt over the contents. The cry was coming from the basket; meaning a foal as young as Pound and Pumpkin Cake must be inside, and she knew it because the quilt was rising lightly meaning the contents were alive and breathing. Light from the full moon shone on the basket, making it glimmer.
Fluttershy crept forward; in fear of whatever was inside may attack, even though she was certain it was a young foal. She nuzzled the basket as carefully as possible. A shrill cry rang through the air; as a snow white bunny ran over to Fluttershy; Angel. Fluttershy gasp and pushed the blanket off the foal.
She stood, flabbergasted at the sight. Inside the basket was a small baby, but it appeared to be a ape cub instead of a foal. The difference however was that the cub didn't have fur. In fact, the only fur it seemed to have was it's mane which was a beautiful white, which glowed from the light shining from the moon.
The 'cub' opened it's eyes and stared at Fluttershy. The eyes weren't as puzzling, they were a calming shade of red. But the problem was the 'cub' appeared scared of her. It began crying again; alerting Fluttershy. She picked up the 'cub' and began rocking it within her hooves in attempt to calm it down, using a calming lullaby. The 'cub' fell asleep within her hooves, causing Fluttershy to sigh in relief. The 'cub' acted more like a foal then a ape cub in her opinion.
Still, who would leave a small baby in the Everfree Forest. It was sad, and it even brought a few tears to the pegasus' eyes. Fluttershy glanced down at the basket; to lay the foal back inside and saw a note. She reached down carefully, and grabbed the note. She placed the child in the basket carefully as to not wake her up and began reading.
To whoever is reading this.
Please take care of my darling daughter. For me and her father have had a tragedy and cannot look after her no more. Please give her a name and raise her like your own. Sorry....
There was blood smeared on the bottom of the page and it shocked Fluttershy; but after the shock was gone. Tears crept into Fluttershy's eyes. The poor baby, having to leave her parents at such a age. She continued to frown but then remember that the little child was there and it needed to be taken home.
However, as Fluttershy reached down to get the handles of the basket with her mouth. Something confusing and slightly scary happened. Coming from the little child's crystal, snow white hair were a pair of ears, the same shade as her hair. As the ears had appeared, a small sleek white tail had also appeared from the child's yellow, flower printed onesie.
It shocked Fluttershy but didn't stop her from gripping the handles with her teeth and getting the child away from the cold. She couldn't just leave her there in the wintery Everfree, after all. Carrying the basket carefully in her mouth, and Angel on her back; she began walking forward and out of the clearing and back to the safety of her cottage.
The chirping and squeaking of the animals greeted the pegasus, who smiled gently. She placed the foal basket down on the table and picked up the little girl inside. Her unique cat ears and tail were still there. A young white cat with a blue bow came over; it was the one that Fluttershy had tried to give Rainbow. The kitten sniffed the child and purred, stroking against the infant, who was sat on the table awake once more.
'Weird. Snowflake normally doesn't take to strangers because of Rainbow...but then again, the infant is a little girl with cat ears' thought Fluttershy, looking down at the young child. 'Wait. Snowflake...Snow in Japanese-according to Twilight is yuki, and it can be a little girl's name. Prefect, her name can be Yuki. It fits her'
Yuki giggled slightly, as she petted the kitten; bringing a light smile to Fluttershy's face. She now couldn't wait to show her friends. Maybe she won't have to wait too long though.
A few days had past, without even leaving the cottage. Fluttershy had been very wrapped up in caring for Yuki, that she hadn't even walk farther then her back yard. She had noted a few key features about the young cat-girl. When she was annoyed or very happy, her ears and tail would pop out and it would take her a few minutes to hide them again. Second; the child wasn't taking all to well to the ponies' non meat diets. And lastly, she had to wear clothing to protect her skin from the elements.
Yuki crawled towards a small bunny. She and Fluttershy were out in the backyard to feed the animals and the young cat-girl had taken a liking to all the animals, mainly Snowflake and Angel. Fluttershy watch her as she flap her wings in order to give a acorn to one of the many squirrels from the nearby wildness.
Yuki tap the bunny, causing it to jump a little before looking at her. She petted it with a giggle. Her ears suddenly burst out of the bonnet, which Fluttershy had managed to find for her, ripping it. Fluttershy sighed, she now knew not to give the young child a hat unless they had holes for her ears to slot through, much like her onesie did. Maybe when she was finally able to see Rarity, she could ask about it.
''Fluttershy, darling. Are you here?'' came a voice from inside the cottage. Speak of the devil and she does appear.
''Rarity, um...I'm in the back.''
Fluttershy landed on the ground, and picked up Yuki. The young cat-girl looked fully like a cat, just wearing a onesie and had a busted bonnet on her head. Rarity walked in and saw the pale yellow pegasus holding the young girl. Rarity, however only saw a cat wearing a baby onesie and a broken bonnet and she looked pretty horrified.
''Fluttershy. You know that clothing isn't suppose to be on animals, oui?''
''I do, Rarity. But um...''
Fluttershy glanced down at Yuki and mumbled something to the kitten toddler. Yuki blinked her ruby eyes for a second and her snow ears vanished along with her tail, and whatever fur was scattered on her cream coloring. Rarity watched and soon looked more horrified. She stared wide-eyed on the child.
''Uh, Fluttershy. Correct me if I'm wrong, but may I ask. Am I seeing a hairless ape cub, right now?''
''Well..I suppose, you are.''
''Where in Equestria did you find a hairless ape, let only a cub?'' asked Rarity, trying to keep calm.
''In the Everfree Forest, I got a note from her mother saying that a tragedy had hit their home and she was forced to send her baby daughter away and asked whoever read it to name and take care of her.'' said Fluttershy, recalling the event from a few days earlier.
''Oh, that's horrible.'' said Rarity, dramatically but seriously.
''I know...But the scary thing was, at the bottom of the letter was blood meaning the 'mare' must have tried to warn me about her cat-like features, but blood must have smeared onto it.''
''And to think, this couldn't get possibly any worse.'' said Rarity, before going dramatic. ''This is the worst, possible thing!''
Fluttershy nodded, gently. She weren't gonna complain about Rarity's line, after all it was true. ''Rarity....Do you remember when you told us that you knew about Nyx being a alicorn, long before she became Nightmare Moon....And that you were the one, who made her outfit?''
''Why yes, darling. But why ask?''
''Because...um...the baby needs clothing. Her coat isn't safe in these conditions. So um...can you make her some?''
''Well, I will need measurements but oui, I can.''
''Thank you, Rarity.'' said Fluttershy, smiling.
''But I have some more questions, darling?''
''Yes..''
''One, what did you name her?''
''I named her Yuki, which means snow to resonate with her snow white mane.''
''Wow, that's pretty cute. Secondly, how old is she?''
''Um....I don't know for certain but I would suggest she's about 5 months as she can't speak nor probably walk, but she can crawl.''
Rarity nodded, and placed a white hoof on her chin. ''Well, I would suggest you take her to the hospital. For a checkup, and I would also suggest keeping her as far away from Lyra Heartstrings as possible.''
Fluttershy nodded. Lyra was obessed with these things called 'humans' and maybe Yuki was one, but nopony could know for certain, not even she could know and she knew a lot about species of all kinds.
''Would you like me to come along, darling?'' asked Rarity.
''Um...alright. If your not too busy.''
''Nonsense, darling. It's early and nopony comes to the store this early.'' said Rarity, with a smile.
Fluttershy smiled, and nodded. The pair of mares would inside. Fluttershy placed Yuki in her basket, which she had kept for later uses. Yuki giggled, as she blanket was placed up to her neck with magic, something which was curious to the little child. Fluttershy gritted her teeth on the handles and carried the basket out of the door.
The mares walked side by side till they reach the white, pristine hospital. Various ponies were coming in and out, indicating it was a very busy day. Fluttershy sighed, looking down at the infant in the basket. She almost turned around, thinking it was way to busy to find a doctor to check up on Yuki.
''Rarity...let's go...'' she mumbled.
Rarity looked at the pegasus, and placed a white hoof on Fluttershy's cream shoulder. ''It's not too busy, and we need to have Yuki checked up on.''
Fluttershy sighed, and glanced down at Yuki, before mumbling. ''Alright...''
The unicorn smiled, and the pair walked inside of the white building. The assigned them to a appointment. Fluttershy was still very anioux, what if there was something wrong with Yuki, what if she couldn't keep her, what if Yuki's species were dangerous. The worries loop on themselves multiply times and it was terrifying her.
They were eventually call in to see one of the doctors. The doctor checked on the child's height, weight, breathing and various other things whilst trying to stay calm about Yuki's appearance and still randomly appearing cat ears.
''Well, Miss Shy. The child seems in prefect health, even her height and weight are pretty avenge. I see nothing wrong with you adopting her. Just let me get the papers.''
''Isn't that fantastic, darling?'' said Rarity. ''And you wanted to leave.''
''I know...I'm glad that I'm aloud to keep her.'' said the shy pegasus, with a smile.
The doctor came back and handed Fluttershy the papers, which she sighed. Yuki was sighed into the name of 'Yuki Mystic Shy' or simply Yuki. Fluttershy hugged her adoptive daughter in her hooves, smiling brightly.
