Fluttershy paced around the room nervous. The cloud floor could have made dents if she continued. She soon stopped to turn and stare at her filly wings. She doubted that these could lift her into the air even with its slightly larger size compared to most foals.
Recently, her parents decided that it was time for her to be a true pegasus. Fluttershy was, however, adamant to fly so they believed that the best remedy to this was if she got a social treatment wherein she would meet young foals of her age so that she could get a little confidence boost. And so instead of getting her a personal trainer, they shipped her off to the nearest flight school. Personal issues stirred in her mind about this.
When they announced her of this, she nearly fainted. While she accepted the fact that she was a hopeless flyer, she wasn't ready to go to a place where she would get more devastated with her own self. Failure wasn't an option, they told her. Pegasi were meant to soar the skies. Though, 'sociable' wasn't the exact term for herself, Fluttershy thought. Although, she didn't want to get upset with her parents since she knew, they were just looking out for her...though, their love can be 'questionable' at times.
Minutes later, she heard hoofsteps from the front door. She noticed that they also sounded rushed and anxious. She peeked open her door and scoped the scene with her right eye sticking out. A mare of silky soft pink mane like hers yet only lighter and shorter and had a fine light-toned fine green complexion greeted her stare. Her mother, Sunny Breeze, seemed very uneasy and stressed.
Another mare then came out of the kitchen. Weather Bloom, a family friend who babysits Fluttershy, immediately welcomed the tensed mother to the couch, allowing her to explain herself. Fluttershy eavesdropped with a hint of curiosity and worry. She recalled her mother exhausted more than customary from the past nights. It wasn't that out of the ordinary for a pony to be drained after a day's full of work but the those nights, it felt different all of the sudden. She just quickly storms into her room and flops onto bed. Usually, she'd cook some instant noodles or do some paperwork-related things. Fluttershy thought of it as nothing but it looks like there is really a predicament with her mother's condition.
Sunny Breeze hyperventilated a little. Fluttershy heard that she just came back from the hospital and had a check-up. What she had in store was unfortunate news, she said, "Weather..." she first took a deep breath before continuing, "I'm going to be confined to the hospital. The doctors will be running tests on me for the next few weeks."
Weather Bloom made faint gasp and comforted her with a rub on the back. She whispered, hoping for Fluttershy to not hear, "But what about Fluttershy? What do I tell her?"
Sunny sternly replied, "Don't. Don't tell her. She's going to school tomorrow...I don't want her to be preoccupied with my situation,"
"W-what?" Fluttershy quietly muttered to herself.
Weather heard the hushed whisper and turned her look to Fluttershy's room. Fluttershy gasped and quickly retreated her eye from the door before she could see her. She sighed in relief and began pondering of their conversation. She hesitated to eavesdrop again for she was frightened that she would sway her mother's orders.
"It's not anything bad...right?"
"Oh, Weather. I think this is repayment for everything I've done!" Sunny exclaimed in terror, "I didn't know this would happen. I really didn't."
Weather made a sympathized frown. She said, "What is it really? I don't understand,"
"I have a case of...cancer,"
Weather gasped in horror. "W-what? How? Why?" she cried all at once.
"Unhealthy sleeping and eating habits," she burrowed her face underneath her mane, "It's in the nearly lethal stage. I'm going to be confined at the hospital. It's unsure at the moment if I'll ever get through this,"
Sunny's eyes welled up with tears. She broke down in tears as Weather cradled her in her hooves. She murmured her cries to avoid Fluttershy hearing her. Her and Weather's chest was soaked in her tears. Biting her lip, she drowned her cry and looked back at Weather...it's really nice to have friends who would hold you when you weep. Weather wiped away her tears and gave a shuddering smile.
"What about Fluttershy now?" she said.
"I'm sure she could handle things while I'm gone for the meanwhile."
"I didn't completely mean that," Weather paused for a moment. "I mean...please don't be angry with me, but how would Fluttershy be as a filly if...her mother was...gone forever?"
Shivers went through Sunny's spine. Fluttershy would be orphaned of a mother. Her case was possibly incurable and in the end, it might just be death waiting for her. She had no reply.
Weather sighed, "The quote, 'Live life to the fullest'? I think it's time for that now...while you still have a chance,"
"Huh?"
"I don't mean to nose around with you and your daughter's relationship but...I could tell that it needs improvement."
"What do you mean?" Sunny lazily arched an eyebrow at her, "Me and Fluttershy are going along well! She doesn't go against me and isn't persistent like other foals out there. She's very behaved and quiet."
"Tell me, when was the last time that you two had a meaningful fun time together?" Weather retorted.
"Well...um..." Sunny found herself dumbfounded and speechless.
"Exactly," Weather bitterly looked at her with disappointment, "She's quiet because she's distant. She never stroke up a conversation with you because she knew that you were always busy. You never bonded with her once! That's not being a good mother, Sunny. The foal's joy is important too than just obedience."
Sunny contemplated on her next words. She knew she was a good mother, she had to be! From ever since that Fluttershy was born, she swore that she would be the best mother. Her work would all be for Fluttershy's future, right?
"There's still time," Sunny snapped back to reality at the sound of Weather's voice, "I know Fluttershy and I'm sure she'd be overwhelmed with joy if you'd let her in for even just a day."
Weather looked at the clock. 3:00 P. M., it displayed. She got up from the couch and gave a hug to her friend. She walked towards the door and gave a last glance, "I have to go and watch Stormy's hoofball game. I'll come around by late afternoon to help you pack things up."
She smiled as Sunny hung her head, still deep in her thoughts. Hoping she would do the right thing, she reminded her, "Remember my words, Sunny. The poor little filly just wants some mommy time."
Am I really a bad mother?
Fluttershy sat on her soft cloud bed, staring at the floor and contemplating the things in her mind, when she suddenly heard knocks at the door.
"It's me."
She quickly hopped off her bed and opened the door for her mother. She wore a weary smile as she looked deep at Fluttershy's eyes. "Hey, how are you doing?" Sunny casually started.
"I'm fine, mom." Fluttershy bluntly answered.
Sunny's tone then grew with excitement, "How's the preparations? Are you ready for tomorrow?"
But to no avail, Fluttershy still replied in a dull tone, "F-Fine. I'm...ready."
Fluttershy avoided her stare as she hid behind her long pink mane and made a muted sigh. Her eyes locked at the floor instead.
"Fluttershy, is there a problem?"
"No, mom. Everything's...okay."
What do I say now?, Sunny pondered. Without rethinking, she blurted out, "Are you unhappy with your new school? Me and your father we're perfectly sure to get you to the best school there is," her tone was remarkably straightforward and demanding.
Fluttershy visibly shook. "It's really okay. I'm okay with my new school,"
Sunny knew by her tone that she was dejected. She felt like lecturing Fluttershy to be happy for the opportunity that she was ignoring...but she recalled, "The foal's joy is important too than just obedience."
She bit her lip before she could say anything that she could regret. She leaned in forward to Fluttershy and laid her hoof onto her head and began stroking it. An uneasy smile escaped from her lips as the warm feeling coursed through her body. Sunny went closer and wrapped the young filly in a big hug. Fluttershy immediately took notice and lifted her head once the hug broke to meet her mother's sweet, loving face.
"I know it's hard. I understand, Fluttershy."
Fluttershy, possibly for the first time, returned a smile at her mother. The comforting warmth from her fur was something she had never felt before. Her mother was foreign to her...yet this was the best feeling in the world. To actually feel motherly love...
Realizing that bonding with her daughter was truly pleasant to the heart, Sunny took consideration on Weather's advice and said, "Fluttershy, perhaps...you would like to go around in town? For a little celebration for your big day tomorrow? It's still the afternoon."
Fluttershy widely grinned and jumped in glee.
Everywhere and there, the two spent the day bonding. Fluttershy was pretty much ecstatic the whole time. She couldn't help to notice that her mother grew jaded with each passing hour. For a moment or two, she would have to sit down and take deep breaths before continuing. The day was still enjoyable either way. Fluttershy went to places that she has never been before. Sunny bought her delectable foods and the more they had fun, the more Sunny forced her body to keep up.
At sunset, Sunny thought to watch it with her daughter. She could also get a little time to rest her weary body against a soft cloud. They sat down and Sunny placed her wing at Fluttershy's shoulder and nuzzled her.
"Are you having fun, Fluttershy?" Sunny asked.
"Oh, yes!" Fluttershy exclaimed.
The moon gracefully arose with Celestia's command. The sun bid goodbye as the twinkling stars littered the heavenly sky. Fluttershy looked across the towering hills in awry. Sunny merely looked at her daughter. For a minute, her eyes became heavy and started blinking of drowsiness.
"What's it like down there, mom?" said Fluttershy, making her snap out of it.
"Oh! um...well, it's a green wonderland. You could see acres of trees stretch forever and big meadows where you could play all day and so much more."
"Wow...I wanna go there someday,"
Sunny cuddled her daughter making her squeal in bliss. "And I would take you there, my Fluttershy..."
Sunny yawned and suddenly dropped on Fluttershy's head. She was also oddly cold. Fluttershy hectically shook her in great panic. She blinked open one eye and stared at her daughter with confusion. "W-What?" she burbled out some words while half-awake.
"Mom, you don't look well," said a troubled Fluttershy, "We should go home."
Sunny gritted her teeth and shakily stood up. She haplessly fell twice. Jadedness seemed to consume her body. Fluttershy assisted her and they made their way back to the house where Fluttershy frantically called out for Weather's help.
"Weather! Mom's sick!"
...
Sunny wore an utter frown while watching Weather pack her things. Silence passed between the two friends before one could speak up. Sunny first started, "I-I did what you told me..."
"And?" Weather was interested.
"I had fun...Thanks."
Weather smiled and sat beside her friend. She comforted her for her achievement. She could tell that the filly enjoyed herself even with the little incident. "See? And how did you feel?"
"Better. I guess I should have paid attention to Fluttershy more," she smiled for a second...and then lost it, "but...we'll never have moments like this again."
"Oh, Sunny..." Weather embraced the distraught mare, "It'll be fine, I'm sure it will."
"I hope so,"
*Knock* *Knock*
"Mom?"
Fluttershy peeked from the door. Sunny patted the extra cloud cushion beside her, signaling the filly to come and sit down with her. Weather then stood up and excited the room to give the two a chance to talk. Fluttershy wanted to ask her about her condition but the question faded from her mind as she saw the piles of bags in the corner of the room.
"Why are there bags over there, mom? Where are you going?"
Sunny sighed and placed a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. "Mommy's going to be in the hospital for a while. I'm sick so I need to get better,"
"You'll come back, right? Mom?"
"Oh, sweetie," Sunny gently kissed Fluttershy's forehead. "...Good luck, tomorrow."
Fluttershy leaned forward and wrapped her hooves on her mother's belly. She hugged her tightly and whispered, "I love you, mom."
..
The following day, Fluttershy and Sunny woke up extra early. Sunny took her to the school. Fluttershy clung behind her mother's hooves, afraid of the new ponies she might meet. From a distance to the front gate, Sunny slowly took her off her hooves and gave a last kiss and hug. She reminded her, "Be good, Fluttershy...and have fun."
She gave a weary smile as Fluttershy took a few steps to the gate, her hooves quivering in fear. She looked back one last time at her mother. A proud smile across her loving face. She would strive to make her proud and this time, it's not just another order from mom...it was with meaning now.
A year later,
Sunny Breeze reclined on her hospital bed. She was hooked to an IV and breathing heavily. Very large traces of her once beautiful pink hair was now littered on the floor. Her scalp became very wrinkly and had a few strands of hair sticking out. Her eyes seemed lifeless and dull and her body was weak and feeble. But, she wore a proud smile on her face. The exact same smile she had on Fluttershy's first day of flight school.
She also had a letter on one hoof. Tears of joy streamed from her face as she read each single word...
"Dear Mom,
I finally graduated. I even earned a best friend. Her name is Rainbow Dash. It's the best day of my life. How are you doing though, mom? When you come out, me and Rainbow are gonna take you to Ponyville...like you told me when I was little. We'd get to play in the big meadows...with all the animal friends I made. Won't that be nice, mom? I hope you get better soon. I love you...so much. I miss your sweet kisses and hugs. I can't wait to visit you...
Love,
Fluttershy"
"I l-love you too...F-Fluttershy,"
*Beep...Beep...Beep...Beep..Beep..Beep..BEEP..BEEP..BEEP..BEEP.....BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.....*
