The scarred rogue

Fluttershy smiled as Applejack finished building a new chicken coop for her. Fluttershy's old one had been perfectly fine according to her, but Applejack insisted that she let her make her a new one because it was so old and out of shape it'd be easier to just make a new one.

“Well there ya go sugar cube! All done.” She wiped the sweat from her brow with a kerchief. Fluttershy was quiet as she stared at the chicken coop. Applejack gave her a concerned eyebrow raise. “Well, do ya like it, sugarcube?”

Fluttershy looked at her, surprised, then blushed sheepishly. “Oh yes, I love it, it's just that... well... you didn't need to go to all that trouble. My other chicken coop was perfectly fine the way it was. Oh, don't get the wrong idea, Applejack, I love this coop, it's gorgeous, and I know you put a lot of effort into it, and I'm sure my chickens will love it even more than me. Its just that... I dunno, I guess it’s just...”

Applejack chuckled. “Hey, don't sweat it, Fluttershy. Ah know what ya mean. Really, Ah did this cause Ah missed yer birthday a couple weeks ago. Think of this as a late birthday present ta make up fer not be'n able ta make it.”

 “Okay, well, thank you, Applejack.” They shared a hug for a moment before breaking apart.

“Alrighty, well, have yerself a good night then, sugarcube.”

Fluttershy walked inside and found all the animals were enraged as they walked around in circles holding picket signs which read, WE WANT FOOD!! She sighed as she fluttered up to the cabinets to get bowls to put the feed into.

***********************

As the stallion's eyes slowly opened, he found himself under a bushel. He stood and almost fell over because of his back leg: it had been wounded the night before and now was painfully stiff. He groaned as he limped out of the bushel. He found himself in front of a cottage. He smiled hopefully: he might be able to find help here. He limped to the door and knocked. He saw a beautiful mare walk into the room just beyond the door; however, the moment she saw him, she quickly gave a startled scream, not very loud but definitely full of fear as she jumped behind the wall, hiding herself. Then she started playing peekaboo with him.

 He stared at her, annoyed. “Come on, mare, let me in!” he thought to himself.

She played peekaboo for a few more moments before coming to the door hesitantly. “Um.. h-hello, can I, um… h-help you?”

“I need help, please, just give me a place to rest for the night. I don't know if I can make it much further right now.”

As she looked him over, she gasped, obviously realizing his wounds now.

“By Celestia, you're hurt, aren't you? Come in, please!” As she ushered him in, he didn't refuse, but instead thanked her for her kindness. “About time,” he thought.

“What happened to you? You look like you were attacked by some sort of wild animal! Did you happen to provoke it somehow?”

The stallion was silent a moment, “If I tell her, she'll probably throw me out.” “I, uh...” “Come on, think of a good lie!” “I can't remember anything.”“Hopefully she believes it.”

Fluttershy stared at him a moment sympathetically. “Well, just go lay down on the couch and I'll get you all patched up.”

“Thank you, I don't know how to thank you for your kindness.”

“You don't have to. I'm happy to help somepony in need.”

The stallion looked around, confused. “Where is the couch? Better yet, what is a couch?”

Fluttershy's eyes filled with concern. “Oh my, you must have hit your head worse than I thought! Come and follow me, oh, and be careful not to fall!” She walked closer to him. “I don't think you should be walking around on your own like this. Here, let me help you into the living room.”

The stallion forced a smile, “No, no, please, I'm fine.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble, really, come on.”

“I can walk just fine!” he yelled in frustration. He stared at her awkwardly before smiling. “Really, I am. So, uh, please just show me to this couch thing if you don’t mind, miss.”

She took a step back hesitantly. “O-oh, um.. okay, sorry, um, come on and follow me, please....”

The stallion rolled his eyes.“I better calm down or she'll kick me out.”

*************************

Thestallion lay on the couch for the moment as he waited for Fluttershy to come back downstairs. He wasn't sure what she was going to use to wrap his wounds up, but she was certainly taking her time. He was starting to get annoyed at this point. “Did she get lost or something? It feels like I’ve been waiting forever.” He sighed. He knew that he couldn't rush these things, especially since it was her home, but he was running on little patience. He was never good at being patient anyway, especially when in pain.

 Suddenly a rabbit hopped up onto the arm of the couch and glared at him. The stallion glared back defiantly. “What do you want, rabbit?” It pulled out a carrot and bopped him on the head with it.

The stallion growled and snapped at it. The rabbit fell off the arm, startled by this. He smiled in satisfaction at this and laid his head down again. “I may be in pain, but this couch is so comfortable, I could lay on this forever,I think.Too bad I’ll have to go in a few weeks.”

The mare suddenly came down the stairs. “Sorry I took so long; I had trouble getting everything.” She looked to the rabbit and smiled. “Oh, hi, Angel! Are you greeting our guest? Please be sure to make him feel welcome, okay?”

Angel looked to the stallion nervously, then stuck his tongue out at him.

“Why you little good-for-nothing--” He realized he was glaring at itw and the mare seemed to notice. He smiled sheepishly at her. “The little guy is making me feel very welcome, believe me, miss.”

She smiled back at him. “Good. Oh, sorry, I forgot to give you my name. I’m Fluttershy.”

The stallion snickered at this. “Flutter-shy? what kind of name is that?! She’s as pathetic as she looks.” He quickly stopped, however-- though he struggled not to start again-- and said, “That's a very…. interesting name. I’m Firesong.” He puffed his chest out in pride as he said his own name.

“Oh, well, what a lovely name you have,” she said. She poured peroxide onto the wound to clean it.

Firesong flinched at this. “Ouch,what is this stuff?!”

Fluttershy then gently wiped it with a rag. “I know this hurts, but it’s very important I clean it, otherwise it will get infected.”

“Obviously.” “I understand, Miss Fluttershy. I understand completely.”

**********************************

Once Fluttershy was done cleaning Firesong’s wounds, she took everything she had brought and put it back. “How would you like some tea, Firesong? I’m planning on making some right now.”

He shrugged. “I would enjoy some tea if you would be willing to make me some.”

Fluttershy smiled. “Well, of course!” “He’s such a nice pony.” she thought to herself. She walked into the kitchen and began humming a tune while making tea; once it was made, she walked into the living room with two cups. “The tea is ready!” Fluttershy set the tray onto the table and filled both cups, then gave one of them to him. “Here you go, Firesong! Oh, and be careful; it’s very hot!”

Firesong rolled his eyes at this. “I think I can handle a little- YOW!” He screeched as he dropped the cup, spilling it all over his chest. “GAHHHH!” He flailed around in pain as the scolding hot tea splashed all over him.

. “Poor thing, he was injured then burned by his own tea!” She ran into the bathroom, grabbed a towel and ran back downstairs, then began to wipe him down with it. “Sorry, I didn’t know it was that hot, Firesong.”

He forced a smile. “It’s alright. I should have listened to your warning.”

“Well, um… yes, actually, you’re right. I wasn’t going to say anything, but I did warn you.” She could have sworn he glared at her, but she could only see him with her peripheral vision; when she looked straight at him, he was smiling a wide smile. “I guess I imagined it.” After wiping him down, she took the towel and tossed it on the floor next to her. “Lift your head, please, Firesong.” He obviously was confused but did as she told him. She fluffed up his pillow for him, then said, “Okay, you can relax now, thank you.”

He nodded and relaxed with a groan.

Fluttershy smiled and walked out of the room to wash the dishes

*******************

The three cats looked down upon the cottage, "I think it's high time we get rid of him, Brodrick looked to Aeron, take care of them both."

Aeron smiled sadistically and stalked towards the cottage licking his lips, laughing along the way.