Family

Fluttershy was beginning to worry. Aunt Cloudia had been gone for over an hour. Not to mention she was sitting alone at the kitchen table with all the ill feelings hanging over her and only the sound of the ticking clock to keep her company.

Why did things have to be so difficult? She sighed to herself.

Okay, no biggie. All I have to do is ride out the next few days and then she'll leave and things can go back to normal. Within certain parameters of normal.

A sharp knock at the door shook her from her thoughts.

"Auntie? I'm coming! Hold on one second!" She hurried to the door and pulled it wide open, only to be met with no one. Well, at least no one at eye level. It took her a few seconds to realize there was a chicken just beyond her doorstep looking rather shocked.

"Discord you didn't!" she squeaked, looking down at the bedraggled bird.

Now, let's not jump to conclusions here. It's possible that this is just an ordinary chicken that has wandered away from the hutch area.

But it didn't look like one of her chickens. She knew them well and the colouration and feather pattern of the one in front of her didn't match any of them.  This chicken was more of an off grey colour with a tinge of rosy glow in the feathers.

Fluttershy swallowed hard.

"Auntie?" she asked, feeling rather foolish.

Something seemed to stir in the chicken and it quickly came to life and uttered a loud "Pyuck!" It then began to run in circles, making the most dreadful sound.

"Pyyyuuuuccccckkkk!!!"

"Oh, no..." Fluttershy suddenly felt furious at Discord. Usually shen she told him not to do something he listened to her. However, it occured to her that she had not explicitly told him not to turn her aunt into a chicken. In fact, she had laughed about it with him in bed just a few days prior.

"Oh, Horsefeathers!" she shouted.

The chicken suddenly stopped its ellipsical dane and looked directly at her with a hard glare.

Fluttershy suddenly felt furious.

"Yes! That's right! Horsefeathers! I swore, so what? What are you going to do about it?"

The chicken lunged forward and pecked her hard on the shins, causing the pegasus to leap backwards in surprise. She could just imagine the scolding she would be getting rightnow if the chicken could speak in her aunt's voice:

I told you that beast you let into your heart and your bed was bad news, didn't I? If you had gone out with a nice, normal stallion none of this would have happened. Why don't you ever listen to me, Fluttershy? If it wasn't for me then where would you be?

She felt the tears threatening to come to the surface but pushed them down. Then she picked up the chicken, went back into the house and closed the door.

She placed the chicken on the kitchen table, where it continued to glare at her with cold, hard eyes; eyes that she knew were judging her. Ever since she had been a filly she had felt under scrutiny. Her brother was the powerhorse of the family, working in the city. He was the example, while she, like her friends had chosen to follow her heart. But her aunt had done so much more her and she felt she really couldn't throw all that back in her face.

Fluttershy sighed, walked over to the cupboard, got out a bag of millet and poured some onto the table.

"I have to go and feed the other...feed the animals, Auntie. I'll be back soon, okay?"

"Pyuccck!" The sound was angry.

"Well I'm sorry but I have to. They need me. I promise I'll just be right outside and I'll come straight back in." And she turned her back on the chicken and headed out the door with the rest of the millet.

It was dusk by the time Fluttershy entered the house again. The millet seeds she had poured on the table were gone, and Cloudia looked almost disgusted with herself. The pegasus began to make a bed for the chicken. She wasn't about to tell Aunt Cloudia that she had to sleep in the hutch with the other chickens, she knew how terrified her aunt would be. She rolled up a clean tea towel and wrapped it around a cushion from the sofa. That would do. Cloudia could roost there for the night. Fluttershy was now exhausted from the days events.

"Sorry Auntie, but I think I'm going to have an early night."

The chicken clucked indignantly. "I know, but I'll be able to think clearly if I have a good night's rest, and you'll be warm and safe in here."

She disappeared up the stairs.

Unfortunately sleep didn't come easily to Fluttershy. She lay awake trying not to feel angry at both Cloudia and Discord. It was like nobody listened to anything she had to say. She rolled onto her side and was just contemplating whether or not to write Discord a letter, when she heard Cloudia make a sound like a groan.

She threw back the bedcovers and was down the stairs quickly. "What's wrong?"

Cloudia continued to make a strangled groaning sound. Fluttershy reached out with her hoof to stroke the chicken's back and was rewarded with a swift peck. Cloudia's cries increased.

"I don't understand!" cried Fluttershy. "I wish I did but I've never had a pony in my house that turned into a chicken! If you'd only let me help you..." She reached out again with her hoof and this time Cloudia's neck feathers ruffled up and her tail spread into a fan shape. Fluttershy gaped. She had seen this type of behaviour before.

"Auntie, are you...?"

The chicken clucked once. Fluttershy steeled herself and grabbed Cloudia, lifting her up so she could see the cushion. Yes, she had been right. There was an egg. Cloudia had been exhibiting the signs of a broody hen. The chicken lay its body flat like a fluffy pancake but its feet pedalled in empty air as Fluttershy held it aloft.

She removed the egg and placed Cloudia back on the cushion where she spread out like a feathery water balloon.

"I guess you'll have to get used to that until Discord changes you back," said Fluttershy.

The chicken lifted her head sharply.

"He will change you back! Despite what you think Discord is a good person! Do you really think I would choose to share my life with someone who would do things to hurt me in a relationship?"

A fast chattering sound.

"Yes, I know he used to do bad things, but that was before we were together and he was completely alone in the world. He didn't even know what friendship meant. And you know what? Before I met him I felt lonely too. Not lonely for friendship--I'm lucky enough to already have friends. No, I was lonely for someone to be closer to. I wanted a mate. And now that I've found one that makes me happy why can't you be happy for me?" She realized she was yelling and the chicken had shrunk further into its makeshift nest.

Fluttershy's eyes softened. "Sorry," she said. "It's just so frustrating. I'm upset with Discord too. I didn't want him to turn you into a chicken. I didn't want any of this to happen. All I wanted was for you two to get along. Sometimes it feels like no one listens to me!"

She crossed her forelimbs on the table and rested her head on them, trying not to cry.

Fluttershy awoke with a start. She hadn't even realized she had dozed off and now sunlight was streaming through the windows. She rubbed her bleary eyes and peered down at the nest. Cloudia was gone.

Fluttershy felt a chill and turned to see that the front door was wide open.

"No!" How the heck had she opened the door?

"Angel Bunny," she said. The rabbit glared at her from his warm spot near the fireplace.

Shut the door, it's freezing.

"Did you let Cloudia out?"

I don't care about your stupid chicken. He waved his paw apathetically at her. So what if I did. Her groaning was driving me nuts.

The pegasus hurried outside. "Cloudia!" she called, fear clawing at her heart.

Thankfully she didn't have to look far. To her utter relief she found her aunt pecking at the ground about 10 feet away from the bridge that led to Fluttershy's cottage.

"There you are! It's cold out here. Why don't you come inside and I'll make us some breakfast." She waited for a response from the chicken but it had suddenly frozen and was looking over at somewhere beyond the bridge.

"Are you okay?" asked Fluttershy "I..."

She suddenly froze too. She had seen a flash of red in the bulrushes. There seemed to be something within them that was moving in a way that almost looked like gliding. Then the birdsong in the area stopped. Fluttershy suddenly realized what was coming.

"Auntie!"

It was like an explosion when the fox emerged from the undergrowth and shot across the bridge right for Cloudia.

Fluttershy's aunt let out a cry of terror and began to run as fast as her chicken legs could carry her. She even flapped instinctively, trying to get off the ground, though being a chicken she couldn't of course. Fluttershy saw a greyish-pink blur shoot past her followed by a red streak.

Cloudia's heart felt like it was going to burst as she ran for the safety of a barrel near Fluttery's fence. The chicken scrabbled franctically, trying to gain purchase as the fox closed in. It slowed down as it reached the barrel, getting ready to pounce as it watched Cloudia with its golden eyes.

"Stop!" screamed the pegasus. The fox turned to look at her.

"Mr. Fox!" said Fluttershy. "Please listen. I know you're hungry, but could you possibly eat something else? I have some fish I've been saving for my friend Harry but you could have it instead? This isn't even a chicken! It's a pony that's been turned into a chicken!"

The fox looked at Fluttershy as if she'd grown a second head.

"I know how it sounds, but it's the truth! Could you live with that on your conscience? Eating a pony?"

Cloudia peered over the edge of the barrel. She was trembling like a leaf.

The fox seemed to be considering its options. It gave Aunt Cloudia one lingering look with its amber eyes and then nodded at Fluttershy.

"Thank you, Mr. Fox. I'm proud of you. Now, let's go get that fish for you."

She picked up Cloudia who kept eyeing the fox nervously as Fluttershy placed her between her wings and walked back to the house. "I'll be right back," she said, turning to the fox, but to her surprise it had vanished.

"Huh, that's weird. Oh well, I'll leave the fish on the doorstep and I'm sure he'll come back for it."

She closed the door and put Cloudia back on the cushion, but this time she carried her to the living room and placed the cushion near the warmth of the fireplace. Then she opened the door to the basement and went to find the fish she'd been keeping on ice for Harry.

She was halfway up the basement stairs with the fish in a brown paper bag when she paused. She could hear the faint but unmistakable sound of somepony crying. She put the bag down and hurried up the stairs and into the living room, where she found Aunt Cloudia, no longer in chicken form crying into the cushion.

Fluttershy ran towards her and embraced her. "Oh, Fluttershy!" wailed the mare. "I'm so, so sorry. I had no idea. I'm so sorry..."

"I know," whispered the pegasus, her eyes filling with tears.

"You are amazingly competent at what you do, you know?" said Aunt Cloudia. "I've never seen anyone be able to communicate with animals like that. You saved my life."

Fluttershy squeezed her aunt. "I'm just glad you're okay."

"No, Fluttershy. I'm glad you are. And...and I'm sorry about what I said about your life. I'm not happy that I got turned into a chicken, obviously, but you were right. I've been changed back."

"Discord isn't the most constant of people. Except when it comes to me. I know he loves me. I said some things to him that may have hurt his feelings before you...before you got turned into a hen. I was just feeling stressed about everything."

"I see."

"I'm not happy about what he did to you either. In fact, he's going to get a talking to, but I know why he did it."

"After you talked down that fox, I don't doubt it. However, Fluttershy. I...I think I'm going to cut our vacation short."

"You are? Why?"

"I need to think about a few things. I just hope you know I care about you, young lady. And while I believe you when you say you know what you're doing, that doesn't mean I won't worry. If he ever tries anything you know you can rely on me."

Fluttershy squirmed a little but said nothing. She'd take whatever victories she could get at this point, no matter how small.

"If...if you're sure." said the younger pegasus. Cloudia had already moved towards the kitchen where her bag was.

"Yes, I'm sure," she said. She picked up her bag and hugged her niece. "I think I need to give you two some space to...talk about things."

Fluttershy nodded. She had a feeling that wasn't the only reason her aunt was in a hurry to leave, but she didn't feel like arguing.

"I'll write you the moment I get back," said Cloudia. "Take care of yourself."

The moment Cloudia was out the door Fluttershy shouted "Discord!"

The air billowed slightly, then her mate flashed into existence.

"You called, my dearie?"

"Don't you dearie me! You're in trouble buster."

Discord's ears flattened fearfully for a spilt second but then pricked upwards defiantly. He put his hands on his hips and scowled. "Wait a minute! You know what? I refuse to feel guilty about this one!" He pushed his talon against her lips before she could argue. "For one thing, Fluttershy, your aunt is insufferable!"

"I..." she couldn't muster an argument.

"And furthermore," continued the draconequus, who was now literally wearing a hole in the floor by pacing. "I did exactly as you said! I was nice to her! Better than nice! Why, I didn't even have a buzzer in my claw when I shook her hand. Did you know how hard that was to resist?"

"I know she was awful, but I said to rise above it!" She couldn't help but feel angry. Why didn't he ever listen to her? Why did he have to get upset at her aunt being so rude? He usually laughed off ponies who were mean to him.

"I did! Until she made the mistake of insulting you."

"You didn't have to do that to prove a point!"

"Didn't I? You must admit your aunt running across the garden when I chased her was pretty hilarious." His talon slammed over his mouth too late.

"That was you?!"

"Er...yes? But I wasn't going to eat her. I just wanted to give her a fright!"

"That was so mean! And it scared me, I thought she was going to be killed!"

Discord looked uncomfortable and he sighed. "Okay, I really didn't mean to upset you. I just...you don't get it, do you?"

"What don't I get?"

"I...I just couldn't stand how awful she made you feel about yourself! How she was upsetting you for merely existing". He clenched his paw and talon into fists. "Y'know, I've always wondered why you can't see what others see. Why you can't see what I see-- he ran his paw gently across her cheek. -- and now I know part of the reason why." He looked furious.

"Fluttershy, you're amazing. And you don't see it. She's been tearing you down. You...you have friends. You have family and you still think there's something wrong with you. That you're not good enough."

He put his paw on her chest and she breathed in deeply as the first sob overtook her.

"Please let me rebuild what she's torn down in here."

Fluttershy felt tears roll silently down her cheeks.

"Please let me be your family."

She buried her face in his feathery chest. "You are," she whispered.

He held her as she sobbed. His feathers were a mess, and wet with tears but he didn't care anymore.

"I'm sorry," said Fluttershy. "I really didn't mean to say you weren't family. That isn't what I meant at all. I was just speaking about being related."

"It's okay, Shy. Look, I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to scare you so bad. I just wanted to give that miserable old coot a taste of her own medicine. Have her rely on YOU for a change."

She smiled into his feathers. "It may have actually worked."

He grinned.

"But Discord..."

"Yeah?"

"Ask me next time."

"Will there be a next time?"

She smiled up at him. "Hopefully not."

He ran his paw gently through the strands of her mane, then lifted her up in his arms.

"I can't believe I didn't guess you were the fox," she said, shaking her head.

"Fluttershy, surely part of the reason you mated with me was because you thought I was a fox."

"Very funny."

He nuzzled her cheek and carried her upstairs.