The sun heated up over Sweet Apple Acres. While the Pegasi promised to create enough cloudy weather to provide shade for Ponyville, a request was put in to make sure no clouds interrupted the growing process of the farm. While this was a perfect thing for the Apples, it was hell for Butterscotch. Not only did he have to endure this heat, but he’d also have to carry a cart full of apples. Compared to his colleague, Big Macintosh, Butterscotch was a twig. His first day on the job and he’s being put through the wringer.
Butterscotch took a moment to rest up. His boss at least had the decency to give him a nice cold drink of bottled apple juice. He took it out and drank a few sips. He put the cap back on and placed it back into his saddlebag. He was going to continue his work, though something stopped him. He remembered a song he heard last night and he began to hum it. He closed his eyes and smiled, remembering the pony who sang it to him.
“Alright, sugarcube, that’s the fifth time that’s happened to you. What is it?” Butterscotch leaped up as Applejack called to him.
“H-huh?” Butterscotch asked Applejack.
“You’ve been dazing out for quite a bit today. You sure you’re okay?” Applejack asked.
“Y-yes! I’m fine!” Butterscotch’s legs trembled. His first day on the job and already he’s going to buck up. Applejack simply put her hoof on his side.
“Relax. I’m not upset. Just… worried.” She frowned a bit. “Something’s definitely on your mind. I know that for sure.”
“…” Butterscotch simply kicked one of his hoofs slightly to the side as he wondered what to say.
“It’s alright, sugarcube. Just say whatever’s in your head.” Applejack said. Butterscotch looked around and sighed.
“Alright… But only if you promise not to tell Fluttershy.” Butterscotch said. Applejack took a moment to consider, complete with a hoof on her chin, though she nodded.
“Alright, I promise.” She said.
“… It happened last night… After I got the job here.”
Butterscotch opened the door to his new home. The smell of the animals mixed with the vegetation still made him retch, but at least he was learning to put up with it until he could find his own place to move in. Besides, the utter joy he had overpowered any odor in the air.
“Fluttershy? I did it! I got the job!” He smiled. He never saw his sister fly a lot in his life, so his legs jostled a bit when he saw a yellow Pegasus incoming at mach 5.
“Butterscotch! I’m so proud of you!” Fluttershy snagged Butterscotch and took him high into the air, her forearms just almost crushing him. It took Butterscotch choking to get her to let go. “O-oh! I’m sorry!” She gently let him down.
“N… No, it’s okay…” Butterscotch also never felt Fluttershy’s soft fur in a long while. He resisted the urge to give her a hug just to feel it again.
“This is amazing! You’re finally growing up!” The way Fluttershy smiled just made Butterscotch’s heart melt. He began to cry.
“T-thank you… I owe it all to you.” He said. Fluttershy simply picked him up.
“Aaaaw… thank you…” Fluttershy carried him over to the couch. He was going to ask why she was carrying him, but he saw the sun was already on its way down. It was obvious that she was going to have him sleep.
“You’re welcome…” Butterscotch continued to cry. “But… I’m sorry if I’m not going to move out anytime soon...”
“Don’t worry! It takes time to find a new place. Feel free to stay here for the time being.” She said.
“You sure? I… I don’t want to burden you.” He said.
“You’re not.” Fluttershy put a blanket over him, though he just couldn’t stop crying. “You’re making a huge step with this. I couldn’t be any prouder of you.” She looked at the clock. While Butterscotch’s crying seemed to slow, it didn’t stop. She simply put a wing over him and whispered out a song:
“Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to go to bed…” Butterscotch remembered the song quite well. Back when he was a baby, Fluttershy would always sing this to him, and it would always have him sleep. This same effect applied to him now. The last thing he saw was Fluttershy smiling and saying: “Goodnight, little Butter…” She said.
“… So your sister sang you a lullaby. I don’t see what the problem is.” Applejack scratched her head with her hoof.
“It’s just… she has a very beautiful voice. Her hair’s so nice and silky... and her fur’s like a cozy blanket…” Butterscotch’s legs dropped down and he fell onto the ground. Applejack helped him up and could see his blush. From there, she put two and two together.
“Oh. Oh! Ooooooooooh! … Ooooh…” Applejack’s eyes widened before they narrowed. Butterscotch hid himself behind his wings as he nodded.
“Y-yes…” He said. He closed his eyes, ready for Applejack to yell at him.
“Sugarcube, having feelings for a sibling is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it can help you find out a lot about yourself. My little sister idolizes me and she turned out really well.” Applejack said.
“No, you don’t understand. I don’t idolize her. I love her.” Butterscotch said.
“No, no, I understand. The thing is knowing that your sister might not have the same feelings. She’s your sister after all.” Applejack said.
“Why else did I ask you not to tell her?” Butterscotch said.
“I know, I know… Here, just think about what you love about Fluttershy and see how you could improve to fit her life. Trust me, it helped Apple Bloom develop her character.” Applejack said.
“Erm… Okay.” He said. Applejack patted him on the back.
“Why don’t you take the rest of the day off? You did a good amount of work as it is.” She said.
“Erm… Thanks. I will.” With that, Butterscotch left the farm.
“Fluttershy, I’m home!” Butterscotch entered the house. He didn’t mind the smell as much. He looked around for her, only to find her sleeping on the couch. His heart almost stopped as he saw her beautiful body resting perfectly on the green polyester. He moved forward to her subconsciously. She was wrapped in a blanket, though it had been partially slipped off. Butterscotch pulled it over her. When he was finished, he noticed just how close he was to her smooth cheek.
He took a moment, then inhaled.
“Just one.” He muttered. He leaned in to kiss her, only for Fluttershy’s eyes to open. He stopped and pulled away before her eyes could focus on him.
“Butterscotch? Oh… Welcome home.” She slurred.
“H-hey…” Butterscotch said.
“How was your day?” Fluttershy stretched out before she sprung up, wings trembling. “You didn’t get fired already, did you?”
“No! Applejack just excused me for the day. It was a scorcher out there.” He said. Fluttershy exhaled.
“Oh thank Celestia.” Fluttershy said. She headed off to the kitchen as Butterscotch ran ahead of her.
“Oh, hey, Fluttershy, you wouldn’t mind if I cooked for you tonight, right?” Butterscotch asked.
“Oh! Why… That’d be amazing.” Fluttershy said. He entered the kitchen and opened the cupboard to see what he could make. As he noticed the wheat, he spoke out to Fluttershy.
“Hey, you still like mom’s wheat soup?” He asked.
“Of course I do!” She said.
“I saw her make it for me dozens of times, so I think I can get the recipe patted down.” As he was about to pull out the wheat, he heard a knock at the door. “Oh! I’ll get that!” He rushed to the door and opened it.
Standing at the door was a gray Pegasus with long blonde hair. What threw off Butterscotch though was her golden eyes. One eye stared up into the sky while the other was pointing down to the ground.
“Are you Mr. Butterscotch?” Butterscotch’s first guess of her voice was far from the typical girly voice. In fact, he found it kind of cute.
“Yes.” He said. The mare pulled out a letter and gave it to him.
“Your monthly benefit cheque. Sorry it was late, the mailmare over at Cloudsdale didn’t get the memo that you moved here. Don’t worry, I’m sure by next month, your cheques will come here instead.” She said. Butterscotch took it as she smiled. “Well, I’ll see you around.” She was about to fly off when Fluttershy came to her.
“Oh, Derpy, is there anything for me from Manehatten?” Fluttershy asked.
“Nope. I’ll check tomorrow and see if there’s any. Well, you two have a good day now!” With that, Derpy took off. Butterscotch raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, that was Derpy Hooves. She’s the mailmare for Ponyville. She’s actually a really nice pony once you get to know her. She’s actually in the same benefit system as you.” Fluttershy said.
“Hm…” Butterscotch opened up the letter. In it was a cheque for a thousand bits. He took it over and gave it to Fluttershy. “Here, take it. I’m gonna try not to be dependent on it.”
“Oh, Butterscotch, thanks, but…” She gave him back the cheque. “This is simply way too much for me. I don’t even pay that much for rent.” She sheepishly giggled. Butterscotch frowned.
“No… This is just reminding me of the freeloader I once was. I wanna try making money without having anyone help me.” He said.
“Don’t fret. Everypony needs help. That’s why this system was made: to financially aid those who need more help.” She said, though it didn’t bring a smile to his face. “If it makes you feel better,” she pulled out a form on the back of the cheque. “you can fill this out. Depending on how much you make at Sweet Apple Acres, they take half of that away from the amount. That way, you can feel like you’re growing more independent.” She said. Now that brought a smile to his face. A brief smile, but a smile regardless.
“Thanks.” He said. As he went back to the kitchen, Fluttershy spoke up.
“Oh yeah, Pinkie Pie’s throwing you a welcome party.” Fluttershy said.
“Huh?” Butterscotch asked.
“She does that to every new pony who moved into Ponyville. Makes them feel welcome.” She said.
“Hm… Alright then. I guess I can go.” He said.
“Great!” Fluttershy said. With that, Butterscotch went to make Fluttershy the wheat soup. He made sure to make it just as his mom made it for him. Just as she remembered it. He calculated the right amount of wheat with the right amount of water and even cooked it roughly the same amount, if not for less time. When he was finished, he poured a hot bowl and took it to Fluttershy, who was resting on the couch.
“Here you go.” Butterscotch said. He handed it to her with a spoon. Using one of her wings, Fluttershy took a spoonful and ate it. “W-well?”
“It’s…” Fluttershy swished the wheat in her mouth before swallowing it. “It’s great!” She said. Butterscotch shook his head.
“No. You’re just saying that.” He sighed.
“I’m serious! Try it!” Fluttershy fed him a spoonful. Admittedly, it was the finest soup he’s made… Well, it was the first time he made wheat soup. But hey, not bad for a first time. He smiled, though only because it reminded him of when his mother used to spoon feed him.
“mmmm.” He said.
“Thank you.” She said.
“N-no problem!” Butterscotch blushed while Fluttershy had to hide her giggling behind her hoof. Though it made Butterscotch blush even harder. If he could, he could just shout out to the top of his lungs that he loved her. But no… He couldn’t.
“Why don’t you pour yourself a bowl?” Fluttershy asked. Butterscotch quickly went to the kitchen and did just that, as he went to her, he nearly spilt a bit onto the carpet.
“Ah! I’m sorry! I’m so dumb…” He said.
“No, you’re not. Just look where you’re going and slow down a bit, okay? This place’s a lot more cramped than where you lived.” Fluttershy said.
“I’ll try… Thank you.” He said. Nice, kind, motherly… He thought about the qualities that he loved about Fluttershy. The last one made him wince, though. As for helping her out, he already thought of it. “Fluttershy, if you’d like, I could help feed the chickens tonight.” Butterscotch said.
“Well, that would be appreciated.” She said. He knew how to improve her life. He would help her, just as she helped him. It was the least he could do after she helped him face his fears of failing.
“Alright then. I’ll head off to feed them.” He said.
“Take care, Butterscotch.” She said.
“I will.” He had to say it. Just once. He sighed and exhaled. “I love you.” He said.
“Aaaaaw, how sweet. I love you too!” Despite the pleasant phrase, Butterscotch hid a frown. He knew that she didn’t mean it in that way and there could be no way she could ever say it in that way.
He left the cottage and headed to the chicken roost. He paused for a moment before letting out a muffled cry as tears fell onto the ground. A chicken came out of the roost if only to peck at the ground where the tears fell.
As far as he knows, his love for Fluttershy was one-sided.
