It was springtime in Equestria. The sun was shining, butterflies and bees hovered around flowers, and bird's songs filled the air. Everything was beautiful. Except one very small detail. A very small detail.
Fluttershy was strolling through the woods behind her house, venturing deeper than normal. Something about the jovial atmosphere gave her a boost of courage. Not that she needed it.
Fluttershy was very brave.
"What is this place, filled with so many wonders, Mmm-hmm-mm-hm" Fluttershy sang to herself. Singing was nice, she felt safe when singing. It was safe where you could sing, right?
Right.
The yellow and pink pegasus was just about to head home, when a small noise caught her attention. She perked up her ears, swiveling them to and fro to find the source.
*Sniffle*
She jumped in surprise, leaping into a hover. Just to be safe. She was brave after all. No reason not to be cautious too.
Fluttershy listened hard, searching, searching. It sounded like...
*Sniff sniff*
Somepony crying.
Fluttershy landed, looking around. "H-hello?" She called. No answer. She frowned. Was she imagining it? No, there it was again, coming from a nearby bush! Creeping slowly, The pegasus crept up to it. She could hear the crying very clearly now. "Are you okay?"
The sounds abruptly stopped, whoever it was, they didn't want to be found. Maybe I should leave them alone. She wondered, suddenly feeling guilty for intruding. The mare started to move away.
"H-help."
Fluttershy instantly froze. Their in trouble! Mustering up her courage, she quickly returned. Using a hoof, Fluttershy parted the bush. What she saw, made her veins turn to ice.
~~~
There on the ground, laid the smallest pony Fluttershy had ever seen.
She decided that the pony was definitely a mare, albeit a tiny one. She was lying beneath a tree trunk, unconscious and bleeding. Fluttershy put a hoof to her mouth in shock. She leaned in closer to examine the pony. I-is she dead? Fluttershy wondered, her instinct of kindness kicking in.
Very, very gently, she nudged the micro mare. She was soft, and still warm. Despite her prodding, the creature didn't stir. Fearing the worst, Fluttershy gingerly picked her off the ground, and placed an ear to her chest.
In her many years of tending to animals, Fluttershy had gained an extensive knowledge about heartbeats. Big ones, small ones, even double ones. Choosing the closest comparison, the yellow pegasus listened for a rapid bumbumbumbum of a mouses heart. It was there, though faint. Even for a mouse beat. A relieved smile crept across her lips. The pony wasn't dead at least. But just by looking, Fluttershy could tell the pony had some serious injuries. A twisted wing, possibly a concussion, and a leg bent in a stomach turning angle.
In short, the tiny pony was broken.
And Fluttershy was just the pony to fix her.
"Excuse me," Fluttershy said, making her way through all her animals. She was balancing the tiny pony on her back, carefully nestled between her wings.
She strode into the kitchen, and laid the creature down. Only then did she really examine her.
The micro-mare was an odd off pink color, with a dark red mane with a lighter red highlight.
She was wearing a scarf that matched her colors perfectly, as well as shoes with a gold crystal in the middle.
How strange. She thought.
Setting the pony's appearance aside, Fluttershy pulled out her first aid kit. She took out a Popsicle stick, and broke it into four pieces. Then she gingerly took her mangled leg, and began setting the broken bones.
The pegasus grimaced when she heard the clicking of several fractures, but she knew it was necessary. She took the pieces of wood and set them in a make shift splint. Fluttershy repeated the process for her wing.
Then the tiny pegasus awoke. She was weak- barely strong enough to open her eyes. Two brilliant blue irises focused on Fluttershy.
"Hi, I'm Fluttershy." She said, smiling. The pony said nothing, instead closing her eyes again, and fell back asleep.
Over the next few days, Fluttershy took very good care of the pony that she took to calling Mini. Making her small bowls of soup, tending to her wounds and the like. She had began to think Mini was mute, as she never said a word. Until she did.
"My name isn't Mini." The micro-mare said quite suddenly. Fluttershy jumped. "Y-you can talk!" She cried.
"My name is Heart Stroke." The pegasus said plainly. She seemed to hesitate, then rolled over on her little bed. Soft snoring soon filled the room.
"Hear Stroke." Fluttershy whispered. "What a nice name."