Fluttershy awoke to the frantic buzzing of her alarm clock, the digital display breaking through the early morning darkness. 06:30am, November 18th.
Since her magical awakening at Camp Everfree a year and a half ago, Fluttershy had made the bold decision to step up her efforts for animal conservation. She had given countless hours of her life to the local animal rescue, and the exotic pet shop at the Canterlot Mall. Thanks to her advice on improving welfare conditions, more animals found loving homes than at any other time in the pet shop’s history.
Outside of school, every waking moment was dedicated to the aid animals in one form or another. From providing food to helping with vet checks, she did it all. It exhausted her physically, but to see so many creatures thrive because of her care? The incredible warmth in her heart made it all worth it – doubly true now she could talk with them, not just at them.
Fluttershy checked the time again. 06:35am. Three and a half hours before the grand opening of the Greater Canterlot Tropical Bird Sanctuary. Turning the dimmer switch, Fluttershy illuminated her bedroom just enough to see where she was going. When she rolled out of bed, she took a moment to admire the Sanctuary concept art pinned to her door.
Even in partial darkness, the vivid colours stood out among the drab textures of the wooden furnishings. Bright emerald greens and sunburst yellows exploded from the detailed depictions of plant life. Dozens of bird species matched the flora with equal diversity.
She sacrificed so much to raise funds for this endeavour. Now, in the first quarter of her senior year, the transformation of a derelict warehouse into a new home for rare and endangered birds was complete.
It couldn’t have been done without her friends. Each one had contributed something, be it personal research or pressing the local council for money. But out of everyone, she had to thank Tree Hugger the most. She was the incredible artist who skilfully crafted such a magnificent rendering of the Sanctuary. Her masterpiece tipped the authorities to greenlight their plan.
Fluttershy sighed. She wished she had such amazing creativity – a sentiment she’d expressed many a time to Tree Hugger. And each time, the answer was the same.
Don’t burn yourself down over what others can do, Fluttershy repeated in her head. Just, like, let your chakras flow, directing your aura to what you do best, y’know?
She smiled. In truth, Fluttershy rarely understood half of Tree Hugger’s hippy buzzword, though it didn’t matter. It was just one of her quirks, expressing her care in a manner unique to her. This was usually enough to break the cycle of self-deprecation – for some time, at least.
Stretching her limbs, a brief glimmer in the corner of her eye caught her attention. With a yelp of surprise, Fluttershy leapt back, nearly falling over her own bed in the process. She reached for her bedside light, her heart aflutter. Turning the dial up a little more, the increased light revealed her pet bunny, Angel, snoozing on a blanket next to her full-length mirror.
Fluttershy huffed and tip-toed over to the mirror. She didn't want to disturb the bunny, after all. Though she would have to investigate how Angel kept escaping from his hut.
Grabbing the mirror on each side, she slowly turned it around to face the wall. The mere thought of looking at her reflection made her cringe. It was an old habit of hers to keep it covered when not in use – a habit she intended to keep.
With Angel still sound asleep, Fluttershy tucked him in and headed for a quick shower. Locking the door behind her, she turned the hot water tap all the way up. I hope the room steams up quickly today,she thought to herself. With a small gulp, she pulled off her nightie.
“Yo, Fluttershy, my aura bestie. You won’t believe this, but I’ve got, like, a totally rad surprise to give you today! Get your groovy self over here so I can show ya.”
That was the text Fluttershy received shorty after getting dressed. She wondered what in the world there was left to be surprised about. She had already spent the past week with Twilight categorising every bird in the sanctuary, including the two-day old chicks!
Wrapping herself in a thick, brown, winter coat, along with a matching hat, scarf and gloves, Fluttershy stepped out into the frigid morning air. It would be some hours yet before sunrise, but she wasn’t complaining. She was used to getting up early to prepare the animal shelter. Double checking the illumination fittings on her bike—and her pockets to ensure she wasn’t forgetting anything important—she hopped on and rode off down the frosty street.
After a short, fifteen-minute journey to the outskirts of Canterlot, the sanctuary came into view. Standing three stories tall, the old, red brickwork had been renovated to look like an Aztec Pyramid, along with the wooden entrance covered with a thatched roof design. Every inch of the exterior was covered in a diverse array of carvings that represented creatures from Aztec Mythology.
If Fluttershy didn’t know better, she would’ve sworn the building was demolished and a new one built in its place! Pumping hard at the pedals, Fluttershy crested a small hill, a familiar sight coming into view.
It was Tree Hugger, waving at her with a wide, relaxed grin. “Hey, Fluttershy, over here!”
Applying the breaks, Fluttershy skidded to a stop. She was surprised to see how lightly dressed Tree Hugger was, given the cold weather. Aside from her usual orange bandanna holding her dreadlocks up, her outfit consisted of an ankle-length, sleeveless sarong and open-toed sandals. Then again, it was a suitable outfit for the sanctuary itself, given the humidity. She probably left her outdoor coat inside.
Or maybe she was yet another magical princess from beyond the mirror, where Sunset Shimmer came from. Given all the magical shenanigans happening in recent years, it could’ve been anything. Besides, when it came to Tree Hugger, the cold never bothered her anyway.
Leaning her bike on the wall, Fluttershy threw her arms around her friend. “It’s good to see you again,” she said.
“Good to see you, too, Fluttershy,” Tree Hugger replied, speaking in her usual laid-back drawl. “It’s like, extra groovy that I get to show you this spiritual hang. I’ve been waiting inside since last night, and it, like, totally gets my mojo flowing, y’know?”
Fluttershy nodded. “I’ve been dreaming about this for so long!”
She locked up her bike and gestured to the wooden double doors. “Will you do the honours?”
“Of course,” Tree Hugger replied. Despite her relaxed posture, Fluttershy could tell from the pitch of her voice that she was just as excited as she herself was.
Pulling a key from her lanyard, Tree Hugger twisted the lock, and with a loud click, pushed the doors open.
Fluttershy’s eyes went wide. It was even more incredible than she had imagined.
Smooth stone paths wound their way through towering tropical trees, vivid flowers and the crystal-clear waterfalls, giving the artificial rivers their gentle flow. But the icing on the cake was, of course, the birds themselves.
Right away Fluttershy spotted at least three different endangered species. The first to make itself known as a great Rhinoceros Hornbill; its mat black plumage contrasted by the huge yellow bill and magnificent curved crest. Flying past, a pair of Javan Green Magpies tweeted their merry song.
Fluttershy had chosen to dress herself in a fashion resembling their plumage: a light-green, knee-length dress to compliment her yellow skin complexion, light-red stockings and a pair of bright pink loafers.
Even more beautiful were the white-feathered Bali Starlings, nesting on a branch below the Hornbill. And this wasn’t even counting the variety of tweets and whistles from those she couldn't see.
“It’s outstanding!” Fluttershy exclaimed. It would be easy to just sit for hours and watch everything fly by. However, there would be plenty of time for admiration later. For now, she had a job to do. She had to ensure everything in the Sanctuary was safe; both the birds and the public.
“Okay,” she said, turning to face Tree Hugger. “What should we check fir-”
Fluttershy’s question ended abruptly, caught off guard by the sight of Tree Hugger casually undressing. “Tree Hugger, what are you doing?!” she yelled, sending several startled birds flying off.
“Huh?” Tree Hugger replied, looking puzzled as she folded up her dress. A coat wasn’t the only thing she’d neglected to wear today. “Oooh,” she said, realizing what Fluttershy was asking. “Sorry about that, Shy. I forgot to mention. While it’s just us, the sanctuary is clothing optional.”
“I suppose…” Fluttershy’s face turned beat red, looking down at her feet to avoid eye contact. She knew Tree Hugger was a nudist. Heck, she ran art classes at Canterot High, with herself as the life model. But somewhere public, in front of Fluttershy? That was a first.
“You don’t have to stay dressed either, y’know?” Tree Hugger continued, her reassuring tone doing little to ease Fluttershy’s embarresment. “Let your body be free and bare your soul like the birds do for us!”
“No!” Fluttershy exclaimed reflexively, startling yet another set of birds. Being naked in front of people was a nightmare to her. Composing herself, she cleared her throat and looked back to Tree Hugger. “I mean, I’ll just remove my winter stuff, for now.”
“Not a problem, buddy,” Tree Hugger said, patting her on the back. “Just leave ‘em in the basket next to my clothes. You can always get naked later, if you feel like it.”
“I… thank you…” Fluttershy said with some hesitance. Unzipping her coat was nerve-wracking enough. How Tree Hugger thought she’d ever consider this was beyond her. Still, Tree Hugger was one of her oldest friends. They both knew there was no pressure to leave their comfort zone.
“Anyway…” Fluttershy continued, eager to change the subject. “What should we check first?”
“Why don’t we see how the Birds of Paradise are hanging? They’re on the top floor, so we can work our way down.”
“Perfect!” Fluttershy clapped her hands together, doing her best to contain her excitement. She’d rather not scare any more birds today. “It’ll give us a beautiful view of the sanctuary, too.”
“Groovy! Let’s hop to it.”
Following the spiralling path through the forest, Fluttershy’s eyes darted every which way, making a mental catalogue of each species in relation to the landmarks. Yet her eyes never laid on the biodiversity for long. Every couple of glances, her focus returned to Tree Hugger.
She thought she’d be used to seeing Tree Hugger butt naked by now. But this time? It was different. Well, every time was different. But this was different in a way she couldn’t put into words. It wasn’t just that she was nude.
Despite her earlier surprise, she had seen Tree Hugger in the buff before. Not that she’d admit it to anyone, but to a small extent, she enjoyed her life drawing classes. At least, she did when Tree Hugger was involved. Were it to be Rainbow Dash posing nude, it would be a very different story.
Fluttershy wondered why Dash never took the opportunity when offered. She was without a doubt the showiest of her friends. Why wouldn’t she want to have her body examined for the peak of physical perfection she believed it was?
Then again, everyone had their secrets. Including herself.
Fluttershy’s ambition to become a Veterinarian, however, was no secret at all. In a way, studying the anatomy of humans helped her in that regard. All vertebrates had a similar set of bones, after all. That was the point of life drawing. To examine the human form, break it down into its constituent shapes, and consider how the bone structure differed in other animals.
Tree Hugger always told her that you could draw the same person a thousand times, and each time get a unique perspective. A true statement, especially now. Fluttershy could see it in the way her friend walked; unencumbered by the flowing dresses and loose gym clothes she wore in her day-to-day life. Each step followed a grand sweep of her legs, arms swaying gently by her side. It was something impossible to catch through still poses.
For the briefest of seconds, Fluttershy wondered what her body would be like to study… then quickly squashed the idea. She wasn’t a model. Her parts didn’t fit. Better to remain concealed and be a guidance to others. Now one would ever judge her for that.
“Hey, ‘Shy?”
Fluttershy’s train of thought derailed just short of walking into a tree. “Huh?” she looked back with a vacant expression.
“You okay there, pal?” Tree Hugger asked, her smile dropping just enough to display concern. “You’re lookin’ kinda spaced out.”
“Oh, sorry,” Fluttershy let out an awkward chuckle. “I guess I was. So much beauty to get lost in, right?”
“Of course!” Tree Hugger proclaimed, her breasts bouncing a little as she threw out her arms. “This is like, a little slice of nature’s lay-lines right here in the chakra-empty city, y’know?”
Fluttershy nodded absently. “Absolutely.”
“I gotta tell ya, it feels amazing to get out of my duds and just, like, feel the comforting caress of nature on my skin. Clothes are such a prison, when you think about it. Hiding under layers of fabric? It prevents the expressing of the real magic that is you.”
“I… guess?” Fluttershy didn’t see that. At all. But, again, it was just Tree Hugger being herself. Nothing to be taken too seriously.
“Yeah! I’m as free as the birds; true colours on show.”
“As nice as that is, um…” Fluttershy’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Maybe we should get to the birds now? We can’t keep them waiting.”
“Of course, my dude. Keeping us on the righteous path. Just up here.”
A rope curtain served as the gateway to the north-east section of the sanctuary. In absence of natural lights, bright UV lamps were fitted to the ceiling, softly illuminating the room in a manner akin to the birds’ tropical home.
Situated behind the bushes, strings of sliced fruit were draped across low-hanging branches, allowing the birds to browse at their leisure. Examining each one, Fluttershy undid the knots of those which had been sufficiently eaten.
“So, where do we keep the fresh food?” Fluttershy asked.
“The kitchen’s just over here,” Tree Hugger replied, gesturing to the far end of the room. At first, Fluttershy couldn’t see it. But upon closer inspection, she noticed a clean break in the wall pattern, with the words ‘STAFF ONLY, KEEP OUT’ written across it.
“It’s like, so magical how the painters camouflaged the door, isn’t it?” Tree Hugger added, pulling it open to reveal another rope barrier to keep the birds out.
“I know, right?” Fluttershy replied, handing the string of fruits over. “Can you throw these away? I’ll ask the birds what they want for breakfast.”
“Of course, Fluttershy. But, um…” Tree Hugger paused for a moment, rubbing her chin as she considered her next choice of words. “Do you mean, like, literally talk in tweets? Or, is it just a deep connection to nature’s majesty?”
“Oh, sorry. I guess I never told you,” Fluttershy answered with an awkward chuckle. “Back at Camp Everfree? I got powers from Equestrian magic. Now I can talk to my animal friends like I would to you.”
“Righteous!” Tree Hugger said, her eyes lighting up with wonder. “You’ve totally been blessed by the mother spirit.”
Fluttershy blushed. “I guess that makes two of us.”
It was an odd feeling, being complimented for her magic instead of being ridiculed. Although it was more the concept of ridicule that kept Fluttershy’s mouth shut on the matter.
Despite the existence of magic around Canterlot Hight being demonstrable—not to mention how Sunset Shimmer had turned into a raging she-demon that one time—it was still ambiguous enough for most to maintain a level of willing ignorance. Tree Hugger’s reaction wasn’t surprising, but it gave Fluttershy a sense of levity regardless.
Closing her eyes for a moment, she focused on listening to the array of chattering tweets. It didn’t take long for the scattered vocalisations to turn into recognisable speech. From there, it was easy for Fluttershy to isolate those expressing their hunger.
“Um, excuse me, Paradisians?” she asked, using the scientific name for this bird family. “My name is Fluttershy. Would any of you like breakfast?” That last word got the Paradise Birds’ attention. Several flew down from the trees, landing on Fluttershy’s shoulder.
A Greater Bird squawked up, proudly displaying the grand mixture of yellow, orange and red spread across its body.
“You want pomegranates? Those are particularly tasty.”
The call of a Riflebird came next, flashing its blue chest feathers to get Fluttershy’s attention.
“Of course, we have plenty of peaches. You’ll have them in no time.”
Not to be outdone, a Ribbon-Tailed Astrapia flicked its elongated tail feathers to-and-fro, appearing particularly adamant about its choice.
“Yes, yes, I know. Grapes are fantastic. Just make sure every bird gets their share.”
Jotting down a few other common requests, a consensus was soon reached. Now the only thing left to do was submit the menu’s orders. “Tree Hugger!” Fluttershy called. “A healthy mixture of Pomegranates, Peaches and Grapes, please.”
“Comin’ right up!” Tree Hugger called back.
The birds leapt up from Fluttershy’s shoulder the second they caught a whiff of fruit. As she took her half of the food to distribute, one of the Riflebirds caught her eye.
These were the most extroverted of birds, their unabashed pride expressed through elaborate wing dances. Yet this one showed none of that spirit. Instead, it tucked itself away among the lowest bushes, out of sight from any others.
It was obvious to Fluttershy something was wrong. “Excuse me?” she asked softly, kneeling before the Riflebird. “Is everything okay?”
The bird turned its back on Fluttershy, hiding its face behind its wings.
“Don’t worry, little birdie. I’m not going to hurt you. If you tell me what’s wrong, maybe I can help?”
The Riflebird peaked out from behind its wing, slowly turning to face Fluttershy and letting out a slow, dark tweet – the equivalent to a small sigh, if it were human.
“What’s so hopeless?” Fluttershy asked.
The Riflebird’s explanation came in the form of tweets and wing gestures, gradually increasing in both intensity and pitch.
“Aw, poor birdie,” Fluttershy commented, trying not to sound condescending. “What makes you think you’re ugly? To me, you’re just as beautiful as any other bird.”
The riflebird’s tweets wound down, drooping its wings across the floor.
Fluttershy took a moment to ponder the conundrum. She knew there was nothing more important to a riflebird than dancing. They were an icon of the Rainforest, representatives of countless gorgeous species in need of protection.
“Maybe you could try some new dances?” Fluttershy suggested. “I know how creative you can be. My friends always encourage me to keep trying and believe in myself. If you can do that, I just know you’ll find a beautiful mate in no time!”
The riflebird raised its head. The bright glimmer in its eyes expressed hope on a level words could not adequately describe. Fanning its wings left and right, the riflebird’s movements settled into a distinctive rhythm; jumping up on the spot and flashing its colours at every angle.
“That looks amazing!” Fluttershy praised with light applause. “Keep it up!”
Giving her thanks with a small flap of its wings, the Riflebird flew off. The effects of its new-found confidence showed immediately. With its fresh dance moves, it swayed among the undergrowth; catching the eye of the brown-feathered female next to it.
Fluttershy let out a contented sigh. This must be how the Pony Fluttershy feels, she thought to herself. She looked back over to Tree Hugger. She had finished hanging the fruit, and was now sitting cross-legged underneath a tree, eyes closed, with fingers curved into the shape of an ‘O’.
She had seen that smile before. It was a soft, gentle smile. With parted lips, all the day’s worries would float out between slow breaths. With the steady rise and fall of her friend’s chest, she found her eyes drifting to her breasts.
They were neither particularly big nor especially small. Their shape unremarkable, yet distinctively hers. They were just one aspect of Tree Hugger’s natural, mature body curve. In letting her mind and body free from their constraints—literally in the case of her clothing—she became one with her surroundings.
Maybe she was a magical princess after all; an elemental spirit taking on human form.
“Wow,” Fluttershy said softly, lost in the curves of Tree Hugger’s hips. “I wish I had her body confidence…”
“There’s always time to learn self-love.”
Snapping back to reality, Fluttershy threw her hands over her mouth, hoping Tree Hugger hadn’t heard. Alas, she was already shuffling over to sit with her.
“Clothes are, like, nice to look at. But they’ll always limit your inner mojo from flowing free. You’re welcome to ditch them at any time. Let your body be enveloped in nature’s energy!”
Fluttershy smiled awkwardly. “Well, I…” to her surprise, the words of objection didn’t spill out as quick as they had before. I suppose I could…
She clenched her fists, pulling her knees up to her chest. No, that was a bad idea. That would mean telling Tree Hugger something about her that nobody understood. The fact that she just didn’t fit people’s expectations, physically? It was too much.
On the other hand, perhaps she could compromise a little. Looking back up at Tree Hugger, she forced a smile. “I… I’d prefer just to take off my shoes and leggings. For now, if that’s okay with you...”
“Of course, my compadre!” Tree Hugger replied, seemingly oblivious to Fluttershy’s anxious expressions. “I’m like, totally stoked that you wanna challenge yourself.”
“I-I guess so?” Fluttershy gulped. Even this minor act of undressing—something she’d often do at home—made her heart race. Slipping two fingers behind her heel, she pushed off her left shoe, then the right.
Two items of clothing down, one to go.
“Um, could you look away for this next bit?” Fluttershy asked.
“Not a problem, pal.”
Fluttershy arched an eyebrow. “Wait, you’re not objecting?”
“Nah, it’s cool,” Tree Hugger said, turning her back. “Whatever helps you relax, y’know?”
Closing her eyes tight, she reached underneath her dress, held her fingers over her waist, then pulled off her leggings in one, swift motion.
Opening her eyes again, Fluttershy noticed how heavy her breathing was. Yet again, memories of recent events dissuaded her. She couldn’t risk it.
“You can look now,” she said, folding her leggings over and placing them on her shoes.
“Righteous progress, Fluttershy. How do you feel now?”
Fluttershy had to think about that question. Maybe I should tell her, she thought, unable to hide her blush. Maybe she’d understand…
“It’s-” she paused, careful not to blurt out something she’d regret later. “Nice, I guess?”
“I’m glad,” Tree Hugger said, still smiling.
Fluttershy cleared her throat, eager to move on from the topic. “So, what should we do next?”
“Now that I think about it, we have some last-minute cleaning to do for the parrots. You down for that?”
“That sounds fine to me. “
Leaving her shoes and leggings in the back, Fluttershy said a quick goodbye to the Paradise Birds before heading on her way. The sensation of being barefoot wasn’t new to Fluttershy; she did so on every beach or scuba diving trip. It was just the location that was new. The smooth stone floor was cold to the touch, in stark contrast with the surrounding humidity.
In some ways, she was thankful for this sensation. Despite her worries about random sharp objects laying around—something Tree Hugger correctly re-assured would not be an issue—freeing her toes from the sweaty confines of her thick stockings was refreshing.
Then again, she never hated her feet. She could take care of her toes, even being a little artsy with her nails on occasional feminine days. That much was expected of her. Her chest, by contrast, was quite another matter.
She did not feel feminine today. At all.
Maybe one day, if the stars aligned, she’d find somewhere isolated to be naked with Tree Hugger. Just not today.
Speaking of whom, Fluttershy noticed something had changed. Her friend’s smile, normally so playful, had partially faded. She wasn’t forcing it, but something was still amiss.
Looking around, Fluttershy began to get a sense of what was wrong.
The mid-level aviary was quiet. Too quiet.
So far, there had non-stop tweets and chatters. But now? Silence. In addition, Fluttershy only spotted a handful of birds taking to the air. The majority remained static, hiding away. From what?
Fluttershy and Tree Hugger shared a brief glance. Wordlessly, they agreed to get to the bottom of this. Diverting from their intended path, Fluttershy’s mind raced with speculative threats. Had someone broken in? Were these birds inappropriately mixed? Or, worse still, did something escape?
Though most of the sanctuary was free-flying, there was one enclosure that harkened back to zoos of old; the Cassowary forest. Breaking into a run, it didn’t take long to confirm Fluttershy’s fears. The sight that greeted her was far worse than she had anticipated.
Fluttershy stared in horror at the scene before her; two layers of electrified fencing, torn clean through. A chill shot down her spine. Of all the birds that could’ve escaped, it had to be the most dangerous of the lot.
For all intents and purposes, she had a Dinosaur to catch. She didn’t want to imagine being on the receiving end of those five-inch claws.
Tree Hugger knelt to examine the fence, gently placing her hand on it. “Nothing,” she said. “Not even a tingle. The electric’s been knocked out somehow.”
Fluttershy looked at her, eyes wide. This was the first time in years she’d heard her speak without hippie-slang.
“How did this happen?” she asked. “Aren’t the electric fences always on?”
“I dunno, dude. I checked ‘em before your arrival. Everything was working like a charm.”
Just as Tree Hugger finished speaking, a soft, whistling sound caught Fluttershy’s attention. Sitting amongst the branches of a tropical tree, a young Javan Magpie peered out over the pair.
“Oh my gosh,” Fluttershy exclaimed, doing her best to remain calm. “You poor thing. Are you okay?”
The Magpie dropped to a lower branch, tweeting a little louder this time.
“You saw the Cassowary escape?”
The Magpie nodded.
“Can you tell me what happened?”
The Magpie shook its head.
“Please!” Fluttershy begged. “There’s a big, scary Cassowary on the loose, and if I don’t find it soon, it could hurt somebody, or itself. Anything you know, please, just tell me!”
“Fluttershy, chill.” Tree Hugger placed her hand on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “You’re like, bumming yourself out with all this bad mojo. Tone it down a skosh and let the bird know you’re a kindred spirit.”
Fluttershy clenched her fits. She hadn’t even begun the search, and already she was shaking with fear. Closing her eyes, she took a moment to compose herself. She inhaled the humid air and pulled her arm up, then released it when she exhaled.
Once she felt sufficiently calm, Fluttershy knelt at the base of the tree, gesturing to the magpie with an open palm.
The little bird fluttered down gently onto Fluttershy’s, hopping up her arm and on to her shoulder. Looking left and right, it leaned over to tweet in Fluttershy’s ear.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips. It all made sense now. How did she not see it before?
“Dude, what’s the scoop?” Tree Hugger asked.
“I caused it…” Fluttershy said, hardly believing her own words. “When I yelled at you before? It startled lots of birds. This little Magpie flew through a gap in the enclosure and, in her panic, snapped the wire which kept the fence live.”
“Woah,” Tree Hugger said, awestruck. “This isn’t your fault, Fluttershy. I thought all the wires were properly fixed up. It was a disaster waiting to happen.”
Fluttershy opened her mouth to retort, but no words escaped. The truth as she believed it just hung silently in the air, in stark contrast to the typhoon of thoughts raging through her mind. Oh my, it’s all my fault. I scared the poor birdie. A-and, I should’ve known about the opening. Oh, and I pushed the council to accept all these species. S-so m-many guests will be arriving t-t-today. Oh my, if anyone finds out, I’ll have to close the sanctuary – possibly for good! Where will the poor things go? I won’t be able to save them. The rare birds c-could go extinct because of me! I can’t let that happen! I can’t-
Fluttershy wrapped her arms tight around her chest. Her clothes were soaked with sweat. They clung to her body in all the wrong ways, making her ever more aware of the breasts she so desperately took measures to hide. Even the binder she wore underneath her dress did little to relieve the deep-seeded hatred she had of her body.
Oh, why was I born with these!? her dysphoria screamed. They’re just disgusting! I-I hate them! Get them off me! Go away! Go…
“Fluttershy.”
A familiar wispy voice broke her trance. It took several seconds for Fluttershy to remember where she was. How long had she been curled up on the ground? She couldn’t remember. Did she black out?
Tree Hugger held her in a tight embrace, gently rubbing her shoulders. “Deep breaths, my friend. Let my voice sooth your heavy soul.”
Never mind her own breaths, the steady rise and fall of Tree Hugger’s chest was plenty soothing. “I-I’m… s-sorry…” were the only words Fluttershy could force out, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Nothing to be sorry for.” Tree Hugger’s voice was a lullaby to her. “You’re, like, totally bumming yourself out, dude. Let’s just hang loose and recharge our chakras. We can find our missing bird when you feel chill again.”
Fluttershy didn’t know which made her blush harder: her voice, or the fact she was petting her head like a cat.
“T-thank you,” she replied, hoping Tree Hugger wouldn’t notice her redness. “I’m okay now.”
“Groovy,” Tree Hugger said, releasing her. “You have energy to talk Cassowary?”
“I think so,” Fluttershy replied, dusting off her dress as she tentatively rose to her feet. Looking back to the Magpie—still perched on her shoulder—she cleared her throat. “I’m sorry for scaring you. I promise I’ll fix this, but I need your help.”
The Magpie nodded, giving a small salute.
“Did you see which way the Cassowary went?”
The Magpie paused, rubbing its chin as if in deep thought. When the memory clicked, it tweeted into Fluttershy’s ear.
“Oh my! Are you certain?”
The Magpie nodded vigorously.
“The Cassowary ran the way we came,” Fluttershy said to Tree Hugger. “We may have passed it!”
“Can the Magpie show us the way?” Tree Hugger asked. “Maybe other birds saw it, too.”
“Little Magpie, can you show us where the Cassowary went?”
Hovering above her shoulder, the Magpie let out an enthusiastic string of tweets.
Flutershy had to remind herself that the forest’s density was necessary. The captive animal closures needed to be as naturalistic as possible. But now, when searching for a solitary bird – even one as big as a Cassowary – proved to be a challenge.
Even with her panic attack gone, her heart was still racing a mile a minute. The deafening silence strung her nerves so tight, the slightest rustle of the leaves had her halting in her tracks. One free-flyer or not, the risk was too great to ignore. The presence of Tree Hugger as backup, though, allowed her to relax a little.
Now that Fluttershy thought about it, the decision to go barefoot did have one benefit. Without her shoes to clack against the hard, stone floor, the Cassowary was unlikely to be spooked. Letting out a quiet sigh, her thoughts turned to her friends. I sure wish Applejack was here. She’d help me wrangle the Cassowary in no time. Tree Hugger could also help to calm it first…
She wasn’t sure why her thoughts kept looping back to Tree Hugger. She was an important person in her life, no doubt about that. She had a kindness of spirit to rival her own. Not to mention a similar passion for animal welfare – heck, for nature in general. Of course, there was also her gentle smile, her soothing voice, the broad curve of her hips – not to mention the roundness of her-
“Uh, you sure you’re okay Fluttershy? You’re still lookin’ kinda wiped.”
Only now did Fluttershy realize how much she’d been daydreaming. Even though she was supposed to be keeping track of the Magpie, her face had, yet again, turned bright red due to her distant admiration of Tree Hugger’s body. How many times had this happened now?
“Oh, w-well, I-” she scrambled for words. Even if her heart desired affection, Fluttershy knew this wasn’t the time to discuss it. “I-I’m just feeling hot, that’s all.”
“Please be careful, Fluttershy,” Tree Hugger said with a growing concern in her voice. “Maybe it’s time to free yourself from your textile prison? Ditch your threads and let go of the negative mojo you’re keepin’ trapped inside.”
The emphasis on each buzzword told Fluttershy just how serious Tree Hugger was. Well, maybe for her… The next drop of sweat removed any further consideration for that topic. She was far from ready to confess the reality of her gender, even to someone as close as Tree Hugger.
“No, no! I-I’ll be fine, really. Let’s just, um, ease up the pace a little?” Fluttershy had never felt so flustered before in her life. She hoped that, given the situation, Tree Hugger wouldn’t get any more adamant about it.
Instead, it was Tree Hugger’s turn to let out let out a small sigh. “As long as you’re not too drained. Tell me if you need down time to chill, ya dig?”
I’ll rest when the Cassowary is back in its enclosure, Fluttershy thought. As harsh as it sounded, they had little time. This didn’t stop her heart sinking at Tree Hugger’s expression. She’d stopped smiling – she knew Fluttershy’s was more troubled than she showed. Words desperate to escape her lips but locked down under the threat of interpersonal upheaval.
“I will, I promise,” Fluttershy replied after a moment’s deliberation – though this wasn’t enough. She needed to say more. Something to put her friend’s mind and ease, reflecting whatever grain of truth there was to her promise. Even if she didn’t represent the Element of Honesty like Applejack, it was a quality she still held dear.
“Actually, I’m not feeling so great,” she confessed. “It hurts so much knowing I’m partially responsible for the scape. I don’t know if the Cassowary’s hurt itself or other birds. That scares me, Tree Hugger. I can’t live with myself until I do something to help!”
“I understand,” Tree Hugger said, the weight in her voice dissipating. Fluttershy’s brief display of passion had reignited her smile, for now. “Your kindness knows no bounds, Fluttershy. That’s something I’ll always admire about you. But don’t forget to look after yourself as well, okay? Plenty of good karma will come your way, if you let it. Can’t help animals if you over-work yourself.”
Fluttershy took Tree Hugger’s hand and smiled back. Every moment with Tree Hugger felt like paradise. She was cut from the same cloth as Fluttershy, sharing near identical values on everything from nature to friendship. Oh, how she wished she could express her full feelings right now.
And yet, she could not. She had a job to do. As if on cue, the Magpie’s rapid tweeting directed her attention to the rope-gate, separating the tunnel which lead to the ground floor.
“Did it go through here?” Fluttershy asked.
The Magpie nodded vigorously.
“Could you follow it any further?”
The Magpie shook its head, its posture tense.
“I understand. Thank you for helping. When we get back, I promise to treat you to the juiciest bugs you’ve ever tasted!”
That offer got the Magpie jumping for joy, a sight which gave Fluttershy a much-needed giggle. Parting the ropes, she ventured down the path with Tree Hugger in tow, spotting the first signs of the Cassowary’s activity upon reaching the bottom.
Several patches of tropical flowers had been trampled, leaving a series of three-toed footprints heading into the undergrowth. “Well, now we know where the Dinosaur’s going,” Fluttershy said with a nervous chuckle. “And that’s the easy part...”
“No worries,” Tree Hugger said, patting Fluttershy on the shoulder. “We got this.”
Fluttershy nodded, giving a weak smile of in return. Thankfully, the damage wasn’t extensive. The flowers would regrow.
Following the winding footprint trail through the trees, Fluttershy felt a shiver run down her spine. The Cassowary was close, she could feel it.
And then, for a split second, a bright red crest flashed in the corner of her eye. Fluttershy snapped around to get a clear look, but the moment that she did, it was gone. “Did you see that?” she blurted.
“Yeah,” Tree Hugger replied just as quick. “But only for, like, a heartbeat.”
Fluttershy clenched her fist tight in frustration. To know difficulty in concept was worlds apart from experiencing it first-hand. Even so, when it came to animal care, no challenge was too great.
Pursing her lips, Fluttershy whistled softly. At her gentle command, a pair of Java Sparrows landed into her open palms. “Excuse me, Sparrows, but did you see where the Cassowary went?”
The Sparrows looked at each other, as if hesitating.
“Please, we’re trying to catch it! You won’t get hurt, I promise.”
“Yeah, it’s all cool,” Tree Hugger added. “We’re, like, at your service. All birds will feel righteous once the Cassowary finds its positive centre.”
Fluttershy had no idea how much Sparrows understood, but their high-pitch tweets suggested it worked. Just like the Magpie, the Sparrows leaped to Fluttershy’s shoulder to deliver their info.
“They got you covered?” Tree Hugger asked with great anticipation.
“It went off to the left, towards the river. If we hurry, we’ll catch it in the open.”
“Right behind you, pal!”
Slipping between the low-hanging branches proved difficult. Ducking and twisting, Fluttershy did her best to make haste without her dress entangling. She couldn’t check back on Tree Hugger. She only saw her keeping up through sparring glances, but by all accounts, she was fine.
She couldn’t tell for sure, but Tree Hugger’s skin looked free from even the smallest scratches. Somehow, each minor flex of her body had her effortlessly sliding past the bristly branches. So subtle were her movements—unencumbered by the weight of clothing—Fluttershy could’ve sworn the plants themselves shifted to give way.
A level of grace that Fluttershy knew she could never achieve. Not with a chest like hers.
Parting the broad leaves of a conifer tree, Fluttershy revealed the full majesty of the ratite she and Tree Hugger had been chasing. Dense, hair-like black feathers covered the bulk of its body. This served as a course divide between the loose blue skin and striking red crest of its head, and the scaly, light-brown skin of its feet. It was a magnificent beast, to say nothing of the dagger-like talons on each foot, earning its recognition among Dinosaur ancestry.
For the moment, it appeared sedated, plucking off the low-hanging fruit with its beak. This was Fluttershy’s chance.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped over a bush to confront it. “Um, excuse me, Miss Casssowa- EEP!”
A split-second later, Fluttershy found herself face down in the dirt. Startled, the Cassowary let out a loud squawk, bolting away once more.
“Woah, Fluttershy! Are you hurt?” Tree Hugger called out, helping Fluttershy to her feet.
“Ow…” Fluttershy groaned, rubbing her head as she tried to process what happened. “I’m okay. Just a little sore.”
Looking up and down her body for any injuries, the cause of the accident became obvious to Tree Hugger. The skirt of her dress had caught on the bush, tearing slightly at the seam.
“I’m glad Rarity’s not here,” she quipped, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice. “She’d be calling this a fashion disaster!”
“Oh, yeah, she totally would,” Tree Hugger chuckled in response. Fluttershy couldn’t tell if she was ignorant of her insincerity or playing along to keep her motivated. Likely, it was a mix of both.
As if by routine, a Rhinoceros Hornbill landed beside the half-eaten fruit pile. By the curve of its crest, Fluttershy recognized the bird that had greeted her upon arrival.
She didn’t even need say anything this time. By now, the knowledge of Fluttershy and Tree Hugger’s quest had made its rounds throughout the sanctuary’s birds. Without looking up from its meal, the Hornbill stuck out its wing in the Cassowary’s direction.
“It’s still heading for the river,” Fluttershy said, lunging past the Hornbill. “We can still catch it, hurry!”
“Hey, wait up!” Tree Hugger called, making haste. Fluttershy was never the most athletic person, but that changed today. Swerving past every obstacle, the pair broke through the undergrowth, coming to a sudden stop at the shallow river’s bank – not ten feet from the Cassowary itself.
The bird was feeling around in the water with its talons, occasionally piercing the surface with its beak. Snapping its head up at the sound of rustling bushes, the Cassowary stared dead ahead as Fluttershy and Tree Hugger emerged.
“Wait!” Fluttershy called between huffs and wheezes. “Please, we’re not going to hurt you!”
The Cassowary narrowed its eyes and lowered its head, locking its gaze with Fluttershy. One wrong move, and it would be all over.
“Please, just listen a second,” she pleaded, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I know it’s my fault for scaring you. I could talk all day about how I didn’t want to, but… I know it did. I understand if you don’t trust me, but I want to help. We’ll fix your enclosure, make it better – so you can live in peace.”
The Cassowary held its position, as if taking its time in judging Fluttershy’s intent. After several tense seconds, the ratite arose, pacing slowly towards the girls – and it was not looking happy.
“I-I’m sorry,” Fluttershy continued, cheeks stained with tears. “I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you. I just want you to be safe – for every bird to be safe. Just… I… tell me what I can do. I’ll make it all better, I will. Do you want fruits? A bigger enclosure? You’ll get your privacy, just… talk to me! Please-”
The firm squeeze of Tree Hugger’s hand quietened Fluttershy’s ramble. In that moment, time slowed down. Their eyes met, sharing a wordless comfort that quelled the panic.
“Thank you,” Fluttershy said. Hands abound, she and Tree Hugger reached out to the Cassowary as it drew closer.
Raising to its full height, it looked down upon the duo, assessing them carefully. Fluttershy kept her posture resolute, her hand open in a display of peace.
Several tense seconds passed, neither side moving a muscle – locked in a battle of wits to convey their intent.
Eventually, after what felt like an age, the ratite relented. Bowing its head, it allowed itself to be stroked by the girls’ palms. Breaking the silence, the Cassowary let out a series of modest squawks.
“I dunno what it’s saying,” Tree Hugger said. “But I, like, feel a huge change in its aura just now. Such positive vibes!”
“I feel it, too,” Fluttershy added, beaming with a renewed smile. “She just wants to explore in peace. She doesn’t want to hurt anyone.”
“But, like, why did it escape?” Tree Hugger asked. “What got it so unglued?”
The Cassowary raised its head, looking at Tree Hugger as it squawked.
“She’s a rescue bird,” Fluttershy translated. “Oh my! She says when the electric cable snapped, she thought poachers were coming. The poor thing didn’t know it was an accident.”
“Woah, that’s heavy.” Tree Hugger added, looking at the Cassowary sympathetically. “That’s like, the opposite of what we’re doing!”
Fluttershy pulled out her mobile phone, checking its clock. Eight AM. “We don’t have enough time,” she said with a dejected sigh. “I’ll have to call the organisers. We can’t open with the Cassowary enclosure still broken.”
“Let me handle that,” Tree Hugger offered, placing her hand on her phone. “You’ve been through loads of heavy stuff today. Take the Cassowary and lay back for a while. We’ll have the whole day to fix up her pad.”
Fluttershy nodded, handing her phone to Tree Hugger. How sweet could this girl be? She was her ultimate grounding force; not unlike Twilight’s support dog, Spike. But there was more than that. So much more. And now, with the Cassowary was safe and sound, Fluttershy figured it was time to repay all that kindness.
“Um, okay,” she said, fully aware that she was blushing again. “Just let me know how the call goes, okay? And, um, one more thing…”
“Yeah? What’s up, Flutters?” Tree Hugger asked, tilting her head.
“I… I’ll tell you when you’re done, okay? It’s something important.”
Tree Hugger nodded. “No problem, pal. I’ll be there in a jiffy.”
With that out of the way, Fluttershy swiftly turned her attention back to the Cassowary. “Let’s get you back to your enclosure, shall we?”
Fluttershy thanked her lucky stars that Sunset wasn’t here. One touch from her and all her awkward feelings would be revealed in an instant. Not that she expected any of her friends to gossip, she knew them far better than that. But if she was going to admit the truth, about both her love and her gender to Tree Hugger, she’d rather give it directly.
Now that everything was under control, the Sanctuary was once more reborn with the sound of bird calls. The vibrant array of feathered friends rekindled the sense of wonder she’d nearly lost amidst all her worries. Each tweet and squawk made her heart swell with pride. Maybe the delay wasn’t such a bad thing? After all, it meant she had much more free time; not just to spend with all the amazing birds, but also with the most important person in the world to her.
If she accepted…
Despite receiving so much kindness and affection, there was still that nagging voice of anxiety in the back of her mind, insisting she’d be rejected. How easy would it be to give in and run away, as she’d done so many times before?
Not today. Not this time.
There was only one way to know for sure. She had to trust Tree Hugger with the truth. It would require stepping far outside her normal comfort zone, but if it meant taking a page out of Applejack’s book and stop hiding the truth? She would do it.
Soon enough, Fluttershy was back at the enclosure. “Now that we’re here, would you like a late breakfast, Miss Cassowary?”
The Cassowary squawked in reply.
“Of course! There are plenty of blueberries in the back.”
Carefully stepping over the broken fencing, Fluttershy headed for the kitchen. Just as with Paradise Birds’ kitchen, the fruit stocks were exceptionally well organised; making the mixing and matching various nutrients a walk in the park.
Ticking off the day’s feed on the wall-mounted record board, Fluttershy grabbed a rubber bowl and filled it with blueberries, carefully weighing out the exact amount noted on the plans. It may have been a day for treats, but that wasn’t going to stop Fluttershy from watching every bird’s weight.
“Fluttershy! You around, dude?”
Well, this was it. Time for Fluttershy to bare her soul, and everything else, to her crush. Now her heart was truly racing. She had fought against a magical she-demon, sung against Sirens and freed a malevolent spirit from a camp ground. Yet none of that compared to the stress she felt just thinking about her naked body.
Taking a deep breath, Fluttershy knew there was only way to get used to it. Any hesitation would only make the anxiety worse.
Here goes nothing…
Grabbing the hem of her dress, Fluttershy pulled it over her head in one swift motion, followed closely by her binder. Pulling down her panties, she kicked them into the pile of her discarded clothes, grabbed the fruit bowl and walked out of the kitchen.
“Fluttershy? Everything cool in there?” Tree Hugger called again.
“Y-yes, I’m fine!” Fluttershy called back, scattering the blueberries as she walked. “Just feeding the Cassowary.”
With the blueberries delivered, Fluttershy dropped the bowl and crept through the enclosure. She felt every drop of sweat roll down her skin, its caress cooling areas of her body that were normally hidden from the world.
This is crazy, she thought to herself. But I’ve got to do this. I’ve got to try. Tree Hugger needs to know the real me.
And speak of the devil, Tree Hugger arrived. There she was, standing in front of the broken fence in all her naked glory. From her relaxed posture—wide stance, one hand on her hip with the other by her side, holding the phone—she was worlds apart from Fluttershy. Not like her, knees rattling as she shook.
“Fluttershy? You sure you’re okay?”
Wiping the sweat from her brow, Fluttershy stepped out of hiding.
“Oh, there you are. I was almost getting wor- woah!”
“Um, hi,” Fluttershy said with a small wave, blushing harder than ever.
“Fluttershy. You’re…”
Here it comes… she thought, shutting her eyes tight.
“Beautiful!”
Fluttershy cracked one eye open. Tree Hugger’s face had lit up like a Hearth’s Warming tree. And, was that a tear rolling down her cheek?
“I…” Fluttershy began, forcing the words stubbornly sticking in her throat. “I need to, um, confess something, Tree Hugger. To you, I mean.”
“Huh?” Tree Hugger blinked, giving her a confused look. “Alright, lay it on me.”
“I’m not a girl. Not all the time.”
There was a moment’s silence between the two.
“I don’t get it,” Tree Hugger said. “You mean you’re, like, transgender?”
“Not exactly…” Fluttershy replied. Her chest felt tight: the first sign of the panic attack she was fighting so hard to suppress. “I’m gender fluid. It means my gender can change from day-to-day. Some days I feel like a girl, but others? I don’t feel like either.”
“So, you wanna be gender neutral sometimes?”
“Yeah. Also, I, um, get a lot gender dysphoria for my breasts. I wear a binder to keep them as flat as possible.”
“So, is that why your breasts look much smaller when you’re dressed?”
Fluttershy cringed. So, she had noticed all along. “Uh-huh. I hate how they feel. They’re so heavy, dragging me down. To me, they’re a disgusting eyesore. I just want to get rid of them! But…”
“But?” Tree Hugger prompted. There was more to Flutershy than just dysphoria.
“I’m scared about what my friends will think,” she continued, her posture growing tense. “I’ve tried asking for advice online, but all I got for it were insults. They called me such horrible things! They made me feel like a freak, delusional, a faggot, a trannie.”
Tree Hugger cringed at each spoken slur, as if they were a dagger to the heart. Yet words could only express so much of how dehumanized Fluttershy felt.
“Holy cow!” she exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief. “That’s, like, an ultra-bummer! How much of a bogart could one be?!”
“I know,” Fluttershy replied, yet again on the verge of tears. “It hurts so much. And it makes me scared. Scared that my friends will reject me. A degenerate tranny who never deserved friendship. Or love…”
“Don’t ever talk about yourself like that!” Tree Hugger yelled, throwing her arms around Fluttershy and squeezing her tight. “You’re the Element of Kindness, Fluttershy! You’re, like, the grooviest, most caring person I’ve ever known. You inspire me; both to better myself and better the world. That’s why I started life modelling. To show that everybody is beautiful when you look at it right.
“I’m no scuzz bucket. I don’t care what gender you are. You’re still the same, big-hearted Fluttershy you’ve always been. So, if being gender fluid means you stay groovy, then I’m stoked, too.”
“Oh, Tree Hugger!” Fluttershy squeezed her crush in equal measure, crying as she buried her face in her shoulder. “I love you. I didn’t want to admit it because I’m scared of losing you.”
“I’m never gonna ditch ya,” Tree Hugger whispered into Fluttershy’s ear, gently rubbing her back as they lowered into their passionate embrace. “I love you too, Fluttershy. If you want me, I’ll be here.”
Lifting her head up, Fluttershy gazed longingly into Tree Hugger’s eyes. And so, face still wet with tears, she learned in and gave her a long, deep kiss.
******
As the sun rose over the frigid streets of Canterlot, two lovers lay underneath the trees of the soon-to-be-opened Greater Canterlot Tropical Bird Sanctuary. The two held each other in a tight embrace, hearts bared as much as their bodies as they chatted about whatever came to mind.
“Hey, Fluttershy?” Tree Hugger asked.
“Yeah?”
“Do you want to change pronouns now that you’re out?”
“Oh, um, no, that’s okay,” Fluttershy answered, giving her lover a small peck on the cheek. “I’m fine with ‘she’. It’s easier that way.”
“What about calling you ‘dude’? Are you down with that?”
Fluttershy peered up at the finches flying overhead, pondering the question. “Only in private. Um, if that’s okay, of course.”
“Consider it done, my dude,” Tree Hugger said with a soft giggle, snuggling closer. “I’m glad you’re so chill about ditchin’ your threads. You’re finally free from your demons, letting your aura flow as it was always meant to.”
“Well, um, I don’t know about that last part,” Fluttershy replied. “I still feel dysphoric sometimes. Just not so much. Not around you.”
Tree Hugger nodded, shuffling back into an upright position and stretching her arms. “You wanna start workin’ on the maintenance checks now?”
“Not yet,” Fluttershy said, pulling herself up as well. “It feels so good, cuddling with you. I don’t want it to end.”
“I know,” Tree Hugger replied, draping her arm over Fluttershy’s shoulder. “We’ve got the whole day to ourselves. And hey, no saying we can’t swing by another morning for naked cuddles, right?”
“I’d say that’s a groovy idea!” Fluttershy agreed with a wink.
“Hey! You’re startin’ to sound like me already,” Tree Hugger chuckled, leaning over to nuzzle her. “That’s like, totally righteous of you.”
“I learn from the best.” Pulling Tree Hugger down on top of her, Fluttershy closed her eyes; taking in the full sensation of her girlfriend’s skin against hers. “I love you, Tree Hugger.”
“I love you too, Fluttershy.”
With a small kiss, the girls yawned, drifting off into a peaceful sleep. No matter what the rest of the day brought, Fluttershy could rest easy. She’d made a dream come true: finding new sanctuary in Tree Hugger’s arms.
Author's Note
Thank you for reading! This fic was inspired by a visit to Chester Zoo; in particular the "Islands in Danger" section. Walking around the Monsoon Forest building, everything just screamed "Fluttershy" to me. And who better to accompany her than Tree Hugger? This is a case where several independent themes just came together naturally.
Want to learn more about the tropical birds featured in this fanfic? Follow the link to Chester Zoo's website, and consider getting involved with their "Songs for the Songbirds" campaign, helping to save some of the world's rarest bird species from extinction: https://bit.ly/2NeCU5A
Want to support me and my work? Consider donating to my Ko-Fi page. That would be, like, totally groovy, man :P. https://ko-fi.com/mysticmindanalysis
