Loafing Around

Nailah

The only chapter

The sun shone down onto Ponyville, and it's warmth enveloped the town in a calm stillness.
Fluttershy hues focused on the warm air that flowed through her cottage, whisking up the scent of it. “It's a lovely day out isn't it, Angel?” her gaze shifted to Angel Bunny, who sat on his haunches, arms crossed, his nose twitched, tapping his foot.
Fluttershy glanced at Angel Bunny, a soft genuine look of concern. “Is something the matter Angel?”
Angel scrunched up his nose, twitching. Angel bunny crossed his arms over his chest, and tilted his head to the side, facing away from Fluttershy.

“Oh dear...I'm sure whatever is wrong, we can talk about it. You know I'm always willing to listen.” replied Fluttershy, she kept her voice calm.
Fluttershy lifted the basket of bread into her mouth, and patted Angel on the head with her forehoof. She knew that sometimes she just had to give him space. She was sure he'd come around eventually. Besides, it had been quite awhile since she had visited the local pond. It wasn't too far from her cottage home, but it was still a bit of a walk to get there on hoof.

Fluttershy couldn't help but cast her gaze to the beauty above her, seeing the birds flying about, soothed her. She closed her eyes for a second or so, before opening them once more. She could hear the water, and carefully sat on her haunches, sitting the basket beside her. She always loved simply coming out here by herself and just enjoying the beauty of nature, it captivated her. She hummed a small melody to herself, her eyes darting from side to side for a split second, to be sure no pony was around.

“Oh how the birds are humming, the trees they sway to and fro, with such gentleness. Oh, how I love to be out here, on my own where nothing can go wrong.” she hummed a small little melody, and that was when she noticed a small group of admirers crowding at the base of the pond. She smiled softly, as she took a piece of bread, starting by breaking it into smaller pieces, after all she didn't want the poor ducks to end up choking on a piece of bread. She gently tossed the pieces of bread into the water, smiling ever so gently, as she watched the ducks chase after it, some going as far as to come out of the pond, and walk up right next to her. She was careful not to give any of them too much at a time. She continued slowly, a little bit a time, throwing more pieces of bread into the lake.
She simply enjoyed the calm still water, watching as it flowed gently around in a circle. Watching a few of the little ducks learn how to swim, a few even starting to fly. A gentle smile formed across her muzzle. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

“It sure is nice not to have to worry for once. All I have to do is remain calm. There's no need to worry over such little things. I really should be more daring like Rainbow. Oh I don't know how she does the stuff she does. She's simply amazing.” a soft frown cast upon her face as she stared into the lake at her own reflection.
She stared down at her reflection, sighing heavily. She often wished she could be braver, able to tackle any problem she might come across, but she always got so nervous, over such simple things really. She knew she had come a long way, but she still felt like she had a long way to go.

A few of the baby ducks waddled up beside her, letting out light quacks, and one of them was daring enough to lightly peck at her tail, in order to get her attention.

Fluttershy let out a yelp of surprise, and blinked curiously towards the baby ducks. They continued to quack at her, their eyes wide with interest. She looked over to her basket, realizing she still had some bread left. Not much though. She carefully picked up a piece of bread, breaking it down into tiny pieces for ducklings, and sprinkled the small bits into the grass just in front of her. A gentle smile formed on her lips, she closed her eyes for a brief second, letting the light breeze flow through her mane. She opened her eyes, glancing down to where the baby ducks were, only to find they had already dashed back to the lake. She carefully stood up, her basket now empty. Simply, admiring the view of the lake. She couldn't help but shift her forehoof against the dirt, sighing a bit.

“I wish I had strength like Applejack, or courage like Rainbow Dash, or even Rarity's creativity. I mean look at me....really look at me. What makes me so special?” she asked her reflection, almost as if she expected it to talk back to her. She still remembered a long time ago, staring into her reflection and seeing a monster, but now, she simply saw a reflection of herself. Just Fluttershy...suddenly, she felt something pushing her into the lake, it was Angel Bunny.

“Angel? What are you doing here?” she asked politely, all the while realizing her hooves were sinking into the water. Angel bunny just brushed up a bit of dirt kicking it around, not seeming to answer her.
Fluttershy furrowed her brows a bit, she knew Angel could have a temper at times, but she never seen him quite this upset before. She shifted her way out of the pond, shaking off her hooves. Angel Bunny hopped up and down, frantically pointing towards Ponyville.

Fluttershy turned her head in the direction of the town, and couldn't believe her eyes.

“Oh dear....” replied Fluttershy, swallowing a gulp of breath, a drop of sweat beating down her face. She really wished this wasn't real, she felt her hooves shaking between her, watching the bug bear attack the town. She could already see Rainbow Dash flying in the air, spiraling down towards it. Maybe they wouldn't even need her....besides what could she possibly do?

Angel Bunny kicked at her back hooves, trying to push her off of her rump into a standing position. He seemed to be screaming at her, jumping up and down, ears going up and down, and shaking his paw towards her.
Fluttershy froze for just a split second, but then she saw the bugbear swat Rainbow and send her flying. That was the last straw, she took off into the air, flying straight towards the odd looking creature.

“How dare you just barge in to my home and hurt my best friend!” she spoke.

The bug bear roared loudly at her, sending her flying backwards in a circle, but that didn't make her give up. No, now she was angry. She came flying back at it, and slammed her back hoof against it. The bug bear seemed to pause, and reached it's paw and wrapped it around her body.

“Let go of me.” she spoke flailing, but then Rainbow Dash came back in, seeing her friend in danger, and trying to hit and whail on it wherever and however she could.
Fluttershy could tell that attacking it was making it angry. “Stop it Dash. Just stop.”

“But....” Rainbow Dash pouted a bit, and hovered in the air, near Fluttershy. “Who knows what this thing will do to you, if I don't stop it.”

“You don't have to worry, Rainbow. Listen, can we talk about this? I'm sure whatever the problem is, I could help you. After all, I just hate seeing an animal in need. Won't you tell me what's wrong?”

The bug bear just stared at Fluttershy. No one had ever talked to him in such a kind mannerism before. He couldn't help but look at this pony, and take his other paw and gently petted her mane. He tried talking to her, telling her about his problems, and why he always felt so alone.

“Oh my. I'll be your friend. You don't have to be alone anymore.” she spoke, by patting his fur, and nuzzling against him a bit. “Just, if you could stop attacking my home, I'd really appreciate that.”
The bug bear hovered to the ground, and gently let go of the mare, sitting down calmly on his rump. He gave a name that only Fluttershy would be able to know. “My name is Boo.” he spoke softly, hating how scary he might seem, and how much he wanted someone to just try to understand that there was so much more to him.

Fluttershy couldn't help but see herself in this creature, even if his problems were a bit different, she understood his dilemma, and would do the best she could to help him. After all, she wasn't the element of kindness for nothing. A big wide smile slowly began to form across her lips, wanting to introduce her new friend to her other friends, even getting Rainbow Dash to apologize for trying to hurt him, muttering under her breath. Fluttershy chuckled softly. Maybe, just maybe there was more to her than even she could see. She didn't feel sad anymore. She knew she could always count on her friends to help her, but sometimes you had to realize certain things yourself, and know in the end of the day, you were worth believing in. Worth fighting for.