A Small Favour

by maxaroni

Rating: everyone
Tags: Discord, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Zecora, Romance, Anon, Second Person, Fluttershy
Length: 1997

You, Anon, are going on a date with the friendly Fluttershy. But just before you go out, you realise nobody can take care of the animals! What will you do now?

You, Anon, are going on a date with the friendly Fluttershy. But just before you go out, Applebloom knocks on the door with a letter saying AJ can't come and take care of the cute critters. You go around all Equestria trying to find somepony to help out...but what happens when you can't find anyone?

Published 2020-05-14 21:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-05-14 21:50:01 UTC

Chapter 1

It wasn’t often you got to see her in this state. The yellow mare you loved, peacefully sleeping. In fact, it was more common to see her cowering under the bed in fear of the night. It was only when you came around that she began to feel more comfortable. Her friends had noticed the change— Twilight was so happy that she had more energy to help around the castle, and Discord was pleased that she could host more tea parties. Running a few fingers through her pastel mane, you noticed the morning sun reflecting off of it. Despite her animals, she had an awful habit of sleeping in. To wake her up, you normally run the kettle and the noise alone would wake her. Today was no different.

“Hmmnn..Anon?” Her soft voice quietly echoed down the stairs as you heard her rise out of bed. Fluttershy groggily stepped out of the bedroom and looked down the stairs, heavy eyed. “Is it morning already? Oh!” Suddenly, a wave of energy shot through her. “We have a date today!” That much was true. You and her had scheduled a date, and Applejack would take care of the animals.

“Right as always, love,” You calmly responded. “Peppermint or ginseng?” You preferred peppermint, with that awful sweet tooth you’d gained from Pinkie, but it was good to give her control. Fluttershy smiled kindly.

Fluttershy smiled sweetly. “Ginseng, please.”
“Lovely.”
“Did you sleep well?”
“I always sleep well with you,” You said. It was true, Fluttershy brought out the best in you.
“You are too nice, Anon,” She smiled back, once again melting your heart.

Handing her the teacup, you patiently waited for it to cool down. “When is AJ supposed to be coming over?” You asked.

“In a couple minutes, actually,” She replied. A knock came from the old wooden door.

“I’ll get it!” You replied. Swiftly turning the knob, a face that wasn’t AJ was waiting for you. Instead, a bashful filly with a bow was instead.

“Applebloom?” She wasted no time getting to the point.

“Mah sister wanted to give ya this letter here, you see?” Applebloom whipped out an envelope, as Fluttershy trodded over to see. Carefully opening it, she read:

“Dear Fluttershy,
I’m real sorry I can’t come today. I’m a little bit overscheduled, helping Dash and Pinkie set up Gummy’s birthday bash. I hope you can find someone else to help around as you and Anon do whatever ponies and humans do!
Love, Applejack.”

Fluttershy finished reading it and looked up at you with wide eyes. “Oh dear. Y-you can go now, Applebloom. Me and Anon need to talk.”
Applebloom happily obliged, as you set down the envelope and letter.
“Oh, no, what are we going to do?!” Fluttershy hid behind her hair, silently panicking. It was up to you to come up with a plan, and save the day.

“How about we go around and see if Dr. Flora’s free?”

To that Fluttershy nodded, and as she glided, you jogged to keep up with her.

Chapter 2

“Doctor?? Doctor?!” You heavily pounded on her door, calling out loudly. Fluttershy squeaked at the noise, which made you soften your tone. The door unlocked quietly as Flora greeted you.

“Hello, hello! How’s my favourite customer?” She said, peeking past you to see Fluttershy.

Fluttershy swiftly responded. “Oh, I’m actually in a little bit of a pickle, you see...Applejack said she was going to take care of the animals, but ended up having to cancel. We were wondering if, um, if you’re not too busy of course, watch them as we go out?”

Flora worriedly looked back at all her patient animals. “Oh dear, I’m just too busy!” Fluttershy looked down and sighed.

“It’s alright,” you smile gently.

“We’ll just go see Derpy and ask!” You quickly closed the door and patted your special somepony on the back. “Come on, there’s no time to lose!”

Walking through the streets of Ponyville, you don’t get as many stares as you used to. In fact, you remember that’s how you met your fillyfriend…

“What is that?” A blue mare pointed and whispered to her yellow friend. You were awkwardly walking around, searching for a place to stay. Ponies were pointing at you and cowering from all directions. You had never seen things like them before, only heard tales. You would have never even dreamed that they’d be real.

Your train of thought was interrupted by a sudden tug to the ground, as a pink filly with a tiara on her butt pushed you over. “Monsters aren’t welcome in Ponyville,” She sneered. But before you could say a word, that’s when she swept in.
“You apologise right now, Diamond Tiara!” The buttercup-coloured pegasus demanded in a soft yet at the same time, firm, voice. She turned to you, round eyed, and offered to help you up. “I’m Fluttershy. What’s your name?”

“Umm, Anon?” The same voice stopped your memory as you arrived at Derpy’s house. You knocked once again, this time softer than on Flora’s door. A very dishevelled Derpy opened the door, panting.

“Guh, hello!” A rambunctious child hopped on her back as she was knocked over. “Agh! Ditzy—“

“Well, I see you’re busy, sorry to bother you!” Fluttershy quickly closed the door. “Hehehehe…” She giggled. You giggled back, until you were both in fits of laughter. But, the laughs were interrupted by a very familiar face.

“What’s all the laughter about?” He asked.

“Discord!” Fluttershy beamed, and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. You just stood there, unsure of what to do. “Why are you here?”

“Well, I heard all that laughter and thought ‘oh, I MUST be involved in this fun!’ and now I’m here. Is that your boyfriend?”

Ignoring him, Fluttershy went on. “Could you do us a small favour?”

“Are you finally suggesting there’s room for 3?”
You were about to correct him, when Fluttershy closed your mouth with a hoof.

“Actually, could you look after the animals for us as me and Anon go out?”

“Oh, my schedule is CHAOS! But, I do know a pony who could…”

Chapter 4

On the train ride back to Ponyville, Fluttershy was talking about the time her voice got changed and Zecora fixed it for her. “You know, I sounded a little bit like you then!”

“That’s hard to imagine, you with a deep and manly voice.” You grinned, thinking about it.

She snuggled up to you, sitting on your lap and nuzzling your face. You hugged her tight, and her wings shot up, ticking your ears. “You are so beautiful.” The words just came out of your mouth, like a cannon firing. She didn’t freak out like she used too, though. Fluttershy just looked up into your eyes, and you gazed down into her deep teal irises and dilated, sparkling pupils. The two of you sealed the moment with a sweet kiss, they called for all Ponyville passengers to get off.

Chapter 5

“I’ve never been more glad to be home!” You smiled, taking in the zesty spring air. Fluttershy eagerly nodded in agreement.

“Absolutely. But now, we have to go ask Zecora. In the…” Her eyes widened in fright as she looked over.
“Th-th-the Everfree forest!”

You grabbed her hoof and looked her in the eye. “You are safe with me, got it?”
She let go of a breath she was holding, and relaxed.

“Got it.”

You walked into the forest, prepared for her terror. As predicted, every move was a timid one. “Eep!” She had stepped on a twig.

“Fluttershy, remember what I said, or I’m going to be forced to…” Your fingers trailed up her ticklish spot.

“No! Anything but that!” She flashed a cute grin, if only for a second. “Anyways, I think we're here,”

Zecora opened up the door, a smell wafting from the cauldron she often had bubbling away.

“Zecora, could you help us with something?” You asked, knowing the response would be long and convoluted.

“Help is what I do, but only for problems that I approve.”

Fluttershy stepped forward. “Could you look after our animals as we go on our date?”

Zecora took a minute to think. “I can help, if that’s all, but only if it's before the sun falls...”

Fluttershy gasped and flew out, with you running off behind her. Out of the forest and into the clear fields.
You stopped next to her, gasping for air.

Chapter 6

She was sitting down, looking up into the pink and orange sky. After a moment’s silence, she whimpered.

“We missed our date, Anon.” When she looked to the side to face you, you noticed the glistening tears in her eyes. You smiled softly at her, wiping the tears away with your thumb.

“Not really.”

“Huh?”

“Well, just think about it. We spent the whole day together, went to Canterlot, had lunch, back to Ponyville and now we’re here. In front of this beautiful sunset. And I think the sun looks beautiful in your mane.”

Fluttershy took a second to register the thought, but then smiled over it. “I guess you’re right. I am happy I got to spend today with you, even if it wasn’t originally what I’d thought it would be.” You pulled her up to her hooves.

“It wasn’t what I wanted either, but it turned out more fun than I could have imagined... Now, let’s get home, alright? Before Angel eats all the lettuce, haha-"

She gasped loudly, getting ready to zoom faster than Rainbow Dash. “Angel!”

A few minutes later, you pushed open the door, taking in all the air you could get. Fluttershy was cradling a wriggling Angel, whimpering and cooing him like a baby. “Oh, I should have never left!” She shrieked, hugging him tighter to her chest.

You raised an eyebrow. “Shy, you might suffocate him doing that."
To that she sighed and smiled at you. "Alright. Let's go to bed."

Chapter 3

“And you are here because…?” Celestia looked down at you and Fluttershy.

“I’m so so so, sorry!” Fluttershy squeaked. “Discord teleported us to you before we could say a word…!”

Sun-butt shook her head at that statement. “Why?”

“Well, we needed someone to look after the animals, but obviously you’re busy...we’re so sorry..”

Celestia laughed, “Why didn’t you just say so?! I think I know someone who could help you, and you know her quite well,”

You finally made it to the canterlot carousel, out of breath. Fluttershy pushed the door in and went to greet Rarity.
“Ooh! What a wonderful surprise, to see you and Anon here! What brings you?~” She listened intently for a response, but cut you short as soon as you opened your mouth. “Oh, but you simply must stay for lunch and tell me all about it. I have cucumber sandwiches!”

10 minutes later, Rarity was hiding her giggles under a napkin. “He just sent you straight to Celestia? Just like that? Poof? Why, that’s hilarious!” You swallowed your sandwiches to speak up again.

“Well, actually, that’s why we’re here. We were wondering if you could come back to Ponyville with us and help,” you said.

Rarity frowned. “Oh darling, I’d love to, but I have many orders to complete today, I’m terribly sorry. How about you go over to Zecora and ask?~”

Chapter 7

With all the lights off, you snuggled into bed next to her. She was sleeping like a baby. You closed your eyes and thought about how kind and loving she was, how you must be the luckiest man ever. Fluttershy was more than you could have ever thought a mare would be.

And despite the sharp moonlight escaping through the curtains, you drifted off to dream land.

Author's Note

I think throughout the story, I might accidentally shift from past to present. Let me know where I do so and I'll edit it <3