Shadows of Kindness

Singing birds perched on huge yellow wings, perhaps somewhat subdued in melody. The leaves were falling, the sky was darkening, the world becoming drowsy with autumn. A little yellow pegasus hummed softly along, smiling serenely.

“Every day I watch you, caring for so many creatures.” Starlight noted, setting down her tea. “You don’t just tend to their psychological and mental well-being though, for maybe an hour, maybe less.” Lavender hooves came up to her cheeks, the student counselor allowing her empathy to overwhelm her once more. “I cannot fathom how you deal with it all.”

Fluttershy laughed softly, turning to her guest as the birds flew off into her tree home. “Why thank you,” she cooed. “It’s nice to hear compliments from somepony who understands these things.”

Starlight shook her head sullenly. “Well, maybe I do a bit more, nowadays, but…”

“You’ve always tried though,” Fluttershy reassured, gently putting a hoof over Starlight’s. “Maybe not in the right sort of way, but I still kind of liked what you were trying for.”

Starlight withdrew her hooves from the table, leaning back in the lawn chair and grimacing. “Sure, if you consider brainwashing ponies and forcefully removing their cutie marks commendable.”

“Well, that’s why I overthrew you, of course,” Fluttershy reminded gently, taking a sip of her tea. “Your good intentions were twisted up by your own anxiety and paranoia.”

A flush of embarrassment and surprise washed over the unicorn. How casually and gently this pegasus portrays herself, it hid something more nuanced. The leaves began to stir and blow, getting a little chilly. But their soft fur helped keep the chill at bay.

“Thank you for defeating me Fluttershy,” Starlight muttered quietly, embarrassed. Another giggle in reply, more melodious than before. “I-it’s not funny though…”

“Starlight, you know me better now,” Fluttershy admonished. “I am not all sunshine and rainbows either.” She shot a cold glare, for just a moment. “You of all ponies shouldn’t pretend that’s the case.”

The school counselor set her tea on the plate with a clatter, her magic aura faltering momentarily. “Yeah well, at least you never -”

“Are you really going to guilt-trip yourself again?” interrupted the animal caretaker, taking a glance at Angel bunny nearby, who shook his head pityingly. “After all the good and kindness you’ve done?”

“But it’s nothing compared to what you do for so many creatures, every single day!” Starlight suggested, gesturing widely around her. “Your home is practically a daycare for them, not to mention your animal sanctuary too!”

Fluttershy blushed, putting a hoof to her mouth and looking down. “Maybe so, but in a way, they are easier to deal with than other ponies, and other creatures with lots of words and lots of socializing like us. Although, even a gryphon or dragon seems more approachable for me than other ponies…”

Starlight considered quietly, looking around at the animals under Fluttershy’s care, most of them crawling or climbing into her home now, away from the windy weather. Even her majordomo Angel was retreating indoors. “You’ve gotten a lot better about that though. You are much more brave than you used to be.”

“I suppose I can say the same for you,” Fluttershy added with a smile.

Starlight groaned, “What is this, a game of compliments?”

Fluttershy took a deep breath, mumbling a bit more, staring into her nearly empty teacup. “Just a friendly reminder that you’re not the only pony with a cloud of darkness around here.”

Another chill ran up Starlight’s spine, an uneasy stirring in her heart. “I suppose we’re more alike than I thought,” she admitted.

“That’s why I like inviting you for tea,” Fluttershy beamed. “You might be the only pony that’s as shy and mysterious as me.”

Starlight laughed nervously, a nervous grin on her face. Fluttershy could not help but laugh, spreading her wings. “Let’s just say, if my life had gone another way,” the pegasus mused, looking up at the trees in the darkening sky, “I might’ve turned out like you did for awhile… only, maybe worse.”

“That’s not true, how could somepony like -” Starlight gasped at the angry glare.

“Don’t you dare pretend otherwise, Ms Glimmer,” Fluttershy growled, in that soft gentle way only she could.

This wasn’t the first time Fluttershy voluntarily opened up her shadow to the unicorn she defeated so long ago, but she hadn’t before been so… confrontational about it. “Alright, then,” Starlight relented. “Maybe it just makes me feel a little nervous…”

Fluttershy looked away, sighing softly. “So you don’t like that about me.”

Starlight gasped, reaching out to touch Fluttershy’s hoof. “No, no, I just…” she sighed, clasping gently with both her fore-hooves. “Sometimes I put ponies on too high a pedestal, I guess.”

Fluttershy turned back to look. “Neither of us are perfect, Starlight. We both cry, we both lie.” she leaned forward, a bit ominously. “We both hide away our darkness for the sake of those we love.”

Starlight wanted to pull away, but she resisted the urge. “Maybe I’m just shy about that side of you.”

Fluttershy reached up, and ever so slowly, gently, pet Starlight’s mane. “Well, more like you’re shy when I get assertive… which isn’t quite the same thing.”

Starlight closed her eyes and sighed softly. She felt safe. Maybe this pegasus did have a deep, emotional darkness, just like her. But she knew… “You would never hurt me.”

“Ponies hurt each other all the time,” Fluttershy reminded her guest. “But you know, the trick is knowing how to comfort each other afterwards. Isn’t that kind of what your role is all about?”

Starlight smiled a bit, leaning forward into the petting. Angel bunny stared out the window, annoyed with his arms crossed. “Your little friend isn’t liking this attention I’m getting.”

The yellow pegasus leaned forward, whispering, “He’s a spoiled brat, though I do love him. But right now, you deserve some comfort too.”

Fluttershy wrapped up Starlight in her wings, hugging her close. “Everything about you, I appreciate and admire, whether it is pure or dark,” she assured the lavender unicorn, cradling her close.

Starlight couldn’t hold it anymore, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Thank you, for saving me from myself long ago,” she sighed, nuzzling, “And for everything else afterwards.”

Fluttershy cooed gently, cuddling her soft shy guest. “And thank you for teaching me about myself, and giving me insight and reflection, with everything you do.”

The rain did not pour quite yet, but the wind remained cold, as the leaves fell and died, and the world around them became dark, yet comforting in its decay and decline. “I should get going,” Starlight announced, trying to get away.

Fluttershy wouldn’t let go. “Stay with me tonight,” she suggested, maybe a bit forcefully. “Um, please?” she added, softly. “If that’s okay.”

Starlight understood. “Being so assertive today, I guess you are feeling a little lonely.”

“Every once in awhile, I guess it’s nice to have another of my species around,” Fluttershy admitted with a giggle.

“Especially if they understand your duality of kindness and darkness.” Starlight suggested with a wry smirk.

Fluttershy blushed and nodded a bit. The two headed inside for comfort and warmth, as the heavy storm descended upon the forest, rain and thunder washing the world around them.