Encounters of the Snake Kind
After a long day of checking her animal friends’ health, replacing bandages and feeding the numerous critters roaming her beloved sanctuary, Fluttershy was glad to finally have some time to herself. It had been a long day and a stressful one at that, not nothing soothes the nerves like a picnic surrounded by all her animal friends. Spreading her blanket across the grass, she sighed in contentment as she took out her lunch that she brought with her when she had some free time on her hooves.
Looking around the sanctuary, she smiled to see her critters enjoying the summer sun. Angel had found a nice shady area to sleep in, which was good since he had been more understanding of her and also helped around when he could. Being so small, heavy-lifting was not his speciality, but carrying his hoof-made medical kit with bottles and pills made the pegasus smile at his determination to help her. Plus, the sooner he helps her get the chores done means more time with her. That also meant extra belly rubs and carrots.
Taking a sip of her tea and closing her eyes, Fluttershy smiled to herself at another morning’s hard work. Now all she was looking forward to was a nice relaxing lunchtime to-
“FLUTTERSHY!”
Fluttershy’s eyes snapped open and the animals around her jumped in fright at the shrill scream of some pony shouting her name in the distance. Fluttershy’s ears perked up at the sound of running and she turned in the direction of the sound. Off in the distance, a certain white unicorn with a purple mane and tail was kicking up a cloud of dust behind her. That certain white unicorn also had black tears streaming down her cheeks, the unfortunate result of tears mixed with mascara.
“Rarity?” Fluttershy asked with worry. Knowing her spa partner for many years along with her friends, when Rarity cries like that, one should expect something bad to have happened to her. However, that depends on the scale of bad and the definition of bad.
Rarity skidded to a halt in front of Fluttershy and, as usual, placed her front leg to her forehead in a state of woe.
“Oh, Fluttershy, darling! It’s dreadful! Simply dreadful!” Rarity cried for all the animals in the sanctuary to hear.
“Goodness!” Fluttershy gasped, “W-why don’t you come and sit with me and we can talk about it over some tea?”
Rarity sniffled but nodded at her friend’s invitation to join. She sat down on the carpet with her legs curled in and tail neatly tucked in to avoid having it on the grass. Fluttershy was quick to pour her a cup of tea and waited until Rarity took a dainty sip from her teacup and took a shuddering breath. Fluttershy could see that she was calming down and so decided to investigate what was causing such distress.
“Now then,” Fluttershy leaned across the picnic blanket and patted Rarity on the shoulder, “Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
Rarity nodded and took a deep breath, blowing loudly into a napkin.
“Summer is almost over and soon it will be time for the fashion world to embrace the Fall Season Sale. The problem is…” She tried to calm down but more tears rolled down her cheeks, “I’ve got no inspiration!”
Fluttershy was quick to hand her a tissue box from the first aid kit. Rarity levitated a piece of tissue to her nose and gave a not so ladylike blow into it.
“I’ve gone through all of my old sketchbooks, hoping to find some form of inspiration but there was nothing that I can go to for ideas!”
“Oh my. That’s certainly is … a problem,” Fluttershy tried to comfort her sobbing friend who had her eyes closed and head laid down on the now soaking wet picnic blanket. When Rarity is having one of her… moments, it’s best to do her thing and either comfort her to stand well back until she lets it all out.
“Have you asked our friends for some inspiration?” Fluttershy asked. It was then that Fluttershy regretted asking such a question as Rarity’s head snapped up towards Fluttershy’s. Rarity managed to switch off the waterworks and went into, what Applejack and Rainbow Dash would call, her sass mode.
“Darling, please. Twilight is more book-forward than fashion-forward, Applejack would turn the entire Fall Sale into some country rodeo, Pinkie Pie would then convert it into a part of her sugar-rush crazy world and Rainbow Dash doesn’t even give a flying feather at the mention of the word fashion,” Rarity said without a single breath.
“Oh…” Fluttershy simply said.
“I came to you because out of all our friends you get fashion besides me,” Rarity explained, “I need your help. Your expertise. Anything!” Rarity then went back to her waterworks, displaying her hooves in a begging gesture as she leaned in towards the pegasus.
Fluttershy couldn’t bear the sight of Rarity like this, so she thought long and hard. Looking around at the sanctuary around her, an idea sprung in her head.
“Have you tried looking for inspiration in nature?” Fluttershy asked. Rarity almost gagged at that.
“Fluttershy, please. I have just gotten used to…” She shuddered, “…Nature with Applejack and Rainbow Dash’s camping trips with the Crusaders.”
“Just give it a go, Rarity,” Fluttershy prodded gently with her natural sweet charm, “Just give it a chance?”
Rarity huffed but caved into Fluttershy’s persistence. Her eyes began to scan the sanctuary methodically, trying to find something, anything, that could lead to some form of inspiration. Angel bunny and rabbits would be better off for spring attire. Harry the bear was too scruffy to even think of any inspiration and all the marvellous birds didn’t seem to fit into the colours of Autumn.
“I’m sorry, Fluttershy,” Rarity sighed, “But it doesn’t seem to be helping me in the slightest.”
“Oh, that’s a shame,” Fluttershy’s ears dropped.
“You gave it your best effort,” Rarity said with encouragement, “I guess I’ll just have to back home and look around for-“
It was then that Rarity felt something thin, scaly and smooth climb up and over her back. Her eyes turned to pinpricks at the realisation of what was on her. her muscles clenched up as she felt something lick her eye for a brief moment. Fluttershy was confused at her friend’s reaction until the culprit’s face revealed itself from the side of Rarity’s head.
“Antonie! It’s good to see you up and about after that terrible incident,” Fluttershy beamed, “How are you feeling today?”
The snake, which Fluttershy called Antonie, gave a short hiss and smiled a fang-filled smile. This only made Rarity shiver again, fighting the urge to faint.
“That’s wonderful news,” Fluttershy said since she was the only one who could understand the critters.
“Fluttershy,” Rarity wheezed, “Do you know this snake?”
“I do,” Fluttershy answered, “Rarity, this is Antonie. He was involved in a terrible accident when he was stuck in a tin can. He’s recovering here in the sanctuary right now, but his recovery seems to be going well. To see that he’s able to climb over objects is a sign that his recovery’s going in the right direction.”
“H-happy t-to hear that,” Rarity shuddered.
“You have nothing to be afraid of. Despite what most ponies think, snakes are friendly creatures once you get to know them. Antonie, this is my friend Rarity.”
Antonie leaned down and licked Rarity’s ear again. Rarity was about to scream but chose quickly to put a hoof to her mouth. Fluttershy chuckled.
“See? That wasn’t so bad,” Fluttershy smiled reassuringly. It was then that she noticed something on Antonie’s body.
“I see you’ve also begun shedding,” Fluttershy looked closely at her serpent friend, to which he nodded. Rarity looked at the snake with a mixture of curiosity and a hint of disgust.
“Shedding?” Rarity asked.
“Yes,” Fluttershy began to explain, “Reptiles, like Antonie the snake here, shed their skin when they outgrow their old skin. I should have known it was time for you to do it since your colours were getting dull.”
Fluttershy got up and reached a hoof out so that Antonie could slither and coil around.
“Let’s get you out of your old skin and help give you a new look,” Fluttershy said as she went to the store cupboard to get a bucket. Curious, Rarity decided to follow her.
Fluttershy began by carefully peeling the skin around the eyes, then went over to the shed and began filling up the bucket with warm water. Antonie began to crawl in and began focusing on getting rid of the rest of the skin. Rarity watched him with interest.
When the process was complete, Fluttershy helped him out and dried him off. The result was a new, shiny snake with shimmering green scales that sparkled like emerald jewels. Rarity was in awe at the sight, never believing that a snake could have such beauty before.
“By peeling away what was old, you get to see something new…” Rarity muttered to herself, “That’s it!”
Fluttershy and Antonie were caught off-guard but Rarity’s outburst. Rarity levitated Antonie’s old skin out of the bucket.
“That’s what?” Fluttershy asked.
“Thanks to you, Fluttershy, and little Antonie here,” Rarity petted the snake gently on the head, “I think I have managed to find some form of inspiration. May I borrow this as a memento for this occasion?”
“Um, sure,” Fluttershy said with uncertainty.
“I need to get to work!” Rarity began pacing around the grass, “So many ideas! So much inspiration! I need my sketchpad! I have to start as soon as possible! Ta-ta!”
With that, Rarity ran towards her Ponyville boutique, kicking up the same cloud of dust when she arrived at the sanctuary. Fluttershy and Antonie looked at each other.
“Well,” Fluttershy trailed off, “What can I say? Inspiration can come from anywhere.”
Antonie just flicked his tongue in agreement.
Author's Note
Exams and job interviews have really put my writing on hold. Anyway, I managed to squeeze in some writing time for leisure and I hope you will enjoy this story. I love reptiles.
Happy platinum jubilee to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
