Help Unwanted

by marmalado

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sad, Drama, Fluttershy
Length: 1009

While attempting to stop a wounded creature from meeting its doom in the Everfree Forest, Fluttershy is forced to learn a harsh lesson about kindness.

After finding a wounded creature, Fluttershy is forced to learn a harsh lesson about kindness.

An entry for the A Thousand Words II Contest, under the Drama section.

Has a reading by The Mystery Fluttershy Fan.

Published 2023-06-18 09:10:00 UTC
Last updated 2023-06-18 09:10:00 UTC

Defiant to the Very End

Fluttershy was no smaller than a filly when she found Bonnie.

She had named her that because the fur on the top of her head had looked like a little bonnet. The key word being "had", of course, because Bonnie no longer had any hair on the top of her head to speak of.

But if her refusal to follow the "come when your name is called" command was any indication, she didn't go by that name, if any at all.

"Bonnie, please!" she called, on the pathway that led into the Everfree Forest beyond. "Let me help you! Your injuries...you need help!"

Bonnie continued, not once acknowledging the pony who called her.

"Bonnie!" The cry was practically a squeal -- a soft squeal, granted, but high in pitch enough that it could qualify as one all the same.

Fluttershy galloped after the creature, her eyes brimming with tears. "I want to help you! Why won't you let me help you?!"

Bonnie stopped. Stared at the pony with no emotion in its one eye. But even with no emotion, Fluttershy understood the message loud and clear.

"No! You'll die if you go into the Everfree Forest, Bonnie. T-there are all sorts of dangerous creatures in there that will eat you up! Y-you're no longer a predator, you're the prey!" Fluttershy felt a few tears begin to fall, and she quickly wiped them away. "Look. Let's go back to the cottage, okay? I can fix you right up, a-and you'll have a place to stay where you can get all better! Wouldn't you like that?"

A head tilt, as though Bonnie was contemplating the offer. But it only lasted for all of three seconds, and she continued to plod down the path.

"I don't understand...why."

The words were a mere whisper on the soft breeze that blew. She ceased her gait, eyeing the creature as she shook her front paw, gazed at it, and then continued on her way.

Without thinking, Fluttershy galloped. She bunched her legs up and took a mighty leap, landing right in the entrance of Everfree Forest.

Her ears pivoted towards the darkness that beckoned, listening for any signs of dangerous creatures or even dangerous ponies about. Her eyes landed solely on Bonnie, who paused her movement to stare at the blockade.

She's upset. I can see it in her eye, Fluttershy noted, but the note ultimately got pushed to the side. She stood up as tall as she could, mustering up what courage she had -- which, frankly, wasn't all that much, but it was something.

"Bonnie, I don't understand why." she repeated. "Why are you ignoring me? Why won't you let me help you get better? Do...do you..."

A horrifying feeling settled in her stomach. Her eyes widened.

"Don't tell me...you want to suffer with these injuries?"

Bonnie stopped. Her posture held an air of annoyance at having to stop so much, but her eye told a different story.

"I...wouldn't understand?" A few more tears fell. Fluttershy wiped those away too. "W-why wouldn't I understand?"

Bonnie went on the move again.

Fluttershy watched her as she limped, dragging her hind leg along the dirt as she gave soft whimpers of pain. "Why wouldn't I understand?" she asked again, even though she knew Bonnie couldn't answer her with words.

It took a long time for Bonnie to even come close to Fluttershy. Regardless, the filly remained rigid, as though expecting the creature to charge at her so she could become a one-pony blockade.

When the creature was only a mere few inches from the filly, she stopped, and gazed into her eyes.

You wouldn't understand. Not now. You will understand when you are older. I'm glad you looked out for me, but it's my time to go.

Bonnie made her way past Fluttershy with no issue and dipped into the Everfree Forest.

The filly turned and simply stared after her, her mind too busy processing what the creature had said.

When the disappearance finally hit her, she sat in the dirt and cried.

By the time she returned to the cottage, it was nighttime. Creatures began asking her for dinner, and so, she had fed them accordingly, though many were quick to note she wasn't in her usual high spirits.

She had taken an early retirement, but instead of going to sleep, she stared at the Everfree Forest that lay beyond her home.

"Oh, Angel..." She stroked her pet bunny in her hooves as she sat on the windowsill. "I wanna say that I hope Bonnie's okay, but..." She squeezed her eyes shut. "I know now."

Angel looked up at her.

"I know what she meant. When she said I wouldn't understand. But I do understand." She sighed. "I've seen it before. When the Rainboom hit. How some animals..."

She bit her lip. The words struggled to take form and be uttered at first.

"...died from the shock."

Angel chittered, placing a paw on her hoof.

"She wanted to die. As a feline, this is just basic instinct for her. Her injuries were...bad." She struggled to find one word to sum them all up. "And I could tell she was suffering. Maybe even before she got injured."

Her gaze drifted towards Angel.

"It was just her time to go."

The little bunny hopped onto the floor and bounded to the bed, giving inquisitive chitters as he pointed to it.

"Oh?" She tilted her head. "Yes, I...suppose I should try and get some sleep now. Thank you, Angel."

Once she climbed down from the windowsill and went to the bathroom to wash up, she climbed into bed, with Angel getting into his own bed that sat to the side.

As both pony's and bunny's eyes began to droop, the latter gave a somber chitter. The former understood his words, existing as only a final thought before she slipped away into the land of dreams.

You can't help somepony, or somecreature, who doesn't wish to help themselves first and foremost.