The cost of kindness

The problem with Fluttershy’s kindness was that it had no limit. She had taken more animals into her home, turning her hollowed out cottage house into a refuge for all.

Whether there was barking, chirping, growling, howling or cheeping, the liveliness in her house was a testament to her devotion as an animal lover.

But that devotion came at a hefty price.

Fluttershy had taken many loans from her local bank, feeling too ashamed to call upon more financially stable friends. She couldn’t help feeling responsible for the position she had put herself in, but she chose to worry more about the future of her animals.

And so the bills accumulated to the point that she didn't even open them anymore. They stood in threatening stacks of unopened envelopes, peeking out from the corners and watching her from the kitchen counter.

There was no miracle cure for her debt. Even if she were to win the lottery, it would only placate the banks for the moment. Her job at the animal shelter provided little in the way of income that she hadn’t already put towards caring for her animal friends. She hadn’t had disposable income in years.

She needed a new job. A better job. Urgently.

One morning, Fluttershy awoke early, and after distributing a portion of her dwindling food supply to her animals, left her house to forage for her supper. She spent a while meandering down rough dirt paths with her baskets, moving through the woods in search of wild carrots and mushrooms and occasionally keeping company with a local robin to share a scavenged berry or two with.

The sun was at its peak by the time Fluttershy had collected what she needed, alerting her of the time. She examined her surroundings and, realizing she wasn't far from Ponyville, decided to visit Sugarcube Corner to see Pinkie Pie.

“Perhaps I can give her something to make a carrot cake with," Fluttershy opined to herself as she set off for town.

Fluttershy walked alone into town; she found herself relentlessly ruminating on her amounting debts, her mind wandering with anxiety. Thoughts of unpaid bills and the weight of her financial obligations swirled in her mind.

As she approached the bakery, Fluttershy heard the distinct tapping of a hammer. Upon investigation, she found Mrs. Cake, hammer in hand, nailing a poster to the side of the building.

“Good morning, Mrs. Cake. How are you this morning?” Fluttershy asked, not letting her curiosity get in the way of her manners.

“Just wonderful. The sun is barely up and we have already made our first batch ready to ship out to Canterlot,” exclaimed Mrs. Cup Cake.

“That’s great!”

Fluttershy smiled, matching Mrs. Cup cake’s expression of delight. Fluttershy turned to her side, pinching a bundle of carrots by their stems and offered them to Mrs. Cup Cake, who seemed a little surprised but took the carrots with a grateful nod.

“Thank you Fluttershy, this is very kind of you”.

“You are very welcome”, Fluttershy humbly replied.

She was once again intrigued by the poster, stopping herself short at her last sentence before continuing abruptly.

“Mrs. Cake, what is that? A vacancy?”.

“Why of course”, said Mrs. Cup Cake, “that ‘Rich’ family posted a job offering, and they are paying handsomely too. Something about maid work. I wouldn’t turn down such a golden opportunity but I’m too old, and too busy. Anyway, it was nice seeing you Fluttershy. Thanks again for the carrots. Stay safe.”

Fluttershy was further intrigued by the details, so she approached the poster once Mrs. Cup Cake had left. They were looking for someone young, fit, and willing to work short shifts on a frequent basis, like a live-in Housekeeper.

Fluttershy rubbed her chin in thought. Perhaps this is what she needed. The shifts were short, only a few hours; enough to allow her ample time to care for her animal friends at home and the sanctuary.

With a relaxed sigh, and a replenished smile, Fluttershy took this opportunity back with her, ripping the poster from its post and stuffing it in her basket, softly muttering apologies under her breath as she left.

Once she had arrived home she began her grueling routine, grooming the animals, cleaning where they had created mess, and feeding them their appropriate rations. Only then, did she feed herself, chopping and boiling her foraged goods into a sweet stew.

As the sun lowered into the evening sky, Fluttershy prepared herself, putting on meager amounts of makeup to fashion herself as presentable.

Fluttershy could barely maintain herself stepping out of her house. This was the first time she applied for such a job. In her mind, it was no simpler than cleaning up after her animals. However, she couldn’t help feeling hesitant.

Since the Rich family lived in Ponyville, Fluttershy already knew where to go. Their house was an eyesore, far enough from the center of the village to allow the eccentric couple to avoid having to pass through the small locale of, as they would say, less fortunate ponies.

Wearing nothing but a modest, flowery dress, Fluttershy stepped out of her home. She followed the track where she needed to go, having walked it so many times before, and made an effort to keep up the pace to arrive at the mansion before sunset.

She had managed just that; she arrived at the house before sunset, stopping to recoup her breath, and to calm herself. Fluttershy ran her hand through her mane, making sure her hair was well kept.

The house itself was like many in Ponyville; it was symmetrical, bearing many purple tinted windows, with a thatch roof and a miranda balcony above the front door, most likely where the second floor landing was. However, unlike a lot of the houses in Ponyville, this plot was sizable to say the least. It was wide, with the footprint of a rectangle.

The estate possessed a swimming pool, an even more significant garden, and a well trimmed hedge surrounding the perimeter.

Fluttershy knocked at the door, clutching the front of her dress with her hands. She listened anxiously to the sounds of heavy bolts being moved. Eventually, the door opened.

Standing before Fluttershy, glaring at her in a revulsive manner, was Spoiled Rich. Her face was scrunched up, with crows feet at the edges of her eyes, giving her an aged demeanor.

“Yes? What do you want?” asked Spoiled Rich, with her look of disdain aimed at Fluttershy.

“I uhm… I have come about the.. uhm…” Fluttershy murmured, rustling through her purse for the flier that she then hastily showed to Spoiled Rich, who snatched it from her immediately.

“Oh, the vacancy? You're one of the few people to show up at all. It's like nobody wants to work anymore. Come inside,” she said with a despondent tone.

Fluttershy meekly followed Spoiled Rich inside.

The foyer consisted of an extravagant hardwood-laminate floor. There were two sets of wooden stairs to match, symmetrically on either side of the room, leading to the second floor landing. Between them stood a set of doors.

Fluttershy followed Spoiled Rich through these doors, and into a corridor. She couldn't help but notice how Spoiled Rich’s abundance of bangles and bracelets clattered against one another as she walked.

She surveyed the house as they walked down the long hallway, noting the numerous rooms.

“I shouldn't have to tell you how to use a mop or a sponge, I hope,” scoffed Spoiled Rich as she stopped at a closet, opening it and displaying the many cleaning goods inside, aligned on shelves and packed into buckets.

The door was then closed with some speed, startling Fluttershy who didn’t have enough time to look at it all before moving on. She was introduced to the lavish dining room, the warm and cozy living room and the back garden, bearing a large swimming pool.

“There certainly are a lot of rooms here Mrs Rich,” said fluttershy, awkwardly trying to initiate small talk as they silently toured the house.

“Hardly. But my husband refuses to get a place in Canterlot. Says it's better in the country,” retorted Spoiled Rich with a scoff.

Fluttershy’s eyes fluttered softly in surprise at her comment, choosing to remain silent in response.

Spoiled Rich looked at her obscured watch, pushing the bangles away to see the time before hastily dismissing Fluttershy.

“Anyway, my husband sorted out your uniform and keys. They are in the cleaning closet. Be sure to clean our room first, then the bathrooms. Diamond Tiara plans on using the pool in the morning so clean that up as soon as possible”

Fluttershy then watched Spoiled Rich walk away hastily towards the front door, and disappeared, leaving Fluttershy to her own devices. They never negotiated pay, or hours, or even dress sizes, but Fluttershy wasn’t the type to complain.

With little direction, Fluttershy went back to the cleaning closet, opening it up and scouring all four walls of the tiny room to find the keys hung on a nail hammered into the wall. She plucked the keys from their spot and continued searching for her uniform.

Eventually she found a vacuum packed uniform inside of a clear PVC bag, picking it up and using some nearby scissors to cut it open. As she held the dress infront of her, her ears dropped to her head.

“Is this even going to fit me?” she thought to herself, going to the nearest guest room to change in.

She peeled back her own dress, leaving her in her blue and white stripy underwear. She unzipped the french maids dress and stepped inside of it, shuffling it up her waist and sliding her arms into the short-shoulder sleeves.

She extended and fluttered her wings, wriggling them between the asphyxic holes in the back of the less-than accommodating dress.

The dress did fit. Barely.

She stood in front of the room's standing mirror, zipping up as she looked at herself. The skirt itself bore many layers: a silky white underside with a tougher black cotton covering. However, the skirt barely went to her knees, making Fluttershy hastily grab and pull the dress down only for it to slide back up. She had to tuck the lining of her bra underneath the cups of the dress’ small bust, incidentally making her breasts more perky in the process.

She let out a reluctant sigh, rationalizing that as long as it was during the night, nobody would see her, so she had nothing to fear.

Fluttershy immediately got to work, grabbing the bucket packed with cleaning supplies and slinging it over her bent arm like she would with her baskets.

First order of business was their bedroom.

Fluttershy scoured the house, visiting many of the rooms. She took note of what she eventually found; the couple marked their room with a lavish gold sign with their names engraved into the plate, making it easy for fluttershy to find.

She apprehensively stepped inside and looked around. A large romantic red sheet covered the queen sized bed, sprawled messily across the mattress. Fluttershy wasn’t sure how old the sheets were, let alone where to get new ones. In the moment, she followed her initiative, making the bed and tucking the sheets under the mattress.

Once she had done this, fluttershy used a feather duster to reluctantly eliminate small strands of abandoned web along the corners of the room.

She finished by polishing the dull wooden furniture, posturing proudly at her job well done. She picked up her bucket of supplies and wandered to the kitchen, seeing the amassed, unwashed cutlery in the sink. She shook her head in displeasure but continued, wiping down all the counters before tackling the neglected tableware.

As she filled the sink with water and suds, the sound of the front door opening startled her a little. However, assuming it was just Spoiled Rich, she continued. Enthralled by her work, Fluttershy took no notice of the figure that soon crept up behind her.

A firm hand groped her rear. She squeaked, froze up and dropped the plate she was holding onto the floor, shattering it into a million pieces.

Fluttershy turned around hastily, protecting her rear against the sink as she faced her aggressor. It was Filthy Rich.

His hair was roughed up, his tie loosened askew and his eyes blinked a little out of time. Fluttershy recognised the homeowner in an instant, and without an ounce of aggression, began to apologize.

“M-Mr. Rich! I am so sorry about your plate. Let me get that cleaned up”

“Hmm, you’re new,” uttered Filthy Rich, so heavily intoxicated that he wobbled where he stood; the pungent scent of liquor was sickening.

“Y-yes. I, uhm, came about your job offering this afternoon. Your wife, Mrs. Rich told me I should start right away,” said Fluttershy, still very startled but trying her utmost to remain calm.

“You’re cute. Let me kiss you”, Filthy Rich began to slur repetitively under his breath as he stumbled towards Fluttershy.

“P-please, s-stop. I-I d-don’t think that's ap-p-p-” stuttered fluttershy, failing to get her words out, while attempting to reason with him as she turned her head away. Her hands clutched the apron on her dress fearfully.

As Filthy Rich forced himself upon Fluttershy and attempted to kiss her, the front door could be heard again, and this time it closed with a thunderous slam. A set of angry hooves could be heard as Spoiled Rich made her presence known.

“Filthy? Filthy?! Where are you, you bastard?” shouted Spoiled Rich as she stormed into the room.

Her eyes locked onto the stallion with pure abhorrence. She approached him briskly, grabbed his tie and yanked him away from Fluttershy, slapping him across the face to little effect.

“You ignorant turd. You better get upstairs right this instant. How dare you ignore me”

Filthy Rich hiccuped a few times and giggled at his wife, oblivious to her blatant anger. Calming herself momentarily, Spoiled Rich turned to Fluttershy and with a much softer tone, dismissed her.

“You can go home. Come back, same time tomorrow. I will sort things out”

By the way she spoke, it sounded vaguely like an apology, although her pride wouldn’t allow her such graces.

Fluttershy nodded and quickly scampered away, hugging the walls of the kitchen till she was free of the room. She headed for the guest room, shakily changing out of her uniform and putting on her flowery dress. With the backdrop of the couples’ domestic argument, Fluttershy quickly left the house, returning home at the very early hours of the summer morning, before the sun had a chance to rise. Once she got inside, she had a shower and reflected on her evening.

Soon after, she clambered into bed quietly without waking any of her animal friends, clutching her sheets tightly, and shuddering at the thought of Filthy Rich’s aggressive introduction. To her benefit, she soon fell asleep.

(line here)

Fluttershy’s sleep was interrupted by the feeling of warm breathing against her snout. Angel was there, impatiently thumping his paws against Fluttershy’s pillow. She woke up late, naturally.

“Good morning angel. Oh, I must have slept in. I do apologize”

Angel responded with an indignant sigh, hopping off of the pillow.

Fluttershy got up to her usual crowd of animal friends. They were capable of feeding themselves, but Fluttershy considered it a bad habit to allow them to do such, as a mother would think.

Fluttershy started her day with her usual routine of feeding the animals part of her evermore dwindling supply of food before heading out, basket in hand to collect whatever goods she could find.

Fluttershy decided to visit the sanctuary, taking a long stroll through the grassy gardens and thick foliage to appreciate her work. Thinking of her animals back home, she knew she had to keep her new job.

She soon returned home and placed her basket beside the kitchen counter, and checked the time, seeing a few hours left in the day before she needed to go to work for the evening.

Once the sun had begun to lower in the evening, Fluttershy dressed up once again, powdering her nose with the slightest blemish of foundation.

She packed her dress into her shoulder bag and made her way back to the mansion, heart pounding. After the events of last night she was scared to encounter Filthy Rich again.

She knocked at the door, this time having it answered far quicker to her surprise. She stood, clutching her bag before Spoiled Rich, who gave her the same dissatisfied glare, only this time welcoming her in with a more patient tone.

“Welcome, Fluttershy. Do come in,” said Spoiled Rich softly.

Fluttershy quickly stepped inside, holding her bag close and standing beside Spoiled Rich, who once again began to guide her down the main corridor of the house, stopping short of the kitchen.

“I am sorry I didn't get to finish th-” Fluttershy quickly began to apologize, but was soon interrupted.

“About last night. My husband has been in very poor company recently. Do forgive him for being such a pig. The pool situation was an earache for him anyway, since our precious Diamond never got to use it,” said Spoiled Rich.

There was sincerity in her words, but her behavior acted in juxtaposition, as if every word she said was sandpaper against her sensitive ego.

“Anyway, here is your payment, up front, as promised”

Fluttershy was handed a bag of coins, far heavier than her purse currently was. She wasn’t promised up front payment, but that didn’t stop her taking the coins with an accomplished and grateful smile.

“Thank you. I will work very hard,” exclaimed Fluttershy.

“I would hope so. Now I have to go out for dinner with the mayor. You won’t have to worry about Filthy, he is going to be gone for some time. As for our precious Diamond, she is staying with her friends for a couple of days, thank goodness”

For the first time, Fluttershy saw Spoiled Rich smile, making her recoil slightly.

“O-ok, thank you,” Fluttershy muttered in response, watching the pink earth pony strut out of the front door.

With a sense of Déjà vu creeping in, Fluttershy got to work, changing in the guest room once more into her tasteless, skimpy dress and headed out to grab the bucket and keys.

She visited each and every room over the course of the night, dusting windows and long-neglected shelves, leaving no stone unturned when it came to hidden areas of this expansive house. Some rooms, Long abandoned, hadn't seen the presence of another pony in some time, allowing little dust to accumulate.

She eventually found herself in the couple’s room, once again fixing the bed and being a little more thorough with her dusting.

She trailed the duster along the walls, spritzing the curtains with scented disinfectant and polishing furniture with a cloth. As she persisted in being thorough, she proceeded to open the bedside drawers to clean the thick lines of dust from along the hidden edges, freezing up and tilting her head in vexation at the surprising sight before her:

A ball gag.

She leaned in to pick it up, cautiously pinching it by its thick leather straps, and raising it before her excitable, expanded eyes. She had never seen a ball gag before. At least not in the real world. More than enough exposure to television and books enlightened her to its sole purpose, and she couldn’t help but blush at its implications.

She stared into the ball's reflective red surface, and looked over her shoulder as an impulsive thought washed over her, making her lift the ball between her lips and pop it into her mouth. She grunted softly as she bit her teeth into the gag.

Realizing what she was doing, she pulled the gag out just as fast, and with a racing heart, she rushed to the bedroom on-suite and began to wash her saliva from the toy using the sink, rubbing it dry and quickly placing it back into the drawer as if it had never been touched.

There was a moment of reflection before she began to move again. Her mind raced with newly emerging questions about the Rich couple.

Continuing the rest of her short shift, she moved onto what she had neglected the night before: the pool.

Fluttershy couldn’t get the thought of the gag out of her mind. It smelled like cheap powder coated plastic, but felt smooth against her tongue. The sides of the gag were rounded, and stretched to accommodate the sides of her lips, making it comfortable even as she pulled it tight.

She shook her head to clear her mind as she stood beside the pool, fishing leaves from the surface and filling the water with a bag of chlorine granules. She stared at her own reflection.

She never had such thoughts before, and the impulsive action was reflected on prudently, with shame. Staring at her reflection in the pool, Fluttershy couldn’t help question why she did what she did, the prudent pony sinking to such low depths in order to satiate her curiosity.

Her brooding was cut short however as she heard the sliding door connecting the kitchen to the garden open. It was Spoiled Rich, reeking of cigar smoke and fine wine, even from such a distance.

“Fluttershy. You can go home now,” called Spoiled Rich from afar, leaning on the door frame.

Fluttershy nodded and stood the net up against the fence, giving the pool one last look over to ensure it was ready for the morning. She pulled the tarp over the waters’ surface, closing her moment of reflection along with it.