Fluttershy was clingy today, Applejack noticed.
It’d been happening a lot as of late, the pegasus pressing close to AJ and following her around like a lost duckling. Whether through the orchard, Ponyville or even the library with the girls, she was almost always next to her.
The farmer didn’t mind it much of course, but was starting to get a bit concerned.
Applejack startled slightly as she felt Fluttershy press against her side, walking closely with her as they moved across Ponyville’s streets. She looked tired, stressed with slight bags under her eyes, and the farm pony slowed down slightly to match her friend’s pace. Was something bothering her? Must be for her to be like this, but what could it be? “Are y'all alright, sugarcube?”
The pale yellow pegasus nodded distractedly, staring straight ahead as she continued moving. Her left wing moved over Applejack’s shoulders, gently settling on top in a way that made her shiver slightly. The feathers tickled, and the farming pony felt her face get slightly heated at the touch, Fluttershy looking back at her with care and sincerity in her eyes as she gently smiled up at the taller mare. “I’m… okay… I'll be okay..”
Something still didn’t feel right, but Applejack nodded and continued walking, trying to ignore the warmth on her shoulders from where Fluttershy still hadn’t moved her wing. It was strangely comforting, and she quietly revelled in the contact. If Fluttershy was more comfortable like this, then she couldn’t say no, could she?
They continued forwards, the birds chirping and ponies around them talking about various things. Up ahead, a bunch of ponies were working on constructing a new house. Applejack went to join them, always happy to help, but was stopped as Fluttershy pushed her towards the way of the school with a small mutter. “..we… need to pick up Applebloom…”
The farming pony at first went to protest but sighed and nodded when she looked back to see there were already plenty of ponies helping. Fluttershy was right, and she noticed the other mare relax when she saw the farmer's response.
Turning in the direction of the school house, Applejack hummed and continued forward, Fluttershy not far behind. Though, her wing had receded and been pressed against her own side once more. The earth pony attempted to fill the silence, blowing the hair out of her eyes. “Wonder what they’re learnin’ today.”
“P…probably math… Cheerilee said that’s their next unit….” Fluttershy mumbled as she carefully trotted next to her, mane covering one of her eyes as her head hung low. The farmer’s head tilted. “You talk ta’ Cheerilee?”
“..s..sometimes…”
The school house came into view, and the bell rang, fillies and colts running from the door as it opened. Applebloom and her friends were easy to spot, and Applejack whistled to get their attention. The filly waved to her friends and scampered towards the two mares, bumping gently against her older sister’s chest. “Heya Applejack! Fluttershy! What are y’all doin’ here?”
“Pickin’ you up, sugarcube! ‘Shy insisted on it.” The pegasus hunched her shoulders slightly at being addressed, but nodded minutely. Applebloom’s head tilted in curiosity but shrugged it off, giggling. “Well it’s nice ta’ see y’all! Ms. Cheerliee had us doin’ all this math an’ it was so darn boring!”
“Really?”
“Really!! There were all these fractions an’ divisions an’ Scootaloo almost fell asleep!!” Applebloom trotted along with them, and Applejack laughed at her words. If she thought math was boring now she wasn’t prepared for the future of the subject. Judging by how Fluttershy was gently giggling, she agreed.
Fluttershy went towards the path back into Ponyville suddenly, and the Apples stopped. “Uh, Fluttershy? We’re going this way. ‘S quicker, y’know?”
The pegasus’ eyes widened and she muttered something meaningless to herself as her wings shifted uncomfortably. She shuffled her hooves anxiously and Applejack had to stop from instinctively going to comfort her. Fluttershy finally spoke, voice quiet and somewhat pleading. “Can we p-please just go through Ponyville…? …please…?”
Okay, something was definitely wrong. Fluttershy never passed up the opportunity to avoid being near other ponies, and both of the Apple sisters knew it. Applejack took in a breath and looked to Applebloom, who just shrugged her shoulders. Okay, so helpful. Turning to Fluttershy, the farming pony nodded and followed next to her. It wouldn’t harm to humor her friend if she was that spooked about it. “Lead the way then, sugarcube. A detour couldn’t hurt, ah suppose.”
The pegasus smiled gently and sagged with relief, immediately going on the path through Ponyville to the Apple Farm. The Apples diligently followed, though Applejack had to wonder why her friend seemed so spooked of the orchard. Maybe she’d have to check around to see if anything could’a scared her in there.
Waving to passing ponies, the farmer gently bumped against her friend in an attempt to show her it was alright. The animal caretaker smiled knowingly at her and bumped her back. Behind them, Applebloom made a face that had Applejack glaring playfully at her.
It still didn’t take long to get to Sweet Apple Acres, and Applebloom sped up to the door and burst in, running to the kitchen as Applejack chuckled. “She must be hungry, huh?”
Nodding, Fluttershy then muttered something the farmer couldn’t quite catch, and she nodded at her to speak louder, making her blush. Her voice was especially quiet, and Applejack had to strain to hear her properly. “Uhm… can… can i stay here tonight…? I dunno… I guess I've been getting uhm… lonely…”
AJ blinked and nodded. “Of course, sugarcube. Our home’s always open to ya.”
Smiling, the pegasus nodded gratefully, and they entered the house to see Granny on her chair and Big Mac in front of a mixing pot, clearly making a sort of soup. He looked over to them, nodding before looking back at the pot, quickly ladeling the soup into four bowls and grabbing a fifth. “Eyup.”
“Heyo, Big Mac.” Applejack replied, moving to pick up the bowls and place them around the table. Fluttershy sat down at a chair and the farming pony quickly gave her a bowl, sitting next to her with a small smile that the other returned.
Dinner was quiet, asides from Applebloom rambling about what they'd been learning at school. Applejack was able to relax and soak in the comfort of the moment, the warm soup going down her throat with every sip and Fluttershy humming along right next to her. It was nice to be close to her friend, she pondered, finishing her meal.
After the pegasus finished hers, the farmer gently led her up the steps to her room. She wouldn’t mind if they shared the bed, right? “We only have my bed, s’it good that we share?”
Fluttershy nodded and hesitantly crawled under the covers, Applejack following in after and putting her hat on the side table. Laying next to her friend’s warm body, the farmer found it rather easy to slip into sleep.
***
Shuffling from beside her awoke the farming pony, grunting softly in confusion. Applejack relaxed when a familiar voice washed over her. Fluttershy. “It’s ok, Applejack… go back to sleep.”
Hazily, she complied with a mumble, barely recognizing the door creaking open before gently closing. Her side gently rose and fell as she breathed, slipping back into sleep for who knows how long. It was smooth, comforting, but also missing something. A warmth she couldn’t describe was fading away, and it made her shuffle in bed before groaning and sitting up. Looking around, she was disheartened to see Fluttershy was gone.
The sun peeked through the window, and the orange pony got out of bed, putting her hat back on her head. Walking out of her room, she realized she was the only one awake, and resolved to check on her friend, wondering what had made her leave so early in the morning.
Getting out some paper, AJ wrote down where she was going, grabbing a quick apple to snack on before going on her way to her friend’s house.
It was quiet outside, almost nopony awake at this hour. Who would be, really? Even Applejack wasn’t usually up at this time, despite her early riser status. The farmer sniffed as she continued on the path, her stomach swirling nauseatingly. Something was wrong… something was very wrong today. She sped up her walk into a trot, then a run.
Rationally, her mind told her she was overreacting, but the pure feeling of wrongness was overwhelming her. Something was terribly, terribly wrong.
Fluttershy’s home came into view, and the farming pony skidded to a halt before calling out her friend’s name. “FLUTTERSHY?! ARE Y’ALRIGHT?!”
Nothing. Nada.
Carefully opening the fence, Applejack stepped inside the property and looked around in concern, before a smell hit her nostrils, metallic and iron-like.
Blood.
“FLUTTERSHY?!!?” She yelled, sprinting towards the smell and screaming when she met the horrible sight in front of her.
A lumbering and tall animal was crouched over the familiar colors of Fluttershy, now stained with bloody red chunks of organs and flesh. The dead mare's legs twitched, and Applejack could only hope it was just a muscle contraction, and not that her friend was still alive and in pain. Tears spilled down the orange pony’s face as the creature, a bear, lumbered towards her.
She attempted to take a step back, but was halted by the claws that slashed her throat open. Falling to the ground with a gurgle, Applejack’s senses faded as she felt something begin to dig into her stomach.
—
Gasping, Applejack held her hooves to her stomach as she breathed harshly, eyes squeezing shut in fear and phantom pains. A whimper escaped her harshly as the sight of her friend's body played in her mind over and over again. Just a nightmare, Aj… Just a nightmare. You’re fine, F-Fluttershy’s fine…
“Applejack…? Did y-you have a nightmare?” Fluttershy’s voice was oh so comforting as the farmer sat up to look at her, quickly rushing to hug the pegasus. She needed to know this was real, that what she saw didn’t happen. The yellow mare hugged back, gently patting her with a hoof and whispering comforting words. “It’s ok… It wasn’t real… You’re ok…”
“I promise… we’re ok.”
Author's Note
this is my first time using fimfiction so pls be patient with me lol-
this will also be posted on my ao3 alastormybeloved !! i have many more stories there
