Fluttershy caressed the soft moist soil with her hoof. Yellow fur soon stained a darker hue as she lifted to a standing position. Silence seemed to reverberate for miles on end, the Blue Bells she planted dripping with fresh dew from the morning shower that hastily passed.
Without a word, she lowered towards the ground, cheek placed atop the cooling earth for a fleeting moment. Taking in the beauty around herself, she let the natural scents of nature spirit away all her worries. Lifting upward, her turquoise eyes drifted to the gray clouds above, another shower on the horizon as the wind began to pick up.
With a large gust, her mane flew forward as delicate droplets of rain began to dance across her backside. Shivering, she began the lonely walk towards her cottage, careful not to slip or fall into forming puddles along the way. With each step, the echo of splashes from behind caught her attention.
Listening with a soft smile spread across her lips. She giggled at the playful noise of carefree hops and joyous jumps into the puddles of mud scattered about. A usually dreary time turned into a fun experience, brought to life by imagination and the zest for life.
Slowly turning around, she wished to see a scene of happiness play out. Only to be greeted by the emptiness that she felt in her heart. The open path, empty as the skipping of puddles, was merely the result of a few fallen acorns from above.
Part of her was saddened by the echo of rain around her. Another full of warmth that memories of the past still were fresh within her mind. Never forgotten nor hazy by the passage of time. Yet bold and vibrant, like the sunshine of a new day atop her coat.
Smiling, she let herself enjoy the moment of brief comfort. Before shaking off the cold water from her coat and pushing through the growing wind that bellowed around the forest. Thunder boomed as the earth shook, the mare soon shuffling through the mud and pressing against the wooden frame of her home.
She took a moment to catch her breath. She rested upon the old oak frame, eyes closed in deep thought. Heart beating out of control in a frantic rhythmic dance, the world seemed smaller and more cramped. The trees closed in around her, their branches stretched out like monstrous claws.
"..." With a long inhale, she held the air in her lungs, mind focused on the moment.
Her lungs burned as she released a calm, long exhale. Thoughts of the past creaking through the cracks but held at bay by stalwart determination. Her mind was soon at peace as her heart slowed to a tranquil beat. A wave of calm washing down her hooves much like the tears rolling down her cheeks.
With one last push, she entered her cottage. The violent crash of rain soon became just a dull melody of discourse. She let the outside world drift further away into the distance, the shelter not quite a home anymore. The corridors were darkened by past events, the silence of each hallway deafening.
Fluttershy made herself move deeper into its abysmal jaws. Past the empty bed and the scattered toys thrown across the floor. Her body tensed in pain, muscles cramping with each step towards the kitchen. Once inside, the lump in her throat was unbearable as she began to sob loudly.
Her slender body collapsed atop the nearby counter, as yellow hooves trembled uncontrollably. She searched out a canister of tea leaves, vision blurred by the stain of tears. Touching a nearby carrot left on one of the shelves, her heart weakened as defenses cracked.
Suddenly, everything became quiet. As if life itself had been robbed from her home. Leaving only a numbness behind and snuff out the last remnants of her spirit.
Would that be such a horrid thing?
To bring a stop to the pain, to finally feel empty and void of this melancholy.
Letting the icy hoof of defeat claim her. She suddenly felt a hard slap upon her cheek, as if a small foot gave her a well needed kick to the chops. Eyes focusing once more, Fluttershy found herself sprawled helplessly on the kitchen floor.
Her cheek burned a rose red as she rubbed it. An oddly familiar feeling lifting her up to her hooves. Angel was never afraid to give her a kick into gear if it meant she'd be better for it in the future.
He made sure that she kept strong, never afraid to push herself to new heights. Angel, never one to let sulking take over. Fluttershy forced herself to bring the iron kettle of tea to a boil.
The annoyed thumping of tiny feet on her coffee table drawing her near. She did notice that her duties towards the other charges had fallen behind recently. Since that one day, she had been living in warmer memories and forgotten to bring herself back to the present.
Each day lived for the past, when her calendar had so many helpless little creatures in need of her help. Taking a seat on her chair in silence, she lifted the clutter calendar to begin making arrangements for those in need of kindness. With each flick of the hoof, she felt lifted and warmer within.
For the first moment in a long time, she could see a warm orange glow cascading in from the open window. The sound of rain slowed to a close as a faint melody of birds began to sing joyously. Her cottage seemed less empty, and the claustrophobia of her worries soon replaced with peace.
Looking down to her agenda for the week, Fluttershy noticed she was part of so many lives. That ponies and animals needed her, as much as she needed them. It was finally time to live again.
The kettle in the kitchen began to whistle, catching her attention.
“Thank you, my Angel.”
Author's Note
I recently lost a family pet, and needed to vent my thoughts. Been writing this for almost a week, but couldn't finish it until now.
Talking to people here helped me, I just wanted to say...
Thank you.
