Fluttershy loves animals so much. Whenever she is around them it fills her with so much glee. She especially loves pets! There was just something about the bond between a pony and their pet that she found so endearing. So, it came with no surprise that the ponies of Ponyville often hired her as a pet sitter. Whether it was Rainbow Dash with her tortoise Tank, or Rarity with her cat Opal, all pets great and small were welcome at her cottage. One day, however, Fluttershy would get a job she was not prepared for...
On one fine, Spring morning, Fluttershy was dusting her cottage with her little bunny Angel when she heard a knock at the door. "Oh, whoever could that be?" she said curiously. Fluttershy made her way to the door and opened it to see her dear friend Applejack standing before her. "Oh! Applejack, hello. What are doing here so early? Don't you have your normal farm duties this time of day?" the pegasus asked.
Applejack chuckled. "Ay reckon yer right sugarcube, but Ay have a small problem with that. Ya see, me and Big Mac are going on a delivery run, and Granny and Applebloom will be working the fields, but that leaves nopony to watch over Winona." Just as she finished speaking, Winona popped out from behind the country mare and gave a little bark. "Could you watch her while we're gone?"
Fluttershy smiled from ear to ear. "Of course! I've never pet sat for you before and I would love to get to know this little adorable baby!" Winona barked once more as she bolted into the cabin.
"Well thank ya kindly Fluttershy. I'll be back later this evening to pick her up." With that, Applejack galloped away toward Sweet Apple Acres.
Fluttershy shut the door and turned toward the dog, who was running in circles in the middle of the room. "Well Winona, it's just you and me for a little while. How about we get a nice breakfast started?" Winona just smiled. "I will take that as a yes then."
Fluttershy walked into the back of her kitchen and began to prepare fruits and veggies for the pup. When she returned she could not find Winona. "Winona? Here girl. Where are you?" Just then, Fluttershy heard some commotion behind her. She turned around to see Winona chasing Angel Bunny around the room. "No! Winona stop that, p-please?" Her words were ignored as Winona chased Angel up the couch and out the open cottage window. Winona jumped out too and gave chase causing Fluttershy to (attempt to) scream. "Ahhh! No, get back here this instance!" It was barely more than a whisper.
Fluttershy ran outside to see Winona had switched targets, opting to bother her chicken coup. Winona had burrowed under the fence and was disturbing every nest in site. Chickens ran amuck, and Fluttershy soon realized how much of a hoof full Winona really was. "Oh dear..." is all she said as she ran into the coup.
As Fluttershy chased the wild dog around, feathers from both the chickens and her flew into the air. They clouded her vision, but only acted as a toy for Winona to bite at in the air. She finally cornered her, ready to pounce and grab the dog, when she bolted through Fluttershy's hooves and out of the coup. "Auugh..." Fluttershy said exasperatedly before beginning the chase again.
Fluttershy was hot on Winona's trail as the pup raced down the path toward town. Winona ran under carts, barreled past shops, and finally made her way to Sugarcube Corner. Fluttershy followed her inside only to watch in horror as Winona dived into a display of cupcakes! "Winonnnnaaa! What did you do!? Ohhhh, Mrs. Cake's not going to be happy..." Winona never wavered in her joyful attitude, opting to roll around in the frosted sweets a little longer. When Fluttershy finally got her hooves on the dog, she sighed in relief. "Finally...now, let's go give you a bath." As soon as the word bath left her mouth, Winona bolted for the exit once again. "Of course...I should have expected that..." She rushed after the dog once again, getting ever more annoyed at the game of cat and mouse.
Winona ran to the edge of town and stopped. Fluttershy caught up to see her just sitting there. "Come on Winona. Don't you want to get cleaned up for Applejack?" Winona blinked, barked, and then laid down right in the dirt. Fluttershy watched as Winona fell asleep! The pegasus sighed and collapsed as well. She trotted over and picked up the dog. On her way back she saw Mrs. Cake cleaning the cupcakes. 'I'll have to go apologize tomorrow.' she thought. She saw her chicken coup in disarray. "Oh, I'll have to fix that tonight before bed." Finally, she saw Angel, who fast asleep outside, tired out by being chased.
Fluttershy made her way back inside and brought Winona to the sink. She drew a nice warm bath and scrubbed the pup from head to tail, all while she slept through it. Drying her off, she set Winona down on the couch. She was so exhausted that she sat down right next to Winona and fell asleep as well.
Some time passed as Fluttershy was awoken by a knock at her door. Both her and Winona woke to the noise, the latter barking for joy. Fluttershy opened it to see Applejack once again. Winona hollered and ran to Applejack, who scooped her up. "Heya girl! Did you have fun at Fluttershy's today? Hey, thanks again for watching her today."
Fluttershy nodded. "I took good care of her, but she was a bit of a hoof full."
"Oh...well this is awkward..." Applejack stuttered out at Fluttershy's last sentence.
"What is it?" Fluttershy asked.
".....Do ya mind lookin after her again tomorrow? Hehe?" Applejack said sheepishly.
Fluttershy looked at Applejack with a worried expression, replying with, ".....O-Of course, what are friends for.....?"
