CYOA: A Day in Ponyville

You walk down the road through Ponyville, feeling like a million bits. The jewel on your arm glints in the light. So far, ponies have been giving you their attention. Mostly because of the nice bit of bling.

Just ahead, you can see the shape of another pony. Fluttershy sits on a bench, quietly watching a nearby patch of wildflowers. "Fluttershy! Hi."

"Oh, hello there." She waves at you softly with a wing. She doesn't take much note of your bracelet, but her attention was always more on the wildlife, like the birds she was watching at that moment.

You sit down next to her. "Taking in the beauty of the day?"

"Yes." She reaches out with one hoof to gently stroke the feathers of a bird perched on a branch above her. "They're really enjoying the calm weather. You should have seen it when it rained the other day. They were just so wet!" She glances over at you and catches sight of the bling. "Oh, I'm sorry. That's beautiful."

You beam with pride. You didn't expect Fluttershy to notice, but that she did! "I just got it." You swing your arm over and waggle your hoof. "Doesn't it match me?" You pause, thinking how you can make it more relatable to her. "Does it remind you of any animal?"

Fluttershy steps up closer to it, eyes wide. "Oh my, yes. Do you see these patterns here? That reminds me of some of the spots on the snail family. They're so shiny too, like those catfish from the river. And this blue part?" She brings her muzzle closer. "So gorgeous. Just like the flash of color on a macaw."

You dance in place. "It really caught my eye too. A snail though? I wouldn't have thought of that. Guess it makes sense when you think about it." You run a hoof along the patterns. "I just thought it was pretty. Not sure what it's made of."

Fluttershy giggles at that gently. "Ponies do that a lot. Animals do too." She pauses. "Well, ponies are animals, so that makes sense. Collecting shiny things because they're pretty, without worrying about what they're made of."

You pout, but you don't argue with her. "Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, I saw you and figured I'd say hi."

She peers over at you. "Yes, it's been awhile since we talked." She hops back up onto her bench and pats a spot beside her. "Would you care to birdwatch with me?"

You consider it. You really do. You like Fluttershy and just want to spend time with her, and that offer sounds so tempting. You did pick a side of the town in the hopes of seeing her. So how could you say no? "I would love to."

Fluttershy invites you to join her in the park, both of you having a pleasant afternoon watching the birds in Ponyville. As it turns out, she knows most of them by name, including the few that come to visit her for a treat. It amazes you that each and every bird has a specific name, beside what species they were. To Fluttershy, each was a specific thing.

"This is Benjamin," she'd say, stroking his feathers. "He likes to wear scarves." She slips a bit of red cloth around his neck. "Isn't that right?"

The bird squawks happily and takes off into the sky, cloth trailing along behind it.

"He'll wear that for a while," she giggles out, turning to you. "I, um, actually. I thought you'd have gotten bored and wandered away. Most ponies do." She scuffles meekly in place. "You really like birds?"

You consider your words before speaking. "I don't know if I could name them all like you do, but they're fascinating. All those different feathers, colors, and shapes. And what they do! Like that one that catches fish." You sit down in front of her. "But there's one bird that especially has my attention. She has pretty wings and a soft voice. I could watch her all day long."

Fluttershy tilts her head with a smile. "Me? Oh, you're just being silly."

"Maybe a little. But mostly it's because you make me feel happy." You brush your cheek against hers. "You really know how to fill a day with joy."

Fluttershy's cheeks are warming swiftly as you compliment her. "Even when I talk to birds?"

You turn your attention back to the sky, where Benjamin is soaring through the clouds. "Especially when you talk to birds."

She shuffles up against you, nuzzling against your side.

It promised to be a wonderful day in Ponyville.

The End.