Sweet Feather Diet

Rays of sunlight pierced through the curtains of Fluttershy’s bedroom, casting a warm, golden glow over the cluttered space. She slowly blinked awake, her eyes heavy from the weight of an uneasy sleep. She turned to look at the window, trying to shake off the remnants of a night filled with dreams that left her feeling restless.

For a moment, she lay still, just listening to the familiar sounds of the early morning—birds chirping outside, the rustle of the wind through the leaves. But something felt off. A gnawing sensation in the pit of her stomach—a sharp, insistent feeling—pulled her from the comfort of her bed. It was worse now, more urgent than it had been yesterday. She pulled herself out of bed, her brow furrowed in confusion.

Fluttershy’s hooves padded quietly across the wooden floor as she made her way out of her room. Her thoughts immediately shifted to Discord. She felt a flutter of concern as she recalled his unwell appearance from the night before. She wasn’t sure if she should be worried or if he was simply being his usual, unpredictable self. Still, his presence had been a comfort, and she felt it was best to check on him anyway.

She moved into the living room, where Discord was sprawled lazily across her couch, one arm draped over his eyes to block out the light coming in through the window. His serpentine body took up most of the couch, and his tail hung off the side, flicking every now and then as he snored softly.

Fluttershy smiled at the sight of him, the lord of chaos looking strangely peaceful. But that smile quickly faded as she felt her stomach growl again, louder this time. She pressed a hoof against it, grimacing as the feeling grew sharper.

She quietly made her way to the kitchen, hoping that some breakfast might help ease her discomfort. She filled a bowl with oats and fresh fruit and sat down at the small table. As she took a bite, she immediately grimaced—the taste and texture was nauseating; she couldn’t even stomach swallowing it. She pushed the bowl away in disgust, staring at it in confusion as her stomach still twisted with that strange, unsettling hunger.

After a few minutes, she decided to leave it. Maybe she just needed fresh air, to get back to her usual routine with the animals. That always helped her feel centered.

She stepped outside, the early morning air cool and crisp as it kissed her face. The familiar sounds of her sanctuary greeted her: the gentle song of birds, the rustling of the critters stirring in their nests and burrows. She inhaled deeply, hoping it would ease her mind. But the hunger gnawed at her again, a dull ache spreading through her chest.

With a soft sigh, she walked to the feed shed and began gathering food for the animals, her body moving on autopilot. She carried a bag of seed out to the chicken coop, sprinkling it around as the chickens hurried over, clucking eagerly. Normally, she’d enjoy watching them scurry about, but today, something felt off.

As she moved from one creature to the next, tending to her animal friends, the hunger only grew stronger. She fed the rabbits, cleaned the birdhouses, and refilled the water troughs, but the sensation never left. Instead, it worsened, a sharp pain shooting through her stomach that made her double over for a moment.

Fluttershy stumbled under the shade of a nearby tree, leaning against its rough bark for support. She closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing. “It’s probably nothing,” she reassured herself. “I’ll be fine…”

But she wasn’t fine. The more she tried to ignore it, the more insistent it became, like a ravenous beast clawing away at her insides. Her vision blurred, and for a moment, everything around her spun. She tried to shake it off, but it was no use.

When she finally opened her eyes, something was different.

She smelled it before she saw it—a tantalizing, warm scent. It drifted to her on the breeze, rich and intoxicating. Her mouth watered. Her body moved without thinking, her legs carrying her forward as if being guided by some unseen force. Her senses sharpened, her vision narrowing to focus on the source of that scent. She barely registered the small creature, a tiny rabbit, nibbling on some grass nearby. It was one of her oldest charges, a sweet little thing she’d raised since it was born.

But right now, all Fluttershy could see, all she could focus on, was the rapid beating of its heart.

Her stomach twisted painfully, and before she knew it, she was moving—fast, much too fast. She lunged forward, her hooves striking the ground as the rabbit bolted in fear. She gave chase, the world around her blurred, her breath coming in short, shallow bursts. She could hear the rabbit’s heartbeat, louder and louder.

And then, everything went dark.

When Fluttershy came to, her body was curled on the forest floor, her face pressed into the cool dirt. She could taste something on her lips—warm, metallic. She blinked, her mind slowly piecing together what had just happened, her eyes widening in horror as she looked down.

The rabbit lay still beside her, its small body limp and lifeless. Blood stained its once-white fur, and Fluttershy’s hooves were coated in the same crimson hue. She stared at it in shock, her breath catching in her throat.

“No… no…” she whispered, her voice breaking as the realization hit her like a tidal wave. She had killed it. She had… eaten it.

Tears welled up in her eyes, her body shaking with uncontrollable sobs. What had she done?

What was happening to her?

Fluttershy stared at the small, lifeless body, the horror of what she had done paralyzing her for a long moment. But she knew she couldn’t stay there forever. Panic began to set in. She couldn’t leave the poor thing out here. What if one of the animals found it? What if somebody came by?

Her breath hitched at the thought, and she frantically looked around, making sure no one had seen. She was alone—thank Celestia—but that only gave her a few precious moments to decide what to do.

Tears blurred her vision, her hooves trembling as she gently picked up what remained of the small, limp body. The warmth had already begun to leave it, the soft fur slick with blood. Fluttershy couldn’t bear to look at the sight, biting her lip to keep from crying out. She had to focus. She had to clean this up before anyone found out.

Moving quickly, she found a patch of earth hidden behind some thick brush near the edge of her sanctuary, far enough away that none of her animal friends would stumble upon it. Her mind raced as her hooves dug into the soil. This felt so wrong, so horrible, but she couldn’t leave the poor rabbit out in the open like this.

When she had dug deep enough, she gently placed the rabbit inside with trembling hooves, her chest tightening with guilt. She couldn’t stop the tears from falling as she pushed the dirt back over it, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. Each push of soil felt heavier than the last, until finally the small grave was filled.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her voice breaking.“I’m so, so sorry…”

The words felt empty, but it was all she could manage to choke out. She wiped her hooves on the grass, trying to get the blood off, but no matter how much she tried, the feeling of it wouldn’t go away. It felt like it was seared into her skin.

Fluttershy hurried back to the sanctuary, grabbing a bucket of water and rushing to where the rabbit had fallen. She splashed water across the bloodstains, trying to erase any evidence of her crime. Her movements were shaky and frantic, her mind racing as she tried to focus on the task, but all she could think about was the look in the rabbit’s eyes as it had run from her, the way its heartbeat had echoed in her ears.

Once she had cleaned up the mess, Fluttershy stood still for a moment, staring down at the now damp patch of earth. Her body felt numb, her mind overwhelmed with fear and guilt. How could this have happened? What was wrong with her?

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves, but that hunger still gnawed at her. It was quieter now, but it hadn’t gone away. It was waiting.

Shakily, Fluttershy made her way back to her cottage, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts. She pushed open the door, stepping inside and glancing towards the couch where Discord still lay, lazily sprawled out. His mismatched limbs were hanging over the edges, and his eyes were still closed, lost in whatever strange dreamscape a creature like him would wander through.

Should she tell him? The thought flickered through her mind, but she quickly shoved it aside. How could she? How could she ever admit what she had just done? Discord might understand... He’d seen her at her worst before, hadn’t he? He’d been there for her even when she’d been angry, scared, or confused. But this? This was much different.

No. She couldn’t. She couldn’t bear the thought of seeing the disappointment in his eyes. She didn’t even understand what was happening to her. How could she expect Discord to?

Fluttershy sat down at the table, her hooves shaking as she rested her head against the cold surface. She closed her eyes, trying to push the images of the rabbit out of her mind, but they wouldn’t go away. The guilt weighed heavy on her, but the thought of telling Discord filled her with dread.

She couldn’t tell him. Not yet. Maybe… Maybe she could figure this out on her own, and she wouldn’t have to tell anybody at all. Maybe this was just... a one-time thing. A terrible, awful mistake, and nothing more. She could fix it. She had to fix it. She could never let it happen again.

Yes. That was it. She’d keep this secret. For now. No one had to know... Not even Discord.

Taking a deep breath, Fluttershy forced herself to stand, quickly wiping her eyes before moving over to the couch, where Discord still slumbered. She didn’t want to wake him. Not now. She couldn’t face him.

Instead, she watched him for a moment, her stomach churning with guilt and shame. The weight of the lie settled heavy on her heart, but what other choice did she have?

With one last glance, she turned away and headed for the door. Her animal friends would need her soon, and she had to act like everything was normal. She had to push it down and keep it hidden. For their sake. For hers.

Fluttershy stepped back outside, closing the door softly behind her, the guilt clinging to her like a shadow.