The Monster and the Monster
Fluttershy fed the monster in her parlor.
"Eep," she said as it snatched food with a vicious claw-swipe, overturning the container in which the vittles were held. That vessel's blood-red contents scattered across the floor just past a humble mouse hole. In response, the monster growled.
Fluttershy's eyes narrowed and she pointed a wing at the mess. She opened her mouth to speak, but choked off her speech when her keen ears picked up a banging sound unrelated to the monster. Her eyes, practically rather than metaphorically, tracked the sound to her front door.
Buffeted by thuds of pony against wood, the door creaked. "Fluttershy! You all right?" A whiny voice called.
"No!" Fluttershy peeped. "Don't come in. Please."
The monster, turning toward the door, roared.
"What's going on? I'll help!" A fast-flickering shadow passed one of Fluttershy's cute little peep-windows. A blue snout peered, grotesquely flattening itself against a pane, then pushing it open, past its unhinged latch. The blue snout expanded and a wide eye took in the room. "Where are you, Fluttershy? Oh--by Celestia!"
The monster roared and stood on its two hind legs, its head brushing against the low ceiling of Fluttershy's abode. Craning its neck, it hobbled toward the window.
"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy called.
Rainbow Dash shrieked.
"Get out!" Fluttershy advised. "You've frightened H--"
Rainbow Dash jerked and whacked her head on the window frame.
"Hurry, please," Fluttershy whispered.
The monster ambled toward the window and reached for Rainbow Dash, who shrieked and pulled her head back through the frame. The monster's furry paw grasped through the opening, claws tickling for the pegasus outside.
Fluttershy started humming. "It's all right. It's okay. We have honey and pomegranate by the bowl. Honey and pomegranate by the bowl."
The monster harrumphed and sat back down.
"I know, you're still cranky," Fluttershy said. "And the pomegranates earlier might have been a bit un-ripe. And maybe you really want to eat something else? I need to study those nutrition books some more and I need some time to acquire all the necessary supplies. But a little upset stomach is no reason to...." The monster growled at her.
Rainbow Dash bucked open Fluttershy's front door. "Okay!" She huffed, pivoted, turned face-forward, and drew up her light-blue wings in an offensive position. "Fly behind me!"
"Oh, Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy said.
"Hurry!"
"Rainbow Dash--"
The monster turned to the squeaky annoying light-blue pegasus, roared and reared up.
Rainbow Dash took off into the air, but the ceiling was rather low, so the height offered little protection against the massive monster's clawed reach. "Fluttershy! Flee! I'll distract it."
"Rainbow Dash...," Fluttershy said.
The monster swiped at Fluttershy's friend, who dodged.
Fluttershy winced. "Harry--" Fluttershy said.
The monster roared.
"Harry!" Fluttershy repeated.
Fluttershy took a deep breath--and the monster grabbed Rainbow Dash. It started squeezing.
"Fluttershy! Run," Rainbow Dash gasped. "I'll get free."
"No!" Fluttershy's face contorted. "Harry! Stop that this instant!" Trembling, she flew to the monster's front. She pushed past Rainbow Dash and stared the monster in its eyes. "Didn't anypony teach you how to behave? Rainbow Dash may be a bit loud, but that is no excuse for squeezing her and scaring her."
The monster's eyes grew wide.
Fluttershy's eyes clouded over--intense--swirling with frustration.
The monster trembled.
"That's right, you're being a meanie. But you don't need to be. Put my friend back down and we can have a nice bit of tea and some filling food."
The monster snorted, but it released Rainbow Dash, who coughed.
"There there. Calm. Calm, my friend." Fluttershy comforted the monster.
"Your friend?" Rainbow Dash gawked, then bent over wheezing.
Fluttershy ignored Rainbow Dash and started petting the monster's nose. The monster purred. Then it descended to all fours and walked away.
"What is that thing?"
"Harry's a brown bear," Fluttershy said.
"Why is it here?"
"He had a hurt foot pad. I've been helping him out."
"You aren't scared of it?"
"Harry's just been a bit unsettled by your brashness. He needs a calm situation." Fluttershy blinked, then she repeated: "He."
Rainbow Dash blushed.
"Now, to make proper introductions," Fluttershy smiled. "Harry the bear, this is Rainbow Dash, the pony. And, vice versa."
"Hi," Rainbow Dash glared.
Harry snorted, baring his teeth.
"Now that is all settled," Fluttershy said. "What brings you to my door?"
"Hay," Rainbow Dash asked, contemplating the teeth. "What does this... Harry usually eat?"
"All sorts of things," Fluttershy said, and reached over to feed some field mice who from time to time (occasionally, even!) frequented her home. "Nuts, honey, things like that."
"But Harry has canines, like us," Rainbow Dash bared her own sharp cutting omnivorous teeth.
"Fish," Fluttershy spoke quickly. "Harry eats fish."
"Okay," Rainbow Dash nodded. "Just like me--good. I was, you know, worried he was going to eat something else, like land-meat-ha! Wouldn't that be terrible! He's not one of those carnivorous land-meat bears right? Like the ones that attacked those farming earth ponies?"
"I heard it was timberwolves," Fluttershy shivered. "And he's just a young sweetheart, aren't you, Harry?" Fluttershy nudged the bear. It purred--a growling purr--but a purr nevertheless.
"He's young?" Rainbow Dash crinkled her nose and looked up at the sitting bear, who regarded Dash with a neutral expression.
"An older juvenile, but yes, young."
"At least, we're completely safe with him? He was just posturin'?"
"Sure," Fluttershy said.
"I understand how that is!" Rainbow Dash puffed out her chest.
Harry looked at Fluttershy, who nodded. Harry responded to Rainbow Dash with a similar nod.
"Glad you're safe!" Rainbow Dash grinned at Fluttershy. Then, Rainbow Dash shivered.
"Have a snack--" Fluttershy offered, leaving Harry and Rainbow Dash in a room together. Rainbow Dash loosened her limbs and started to rise.
"Hey Flutt--"
Harry put a claw on Rainbow Dash's knee--pad down. Rainbow Dash watched it, then her eyes went to Harry's. She sat down. Harry tilted his head and smiled.
Fluttershy returned with tea, biscuits, flowers, and honey.
Harry devoured the biscuits and honey. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash nibbled on the flowers, tea, and honey.
"Harry's pretty protective?"
"He likes me."
"'cause you're feeding him."
"It's deeper than that."
"The key to a pony's heart is through its stomach, right?" Rainbow Dash forced a laugh.
"Indeed."
"I've never seen you hunt fish--" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Oh, no. I don't like hunting them."
"How are you feeding Harry fish, then?"
"Oh," Fluttershy said.
"...Are you getting all the nutrition that you need?" Rainbow Dash's eyes narrowed. "That might explain some of your issues with flight strength--"
"I've been having eggs!" Fluttershy ejaculated.
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow.
Fluttershy's shoulders sloped back. "--though I haven't had as much as I probably should since that farming couple--the Apples--died."
Rainbow Dash shivered. "Sad thing, that. I've been, you know, talkin' a bit to that middle child of theirs, tryin' to cheer her up on breaks from my work. Good thing they have me over there tossing rain to keep their trees well watered.... Until they get their chickens in a row again... the timberwolves couldn't have gotten all of them--right? I could pick you up some eggs next time I'm in Canterlot, if you like."
"That's too much trouble."
"Don't worry. We need a lot of good protein to survive and fly strong. I haven't seen you in the air much--"
"I've always been a weak flyer."
"Since you moved to the ground, you're hardly off it."
"My wings--"
"Would be stronger with a bit more protein. You're going to cause serious health issues--"
Fluttershy smiled weakly.
"Canterlot's got a griffon stall that sells quail eggs. They smell a bit, but they taste like gangbusters."
"Like what?"
"Gangbusters--fly-slang. Darn. I keep forgetting you haven't been in the sky for the past year. It's like real cheugy."
Fluttershy stared blankly at her friend.
"Like real-really good. So good they're speedy-fast-out-of-this-world."
"Oh," Fluttershy's eyes grew wide. "then yes. If it's not too much trouble."
"'taint no thing," Rainbow Dash grinned and leaned back, momentarily forgetting their third partner, who had been as quiet as a mouse. Then the con-celebrant burped. Dash recoiled from the animalistic discharge, which was accompanied by a concurrent putrid smell emanating from Harry's other end.
"Um," Rainbow Dash's nose crinkled. "Thanks. Thanks for this," she coughed. "But I've probably got to get on with the rest of my weather patrol." She stood up.
"Really?"
"Yeah," Dash shivered. "Have... fun!" She backed out and slipped on the blood-red juice that had been scattered on the floor and never cleaned up in the chaos of Dash's arrival.
Harry caught Dash with an outstretched claw--cupping but not clenching.
"Aaaaah!" Dash exclaimed.
"Harry's just making sure you don't hurt your head."
"What did I slip on?" Dash asked. "Blood!" She noted the red tint.
"Berry juice."
"Oh," Dash blinked. "Okay."
Harry released Dash, who took off into the air. "Thanks," Dash said, and bumbled backward into the door, turned and undid its latch, then bolted away.
"She likes to get to the point," Fluttershy explained, walking over to close the door.
Harry nodded.
"Thank you, Harry." Fluttershy latched the door.
Harry smiled.
"You're so helpful."
Harry nodded.
"You really would like a special treat, right? And you even saved Rainbow Dash, so... I should get over my squeamishness. You deserve one!"
Harry licked his lips.
When Rainbow Dash was gone and the plates were cleared, Fluttershy consulted one of her books again--How to Care for Bear, by Mage Meadowbrook. She frowned and set her chin. Then, she walked over to her field-mice friends and addressed them, "Hello again old friends."
They chittered greetings.
"I am going to have to ask you for a wee favor."
They responded.
"Thank you. I am so very pleased you are so accommodating all the time, what with sweeping the floor and mending clothing. This favor, though, it may be a wee bit difficult."
The field mice circled around in a motion that meant they would be overjoyed to help in any possible way--no matter the request.
"Oh, you flatter me."
They bowed to her.
"Oh, all for cheese. I suppose the way to most beast-friends' hearts is through their stomach, ha-ha," Fluttershy laughed.
"But truly," she frowned and swallowed hard. "This, though also a matter of the stomach, is a difficult thing." She explained what she wanted.
Late at night, she brought Harry to her greenhouse, stopping beside a tiny mouse hole. They looked down and beheld a tiny body, adorned with small sweet-smelling flowers laid across its chest.
"I know you need a bit of this and maybe having it will make you a wee-bit less cranky," Fluttershy said. "Remember, no eating our other friends. But, from time to time, they'll bring these... special treats. And from them, you can obtain really necessary nutrients when you sup, right?"
Harry nodded.
And Fluttershy stepped back and watched him salivate over his gift. He pounced, and the corpse was quickly consumed. It was gone, one of her tiny little friends--a mouse who'd died of old age.
And Fluttershy contemplated. It wasn't wrong to eat land-meat. Harry wasn't a monster for eating her friend and for needing to eat. She wasn't a monster for feeding him meat. It was necessary.
Fluttershy smiled. No one was a monster. Not here, anyway. Still, she wondered what the mouse tasted like. Fluttershy, like Rainbow Dash, had canines that could helpfully chew meat. If a pony could eat fish, then a pony could probably eat land-meat. Harry wasn't a monster. He couldn't be. Harry licked his lips and a burp erupted.
There were always a lot of dead mice. Fluttershy had been leaving them in a field for birds, so the birds would not consume them. But Fluttershy could always set out more bird feed. The birds didn't really need the meat--at least not so much.
Fluttershy's tummy rumbled.
Harry mumbled something.
"I should have a treat too?" Fluttershy asked, blushing. "Oh, Harry. Maybe not now."
Harry pointed at a painting on Fluttershy's wall--the one with the trout--then mimed that he could catch it.
"That would be nice," Fluttershy said, and her eyes drifted to some field-mice skittering just out of the periphery of her view. "I suppose it is good for creatures to ingest a variety of dishes...." Fluttershy salivated.
Author's Note
Happy Halloween! 
