Dr Whooves MONSTER

Later that evening and all through the night, I did what I could to follow the dance instructions of a book I found on the subject. One two three, one two three, I mumbled to myself as I tried to catch the imaginary rhythm of the musical in my head. Whether I was actually successful or not was up to debate. As I began my lessons, the preparations for the Gala were underway.

Yet, there was one more glaring issue that I had no control over. It was after all Madam Shy's decision. And I had not heard back a solid yes yet. With that in mind, my dancing came to a halt as I stood, feeling the pit in my stomach tighten again.

“Per, perhaps her father changed his mind about letting her know of my offer. Perhaps he didn’t like the idea of us together after all.” With a shake of my head, I remembered who I was talking about. Mr. Shy was a blue-collar man, an honest hard worker; he wouldn’t have forgotten it, but still, the fact that there was no reply was my answer. I at least would have liked the common courtesy of saying no to my face, or a letter by this point. The dance was nearly less than 35 hours away. Less than two days, and she had not sent one message.

As I began to grow impatient and, dare I say stressed, I caught a glimpse of a shadow walking down the street that made me turn my head at just the perfect moment. The shadow was a bird, but it wasn’t that I was interested in. There across the street with another mare, a unicorn I believed was named Rarity, one of her few friends, were off with her, heading to the park by the looks of it.

Coming back from a shopping trip, judging by the bags in their hands.

My jaw dropped at the sight of her beauty. Though it was an average day, she never even once declined for a moment.

I needed to see her; no, I needed to ask her. Growing excited and gritty, I grabbed my hat, about to walk out the door only to pause when I noticed I wasn’t dressed to go outside.

I couldn’t let her see me in my nightgown. Why, that would be absurd. Oh, but there was no time to get dressed; who knows how long it would be till I would get a chance to talk to her? What was I going to do, wait until after the dance? It would be too late by then. No, instead, I would just have to wear my trench coat over myself and hope it would be enough to not make a fool of myself. And so quick as a flash, I dashed for the coat rack and stormed outside.

Heading quickly after her, I saw as she and her friend entered the park. With a grin on my face, I fixed my hat to hide my messy morning hair, and made certain that my coat was at least dusted off, before straightening my back and clearing my throat, and then following them in.

To my luck, I spotted them right away, sitting on a bench, next to another mare, playing with her dog. Heading in their direction, I nearly missed who the new mare was, until I came closer. To my horror, I recognized her. It was Applejack, the firstborn of the Apple household – the very same young filly now grown up who had asked me if I would save her mother. How could I face such an issue.

Despite my wanting to have a discussion with Madame Shy, I couldn't do it. I wanted to face any other situation, but not the Apple family. Not now, not ever, and so with that thought, I dashed into the bushes so that she would not see me when the farm girl turned my way.

With a wave, Applejack saw her friends approaching and offered them a seat on the bench, just as her dog brought back its ball. "Here, Winona," I heard her call out, as she tossed the ball again, giving it a quiet hearty throw, judging by the distance the ball went after one toss. Barking happily, her pet chased after it, leaving the ladies to have a seat and talk.

Good day, Applejack," Rarity was the first to speak up. She was a white pony dressed in a purple skin-tight dress, carrying a matching handbag. Next to her, Fluttershy carried at least a dozen bags, for her own use.

"I, and Fluttershy, just visited the little shop on the south side of town. Oh, I have to show you the absolute most exciting thing we bought," she said, giving one of the bags off Fluttershy's arm. With the bag gone, Fluttershy momentarily lost her balance and nearly fell over, before quickly setting the bags aside, giving a little giggle and sitting down on the bench.

"Come now, Fluttershy, if you need me to carry something, Rarity smiled.

"No, no, your generosity is too much already, Rarity. I can manage," Fluttershy smiled, yet her grin showed anything but confidence.

"Thank you, dear. After all, in my state, a woman of my stature is far too weak for such bags like that. I just don't have the arm strength of a worker like you and Applejack. Being the daughters of a blue-collar worker and a farmer, you two surely outclass me."

"You can say that again," Applejack muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes.

"What was that," Rarity asked, perked up.

"Oh, nothing," the fair girl chuckled, fixing her hat, patting out her jeans, and sitting down with Fluttershy, who gave a giggle at Applejack's reply.

"Anyway," Rarity continued, pulling a dress out of the bag. It was a long, black dress with a silver spider-web-like pattern, and a pair of fake fangs, and bat wings. "I bought Fluttershy the fangs and the fake wings, before stitching together this most magnificent dress. Don't you think her costume will leave everyone jealous?" she giggled at the end, before adding, "All except me, of course, who have a fabulous princess outfit, myself. I'm dying to wear it."

"Very nice, Rarity. I'm sure Fluttershy is thrilled with it," Applejack congratulated the two.

"And you, what's your costume this year?" Rarity asked.

"I'm going as a scar crow. My brother is the lion this time; last year, we were the reverse," I replied.

"How festive! If you need me to stitch any overalls, let me know," Rarity grinned.

"Sure," the farm girl rolled her eyes and turned back at the sight of her dog finally returning with its ball.

"So, your brother is taking you again," Rarity questioned.

"Uh, no, he has his own date; I'm going solo this year," Applejack replied, taking the ball and winding up for another throw.

"Solo? Oh, no... No mare can show up to a dance solo," Rarity insisted.

"And why not? It's too late to find a date anyway; most people are already booked. I just want to have a good time."

With Applejack's last sentence, the quiet, shy pony, spoke up. Her voice caught every fiber of my attention, and I found myself nearly dropping my hat, lost in thought, without even realizing it. I didn't mean to eavesdrop; I was nearly debating on how to wave without Miss Apple noticing me while the ladies conversed amongst themselves. But as the angel spoke, I couldn't do anything but listen as if my heart was in a trance.

“I wish I could just do that,” she solemnly sighed. “I don’t like Nightmare Night—all these scary costumes.” With a shiver, she wrapped her arms around herself. “And if that wasn’t bad enough, my options of who I’m going with aren’t exactly the cream of the crop.

“What?” Rarity gasped. “How can you say such a thing? Was it not Prince Barrell, or Bulk the Salesman who asked you? Come now, you have plenty of options! Why, I hear your hoof was asked even more than my own. Granted, with someone of my status—there are only so many who are capable. You’re in a far better shape than I for that.”

“Oh yes, the daughter of a factory worker, which—apart from my face—that’s all they see me as,” Fluttershy lowered her head so her hair hid her as always. “It seems my only worth to anyone is to bed. I hate the way the townsmen look at me.” She shook.

“Oh come now, Flutters, you are much more than that,” Applejack said as she set her hooves on her hips.

“I know,” she groaned, “but I don’t like any of the men in this town. They’re all the same. My options narrow down to four, which are either a pompous rich man, a blue-collar ass, my brother, or a kind but old doctor. Of which I haven’t the faintest idea of who to choose.” She shook her head.

“A doctor?” shouted Rarity, intrigued.

“Oh come on, Fluttershy, it's just a party! It’s not like you’re fainting,” Applejack chuckled.

“Yes, but I just became marriage age. Whoever I go with on Friday, I might as well expect a proposal from them and theirs.” She groaned and settled her back against the bench. “Don’t get me wrong; a family one day would be nice, but my father instilled in me hard work and discipline. I want to become something to help the animals far more than I want to deal with my love life.”

“Well honestly, just ask yourself what you want in a man. Don’t you want strong arms to wrap around you, and a good home to feed your someday children?”

“True strength lies in action; he doesn’t have to be muscular for me to see whose value... but he does have to be kind.” The mare muttered as she began to weigh her options again and mull them over. “Kind, yes... yes, while he isn’t exactly my first choice, I do think the doctor suits me, despite him being older than I.”

“The doctor?” Applejack raised an eyebrow.

“And who is this doctor, may I ask?” Rarity stuck her nose in the air. “Don’t tell me it’s Dr. Vains, because while he is older, I think he’d be a perfect match for one such as yourself.”

“No, Dr. Whooves,” Fluttershy announced.

“Dr. Nuts!” shouted Applejack furiously. “That no-good varmint! Why, that man is so cowardly, he dares not come near my family to even make amends!”

“Applejack, it isn’t his fault your mother died,” Fluttershy meowed to her side in hopes of comforting her.

“Na—no, you’re right, but—but after Daddy...” Her voice began to shake. “We treated him like a member of the family. We believed in him, and even after he failed us, I at least expected him to… to…” Her eyes began to water, and with a head shake, she declared loudly, “I don’t know!” With a whisper, she repeated herself, “I don’t know,” before adding, “Apologies, I didn’t mean to bring any of this up. In the end, he is a good man, I suppose, but do you really want to be called Miss Nuts? The man’s crazy about some mythical monster in the woods that, by all accounts, doesn’t exist. I’m sorry! If I were you, I’d take the blue-collar ass and run with him.”

“Applejack,” Rarity called out.

She huffed and stood aside. “In the end, it is your decision, Fluttershy. Go with your gut.”

“That’s the thing—my gut tells me to wait and not go with anyone,” she sighed. “But if I do that, my father will send me with my brother because he thinks I should get out more.” With another sigh, she raised her head to the sky’s light. “No, it is my decision, and with it, Dr. Wooves is my only option. Yes, my mind’s made up; I shall write him tonight.”

Hearing her words, and what she truly thought of me, I couldn’t help but stand still as if time itself had no meaning. She was only going with me as her only option. But she was goi go with me. With that resolution my heart thumped. I had a chance. And come this Friday night, if I did things right I might actually be able to convince her I was much more than the men in this town. Come this Friday night, I would show her what a true gentleman was. That is what she, a woman of her class, and beauty truly deserved. My future set, I layed down in the bushes, a happy grin on my face, feeling as if the weight of the world was lifted off my soldiers. So much so, that right there in the dirt, it didn’t take me long to fall asleep, for the first time in years, without a care in the world.