Flutters Shy
It was an early morning in Ponyville. It was early autumn, and the leaves had just barely started to turn. Applejack was busy working the fields with Carrot Top, as Applebuck season had already passed. Rainbow Dash was away in Cloudsdale, checking on the hoof crafted snowflakes for the upcoming winter, and would be back later that day. Pinkie Pie was hosting a Fall Fell party when she returned, to celebrate the season by having picnics under the coloured leaves, bird watching and such, a far calmer sort of party than she usually hosted, but a party none the less. Rarity was getting busy preparing her newest fall fashions, and Twilight was working on something or another, as she usually did.
Fluttershy, however, was asleep. She slept long into the morning, and only at 11, when the sun finally rose over the oppressive boughs of the everfree trees to cast it's warm rays through her window and on her face, did she finally stir from her deep slumber. Such was usual for the pegasus during this season, and while her animals understood, she was nonetheless frantic about having overslept and not fed them.
"Oh my goodness! Angel Bunny! I'm sooooo sorry! I slept in again and....." The little white rabbit, in a stark contrast to his usual mood, merely let out a sigh and followed Fluttershy as she went about getting food for the various animals. She fluttered up to the top cupboards and removed a bag of animal feed, but still feeling the dregs of sleep, did not notice that her actions had made the second bag unstable, dropping it on the poor mare's head.
Poor Fluttershy was knocked to the ground, and after a brief flash and a startled 'eek', she dove under the table and panted heavily, trying in desperation to control her breathing and regain her calm.
"Oh no. Not again. Please tell me nopony saw me. Angel?" She looked to her tiny companion, who made a series of complex signals with his arms to give the 'all clear' sign.
"Whew. Thank you so much Angel. You're a life saver." She cuddled the bunny, who merely stood there looking at his empty food bowl.
"Oh! Of course!" She quickly poured all the food the animals needed, then got to work on her daily tasks.
Outside in the warm sun, Fluttershy rolled her wings, feeling the breeze and the soothing rays. She felt good, despite her earlier close call. First, she began by checking last year's burrows, making sure they were clean, as well as large enough to hold their occupants, as many of the animals had new babies over the spring, and their winter dens would need to be large enough to hold them all during the upcoming hibernation. Then she made sure to bury a number of nuts, and show the local squirrels where she had hidden them so they could find them when they inevitably awoke from their winter slumber for a snack. Finally, she checked the nests for the winter birds, making sure they were stable. If they fell while their residents were asleep, they would be trapped against the frigid snow, and get hypothermia.
After each task was completed, the animals would give their thanks with a quick rub, causing the quiet mare to smile to herself before thanking them all for keeping her secret. They knew all too well what it was she required, and they didn't mind, as she helped them in turn. With that task finished, Fluttershy was feeling a bit peckish, so she decided to call her friends together for a quick lunch. She remember the Fall Fell party was later in the evening, and that all her friends were busy in the meantime, save for Twilight.
"Oh, Fluttershy. Done already?"
"Um, yes. The animals were very helpful in getting things ready. Oh, I do hope they aren't becoming like the everfree animals. If they can care for themselves, they won't need me anymore." Suddenly, she became very worried. If she wasn't needed by the animals anymore, what would she do? She would be ruined!
"Oh Fluttershy, they could never replace you. Besides, even if they did, we'd still need you." Twilight's assurance set her mind at ease, as she realized she was worrying over nothing. She couldn't let herself get flustered, or she'd might let out her secret.
"Twilight, I know we're having the picnic later, but, um, do you think we could have lunch? I brought some of those tea leaves you like."
"Oh, I don't mind at all. And what am I doing standing here in the doorway? Come in, come in!" The lavender mare moved to the side and allowed her entry.
"Are you in the mood for eggs? Spiiiiiiike, make some eggs for lunch please!" She called into the house for her assistant.
"Oh... um, no, I wouldn't want to be a bother. A salad would be fine. Spike already works so hard already."
"Nonsense. I'm sure he'd love to make it."
"Um... I really don't mind....."
Oh, please don't get mad. I don't want to argue with Twilight, but I don't want to make Spike do more than he has to, he might get mad. Oh, this was a bad idea.
"Don't worry about it. I'll get right on it." Spike replied, once again setting the timid mare's mind at ease. She didn't sense any hostility from him, or from her unicorn friend, so she quickly settled in on the couch.
"Alright Fluttershy, lets talk. I'm sure you came here for something other than lunch, although, I mean, that's fine, and I'm not accusing you of having an ulterior motive, but you're normally so shy and tend to spend time alone, it was kind of surprising when you showed up, so I figured there must be something you wanted to talk about, or maybe need my advice for, and it's fine if there isn't and you just wanted to have lunch and idle chatter, but if there is something you need advice for, I'd be glad to help!" Twilight..... was acting odd. She was speaking very quickly, not as fast as Pinkie Pie mind you, but still quite fast. Her mane was frazzled, and once Fluttershy had gotten over her own apprehension she then realized how bedraggled her friend was.
"Twilight, you've run yourself ragged. Sit, sit. Please. Maybe you could, umm, tell me what you're working on while we eat?" Fluttershy suggested meekly. Whenever Twilight got into one of those moods, she wasn't just difficult, she was dangerous, and needed to be calmed before she continued, lest the town of Ponyville be subject to another...... incident.
"Oh, it's just, after the changelings invaded Canterlot, I've been working on a large scale version of the spell I used to unmask them. I think I've got it, but I haven't found a single changeling to test it on. So far, it works fine on ponies, having no effect at all, but I haven't seen what it does to a changeling yet. But it's perfectly safe on ponies. Pretty soon I'll be able to cast it on the whole town at once. Now, I'm not positive, but I THINK BonBon might be one, and.... Fluttershy? Are you alright?"
"Oh, um, yes. I'm fine, I just have a terrible feeling, like I've forgotten something.... Oh, now I know I've forgotten something, and I can't remember what it is, I just know it's important. Oh.. I'm so frustrated. I just know I'll remember it....... OH! Bonbon made some special candies for Nightmare Night! I finally decided to give out candy this year, dress up and everything! She wanted me to test them, and we made a day of it, and that's today! Oh, I'm so sorry Twilight! I need to go!"
"I understand. But, are you sure you won't stay for lunch, after all, Spike should be finished making now."
Oh, I wouldn't want to upset Twilight and leave right away, and after making Spike go through all that effort, they might be upset if I just up and leave.... oooh.....
"Well... alright. I guess I have time. Panicking over nothing as usual Fluttershy...." She berated herself.
"It's not nothing, if you have a date to keep, it is only fair to arrive on time, but if you really do have time, then stay."
"And lunch is served." Spike said as he left the kitchen wearing a frilly pink apron saying 'kiss the chef'. With a bow he lowered the platter containing two bowls of salad, and a daisy sandwich each, along with a small bowl of gems for Spike that he had prepared for himself. The three ate together, Twilight and Spike talking amongst each other, with Fluttershy only speaking when she was asked a question directly. Once they finished, she thanked them for their hospitality and smiled at the feeling of warmth she got from their own, before heading off to BonBon's.
"That's strange Twilight. She came over for lunch, but hardly ate anything."
"Fluttershy. So good to see you. Here to test the candies?" The candy pony allowed her friend entry to the house.
"Um... yes. That's why I'm here. Do you have a minute before we start?"
"Oh, of course, what is it?.... Did someone find out?"
"Twilight's working on a spell to drive off changeling disguises, for the entire town! Bonbon, it's horrible! If she does it, you'll be discovered, and...."
"I... was worried this.... I knew the time would come, but, we'll just have to tell her..... before she completes the spell. Well, when I say we.... I mean you. She knows you. She trusts you. If you tell her, she'll listen."
"I sure hope so. After what Queen Chrysalis did to her, her brother, and Princess Cadence, I'm not sure if she will."
"Hello everypony! I'm so super duper excited you all could make it!"
"Shh, Pinkie dear, you'll scare the birds. It's a relaxing, quiet party, like a tea party, remember?" Rarity reminded her energetic friend. "Although I must say, these colors really do go well with the changing leaves."
"Changeling leaves? Where?" Rainbow Dash jumped up and began shadowboxing.
"Chang-ing, not change-ling Rainbow."
"Oh.. um, right. Still, any changeling shows up here, I'll be sure to give em a good bucking!" Applejack looked at her incredulously. "With my hooves. You know, not the other kind." The five broke out into fits of giggles, while Fluttershy only whimpered and sank deeper into her mane.
"Fluttershy dear, what's wrong? You've barely eaten anything, and you've been quiet...er, than usual." Rarity asked.
"Well. Um... I... um...."
"Comeon sugar cube, is somthin wrong? Ya know ya can tell us anythin....."
"Well. um.... alright... here goes..... I'm a changeling."
"What was that darlin? Can't hear ya."
They're not making it any easier on me....
"I said.... I'm...*sigh* a changeling. I.. I always have been. Me. Bonbon, and any number of others in Ponyville, and the rest of Equestria too."
"Wha.... huh? No way! I've known you since flight camp, and you definitely were NOT a changeling!" Rainbow got right in her face and glared at her, while Fluttershy simply looked away.
"I always had trouble flying, because I had to learn with wings that weren't mine.... And, I'm shy all the time because I'm afraid of what ponies might think if they knew. And I'm scared of a lot of things because if something hits my horn, even when it's hidden, like this." She bopped herself on the forehead, and after being surrounded by green flames momentarily, standing in her place was a changeling, who looked much like queen Chrysalis, only shorter, her mane was styled the same as Fluttershy's, she had the same kind, blue eyes. That's where the physical differences ended, with the exception that flutter-ling still had her cutie mark of three butterflies.
"The reason I love animals, is because I take care of them, and they love me, which keeps me fed. They keep my secret too, and they don't mind at all. And other than having different wings, the other reason why I couldn't fly at flight camps was... well...."
"All the other fillies and colts.... they were mean to you." Dash came upon the realization. "Nopony was nice to you, and.... they starved you." Fluttershy merely nodded sadly.
"That's also why I'm always so desperate for ponies to like me... which is why I was a push over.... and why every fall and winter, I sleep in so late. All the animals start going into hibernation and....."
"You mean that every winter, you go hungry?" She nodded again, tears welling up in her eyes.
"And it's why I don't eat very much. Changelings can eat food, but that's only to keep up the disguise. And then.... oh.... then when Iron Will came, and I turned into 'New Fluttershy', that monster, I felt like I could just die. I made everypony hate me! And then..., at the wedding.... when the changelings attacked. I knew Cadence had been.... but, I couldn't say anything. I...... I was so afraid. If I uncovered her, then she'd uncover me, and then... I couldn't..."
"Wait.... then when we were fighting...."
"Changelings can detect each other, even when they're in disguise, otherwise they wouldn't know who's who.. That's why when I pretended to be one of the ones in disguise, they fell for it. They knew I was a changeling, but they couldn't tell me from themselves. And, I felt so horrible about it, when the queen hurt the Princess. And I felt horrible that I was keeping this from you, and I couldn't take it anymore, and, I was going to tell you, but after the wedding, when all that bad stuff happened, I couldn't anymore! Everypony hates changelings now, so I got even more afraid of what would happen if anypony found out.... and then, today at Twilight's...."
"My spell." Twilight gasped.
Fluttershy nodded again.
"I knew it was only a matter of time before you used it, and I couldn't hide it anymore. You'd find out eventually, and... I'd rather tell you than have you find out the hard way that... that....." Her eyes welled up with tears again. "That I've been lying to you all my entire life! I understand if you want me to leave and never come back just please, please don't hate me" She collapsed to the ground and whimpered, before finding herself wrapped in soft fur.
"Fluttershy, we could never hate you. Whether you're a changeling or a pony, it doesn't matter. As long as you're still yourself. You are still our friend, and the bearer of kindness. You helped us beat Nightmare Moon, and Discord!" Twilight pointed out.
"And ya'll were tha one that told them rabbits ta stay off my farm, and found out it's cuz they were hungry, so ya took ta feedin em yerself." Applejack reminded her.
"And you're the one who kept patching me up after I'd mess up a trick." Rainbow Dash added.
"And helped me with modeling my latest fashions!" Rarity piped in.
"And you're my bestest-estest friend in the whole wide world! You even walked away from cave-sitting for Harry the bear to plan a surprise party for my birthday!"
"You're our friend Fluttershy, changeling or not, nothing can change that." Fluttershy's bug wings buzzed happily. And that was when the five friends took notice of something they had not seen before, what should have been the most striking feature on her insectoid body. Two somethings in fact. First off, there wasn't a single hole in their friend's body. She was wholly without holes. And two, she emitted a warm glow from her entire being.
"So, now that we know you're a changeling, can we finally meet your family?" Twilight asked.
"Um.... you kind of already have.... although it wasn't under the best circumstances." With that, Bonbon strode up to the group, before shifting into the form of a regular changeling.
"Princess Fluttershy! I'm so glad everything worked out."
"PRINCESS? You mean Chrysalis is your MOM?!?!?" Fluttershy awkwardly raised her shoulders before hiding further behind her now seaweed mane.
"Umm.... surprise?"