Fluttercraft

Chapter One

Something Fun

By TheYewTree

"Thanks for offering to take care of Tank while I'm away at the Wonderbolts Academy, Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash told her. "It really means a lot to me."

Fluttershy replied, "Oh, it's no problem for me, and don't you worry. Tank will be just fine in my hooves," Fluttershy then smiled at the green tortoise, and it smiled back at her. "Anyways, when will you be coming back?"

"Uh, probably in a week or so," the rainbow mare replied. "Unless if Spitfire wants me to be the lead pegasus for a longer time, then I'll probably be away longer. You know how she's like. I hope that's ok with you?"

"Umm... it's fine. Even if you are away longer, I still have time on my hooves." Fluttershy nodded at Rainbow Dash.

"Awesome! Thanks again. See ya in a week!" Rainbow Dash replied to her and then flew at lightning speed into the afternoon sky.

After Rainbow's rapid take-off, Fluttershy steadily nudged Tank forward across the ground towards her cottage.

For a moment Fluttershy asked Tank, "I haven't seen you in so long... how did you like Rainbow Dash?"

Although the tortoise couldn't talk, Tank grew a smile on his face which Fluttershy assumed that the tortoise enjoyed Rainbow Dash.

"I'll take that as a yes," Fluttershy lightly giggled. "Come on, let's go have some dinner."

Tank nodded in agreement, and the pair slowly, but steadily, walked towards the cottage.

After a hearty dinner, Fluttershy tucked all the animals into their beds for the night. She flew downstairs, turned off all the lights, and went back upstairs to her bedroom. Fluttershy even brought a cup of orange juice to her bedroom. She didn't feel tired at all. No yawning, no desire to fall asleep under the warm covers, she was wide awake.

Drinking her orange juice bit by bit, Fluttershy flew around the room in search for two items-- a piece of parchment and a ballpoint pen. Anypony could've assumed that she was going to write a letter to somepony.

Fluttershy then turned on her bedside lamp, which was just bright enough to illuminate what the pegasus was writing on the parchment. After a few moments of breathing and drinking juice, Fluttershy began to write slowly. Little by little, letters appeared on the parchment, then sentences, and finally, an entire letter. Fluttershy then rolled the parchment carefully, placed a blue and yellow star-shaped seal on it, and slid the parchment into the top drawer of her bedside table.

When she realized she had finished her orange juice, Fluttershy quietly went downstairs and placed the cup in the sink for tomorrows' cleaning. When she got back upstairs, Fluttershy went to the bathroom, washed her hooves, brushed her teeth, and cleaned her face. About 20 minutes after going back downstairs, Fluttershy got into her bed, brought the blankets over her body, and dimmed the lamp. A few minutes later, there was nothing but silence and darkness, but Fluttershy wasn't scared. Instead, Fluttershy was awake, staring at the wooden ceiling, thinking about what she had just written on the parchment to her friend, Twilight Sparkle.

At first, she thought the message on the letter was somewhat embarrassing to her smartest friend, but then she realized the message was true-- she needed something, something new, and most importantly, something fun. Although Fluttershy enjoyed taking care of little critters and animals, she had to admit that over many months, it was getting... uneventful. Every day was pretty much the same routine-- feeding the animals, watching the animals, tending to her chicken coop, and occasionally, went to Ponyville to buy some vegetables and clothes. She knew that her life did need excitement or something unexpected, even if she had a rather shy nature.

Fluttershy contemplated the message for a moment or two, and finally fell asleep underneath the warm covers. The next morning, she would deliver the letter to her friend.