Chasing Pinkie

~Chasing Pinkie~

~Distraction #5: Fluttershy~

While jogging along, panting from boiling anger at how little fun this is starting to turn out to be, you keep your eyes locked onto Pinkie’s trail, making sure you don’t lose sight of it again like last time. Finally, you notice it takes a sharp turn to your right next to bright rays of light shining through the leaves and bark of some trees. You couldn’t see what was beyond the turn thanks to some bushes, but as you pass them, you soon regret not slowing down.

A small, butter yellow mare with a pink mane steps out of the bushes directly in front of your path and you run straight into her, kicking her hoof and tripping. Landing with a thump, you look around and notice you’ve lost your bearings. Once you finish with fumbling and stumbling around on the hard ground, you look back to hear Fluttershy beginning to weep. The sounds of her pain brings great turmoil to your heart. As you stand to your feet, coming closer to the now fully crying and innocent pony, you chant, “No, oh God please, no...!”

It’s absolutely torturous to see her tears run down and crash into the dirt, and even though it was her that walked out in front of you, it didn’t make up for the fact that you shouldn’t have been running so fast, to where you might not have been able to even stop.

With your mouth opening ajar to take in a deep breath and your ears ringing from the deafening sound, you tell yourself it’s currently impossible to even consider making a move for a good few seconds. All you can do is continue hoping to find the right words to say that might calm her nerves. If you’d known she was there, chances are this wouldn’t have happened. If only you looked where you were going. Your eyes glance over at the setting sun, thinking about how you’re literally tossing your time right out the window, and figure you’d best hurry up and try to soothe the fragile mare’s distraught state.

While kneeling next to her, seeing her tears cascade from the pain, you observe her wound. Blue and definitely bruised, her left hoof is held with the right. Tears drop to the gravel and grass. You gulp, not really knowing what to do. She then looks up at you with red eyes and asks, “Why weren’t you watching where you were going?”

You look down, feeling emotionally torn and say, “I’m... s-sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

She pushes you away while continuing with her sobs, which by the way, keep on stinging your ears. You lay on the grass, feeling yourself glossy eyed as well now and wonder if there’s anything you could do. You can comfort her, maybe figure out just what she was doing while digging around the bushes in the first place, or quickly apologize and search the beach.

“Look, I’m sorry, alright? I can’t stick around, but I didn’t mean to do that to you. I’ve gotta go!" (Click to get back into the chase. Time is running out...)

“No, I’m not gonna let you think of me like this!” (Continue reading to comfort Fluttershy. The chase isn’t really as important to you right now...)

She looks at you with a confused stare, but that expression quickly melts to surprise as you grasp her at shoulder length to give her a tenderly comforting hug. She smiles and closes her eyes to grasp you back, and for more than a good, long minute, you two sit there ridding the depression you two feel with each others fond company. Fluttershy begins to settle down now, and you can tell this by the ending of water drips on your shoulder.

“I’m sorry for pushing you,” she says, tightening her grasp. “I just felt so hurt, and irrational... Please forgive me...”

You hold back your own bitter tears, knowing it wasn’t her that should be apologizing. “No, I’m the one who needs to say sorry... I wasn’t looking where I was going. Please, you should be forgiving me.”

She blushes and asks, “Why don’t we just forgive each other then?” You nod your head, happy with the offer, and she finishes, “Those books were so wrong about humans... They’re so kind.”

You wonder what she’s talking about, but decide not to ask. Instead, the question that leaves your lips at this point is, “Say, what exactly were you doing in there to begin with?”

“Oh... I was, um... looking for Angel. He’s somewhere in this shrub I think...”

You release her, look in and chant, “Angel Bunny... Come on out.”

Fluttershy, still holding her weakened hoof claims, “He won’t come to you. He’s pretty scared of strangers.”

Despite her words, you keep calling for him. “Angel?”

In very little time, he pokes his ears out; then his furry whiskers, and as if he’s known you for years, the little guy ends up popping right out, looking at Fluttershy with a smile. He bounces his way to her soft mane and nestles himself in, and you stand up with a chuckle. Fluttershy brings her hoof up to her muzzle and says, mainly to herself, “He’s never done that with anypony... That’s really rare.”

“I’m glad I could help.” You pet Fluttershy on the head while looking at her hoof. It seems to be fine, despite some puffiness showing. “You’ll be alright, then?”

“Yes, I’m alright now. You’re nothing like the books described.”

You scratch your nose, still curious on what she’s talking about and question, “What books?”

She gives you a pair of stunned eyes and explains, “Oops, I’m so sorry, I’m not supposed to tell you. It’s actually a secret.”

You nod off, positive Pinkie’s involved in this. Maybe the residents of Ponyville have been furtively studying your kind more than you thought, but there’s nothing you can do to find out your answers right now. You apologize to the mare one last time before parting with her, picking up the slack while seeing sands of the beach just past some ferns, but no Pinkie. You look around and realize, once again, you’ve lost the trail.