Well, here it is, my first ever fan fiction. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it. On second thought, enjoy it more than I did making it, because there are times where typing this up was a major pain in the butt. Still worth it though. Please note all My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic characters belong to Hasbro and not me. (If I owned My Little Pony you seriously think I would be taking the time to make a fan fiction about it, instead of yachting or something?)
It was the ending of another long day in Equestria, as Fluttershy finally sat down to relax on her couch. Today had been a particularly stressful day of taking care of animals, and she was finally ready to take a respite. Everything was peaceful and still. All the animals had been fed, kissed goodnight, and tucked in or sent home. It was very rare that Fluttershy got to enjoy the calm and quiet of the night, but tonight she allowed herself to take it all in. She had been keeping herself abnormally busy with all of her animals of late. She knew why too. More than anything her instinct was to be kind and caring, but of late she just felt empty.
Of course she loved all of her animals, but she knew that at heart they were all just that, animals. Except for a couple, very few animals actually lived with her at her house, as she wanted as many as possible to be free to live in the wilderness as they ought to. They would return for food, but they didn't really stay for long. Even her precious Angel Bunny had grown older and was now off in a rabbit hole all his own raising all 256 of his children and grandchildren.
And while he and his family did visit on the weekends, she still wished for someone she could look after like she had looked after him. She had a desire for a more permanent relationship. However to distract herself from these thoughts she had immersed herself in tending to any stray animal that crossed her path or near her door. Doing extra here and there, trying to tend to all so none got offended. Up until the point where everything began to become utterly exhausting.
She rested her head on her hooves and shut her eyes. But as soon as she had there was a slight knock on her door. Fluttershy let out a small sigh of agitation, but still gave a courteous, "I'm coming." With a light groan she trotted over to the door, wondering who would want her this late at night. She opened the door slightly and peered out into the inky darkness. Only she spied no pony in sight.
She fully opened the door and searched all around left and right, but still saw no one. It was only until she heard a small rustle down below that she noticed a wicker basket at her feet covered with blankets. She carefully lifted up the blankets, and could hardly believe her eyes.
For within the small basket was a manticore cub, peacefully sucking on its paw in its' slumber while letting out purrs of contentment. "Oh my…" Fluttershy said as she backed away from the basket in awe. She then frantically began searching around outside for any trace of whoever had left the basket, but whoever it was that had left it had gone without a trace. Fluttershy raced back to the side of the cub, and quickly took it inside.
"Oh dear," Fluttershy mused to herself as she paced the floor, looking every now and again over at the baby. "What am I going to do? Someone obviously left you here for a reason, but I can't take care of you. I don't know anything about how to raise a baby let alone a baby manticore! On the other hoof, I can't just take you out into the middle of the Everfree and hope someone drops by and takes care of you." She bit her bottom lip as she became more and more anxious
The cub stirred slightly in its' basket stretching out its limbs and exuding tiny yawns. Fluttershy noticing movement rushed to the infant's side. The small cub used its abnormally large paws to rub its eyes and gave a weary look at the pegasus. A wide smile spread across its' face, as it broke into a chorus of coos and gurgles while playfully batting at a loose strand of Fluttershy's mane.
Fluttershy, moved in closer and the cub sought its' advantage and lurched onto her muzzle looking her square in the eye. After a few moments of pondering what to do next, the cub licked her face and purred with affection as it began nuzzling up against Fluttershy's face. "I – I can't keep you can I?" Fluttershy asked the cub as if it would have the answer. "I wouldn't be a very good mom, I wouldn't know the first thing on how to take care of you."
The cub only responded by purring even more furiously, as it rubbed up against Fluttershy's face. Suddenly it gave low mumble, "rrrmama." It appeared Fluttershy had gotten her answer.
"Then again, I guess I could always try." Fluttershy soothed as she softly petted the baby and gave it a light kiss on the forehead. She then picked up the child and softly cradled it in her forearms, until it once again fell back into a deep sleep.
And so the first chapter closes. This was a little one, but I think the next one is substantially larger. Don't worry though it's not to terribly large, just bigger than this one.