Chapter 4: Tea Time with Fluttershy
Within minutes, Fluttershy had returned with a tray of tea. I didn't take her for the type, but she seemed to be quite a perfectionist. The tray was meticulously laid out, and I found myself staring at it, contemplating why she invested so many manners into a simple tray of tea. Then I began to question why I was questioning it, and decided to listen to what Fluttershy had to say.
"How's the tea?" Fluttershy asked shyly.
"It's excellent! You brew quite a cup." I said after taking a sip
The flavor of the tea matched its perfect layout on the tray. It seemed to be blended with the utmost care and technique. Drinking it and looking at the tray filled me with glee for some reason.
"Oh…It's just a simple brew. I make it all the time" said Fluttershy, obviously flattered.
"Are you sure? The entire tray seems so…perfect."
"Well…I…" Fluttershy started
"What? Is something the matter?" I asked the timid pegasus
"I actually make this tea when I'm feeling gloomy. I blend the tea with some rare flowers that smell heavenly, and then I put together the tray so it all looks perfect. It always makes me happy. I just made it on an impulse, I'm actually very happy right now" She looked at me with cheerful eyes.
"Well, it's excellent. A nice tray of tea made by a nice pony." I said with a smile
Fluttershy's heart skipped a beat, and she found herself blushing at the strange pegasus's compliment. Fluttershy reddened quite frequently being as shy as she is, but this was a different kind of blushing. She felt…warmer.
"So you care for the animals out here?" I asked
"Why yes. Those poor little creatures can have a hard time, and so I think I owe it to them to help out and make sure they have everything they need to blossom into the cute little things they can be." She said with a loving expression
"Well that's very kind of you. I don't remember anypony quite so…caring." I said
"Well… that's not fair of you. You don't remember anything. I'm sure you've met ponies just as nice as me, and you just forgot is all."
"Oh…yea. You're probably right…" I couldn't quite hide the dejection in my voice
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to say that! It's just… You're only… Amnesia… and well I…" *Squeeeeeeee* her hooves moved to cover her mortified face.
"Fluttershy, don't! It's fine! You didn't mean it. Would you please show me that smile of yours? I'm sure that would cheer me up." I said optimistically
"*Sniff* O-Okay…" She looked up at me, and did her best to smile.
"There it is! I feel much better!" I said happily, causing Fluttershy to redden and giggle
"Th-thank you. So, do you have any other questions? I'd be happy to answer them for you"
"Actually yes. I'd like to know more about you." I said sheepishly
"M-me? Why would you want to know about me? I'm not that interesting…am I?"
"I just want to get to know the pony showing me so much kindness is all. Care to share?"
"Oh, I guess that sounds reasonable. I'm really nopony special. I just like to take care of all my friends, big and small, and be out in the nice fresh air. Equestria is such a beautiful place; it would be a shame to spend all your time inside. A pretty spring morning with all the birds chirping and the bunnies hopping is enough to make me as happy as can be."
"That sounds…just wonderful. I'd love to experience that someday." I said hopefully
"I'd be delighted if you'd join me one of these days. You know, from what Rainbow told me, you're quite the flyer. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you have a knack for it. I'll bet you find joy once you get back into the swing of it."
"I hope so. It felt good to be in the sky. Oh, that reminds me! What exactly happened? I know that I blacked out, and that you brought me here, but I don't really remember much else."
"Well I wasn't there to see it, but Rainbow told me you just started falling out of nowhere. She managed to throw a cloud under you before you hit the ground. That softened your fall a bit, though I admit you're lucky you weren't hurt more"
"I guess I'll have to thank her the next time I see her" I said begrudgingly
"Once you were safely on the ground, she came to me as fast as she could and made sure you got here."
"Why did she come and get you, and not somepony else?" I asked curiously
"Oh… Well I… Uhm, I guess that she just thought… that…" Fluttershy stammered, confused at the question
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean that you weren't the right pony to get, I was just curious is all!"
Why did I say that! I think I hurt her feelings… How could I have hurt this sweet ponies feelings? I'm heartless… Wait, why does this bother me so much? I barely know this pony. For all I know, she could be a spy! A SPY! That pink pony must have gotten to me! Oh, I should apologize. She is so nice, and sweet, and…
"Beautiful…" I said softly
"E-Excuse me, but… What did you just say?"
"What? I didn't say anything, did I?"
"You said… Beautiful…"
I-I don't… Uh… Well you see, I"—
"D-Do you think I'm… *gulp* Beautiful?" She turned her head away, blushing and with wide, confused eyes.
Hay no! Don't even think about starting anything with this pony. You don't know her. You don't even know YOU! The last thing you need to do is to start getting mushy with this one. Dodge the question, DODGE THE QUESTION!"Y-Yes, I do…"
Buck.
"Wh-What? R-Really?" She stammered, face burning bright
It was at this point we both went silent. The only sound left in the room was the ticking of her clock on the wall, and our quiet, irregular breathing. I just looked at her, staring at her. My white face was red and warm, my eyes were wide, my heart was beating out of my chest. All the while, Fluttershy just sat there looking confused. She would glance my way, see I was looking back at her, and then blush. This went on for about ten minutes. At this point, Fluttershy had begun to look as though she was deep in thought, still blushing during her philosophical journey towards an unknown decision. My eyes were no longer wide, but my face was still red, and my eyes began to swell with emotions that had previously been hiding beneath my exterior. Fluttershy immediately took notice.
"What's wrong? Oh my, did I hurt your feelings!"
"What? No! It's just, I…"
"What? Are you ok?"
I thought for a split second, and then released the floodgates of emotion on the poor, unsuspecting pegasus.
"…No. I have no idea who I am, where I'm from, or why I'm here. I've been bounced around from place to place all day, locked in thought trying to remember… Well, anything! Even the smallest detail, the smallest shred of my past life would have given me some hope. I'm just so lost. The new ponies I'm meeting everywhere keep asking who I am, and I can't tell them! I can't even tell myself… Now, I find myself sitting here, trying to sort this entire situation out while being overwhelmed by feelings for"— I cut myself off and turned my head.
"Feelings? Feelings for what?" Fluttershy asked curiously
"…Feelings for you."
Fluttershy once again turned her head and blushed, but this time she had a small smirk on her face. After a moment, she looked at me as if she had come to a conclusion that took months of consideration.
"Well that settles it!" She said decisively
"S-Settles what… exactly?"
"You're spending the night in bed with me. I can't let somebody who is so lost, and hurt, and confused spend the night alone in the dark wondering what's going to happen! Especially not a friend! That's irresponsible and just plain mean!"
"I-I"—
She cut me off, and just like before, she whisked me towards her bedroom with the grace of an angel. She forced me up onto her bed, and then joined me without hesitation, but with a red face. As I laid down, she snuggled up to me, and I melted in her hooves.
"Good night, Sleep tight, and don't let the parasprites bite." She said delicately
I didn't respond, as I was too tired to do anything other than bury my head into her chest and sigh. She let out a relaxed and happy breath of her own, and we drifted away together. My last thought before being overcome by sleep caught me by surprise, and left me a warm smile on my rosy face.
This small, timid pegasus is probably the most fragile thing I've ever met, yet she makes me feel so…safe.