Even a Monster Has a Heart (Anon x Fluttershy)

>You're sitting enjoying a good book in front of your fire. It's pouring out of the heavens this evening and so presents the perfect opportunity to catch up with your reading.

>That is, until a strange sound comes from your front door. It's like the mail-slot is being pushed but not quite open, snapping shut each time. You set down your book after hearing this for a few moments without stopping.

>Now entering the kitchen you can see the slot opening slightly than slamming closed. A sound like a loud sob comes from outside. Hell, if there's a pony out there trying to deliver you mail you're not just going to leave them out in the rain!

>Opening the door you see... Fluttershy? She's got a small pink envelope that looks like it's been in the water clutched in her mouth as she shivers, sitting on her haunches. Her mouth opens and eyes widen upon seeing you and you see... despite her soaking coat it's clear she's been crying.

>"Anon! I... I..." She quickly breaks down into another series of sobs. You've seen her tricks, you've even seen her crocodile tears. She can cry pretty convincingly but this is different, you can tell these are real.

>Still, you're going to see what this envelope is first. Picking it up you see the front is just your name written in quite stylish mouth-writing. At least it... sort of looks like that, the water has made the ink run badly. There's another sob. You set the letter down on the counter.

>You're not some monster, Fluttershy may have tried her hoof at some dirty tricks before but you're not going to just leave her there in the rain. Instead you quietly invite her inside and set her down in front of the fire, still dripping. With a heavy sigh for what that's going to do to the floor you go and grab a towel from upstairs, curious to see Fluttershy hasn't budged from her position.

 

>In fact, she hasn't stopped sobbing either.

>"Fluttershy... here." She's obviously unable to dry herself so you gently start toweling off her head, working down her mane and taking care at her wings until the towel is sopping and she's... drier than she was. At least the fire should do the rest of the work.

>And then she turns to you, giving you the biggest, most soulful eyes you've ever seen. "A-Anon... I-I-I'm... s-sorry!" She breaks down once more, her body hunching over as she weeps loudly, tears staining her cheeks anew.

>Sorry? Sorry for all she's done? You'd wager she'd want to be. And yet, crouched here, seeing her in this state you can only conjure up pity.

>"I-I... I know I... I h-hurt you a-a-and I'm... I'm so sory-y-y!" She chokes, a fit of sobbing overcoming her.

>You're still not a monster and so you reach out and gently touch her shoulder. She almost flinches, her sobbing stopping before her breath resumes its hitching.

>"I... I can't... ever... undo... but..." She looks up at you, her cheeks damp, her eyes glistening. "Please... just... accept..."

>What could have caused this sudden change and why is she so upset? She'd always been so oblivious to how much pain her rape attempts caused you, how otherwise you might have considered her a friend. But she's here now and she's literally begging your forgiveness.

>Can you truly trust her enough to do so?

 

>"Fluttershy, just... wait here." She doesn't speak, doesn't nod or give any indication she's heard you. Just quietly lowers her head down again, her sobs lessening.

>A part of you is screaming to stop this, that it has to be some trick but as soon as you understand that your heart reaches out to it and calms it. You simply cannot leave the poor girl so distraught there. She caused you pain, yes but there were few real overt attempts to force herself on you and even those were almost comically ill-conceived.

>You grab your largest, softest quilt and bring it down into the living room, seeing Fluttershy still shivering at the fire. She'd braved that storm for this, just to apologise to you...

>With a gasp from her, you gently wrap the quilt about her shaking form, tucking it in at her haunches and keeping an arm tightly around it.

>"A-Anon?"

>You shush her gently, pulling it up around her head. "Did you mean what you said?" You had to know, had to be sure.

>Tears well up in her eyes again as she nods. "I was at home... thinking about... you... and I, um... I thought maybe you... you didn't want me because... because I..." Her voice hitches once more but she presses on. "I... did th ose... horrible things..."

>You squeeze your arm against the quilt. "I only ever wanted to be your friend, Fluttershy."

>She sniffles loudly, the material bunching up under her chin stopping her from looking down. "A-And I always... liked you... I just..." You hear a hoof scuffing against your floor. "I didn't... you..."

>You raise your other hand and press it against the part of the quilt you know her chest lies under. "So what now?"

>"Now... you... you -hate- me!"

 

>Hate her? No. No, you hated the things she did but she's the Element of Kindness so surely underneath that crazy stalker must be a gentle soul. Right?

>"No."

>Her breathing stops suddenly and you feel her body go limp, lying against your own.

>"I don't hate you. You did some horrible things to me but... you're still a good pony, aren't you?"

>"Am I?"

>You're shocked, genuinely shocked, to hear the bitter tone with which she says that. When confronted upon what she was doing before she'd always just laugh or play it off as you just messing her around.

>"What kind of... pony would do those... things?"

>A confused one, perhaps? One who had finally found what she wanted so desperately but had no idea about how to attain it? One who didn't understand that you weren't ready then? One who just wanted to be loved?

>"You're not a bad pony." There'll be time for recriminations later. Right now, if she really means this, she needs to be assured. That's the only way she'll be able to get through this and right herself.

>"I am! I-I'm sorry but I am..." She begins shaking against you and you rub her gently. She stops.

>"The fact that you're here, apologising shows you're not." And you believe that. The old Fluttershy would never have thought twice about just turning around and going at you again. "Come on, you look tired."

>You gently remove the quilt from her and lead her over to the couch, lying her down and replacing the quilt over her. "Hold on here." At that you return upstairs and fetch a pillow from your bed. When it's placed under her she... inhales deeply, sighing as she lays her head down on it.

>She doesn't start humping it, or kissing it or any of the other things you would have expected. She just takes comfort in it.

 

>You run a hand through her mane as she closes her eyes. "Rest well, Fluttershy."

 

>You awaken to... no Fluttershy. She's not on top of you, not near you, not even in the room. There are no traps set up, no hidden cameras, no nothing. You've become quite adept at searching them out.

>You dress and proceed downstairs, checking for her in the living room but she's gone. The quilt is neatly folded with the pillow beside it and a small note on top. She could easily have taken them, you'd still half expected her to.

>You take the note and open it. It's written in delicate cursive.

>'Anon, I don't think you'll ever know how much what you said last night meant to me. I still don't think I'm worthy of your forgiveness but if you truly feel that way I may be able to accept it, in time. I can never undo the things I did, never take back what I said but I hope I haven't damaged your opinion of ponies too greatly for you to never see the beauty in others. And... maybe, some day, you may see me as something other than what I am. -Fluttershy'

>You set the note down and sit down. No. This is no trick. It's no scheme or ploy to get into your good graces. You hadn't dreamed or imagined it.

>A smile touches your lips at that thought. Fluttershy had proved she was more than just a sex-crazed fiend. She'd proven it to herself. And now, maybe, you could start a real friendship with her.

 

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>The mare sits at her door, looking out at the bright new day. Redemption would lie at the end of a long road but she'd taken the first steps. When she faltered, he had been there to lift her and carry her. Then he had set her down, showing her she could do this.

>A tear runs down her golden cheek. She had, for so long, been so confused and hurt. She had -caused- so much hurt. But now she was being given a chance to put it behind her. A chance. One, single glorious chance to change what she was.

>She takes a shuddering breath. He had told her he didn't hate her, that he still wanted a relationship with her. It would still take time to accept the nature of it but she knew she could. She wanted him to be a part of her life, no matter what part her played.

 

>The mare turns and steps inside, shutting her door behind her. It was like a horrible fog had been lifted from her mind. Like she had awoken from some terrible dream, trapped behind her own vision, watching a stranger controlling her.

>She looks at the single photo she's kept; one of him smiling next to her. Parts still remained, would always remain she knew. A part of her genuinely loved him, cared for him. A part of her wanted to be loved by him.

>She smiles, understanding now. Was it really beyond the realms of possibility? She dared not to hope but no matter what may come she would never again hurt another for her own selfish desires.

 

>The mare is reborn, anew. Hearts seem fragile things, broken so easily when not treated with care but they must weather much in our lives. They can suffer much and then with even the tiniest, tenderest touch of love can they survive.