07 Butterflies | Video

[strengthinkindness]

[The feed buzzes to life, and a nervous-looking Fluttershy appears on the screen. She hesitates, not quite looking at the D-Terminal.]

H...h-hi...um...I...I-I'm sorry if I...worried anyone. I...I just wanted to let others know that I'm...s-still here...

[Because it seems, there are many others who are not.

It looks like she wants to say something more, but instead the video cuts out.]

Comments

Action

[strengthinkindness]

[The door swings open, and Choco is there to greet them.]

Hey guys! C'mon in!

Re: Action

[wall_flower]

Thank you very much!

[Marley steps inside with Hawkmon following her. She's not in the same clothes as before, and her hair is still damp from her shower, but she's holding a tray with four bowls of ice cream: chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and cookie dough.]

I wasn't sure what you liked, Choco, so I figured you can pick one that's not strawberry and we could eat the others.

Action

[strengthinkindness]

[His positively light up when he sees the ice cream.]

Chocolate!

[Anyone wonder where his name comes from?

Fluttershy clears her throat softly, and Choco glances at her briefly. Then, realizing what she meant, he turns back to Marley with a bit of a sheepish smile.]

...Please.

Action

[wall_flower]

[Marley has to bite down on her bottom lip to keep from laughing.]

Sure thing!

[She sets the tray down on the table and holds out a bowl of strawberry ice cream to Fluttershy. Hawkmon is just going to sneak and take the vanilla ice cream.]

Here you go, Fluttershy.

Action

[strengthinkindness]

[She smiles as she takes the bowl.] Thank you...I hope it didn't cost too much...

Action

[wall_flower]

I just got it at cafeteria. So it's no big deal.

[She settles down next to Fluttershy, taking the leftover bowl of cookie dough ice cream.]

How's your wing? Has it been bothering you?

Action

[strengthinkindness]

[She starts to say something, but then swallows the ice cream in her mouth before trying again.]

I-it's...getting better. I have a lot of people looking out for me and helping me take care of it.

Action

[wall_flower]

That's because a lot of people care about you, and just want you feel better. They don't like seeing you hurt.

[Yes, that includes Marley. She smiles taking a bite of her ice cream before leaning back where she's sitting.]

Re: Action

[strengthinkindness]

[She blushes a little, smiling shyly.]

I...I do appreciate everyone's help. I...I just wish I could do something for all of you...

Action

[wall_flower]

Just take care of yourself and make sure you rest up so that your wing heals fine. That's all we really want.

[Yum! Ice cream!]

Action

[strengthinkindness]

[She nods, taking another bite of ice cream.]

All right...

Action

[wall_flower]

[Marley takes another small bite of her ice cream before tilting her head to the side.]

Are you sure you're okay? I don't mean to pry. I just...want to help...

Action

[strengthinkindness]

[She hesitates for a moment.]

...M...m-mostly...

Action

[wall_flower]

[Marley takes another small bite of her ice cream before she sets her bowl down on the table. Worried mode is a go.]

...What's wrong?

Action

[strengthinkindness]

...I-it's silly...th-the...reason I left,I mean...why I was...gone...How I-I...broke my wing...

[She's trying to explain, but it's not coming out right.]

Action

[wall_flower]

...

[Marley sits and waits a moment, before she reaches out to place a reassuring hand on Fluttershy's arm.]

Fluttershy...it's okay...

Action

[strengthinkindness]

[She glances up at Marley, taking a shudder breath.]

I...I-I know I...shouldn't have left....

Action

[wall_flower]

It's okay now, though. Right? You're here and safe and getting better. It doesn't matter why you left, just that you're back. So...So don't worry about it, okay?

[Pot meet kettle...]

Action

[strengthinkindness]

[She looks down at the bowl of ice cream on her lap.]

Y...y-yeah, I know...b-but...I missed out on...so many things...and th-there are a lot of people who left while I was gone...A-and they might not come back, so I...missed my chance to...spend time with them...

[Like Twilight...]

Re: Action

[wall_flower]

You couldn't have known that they'd be gone when you got back. That's...that's something none of us can control. Or even understand...

[She looks down at her hands, and sighs sadly.]

There was a lot I wanted to do with Zack, but he's...not here anymore.

[With a shake of her head, she looks back up at Fluttershy, a small smile on her lips.]

You can't change that. But you can try and make up for it by being here now, right?

Action

[strengthinkindness]

[She nods, hiding behind her hair as she sniffles softly.]

I-I...I know...Y-you're right...

[But it still hurts.]

Action

[wall_flower]

[Yeah, it really does...

Marley sighs softly before she scoots closer and wraps her arms gently around Fluttershy in a hug, avoiding the injured wing as best she can.]

I'm glad you're back, Fluttershy...

Action

[strengthinkindness]

[A little surprised, she glances at the other girl and smiles, leaning into her.]

Thanks...I'm...glad to be back...

Re: Action

[wall_flower]

So...no more running off like that, okay? We might come after you next time.

[It's meant to be a joke. Just a light-hearted joke.]

Action

[strengthinkindness]

R...R-right...I won't...do that again. I promise...