It was a nice and sunny day in Ponyville. Fluttershy had just left the market, her saddlebags filled with all sort of vegetables her little friends will enjoy. Especially Angel Bunny, she had planned to make him a special carrot cake.

She was heading back to her cottage when she heard a whimper coming out some bushes. It sounded just like a wounded animal. You can imagine her surprise when instead she found a light blue pony with a messy white mane, curled up like a ball and hiding behind some branches.

"Umh, are you okay?"

The pony didn´t answered and just keep weeping. Fluttershy considered going to get some help but if the pony was seriously injured she needed immediate help. Fluttershy took out the spare bandages she carried on her bags.

"Here. Let me help you..."

The pony reacted just like a dog would. She barked and make herself smaller. Fluttershy didn´t know what to do. Any other pony would have yelled at her to get her attention but she wasn´t anything like Rainbow or Applejack. So instead she acted like she was really an injured critter.

"Come here, little girl. I´m not gonna hurt you. Come out now. Come on."

While still suspicious, the pony slowly came out of the bushes. She protested a little as Fluttershy applied a spray on her wounded leg and bandaged her but otherwise she let Fluttershy work. Fluttershy asked her name and what had happened but the pony said nothing. Once she had done patching her, Fluttershy patted her head:

"Good girl. I have to go home now. Take care."

The pony stood there, looking confused.

***

Later that night, Fluttershy was taking care of dinner when Angel Bunny came running to tell her something. Like always, it took a while for Fluttershy to understand he meant somepony was at the door. When she opened she found the same pony from before, standing in the door just like a dog waiting for her master.

"Umh can I help you?"

The pony dropped something she had on her mouth.

"Oh my money bag. I thought I´ve lost it. It must have fell when I took care of your wounds. Thank you so much."

The pony barked.

"Umh well, thanks for returning it."

The pony wiggled her tail.

"Umh bye."

Fluttershy came back to her dinner. She served salad to all her friends and then sit down.

"Umh is she still there?"

Angel Bunny looked behind her and nodded.

"Oh my..."

***

"Thanks again for taking care of Owlowiscious. I was really worried when her feathers began to fell," Twilight said as the bird posed on her back.

"No problem. Owls can be a little tricky. Just make sure to give him a proper cleaning every day."

"Umh Fluttershy, have you noticed that pony following us?"

"Umh yes..."

"Isn´t that the pony from the hospital? Screw Loose I think. Why is she following you?"

"I helped her the other day and since then she had been following around."

"And why?"

"I don´t know. I tried to tell her to stop but she um licked me. On the face."

"Fluttershy, you need help?"

"Don´t worry Twilight, I´m sure she will get tired. Eventually."

***

But Screw Loose didn´t. Day after day she kept following Fluttershy around. When she was inside the house she just waited at the door and when night arrived, she just curled up and sleep there.

It got to the point where Fluttershy refused to leave her house. Rainbow Dash, tired of all this, yelled at Screwloose to get lost. In response, the pony bit her on the flank. Twilight finally told Fluttershy (more like yelled since Screwloose didn´t let anypony came closer to the cottage) that she was going to call the hospital. Fluttershy wanted Screwloose to stop following her but she didn´t want the nurses to hurt her or anything so, once her friends left, she came out to explain things to the strange pony.

"Screwloose..." the earth pony turned around, jumped excited like a little puppy. "Listen, you are not a dog. You are a pony. And more importantly, you are not my dog. I won´t adopt you or take care of you so if you can please stop following me around..."

Screwloose blinked a few times and then said "Well duh! Of course I´m not your dog. That´s just silly!"

Fluttershy was surprised, mostly that Screwloose could speak at all.

"So you know that you are not a dog?"

"Heavens, you are just like those nurses. Of course I know I´m not a dog."

"Then why do you act like one?"

"Because it´s fun! Don´t animals have the most fun, running around in the mud, sleeping wherever they like? Much better than being a boring plain normal pony!"

"And...why were you following me around."

"Because I like you! You are really nice and sweet and take care of all those other animals. By the way, they said they don´t like eggplants on their salads so please stop that."

"You can understand them?"

"Of course!" and she barked a few times.

Fluttershy took a good look at Screwloose. At this unusual and strange pony. She always had troubles connecting with her friends, they never quite understand why she preferred to spend time with animals instead with other ponies. When around others, she always felt out of place, unable to really be herself. But she was different. She didn't have to hide or pretend, she didn´t have any reasons to feel ashamed. Like all her animal friends she won´t judge her or look at her weird. She could be who she really was around her.

***

"Right this away, doctor. She is...playing with Fluttershy?"

In effect, Fluttershy and Screwloose were chasing each other. Barking and tried to grab each other's tail. Fluttershy won and once she got Screwloose down start licking her face.

"Umh...I think we better let them alone," Twilight said.