The Fluttershy Project - Plans and Ideas for Reworking

I'm stuck enough on this one that I think perhaps I should take it from the top, and just work in bits from the original.

I could actually have the first chapter be from Scootaloo's perspective, setting the scene for why she is out there, then switch to Fluttershy for the next chapter.

It might be good to work in hints of Fluttershy's semi-parental relationship with the Mayor, her parents abusive relationship with her, and Scootaloo's parentage earlier.

I could have having her have flashbacks more often. Scootaloo as well.

I really need to work on "show, not tell".

1: Scootaloo gets out of school, hungry and broke. Goes looking for any sort of food she can find. She ends up wandering the streets after dark, getting ready to raid trashcans and then find somewhere to curl up for the night. Then Fluttershy approaches her.

2: Skip feeding pets. Fluttershy embarks on her project and gets Scootaloo back to her place, and gives her dinner and some place to sleep.

3: Scootaloo wakes up at Fluttershy's, and the two of them go off to school.

4: Fluttershy runs around town talking to ponies about Scootaloo, then heads home.

5: Scootaloo gets off of school, forges a note, and heads back to Fluttershy's. Sleepover.

6: Fluttershy has a nightmare/flashback. Scootaloo ends up comforting her, with Angel's help.

Original notes for Ch. 4 & 5:

Chapter 4 plotting:

Scootaloo idles through school.

Cheerilee watching her more then usual, furtively.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle confront her in the clubhouse after school. They've noticed how erratic her lunches are and the whole "staying with Fluttershy the night" has their suspicions up.

Scootaloo comes clean with them, but makes them Pinkie Pie promise not to reveal anything. They are more than a little alarmed, and start thinking of ways to help her.

Scootaloo forges a note from her parents and delivers it to Fluttershy. She can stay for the weekend, and they'd like her to stay several days next week while they are out of town.

Scootaloo accompanies Fluttershy, feeding the animals. They play some games, then go to bed.

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Chapter 5 notes:

Open with filly!Fluttershy being taken to a cliff and pushed off by her parents in a rather sadistic attempt to teach her to fly. She's falling, than impact- of Scootaloo trying to wake her up.

Fluttershy wakes up from her nightmare to a concerned Scootaloo.

Fluttershy's mental state still in nightmare. Three way cuddling/hug: Fluttershy/Scootaloo/Angel

Fluttershy tells Scootaloo about what happened. Leads into talking about her family, and emancipation.

Things I'm thinking of including in Fluttershy's Project (older):

Scenes: (This starts out in order, but the order will be random towards the end)

Fluttershy feeds her animals. (Done. Could expand with more dialogue, potentially)

Fluttershy stalks the wild Scootaloo. (Done, to some extent)

Scootaloo is asked out to dinner. (Done)

Scootaloo cooks (Done initially. I may want to include more of, though, as it's cute.)

Scootaloo eats dinner and is talked into staying the night. (Done. Reoccurring theme, though.)

Scootaloo wakes up and freaks out. (Done)

Panic over School. (Done)

Breakfast time (Done)

Fluttershy's note: Writing and giving to Scootaloo (Done)

Scootaloo's lunch (Partial. Scootaloo has it but hasn't eaten it yet. May revisit)

Talking about flight: foals and wing development. (Done)

Talking about flight: Why lessons by RD are not a good idea. (Written but discarded. Rewrite in later.)

Fluttershy gives Scootaloo flying lessons. (daawww)

Scootaloo tags along RD. RD is annoyed.Fluttershy's horrible flying lessons with her parents flashback. (Shoved off a cliff. Either she'd fly, or she'd be dead. win/win in parents eyes.)

Fluttershy and Scootaloo get into a fight.

Scootaloo writes forged notes from her parents.

Scootaloo visits every few days, then every day.

The facade wears thin.

The CMC find out Scootaloo's homeless (possible)

Scootaloo slips up and reveals that she's homeless to Fluttershy.

Scootaloo runs away into the Everfree forest.

Fluttershy stalks the wild Scootaloo: part 2

They reconcile.

Fluttershy convinces Scootaloo that she isn't going to return her to the orphanage.

She may reveal her arrangement with Madam Mayor.

Fluttershy adopts Scootaloo.

Fluttershy talks to Cheerilee.

Her address on file for Scootaloo's parents is faked.

Cheerilee convinced to just send anything that needs parents to her and not mention it to anyone for now.(Done)

Fluttershy talks to the mayor. Theoretically, she has people on file that would be willing to become temporary guardians of orphans rather than send them to an out of town orphanage (Ponyville doesn't have one). In actuality, they are all out of date. Fluttershy puts herself on the list as an extension to her adopt-a-pet operation, and gets adoption papers for later.(Done:adopt-a-pet not used)

Fluttershy talks to Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, asking them about Scootaloo.

Fluttershy talks to RD, Applejack and Rarity about Scootaloo. (As the three Scootaloo is around most).

Fluttershy talks to Pinkie and Twilight about Scootaloo. (After Pinkie gets back.)

Work in backstory for Scootaloo. (I'll expand on it after the outline)

Work in backstory for Fluttershy/Rainbow Dash. (Expanded after outline)

Scootaloo discovers an old Wonderbolt poster in the guest bedroom left by RD. Cue backstory.Possible plot twist; after Fluttershy left her parents, they tried to replace her. Scootaloo is Fluttershy's sister, who they abandoned when they decided she was going the same way as Fluttershy. I'll have to check ages, and see if it's feasible. (Written, but ages probably won't work. 10 & 24; 9 & 23?; 8&23 I think will work.)

Fluttershy nearly gets mugged by two ponies in the market while getting groceries.

Scootaloo shows up at the last moment, crashes into one with her scooter, and wraps herself around his face. Worried for her, Fluttershy takes out the other one, then gives Scootaloo a lecture and a hug when the situations calmed down.

Fluttershy / Rainbow Dash backstory:

Fluttershy's parents were demanding and abusive. They constantly belittled her, put her down, and made her feel worthless and a waste of space. They left her with no self confidence, making her an easy target for bullies, and even shoved her off a cliff at one point, to "teach her flying".

Then comes flight camp. She's picked on, as usual, but Rainbow Dash sees her being picked on, runs off the bullies, and makes friends with her. The events of the cutie mark chronicles happen. RD and Fluttershy become fast friends, and RD helps her gain a bit of confidence and self esteem.

RD's background:

She was raised by a single working mother. It's a loving relationship, but her mother is gone a lot, and she's had to become self sufficient.

A few years later, RD has found out all about Fluttershy's parents, who are treating her as bad as ever. RD, Fluttershy, and her parents get into a confrontation. Fluttershy leaves her parents, and a bit later files for emancipation, which they don't contest.

She'd already been taking care of the wild animals in Ponyville, and was fairly well known to the residents, and even the mayor. Hearing what had happened, the mayor lets her move into an abandoned cottage close to the Everfree forest. No one else wanted to live there due to the forests proximity. That's perfect for Fluttershy, though.

In the meantime, RD's mother got a new job that requires her to constantly travel. She doesn't want to uproot RD, though, so RD moves in with Fluttershy. They stay living in the cottage together for a few years, till RD moves out on her own.

I'll have to check the timeline...

Scootaloo's backstory:

This is more vague.

Her parents went out of town with her, and told her to wait in a crowded market, and never came back for her. The local authorities were unable to locate her parents, and sent her to an  orphanage.She wasn't treated well there, and eventually ends up leaving.

She has lived on the streets in several towns. She's had several ponies who seemed friendly turn her back in to the orphanage and has trust issues with adults to some degree.

She is *not* willing to talk about being on the street.

She does assorted jobs for a bit of money: lawnmowing, delivering things on her scooter, etc. Not enough to get by, really, though.

She's resorted to theft of goods and money when she's had to, but tries not to, and it's usually food.

She has tried eating grass, and other plants for food. Gras doesn't fill her up, and she has difficulty distinguishing between edible and non-edible food.

She does, however pay attention to when Pinkies parties are, and mooches food from there.

The CMC also usually offer her part of their lunch. They suspect something is up, but Scootaloo hasn't told them about her situation.

She'll grab apples from Sweet Apple Acres when with Applebloom.

The market knows someone is stealing food, so has been on high alert recently.

She's slept under trees before, but ponies occasionally notice when she does that. She has also slept in large bushes and trees before. These days, before Fluttershy, she usually sleeps in the CMC Clubhouse. She's been nearly discovered there by the rest of the CMC before. (In fact, she was once, but wrote it off as falling asleep there accidentally.)

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Scootaloo runs into the everfree forest scene plotting:

Scootaloo accidentally reveals that she has no parents to Fluttershy.

She runs off into the forest.

Fluttershy takes off after her, enlisting help from the creatures of the forest.

She finds Scootaloo running from a pack of Timberwolves.

She makes them back off with the stare, scoops Scootaloo up, and flies home.

The two of them talk on the way home.

She convinces Scootaloo she won't turn her in.

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General Speculative Timeline: (beginning at start of fic)

Fluttershy sees Scootaloo around after dark, starving for a few days.

Fluttershy starts her project, invites Scootaloo over for dinner.

Scootaloo stays the night.

Fluttershy writes a note to "Scootaloo's Parents" trying to get her to come over regularly.

She brings Scootaloo to school.

They discuss flying.

Fluttershy talks with Cheerilee.

Fluttershy makes Cheerilee swear to silence.

Tells Cheerilee she is worried about Scootaloo.

Gets parent's address.

Parents address is a building Fluttershy knows no one lives at. (Old demolished apt complex RD use to live in?)

Convinces Cheerilee that she'll get to the bottom of it, and to send her any parental notices.

Talks to Madam Mayor. Old friends going a long way back.

They talk about adoption and homeless foals. We learn that in ponyville, there is supposed to be a list of families that will take in homeless foals until a proper guardian is found for them, but the list is out of date; no one's left on it.

Fluttershy puts herself on the list. They discuss her "Adopt a pet" agency.

Might talk about their past. The mayor gave her use of her cottage, and eventually outright the deeds, helped her deal with her family and get emancipated.

Talks a bit about the adoption process.

Talks a bit to Rarity and Applejack about Scootaloo.

Goes home. Switch to Scootaloo.

Scootaloo talks with her friends.

Tells them she stayed at Fluttershys last night, but not why.

They are disappointed they didn't get to do a sleepover again.

Scootaloo is preoccupied through school. At lunch, AB & SB are glad to see she has a lunch. They'd been giving bits of theirs to her.

Obligatory Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon appearance.

AB & SB are busy after school. Scootaloo goes to the clubhouse, writes a note from her parents.

Meets RD.

They talk a bit. Partially riffing off of Fluttershys previous conversation with Scootaloo and Fluttershy & RD's history.

Drops off note with Fluttershy to come over in a few days.

Goes back to clubhouse for night.

--Fast forward a few days, probably--