Chapter 0: Prologue (Twilight & Fluttershy)
Cloudsdale. A very nice city. Although its has only the second largest population of pagasi in Equestria, second only to Cumulumbus, it truly is the center of all pegasus activities. Our story finds us outside Cloudsdale's top Flight School. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash had just finished their very last day of Fight School, and both had just graduated. They were meandering through Cloudsdale Park, near where they both lived. Fluttershy’s house was slightly farther away, but the two mares lived on the same street. They were going over towards Rainbow’s place, as Rainbow had just gotten a new marefriend, who was going to meet them at Rainbow’s. Rainbow usually minded her own business when it came to ponies and their relationships. But, she was walking with Fluttershy, the only pony who would stay and hear what Rainbow had to say, no matter what it was.
"Hey Shy, I was wondering, do you have your eye on a special colt? Somepony to be your coltfriend?" Rainbow asked.
Fluttershy quietly said, "Oh. No, I don't."
They were silent for a few moments before Fluttershy said, "I actually have a confession."
"What is it?"
Fluttershy looked away and said, "I'm more into mares...”
"I'm sorry Shy, what was that?"
Fluttershy blushed. "I'm more into... um... mares."
Rainbow laughed. "There's nothing there to be ashamed of. I know a lot of ponies here are more accepting than you think."
"You really mean that Rainbow?"
Rainbow said, "Of course. Although, my parents were not very supportive when I told them I liked mares..."
Fluttershy teared up. "My parents go on and on about how fillyfoolers are 'immoral' and 'confused.' I doubt they would accept me..."
Rainbow put a hoof on her shoulder and said, "Alright, tell them you want to move out. Let's meet back here at 2:00, okay? You know you’re always welcome in my house, especially after my parents moved out."
Fluttershy nodded. "Yes. I'll be here."
She trotted down the street, taking in all the houses for the last time. She knew that Rainbow lived just outside of Cloudsdale. She arrived at her house. Fluttershy opened the door and went straight to her room. She gathered her very few belongings; a Wonderbolts blanket she got for Rainbow's next birthday, a few dresses, and her teddy bear. She didn't need anything else, and she was fine with it. She went down the stairs to her living room, where her parents were.
"Um, Mom, Dad?" she quietly asked.
"Yes dear?" her mother said.
"I kind of want to move out..."
Her father said, "You're going to have to speak up."
"I want to move out."
Her mother dropped her glass of water and her father stared at her, mouth agape.
"You want to move out?" her father asked.
Fluttershy nodded. "I would like to take the next step in my life. I love you both, but I need to get used to living on my own.I can't stay with you forever, if that's alright with you."
Her mother said, "We'll send you off with one hundred thousand bits. We don't need the money as much as you. I mean, look at us! We are both rather old."
Her father agreed, "I think an eighteen-year-old like yourself can handle anything Equestria can throw at you. We just didn't expect you to be so forward about it."
Fluttershy said, "Well, I guess I’ll be going then. Bye! You can do whatever to my room."
Fluttershy turned away and walked out the door. She turned towards Rainbow's house and took off.
Her mother yelled after her, "Where will you go?"
Fluttershy called back, "I'm going to live with Rainbow until I get a nice job and can afford my own house. I'll visit you again!"
One Week Later...
Fluttershy awoke to the sound of the mailpony putting the mail into the mail slot. She quickly and quietly went downstairs, careful not to wake Rainbow and Rainbow's new marefriend. She went over to the mail slot and picked up all the envelopes the mailpony delivered.
"Junk, junk, junk, letter from my parents, junk, bill, magazine... Wait, letter from my parents?”
She quickly opened the envelope and pulled the letter out. She already knew the letter was bad news; her mother only wrote in red ink if she was angry.
Dear Fluttershy,
You need to come over so we can talk. Come as soon as you get this letter.
Mom
Fluttershy said, "This can't be good. A short letter written in red ink... Oh no. She couldn't have... What if she did?"
Fluttershy ran over to the door, opened it, and flew as fast as she could, straight to her old house. She slowed once it was in view, and slowly, cautiously, walked up to the door. She knocked four times before her mother opened the door. Her expression was anything but happy. Fluttershy followed her into their dining room, where her father was already seated.
"Fluttershy, we need to talk to you. Sit anywhere."
Fluttershy took a seat at the table, facing her parents. Her father somehow seemed even less happy than her mother.
"Fluttershy, I think we have made it clear over the years what our opinions on 'fillyfoolers' are. And we just heard from Rainbow's parents that they just learned that Rainbow is a 'fillyfooler.' We don't want you to be corrupted by that thing, so we are ordering you to move out and never see Rainbow again. Filth like that deserves to be arrested. I heard even Celestia has dabbled in 'fillyfooling.' What has this kingdom come to?"
Fluttershy was appalled. "You... You..."
Her mother said, "Yes Fluttershy?"
"You monsters..."
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
"YOU MONSTERS! How could you possibly say that? You not only insulted my only friend and our wonderful ruler, but you insulted me. I’ll have you know that I am also one of those “immoral” fillyfoolers. When you two decide to stop being so bigoted, we can talk."
With that, Fluttershy went to the front door and flew out, leaving her mother paralyzed after what just happened.
Her father, however, ran out the door and yelled, "And stay away from my wife and my house, you queer!"
He slammed the door and went to console his wife.
She flew, crying, all the way to Rainbow's house and slammed the door behind her.
"Rainbow, get my stuff together. I'm leaving Cloudsdale."
Rainbow was shocked. "But why? I thought you loved staying with me."
Fluttershy turned to her and said, "I do, but I have to leave the city. Go somewhere my parents will never find me."
Rainbow asked, "Why do you have to leave Cloudsdale? Did your parents find out that you are a fillyfooler?"
Fluttershy coldly said, "No. I refuse to call those bigots my parents. The nerve of some ponies. Rainbow, I'm going to a
small town just south of Cloudsdale. You can find me in Ponyville."
Two Years Later...
Fluttershy had been working with her bird friends for quite a long time, trying to get the music for the Summer Sun Celebration perfect. Unfortunately, Mr. Bluejay's rhythm was just a little bit off.
"Oh my. Stop please, everyone," she said before flying up to Mr. Bluejay.
"Excuse me sir, I mean, no offense, but your rhythm is just a teeny-tiny bit off."
She flew back down. "Now, follow me please. A-one. A-two. A-one two three-"
"Hello!" a pony behind her yelled, scaring off all of her birds.
She looked back, seeing a lavender unicorn behind her.
The unicorn said, "Oh my. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to frighten your birds. I'm just here to check on the music, and it
sounded beautiful."
Fluttershy landed in front of the unicorn, and, being the shy pony she was, kicked at the ground and hid behind her mane.
The unicorn gave a very awkward smile and said, "I'm Twilight Sparkle. What's your name?"
Fluttershy said, still hiding behind her mane, "Um... I'm Fluttershy."
Twilight said, "I'm sorry, what was that?"
Fluttershy sunk further back into her mane while also backing up. "Um, my name is Fluttershy..."
Twilight took a step forward and said, "Didn't quite catch that."
Fluttershy looked away and said, "Fluttershy...”
The birds began to arrive back at the tree.
The two ponies stood there awkwardly for a few seconds before Twilight said, "Well, um, it looks like your birds are back, so I guess everything's in order. Keep up the good work!" Before turning away she added, "Okay."
Twilight turned away and said to Spike, "Well, that was easy."
Fluttershy looked back and noticed Twilight taking to a baby dragon.
"A baby dragon!" she yelled, flying over and accidentally hitting Twilight out of the way.
Later that very same night...
Fluttershy had just gotten home from her first adventure since she left Cloudsdale two years prior. She went immediately over to her cupboard, yawned, and grabbed a bag of food for her animals
"Alright friends, please come out. I have some yummy, yummy food here for you."
The animals began to come out of their hiding places and scurried over to Fluttershy. She threw the food onto the ground in front of the animals and went straight to bed.
That night, she dreamed of her new friends. She dreamed that Rarity was making her a new dress, Rainbow Dash was teaching her how to cheer, Pinkie Pie was baking her a special cupcake with yellow and pink frosting, Applejack was making a batch of cider, and Twilight had just given her a copy of her new book, written especially for her.
“Thanks Twilight. This book looks lovely,” Fluttershy said.
“Thanks Fluttershy. It was nothing. Really. I just thought you would like it, so I gave it to you. Think of it as an early birthday
present,” Twilight said, smiling.
Fluttershy said, “I’ll be sure to read it. I’ll get back to you with my thoughts!”
Fluttershy skipped out of the library. She skipped down the streets of Ponyville until she ran into her father.
“Fluttershy! I told you to leave forever! I’m afraid I’ll have to get rid of you!”
Her father took a knife out and slowly advanced towards her. He backed her into a wall and raised the knife to strike.
Fluttershy awoke with a start. She had been sweating in her sleep, soaking her entire bed. As she got up to replace her sheets, she began to imagine how her friends would help her if she ever was attacked like in her dream.
“Let’s see, Rainbow and Applejack would fight him off, Rarity would call the police and Pinkie, I don’t know. But Twilight, she would teleport us to safety, and let me stay over with her for the next few nights. She would even let me take the bed. But, being the nice pony I am, I would get her to share the bed. Hmn, sharing a bed with Twilight wouldn’t be too bad. She is rather cute; the way she styles her mane, that cute tail, and that cutie mark. Oh, what am I thinking? I barely know her! I can’t think of her like that! I still need to find out if her personality is just as amazing as her looks."
Three Years Later...
Fluttershy said, “I still can’t believe you’re a princess now!”
The Mane Six were waiting on Platform 9 in Canterlot Station the night after Twilight’s princess coronation. The Mane Six had spent the night before in the castle, under heavy watch after Pinkie had attempted to throw her own coronation for Twilight the night before and it ended with a table on fire and a saxophone in an ice sculpture.
Hey! It would have ended well if Rainbow hadn’t gotten drunk!
Don’t blame me! It was Rarity!
I merely said that you usually drink more. It was not a suggestion. I blame Applejack. She challenged you to a drinking contest!
Ah thought Rainbow could handle five shots!
Can we all move on with the story?
How did you all get in here?
The key was under the mat!
I told them it wasn’t a very good idea.
Twilight blushed. “It’s nothing! We can all still go on as normal. I’m still Twilight Sparkle; I just have two new limbs.”
“I know you are the same old Twilight Sparkle, and I’m going to continue to treat you that way.”
Twilight turned to Applejack “I need to talk to you after we all get on the train. We’ll meet in the caboose.”
With that, Twilight turned and went over to the far end of the platform, to buy tickets for the train.
“Hey, why are we taking the train if Twilight’s a princess and can get us a chariot back?” Rainbow asked.
Rarity responded, “Because Twilight prefers the train. She says it helps her think.”
Twilight came back over and said, “Alright, here’s your tickets. We are on the next train, and it should be here in about five minutes. Actually, Applejack, can I talk to you now?”
“Sure Twilight.”
Applejack followed her just out of the hearing range of the rest of the Mane Six.
Twilight still spoke quietly. “Applejack, you know I trust everyone of you girls, but you are statistically the most likely to give me honest advice. I just wanted to tell somepony in my group of friends first.”
Applejack said, “So, what did ya want to say?”
Twilight said, “Well, I have a crush on a certain somepony, but I don’t know how to tell them."
Applejack said, “Well, Ah can’t say Ah have much advice there, sugarcube. Ah would just say how they make ya feel. Ya might want to ask somepony more experienced than me.”
Twilight asked, “Well, who would you recommend then?”
“Ah would say ask any one of our friends. Any of them could help ya.”
Twilight blushed slightly and said, “I can’t tell all of them about my crush.”
Applejack sighed. “Alright then, let’s go through ‘em. Pinkie would just throw ya a party. Dash wouldn’t really say anythin’ useful. Rarity has the experience, but she also goes a little over when relations are involved. Fluttershy’s quiet, but Ah reckon she’d listen best.”
Twilight shook her head
“I can’t tell Fluttershy.”
Applejack asked, confused, “And why not, sugarcube?”
Twilight sighed. “Fluttershy is the pony I have a crush on. I can’t go to her for advice.
Applejack said, “Well, Ah think ya should talk to Rainbow. She knows Fluttershy the best.”
Twilight smiled. “Thanks Applejack.”
“No problem, Twi.”
Twilight looked down the tracks to see if the train was coming. She heard the train’s whistle and knew the train was close.
Twilight gazed up at the starry sky. Lost in thought, she didn’t notice the pony that walked up to her until the new pony spoke.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” asked Fluttershy.
Twilight was mildly surprised by her sudden appearance. Fluttershy shivered as the wind kicked up. Twilight reached out with a wing and put it around Fluttershy, not realizing that the act of putting a wing around another pony is reserved for family and couples.
Fluttershy blushed and said, “Thank you Twilight. It just got so cold out here. I hope the train arrives soon.”
Twilight said, “The train should be here any minute now.”
Right on cue, the train to Ponyville steamed into the station. The conductor hopped off the second car and checked his watch.
“Canterlot Terminal! Next stop, Ponyville Station!” he yelled.
Twilight and co stepped on board the train. Twilight sat with Rarity and Fluttershy, while Pinkie, AppleJack, and Rainbow sat across from them. Twilight gazed out the window, lost in thought.
“Fluttershy, I’m afraid I’ll have to cancel this Thursday’s spa appointment. I have a very big client coming in, and I can’t have any distractions,” Rarity said.
Fluttershy looked slightly sad, but said, “I understand. Your work is more important than an easily rescheduled spa appointment.”
Rarity sighed. “I know you really enjoy them, so I rescheduled it to next Friday.”
“But that’s two days in a row! You don’t have to do that.”
Rarity laughed. “Nonsense darling, I am willing to spend my money for another appointment for just one week. I’m sure you would do the same.”
The conductor yelled from the front door of the car, “All aboard!”
The train jerked and slowly started moving forwards.
Two Hours Later, in Ponyville...
The door to the Golden Oaks Library flew open.
“Spike, can you start up a bath? I need to finish writing up my report on Starswirl.”
As Twilight wrote, she kept thinking back to the train station. They way Fluttershy had blushed when Twilight put a wing
around her, and the fact that the wind started up when Twilight and Fluttershy were standing close together. Twilight got carried away, and accidentally wrote her thoughts down on her report.
“Buck! I forgot my spell for removing ink. Which book was it in again? SPIKE! Which book had the ink removal spell?”
Spike called back, “Third red book on the fifth shelf!”
“Thanks!”
Twilight tried the spell, only to find her thoughts still on the paper. She leaned closer and tried again. The ink was still there.
“Celestia damn it! Did I miss some fine print?”
She looked under the spell and found the fine print.
“Warning: Will not erase thoughts relating to the love of the writer. Huh. I never noticed that. Guess I have to rewrite that report...”
Spike called from the bathroom, “Twilight! The bath’s ready!”
“I’ll be right up!”
Twilight was glad Spike had gotten the bath ready as fast as he did. She was extremely tired and stressed, and a bath was the only way to soothe her. As she lowered herself into the moderately-warm water, she thought back two years prior. The night she was walking through the Everfree on her own. The night she ran into a cockatrice.
If Fluttershy hadn’t been there, I would still be sitting out there. I’m so thankful she happened to be out there that night.
As she reminisced about her adventures since then, and her bond with Fluttershy grew stronger after every one, she was struck by an idea. No, wait, that was a shampoo bottle a bird tipped over.
I really need to fix that window. Damn birds keep getting in.
So she returned to her thoughts, before she was struck by an actual idea.
I’ll invite Fluttershy over in a few days, show her a new spell, and then confess my love for her. It can’t possibly go wrong! Unless she says no. Oh Celestia! What if she says no? What will I do then? No no nonono! What would somepony who has experience with things like this do? Maybe I should try it, as an experiment? Will that work? Well, I’m doing it anyway.
About an hour later, Twilight got out of the bathtub, grabbed a towel, dried herself off and went to bed.
The next morning, Twilight got up at 6:56 and 37 seconds, precisely. After studying for two hours, and reading for another four, she finally worked up the courage to go across town to Fluttershy’s cottage.
Fluttershy had been up since 5:00; she always gets up this early. She had fed her animals, then went inside to read a book.
Twilight slowly walked down the path to Fluttershy’s, noticing the new birdhouses that had been put up.
She must have gotten Big Mac to help. Or was it Applejack? I don’t know.
The alicorn approached the door, and couldn’t help but notice Fluttershy in the window; specifically, Fluttershy’s reading glasses.
Twilight knocked on the door.
“I’m coming! Just give me a second!”
Fluttershy quickly opened the door.
“Oh. Hello Twilight. I didn’t expect you to come over until tomorrow. Well, it’s nice that you visi- Why are you staring at me?”
“I wasn’t staring.”
“Yes, you were. But if you insist you weren’t, that’s fine.”
“Oh, sorry. I just never realized you needed glasses.”
“I can usually manage without them, but I need them to read.”
Twilight said, “You should wear them more. They look nice on you.”
Fluttershy blushed.
“Oh, thank you.”
“So, I came over here because I wanted to show you a new spell I’ve been working on. I’ve ironed out the major flaws, and
I’ve fine-tuned it, so it should work as planned!”
Fluttershy smiled and said, “Well, I’m sure it will be magnificent.”
Twilight said “Alright, step back a little, this is going to take some space.”
Twilight began focusing her energy into the surrounding room. She waited a few seconds, then poured all her energy into the spell. A bright purple light shot from her horn, shooting itself towards the second floor of Fluttershy’s cottage.
Unfortunately, it traveled straight into the bathroom mirror and shot off again. It was traveling directly for Fluttershy. She didn’t even have time to scream before she was hit by the beam.
“Fluttershy, I’ve waited long enough now, and I wanted to tell you I’ve always loved you.”
Twilight looked around.
“Fluttershy?”
She glanced at the floor where Fluttershy was standing, only to find a scorch mark in the shape of her cutie mark.
“Oh crap. What did I do?”
