There had never been a time nor a reason for Fluttershy to doubt her gifts. From the moment she set hoof on the earth below Cloudsdale and got her cutie mark she knew what her purpose in life was. She was the one to help the animals, to take care of them when it was needed, and to communicate with them when none of the others could. So to be told she could not do the very thing she was meant to do broke her heart more than she would let on to her friends.
When you try your best, but you don't succeed
Rainbow Dash would forever be on record as saying the day started out feeling off. She could never pinpoint just what it was but something just didn't feel right. Then came the explosion and mushroom cloud of smoke from the middle of the Everfree Forest. It was right above where they all knew to be the exact location of Zecora's hut. Without any hesitation on Rainbow's part and little on Fluttershy's the two pegasai headed into the forest at top speed. They met a panicked Zecora halfway.
"Get out! Get out while you still can! A mistake has been made that will change this land!"
All around them the forest was changing. If it had been frightening before it was becoming more horrific by the second. Plants began to writhe, animals because to screech, growl and hiss, and the very air seemed so thick that it would suffocate them all. If they hadn't moved as quick as they did all three of them would not have made it out of the forest alive. As it was, Fluttershy couldn't help but ache for the animals she felt was abandoning.
When you get what you want, but not what you need
Within hours the princess sent out a decree to tell all of Ponyville that the Everfree Forest was uncompromisingly off limits. Even Zecora was not allowed to go home, it was just too dangerous. Until a remedy could be found to reverse the effects of the Zebra's ill-made potion it was even too unsafe for Fluttershy to stay at her own cottage. It was simply too close to the wild forest. On any normal day the promise of terrible things would have kept the yellow pegasus far away from Everfree, but at night when all was still she could hear the tortured cries of the animals it held within its depths. And while she continued on with her daily care duties of the animals within Ponyville, the forest still loomed and it felt as though the animals were begging for her help.
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
She had been staying with Pinkie Pie and sneaked out one night when the pink pony was clearly out until morning. Her saddle bags were filled with medicines, bandages, everything she thought she could possibly need. There was a twinge of guilt as she stole through the night; breaking a decree from Princess Celestia was not a decision she'd come to lightly. But the cries that kept Fluttershy up at night simply could not be ignored any longer.
And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
It was impossibly dark in the forest and she shivered in fear. The last time she'd been in there on her own she'd ended up face to face with a Cockatrice. And somehow she'd managed to walk away from the encounter unscathed. Maybe it had been the fact that she was protecting the Crusaders that had given her that temporary strength or maybe it was something buried deep inside that allowed her those moments of confidence. Whatever it was, she wished she could tap into it now.
All around her there was movement. In the black shadows of the trees, in her peripheral vision, in front of and behind her. Yet somehow she kept her hooves moving. "H-h-hello?" she called tremulously. "I c-c-came to help you. There's no need to be s-s-scared." Her knees knocked and she took in a shaking breath. Was she really trying to tell the animals not to fear her or was she trying to convince herself not to be afraid?
There was something on the path ahead of her, small and light in color. Fluttershy gasped softly and stopped, waiting for it to move, imagining something with red eyes and sharp pointed teeth turning on her. But when nothing happened after a few minutes she took a tentative step forward. No movement. Another step. Still nothing. Another step and she realized whatever it was had white fur. Another step and she froze. She knew those long ears and sweet cotton ball of a tail. "Angel?" Her voice was just above a whisper. "Angel bunny? Is that you?" He still didn't move. Fluttershy took the final step closer and nudged his small body. He rolled over and she screamed.
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?
Fur had been torn and peeled back like an old banana. It hung limply over a chest cavity that had been freed of internal organs, exposed bones picked clean. Where his eyes should have been were empty sockets and there were maggots and flies crawling all over him, stuck in places where blood had dried. Any sane pony would have known he was long gone, but Fluttershy quickly undid the straps of her saddlebags and rooted around for bandages and ointments. "It's okay," she whispered to no one. "It's okay, Angel. You're going to be just fine. Mommy's here."
With everything she needed taken out and set to the side, she gently picked up her bunny and cradled him close to her, nuzzling her cheek against what was left of his face. "Hush now," she crooned, eyes closed as she gently rocked back and forth. "Everything is going to be just fine." But even as she said this tears leaked from under her lashes. She clung tighter to the small body in her grasp, her withers shaking as she sobbed. "I'm sorry, Angel. I'm so so sorry."
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
It didn't seem right that she could still see stars. The night should be black and cold. And she should be afraid. But the weight of her sadness was so much that Fluttershy couldn't bring herself to feel anything but despair. Until she noticed the stars moving and growing closer. Agony was replaced by fear all too quickly and Fluttershy scrambled back, running into her saddlebags and knocking everything she'd brought with her all over the place. And just as she was ready to scream again the lights dimmed slightly and came into focus.
Butterflies.
Dozens of beautiful little perfect butterflies all fluttering filmy wings around her. She almost laughed but it came out as a weak sob instead. It brought the butterflies closer and Fluttershy instantly knew that somehow they'd been attracted by her crying. It was silly to find comfort in such small creatures but as one landed on her nose she felt a little safer. She had friends with her now, allies. She needed to get home and they would help her and keep her company.
There was a sharp pinch to her flank and Fluttershy was instantly on her hooves, spinning to look around. But there was nothing there. Another pinch and she squeaked, looking back toward her cutie mark. A butterfly had landed there and she she watched, it bent down and sank its head into her fur, biting. Fluttershy's brow furrowed and she fluttered her own wings softly to get the butterfly off of her and into the air again. "No biting," she chided gently as it came to flap by her ear. "That is not the way we treat our friends now, is it?"
Another pinch on her neck, then one on her foreleg. Fluttershy whipped her head around. The butterflies were closing in on her and seemingly growing in number. Now several were on her back and her head and they were all biting her. "Stop," she whimpered. "Please, stop!"
And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth
In a last ditch effort to free herself, Fluttershy spread her wings and lifted into the air. Most of the butterflies were so disturbed at the wind she created that they fell away from her, bobbing and swirling underneath her in the air current. Some of them still clung to her and sank sharp little teeth into her. The butterflies below began glowing again and, looking up, there was a cloud of them glowing above her. She was trapped directly in the middle. Helpless now, Fluttershy could only watch as the two glowing masses converged on her.
"You're hungry," she cried softly, falling to the ground. "I know you're hungry. I'm so sorry you've been neglected." They covered her like a living blanket, ripping up small clumps of fur to get to the flesh underneath. "My saddlebags," she whimpered. "I must have something for you in my saddlebags."
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
She was loosing feeling in her limbs at an alarming speed and she knew there must have been venom in the bites of the butterflies. One of her cutie marks was already torn away and a hole ripped in her flesh. It was shaped like a macabre heart that dripped blood down her leg. All Fluttershy could do was lay there. Her legs wouldn't work when she tried to tell them to move. "Help," she cried weakly. But the only one around to hear was the corpse of her beloved bunny. And then the fire came.
It started back by her flank where the most damage had been done so far. It was icy at first and crept along her muscles like the coldest winter chill. When searing pain chased after it the sensation seemed to wrap itself around every bone, every tendon, every extension of her body. They were chewing away pinions from her wings but she couldn't feel it. All she could feel was the blaze of torment that came from their small mouths.
Tears stream down on your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down on your face
And I...
She opened her mouth to cry and a butterfly slipped in, sinking its teeth into her tongue. Fluttershy tried to spit it out, to scream and call for help from anyone but now her mouth was going numb as well. Tears ran down her cheeks, stinging the lacerations on her face and mixing with the blood to make muddy trails down her coat. It was as that moment she knew she was going to die.
Tears stream down on your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down on your face
And I...
She tried to think of her friends in her last moments. The muscles of her neck gave out and her head hit the ground with a soft thud. Rainbow Dash came to mind first. Her first real friend. How she wished she'd been able to tell Dash just once how much those early days of their friendship had meant to her. As her breathing slowed her body began to twitch in silent convulsions she pictured Pinkie Pie bouncing around and being silly and tried to tell herself that was all that was happening. She was just being silly like Pinkie. She couldn't breathe because of the tight embrace Rarity, her very best friend, was giving her.
Lights will guide you home
The butterflies were on her face now, glowing against the black of night the way Twilight's horn glowed when she did magic.
And ignite your bones
Finally she thought of Applejack. How the strong earth pony would have been able to get away from these butterflies and survive. But it wasn't their fault. She had to remind herself of that. They were as much a victim as she was. And as she drew her final breath, as darkness closed around her in a tight fist her last thought was, "It's okay, little ones. I will try to fix you."
