A night of darkness; quiet and serenity fills the lush air; invigorating it with new life, for the coming morning. All is still as stone, breathing without rustling a feather; the life under the night sky, endlessly dreams. But one distinguishable from all others, defies the pattern laid out for generations, lies awake under the sky. One with immense kindness, undefined courage and luminous love, speaks out amongst the others silence.
Fluttershy lies under the stars; in thought of past actions. She begins to think back to the first time she fell from the clouds above, to the land below.
A swift breeze touches Fluttershy’s soft, long, pink mane. She is surrounded by clouds with various marble structures. Other pegasus children are flying around the area; their flight mediocre at best. A sign depicting the words ‘Summer Flight Camp’ can be seen in the distance.
Fluttershy stumbles forward; her stance becoming full of jitters and nerves. This is her first experience attempting to fly near other pegasus equines. She always had her mother there to watch her when she was flying around. She would mostly walk and not fly to school or any other place. The fear of being humiliated was beyond her control.
Fluttershy is called over to an instructor in the distance. She walks down to the courtyard and stands in front of the instructor.
“Do you know why I've called you down here?” says the instructor.
“Nu-nu-nu-nu-no?” Fluttershy says, questioning her own response.
“I told everybody to go around and get a feel for the course; we have set up for everyone. You’re the only one who hasn't tried it yet,” said the instructor, with concern in her voice.
“I, I don’t want to,” Fluttershy says, fearful of her answer.
“Why don’t you want to try the course?” asked the instructor.
Fluttershy attempts to think of an answer; her mind racing with fear.
“I can’t fly…” Fluttershy says; her voice in utter defeat.
“Nonsense! Every pegasus can fly!” the instructor exclaimed.
“I-I really can’t…” Fluttershy is interrupted by the instructor.
“Come on kiddo, I’m sure you’re just nervous. Go on and fly through those cloud rings for me,” said the instructor.
“Uh, um, okay.” Fluttershy walked to the starting position for the cloud rings fly through.
Two unknown stallions watch her in the distance. Their stare scolding, ready to strike at any fear or resentment, disseminated towards them.
Fluttershy stretches her wings out from her body, and prepares to take off.
The first cloud ring is above her, a stretch of her body away.
She flaps her wings gently. Her body lifts a foot off the ground. She makes it to the bottom of the ring and lands on it.
Fluttershy beams a smile towards the sky. Her enthusiasm shoots through the clouds.
However she did not land on the cloud properly and loses her balance. Fancifully she falls forward and crashes into the cumulous cloud bed below.
The two stallions watching her in the far distance immediately dart towards her. Their faces ready to burst with laughter at the site of her humiliation.
Fluttershy tries to look around but her vision is blurred from the fall. She hears laughter coming from above her. Her vision clears and she looks up, and sees two pegasi hovering above her; laughing uncontrollably. She immediately covers her face with her two front hooves and starts to cry.
The female instructor started walking towards Fluttershy, but stops, when she was called over to help with an injury of another pegasus.
Fluttershy was now alone and helpless. Dreaded thoughts filled her mind. Regret was the first.
Fluttershy thinks to herself. “Why did I think I could fight my fear? Why did I think I could fly in front of others? Why did I convince myself this would be worth it?”
And then she was overwhelmed with confusion.
“How will I make it through this? How am I going to learn to fly if I’m not going to try? How are other ponies going to like me if I can’t do what they do?”
And finally the fear that, “Everyone will now consider me a laughing stock. Everyone will now think less of me. And now; no one will want to be my friend.”
Fluttershy snaps back into reality and realizes she’s still being laughed at and cries even more.
The two stallions laugh even harder, at the sight of her helplessness.
Suddenly a cerulean blue mare flies in. “Leave her alone!” she shouts.
She has a rainbow colored mane and tail. The instructors consider her the best of all the fliers they've ever had. The other pegasus children look up to her as being the best.
Her stance is aggressive and fearless.
Fluttershy stops crying and watches in shock, as the two stallions stop laughing, and land on the ground to meet their aggressor.
“Who’s gonna make us? You? Ha! We don’t even know who you are!” one of the stallions asks in amusement.
The sky blue pegasus stomps her front hoof. “I’m Rainbow Dash; and I’m going to be the best flyer in all of Equestria! And you better back off from her; now!” she says with aggression.
“Or what? I bet you can't even fly faster than us!” the other stallion says.
“Is that a challenge?” Rainbow Dash asks.
“Yea it is! And by us, I mean her!” the first stallion says threateningly.
Rainbow Dash backs her front hoof off. “Wait; what do you mean?” she asks in confusion.
Fluttershy hides behind her hooves.
One of the stallions walks up to Fluttershy. “Here let me show you!” he says with a slight chuckle.
The stallion raises his wing and bats Fluttershy off the side of the cloud.
Fluttershy screams, as she starts hurdling towards the ground below.
Rainbow Dash yells in fear and distress. “NOOO!” She immediately jumps off the cloud and flies after Fluttershy.
The two stallions start to laugh all over again, at the sight of their unscrupulous achievement.
Fluttershy continues to scream; and flails her limbs wildly in an attempt to gain control. Her wings attempt to flap, but are out of sync and facing the wrong way.
The ground starts to grow in size and dimension, as the two mares draw ever closer. Both of them smell each other’s fear on one another. Their emotions riveting as they both imagine the unnerving ground swallowing them whole.
Rainbow Dash erupts with agility, as she attempts to reach Fluttershy before she crashes into the ground. The air rumbles, as a shock-wave starts to form behind Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash reaches Fluttershy, but begins to dodge her flailing limbs, as she tries to inch ever closer. She tries to grab Fluttershy but is knocked back by one of her hooves. Rainbow Dash regains herself and begins to catch back up. Her heart and mind pump with adrenaline, as she realizes she can only try one more time, before it’s too late. Rainbow Dash jolts at Fluttershy; using all her energy to catch back up to her. She dodges Fluttershy’s limbs this time, and spreads her two forearms around Fluttershy and grasps her tight.
Fluttershy then realized she was caught, and stopped flailing her limbs; realizing they were still falling however she continues to scream.
Rainbow Dash looks down and sees the ground a mere stone throw away. She immediately starts flapping her wings as hard as she can. The force was just enough, to slow them down just before the ground.
Fluttershy realizes they had made it and stops screaming.
Rainbow Dash lets Fluttershy go, and drops to the ground in exhaustion.
They both take a minute to regain themselves before speaking to one another.
Rainbow Dash lifts her head and looks towards Fluttershy. “Are you okay?” she asks.
Fluttershy jumps and lets out a shriek. “Sorry; I’m still a little jumpy.” She pauses for a moment. “Yea; I guess I’m okay. Are you? Your name’s Rainbow Dash, is that right?”
“Yea its Rainbow Dash and don’t worry about me, I've had worse happen.” Rainbow Dash stops and thinks for a moment. “I never really got your name; what was it?” she asks fruitfully.
Fluttershy stutters for a moment. “Um, uh, it’s…” Fluttershy stops. She realizes this is the first time any other pegasus of her age has asked her name. All the other children would ignore her, or have brief square conversations with her. A thought of a friend never entered her mind, until this very moment.
Tension began to rise in Fluttershy to answer; as this would determine the fate of her first friendship.
“Fluttershy,” she answers with a bit of joy in her voice.
“Huh. I always wondered what your name was. I always saw you around but never with anyone else,” Rainbow Dash says.
“I’ve always been too shy, and afraid to talk to others. Why did you stand up for me anyways?” Fluttershy asks biding for a response.
Rainbow Dash stands rigidly. “Because I can’t stand seeing others get picked on, just because they're different! In fact I’m going to go back there, and teach them a lesson!”
Rainbow Dash spreads her wings and prepares to take off.
“Wait! Please, you don't have to tell them off!” Fluttershy shouts with fear.
“Yes I do! What they did to you was more than uncalled for! It was cool meeting you Fluttershy, but I have to do this. Hopefully we’ll see each other again soon.” Rainbow Dash takes off to the sky; her take off near perfect.
Fluttershy lets out a long sigh. “I hope we meet again soon too.” She starts walking towards a nearby pond.
This is the first time Fluttershy had ever been anywhere near the ground. Due to her inability to fly very long and far, she never was able to go down to the ground. The earth below was taught little to her; at the school for young pegasi. All she knew was the white, whimsical, wool-packs of the endless sky.
Fluttershy soon began to become immersed in the new alien environment. Her senses tingled with new emotions. Her eyes became freed from the prison of white and blue. Her mind exploded with thoughts of creation and graciousness.
Fluttershy reaches the pond and sees a great many critters by the water’s edge drinking. She walks up to them, and begins to talk to them.
“Hey there little guys. How are you doing?” Fluttershy looks away from the critters for a moment. “Who am I kidding? Animals can’t understand me.” Fluttershy’s stomach starts to growl. “Oh my! I’m quite hungry,” she states.
A small bunny hops up to her and hands her a piece of carrot and starts to hop away.
“Wait! Can you understand me?” Fluttershy asks flabbergasted.
The bunny stops and turns around, and nods its head in agreement.
Fluttershy drops her jaw in amazement. “Really!? I didn't know I had the ability to communicate with animals!” she says with excitement.
The bunny shrugs its arms in response.
Fluttershy lifts into the air with excitement. “This is so cool! What else can you…?” Fluttershy is interrupted by a loud boom, as she looks towards the sky.
A rainbow shock-wave, coming from the summer flight camp, can be seen shooting in all directions horizontally across the sky. The ground shakes as the wave passes over head. The small woodland critters begin to scatter; in fear of the unknown. Fluttershy watches, as they scramble into their dwellings. The shock-wave passes by and the ground stops to shake.
“I better make sure they're okay!” Fluttershy starts to walk to a tree, housing a few birds.
Fluttershy pokes her head, into the leaves. “It’s okay now; you don’t have to be afraid anymore,” she says with care.
Fluttershy starts going to all the dwellings, and soothing the critters and animals. As she goes to each one, the animals start to follow her as she goes. She soon gathers them all, and relaxes on a patch of grass. Butterflies circle her, frogs croak, birds chirp and fly around, and bunnies hop around her; while she rests.
Fluttershy looks around at all the animals. “I'm so happy. I want to take care of animals for the rest of my life,” she says in a gentle voice.
Suddenly a mark appears above both her rear legs; its design depicting three butterflies, with pink wings.
Fluttershy’s face gleams with joy as she realizes she got her cutie mark.
The animals nestle in close to Fluttershy and lie down next to her. Fluttershy watches as they close their eyes and begin to sleep. Fluttershy soon does the same but not before shedding a tear of joy.
Fluttershy gently lays her head down and drifts into an endless sleep.
Day turns to night. The cold air wisps Fluttershy’s body, waking her.
She opens her eyes and looks around. The animals she once saw; faded away, into a white mist. The ground below her re-textures from a light, grassy meadow, into a stone terrace. The pond dissolves, and a dark forest rises in its place. The earth around her slowly bends and twists into a small hill.
Fluttershy turns around, and sees a small cottage, fade in to reality. She walks towards a moat that runs around the cottage.
Fluttershy lets out a long sigh; as she realizes, everything she experienced was just a memory.
“Why aren't things that way anymore?” Fluttershy asks, as she looks towards the stars.
A creek of a door opening can be heard ahead of her. Fluttershy looks down from the stars, to see a bunny hopping down the stone path, towards her.
“Angel? What are you doing up?” she asks with intent curiosity.
Angel points to his ears and covers them. He then starts stumbling around, attempting to balance himself.
“There’s a loud noise keeping you up? And you can’t keep your balance because you’re too tired?” Fluttershy asks.
Angel shakes his head and points towards the stars.
Fluttershy looks up at the sky. “I don’t under -” Fluttershy sees a bright white light come into view in the far distance “- What’s that?” she wonders.
The white light leaves a ribbon of eerie black in its wake; its speed faster than the fastest pegasi in Equestria. It starts to plummet to the ground in an unpredictable fashion. Its pattern becoming more erratic, as it nears the earth, zigzagging from one side of the sky, to another.
The ground begins to shake as it flies overhead.
Angel hops back to the cottage; in an effort to escape the tremors, of the unknown light.
Fluttershy loses her balance, and falls to the ground. She watches; as it crashes into a dark forest, in the distance.
Fluttershy gets up off the ground. “Oh my! I better make sure no one is hurt!” Angel starts to hop back out of the cottage. “No; you better stay here Angel. The Everfree Forest is too dangerous for you!” she remarks.
Angel hugs Fluttershy’s leg.
“Don’t worry Angel, I’ll be fine,” she says confidently.
Angel hops back to the cottage. He reaches the door and turns around. His instincts start reacting violently; to disobey Fluttershy, and prevent her from leaving. He looks at Fluttershy for a sign that she will definitely be okay.
Fluttershy nods back with charitable delight.
Angel stares back at her for a few seconds, but then obeys, and hops back into the shining, safe, secure cottage.
Fluttershy starts walking towards the Everfree Forest. Her nerves stay strong and relentless as she enters the forest edge.
The Everfree forest is considered one of the most dangerous places in Equestria. Everypony dares not enter the forest, lest they become daunted by its corruption of evil within. Fluttershy however doesn't flinch, at the endeavours, faced within. She had grown up in her later years beside the forest. Most of the creatures would become affronted against ponies that entered, and wouldn't hesitate to strike against them. But Fluttershy treads with little caution, and greets every creature she meets, as she trots through the forest.
Fluttershy watches the trees swiftly go by her, as she strolls through the forest. The tops of the trees cover the night sky, almost completely. The darkness of the forest is vaster than she remembers. Her vision is clear, to only a small distance in front of her.
The shrubbery starts to lessen, as she goes further along. Soon a clearing can be seen in the distance.
Fluttershy walks out to the edge of the forest and looks around.
The forest forms an almost perfect circle around the clearing.
Fluttershy looks off in the distance and sees a shimmering white light.
Fluttershy tenses up and begins to stutter and shake in place.
Fluttershy hadn’t faced the unknown in a long time. She had faced everything that could happen in the Everfree forest. Nothing in the forest had scared her or alarmed her in the longest time. Except now, where there was old and predictable; there was new and unforeseeable.
Fluttershy gets a hold of herself, and takes a big gulp. She takes off from the ground. Her wings gently flap, propelling her forward; as she cautiously flies towards the light.
Fluttershy watches the light stop growing as she gets closer, and instead sees a small crater hold the light in its grasp.
Fluttershy stops before reaching the edge of the crater, and plops to the ground; to examine the object more closely.
The object was more than a radiant white light; it was shaped like a sphere, and sleeked a metallic structure. The bright white light was shooting out of the gaps missing in the objects structure. Its size was proportionate to that of a large globe.
Fluttershy walks closer and starts to close the gap between her and the edge of the crater. As she walks; something else appears in the sky. Fluttershy doesn't see it and continues to inch forward.
The entity in the sky starts to dart towards Fluttershy. Its speed and velocity move incredibly fast towards her.
Fluttershy continues to still press forward; not realizing that at any moment she would be faced with another conundrum.
The entity lands directly in front of Fluttershy; causing the ground to shake violently and knocks Fluttershy back a great distance. The object in the crater for a moment emits a pulsating glow and shutters in the crater; but then lies back to the ground and dims.
Fluttershy screams and flails about, as she shoots over the top of the ground, and lands halfway between the forest and the crater.
Fluttershy lifts her head and becomes dazed. Her vision had become blurred and her balance out of proportion. She tries to get up but falls back to the ground. She looks around as her vision clears. Her eyes spot the crater but with something else by it. She regains her balance and starts to walk towards the entity. As she moves closer, she realizes the entity is actually a mare.
The mare has an incredible stance, with a riveting, shining cobalt blue mane. Her wings spread out over the ground, with intense charisma; her face hidden, by the shadows of the night.
Fluttershy continues to get closer, nearing a short distance away from the mare.
“Stop!” the mare shouts.
Fluttershy hesitates and stops walking.
The mare turns around and looks towards Fluttershy. Her face exhibits another feature; a horn that spirals out to the sky.
Fluttershy now realizes who the mare is and starts to speak to her.
“Princess Luna! What are you doing here?” Fluttershy asks.
“You should not be here young one! Leave now!” Luna says, infatuating a serious tone.
“But I don't understand. What’s going on?” Fluttershy wonders.
“Go!” Luna says using the Royal Canterlot Voice.
“Okay.” Fluttershy whispers.
Fluttershy starts walking towards the forests edge; her head gravitating towards the ground. Fluttershy lets out a small tear, as she walks away.
Fluttershy reaches the forest edge and turns around.
Luna can be seen in the distance, at the edge of the crater, examining the object.
Fluttershy turns back around and lets out a long sigh, as she takes the first steps back into the forest.
A squirrel scurries across one of the branches above Fluttershy. As it runs across, it knocks over one of the twigs laying on it. The twig falls unwillingly toward the ground.
The twig lands on Fluttershy’s back as she walks by.
Fluttershy squeezes her eyes shut, and lets out a dastardly scream, as she dashes back towards the crater.
Luna hears the scream and turns around, to see Fluttershy speeding towards her.
“I command thee to stop!” Luna says, as she stomps her hoof, shaking the nearby trees.
To no avail though, Luna’s attempts were in vain.
Fluttershy had retreated into her head, and refused to hear anything. She had become overturned with fear and couldn't cope with anything the outside world wanted to tell her.
Luna attempted yet again to stop her, “STOP!” Luna commanded, this time using her Royal Canterlot Voice.
Luna’s outcries, continued to have no effect on Fluttershy.
As Fluttershy got closer, the object began to shutter, shake and glow.
Seeing no alternative, Luna, in a desperate attempt, leapt at the object, grabbed it and attempted to fly away, but it was too late. The object let out a blast of white light, which engulfed them both. Luna was immediately blinded, and let go of the object, but still attempted to fly away, as fast as she could. To no avail though, she couldn't escape the light, and began to be sucked in towards the object. With all her might, she tried to fight the force dragging her down to the object. The more she fought though, the more it fought back; after a few moments she had given up and let herself go.
Fluttershy, still running towards the object, was hurdled through the air, when the force became more than she was exerting.
They had both hit the center of the force, with the object in between them. The object was now floating in the air above the crater; however the area looked like a white abyss, with nothing else visible. Almost immediately, both Luna’s and Fluttershy’s front hooves glued to one another. Both of them opened their eyes, the light now not so blinding, as they began to wonder what was going on.
“Oh no, it’s happening,” Luna said, with fear in her voice.
“What’s happening?!” Fluttershy said, her voice shaking and pitching with fear.
“It’s beginning to…” before Luna could finish, the object began to send out spiralling black swirls around their arms.
The spirals soon began to engulf around their bodies. The object then sent out another beam of white light, this time knocking them both into a comatose state. The black swirls soon completely surrounded their bodies into a cocoon. The object then let out one last enormous explosion of bright white light, with the light being able to be seen all the way to Ponyville. The light then immediately extinguishes, and Luna and Fluttershy start their weary descent, towards the ambiguous ground below.
