Fluttershy, the yellow pegasus with the pink mane, walked out of her cottage to find Derpy the mailpony making her daily rounds. Derpy, a grey pegasus with a yellow mane, wore a blue postal cap and a brown letter carrier. Derpy used her teeth to remove a single white envelope from the carrier and fluttered over to Fluttershy.

“I brought you a letter!” Derpy said cheerily.

“Why thank you.” Fluttershy replied, taking the letter with her front hoof.

“Have a nice day!” Derpy greeted before flying off.

“I don’t recognize this address.” Fluttershy said to herself, scanning the envelope, “I guess this is an apartment in Manehattan.”

The yellow pegasus unsealed the envelope with her front hoof and unfolded the letter. She began to read it and gasped.

“Uncle Cuttershy, he’s passed away!” she whispered, “Oh my no!”

The letter read:

To my dearest niece Fluttershy,

If you are reading this, then I have most likely passed away. The years since you have seen me last have been difficult. Why, you were just a little filly, then. I’d be surprised if you’d even remember me. In any case, I never made it around to having any foals or fillies of my own, therefore I am naming you, Fluttershy, as the sole inheritor of my estate. I’ve had to sell off my worldly possessions in recent years to make ends meet, but there is one thing I still have left to give you; the Flutter family island. As far as I’m concerned, the island is your birthright anyways. It would have gone to your father, if it weren’t for that legal trouble resulting in its confiscation by Canterlot. Princess Luna recently ruled that ownership should transfer back to the Flutter family, specifically me. As my time is now short, due to my unfortunate love of tobacco, I leave Flutter Island to you. Keep it well and stay out of trouble!

Your loving uncle,
Cuttershy

Contrary to the old colt’s belief, his niece did remember him well. When little Fluttershy visited Uncle Cuttershy’s house, he always had a piece of candy or cake for her, and sometimes a more illustrious present. Cuttershy had given his niece her first pet bunny and showed her how to take care of it. She recalled the old colt, a greying yellow pegasus with a curled pinkish moustache, sitting in his chair, smoking a pipe.

Fluttershy wiped the tears beginning to well in her eyes and folded up the letter.

“If Uncle Cuttershy passed away, then why didn’t Mom and Dad tell me?” she wondered, “I’m sure I’ll be getting a call from them soon. I wonder if I should call them first.”

Fluttershy thought for a few moments and figured that her parents would contact her and they would go to the funeral in a few days. But what about this Flutter Island business? Fluttershy had never heard of her family owning an entire island. She thought it strange that her uncle would send her such a letter, but then concluded that he was just trying to be polite, and that some stuffy lawyer pony would sort out the details later. But wouldn’t Uncle Cuttershy have an actual will written up in lieu of this letter?

Fluttershy shook her mind free of confusion and walked back inside her house. She went about the daily task of feeding her pet bunny Angel his carrots, and also tending to the other animals for which she cared. A few hours later there was a heavy knock on her door.

Fluttershy opened her front door and looked at the stern face of a Canterlot royal guard. He was a large white colt in the traditional bronze armor and helmet with the blue plume.

“Is this the home of Ms. Fluttershy?” the guard asked.

“Y-yes...yes it is…” she replied nervously, “H-how may I help you?”

“Did you receive a letter today from a Dr. Cuttershy?” the guard inquired.

“Yes…” Fluttershy continued, “My Uncle Cuttershy…”

“I have orders to escort you to inspect the grounds of Flutter Island.” the guard said, “They are direct from the princess herself.”

“Right now?” Fluttershy wondered, “Shouldn’t I talk to my family and a lawyer, perhaps?”

“Miss…” the guard said, “I can only tell you what I’ve been told. We’ve brought a chariot to take you directly to Flutter Island.”

“Shouldn’t I at least tell somepony where I’ve gone?” Fluttershy asked, “What if my friends come looking for me?”

“The princess has already informed your loved ones of your whereabouts.” the guard answered, “Now please come with me. The princess awaits.”

The Canterlot guard took his place with the other guard who led the flying bronze chariot. Fluttershy reluctantly stepped into the seat and the pegasus guards flapped their wings, beginning their ascent. Fluttershy looked down nervously as her home, and then Ponyville itself became smaller and smaller, as she rose into the clouds. Despite her nature as a pegasus, Fluttershy had never been the best flyer, and the day’s strange events did nothing to ease her nervousness.

It took less than an hour to reach Flutter Island by chariot, but to Fluttershy it seemed like forever. Several questions lingered in her mind as the chariot landed on the grassy plains of Flutter Island. It was located on the shore nearest to Ponyville, toward the northeast. The air was cold, the grass was tall and wild, and the island itself surrounded by rocky places and boulders. It appeared completely uninhabited, even by non-pony creatures, with the exception of the recent visitors, and a large grey stone building looming in the distance.

The yellow pegasus stepped out onto the grass as an uninviting wind blew through her mane and sent a chill down her spine.

“Uh, excuse me…” Fluttershy asked one of the guards, “If you don’t mind my asking…doesn’t this island have any wildlife?”

“Not since Hurricane Fluttershy….” one of the guards whispered sardonically.

“Hurricane Fluttershy?” she asked, “That’s my name. I have a storm named after me?”

The other guard nudged his fellow in the side, as if telling him not to divulge any more secrets.

“The princess!” one guard announced, as both of them bowed in respect.

Princess Celestia, co-ruler of Equestria, a white alicorn with a luminous mane and gold hooves, stepped forward and spread her wings.

“Your majesty…” the other guard reported, “Fluttershy has been brought her safely, as ordered.”

“My sincerest thanks…” Celestia answered with a smile, “You may rise…”

Fluttershy bowed her head and curtseyed as Celestia walked over and wrapped her wing around her pegasus friend.

“My dear Fluttershy…” she said, “Welcome to Flutter Island…”

“What…what is this place?” Fluttershy asked.

“Long ago, it was the home of your ancestors, and passed down from the Flutter family for generations.” Celestia explained, “In more recent history, it fell into the possession of Canterlot, and became the site of a hospital.”

“A hospital?” Fluttershy wondered.

“The Flutter Institute of Mental Health.” Celestia said, “Or FIMH for short. That was before a tempest struck the island and left the facility uninhabitable.”

“Princess…I received a letter…from my Uncle Cuttershy…” Fluttershy stammered, “I think he’s passed away…”

“Yes, my dear sister Luna gave this land back to your uncle, and he has passed it onto you.” Celestia answered, “Unfortunately, the time has come that the island is once again needed for Canterlot’s services. I’m afraid that I have no choice but to retake possession of Flutter Island.”

“What happened to Uncle Cuttershy?” Fluttershy asked.

“It is with my deepest regrets I must say that your uncle has indeed passed on.” Celestia said, “I am certain your parents will contact you with more information. You are aware that Dr. Cuttershy was a heavy smoker?”

“I just wish…he would’ve…” Fluttershy tried to say, “let me known earlier…if I’d known he was sick…”

Fluttershy started to cry and Celestia brushed her tears with her wing.

“I’m sure Dr. Cuttershy had his reasons.” Celestia answered, “I’m sure he didn’t want you to worry…”

“Excuse me, princess.” said a stodgy and unfamiliar voice, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but we do have some business to sort out.”

“Ah, yes.” the princess replied, “Go ahead, Legal Brief.”

Legal Brief was a bright yellow earth pony with a slick blue mane and thick glasses. He was every bit the “stuffy lawyer pony” that Fluttershy imagined, and his cutie mark consisted of a set of symbolic scales, tipped toward one side in his favor.

“The truth of the matter, Ms. Shy, is that Flutter Island falls under the principle of ‘eminent domain’.” Legal Brief said in condescending monotone, “Princess Celestia, and the seat of Canterlot, have every right to confiscate this land for the state of Equestria. Of course, we are offering you and your loved ones suitable compensation.”

“500,000 bits to be divided among the members of the Flutter family.” Celestia answered, “I’m afraid that’s all I can offer. 500,000 bits was how much it cost to build FIHM, not to mention the 100,000 a year spent to maintain it. And all of that was 70 years ago.”

“70 years ago?” Fluttershy blurted.

“53 years to be precise.” Legal Brief corrected, “The FIHM facility was in operation for 53 years before Hurricane Fluttershy, and the property has been abandoned for 19 years. So that brings us to a distance of 72 years.”

“Why was it called Hurricane Fluttershy?” she asked.

“Well, you aren’t the first Fluttershy ever.” Celestia said with a giggle, “One of your ancestors, also named Fluttershy, once had a large farm on this island. Equestrian weather observers took to naming storms after prominent people at the time, and Fluttershy just happened to be popular. It is rather ironic that ‘Fluttershy’ showed up in the name cycle at the same time the storm hit this island.”

“Oh, okay…” Fluttershy said weakly, barely able to process all the new information.

“I wanted you to at least give you a chance to see the property and know that it was being put to good use.” Celestia said, “I know that it looks empty now, but we’ll be converting this island into an animal sanctuary and wildlife preserve. We’ll be transporting many of the wild rabbits and deer from Everfree.”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened with joy as she jumped up and tightly embraced the princess.

“Oh, thank you, Princess Celestia! Thank you!” she shouted in glee, “All those poor deer and bunnies won’t be so crowded in Everfree! They’ll be ever free to roam in more wide open spaces!”

Celestia trotted along, with Fluttershy under her wing, back to the princess’ royal carriage.

“Why don’t you come with me back to the palace?” she suggested, “There’s a bowl of fresh salad and a velvet cake waiting for you.”

“Oh, thank you, princess…” Fluttershy said, “But I’ve got to be getting back home, if you don’t mind. I should probably call Mom and Dad, and tuck Angel in for the night.”

“I understand, my dear Fluttershy.” Celestia said with a smile, “I really am sorry about the island. I suppose Luna and I just failed to communicate properly. Good evening, my little pony. The chariot will take you back home.”

Celestia stepped back into her own chariot and her team of four guards flew off into the sky. What Celestia did not realize was that the other two guards had already left to attend to duties she had given them earlier. They assumed she would be going back with the princess. Fluttershy looked around for the chariot and then shivered in fear when she realized she had been left on Flutter Island alone.

“Why did they leave me?” she asked, “It must have been some sort of mistake.”

Author's Note

This story is more related to the Martin Scorsese movie than the plot of the fan game...sort of...;-)