Flutter Island

Fluttershy fluttered her eyelids open once again and tried to gain cognition. She soon realized she was in a hospital bed at Ponyville General, and wearing a green patient gown. She was relieved to see her parents, Flutterscotch and Spring Lily, at her side.

Flutterscotch was a fairly bulky mare who had passed his pink mane and yellow fur on to his daughter. His cutie mark was a role of tape, as he did repair work. Spring Lily was roughly the same size as her daughter with a lily white mane and pale pink fur. She was a florist and her cutie mark was a lily.

“You’re finally awake.” Spring Lily said in a voice as light as her daughter’s, “We’re so glad you’re okay!”

“How ya feelin’, kiddo?” Flutterscotch asked in only a slightly more masculine voice.

“I…I’m not sure…” Fluttershy responded, “I feel pretty terrible…I saw…things…really bad things…I have to tell you…”

“Just try to stay calm, kiddo.” Flutterscotch advised, “Tell us what got you so startled.”

“A pile…a pile of bones…” Fluttershy recalled, “There is a pile of skeletons…pony remains in the lake underneath the island…one of them still had skin…it tried to drag me under…”

“Drag you under?!” Spring Lily gasped.

“I guess I imagined it.” Fluttershy said, “I guess I imagined a lot of things. I had this horrible dream that Uncle Cuttershy was killing ponies, and a dead pony that looked like me came to life. Then I found a poor starving bunny…I chased it…and found that machine in the basement…that part was real.”

“It sounds like you need a lot of rest, kiddo.” Flutterscotch advised, “I know about Cuttershy passing away, Celestia knows I’ll miss ‘im. I suppose the guards ‘ull be here to ask you some questions, later.”

“We got you some chocolate and flowers, Fluttershy.” Spring Lily said, placing a heart-shaped box and a vase full of daffodils on the windowsill, “I hope you like them.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Fluttershy said, “Wait…do you hear shouting?”

All three members of the Flutter family’s ears perked as increasingly loud voices seemed to move down the hallway toward the open door. Right before their eyes, a light blue pony with a frazzled white mane and a screw for a cutie mark ran past them, carrying a metal pail in her teeth. Nurse Redheart, two large colts in white uniforms, and a brown colt in glasses and lab coat ran after her.

“Dr. Cureall!” Redheart called out, “She’s headed for the stairs!”

“One of you run ahead and block her!” the brown colt, Dr. Cureall, ordered.

One of the large orderly colts ran ahead and blocked the door to the staircase.

“You’re not goin’ anywhere, Screw Loose.” he said.

Screw Loose, Ponyville General’s sole mental patient, simply ignored the staircase door and turned the corner toward where Dustbin, the old janitor colt with the scruffy grey mustache, was mopping the floor. Screw Loose put down the bucket and decided to skid her hooves across the wet floor. She began barking happily like a dog and wagging her tail.

“Looks like the screw got loose again…” Dustbin remarked, as if it were a regular occurrence.

Without thinking, Dustbin placed his mop in the bucket that Screw Loose had left instead of his own pail. The old janitor screamed in horror as the mop head soaked red with blood. Dustbin dropped the bloody mop and ran away in a panic.

“Dustbin, wait, we can explain!” Redheart shouted, “I’m sure we can get you a raise!”

“I just considered early retirement!” Dustbin shouted back, increasing his gallop.

“Take her down!” Cureall ordered the two orderlies.

The two orderly colts attempted to tackle Screw Loose but slipped on the wet floor, knocking over the ‘WET FLOOR’ sign and the bucket of blood. Making matters worse was the easily frightened Nurse Softheart, trotting up the hallway.

“Did Screw Loose get loose again?” she asked, “Poor dear…what in Celestia’s name is that?!!”

Softheart shuddered in horror and collapsed to the floor, about to cry. She pointed her shaking hoof at the puddle of blood, specifically the tiny, almost foal-shaped blob within it.

“Is that…is that…please…no…” Softheart stammered.

The soft-hearted (obviously) nurse quietly sobbed as Redheart trotted over and hugged her.

“Let’s go get some coffee.” Redheart suggested.

Softheart nodded in agreement and the two nurses left Dr. Cureall and the orderlies to clean up the mess.

“You two, take Screw Loose…I mean…Ms. Unknown, back to her cell.” Cureall instructed, “I’ll dispose of this in the biohazard containment. As attending physician, I take full responsibility.”

“Yes, sir.” the two orderly colts said in unison, taking Screw Loose by her two front legs and practically dragging her across the floor.

The mad mare panted happily, looking right at Dr. Cureall, as if he actually enjoyed chasing her across the building. Cureall reluctantly took the mop and bucket and went about his grim work. Somepony had to clean up the messes around here.

The following day, after performing her morning duties, Princess Celestia, and her sister, the blue alicorn of the moon, Princess Luna, stood on the castle balcony, overlooking the royal city of Canterlot. They both stood sullenly, watching the sunshine, levitating pink cups in front of them, sipping tea. News traveled fast from Ponyville to Canterlot, a bit too fast.

“So, you really have the mind to do it, Tia?” Luna asked, breaking the silence, “You plan to renovate Flutter Island.”

“We need a facility such as FIHM.” Celestia answered, “Last night’s incident at Ponyville General proved as much.”

“Forgive me for saying so…” Luna began, “But methinks what you have in mind will only perpetuate such incidents…”

“Two separate floors for two separate services.” Celestia explained, “And better such things occur on a separate island, than right in the middle of Ponyville.”

“But what of the weather?” Luna pondered, “What if there comes another storm?”

“That shall not happen again.” Celestia resolved, “I will make sure of it.”

“And what of that cavern?” Luna continued, “I have heard that poor Fluttershy…”

“Fluttershy knows as much as she needs to know!” Celestia shouted, slipping into frustration, “I did not mean to leave her behind on that island! It was a simple mistake. For as long as we’ve been alive, one would think we’d be long past mistakes.”

“Twas a simple mistake that led to the tragedy.” Luna argued.

“Mad pegasi shall just have their wings clipped.” Celestia said, “That is what must be done. I did not predict that a lone patient could fly as far as Cloudsdale and send a hurricane straight toward the island. Nopony could predict that.”

“You are not simply anypony.” Luna reminded her.

“Everypony just wants to forget Hurricane Fluttershy.” Celestia concluded, “Myself included.”

“Even if all goes according to plan…” Luna said, hesitating, “The plan itself…what happened last night…”

“Is exactly why we need a place such as FIHM.” Celestia answered, “Equestria has its fair share of problems, many of which we can resolve. Two of those problems nopony wants to even acknowledge.”

“The mentally ill and unborn should be protected, not punished.” Luna concluded.

“So should the mentally well and maternally ill.” Celestia advised.

“Thee simply cannot…” Luna argued, slipping into old dialect, “We cannot abide it!”

“What choice do we have?!” Celestia answered, “And by ‘we’ I mean both of us!”

“And by ‘we’ I mean simply myself.” Luna said, “I shall fight thee no longer, dear sister. But whatever becomes of Flutter Island…is of thine own doing…”

“I know this, dear sister.” Celestia answered.

Meanwhile, back in Ponyville, Fluttershy was still interred at the hospital. Her parents stood at her side as Dr. Cureall and one of the royal guards stood over her.

“I’m telling you all the truth.” the yellow pegasus insisted, “I found a cave full of skeletons underneath the island.”

“And you’re entirely certain this wasn’t a nightmare?” Cureall suggested, “You also claimed to see your own twin crawl out of her skin.”

“That part was only a dream.” Fluttershy answered, “But I know what I saw in that cave.”

“You also claimed that a rotting corpse jumped out of the water and grabbed you.” Cureall observed.

“I imagined it grabbing me.” Fluttershy said, “But the rotting pony was real.”

“Excuse me, doctor.” the guard spoke up, “But as a member of the royal guard, I have to take these allegations very seriously. If there’s any chance that somepony buried a pile of bodies, we have to investigate.”

“Excuse me, good sir…” Cureall said under his breath, “But I strongly suggest you speak with the princess before you investigate further…”

“Doctor, are you threatening me?” the guard said so that everypony could hear him.

“Guard, may I have a word with you outside the room, please?” Cureall advised.

“The name’s Granite Shield, and you’d better make it quick.” the guard said.

Granite and Cureall trotted out of the room and Fluttershy looked at her parents.

“You believe me, don’t you, Mom and Dad?” she asked with sorrow-filled eyes.

“Of course, we believe you, sweetie.” Spring Lily answered.

“We’re just glad you’re safe.” Flutterscotch said.

Fluttershy embraced her mother and father in a group hug, but groaned as they tugged on her broken wing.

“Sorry, dear.” Spring Lily said, “You probably should lie down until the bones heal.”

“Wouldn’t want you flying lopsided, kiddo.” Flutterscotch remarked.

Fluttershy’s parents stayed with her for a few more hours, but neither Granite nor Cureall returned. After her parents left, Fluttershy decided to go out for a stroll to clear her thoughts. At this point, even she was questioning whether she had actually found a pile of skeletons.

The yellow pegasus made her way down the elevator and to the lobby. Dr. Cureall, Nurse Redheart, and two orderlies awaited her as she began to trot out the front door.

“Ms. Fluttershy.” Redheart spoke up, “You can’t be outside while your wing is still healing.”

“Why not?” Fluttershy asked.

“Let’s just say that we don’t need a repeat of the time your rainbow friend tried to steal a book.” Redheart advised.

“Not to mention that Screw Loose escaped and followed us all the way to your friend’s house.” Cureall recalled.

“Screw Loose?” Fluttershy asked, “Who’s Screw Loose?”

“A blue mare that thinks she’s a dog.” Redheart explained, “We don’t know her real name, so everypony just calls her ‘Screw Loose’. We try to be polite and call her ‘Ms. Unknown’ but her cutie mark is a screw and the name stuck.”

“The point is, Ms. Fluttershy, that every time one of you ‘elements of harmony’ trots through our doors, there’s always some sort of commotion.” Cureall said, “I’d like to avoid more commotion.”

“Please, just go back to your room.” Redheart said, “We’ll probably release you in the morning.”

“Don’t tell her that…” Cureall whispered.

“I have to console her somehow…” Redheart retorted.

“Nurse Redheart! Dr. Cureall!” a third orderly shouted, galloping down the stairs, “Screw Loose escaped again!”

“Crab apples!” Cureall yelled back, “Where is she now?!”

“We don’t know, sir.” the orderly said, “She’s gone. No sign of how she got out, either. Nopony’s seen her at all.”

“The director will have my flank for this!” Cureall shouted, “Call the royal guards! Search everywhere!”

Nurse Redheart nudged Fluttershy and urged her to follow her.

“Come on, Fluttershy.” she suggested, “Let’s go get some ice cream. My treat.”

“Oh, okay…I guess…” Fluttershy stammered, following the nurse to the cafeteria.