Chapters 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...;-)
Abandoned By Celestia (Re-Edited)
Fluttershy waited for several minutes for either Celestia or her own escorts to return, but as the sun began to set across the horizon, Fluttershy knew she would have to fly herself back to Ponyville. She took a deep breath, spread her wings wide, and began flapping, ascending into the sky.
Fluttershy’s started to worry as dark clouds collected over the island and raindrops drizzled down on her. The rain steadily picked up as she flew higher and Fluttershy gasped when the first crackle of thunder and lightning flashed across the sky. She was now trapped in a lightning storm, or worse, a hurricane.
Fluttershy’s fears seemed realized when the winds grew heavy and blew her wings open, pushing her back toward the island. Fluttershy attempted to control her glide but the winds grew stronger, forcing her downward. She began picking up speed toward the large stone building that had caught the corner of her eye ever since she had arrived.
Fluttershy made a sharp, sudden turn with her right wing in order to avoid crashing into the building. A quick zap of lightning struck her and she slammed her right up against the side of a stone wall, snapping many of the small bones in her wing. The pegasus shrieked in pain as her wing broke and she slammed face first into the dirt, sizzling from the electricity. A small dose of lightning was not usually lethal to ponies in Equestria (the pegasii in Cloudsdale dealt with it all the time), but it was still unpleasant.
Disoriented, Fluttershy hobbled around, dragging her busted wing beside her. She sobbed and sniffled as the pain and humiliation were too much for her. She barely noticed when she approached the front gate of the crumbling structure.
The rusted iron gate clattered, creaked, and clanged as it swung back and forth. The padlock was missing and the latch had long since rusted out of shape. The racket filled Fluttershy with dread, especially when combined with the clamor of the rain, thunder, and lightning. Fluttershy looked up at the stone archway, upon which were engraved the words: FLUTTER INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH.
Fluttershy gulped in dread as she reluctantly trotted up to the large wooden doors past the front gate. She tugged open at the door handles with her hooves and the wind flung them wide open. The poor pegasus fluttered away in surprise, wondering why the doors were not locked, but then realized whatever lock held them together had somehow worn out in the past 19 years.
After much consternation, Fluttershy finally stepped inside, the marble floor echoing her every hoofstep. The forceful winds slammed the doors shut behind her. The pain of being zapped and having her wing broken took all her energy. All four of Fluttershy’s legs buckled under her and she collapsed to the ground, exhausted. Fluttershy cried herself to sleep. She wished she had somepony, anypony to cuddle up with.
Fluttershy fell into a deep sleep and began to dream. She felt herself floating through a dark, empty void. She couldn’t even see her hoof in front of her face. She could barely hear the sound of voices as a strange vapor began to envelop her.
“This patient is dead…” an unfamiliar female voice said, “So was the last one…”
“It doesn’t matter…” an eerily familiar male voice replied, “The experiment must continue…”
“But we have three patients dead already!” the female voice argued, “We can’t keep doing this! It’s coldblooded murder!”
“Dragons are coldblooded…” the male voice remarked, “An equine’s blood is warm…bring in the next patient, please…”
Fluttershy could hear faint sounds of struggling and begging, and then what seemed to be the tightening of straps.
“Dr. Cuttershy…Dr. Cuttershy!” the female voice pleaded, “For Celestia’s sake, STOP!!”
“This is for Celestia’s sake.” the male voice responded.
“Uncle Cuttershy, don’t!!” Fluttershy found herself shouting, but speaking to nopony.
“You’ve been a bad little filly, Fluttershy…” said Cuttershy’s gravely, smoke-damaged voice, “Time to go to the no-no room…”
Cuttershy’s voice was drowned out by the sounds of tormented shrieks and some kind of mechanical whirring. The vapor started to clear and the sounds quickly faded away into silence.
Fluttershy found herself standing on the solid marble floor of the asylum and could make out some sort of table in the distance. She began to walk toward it against her will, as if her legs had a mind of their own. The pegasus’ jaw dropped in disbelief and horror as she saw an exact duplicate of herself lying on a rusted gurney, its legs and wings strapped down tightly.
Fluttershy’s legs betrayed her as they latched her hooves onto the side of the gurney and forced her to take a closer look at her doppleganger. Other-Fluttershy’s eyes and mouth had been stitched shut. The actual Fluttershy attempted to turn her head away, but found herself paralyzed, as Other-Fluttershy turned its own head.
Other-Fluttershy forced its own eyelids open, breaking free of the stiches. All real Fluttershy could look into was Other-Fluttershy’s empty sockets and the nerve muscles twitching behind them. Other-Fluttershy then tore its own jaw open, ripping the stitches and revealing a mouthful of rotted teeth, but no tongue.
“You’re going to…you’re going to…” Other-Fluttershy muttered, in a guttural voice that sounded like two rusty blades scraping together, “You’re going to…you’re going to…”
“LOVE ME!!!!” Other-Fluttershy screamed in a horrid bellowing echo that shook the foundations of the building.
Other-Fluttershy opened its mouth so wide that its jaw was detached and the skin began ripping from its skull. Other-Fluttershy broke free of its restraints as the real Fluttershy fell backwards on her flank and looked up in shock. Other-Fluttershy took its hooves and continued to tear at its face until it undressed itself from its own skin. A putrid, rotted mass of muscle, organs, and bones began to lumber toward Fluttershy before it collapsed and embraced her. The rotting corpse of a pony hugged Fluttershy so tightly that the mare’s spine snapped in two and…
Fluttershy woke up screaming, her eyes darting across the room for any signs of her departed uncle, or her living corpse of a twin. She soon realized she was still on the floor of the abandoned asylum, and that all had been a horrible nightmare. She had no memory of Uncle Cuttershy being a doctor, much less working in an asylum, and he had never told her to go to the “no-no room”. She certainly didn’t have a twin sister, especially not one that was a reanimated corpse.
“Only a dream…it was only a dream…” she tried to tell herself, still hyperventilating, “There’s nothing here…no ghosts…no corpses…no…”
Even if she were still snug in her own bed, the nightmare would still have been terrifying, and her current surroundings only exacerbated the dread and tension. She was trapped on an island she had never heard of before, inside an abandoned asylum, where Celestia knows what was out to get her.
Fluttershy put her front hooves over her eyes and desperately tried to go back to sleep. Her friends and family would be back for her in the morning and she could put this horrible ordeal behind her. Fear and trepidation kept Fluttershy awake, and she forced herself to trot in a circle in order to tire herself out and put her mind at ease.
Fluttershy eventually calmed down as moonlight began to shine through the cracks and crevices of the old building. The storm had ceased hours ago, and the glow of the moon comforted Fluttershy with thoughts of Princess Luna.
Another chill ran up the poor mare’s spine as she was then reminded of Nightmare Moon. Had the princess become Nightmare Moon once more and sent her that terrible dream? No, Luna was a changed pony. Fluttershy could tell, just as she could tell the true nature of the animals and creatures around her, even when everypony else misunderstood them. Dragons and ursas were not all terrible monsters, and neither was her Uncle Cuttershy.
Fluttershy thought her mind was playing tricks on her again when she saw a little white bunny, about the same size as angel, slowly hopping toward her. She frantically rubbed her eyes, hoping it would disappear, until it bounced right up against her leg and she stroked its ears.
The little bunny was real, and appeared to be quite underfed. Fluttershy could see the shape of its spine and ribcage under its fur.
“You poor little thing!” she consoled, “When’s the last time you’ve eaten? Let’s find you something to eat!”
The half-starved rabbit began hopping in the opposite direction and Fluttershy started to follow it.
“Wait, little guy!” she called out, “Where are you going? Come back!”
The rabbit began to pick up speed and Fluttershy broke into a gallop, almost forgetting her surroundings. The light of the moon allowed her to see fairly well and she was able to turn around corners whenever the rabbit did so. Before she even realized it, the starving white rabbit had led her down a flight of metal stairs to an underground sub-level. Fluttershy was still able to see because there was a large hole in the ceiling that lead up to the outside grounds.
“Hey, little guy!” Fluttershy shouted, “Where are you?!”
Fluttershy heard no response but a slight echo from the staircase, and the bunny had disappeared. The pegasus’ sense of dread returned when she found herself surrounded by a room of empty gurneys with straps, looking all too similar to the one in her dream. More than half of the gurneys of the ten in the room still had old, tattered mattresses on them, and more than half of the mattresses were stained with faded reddish-brown blotches and the musty stench of old urine.
“Where the hay am I?” Fluttershy found herself saying.
At the far end of the room was another gurney, this one attached to what appeared to be a large metal helmet hanging down from the ceiling. A trail of electric wires lead up to an old rusty lever in the OFF position. The helmet itself contained a muzzle strap and even a rubber bit to attach to some poor pony’s mouth.
Fluttershy wasn’t so naive that she didn’t know an old electroshock therapy machine when she saw one, but she was a little surprised to think that either of the princesses would approve of such practices. She then figured that perhaps they disapproved after all, and that’s why this room had been built underground. Still, what had made that large hole in the ceiling?
As if in disagreement to Fluttershy’s assessment, Fluttershy’s eyes widened in fear at the writing that had been apparently chiseled into the stone wall. It read, in large, unmistakable letters: ABANDONED BY CELESTIA
Author's Note
Okay, so I may have ripped off "Abandoned By Disney" with that last part, but its a good ripoff. :-)
http://creepypasta.wikia.com/wiki/Abandoned_by_Disney
This chapter has been re-edited thanks to lordofmyth, who pointed out that Fluttershy could just simply fly off the island. Now she has a broken wing. :-)
“No! No!!” Fluttershy shouted, as if arguing to the wall, “The princess would not abandon anypony! She wouldn’t approve of this!”
Fluttershy angrily kicked at the electroshock gurney and it clanged against the knock of her hoof. She stretched out her one working wing, awkwardly and painfully managing to fly up and out of the room through the hole in the ceiling. She resolved to wait out the rest of the night under the stars, away from the wretched old hospital.
Fluttershy feared falling asleep again, not wanting another nightmare. She decided to walk around to keep herself awake. Somepony had to find her eventually. However, the more she walked, the more she noticed the ground began to shift beneath her hooves. She then realized that the apparent hole in the ceiling she flew out of was unstable ground. The roof of the electrotherapy room was nothing more than packed mud and clay that had collapsed after the hurricane. In fact, the ground was collapsing where Fluttershy stood.
The pegasus tried to break into a gallop, but the muscle friction caused pain to shoot back up her broken wing and she fell to the ground. She had not made it far from the electrotherapy room, and had only managed to reach the right side of the building. The sides closest to the building had the least stable foundation of all; places where the storm had caused the base of the building to sink. Fluttershy screamed as the ground crumbled beneath her and she fell into the chasm.
Luckily, Fluttershy managed to flap her good wing just enough as to make a safe landing on the smooth rock beneath her. She managed to land all four hooves on a large boulder, but pain shot up her broken wing again, and she slipped off and fell into a small body of water. The water wasn’t even deep enough to cover her legs, and Fluttershy trotted out onto an underground shore.
Fluttershy breathed in her surroundings, taking notice of natural beauty of the cavern walls, and the sparkling blue pond, shimmering with the light of the moon. The distance between the floor of the cavern and the ground above was only about fifteen feet, but Fluttershy was far too tired to fly back up again, and she didn’t want to take the chance of falling into an even deeper pit.
Fluttershy gasped when she saw the same, starving white rabbit hopping around in the water. Fluttershy beckoned to it again but it hopped deeper into the pond until the water went just over its head, with only its little ears poking out of the water. Fluttershy followed after it, into the pond, but it disappeared again, its ears sinking in the water, and Fluttershy lost sight of it.
“Not again.” Fluttershy said, “I can’t let him drown!”
The pegasus took a deep breath and dunked her head under the water, keeping her eyes open and trying to look for traces of movement. The rabbit was nowhere to be found, but Fluttershy kept swimming ahead. The pain of her untreated, broken wing was a constant nuisance, and Fluttershy quickly became tired again. Her head burst out of the water and she gasped for air, finding herself floating to the opposite side of the pond.
The other side of the pond was only dimly lit by the moonlight, as the cavern became a narrow alcove, and the water became deeper. Fluttershy swam to a small corner of shallow water and rested her hooves on a boulder. She reached up and suddenly lost her grip as a large piece of smooth white rock slipped in front of her.
The smooth white rock was actually the skeletal remains of another pony, greeting Fluttershy with its permanent smile. Reminded of her nightmare, Fluttershy gave a terrified shriek and swam backwards, back into the water. Her hooves reached another shallow, but unstable portion, and Fluttershy soon realized she was standing on a mixed conglomeration of bones from the remains of ponies, rabbits, mice, birds, and other small creatures.
Utterly terrified once more, Fluttershy pony-paddled her four legs back to the safe side of the pond, but only made it about halfway when a freshly rotted corpse, its putrid skin and muscles dangling from its exposed jaws, ribcage, and eye sockets, burst out of the water and apparently dragged Fluttershy under. The pegasus lost consciousness, her last sight being the shimmering, blue moonlight, distorted under the water.
Fluttershy woke up screaming, finding herself strapped to the same gurney as her living corpse twin in the dream, and the other unfortunate patients of FIHM.
“No! Stop! Please! Calm down!” pleaded a kindly female voice, “It’s okay! You’re okay! You’re alive! You’re safe!”
“They’re dead! They’re all dead!!” Fluttershy screamed, “EVERYPONY’S DEAD!!”
“Nopony’s dead!” the female voice retorted, “We’re all right here!”
Fluttershy started to recognize the face that was speaking to her. It was a white mare with a pink mane and a nurse’s cap. Nurse Redheart was softly pressing on Fluttershy’s chest with her front hooves as two large brown colts in white uniforms carried the hysterical pegasus on a white cot toward a large flying carriage with a red cross insignia on its side.
Celestia had raised the sun again, and the guards and medics had also found Fluttershy. She had been strapped down and her broken wing had been wrapped in gauze, bandaged by medics. Nurse Redheart was directing the two orderlies to gently place Fluttershy in the back of the flying ambulance.
“What about the little bunny?” Fluttershy asked.
“What little bunny?” Redheart inquired.
“I was chasing…a little bunny…” Fluttershy answered, “Before I…fell in the water…”
“We didn’t see any bunny, Fluttershy.” Redheart said, “You need to lie down. You’re delirious and your wing needs to be properly treated.”
“I need to see Princess Celestia…” Fluttershy continued, “I need to see Mom and Dad…”
“You’re parents are waiting for you at the hospital.” Redheart explained, “They’ve been worried sick about you.”
“What about…the little bunny?” Fluttershy whispered before she fell asleep once again from exhaustion.
Author's Note
Okay, so I stole this part from the ending of Friday 13th, but I couldn't help but make the reference.
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.
The two mares trotted into the rather crowded hospital cafeteria, although several patrons were starting to leave to watch the commotion in the lobby. Redheart trotted up to the ice cream parlor, where eight large buckets of ice cream sat in the enormous white freezer-counter behind a shield of glass.
“Only eight flavors?” Fluttershy wondered.
“This isn’t Sugar Cube Corner.” Redheart replied.
“I guess I’ll have a zippy zap apple banana split sundae with fudge, if you don’t mind.” Fluttershy said without actually looking at the flavors.
“We can’t make that here.” said a large blue colt in a white server’s cap, looking suspiciously like a recoloring of Mr. Cake.
“She’s new here, Mr. Scoops.” Redheart said, “Give her a Scoops of the granny smith. It’s as close to zap apple as we got.”
Mr. Scoops scooped up the green granny smith ice cream (made with artificial apple flavoring) with his ice cream Scoops, scooped it onto a waffle cone, and handed it to Fluttershy.
“So what’s the Scoops with the broken wing, kid?” Scoops asked.
Fluttershy took one lick of the ice cream and decided she didn’t like it. Redheart handed a few bits to Scoops and tried to smile.
“Give me some of the hay bacon-flavored.” Redheart requested.
“Here you go, Red, er, I mean, miss.” Scoops said as he handed her the bacon ice cream come.
“Hey kid.” he said to Fluttershy, “You never told me about the busted wing.”
“She had a bad fall, Scoops.” Redheart said, “And frankly it’s none of your concern.”
“Sorry, Red.” Scoops replied, “Didn’t mean anythin’ by it. Just curious, that’s all.”
“Let’s find a place to sit, Fluttershy.” Redheart suggested.
“Say Red, can I catch you after your shift?” Scoops asked.
“Not tonight, Scoops.” Redheart replied, “I’m pretty bus-“
Redheart’s muzzle was muffled by a scoop of artificial granny smith ice cream being shoved into it. Fluttershy took her chance to escape and galloped back to the lobby. By the time Redheart had spat out the ice cream, the pesky pegasus was already out the door.
“After...her...!!” the nurse tried to yell between coughing up melted ice cream.
Fluttershy had already taken to the sky by the time Redheart had rounded up enough available staff to start chasing her. Ignoring her father’s admonition, Fluttershy was now flying lopsided on one wing. She was going to make it back to Flutter Island or die trying.
Fluttershy’s eyes narrowed in panic as she saw one of the royal guards already flying beside her. It was Granite Shield, the same guard who had questioned her in the hospital, only this time he was flying a patrol chariot with a certain blue madmare as its occupant. Screw Loose barked happily at Fluttershy and panted.
“Get in, kid!” Granite shouted, “Hurry! You’re going to Flutter Island, right?”
Fluttershy hesitated for a moment, now completely unsure of who to trust. Granite flew closer to her and Screw Loose licked the ice cream still on the pegasus’ face.
“C’mon, kid!” Granite assured her, “You’re just gonna have to trust me!”
Fluttershy nodded and awkwardly managed to fly in behind the chariot on one wing. She grabbed Screw Loose’s two front hooves and the madmare happily helped her onboard.
“Why are you helping me?” Fluttershy asked.
“I knew there was something big going down after the way that snooty doctor talked to me.” Granite said, “I know I work for the princess, but even she shouldn’t be allowed to cover up something like this.”
Fluttershy gasped and was about to defend her noble princess before she remembered the carved letters she found in the asylum’s electrotherapy room, ABANDONED BY CELESTIA. She was starting to think those words had merit after all.
“Did you let this poor mare out of the hospital?” she inquired of Screw Loose.
“Yeah, I busted her loose.” Granite admitted, “Not that it was that hard. From the way the staff acted, it seems she gets free all the time on her own. Besides, I’ve got a strong feeling that she has something to do with all this.”
Owing to Granite’s strength and practice, the three of them made it to Flutter Island in less than an hour. The chariot landed softly on the grass and Fluttershy looked up at the starry night sky. Granite looked over at the yellow pegasus as the night breeze blew through her pink hair. Even with a busted wing, she didn’t look half bad.
Screw Loose, on the other hand, started prancing around and sniffing the ground. Before Granite and Fluttershy realized what was happening, they both started gagging in disgust.
“At least go behind a tree, lady!” Granite complained, “I know she thinks she’s a dog, but that’s just nasty!”
“I know it’s the call of nature, but watching a full grown mare...” Fluttershy added.
It was true that when there was no outhouse or toilet to be found, there was just no other way for somepony to do their business, but decent ponies found a tree, bush, or boulder. Quite amused with herself, Screw Loose trotted back up to the other two ponies and panted, wanting to play.
“The sooner we find this cave, the better.” Granite said with a scowl, “So where is it?”
“Right under the hospital.” Fluttershy answered, “I fell into it after the ground collapsed. There should be a gigantic hole next to the building.
“Fluttershy?” a strangely familiar but wheezing voice called out, “Fluttershy is that you.”
A single tear formed in Fluttershy’s eye as she turned around. Standing before her was an old yellow pegasus with a greying pink moustache and balding mane. He still wore the same brown vest and pink bowtie he always did. Dr. Cuttershy was alive.
“Uncle...Uncle Cuttershy?” Fluttershy sobbed in disbelief, “Is that...is it really you?”
“Yes...yes...my dear Fluttershy...” the old colt said between breaths, “I...still...haven’t got much time...I really am dying...”
“Everypony told me you were dead!!” Fluttershy blurted, running into her beloved uncle’s front legs and crying into his shoulder.
“Not so hard...Fluttershy...” Cuttershy continued, “I’m frail...”
“What are you doing here?” Fluttershy asked, wiping her tears and sucking the mucus back up her nose.
“I see you’ve brought friends.” Cuttershy noticed.
“They’re not exactly my usual friends.” Fluttershy admitted.
Why didn’t she bring her friends along? Fluttershy wondered. Surely they would believe her? Everything had happened so fast, she didn’t really have much time. Would they even have gone along with her? If this conspiracy, or whatever it was, went as far up as Celestia, then maybe they would try to protect the princess instead...no...the magic of friendship went farther than that. Or did it?
“We must do this quickly.” Cuttershy said, “I’ve already seen the cavern. Everypony knows about it...but not everypony that needs to know about it...”
The old colt broke out into a coughing fit from speaking to fast. Fluttershy shuddered when she saw him spit out blood onto his hoof.
“It’s alright, Fluttershy.” her uncle explained, “I have lung cancer...too much love for the pipe, I suppose...I just sent that letter a few weeks, or days, early.”
“Don’t talk like that.” Fluttershy pleaded, “Don’t leave me again.”
“Death waits for no mare.” Cuttershy quipped, “Let us move on.”
Fluttershy, Granite, and Screw Loose followed the old mare to the gaping hole in the foundation of the asylum. The stars gave off just enough light for them to peer into the shimmering lake beside the underground cavern.
“Now what?” Granite inquired.
“We wait.” Cuttershy answered, “They’ll be looking for us. Your guard friends will soon be swarming this island. You will probably be arrested. The princess just wants this ‘Hurricane Fluttershy’ business to go away, but everypony needs to know the truth.”
“What happened?” Fluttershy asked, “Tell me everything.”
“I never meant to drag you into all this, Fluttershy.” Cuttershy began, “Please forgive me. I thought that if I gave you the island, then the princess would respect you enough to finally let Equestria know her secrets. If she can trust you as an element of harmony, then she can trust you with Flutter Island.”
“What is she trying to keep a secret?” Fluttershy wondered, “What happened to all those poor ponies?”
“Quite simply, most of them drowned.” Cuttershy explained, “This entire island was flooded in the hurricane. It ruined the facility. Usually the pegasii in Cloudsdale keep an eye on the weather. Apparently some madmare in her insanity had conjured up a storm after escaping the asylum. The storm just got bigger and by the time the weathermares found out about it, it was too late.”
“But that wasn’t Celestia’s fault.” Fluttershy argued, “There’s nothing to cover up.”
“She was embarrassed, devastated actually.” Cuttershy continued, “FIHM was at least partly her idea. Mental illness is not a common problem in Equestria, so the few ponies that did need extra care ended up at Flutter Island. The facility also doubled as a hospital for another controversial procedure...”
“You don’t mean?” Fluttershy whispered.
“Uncommon problems need uncommon solutions.” Cuttershy said, “Not everypony agreed with this, naturally, but I did what had to be done.”
“Well, I’ll be...” Granite said with a whistle, “A nut house and a womb ripper...”
“We prefer the term abortion clinic.” Cuttershy corrected, “Or better yet, a mare’s health center.”
“You know, it’s funny.” Cuttershy continued, “Many ponies say that Celestia is pompous and uncaring, but she’s really trying to please everypony at once. She built FIHM to cater to the ponies that don’t want all the mad mares and bad mares ruining their perfect little Equestria. Once word gets out that Ponyville General performs abortions, everypony will get their saddles in a wad, so to speak.”
“Won’t they get their saddles in a wad about this?” Fluttershy asked.
“Of course they will, my dear Fluttershy.” Cuttershy said, “Why do you think that everypony that knows about it wants to cover it up? The victims’ families, those who still had families, have already been compensated. It’s true that proper funerals were never conducted, but that’s a small price to pay for a memory that everypony wishes to forget.”
“That’s so terrible.” Fluttershy commented, her eyes watering again, “I thought I could trust the princess.”
“You still can, my dear.” Cuttershy consoled, “Here, have some tea.”
The old doctor suddenly produced a hot cup of tea out of nowhere. Without thinking, Fluttershy drank it to calm her nerves. She began to feel lightheaded and dizzy and soon went unconscious.
When Fluttershy awoke, having recently made a habit of dozing off for no reason, she was strapped to a gurney, the same kind of gurney she saw in the hospital, she saw in her dream.
“Ah, my dear Fluttershy, you’re finally awake.” Cuttershy’s voice announced, “I’m sorry it had to come to this. I suppose we could have taken you back to Ponyville, but it’s much easier to do this here, since we already have the equipment.”
“What, where am I?” Fluttershy asked, her eyes adjusting to the light.
“In the electrotherapy room, my dear.” Cuttershy answered.
Fluttershy took note of her surroundings. Her uncle, along with a certain nurse from Ponyville, looked down on her. Resting on her head was the same metal “helmet” that was also strapped around her chin. She then took notice of the carved lettering: ABANDONED BY CELESTIA.
“No!! NOOO!!! NOOO!!!!!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.
“Yes, those poor ponies in the cavern were abandoned by Celestia in their hour of need.” Cuttershy remarked, “She wants to make certain they will never be abandoned again.”
The old pegasus then broke into another coughing fit, collapsing to the floor and spitting up more blood.
“Doctor! Are you alright?!” Redheart fretted, helping him up with her hoof.
“Fine...my dear...everything is fine...” Cuttershy whispered, letting a tear trickle down his cheek.
“Now, Fluttershy.” Redheart explained, affectionately holding her hoof, “You’re going to feel a slight pinch. We’ve powered this old machine with a small raincloud with just enough lightning to give you amnesia. The past week will all be a haze, but you’ll be back in your room. I don’t even know why I’m telling you this...doctor, we’re ready...”
“Throw the switch...” Cuttershy said regretfully.
“Wait.” a certain yellow colt asked, standing nearby, “She won’t remember anything?”
“Not for the past few days at least, Mr. Flutterscotch.” Redheart replied.
“Hang in there, kiddo.” Flutterscotch whispered.
“FOR CELESTIA’S SAKE, PLEASE!!” Fluttershy shrieked, eyes wide and bloodshot, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“This is for Celestia’s sake.” Cuttershy said as Nurse Redheart flipped the switch.
The last thing Fluttershy thought of before her mind became a blur was the rotting corpse that she thought had tried to drown her. She wondered if that was what everypony was trying to cover up all along. Who was that mare or colt?
The two brothers, Flutterscotch and Cuttershy, had to look away as their daughter and niece violently convulsed from the electricity. Redheart looked on in morbid, medical curiosity as Granite Shield stood guard, keeping hold of Screw Loose, who was next in line for treatment.
“So after we’re done with this...” Redheart wondered, “who’s up for some ice cream?”
