When she came to, Fluttershy didn't know what happened. She looked around and saw both of them lying on the ground. One of them (the shop owner) was on his knees and spitting out the blood in his mouth. The other was Roseluck, who was knocked out from the blow she received to the jaw. Everypony starred in a mixture of shock and horror. What they saw wasn't registering. One of them ran and called the guards, to tell them of the assault that just took place. The ponies in the market formed a ring around the hurt victims. Fluttershy looked down at her hooves and all the blood drained from her face. She made her way through the crowd that was watching her, panic was welling up in her chest. Once she made her way past Sugercube corner the pegasus started running as fast as she could. She didn't know where she was running all she knew was emotion, and the tears that wouldn't stop falling. All the world melted away as she ran farther then she every ran in her life.
Eventually her legs gave out and she fell down beside a willow tree next to a lake. The fact was that she had ran for hours and hours. Celestia's sun had set and Luna's moon reflected off the lake in the most beautiful of reflections. Fluttershy in her emotional frenzy hadn't noticed the distance she ran and the major time lapse. She slowly made her way to the lake to wash off the tears that where still in her eyes. As she did this she saw herself and noticed that she looked awful. Right then she broke down sobbing again. The actions she committed came back to her.
"I'am a terrible pony." She choked at herself in the lakes reflection.
"NO YOU ARE NOT." Boomed a familiar and royal canterlot voice.
Fluttershy looked up at the moon where the voice came from and froze. Suddenly the moon turned blue and shone brighter then before. A mares face suddenly appeared on the moon then there was a flash. An ethereal essence both blue and black snaked out of the moon and started to descend to the lake side where Fluttershy stood under the aged willow tree. It made its way to to the ground and another flash occurred. A moment later Flutershy looked around from behind the willow tree she was hiding behind at the mare that was standing in front of her. She was an alicorn, dark blue, tall and regal. Her ethereal mane looked like the night sky. When Fluttershy saw her she knew who she was.
"Hello Fluttershy." said Luna, " You're not a bad pony but you are going to have to come with me though."
"But.. I ..um oh dear." Her nervous babblings where almost impossible make out.
"Fluttershy you are a very kind and caring pony. Just because you made a mistake doesn't change that." Luna replied. "But we really need to leave though. We have to make it to night court. Your hearing is soon, and if you think your a bad pony just wait till you meet the lawyers."
"Wait not that I'm ungrateful but I thought you where coming to take me to jail. I didn't know anyone could get a trial this early."
"Fluttershy being royalty has its perks. I paid off the guards and posted bail. I also run night court so trials happen when I say they do. In fact your lucky you ran, my sister would pass much harsher punishment in light of your transgressions." Luna said as if it was no big deal.
"You bent the rules for me?" Fluttershy said surprised that the princess of the night went through such lengths to get her out of jail ."I have no idea what to say."
"You don't have to say anything. Consider it as payment for Nightmare Night...and a favor from a friend." Luna said. She smiled at her timid friend and stretched out her wing and covered Fluttershy pulling her in close. "It's going to be alright. Now let's go." With those words said, her horn lit up and the next second later a flash, and they where gone.
Once they had arrived Luna led Fluttershy through the castle to the court room. As they opened up the door the yellow pegasus saw the court room was only occupied by four ponies not counting the two guards at the side of the judge's stand. Fluttershy saw her friend Twilight standing on the left side of the court and a grey pony with a black mane in a suit standing on the right side with his clients, the shop owner and Roseluck. Both of them looked "ok" Roseluck had a bruise on her face and the shop owner had a busted lip along with a swollen eye. Fluttershy made her way over to her friend and Luna took her place behind the stand.
"Oh Twilight what are you doing here?" She said with a confused and slightly surprised expression.
"When I heard what happened I rushed home and took a crash course on lawyering. I knew I had to be here for you. I think that I know what I am doing. Just leave it to me." Twilight took out a some papers and said," Just sign that I am your legal representation for this hearing. No cost just a favor from a friend." She smiled and floated a pen with her magic to Fluttershy.
"Thank you so much Twilight." She took the pen in her mouth and scribbled her name on the line.
"All rise for the honorable princess Luna."said the lunar guard signaling that the hearing was about to start.
"This hearing is to come to order. Fluttershy you have been charged with assault on the ponies Roseluck and Peddle Cash after an argument with both. What do you plead?"
"Guilty." Replied Fluttershy. Everypony looked at her with quizzical expressions, not expecting that response.
"Wait your honor my client is in responding from insanity and doesn't mean that." Twilight was completely oblivious to what Fluttershy was doing.
"No Twilight I know what I did and I am going to take what ever punishment I am given." She knew what she was doing was right even if it hurt her in the long run. Even if she plead not guilty there was a whole crowd of witnesses she would just end up in more trouble pleading not guilty.
"Well if you insist Fluttershy. Your honor the defence rests." Twilight sight and facehooved.
"Does the prosecution have anything to add." Luna said still confused with how the hearing was turning out.
"Your honor the prosecution has nothing to add." The grey lawyer pony said with an evil smile that would give foals nightmares. The clients behind him shook their heads in agreement.
"Well that was quick, if that is all my verdict is this. Fluttershy you are found guilty as a first time offender of assault and are sentenced to a thousand years in prison." Every pony in the room gasped at this outrageous sentenced. "Just kidding you have to serve forty community service hours and thirty days anger management. This hearing is over."
The grey lawyer pony yelled outraged by the fact that Fluttershy had gotten off so easy." But your honor!."
"MISTER FORKTOUNGE YOU WILL LEAVE AND GIVE ME NO MORE BUTS. THIS HEARING IS OVER." The royal voice shook the room. Twilight looked at her friend and sighted, glad that she was not in any real trouble.
Both friends made there way out of the castle through Canterlot and to the train station. Fluttershy was glad that her friend had been there for her. She though after the incident her life was over. But her honesty had gotten her through it with a little help from Luna and possibly Twilight.
"Hey Fluttershy are you ok you sorta dazed off."
"I am fine, just glad everything is going to be ok. I do have a question though, what is anger management?"
" My goodness." Fluttershy exclaimed flustered as she read the letter she received from Luna."I need to come alone to the Golden Oaks library at 6:30 for group. But that's in ten minutes." She rushed to her kitchen and got all the animals food before she headed out the door. Right as she was about to leave Angel decided that he was not going to let Fluttershy leave without his favorite salad. He proceeded to attach himself onto Fluttershy's leg.
"Angel please I can't be late, I will get in trouble." However the bunny latched on. "You really need to let go I have to leave." Fluttershy insisted but the demon rabbit stuck out his tounge, defiance to the end.
The usually calm mare then proceeded to have the devil spawn by the scruff of the neck and looked into his eyes. Her stare could have melted lead.
"YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE ME ANYMORE TROUBLE. GOT IT." Her voice had a deadly tone to it.
The effects where instantaneous as the bunny ran out of Fluttershy's hoof and back to the kitchen. Enjoying his plain old salad as if it where his last meal. With that out of the way she locked up and started making her way torwards the town to her first meeting.
About half way to the library Fluttershy ran into none other than princess Luna, and she had a very annoyed looked.
" I know that I sent the letter a bit late but I am not breaking parole by being so." She said in a scolding tone." I came to retrieve you."
"Oh my I know I am so sorry. Angel was giving me trouble, you know how he is." The yellow pegasus said with a hint of shame that she upset Luna.
"I will let it slid, but you must always make it on time for the group. My patients is not a resource to be overly exhausted." She said wanting to make her point very clear. They started making their way to the library.
"I will don't you worry." Fluttershy promised. "I do have a question though princess Luna if that's ok?"she added.
"Please just Luna we are friends, what is your question?" Luna replied curious at what her pegasus friend had to say.
"Why did you make me start anger management group?" Asked Fluttershy.
Luna stopped walking as they had arrived at the library. Before they walked in Luna looked at Fluttershy and with the most professional tone she could muster she said," Beside the fact that you beat the royal piss out of two ponies, it was because after a look over of your file and history I decided you needed to. You have extreme anger management issues with really bad outlet. You rely on anger to be assertive and it is bad for the ones around you."
"Oh my... I didn't think I was an angry pony. I am always so cal..".
"Fluttershy there are two kinds of angry ponies, one is a customer at a store always mad and yelling. You are the second kind." Luna interjected.
"Which is?"
"The store clerk that takes crap day after day not giving any indication of anger. Until they snap and kill everyone in the store." Luna said bluntly.
Fluttershy's face went pale stunned by Luna's shocking revelation on her mental state. Luna sighed and put her hoof on the door.
"Yes know let's go in and you can meet the rest of the group. I hope they already got started." Luna pushed open the door and they trotted inside.
Once they where inside Fluttershy saw a circle of chairs in the cleared out library. She also saw the group which consisted of two ponies and a gryffin. They where Trixie (The great and powerful), Berry Punch, and Gilda. At the sight of Gilda and Trixie she almost bolted for the door. But Fluttershy sat next to Luna not wanting to be next to anypony else.
The group was silent giving Fluttershy odd looks. No doubt wondering why the nicest and shy mare in town was at AMA. Finally Gilda spoke up," Luna what is Fluttershy doing here this is anger management anonymous not shy and timid."
"You really should take my advise and start contributing more to the group beyond the occasional sarcasm ." Luna replied to Gildas rude comment.
Trixie spoke up to remind them why they where there, " Luna I think we should get this meeting started, don't you agree."
Luna nodded in agreement, " So who would like to share with the group tonight?".
Fluttershy looked to see who would speak first. After a couple of awkward seconds Berry Punch raised her hoof. Luna pointed at her and said, "Yes Berry do you want to go?".
Berry Punch looked at the ground twiddling her hooves." Yes I do. As you all know my name is Berry Punch."
"HELLO BERRY PUNCH." They rest of the group members said in union.
She continued," Well as most of you know I used to be a drinker. It use to be an outlet for my anger. Every evening after work I use to hit the bar and get wasted. Then I would go home, and me and my wife Colgate we fought and things would sometimes get really physical." She stopped for a moment and sighed," My life was a mess. I was ruining my relationship with Colgate, and I was on the verge of being fired from my job. That's when things feel apart. I woke up one morning and Colgate left. No note she just walked out." Tears where starting to form in Berries eyes, " My rage broke loose and I trashed the place. Afterwards I went by the bar and drank until my hooves where numb. Then I got behind the wheel of my carriage to drive back home. I don't remember what happened next but I know that I woke up in the ICU. You see I drove into a tree and broke five ribs. I also ruptured my damaged liver and cracked my skull and my front hooves at the joints. The internal bleeding was bad enough that the doctors thought I was going to die. But then Luna of all ponies walks into the hospital and offered me a choice, she would heal me and I would be subject to what ever punish she saw fit. The reason being that I was not the only pony affected by my drunk driving." The tears where falling from her face and she was choking on her words. Trixie put a hoof around Berries shoulder to reassure the mare. She continued," I... I hit two other ponies with my carriage.. and .. they died. I almost told Luna no. I wanted to die after she told me the news. I lost everything. I had nothing. I took two ponies lives in drunken reckless rage. But Luna told me that if I chose death to think about all the ponies that I would also hurt if I died. Knowing I couldn't cause my parents or even Colgate that pain, I excepted. The price I paid was nothing like I should have got. I spent five years in the dungeon for pony slaughter and had to attend AA, and AMA until Luna sees me fit to leave. I have been sober two years three months and twenty days, and I am no longer angry." Berries eyes where red and she blew her nose into a tissue Trixie had gotten her. Fluttershy herself also started to tear up. The maroon mares story touched her deeply.
Luna looked at Berry Punch beaming with pride." You have made so much progress. And I am proud to have you as a patient and friend. I also heard that you and Colgate started dating again am I correct?"
"Yes Luna. I can honestly say that I am the happiest mare in the all of Equestria. Thank you for every thing." Her tears had subsided and a bitter sweet smiled on her face.
Luna looked around at the group," Does any one else want to share with the group?" A couple of more oddly silent moments filled the room when the light blue unicorn spoke up.
Trixie raised her hoof," I would like to share."
"Go right ahead Trixie." Luna said encouragingly.
"Well you all know my name is Trixie."
"HELLO TRIXIE." The rest of the group repeated like before.
" My story is one most of you all ready know. I tried to take over the town with the aid of the alicorn amulet. Well after I was beaten I left town again, with the effects of the amulet still lingering my anger multiplied. But after they left I was still angry. I messed up my life, my anger and pride pushed away anyone who attempted to befriend me. I have no family so I was alone for a long time. After the amulet incident I blamed Twilight Sparkle for ruining my life, when in fact I should have looked in the mirror. One night I was brooding after another show gone wrong. I had magically humiliated some hecklers for trying to ruin my show and they got hurt. I was ran out of yet another town. So later that night I was done, because of my anger I attacked ponies and it was only getting worse. I looked up at the sky and yell that if I could have another chance to change my image and get rid of my anger I would take it. I honestly did not expect Luna to come and offer me that chance. She told me of her anger experience with nightmare moon and how she didn't handle her emotions with reason and it lead to her being alone for a thousand years. She said I didn't have to be alone anymore. She gave me my second chance." She paused for a moment magically summoned a glass of water. She took a large drink and continued her story." Luna brought me back to Ponyville to make amends with Twilight and some of the others that I had hurt. It took a while but me and Twilight are good friend and I have gotten my magic show back into gear. Once I started AMA Luna helped me work through a lot of problems from my past and helped me lay my anger to rest. Thank you all."
The group started to give her a small golf clap. Then Luna stood up and addressed the group. "Well I think we made a lot of progress. Thank you for sharing Trixie. I think we are going to take a little break here. There is donuts and coffee in the back let's start up in ten minutes."
After Luna's announcement everyone went their separate ways. Luna went over to the table and grabbed a donut, a big smile spread across her face. Trixie and Berry grabbed some coffee and started chatting in a corner. Gilda the loner went to her own corner and pulled out a cigarette and lit up. Fluttershy however stayed in here chair still processing the openness of the group and the crazy stories she heard. Luna approached Fluttershy donut in hoof and asked.
"Are you not going to take advantage of the donuts? I would understand if you didn't, more for me to bring home to Tia."
Fluttershy payed no attention to Luna's goofy statement and said," Luna I had no idea that you helped these ponies so much."
Luna started at the mare puzzled by her sense of ah. "Oh.. well I have always gone out of my way to help my subjects through hard and sometime impossible situations. I have always worked through dreams but a while ago I decided the I some of my subjects needed more than just my dream advise. In fact I started all the Anonymous groups for anypony who needed them. But sometimes I need to bring some ponies in who would not have come in otherwise. It's a duty to my subjects and my greatest joy." Luna put her hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder and looked her in the eyes.
" I would highly encourage that you share with the group. It will do wonders for you, it really helps with the healing." The caring look in Luna's eyes let the shy mares defences crumble.
" Alright I will share with the group." She was scared at the thought of sharing in front of the group. But Luna never led her wrong so she knew it would be ok.
Luna spoke up so everyone could hear," Everypony we have one more pony who wants to share then we will head home." That said they all came back and took their seats. Trixie and Berry looked intently at Fluttershy to hear how she ended up in anger management. Gilda however just keept brooding over her cigarette.
" Hello everypony my name is Fluttershy." She started off shaky and nervous, but started to gain a little more confidence.
" HELLO FLUTTERSHY." The group once again said together.
" Well I don't know where to start really, but I guess the incident that got me here is he as any. Well... it happened last week at the market. I was picking up some bird seed and. I was just leaving the vendor when I heard him giving a lower price to the mare behind me. Well I walked back up to the counter and told him what he was doing wasn't nice and I wanted my money back. Then he and the mare behind me started yelling that I was holding up the line and needed to go. I tried to be nice but he refused to give me my money back. After that failed, I tried to use the stare but he threatened to call the guard. Then a knot started forming in my chest and it was growing bigger and bigger every second. Finally the mare behind me tried to push me out of the way. After that my vision got red and all I could hear was a roar in my ears..." She stopped and gathered her thoughts." When everything came back to normal I realized what I did. I never been more scared in my life.. I .. I thought I was a monster. Luna I don't want to be a mare like that. Please I need help." Fluttershy looked at Luna with pleading eyes. However the mare of the night only laughed and sighed.
" Fluttershy anger is not a problem fixed over night. It will take a lot of effort and time but it is a monster you can tame. If you do not though it will destroy you as it did me and everyone else here. But we will be with you to help every step of the way. There is no reason to be scared any longer." The princess said reassuringly.
Fluttershy felt like the weight on her shoulders since the incident was a little lighter. She knew it wouldn't be easy. She would fail sometimes, and her anger would only get worst if she didn't deal with it. But knowing the problem meant she could fix it. With this knowledge in mind anger no longer had a foot hold, she was in control.
Luna stood up and addressed the group." That's all the time we have for today let's meet back here next friday same time. Now let's resite the motto and head home."
Although Fluttershy didn't know the motto she did her best to follow along.
" WE ARE PONIES MADE WITH EMOTIONS TO ENJOY AND EXPERIANCE IN THIS LIFE. THEY ARE NOT TOOLS TO HARM OTHERS WITH, BUT TO BE USED TO BENEFIT THOSE AROUND US. WE ARE NOT OUR EMOTIONS, WE ARE NOT OUR ANGER, WE ARE NOT OUR CUTIE MARKS, WE ARE WHO WE CHOOSE TO BE. WE ARE FREE."
