Fluttershy's New World

“Wake up, sleepy head.”

The pink maned filly still slept peacefully, with a low and gentle snoring, almost imperceptible.

“Wake UP!” somepony shouted again, really close to her ear.

“AAHHH!” Fluttershy jumped in terror, screaming. “Please don’t hurt me, I’ll be out of your way, I promise!”

“You silly pony, it’s me, Rainbow Dash!”

“But … what are you doing here?” Fluttershy asked.

“You didn't think that I would let you skip your first day of school, didn't you?” said Rainbow Dash said with a grin. “I came to your house a few minutes ago, and your mom let me inside and she asked if I could wake you up, so you wouldn't be late for school.”

“Oh, OK, that makes sense now. But … I don’t want to go to the new school, I don’t know nopony there, and they will laugh at me and-” Fluttershy whined with an escalating despair tone in her voice until Rainbow Dash interrupted her.

“Stop right there, Fluttershy! First, you may not know anypony at the new school, but you know ME, the coolest filly around these parts, and we’re at the same class. So I will always have your back. And second, this is an opportunity to make new friends, and to overcome your shyness.” replied Rainbow Dash with a reassuring tone of voice.

“I … know that, but … what if some bully confronts me again and you’re not there to help me this time. I don’t know if I can deal with that all by myself.” Fluttershy covered her head back again with her blanket.

“Now that’s where you’re wrong!” Rainbow Dash pushed back again the blanket, revealing Fluttershy’s head under her pillow. “You have to find the courage in you and face your fears. Don’t forget that you’re the Stare Master.”

“Stare Mast-? Oh, but that’s just a silly game we use to play. I only used the Stare with you, my closest friend, how could I use it on somepony who wants to hurt me or steal my things?” asked Fluttershy.

“Oh, believe me when I tell you that your Stare could make the meanest of bullies think twice before doing anything to you. Every time we play the Stare game, you give me goose bumps, shivers and I end up losing. It’s the only game you can beat me at, so that must count for something.” Rainbow Dash smiles, while she felt herself a little embarrassed.

“Ok, I just hope that you’re right. I’ll try to do as you say.” Fluttershy smiled, looking into Rainbow’s sweet pink eyes. “I’m lucky to have such a loyal friend like you.”

“You welcome, pal. That’s what friends are for, to look after each other. Now, remember what I’ve said and wake up.” replied Rainbow Dash.

“What? But I’m already awak-” Fluttershy replied when suddenly everything around her went black, while only her bed remained visible in the darkness.

“Huh, Rainbow Dash… What’s happening? Did you turned off the lights?” she asked worried. However, there’s no response.

“Where are you?” Fluttershy looked under her bed, finding only the same darkness everywhere.

“Wake up!” said a strange deep voice.

“Who… who are you?” asked Fluttershy frightened. “Where’s Rainbow Dash?”

For a few seconds, there was only silence.

“Wake up NOW!” said again the voice loudly, as the bed shook violently, scaring Fluttershy so much that she screamed.

“PLEASE, STOP!”

***

“Wake up, you’re going to hurt yourself if you keep shaking and bumping against the cage’s bars like that!” said the hermit, while he opened the cage and held Fluttershy with his hands, keeping her from moving.

“What the… where am I?” asked Fluttershy.

“Good, you’re awake!” said the hermit relieved. “Just calm down and I will let you go now, slowly, so you can stand up back in your hooves.”

Fluttershy felt his fingers around her body, like a grip of a dozen snakes, however, they weren't overtight. “Calm yourself Fluttershy, if he wanted to do you harm, he would have done it already. Maybe it is better if you do as he says!” she thought, while her body shook vigorously.

After a few seconds, she slowly relaxed her body and shortly after, the hermit’s fingers left her body and she stood up. After that, she looked to her surroundings and realized that she was inside a small bird cage.

“But, why I am inside a cage? Are you going to eat me?” Fluttershy asked terrified, while she looked at her captor that stood right in front of her, wearing a light brown cloak and a sheathed hunting knife in his belt.

“Calm down, I just want to ask you a few questions, and if you tell me the truth and I like what I hear, then there’s nothing for you to worry about.” said the hermit, while he picked up a small journal which was on top of the desk beside him, along with a feather from a quill.

“But… does that mean that even if I answer all your questions and tell you the truth, but if you don’t like what I have to say,” Fluttershy paused, while her body trembled, “you will still eat me?”

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about me eating you, my little pony, as I don’t eat horse meat.” answered the hermit, and Fluttershy sighed in relief after she heard this.

But then he said with a smirk. “But my pigs, they will eat everything I feed them!”

Fluttershy entered suddenly in a state of shock, imagining her little pigs back in her house, feasting themselves with meat and tearing apart pony corpses in a wild frenzy.

The hermit noticed the horror in Fluttershy’s face and then said quickly. “Ok, I see that I’ve crossed the line. Just relax now, I was just messing with you, I don’t even have pigs in my house. I need you to look at me now!” The hermit got a little closer to the cage and looked straight into her despaired eyes, washed with tears. “Please look at me now!” he said again, but this time with a firm and tender voice.

Fluttershy was still lost within her thoughts, while her body still shook constantly, until her mind suddenly focused only on one thing.

The sound of his singing voice.

“Calm now, don’t be shy,
You are safe with me.
There’s no reason for you to cry,
Just look at me.”

Fluttershy found his voice so familiar and so delightful, it reminded her of when she sang to quiet the wounded animals that she used to find in the forest, so she could treat them.

“No one will dare to harm you,
They will turn around and flee.
Because I am here to protect you,
Just look at me.”

Her fear vanished from her mind as she looked back to the young hermit’s eyes. They were the most sweet and mysterious eyes she had ever seen, light-brown with shades of blue and green near the borders of the iris. She felt a warm, peaceful feeling that grew inside her, while she kept looking at those eyes. I was almost like she could see right through them, right into the hermit’s soul.

“Do you feel better now?” he asked a few seconds after he finished his lullaby.

Fluttershy replied with a timid low voice. “Y-yes, I am now.”

“Now, just answer the questions, take your time and I promise that I won’t harm you,” he said with a calm voice, “even if you lie to me or if I don’t like your answers.”

“You… you promise you won’t harm me no matter what?” asked Fluttershy, while she felt a bit more secure.

The hermit looked again into her cute and gentle blue eyes and answered. “I solemnly promise to never hurt you in any way, physically or emotionally, even if you ask me to.”

“Oh, thank you for that. I-I think I can answer your questions now.” replied Fluttershy, still a little nervous.

“OK then, let’s start this. First, what is your name?” asked the hermit, while he wrote something on his journal.

“F- Fluttershy.” she answered, feeling a bit confused by the simple question.

“OK, that explains a lot. And what is the name of the world you came from?”

“Equestria. But, how do you kn-” replied Fluttershy, being interrupted before she asked him how did he know that she was from another world.

“MY questions first, then later I may answer yours. Now, in your world is there more than one race of ponies, or do they all have wings like you?”

“Well,” Fluttershy wasn't sure if she should reveal everything about her world, as she remembered Zecora’s tale about the invaders from other worlds. But something deep inside her, a feeling of trust compelled her to keep telling the truth, “there are four main races of ponies. The Earth ponies, which cultivate the land and do most of the manual labor. Then there are the Unicorns, they have a horn that can be used to conjure spells and do all kinds of magic. There’s the Pegasi, who have wings like my own and they do most of the labor related to weather control. And finally, there’s the Alicorns, they are the most powerful race of ponies, and have both wings and horns.”

“Ok. I noticed that it was difficult for you to answer that last question but don’t you worry, you’re doing great, so far. Now, the next question. How did you traveled to my world?”

“Well, it’s kind of a long story, but to keep it short, I found a magic portal at the bottom of a pond and it pulled me inside with such a force that I couldn't escape it.” Fluttershy suddenly remembered being underwater and how her friend Rainbow Dash tried to save her. At that very moment, a single tear dropped from her right eye, which fell silently on the floor of her cage.

“Hmm, I can see that it was one dreadful experience. Don’t worry, we’re almost done here. Now, the most important question and I really need you to be honest. Are you ready?” asked the hermit to a nervous Fluttershy who wondered what that question could be.

“Y-yes, I-I am.” replied Fluttershy.

“I know that you didn't enter this world just by accident, I can see in your eyes that you’re looking for something or someone. So, WHY did you come to this world?” the hermit asked, while he looked straight into Fluttershy’s eyes, like he was searching for her answer deep inside her soul.

She answered with a slightly sad tone in her voice. “W-well, I’m searching for my bunny Angel, and I believe that he’s here somewhere in this world, because he went missing just before this portal appeared.”

“Hmm, I see that you’re being honest, however, you’re not saying the entire truth. If you were searching for your bunny, and you believe that he was on the other side of the portal, why did you said that you couldn’t “escape” the pulling force of the portal? Did something or someone held you back?”

“Y-you’re right… My friends.” Fluttershy just realized how worried their friends must be, especially Rainbow Dash, who failed to rescue her in time. “We were supposed to enter the portal together, but it started to pull me before they arrived. When they reached me, it was already too late.”

“Well, I see that your friends must be very important to you. Is Rainbow Dash one of your friends?”

“But… how do you know about Rainb-” Fluttershy asked surprised, when the hermit interrupted her.

“While you were sleeping and agitated, you mentioned his name, repeatedly, like you were calling him for help.”

“Oh, yes… she’s my oldest and most loyal friend. We've known each other since I can remember, and she’s a Pegasus like me.” Fluttershy smiled after she said this sentence, as she remembered all the good and bad moments they went through since they were friends.

“Very well, it’s good to have friends like that. And that concludes my questioning, at least for now.”

“So, will you free me from this cage now? Did you… approve my answers?” Fluttershy asked anxiously.

“Well, yes I do approve your answers, but I’m still not sure if I should release you just now. Remember that I didn't promise that I would release you, only that I wouldn't harm you.” the hermit closed his journal and put it back on his desk. “I know, let’s play a game. If you win, I will release you immediately, and if you lose, I will keep you locked as long as I see fit.”

Fluttershy felt a little betrayed, but she realized that he was right. “Well, you’re not giving me any other chance. Which game is it?” she asked nervous, knowing that she wasn't not really good at games.

“Well, we will play a game that you mentioned in your dreams. The Stare game.”

“Oh, I’m not sure if I should play this game with you. I haven't play it with someone for a long time and I only use the Stare as a last resort measure.” Fluttershy then remembered her dream with Rainbow Dash and what she said about being courageous and facing her fears.

“Well then, the choice is yours!” replied the hermit.

Fluttershy suddenly realized that this was a last resort situation, and that her freedom depended if she played the game or not. With the thought of Rainbow Dash’s words of courage in her mind, she looked right back into her opponent’s eyes and asked with a slightly daring voice.

“Are you up to the challenge?”

“I’m ready if you are, Fluttershy!” replied the hermit.

“Then let’s do this!” she said with a determined look in her face.

The hermit took the chair he was sitting on closer to the cage, where she awaited the stare of his opponent. He sat, with his face looking down to the floor, and spoke. “The game starts, NOW!” and the hermit raised his face right in front of Fluttershy’s, with a blank expression and cold penetrating eyes, which could cause shivers down the spine.

But her stare was no less disturbing, as her big blue eyes became cold as ice, and she frown her face in such a menacing way that it looked like she was going to disintegrate someone only with her look.

The Stare Showdown just began.