Broken Butterfly

Chapter 3 – Song For Whoever

Luna awoke from her slumber in the late afternoon, ready to raise her moon that night. She had a particularly good feeling about this night. This was going to be the night she did it. She would reveal herself and her intentions to Fluttershy. She had spent the past few nights watching her sleep, happy that her recurring nightmares had been sorted out. From what Luna had seen of her she certainly appeared happier than she had done in weeks. Sitting on her bed she ran through her plan once more.

Fly down to Ponyville.

Knock on Fluttershy’s door.

Get invited in.

Give Fluttershy her present and declare her undying love.

Luna wrung her hands together, panic building in her breast. Everything was fine until she got to the second part of step four. Princess though she was Luna had no way to gauge fluttershy’s reaction. She knew she was into women, that much was clear from her relationship with Rainbow. Would she reject Luna’s advances? Throw her out of her cottage? Declare it was too soon and suspect Luna of taking advantage? All of these options seemed likely and unlikely at the same time, and Luna could feel herself getting flustered as all the doubt threatened to overwhelm her.

No, she told herself, this was Fluttershy. Even if she rejected Luna, she would do so in a kind and considerate manner.

Looking out of the window of her bedchamber she saw Celestia was lowering her sun. She was up. Luna loved this bit. Invoking her magic she summoned up her moon, watching it rise gracefully into the darkening late evening sky.

Time to go. Standing she picked up her gift, a simple pink rose in a simple yellow box with three butterflies decorating it tied with a dark blue ribbon. Luna knew Fluttershy appreciated the simpler gestures, like herself she wasn't one to take to overblown pomp and unnecessary theatrics. No, simple and understated was the key here. Walking past her mirror she paused to check herself out, although Luna detested the dresses and regalia of the throne room she had made a special effort to really dress down. Grey jeans, black leather jacket and red shirt and black boots. Perfect.

Holding her gift to her chest Luna spread her huge dark blue wings and with a single flap was airborne, soaring out through the open window and on her way to her destination. In a few moments she was a tiny speck, diminishing in the distance.

Unbeknown to Luna her sister watched her fly off. Celestia leaned her head against the glass of her own window, hoping with all her heart that everything might go as Luna had planned. Heaven knew she was due some happiness after her long exile, and as much as she loved her little sister, Celestia really didn't want to have to spend the rest of the night comforting a heartbroken Luna should things not go to plan.

"Good luck sis.” The alabaster Alicorn whispered to the empty room, hoping the gods of fate would heed her.

Luna loved to fly. She took pleasure in the act. Feeling her muscles working, the flow of air over her wings. The sense of freedom was exhilarating, she could see why the Pegasi loved this. Maybe it was her centuries of confinement on the moon, she really didn't know. All she knew was she loved to fly, and she indulged that love on her way to Fluttershy's cottage.

Nearing her destination she folded her wings and began her descent, aiming for the clear path just outside Fluttershy's gate. With a last flap Luna landed gracefully, and hand on the gate to steady herself. Quietly she made her way up the path to the front door. Steeling herself against her nerves she brought up a hand and gently knocked on the door. Luna rocked on her heels slightly, waiting for admission. A moment passed, then two. Still no answer. She knocked again, louder this time. Another moment passed, still she got no response. This puzzled Luna somewhat as she could tell there was a light on in the main room, she could see it through the closed curtains. She made to knock again, then thought better of it. Glancing to the side of the door she saw the curtains were drawn tight together.

Hmmmm.

Taking to her wings once more she flew around the back of the small house, and saw the curtains closed here too. Landing again Luna knocked at the back door, again receiving no response. She flew up to Fluttershy's bedroom window, noticing at once that the curtains here were open, and that the inhabitant was absent from the bed.

Luna descended to the ground floor once more,  sense of unease building in her gut. Something was off here, she couldn't put a finger on it, but something about the stillness gave her concern.

Maybe I should take a look? She thought to herself. Luna knocked loudly one last time, not wanting to invade Fluttershy's privacy. Upon receiving no answer to her fourth knock Luna decided to see what was up. A simple apology would clear any misunderstanding later.

Folding her wings to the back of her jacket Luna stood before the ground floor window, and concentrating on the closed curtains she seized them in her magic field. Opening them with a thought she looked through the glass to the room within, and screamed at the sight that greeted her. Cold shock froze her to the spot, made her blood run cold.

Oh no! Oh no no no no no!

Fluttershy was hanging by her neck in the middle of her living room, eyes closed and her face a horrid shade of blue, her limp body swaying slightly.

Blind panic returned movement to Luna, she beat on the glass of the window before she caught herself and remembered she had magic. Focusing on the empty space beside Fluttershy she concentrated all her power to occupying that space, and felt the spell take hold, teleporting her through the wall. Appearing next to Fluttershy, Luna had to fight the urge to gag on the smell that greeted her. Through no fault of her own, fluttershy’s bowels had failed her, if the mess under her was anything to go by. Gingerly Luna reached for her limp wrist, and found she was still warm to the touch, but was alarmed at the lack of a pulse.

Incoherent thoughts rampaged through Luna, how? why? how long had she been hanging here? what should she do? A moment of hesitation later and the singular thought struck her, I need to get help. But where? Where should she take her, what should she do? Indecision paralysed Luna. The answer came in a flash.

Celestia. Anytime she had needed help before she had turned to her big sister. Celestia always solved anything. Celestia would know what to do. Using her magic once more, Luna slackened the thick rope around Fluttershy's neck, all the while extending her magical field around her to keep her as still as she could. Levitating Fluttershy over to the nearby sofa she placed a cushion around her neck, holding it in place with a simple spell. Taking Fluttershy's limp body in her arms her wings flared instinctively before she shut them, it was too far to fly, it would take too long. Canterlot was miles away. Teleport. Luna was unsure of this, she’d never attempted a teleport over this distance before. She had no choice, it was an emergency. Summoning all her power to her, Luna concentrated on Canterlot Castle.

By sheer luck or blind chance Luna appeared outside her bedchamber, ignoring the startled looks on the guards faces as they were suddenly presented with their princess carrying an unconscious woman in her arms she thundered through the doors, and as carefully as she could levitated Fluttershy to her bed, not caring as her sheets were soiled. Grief threatened to overcome her, but first, Celestia, she needed Celestia. Summoning the Royal Canterlot Voice she hardly used anymore she bellowed for her sister.

“CELESTIA! SISTER I NEED YOU, NOW!” Luna screamed, the impossibly loud voice echoing off the walls. She was sure her sister had heard her.

“CELESTIA, NOW!”

Princess Celestia was nestled in her own bed not that far from Luna’s own chambers, having just surrendered to sleep herself. “What the fu……” The curse died on her lips as she bolted upright at the sound of her sister’s terrified screams, propelled into action by Luna’s distress. She couldn't ever recall her little sister screaming like that, not ever. Something was very wrong. Her first thought as she pulled on a robe over her nightgown was that Fluttershy had said no, upset Luna somehow, but her sister seemed to distressed for that.

“TIA! Please……….Please!”

Celestia hurried to Luna’s chamber, grumbling about overreacting under her breath. Her grumble died on her lips as she saw the ashen looks on the guards faces. Something really was wrong, she knew. Entering Luna's chamber she saw Fluttershy's still body on her sisters bed, her face a pale blue colour and the ugly bruise around her neck. Luna herself was knelt by its side, a disheveled crying mess.

“Luna, what in Equestria has happened?”

Luna didn't, couldn't look at her sister, she kept her gaze firmly on Fluttershy. Tears flowed openly down her dark blue face, her voice a mere whisper. “Help her Tia, please!”

Celestia was by the bedside in a heartbeat, appraising what had happened. Reaching for Fluttershy's wrist she felt for a pulse. Finding none she fired a quick burst of magic through her fingers, into Fluttershy's arm, agitating her blood, stimulating her heart. Celestia repeated this a couple more times, until a steady rhythm answered her. Glancing to her chest, Celestia saw it rise and fall ever so slightly. It was a temporary fix, but it would suffice while she summoned the royal physician, Dr. Hooves.

Celestia stood, and concentrated her power on the royal doctor. He had long ago told her she could summon him anytime of the night or day, she only hoped that old promise was accurate. A flash of bright light lit up the dark bedroom, then died away, leaving a bemused looking old man in its wake. Celestia was glad he’d dressed and had brought medical supplies, she hadn't given him that much of a warning.

Dressed in black trousers and frock coat with a white shirt collar visible above the lapels and his white hair smoothed back he wasted little time examining the sun coloured girl on the bed, before turning to Celestia and asking for a little privacy to work. Nodding, Celestia tugged at the still crying Luna, but she wouldn't budge. Taking hold of both shoulders she tried to move her again, still Luna refused to move. Luna only vaguely registered the contact, she was focused. On Fluttershy on her bed.

Celestia had had enough of this. Breathing through her nose she planted a firm look on her face and roughly shook Luna to her feet, taking her sister by the forearm.

“Luna. My room, move, NOW.”

As Celestia practically dragged Luna from her own bedchamber past the confused guards cognisant thought returned to her at last. And with it, a new fear. There had been no mistaking that look on her sisters face. Luna had only seen anger like that from her sister once before, the night she was exiled to the moon. Luna knew she had messed up with Fluttershy, she knew she should never have interfered, and now she was going to pay for it. Blind terror coursed through her as Celestia pulled her into her room. Luna was crying again, flailing at her sisters arm, trying to get away. It was no use, celestia's grip was like iron. Slamming her door behind her Celestia deposited Luna on her bed and stood before her little sister.

“Luna.” She said her name a little more harshly than she intended.

Luna raised her head to look at her sisters stern face, she fell apart. Falling to her knees she clawed at celestia's leg, her tears falling freely, half formed sentences tumbling from her mouth.

“T, Tia, please don't send me away, not there please! I beg you no!”

“Lu…….”

“ Please Tia, I know I messed up! I shouldn't have interfered, you warned me not to.”

“Lu…Wha?”

“Punish me but please don't send me away again!”

“Luna.”

“I deserve it but I don't want to go, not there, not again………..please Tia……please don't.”

Celestia stood there stunned, she could no longer make out intelligible words from her sister, Luna had dissolved into hysterical wails and sobs, broken at her feet. Cold realisation dawned upon her.

No, surely Luna couldn't be serious? The evidence argued against her. Fluttershy had tried to kill herself, and my own sister is so scared of my reaction she really thought I'd banish her?

Am I so awful I inspire such terror in my own sister? She thought awkwardly.

Well, you do have a precedent for that said a nasty voice in the back of her mind. Hurriedly Celestia wiped that thought away. That mistake would forever be her eternal shame, the night she failed her little Luna.

Looking down now at the broken mess that was her sister Celestia's heart melted for her. How could she ever think she would punish her for trying to help someone else? Gently Celestia removed herself from Luna's grasp, and knelt by her sister, wrapping her up in her arms. Slowly, carefully, she whispered in Luna's ear.

“ Lulu, I'm not sending you anywhere. You're my little sister and you're staying right here, with me.”

Luna processed what she had heard, gradually her tears subsided enough to allow her to speak.

“You, you mean it?”

Celestia wiped away Luna's tears with the back of her hand, smiling as she did so.

“Of course I mean it, you're my sister and I love you.”

“But, what I did, what I made Fluttershy do……… That's my fault……. I made her do that to herself!”

“Lulu, you tried to help Fluttershy, and you did help her. You couldn't predict her actions any more than anyone else could have.”

They were interrupted at that point by a polite knock on the door, and Doctor Hooves entered.

Celestia looked up from her sisters shoulder and addressed the venerable doctor.

“How is she?”

“She, miss Fluttershy, is alive, barely I might add. She is very lucky she was found as quickly as she was.”

Luna looked up at the doctor, a smile of gratitude on her lips.

“Allow me to continue, please princesses. While her physical condition is fine, apart from the injury to her neck which has resulted in a damaged set of vocal chords, I am more concerned with the state of her mind.”

Luna's smile died, what did they mean?

“To put no finer point on it, majesties, miss Fluttershy's mind is fractured, shattered. Given the amount of stress she had been under recently this is no small wonder. You can see her if you wish, but you'll get no response from her. She is in a catatonic state, and I don't know how to reach her.”