Broken Butterfly

Chapter 4 – Dream A Little Dream

“You want me to what?”

The doctor had taken his leave, and Celestia and Luna were sat on two small chairs in Luna's bedchamber, both staring intently at the unmoving Fluttershy laid on Luna's bed. The doctor had been correct, she was alive. Breathing and blinking, but otherwise completely catatonic. They had tried different stimuli, all to no avail.

Now the sisters were sat side by side, Luna couldn't believe what Celestia had just suggested. She shot a sideways glance at her older sister to see if she was joking, unlikely as that was. Her heart sank as she realised she wasn't joking.

“You want me,” Luna spoke slowly and carefully, making sure she had it right. “To use my magic to enter Fluttershy's mind, and do what, exactly? Oh yes that's it, ‘repair the damage.’” She couldn't keep the sarcasm from her voice.

Celestia bowed her head, eyes closed. “Yes.”

Luna shot to her feet, outraged at her sisters simple reply. “It's not that easy Tia! You have no idea what you're asking!”

“You've entered her mind before.”

Luna couldn't believe what she'd just heard. “This won't be like before. Her mind is fractured, shattered to pieces! Fluttershy isn't even asleep, I would have little or no power in there, certainly no control to the degree you're suggesting.”

“You have to try.”

“And why is that, exactly?”

"Because you love her.”

That was it. Celestia had played the ace from her hand. Luna knew she was right.

“That was low Tia. You get one of those, ever. You just used yours. Seriously though, are you even aware of the dangers involved?” Luna pointed to Fluttershy's head for emphasis. “Anything happens in there, any pain or injury, the body reflects it. Understand?”

Celestia nodded slowly, getting Luna's meaning. “You die in there, you die here?”

Luna shot her sister a look as she laid down on the bed next to Fluttershy. “Yep. Now, once I begin you won't be able to do anything, so get comfy. I'll try not to be too long.”

With that, Luna took Fluttershy's yellow hand in her dark blue one and concentrated her magic, drawing her power to open the door onto the Pegasus' damaged mind. It was made easier having an established connection already. There was resistance, Luna knew there would be, damaged as it was Fluttershy's waking mind was fighting her entry. Luna turned up her power just a little, winning the little battle of wills.

Just a little more……ah there we are.

She was in, Luna felt her astral self leave her physical form and flow much like a formless river towards Fluttershy's temple.

For what felt like an eternity everything was dark, pitch black nothingness. Luna pushed herself to her feet, feeling the resistance of a floor beneath her. Standing up she tried to survey her surroundings, but there was nothing. The darkness was oppressive, pressing upon her from all directions at once. She stumbled slightly, fighting the nausea of the transfer. Putting one foot in front of the other she hesitantly tried to explore her new environment.

"Hello Princess."

The voice stopped Luna cold in her tracks, rooted her to the spot. She knew that voice. It was Fluttershy's voice, but it wasn't the same. This was a cold, confident voice with a domineering edge Luna had never heard from Fluttershy's mouth. The wave of nausea hugged her again, forcing her to shake her head to try and clear it. Luna heard footsteps coming towards her, felt a hand stroking her night black hair.

“Don't worry about the woozy. It'll soon pass. Sorry by the way.”

The disembodied voice sounded anything but sorry, Luna was still trying to process what was happening as the hand stroking her hair suddenly clenched, pulled back sharply and without warning thrust her head into the wooden wall inches from her face. Pain exploded across Luna's skull, stars danced across her vision. She was unconscious before she hit the floor.

Fluttershy reached down, grabbed hold of Luna's limp arms and dragged her back towards the wall. Pulling down the chains hanging from the wall she clicked the handcuffs closed around each wrist, securing Luna to the wall. Roughly she propped her into a half seated position then turned on her heel and stalked away from the prone form of Luna slumped on the floor.

Fluttershy let out a derisive snort, “Pathetic.” She sneered.

Consciousness slowly returned to Luna, and with it the throbbing pain in her skull. Focusing through it she took stock of her surroundings. The room was brighter, illuminated by a series of overhead lights. Wood panels adorned the walls and floor, a simple leather three seated sofa was about ten feet in front of her. With unease she noted the set of carving knives and gun on one of the seats. She tried to turn her head and regretted it as she fought the urge to be sick. Luna could hear a soft whimpering to her right, but didn't want to risk turning to see what was causing it. She tried moving her arms, and found they were secured to the wall behind her by the handcuffs on her wrists.

Great Luna, Well done. She admonished herself, then attempted to summon her magic to free her arms and was dismayed to find nothing happening. She had feared this. Perfect. Powerless and trapped in a fractured psyche. She shook the chains in a futile attempt to free herself, then slumped to the floor realising it wasn't going to happen.

Footsteps to her left brought Luna out of her reverie.

“Ahh we’re finally awake are we?”

That voice. The cold, confident voice so similar to Fluttershy's but different at the same time. She sauntered in front of Luna, stopping to admire the stunned look her captive gave her. She was Fluttershy, blue jeans, white t shirt, pink hair, everything. She was Fluttershy. Although with a few differences, Luna noticed as she looked harder. Her skin was a darker yellow, her wings were sharper, and there were black streams through her pink hair. Her face looked like Fluttershy's face, except the eyes. Her eyes held none of the kindness Luna had fell in love with, no these eyes promised nothing other than malice.

Luna heard the whimpering to her right again, and tried and failed once more to turn and face the sound. The Fluttershy in front of her exhaled a frustrated sigh and walked past Luna.

“Fluttershy will you please shut up?” What? Luna had to check her hearing, then involuntarily winced as she heard the smack of an open palm striking skin. The whimpering ceased immediately.

The Fluttershy walked back into Luna's field of vision, a satisfied smirk on her lips as she seated herself next to the knives on the sofa. “That's better, I do so hate whining bitches.”

“Fluttershy?” Luna could contain herself no more. “What in Tartarus is going on?”

The Pegasus on the sofa now held a bored expression on her face, and in a tone that said she was explaining something very simple to someone very stupid, said; “Isn’t it obvious princess? You are inside my mind, my mind is broken apart, hence there's me here,” she indicated herself, “and there's a me over there too.” She finished, pointing at the wall near Luna. This time Luna made the effort to turn her head and gasped as she indeed saw another Fluttershy, this one on her knees, head bowed with a hand covering a rapidly growing bruise on her cheek and a heavy looking metal collar around her neck chained to the wall.

“You're both Fluttershy?”

The Fluttershy on the sofa still looked bored as she spoke again. “Yes and no, I suppose. We're aspects of Fluttershy. That garbage over there is Kindness, and I, well I suppose you can call me Cruelty.”

Taking this in, Luna couldn't help but drift her gaze to the collection of knives and the gun at Cruelty’s side. Noticing where Luna was looking Cruelty let out an evil snigger. Taking two of the carving knives in her hand she stood and made her way over to where Luna was bound. Taking one in her left hand she slit the arms of Luna's jacket, allowing the garment to fall to the floor behind her.

Panic overcame Luna, and she thrashed about in the handcuffs, trying in vain to find an escape.

"Hold still princess."

Luna ignored her and redoubled her efforts, thrashing and pulling at the chains all the more. Quick as a flash there was a knife at her throat, halting her escape attempts immediately.

“That's better. Now, place the backs of your hands against the wall and keep them there.”

Hesitantly Luna stretched her arms out, and did as she was told. Cruelty shifted her grip on the knife in her left hand, placing the tip of it against Luna’s palm. Without warning she thrust it forward, straight through Luna's hand and burying the blade up to its hilt in the wall behind. Luna's scream shattered the quiet of the room they were in, her pain so intense she didn't notice Cruelty had pressed the other knife to the Palm of her other hand.

Too late Luna registered what was happening.

"Please……..N, no…….please don't….” Her voice failed her, then came back in an almighty scream that rivalled the first as Cruelty repeated her action with the knife, skewering Luna's hands to the wall.

Cruelty turned on her heel and made her way back to the sofa, a warm smile on her lips. She addressed Luna as she sat herself down.

“I did say hold still. Now, I would imagine those sting a bit. Best not to move too much if I were you.”

Luna lifted her head up to look at Cruelty mocking her. “Why?” Was all she could muster through the pain.

“Why? Because I'm cruel, and because I can.” She answered as if it was obvious. Taking up a smaller pairing knife from the seat she stood again and slowly walked toward Luna.

Her eyes grew wide with fear as she saw the smaller knife, an involuntary flex of her arms sent fresh waves of pain through her hands. Small streams of blood began to flow around the blades.

“F, Fluttershy…..h, h, help me, please…………..PLEASE!”

Cruelty stopped, amused. “I am Fluttershy…..Oh, you meant her?” She jerked her head towards Kindness. She walked over to her bound double, and lowered herself to look her in the eye. “You aren't going to help anyone are you? Kindness whimpered and shook her head meekly. “Pathetic.” Cruelty stood and placed a hard kick square in her doubles gut, causing her to retch on the floor. “And to think, the princess here loved you enough to come here and try to help you.”

Back in front of Luna, Cruelty wrapped her arms around Luna's neck, and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. “What do you say princess, still want some of this?”

Luna turned her head towards Kindness. “Fluttershy I love you!” Luna thought she saw Kindness look up at her, with what, recognition, understanding? She didn't know. Panting through the pain, Luna repeated herself. “I…..love…..you, Fluttershy…”

"Awwwwww, ain't that just the sweetest thing?” Cruelty mocked, drawing the smaller blade over Luna's right arm. Luna looked away, determined not to scream this time as the knife cut her again and again, carving letters into her flesh. Eventually she stood back to admire her handiwork. Luna looked to her ruined arm, saw “FLUTTERSHY” etched into her skin. Tears streamed openly down Luna's face. She made no effort to stop them. She knew she had failed.

“Fluttershy….I, I love you…….I, I’m sorry.”

“Stop it.” The delicate, soft voice rang out across the room. Kindness had gotten to her feet, looking at Cruelty.

“What did you say?” Cruelty stood disbelieving, staring at Kindness.

“I said, stop it. That's enough!” Her voice soft as ever, carried a newfound determination.

Cruelty laughed, a mocking sound. She struck Kindness again, sending her to her knees once more. “Stay down this time.”

A whimpered “meep” was all she got in response.

Between the pain in her arm and her blood on the floor Luna hadn't noticed Cruelty make her way back over to the sofa, it took her a full few seconds to realise she wasn’t alone there anymore. A second figure was sat next to her. At first she thought it was another aspect of Fluttershy, but on closer inspection she saw it was a different person entirely. The orange Pegasus flicked her hair out of her eyes casually, smiling up at Cruelty as she sat beside her. Shocked recognition coursed through Luna, though powerless and pinned to the wall there was nothing she could do other than utter her name.

“S, Scootaloo?”

Cruelty smiled at Scootaloo. “Say hello to princess Luna Scoots.”

Scootaloo smiled over to Luna, she seemed totally oblivious to her predicament, merely waving at her and greeted her with a cheery “Hi Luna!”

This wasn't happening surely?

Cruelty whispered something to Scootaloo, who nodded her head in an agreement. Bouncing off the sofa she trotted over to Luna, stopping and kneeling before her halfway between her and the sofa, her back to Cruelty.

Behind her Luna saw Cruelty pick up the handgun, a Taurus Judge revolver, looking it over lovingly. “You recognise this don't you Kindness?” A meep gave her her answer. “Tell your girlfriend there who it is, and why you named it so.”

Kindness raised her soft voice once more, looking at Luna this time. “It's called Helian, a Saxon word meaning to cure, heal and save. I use it in the Everfree, not all the animals are friendly.” Lowering her gaze to the floor, she added quietly, “I'm sorry princess.”

Cruelty was stood behind Scootaloo, a knife in one hand, the gun in the other. “How old are you, Scootaloo?”

“13.” She chirped happily.

“Can you fly?”

“No Fluttershy, I can't.” Her face clouded a bit at this, but quickly regained its happy smile.

“Pegasi should be flying competently by your age Scoots, shouldn't they?” Scootaloo nodded, and Cruelty placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Luna could see where this was going, but was powerless to stop it.

“She's been bullied and ridiculed for years because she can't fly. Her suffering makes her miserable. The kindest thing to do with a wounded animal is put it out of its misery, right? So, Luna. You get to chose. The knife, or the gun?”

She isn't serious? Good lord she is!

Luna was stunned into silence, her scrambled brain refusing to accept the scene in front of her.

"By the count of three you make a choice princess.” Cruelty stated coldly as she loaded the five .45 colts into the chamber, clicking it shut and spinning it.

“One.” She stood at the side of Scootaloo and pulled the hammer back.

“Scootaloo RUN! Get out of here!” Luna screamed at her, the orange teenager just knelt there, oblivious as ever.

“Two.” Cruelty took aim and rested her finger on the trigger.”

“Scoots please……please….just go, run now!”

“Three.” The trigger was squeezed, the .45 colt was fired through the barrel. An instant later it entered the back of Scootaloo’s head, turning most of it to mush, thrusting her forward onto what was left of her face, showering brain matter, bone and blood at Luna's feet. She tried to lift her feet off the floor, but couldn't, the knives in her hands wouldn't let her. She was forced to stand in the growing puddle of still warm blood.

"There, now wasn't that kind?”

Luna couldn't process it, her brain had gone sideways. She had come to help repair Fluttershy’s mind, now she was losing her own. Cruelty was winning, no, Cruelty had won. Luna knew she couldn't take anymore.

“Now, your turn princess. What would you prefer, knife or gun?”

Luna was vaguely aware she was being spoken to, something about a knife or gun. She looked at Cruelty, saw her life ending in the next few minutes. This wasn't how she saw herself bowing out. Luna nodded towards the gun. Of the two options, this at least sends the least painful.

Cruelty raised the gun, and pulled back the hammer as she took aim at Luna.

“Stop this! She doesn't deserve this, Luna only came to help!” Kindness had found her feet once more, imploring Cruelty to reconsider.

Smiling slyly, Cruelty lowered the revolver. Walking over to Kindness she removed the metal collar from her neck, freeing her. Seizing her roughly by the back if the neck Cruelty dragged her in front of Luna, shoving her roughly to her knees, slashing the puddle of Scootaloo as she hit the floor.

“You need a ringside view for this, I don't want you to miss a thing. Look her in the eyes as I shoot her.” Cruelty raised the gun once more, Luna stared straight down the barrel.

“F, Fluttershy, I, I love you. I wanted to tell you for days. I, I’m sorry.” Luna closed her eyes, preparing for the bullet to come. She heard the hammer pulled back again, heard the click as it fell into place. Her life was measured in heartbeats. Not long now.

Luna heard the loud crack as the trigger was pulled. The extra pain didn't come, her heart was still beating. Hesitantly she opened her eyes, saw Kindness stood in front of her, her left arm hanging by her side. She had taken the shot meant for Luna. Slowly Kindness took a step forward, towards Cruelty. For the first time Luna saw shock and surprise on her face.

"What are you doing? Get back, get away from me!" Cruelty raised the gun, fired, hit Kindness in her right thigh. She dropped to the floor with a whimper. She pushed herself to her feet, using her own wings to bring herself upright. Kindness flapped them slightly, closing the distance between her and Cruelty.

Bringing the gun up again, Cruelty fired for a fourth time, hitting Kindness in the right wing this time. With a loud thud she hit the floor again, still she refused to stay down. Pushing with her right hand she shakily got to her feet, stumbling with her wounded right leg. She was almost point blank with Cruelty now.

"Why won't you stay down?”

Kindness reached her arms around Cruelty, kissing her cheek tenderly. “Because I love you.”

The muzzle of the gun pressed up against Kindness’ belly, Cruelty fired her last colt into her. This time Kindness didn't fall. She placed her left hand over her wound, still held on to Cruelty with her right. Smiling she kissed her again.

“You don't get it, do you? You can't stop me Cruelty. Know why? I'm kind. I'm compassion. I am Fluttershy. You are a part of me Cruelty. I've always accepted you are a part of me. You are a part of who I am, but I won’t give in to you. I am Fluttershy and this butterfly isn't broken anymore.”

She gave Cruelty a final kiss goodnight as the room began to evaporate, slowly and gradually fading to reveal princess Luna's bedchamber.

Fluttershy opened her eyes, blinking a few times as she looked about the room, the luxurious bed she was laid on. She propped herself up on her shoulders, releasing Luna's hand from her own as she did so. Then she noticed princess Celestia sat beside the bed, and the unusually grave look on her face as she watched the bed, her expression hadn't changed as Fluttershy had awoken. Fluttershy looked across to Luna laid out next to her, she was still out, although she was coming around.

“I love you Fluttershy.” Luna mumbled in semi consciousness.

"Oh my……..”

Fluttershy placed her right hand back in Luna's left, flinching as she noticed the ugly scar on the palm and back, trembling at the memory of the carving knife pinning her to the wall. A quick check on her other hand revealed its sister scar, mementos of their ordeal. Fluttershy hugged Luna's still waking body to her as Celestia looked on, clearly concerned and waiting for answers.

Fluttershy knew there would be a rough few days ahead, but for now she kissed Luna's cheek tenderly and held her as she woke up.