There is a moment of clarity, but before you can grasp at it, it's gone. You want to keep chasing after it, to see what it had tried to make you aware of, but soon it just doesn't matter anymore. There's an endless lake of chocolate milk all around you, after all, and it isn't going to swim through itself. Or maybe it is? You swear you can see ponies here and there in the waves; maybe it's the delicious-beverage-turned-ocean made manifest, trying to figure itself out? You swim along with it.

You hear some manner of growling as well, but it passes, and you dismiss it as part of the background noise of the dream.

Wait...dream. That's it! You're dreaming! You even hear your own subconscious voice yelling it at you; that was the slippery moment you...wait, what were you doing again?

Oh, right. The pie eating contest. You dig right back in to the cheers of a crowd of faceless ponies--except one, one is watching you with intense concern from his bright red eyes as he cheers louder at you than the rest--the flavor of the pastry impossible to describe, but your stomach growls loudly in your ears again so you don't even hesitate. The pony next to you carelessly bumps you with their hoof in a grab for another pie, and you fall off your seat into the water.

Again something at the back of your mind gnaws at you, like you've forgotten something, or there's something wrong right in front of you that you just aren't noticing, but your raft needs steering down the treacherous river. The spray of water is icy against your hindquarters; you're slowly losing feeling in them, and the sensation is creeping forward...

"Please, Fluttershy. I fear the mare may be in trouble, and I dare not be seen yet. If I am, it could jeopardize everything we've planned for."

"But...c-can't you do something for her?"

"You know better than any the perils of the Everfree. I've tried calling out in her dream to wake her, but she won't hear me. Some presence denies me, and I believe I know what it is. If I am right, I would be a fool to oppose her. She may yet rouse her, but she is not here in the waking world. You are."

"But I...I can't go out there..."

"Why ever not?"

"I'm...scared."

"Fluttershy. You are the bravest mare I know. I have seen you care for injured, dangerous bears, and you have talked down elder dragons. You stood up to he who was fear incarnate and have now let him into your heart, your home...and your bed. Are you truly scared of what can only be a friendly conversation?"

"I...I..."

"Fluttershy. Our friend. Now, before it is too late!"

"I'llberightback!"

Your desperate paddling falters as you approach what must be a waterfall. You can't see it but you can hear its unnatural, beastly growl as though it's right in your face. Your entire body is cold, so cold you can't even feel it; it may as well not even be there. Panic sets in. You find it hard to breathe, like your chest won't expand. You-

You wake up. Eyes opened wide, you stare into solid orbs of red over a beak...it looks like a chicken? You remember, then, the wild chase, and falling asleep outside Fluttershy's cottage. It must be one of her chickens, but the eyes...

Its beak opens in a growl and a row of horrifying fangs that do not belong in a chicken's mouth spur you into a frantic, half-awakened escape attempt. You try to leap forward only to come crashing down to the ground. You look back to see what's entangled your hind hooves.

They're frozen. Heavy. They aren't responding to any movements you attempt to make, and the cold, lifeless appearance is creeping up past your flanks now; you can't even see your own cutie mark. You try to inhale and feel your chest tighten, and that's when panic truly sets in. You won't get another chance to do this.

"Heeeeeeeeelp!"

The chicken snarls in reply and fixes you even more intensely with its stare. You notice now in your peripheral vision, unable to look away from those unnatural eyes, that its lower half is serpentine.

Cockatrice.

You try to inhale, hoping that Fluttershy will hear you if you can only get one more scream out. You don't know if there will be second chances if the beast fully petrifies you. Even motivated by that thought, the last attempt to call out sends a lance of pain through your chest as the stone embrace wraps around it, and your muzzle moves silently.

You can't feel anything below your neck. For a moment you feel breathless and lightheaded as what's left of your body calls out for air and gets none.

You mouth the words, "Help me, my Ki-"

Your tear-filled eyes feel suddenly dry, then your vision fades but doesn't darken. You realize that the beast has fully petrified you.

You're gone.

If you could sigh, you would. It was a good run, you suppose. Pinkie would get by, but you regret that you never got to share your talent with her, or Sugarcube Corner as a whole; you're sure they would have loved your frozen treats. Your parents...you hope they don't take the news too harshly. And Sombra...

You feel a pang of regret for the cockatrice that stands in front of you still, because if Sombra ever puts together what happened to you, he might very well make the beast wish it was dead. If he truly did care for you, that is. Of course he gave both you and at least one other mare that pendant, and its meaning was rather clear.

Suddenly you realize you're still thinking. Maddening panic sets in, a hundred times worse than before. How long will you remain aware? Will you slowly go insane left with your own thoughts and nothing more until you erode? And what then?

A small window of light catches your attention, but you can't even look toward it. It's at the edge of your vision, from where the cottage you were staking out stands. Had Fluttershy heard your scream for help, and just come too late? It seems she has, but she doesn't appear at all fretful over your situation. If anything, she seems incredibly determined...and upset. Her expression is somewhere between an angry mother and a demon straight out of Tartarus.

The approaching pegasus does not escape the notice of the cockatrice. You see Fluttershy say--no, shout--a word, but you can't focus on it, and another layer of horror dawns upon you: what if you never hear anything ever again? The beast stands its ground, watching her as she stomps closer, wings splayed aggressively. You would have cowered away if you could move.

She says something to the cockatrice, and then it cowers. You watch expressionless but in a state of growing awe as there seems to be a staring contest between pony and beast.

Fluttershy raises an eyebrow wordlessly.

The cockatrice shrinks back, and glances at you...apologetically?

It feels like melting. The cold returns, but the frigid sensation is transient. The static view you had of the world becomes more vibrant again as hearing likewise returns, and you hear a voice ordinarily meant to be soft, but berating tirelessly, like a mother scolding a foal for doing something irresponsible. You only catch a bit here and there; everything is dull and muted for long seconds.

Finally the cold is gone, the stiffness is gone, you draw in breath like a pony just saved from drowning, and it's the sweetest thing you've ever tasted.

"...with your own tail, do you understand me?"

You start to think maybe it's for the best that you didn't get the better part of that conversation as the cockatrice tears off with a panicked warbling, its talons digging ruts into the grass as it flees.

You look up into Fluttershy's softened and concerned gaze. She smiles at you. It's a bit nervous of an expression, but you'll take what you can get. "Are...you alright?"

"I..." After what transpired, how do you respond to something like that? This mare just saved you from a fate quite literally worse than death. Your mind, freed from the panic of the moment, helpfully comes up with a million ways on the spot that you might have spent the next thousand years, aware of the passage of time and life happening around you, with no way to escape your prison or even to let death take you. You'd have gone mad in days if not hours.

You break down in shuddering, wracking sobs as you cling to Fluttershy, and don't even fully notice when her wings wrap around you comfortingly.

Without a clear chain of memory between your nervous collapse and the present moment, you find yourself on a couch inside one of the coziest homes you've ever been to. Fluttershy's cottage doesn't just have nature outside of it, but inside as well, little details and aspects borrowed from animals' lives that manage to seem perfectly at home indoors. She shared her living space with critters small and large, and it is obvious they are meant to feel welcome and comfortable.

None of them are around right now, clearly wary of the third occupant of the house, sitting on the chair opposite, looking you over with a curious expression. In his ruby eyes you see relief, regret, and no small amount of fear. It is he who speaks first, and very quietly, something you suspect is uncharacteristic for the King.

"Please, forgive me."

"...huh?" Oh, Celestia, talking hurts. You only just hide your wince.

"My wariness nearly cost you your life. I pray your forgiveness," he clarifies, without really clarifying much at all. "I promise you this: Once I am secure in my position in the world again, I will stand in the way of any who would dare harm my ponies."

You regard him softly, questioningly, but without a word. Maybe he noticed the effect trying to talk had on you moments ago, because he elaborates.

"I was here the whole time," he continues, sounding faintly disgusted as he speaks the words. "I could have run out and awoken you the moment I felt you were in danger. Even so far from your town, I refrained even as I heard the growls. Being seen by anypony might have forced me to make a dangerous stand, prematurely. For all my urging Fluttershy to be brave...it was fear that stayed my own hoof."

Around this time, the very same pegasus comes floating in with a tray in her forehooves, setting it down on the table in front of the couch and pouring your cup of tea first before serving Sombra and herself. She sits on the couch as well, but her moment of boldness seems to have passed; she's not even within reach.

"I did not expect two of my ponies to meet each other so soon. Fate is either strongly on our side or against us. Still," he says before clearing his throat gently. "Fluttershy, meet Bluebell. Bluebell...Fluttershy, Kindness herself, and the first to bear my gift and my claim."

You're reminded of the reason for the entire string of events tonight, and you look down. Fluttershy, like you, still wears her pendant. "N-nice to meet you," she almost whispers.

You sip your tea and feel the soothing, honeyed warmth make it feel like you can speak again without the sensation of broken glass accompanying it. "Nice...nice to meet you too, Fluttershy," you reply, roughly but not painfully anymore. "I'm sorry for the scare. And for crying all over you..."

"It, um..it's fine. I've felt that before." Both you and Sombra look at her pointedly. "The first time he...tried to prey on ponies. He caught my friend Twilight off-guard, and...he tried to attack the Cutie Mark Crusaders. I couldn't just let him do something so horrible, and he tried to petrify me while I had the fillies behind me."

You and Sombra are now leaning in almost like foals listening to an exciting story. Fluttershy smiles meekly, cheeks tinged with pink. "I, um, won," she says simply.

The King chuckles and shakes his head. "An understatement. Never doubt your courage again, dear Fluttershy," Sombra rumbles in his deep and smooth voice.

"It's...it's terrifying. So I sort of know what you felt, Bluebell." She sips at her own tea gracefully. "I would have been more worried about you if you were calm."

"Thank you again for saving me." You get lost in the floating leaves deep in your cup of tea. "I owe you my life."

"Hmm? Don't I get a say in that?" You look over at Sombra, grinning deviously at you. The mood lightens instantly and you feel your own cheeks heat up. "Well, perhaps Fluttershy will be my queen. It won't matter then since you'd be both of ours. Would you enjoy that, dear?" It's Fluttershy's turn to blush brighter as the King calmly sips his tea, his red aura keeping the cup aloft.

It's hard to tell how serious or jesting he's being, and it's a telling thing that you don't really mind all that much if he's being completely serious. "Regardless. Fluttershy, I believe you owe our friend Bluebell a story."

If she turns any brighter shades of red, she'll set the couch ablaze. You smile and give her the time she needs to compose herself before she begins. "O-okay. You...wanted to know how I got one a pendant just like yours, right? It was about a week ago..."

Author's Note

Okay, new chapter! Our main mare gets a name and a positively terrifying situation to go along with it! Next chapter...will probably be from the Fluttercam(tm); any readers got thoughts favoring or opposing?

As always, let me know if anything's escaped my own proofreading and that of my friends, and of anything you feel could be done better or differently.