“And then what happened?” barked a colt who sat himself down on the carpet. All around him were other colts and fillies, listening eagerly to the mare on the couch. He was particularly enthused and looked ready to jump, his muscles vibrating like a tightly wound spring, at any moment. His fellow foals turned to glance at him, wary of any potential surprises that may occur. Not wanting to get tackled to the floor or smacked by a free-flying hoof, they slowly backed away from their friend.
The old mare that was telling the story smiled as she continued. “After they were caught, Princess Twilight Sparkle hid inside her library. She had to protect the alicorn magic from Tirek, lest Equestria fall into eternal darkness.”
She paused for a chuckle. “I remember her trying to raise the Sun that day. It was probably the only time that the world would ever see it wobble in the sky.” She smiled as she watched her audience trying to imagine the Sun dancing tangoes far above them. “Tirek found out about her eventually. They fought each other in Ponyville. Twilight was almost going to win, but then Tirek trapped me and Aunt Pinkie. He threatened to harm us if she went any further.”
“Oh no!” exclaimed one of the smaller fillies. She seemed to be on the verge of tears until her sister leaned against her, the warmth and closness bringing a bit of comfort.
“How did you escape?” another colt asked. “Did you use the Elements of… uh… Harmony?”
“Ah, the Elements. Such mysterious trinkets.” The old mare shook her head. “No, Princess Twilight traded the alicorn magic for us.”
The audience gasped. “How could she do that!? She could've plunged Equestria into darkness!” another filly shouted.
“Now, now, no need to be angry. In fact, the sacrifice she made was exactly what she needed to do. We finally obtained the sixth key from Uncle Discord, and we unlocked the Essence of Harmony. With it, we were able to defeat Tirek and restore peace to Equestria, and all the magic he had stolen was returned to its rightful guardians.”
The foals 'ooh'ed at the storyteller. Although she was ancient, they were awed by how much spark she had left in her. Perhaps not as great as when she had been young, but enough that the foals could feel it and respect the substance of her experiences.
“Grandma, can we meet Princess Twilight? She is your best friend, isn't she?” the youngest of the fillies asked.
The mare stared blankly at her, blinking once, twice. She pondered whether to give them her usual answer or to make up some pretext to dodge the question. “Well Valkyrie, we live so far away from Ponyville that I don't think that we would have the means to go there. Your mother and I traveled here when we were younger. Now that I'm old, I don't think I can do it anymore.”
Deep down inside her, she knew she could, and would, if the need arose. Better not to tell these foals that, though.
“We can get Mom to buy us train tickets,” another filly said.
“That's kind of you, but I can't,” the mare replied gently, not wanting to disappoint her grandchildren.
“Princess Twilight is royalty, right? She can get us a carriage, can't she?”
The elder mare started to feel nervous as another grandcolt piped up. “That’s even better! You can write to her, can't you? She would definitely get one ready for us. She's your friend.”
“She is, at that. But still, I don't know… I'm just not sure…” She turned away from her grandfoals, her wrinkled brow furrowed. It had been so long….
“What’s wrong, Grandma? Is something the matter with-”
“Children, that's enough. Time to go to bed,” a light blue pegasus said as she came into the room.
One of the fillies ran to her and tugged at her with a forehoof. “Mommy, can we go to Ponyville?” The filly put on her best doe-eyes, hope shining from them. “Please, Mommy? We really want to see Princess Twilight.”
The mother stroked her filly's mane. “Alright, alright. I'll talk to your father about it. Now everypony get ready for bedtime.”
The foals rushed out of the room with a 'hooray' as the blue mare trotted over to her mother. “How did that come up all of a sudden?”
“I don't know, Bluesky, dear. Maybe all that storytelling had them wondering.” The elder mare sighed and shook her head. “I never want them to go back to Ponyville. That place is just… too heartbreaking.”
Bluesky pulled her mother into a hug. She knew that the older mare had accepted her fate and moved on, and might not even need comfort. But years of helping her find closure had made it into a habit - and besides, she adored her mother and never wanted her to doubt that she was loved. “Don't worry, Mommy. You don't need to go with them. They can go and meet Twilight themselves.”
“I'm sure they'll love her,” the grandmare replied. She looked down at the floor from her couch. “You know, Bluesky dear, sometimes I wish that I hadn't parted ways with her on such bitter terms. From that very day we left, I always wanted to say that I'm sorry for everything.”
She paused, staring vaguely into the warp and weft of the fabric covering the couch. “Sorry that I'm not strong enough to look fate in her eyes and accept the reality of it all.” The old mare let her head droop. “But look at me now. I'm scared. I'm all alone. I'm such a useless p-”
“Don't say that!” Bluesky tightened her embrace as she interrupted. “Mommy, all this time I've known you, you’ve been such a great mare. You were so strong when they all... passed away. You didn't give up on me when Daddy was gone and you took care of my children when I had to work far away from home.” Her voice softened, and the rightness of how she felt shone through. “Mommy, you're the greatest.”
Tears were beginning to stain the elder’s cheeks. “Thank you, Bluesky.”
“I love you Mommy. I always will.” After one more squeeze she disentangled herself, a small smile on her face.
Her mother yawned and stretched, grunting from the effort as the day’s exertions overtook her mind and body. Bluesky didn’t let on how hard it was to see her mother in pain, even if only a little.
“Sleep well, Mommy.” She gave her mother’s mane an affectionate stroke. “I'll cook breakfast in the morning. I'll make your favorite hyacinth rolls.”
“Thank you, Bluesky dear. I don't know what I would do without you.”
“The great Fluttershy could do anything,” Bluesky chirped, giving her a wink. “I'm sure of it!”
Fluttershy smiled weakly, gently closing her old, tired eyes. “I love you too, Bluesky dear,” she whispered, but by then her daughter was out of earshot, getting the grandfoals ready for bed.
Smiling peacefully, she settled herself on the couch and nudged the pillow into a more comfortable position. Her breathing slowed into a soft pace, her pale yellow chest gently rising and falling. It got slower and slower, following her fading heartbeat, until at last she moved no more.
“Please Fluttershy, don’t leave us. I beg of you.” Twilight would not let go of her forehoof. She gripped it tighter every second. Tears soaked the soft, yellow fur.
“Let me go, Twilight. Get out of my sight.” Fluttershy pushed her aside, unwrapping the alicorn from herself.
The princess was taken aback. Never had she seen this. “How can you say that!? What's gotten into you, Shy?”
“It’s your fault!” she screamed. “I told you Twilight. You shouldn’t have changed Ponyville! Now look!”
Fluttershy stared into Twilight’s eyes. “You have destroyed my family!”
The princess backed away. She was hurt. Hurt by the hatred that she could see in those kind eyes she knew. “Shy… what's wrong? What did I do? Please, talk to me. Maybe I can help yo-”
“NO YOU CAN'T!”
Twilight froze. At this point, she knew that nothing else could be done. The element of kindness was no longer there in her.
“You're not going to see my face in Ponyville ever again.”
Fluttershy turned her back and headed towards the door, stopping just before she set her foot out of the crystal palace. She tried to utter her final words, but she felt as if something was stuck in her throat. As much as she tried, it wouldn’t budge, and all she could manage was a choke.
“Fluttershy. Please. Don't go.” Twilight tried again, one last time.
She could not lose. Not now, and not anymore. She forced the words out of her mouth.
“G-Goodbye, T-T-Twilight.”
“Where, am I?”
Fluttershy opened her eyes, expecting to see Bluesky waking her for breakfast. Or maybe one of her grandfoals, for another story. Or perhaps to show some newfound talents. After all, they did enjoy her praises; who wouldn’t have?
Yet all she saw was a starry field stretching for Celestia knows how far. She stood on gaseous clouds of pale green, but it didn’t feel like the ones back in Cloudsdale. No, it was firm, as if beneath that cotton-like appearance, there was solid ground. It does feel like ground. Of course it should: she fell asleep on her prized recliner. This should be the house’s floor.
“Bluesky dear, did Night Vision pull another prank on me?” Nopony responded. The silence prevailed. “Hello? Is anypony there?”
Fluttershy trotted forward, all the while scanning her surroundings. Judging by the criteria of the scene in front of her, it seemed she was in space. How could she have ever ended up here? As she thought, it seemed only logical that this was Night Vision's doing. “Nightly, please stop it. Grandma needs to get up now.”
“Oh dear.”
Fluttershy shrieked as she jumped. Behind her, stood a white alicorn with a mane whose colors ran through a pastel spectrum, lying limp and straight, much like Pinkie Pie’s when she was depressed and sad. Her expression was similar, conveying a sense of wistful concern.
“P-P-Princess Celestia?” she said. She quickly fell into a bow. The regal alicorn trotted forward to touch her chin, and raise her head from the worship.
“Do not bow to me here, Fluttershy. This is no place for such a thing ,” Celestia said. She wore no regalia or other decoration. “I did not believe that I would find one of you here. I guess I was wrong.”
“What do you mean, Princess? Is everything alright?” Fluttershy asked.
The alicorn sighed. “Do you know where you are, Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy looked around, dumbfounded at their location. She stated the most obvious answer that came to her mind, “ummm, Outer Space?” Celestia shook her head.
‘It could be someplace magical,’ she thought. “Am I… in a room in your castle?” Another shake of the head.
“Ummm, I think one of my grandfoals might've played a prank on me. He does that often.” Another shake of the head.
Celestia sighed. She was the one to have to tell her of her misfortune. “Fluttershy, you have passed away in your sleep.”
The pegasus' ears flattened, a frown clearly manifested on her face. Her gaze fell to the floor. Celestia awaited the denial, wailing and crying that usually followed along with such a horrifying revelation, but Fluttershy seemed to just stare, her mane covering her visage. “I… I see,” she said.
“I'm terribly sorry.”
“No, don't be. I knew it was bound to happen soon, anyways. I was getting rather old. It’s been past my time.”
Celestia moved closer to Fluttershy and sat besides her. She gestured for the pegasus to do the same, giving her a small smile as she complied. “You are a strong mare, Fluttershy. Not all souls I’ve met had accepted their passing.”
“So, what happens next? Is this where I will stay, forever?”
“The Meadows of Eternity is where you belong. Many wonders await you, dear Fluttershy,” Celestia said. The sound of that place being mentioned brought joy to Fluttershy. She could already feel the silky breeze running past her fur, and the sweet smell of milk and honey. She could hear streams flowing through green pastures that span as far as the eyes could see.
But Celestia turned her attention away from the mare. “However, that will have to wait.”
Fluttershy felt all her fur standing on end. ‘That will have to wait? Am I going to-’
“No, you are not going to Tartarus. And yes, I can hear your thoughts here.” Fluttershy simply nodded, blushing from the invasion of privacy. “Souls that pass away do not end up here. They go to the Meadows of Eternity. Yet here you are, stranded in the Plain of Stars. That only means one thing.” Fluttershy waited for her answer, but it didn't come.
“What does it mean, Princess?”
Celestia once again turned her attention to the pegasus. “Fluttershy, you have ties that bind you to the Earth. You shall not enter the Meadows with this bind. You must therefore return to the Earth and be rid of it, only then will you be able to enter the gates of the Meadows,” she said.
“Return to Earth?” the pegasus asked. Celestia nodded. “But where should I go? What should I do?” asked the pegasus.
“I do not know. However, I am sure the answer will come to you in time. The ties break when one fulfils one's desires. Follow your heart as it leads you to it.”
A blinding flash engulfed their vision. The clouds beneath them glowed brightly. “Your time here isn't long. Prepare yourself for whatever reality you might have to face. Even if you have to dig your way out of your grave.” The pegasus gulped. She dared not wonder what that meant, but she had better be prepared. “I wish you luck, Fluttershy.”
The clouds flashed for a last time, consuming her vision in blinding lights. She felt a strong tug as she was pulled down into it. The pegasus flailed her hooves and flapped her wings, trying hard to get a hold on to something and break her fall. She felt as if she was falling from Cloudsdale again. “Somepony help!!!” she screamed as she descended faster and faster. The darkness below neared more and more, until she couldn’t see anything anymore. She closed her eyes, awaiting for an impact.
Then she opened her eyes.