"Diane! Posture!"

"Y-yes... Of course mistress. Forgive me for my mistake."

The headmistress scoffed. "I don't have time for any of your hasty apologies! Now go and sit correctly, like a lady!"

"Yes, Headmistress." She mumbled, bowing her head.

"And I expect you to be here after class. There are a few issues I need to speak with you about."

Heavy dread weighed down her body. What could she possibly want this time?

The rest of her class carried on, slow as usual, yet seemed to whizz by considering she would be scolded after class. She sighed and leaned back against the chair.

"Diane! Posture!"

"Of course. My apologies, Headmistress."

~~

The grandfather clock let out its cheerful chime, even though anyone was far from cheerful after three hours of class with the Headmistress. The crowd of young mares flocked out, hoping to make it to the next class on time. 'Maybe I can blend in with the crowd,' she thought, 'and Headmistress will forget that she wanted to speak with me.'

"Miss Diane?"

Too late.

She sighed and turned around. "Yes, Headmistress?"

Headmistress turned around, facing the wall. "Please, have a seat."

She made her way to her usual seat, in the front of the class.

"I would like to speak about you concerning the subject of your father." Headmistress said solemnly. She tousled with her bright red mane.

"Of course, go on right ahead."

"I understand that he has a very important position in the King's council, and that he is a high ranking military official and noble. But, Ms. Diane, that is not what I wanted to talk to you about. It's about your real name. 'Fluttershy' was it? Well, it certainly suits your character better." She let out a half-smile.

The Headmistress was smiling?

"H-how did you know?" She let out desperately.

"I have my sources."

"I-"

"You never knew your mother for a very long time, did you?"

Her face flushed. All of the other girls had families to return to, and mothers to teach them sewing and cooking personally, and siblings and other heirs. All, except her.

"I never knew my mother very well until the accident when I was a foal." She muttered.

"I can tell. What relationship you seemed to have lacked with her you make up for in your personality and nature."

Headmistress stood up out of her chair and tousled with her red mane. "I do not believe that this school is fit for you, Ms. Fluttershy. There are other places that I think would suit you more well."

She walked over to a bookshelf and took hold of a scroll hidden among the books.

"There is an academy in the Crystal Empire that I think would be much better to your liking."

"The Crystal Empire? But, it's so far away!"

Headmistress raised an eyebrow.

"And you have friends and family here that you do not wish to leave behind?"

"Well, no, but, it's just- I've became so attached to this place. Father never keeps me in the same place for long. I've never had a real home. I only visit the family estate once every year during the summer."

Headmistress sighed. "I know what it feels like switching from place to place, Fluttershy. I was once like you. My parents never kept me in the same place for long either. But your father has just sent me an urgent message, wishing for you to switch schools at once. He believes that is best for you. You need to accept changes, and live with them. Otherwise you will never grow and flourish; never bloom into the flower that you are supposed to be."

"I suppose you're right." Fluttershy replied.

"The Crystal empire is an offbranch region of Equestria. I expect that you have a vast knowledge on the area?"

"Of course, Headmistress."

"Good. Then you will leave tomorrow morning."

"But that's so soon!"

"That is the nearest train going towards the Empire. The next one doesn't go until next month, and it's a cargo train. Now, please, go to your room and pack your things."

"Yes, Headmistress."

She ran out of the classroom, and flew through the halls. It was embarrassing enough that she was a pegasus in the elite world of unicorns, but flying was strictly prohibited. Not that it mattered, anyways, since she would be leaving. She made her way down the hall, silently coaxing herself not to cry, and realize that she had lost another home.

Now it would be destroyed.

It happened every time her father sent her somewhere. Some business rival probably had a daughter here, the last heir or something similar. And since he had found another academy with another rival's daughter, it was time to leave. All places seemed to disappear, except for that dumb family estate that was rebuilt.

She rushed into her room, and closed the door. She didn't have much time. Since she had been informed, there were only a few hours left until the accident would happen. She wasn't sure how it worked, just that every time she left her home it was destroyed, or every time she became close to someone they got hurt.

Tears pricked her eyes at the memory of friends and family who had died because of Fluttershy and her... Curse.

'Mother,' she thought sadly.

The memories of the family mansion burning down clicked in her mind, but she quickly pushed the image aside. Now's not the time for that. She needed to leave.

Fluttershy grabbed her suitcase and filled it up with her few possessions. Her school uniforms, a picture of mother, the letters she wrote to mother, her diary. She shoved them into her little suitcase and made her way out the door. For being the daughter of a noble, she certainly didn't have much.

She exited the hallway, and made her way to the spiral staircase that swooped down below the chandeliers.

She stood at the edge of the staircase. So many girls were at this school. How many of them would die because of the curse? How many would die along with the target?

She let out a small sob. Headmistress would probably die, too. She bowed her head and emotionlessly looked down at the ground. Maybe she could stop the curse.

Maybe if she killed herself their lives could be saved.

She looked over the railing, about seven floors down. There had been rumors of girls throwing themselves over, but the teachers dismissed them as hoaxes, and nothing more.

Perhaps she could be the first one to actually do it.

She started at the ground, so far away. As much as she wanted to... She couldn't do it. She sobbed and flew down the stairs. She hated this place, she just wanted to leave.

She just wanted to go home.

~~

Fluttershy looked at the train she was about to board. It seemed nice, her father probably paid for it. She spat at the ground, and cursed his name under her breath. She walked inside and calmly took a seat in the back.

For a few minutes it was quiet, until a group of fillies started to flock around the windows facing the school.

"Look mother! The school! It's...it's burning!"

"Good gracious Amber Sands, whatever do you mean?"

"Look for yourself."

Fluttershy's eyes widened in horror. Fire? Already? It had happened before, but it was not common. She wondered how many lives would be lost because of her. If she had only warned them... Would warning them even have saved them? She'd tried it before, but no one believed her. Not until she heard their dying screams.

When the crowd had left, a few families grew a bit worried that the flames would reach the train station, so they took off, blasting into the north. Many passengers didn't make it onto the train in time, so it was remarkably empty. Fluttershy gazed out the window. Tears streamed down her cheeks. It was her fault. It was her fault. It was her fault. It was...

~~~

"Dearie, are you awake? You fell asleep. The train's about to take off again. You need to get off darling."

Fluttershy leapt out of her seat. "O-oh my! My apologies, Miss. I've had a long day."

"Oh no, please my apologies Miss. It was quite rude of me to wake you up."

"No! I mean, um, it's fine. Miss...?"

"Rarity." The young mare finished.

"Thank you." Fluttershy smiled.

"So, what brings you here to the Crystal Empire?" Rarity chided.

"I've transferred schools and will be going to an academy for my last year of education."

"My! What a coincidence! I've transferred from Canterlot to go to an academy here too. Which one?"

"Lady Claire's Prestigious Acedemy-"

"For Young Mares." Rarity finished.

"Yes. I see we are going to the same school. Well, at least I'll know one mare there." Fluttershy laughed.

"Me too, ah, Miss-?"

"Oh! My apologies. It's Diane."

"Pleased to meet you, Diane."

Fluttershy smiled warmly back at her. "You too, Miss Rarity."

Rarity happily chatted away while the two grabbed their things and headed off the train.

She hoped after graduating to open a botique and attract the attentions of some fashion capitalists who could invest in her clothes line. Then she would open a chain of stores after her business took off. She couldn't quite think of a name just quite yet, but she was sure it would come to her.

Even though Fluttershy was smiling at her new friend, an echo played through her mind.

Your fault, your fault.

Author's Note

A/N

Hey guys! Just to let you guys know, this fic takes place in an alternate universe, but I won't get too out of hand. Don't worry, the whole 'Diane' thing will make sense soon. I have big plans... (￣^￣)ゞ Think of the setting as a Victorian era, with fancy things and such. Critisim welcome!