Painfully Shy

Sunlight had broken in through the soft beige-colored curtains. The room illuminated brightly from the sun's rays displaying straight to the walls and wooden floorboards. A certain yellow pegasus pony's eyes fluttered open sluggishly, her vision through her dark green orbs adjusting to the blinding radiance. A lengthy yawn escaped from her mouth, as her two large wings slowly unfurled. Taking in some of the warm sunlight, the mare stretched out, then emerging from the shabby sheets and quilts left behind.

Fluttershy was the name of this pony, an animal caretaker living next to the Everfree. A silent one she was, or to most ponies at least. She would handle the usual conversation with the ones she was closest to, but not the unknown passerby in most areas. Despite this, her life remained stable with her occupation being watching over somepony's animals, while the mare or stallion was away out of town.  One way or another, she was perfectly happy with the way things were now.

Her legs worked as she trotted down to the first floor of the cottage. Many animals were still in their slumber, of course, Celestia had just risen her sun. Except for one, Fluttershy's bunny Angel was always demanding food, weather it be morning or night, he always needed something to cure his famine. The poor pegasus would have to go through the trouble of offering different dishes to the rabbit, he almost never approved of anything she could grab.

"Oh, Angel," The caretaker lowered her head and sighed. "Would you please maybe, um, wait for the animals to wake up before you get something to eat?"

The stubborn bunny ignored her request, stamping the floor with his little feet.

"Angel," Fluttershy asked again. "Please...I, um...I don't want to..." her voice trailed off into nothing but a soft whisper. Her mouth worked, but her scilence had protested. Angel's whining had won her over eventually, and she had given up with another sigh.

"Alright, fine," she huffed. "I'll go get something."

By the time Angel had finished his salad, all of the other animals had awoken with hungry bellies. Fluttershy quickly filled the bowls with various types of animal food, inside and outside, not forgetting to feed the ferrets their fish and the birds their worms.

"Phew," Fluttershy took a breath. "Finished."

After some tidying up around the house, she decided to spend the day around town for a bit, before traveling to Twilight's castle in the evening for tea.

As soon as she waved "bye-bye" to the animals, the yellow pony shut the front door tightly with a thud, rechecking to make sure it was locked. The animals were safe.

The Town Square was bustling with busy ponies filling the streets. Endless rows of ponies were running and chattering through the sea of crowds. Fluttershy, of course, was slightly overwhelmed by this, but calmed down, after remembering her social anxiety had died down over the years.

The warm aroma of baked goods suddenly filled her nostrils, and her senses completely focused onto her hunger. She had forgotten to eat ever since she had awoken, due to the business of feeding the animals. Her stomach howled, alerting her she needed something to eat.

She followed the scent, which eventually had lured her to SugarCube Corner. She assumed that Pinkie Pie would be very busy due to the huge line of ponies waiting.

The line slowly shortened over time, making it easier for her to step fully inside. The crowds were still busy outside, but Fluttershy could not care less now that she was sheltered from the havoc.

"Fluttershy?" Pinkie Pie broke into her thoughts, causing Fluttershy to jump slightly.

"Oh, hi, Pinkie Pie."

"What are you doing at SugarCube Corner? Hungry?"  The pink baker asked.

"Well, uh, I was...just...I..." Fluttershy's voice broke off once more. Why has it happened again? First letting a small rabbit boss her around, and now staying silent in public?

Stay calm, Fluttershy. She thought. You are able to speak. Your scilence doesn't control you.

"I was hungry," she finally answered, adding a sharp edge to her voice. "I was hoping to get one of those Lemon Zest muffins of yours."

Pinkie smiled. "Of course! Here you go!" She handed Fluttershy the small baked muffin, still hot.

Fluttershy ran out of there.

"Oh, hey Flutters!"

Fluttershy had thought about paying Rainbow Dash a visit, thinking her closest friend would understand the sudden urge to stay quiet. The rainbow-maned pegasus escorted her inside to the bright green sofa.

"So, what's going on?" The weather pony asked.

"I can't...can't speak." This time was different.

The world was now black. Fluttershy could see nothing but a void of darkness.

A sudden pain arose from the back of her throat, almost like a chain had been choking her slowly. Her mouth tried to send out screams of agony, but her lips were as still as statues. Her eyes were wide with terror as she felt her body throwing itself against the floor of pitch black.

The burning in her throat wasn't the only thing hurting. Her sides were on fire, and her wings were thrust open, from the sudden trauma. Her whole body felt nothing but pure torment after a few moments had passed.

"FLUTTERSHY!"

Fluttershy regained consciousness with a loud gasp. She was now hyperventilating in the middle of Dash's living room.

"A-are you okay?" Dash yelled. "You passed out!"

"I CAN'T SPEAK!" Dash leaped slightly in reaction to the unexpected scream.

"I just can't seem to talk," Fluttershy continued speaking. "My mouth wouldn't move. When I passed out, I felt nothing but pain, everywhere! I tried to scream, but my lips wouldn't move at all..."

"It was just a nightmare," Dash soothed. "And in reality, you were just anxious about all of the crowds in Ponyville today. It's more busy than usual."

"I...guess so," Fluttershy had calmed down by then. "I'll get out of your hair now."

"See ya."

Fluttershy didn't bother to see her animals when she returned home.

Her wings fluttered past the staircase, leading up to her bed. As water fell down from her green orbs, staining the bedsheets, she wondered if just some sleeping could shove off the problem.

It took about twenty minutes before she had fallen asleep. Blackness finally had overtaken her vision. She slipped from consciousness.

"Hello?"

Fluttershy's hooves trailed against the black floor. Anxiety and panic filled her nerves, wondering if the horrible torture of silence would return to haunt her. She checked to see if her voice was still there.

"Can anypony hear me?" Her voice echoed through the void.

"Please!"

"Anypony!"

No response.

"Help m-"

Her mouth was suddenly closed shut with a loud snap.

Chains were now suspending her in the air, tight enough to cut her circulation off. Pain began to surge through her body once more, as blood started to trickle out in small amounts. Her stomach twisted into a sharp pain that hurt so much, she never thought any pony could feel that much.

Cry for help is the only thing she would try to do. But her mouth refused to move. She was now at her fate's mercy.

Until, a very familiar face arose from the inky darkness.

Rainbow Dash.

"Hey," she sounded more relaxed than she should. "I can kind of see something, but, I can't hear anything! I thought I heard somepony call for help."

Fluttershy felt tears flow down her fur.

She could feel.

But not see herself.

Dash could see.

But not hear her.

Dash disappeared.

The pain had now doubled completely. A small blade suddenly made small cuts across Fluttershy's body, leaving scars. She was now released from her prison of shackles, but she remained on the floor, crying without any noise falling out. Her mouth refused to mutter the smallest whimper.

Suddenly, a mirror had appeared in front of the tortured Fluttershy. She could now see what she had become.

Everything was covered with crimson ichor. Chains remained among her hooves and legs, as well as her neck. Every part of her body was scarred brutally. And the worst feature of all; her eyes were nothing but black holes, holding no emotion but fear.

She suddenly realized what was meant of all of this.

She could never wake up, forced to live like this, and stay in this pitch black world of darkness without the ability to call for help. Forced to resemble the same appearance: scarred, broken, and terrorized with fear. Forced to feel nothing but absolute pain. And all of this was caused by one single thing.

Her shyness.

Fluttershy always knew her anxiety had lurked in the darkest parts of her mind, fearful of large crowds and talking loudly. It had die down and shrunken, but now it had taken control of her.

It was her now. There was no going back. No waking up. And there was nothing she could do about it. Her silence had finally overpowered her. Prevented her from ever muttering a word ever again, living through this endless nightmare over and over again.

There was no escape from her silence.

And it would remain ever painful.