Backed Up Feelings

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5

Chapter 1

“Just one more second, Angel. I’m almost finished.”

A cross look on his face, the rabbit impatiently tapped his foot as Fluttershy busied herself with making lunch.

Everything had been gathered, and everyone but Angel’s meal was ready to go. Once the carrots were fetched from their place atop the cabinet, they could all eat.

Glancing up, she winced slightly at the thought of using her wings. For some reason, the past few days she had been suffering from waves of pain. Perhaps she had slept in a bad position? Regardless, she couldn’t let on to her animal friends. They were the important ones, and she couldn’t let them worry about a little discomfort. Ok Fluttershy. You can do this. Even for me, this height is nothing. Just a few wing flaps, and you can sit down and rest.

Steeling herself, she hovered off the ground toward the carrots. Instantly, sharp spikes of pain flooded her body. Keep it up, it isn’t far. Deep breaths. In, out. In, out. A gasp of pain escaped her lips, despite her best efforts. Finally reaching the carrots, she took them in her mouth and immediately lowered herself down to a very worried Angel.

“I’m alright Angel. Just a little—Ack!—muscle cramp,” She responded to his silent inquiry. Bearing a distinctly unconvinced look, he emphatically pointed first at Fluttershy, then at the nearby couch.

“Oh, no. I couldn’t yet. I have to make sure that everyone gets their lunch before I can let myself rest. Now, just let me wash these off…”

Turning around, she was overcome by another wave of piercing pain. Tears filling her eyes, she managed to raise a hoof and catch herself on the counter. Glancing back, she saw Angel jumping toward her before suddenly everything went black.

Fluttershy’s in the hospital. We need to go, now.

No sooner had Rainbow delivered the message than Twilight bolted out the door and into flight. Even at top speed the trip to the hospital lasted about five minutes, and the message repeated in her head the whole way. Rainbow had long outpaced her, but she was too worried to even notice.

Is it serious? Will she be alright? How long has she been there? Oh Celestia, what if it’s some new disease we’ve never seen before? What if we can’t help her get better? What do I DO?

Shaking the thoughts out of her head, she tried to calm herself down. Easy there, girl. Don’t jump to any conclusions. I’ll be there soon, and then I can find out what’s wrong. Stay calm, don’t get too worked up, and you’ll be able to help Fluttershy through whatever’s wrong.

Wrapped up in making sure she didn’t have a freak-out, she failed to notice the hospital until she was right on top of it. Snapping back to her senses, she landed right outside the door and immediately trotted up to the reception desk.

“Twilight Sparkle, here to see Fluttershy. She should be a new patient, admitted earlier today.”

Glancing at her charts, the Nurse began searching for her form. “Fluttershy… Fluttershy… Ah! There we are. She’s been cleared for visitors, but I need you to sign in here.”

Twilight frantically filled the form, worry driving her to read them less thoroughly than she normally would. After accepting the form with a sympathetic nod, the nurse directed her to head to room 217.

Seeing her friends clustered around the farthest bed, Twilight made her way across the room. She seemed to be one of the last to arrive, Pinkie Pie being the only one unaccounted for. At the sight of Fluttershy awake and weakly smiling, she felt an enormous weight fall from her shoulders.

“Fluttershy! Are you alright?”

Glancing up sheepishly, Fluttershy replied, “Oh, yes. I’m so sorry for troubling everyone. It was just a little fainting spell. I must have overworked myself.”

Her wince of pain halfway through, however, lent doubt to her words. Applejack immediately spoke up.

“That was no fainting spell sugarcube. As soon as Angel brought me by your house, I could tell something was up. The way you were quivering on the floor like a fish out of water, it looked like someone was pressin’ a brand into your flank.”

Rarity sniffed slightly. “Distasteful metaphor aside, I concur with Applejack. A simple bought of exhaustion would not have prompted your animal friends to panic as they did. Those ducks that alerted me looked like they were simply beside themselves with worry.”

Under the weight of everyone’s concern, Fluttershy appeared to sink into the bed. “Oh, well, I suppose it did hurt rather badly… I’m just sorry to have worried everyone this much”

Applejack sighed to herself. “T’aint nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone gets sick sometimes. You just lie there and rest. The doctor said he’d be done with your tests soon.”

As if on cue, doctor Chestnut entered the room, staring at a levitated chart. A look of perplexity on his face, he approached the group.

“So doc, any idea what’s wrong? Tell me she just needs some pills and she’ll be good to go.” Rainbow quipped hopefully.

“If medicine were so simple, there’d be no need for beds in hospitals.” He replied laconically. “Miss Fluttershy, your results are in, and I must say that they are highly unusual. Physically, there appears to be nothing wrong with you. The only test with an atypical result was your MFI. I believe I have some idea what’s wrong, but I need to conduct a couple more tests in order to make sure. Is that alright?”

After a quiet nod from Fluttershy, Chestnut continued. “All right then, first I need you to answer a few questions. First, may I ask what your occupation is?”

“Oh, um, I work with animals.”

“I see. Does this mean your work in no way relates to weather management?”

“Oh, no. Not unless the weather team needs every Pegasus to help.”

“And when was the last time such an event occurred?”

“Well, the last time I remember was when we siphoned all that water to Cloudsdale.”

“Hmm… now that you mention it, do you visit Cloudsdale often?”

Caught off guard, it took Fluttershy a moment to respond. “Yes. Every couple of months, usually. I go back to visit my parents for a week.”

Losing patience, Rainbow interjected, “Hey, uh, Doc, if you don’t mind my asking, is there a point to all these questions?”

Twilight spoke up, “Rainbow, hush. He wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t important.”

Shooting Rainbow a withering look, Chestnut replied “Thank you, your highness. She is quite right Miss Dash. I’m sure you’re worried about your friend, but these questions are critical for my diagnosis. Now, if you don’t mind, may I please continue?”

Shuffling slightly, Rainbow timidly responded, “Yeah, sorry for interrupting.”

Returning his attention to Fluttershy, the doctor continued, “You say you visit Cloudsdale often. Has something prevent your trips recently?”

Surprised by his insight, Fluttershy responded, “Yes, actually. There’s been an awful outbreak of Feather Flu. My parents didn’t want me to get sick, so we decided to reschedule. But I’ve been so busy here I haven’t been able to make it.”

“So, your work keeps you relatively ground-bound, and you have not visited Cloudsdale in over a year. Have you at any time during that period come into contact with a cloud of any size?” He asked while nodding to himself.

“No, not that I can remember. It’s embarrassing, but the truth is, I’m kind of… well…” She trailed off, unable to complete the sentence.

“It’s alright dear. Please go on.”

“All right. The truth is… I’m afraid of heights.” She finally managed to squeak out the words, although the doctor had to strain to listen.

“I see. Don’t worry, it’s not an uncommon fear, even among Pegasi. However, it does help explain your symptoms. I have one more test to run, if you’re ready.”

At her nod, he levitated a small crystal out of his pocket. Twilight cocked her head, confused on what that could be used for. Noticing her confusion, the doctor addressed her.

“I understand your confusion. I admit that this is not exactly an orthodox test, but this isn’t a common condition either.” Turning to Fluttershy, “I’m going to touch this crystal to your skin. If it begins to glow, then we’ll have our answer.”

The five ponies leaned in, watching the crystal as it was levitated against Fluttershy’s forehead. Dimly but surely, a glow began to suffuse the crystal.

Withdrawing the crystal with a sigh, the doctor spoke up. “As I suspected. Magic Retention Disorder. Although I’ve never heard of a case this severe.”

This elicited remarks of confusion from Fluttershy, Rainbow, and Rarity, and simultaneous questions of “Wait, are you sure?” from Twilight and Applejack. Almost instantly, five pairs of eyes stared at Applejack in surprise.

“Now what are y’all starin’ at?” She asked defensively.

Rainbow gave voice to the collective confusion. “Well, no offense AJ, but you aren’t exactly the one who usually recognizes this kind of stuff. I mean, we’re used to it from Twilight. No surprise that she can recognize some rare disease by name. You, not so much.”

Applejack rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Well I should hope I know what it is, considering I’ve got it.”

This statement elicited even more exclamations of surprise, taking Applejack aback. “What? Runs in the family. All us Apples get tested when we’re born. What’s so surprising?”

“Well, it’s just that we’ve never seen you have an attack like this darling.” Rarity said, gazing at Applejack in concern.

“Oh, she wouldn’t have one unless she spent an extended period of time without touching the ground.” Twilight interjected. The doctor nodded in affirmation.

“Yes, she’s quite correct. And I think you’re misunderstanding something Miss Dash. While the condition is not common by any means, it is far from unheard of. Usually, it’s completely benign. At worst, it causes small lifestyle inconveniences. That’s why this case is so peculiar. I’ve never heard of anypony suffering from feedback this severe before.”

“Ok, whoa, whoa, whoa. Everyone just slow down for a second.” Rainbow requested while frantically trying to keep up. “So, it looks like only half the ponies here know what the hay’s going on. How about helping the rest of us out? Just what is this Magic Retinal Whatever?”

“Magical Retention Disorder.” He corrected. “An abnormality in the ability of the body to shunt excess magic. Princess, you seem to be familiar with the condition. Would you like to explain?”

Sensing that he was deferring to her experience with her friends, Twilight accepted. “Ok, let’s start at the beginning. You’re all familiar with what magic is, correct?” A round of nods followed. “Ok, and are you all familiar with where magic comes from?” Sensing some hesitation, she continued. “Alright then. Think of magic as a form of energy that is constantly being created by your body. Every kind of pony has a unique way in which they are able to express their magic. Unicorns have the most visible, using it to fuel telekinesis and other such abilities. Earth Ponies express it in bursts of strength, along with limited communion with the earth. Lastly, Pegasi use their magic to enable cloud-walking and weather manipulation.”

“All right Twilight, this is interesting and all, but how does it relate to Fluttershy being in pain?” Rainbow impatiently asked.

“I’m getting there. As stated before, all ponies create magic naturally within their bodies. However, sometimes a pony doesn’t need to use their magic. Any magic that is left over without being expended has to go somewhere. Normally, it just bleeds out of the pony into the environment without them noticing. However, this isn’t the case in ponies with Magical Retention Disorder. Magic can’t passively bleed out of their bodies. Unless it is used up in their daily lives, it will begin to build up in their body. If too much accumulates, it begins to overload the pony’s system, causing a variety of side effects.”

Finishing her explanation, Twilight turned to the doctor “So, how’d I do?”

“A bit pedestrian, but you nicely summed up all the major elements of the affliction.” He replied approvingly. “This condition has always been poorly studied. As you said, it is only ever symptomatic in ponies who go for extended periods of time without expending their magic. Most carriers go their whole lives without any indication that they suffer from the disorder.”

“So, if I understand, Fluttershy’s attack was brought on by prolonged lack of magic use?” Rarity chimed in.

The doctor nodded, “Precisely. From the sound of it she’s gone for several months without contact with any form of cloud for the first time, and with nowhere to go that magic has built up within her body.”

Rainbow Dash perked up, “Alright, great! So all she needs is to get better is buck a cloud apart! Be right back!”

“NO!” Twilight and the doctor shouted in unison. Rainbow dash was brought up short of the window, her tail held in place by purple and hazel magic.

“What’s the big deal?! Every moment we wait’s another moment another attack might happen!”

The doctor shook his head. “It isn’t that simple Miss Dash. Like I said, I’ve never heard of anypony suffering from buildup this severe. Miss Fluttershy must have a truly immense magical potential for this much to have accumulated in her system this rapidly. If she suddenly gave it a release it could all come flooding out at once.”

Applejack interjected “Uh, doc, isn’t that exactly what we want here?”

“No, No!” he denied. “I doubt her body could handle that much raw magic being released at once. There’s a very real chance of system overload. If we aren’t careful to leach off the magic a bit at a time, she could wind up seriously injured or even disabled. And that, Princess, is why I need your help.”

Taken aback by the sudden attention, it took Twilight a second to respond. “Wait, me?”

He nodded. “Indeed. Forgive me if I’m being presumptuous, but you are one of the foremost magical experts in all of Equestria. My specialty is in physical disorders, and to treat Miss Fluttershy we’re going to need someone more versed in arcane conditions.”

“Uh, alright. Of course I’ll help! What do you need me to do?”

“Well, Miss Applejack wasn’t too far off on her proscribed treatment. Put simply, we need to shunt all of the magic from Miss Fluttershy’s system into the environment, but we need to do so slowly in order to avoid an overload. Are you familiar with techniques for transfer of magical power involving animate beings?”

Twilight nodded. “Excellent. In that case, our path forward is clear. We’ll need your help to regularly draw magic away from Miss Fluttershy and release it. Is that alright with you?”

“Of course. I’d do anything to help Fluttershy.” Anything, she quietly added to herself.

“Thank you. Now, the real danger is that she suffer another attack. These bouts are brought on by the pent up magic finding a small release, like a small crack in a dam. It tries to force its way out, leading to pain, fatigue and other symptoms. For her sake, it is imperative that you be on hand to draw out the magic safely whenever it starts to leak out. For this reason, I’d like Miss Fluttershy to remain in your vicinity until the situation is resolved.”

Twilight fought to control a blush. “Wait, so I need to stay next to Fluttershy at all times?”

“Oh no, the timing isn’t that critical. Within the same building should be fine. Is that alright with you?” He asked, looking at Fluttershy.

“Oh, well, it’s alright with me, but I don’t want to be any more of a burden on anyone. Are you sure this is OK Twilight?”

Twilight shot her friend a reassuring smile. “Of course! No trouble at all. Like I said, anything I can do to help.”

“Excellent. Then in that case, I’ll let you two…” The doctor began, before the door opening interrupted him. In trotted Starlight Glimmer, bearing a magical bubble containing a wildly gesticulating Pinkie Pie.

“Twilight! I came as soon as I could find Pinkie Pie. Is Fluttershy alright?” She asked, catching her breath.

“She’ll be fine. I’ll fill you in after we get her back to the castle. Why is Pinkie Pie in a bubble?”

Starlight glanced at her hooves sheepishly. “Well, when I told her Fluttershy was in the hospital, she began panicking and bouncing all over the place. I didn’t want her to rush over here and start causing chaos so I… er… contained her? Was that wrong?”

“Honestly, I understand the sentiment, but Pinkie would never do anything to make things worse. You can let her out now.”

“Oh, uh, alright then.” She began to lower the field.

“…and whatever you do, don’t go into the light! Everyone! Is Fluttershy OK? Starlight poofed me over here in this super fun bubble, but I couldn’t hear anything! WHAT IS GOING ON!?”

Twilight cut in, “It’s fine, Pinkie! She’s going to be alright, she’s just a little sick right now. I’ll fill you in in a second, but I need you to do me a favor. Can you get Fluttershy’s stuff from her house and meet me at my castle?”

Pinkie brightened on hearing that Fluttershy wasn’t in imminent danger. “Absadoodleutley! I’ll be over there lickity split!” She declared as she bolted out of the room.

After everyone took a second to recover from Pinkie’s unique brand of energy, Twilight turned to Fluttershy. “OK, Fluttershy, looks like you’re going to be staying with me for a bit. You ready to go?”

“Um, I suppose. Is that OK doctor?” She asked the still reeling stallion.

Shaking his head he replied, “Oh, yes. Honestly, staying in the hospital wouldn’t do you much good right now. You need the attention of a mage, not a doctor.”

“And there we have it.” Twilight turned to her other friends. “Can I ask all of you to help out? There’s a lot to do.”

Rarity and the others smiled. “Darling, you have but to ask. We’ll do everything we can to help Fluttershy through her time of need.”

A relieved smile came to Twilight’s face. “Thank you so much. Rarity, go tell everyone in town that Fluttershy’s going to be indisposed for a while. Applejack, I need you to make sure that all of Fluttershy’s animals are squared away on food and such. Rainbow, I need you to fly to Cloudsdale as fast as possible and let her family know. Can all of you handle that?”

All of them fervently nodded before leaving to begin their assigned tasks. Starlight glanced around before asking “Uh, what about me Twilight?”

“I need you to help me get her to the castle. Fluttershy, can you walk if we help support you?”

“I, uh, I think so?”

“Alright then, we’ll help you walk. I don’t want to risk teleporting you with that much magic built up. One second.”

The doctor helped her out of bed and to her hooves, where she immediately began to lean on Twilight. Starlight flanked her other side, and the three began the trek to Twilight’s Castle.

Chapter 2

It was a long walk from the hospital to Twilight’s castle. Fluttershy constantly needed to break and catch her breath, but Twilight and Starlight supporting most of her weight mitigated the strain immensely. Finally, they arrived at the castle’s front door. Pushing it open with her forehead, Twilight called out, “Spike! Where are you? I need your help!”

The dragon quickly came scampering down the stairs, “Twilight! There you are! Where in Equestria did you… Sweet Celestia! Fluttershy? Are you OK?”

“I’ll explain later, Spike. Can you help Starlight get her settled in one of the guest rooms? I’ve got some research I need to get done ASAP.”

“Uh, sure! Of course!” Spike responded instantly. Rushing forward, he took Twilight’s place at Fluttershy’s side. Shaking herself slightly, Twilight turned to her friends.

“I’ll be up as soon as I can, there’s just a couple of things I need to check.”

“Okay. Thank you so much Twilight. Sorry to be such a bother.” Fluttershy managed to pant out between gasps.

Twilight gave her a reassuring smile before making for the library. Her next ten minutes were spent frantically collecting, collating, and cross-referencing data in an effort to find the best way to safely discharge Fluttershy’s magic. Finally convinced that she had found a safe method, she grabbed her draiochtamometer and made for the guest room.

Twilight entered and found Fluttershy snuggled up in bed, looking exhausted but comfortable. Spike and Starlight were fussing together over some detail or other, but turned upon hearing her hoofsteps. “Twilight! Did you find something?”

She nodded. “Yes. I think the best method would be to form a sympathetic bridge between Fluttershy and myself, and use the resulting connection to siphon and burn off her excess magic.”

Starlight nodded, but Fluttershy seemed completely lost. “Er… sorry Twilight, but could you…?”

“Oh, sorry. Basically, I’ll be using your magic to power my spells. If I keep the spells simple , I’ll be able to siphon off a little bit of your magic without opening enough of a flow to be dangerous. If we keep repeating the process, we’ll eventually get your magic back down to normal levels.”

Fluttershy still appeared somewhat confused. “Did that help?”

She shook her head, “Sorry. I don’t really understand, but I trust you completely Twilight. Do whatever you think would be best.”

Twilight felt her gut flutter a bit at that, before getting her mind back on track. “If you’re up for it, I’d like to go ahead and try the procedure now. I think it’d be best if I handled the procedure, but I’d like Starlight to see it just in case there’s an emergency and she needs to take over for me. Is that ok with you Starlight?”

Starlight perked up noticeably at being asked to help. “Of course, Twilight! Anything you need.”

“Thanks. Are you ready Fluttershy?”

At her friend’s tentative nod, Twilight called upon her magic. However, rather than the rote process of reaching deep within herself for the needed energy, she instead cast her senses outside of her body, searching for an external source. After a bit of metaphysical fumbling, she came upon a wide, deep expanse. The first thing that struck her was a feeling of deep peace surrounding the well, a definite contrast to the crackling energy she always found within her own magic. Connecting herself to the energy by the most ephemeral link she could manage, she opened her eyes and began to cast a levitation spell on the surrounding furniture. Using another pony’s energy to fuel a spell was certainly an alien experience, but not an unpleasant one. There was simply a degree of separation she wasn’t accustomed to.

She continued in this way for several minutes, being careful not to take too much energy at a time. Eventually, the flow of energy became slightly restive, as if a big wave was beginning to form within its source. Twilight immediately cancelled the spell, preventing the energy from lashing out. She came back to herself panting, but with Fluttershy apparently no worse for wear.

“*pant* *pant* And that’s that. We’ll just repeat that procedure twice a day until your magic’s back down to normal.”

Spike walked over beside them “Do you feel any better Fluttershy?”

She considered it for a moment. “Not really, sorry. That felt strange, and the cramps let up a bit while Twilight was doing it, but now that it’s over I don’t feel any different.”

Twilight nodded. “I’m not surprised. You’ve got an immense amount of energy built up in there. It’ll take a few sessions before you feel much of a difference.”

Starlight chimed in, “So, the meter's to figure out exactly how much she’s got stored?”

“Exactly.” Twilight affirmed as she levitated the previously abandoned device, a rather cumbersome block of wood inlaid with 7 gradient gems, arranged from red to violet.

Fluttershy perked up, examining the device. “What’s that Twilight?”

“This is called a draiochtamometer, though most ponies just call it a magic meter. It’s a way of measuring the strength of a magical field. These gems light up in the when enough magical energy is nearby. Explaining the exact units is a bit complicated, but each crystal in the series takes about ten times the energy of the one before it to respond. I’d like you to hold it, and we’ll get an idea of how much energy we’re working with.“

Twilight levitated the device over to her, and Fluttershy nodded before tentatively taking it in her hooves. The four of them crowded around, watching the gems slowly light up. Twilight had been expecting her to top out around green, but was filled with shock as the crystals kept lighting up, finally stopping with Indigo. Twilight and Starlight both stared in disbelief, while spike let out a faint whistle. Fluttershy glanced around, a look of worry on her face. “What? What is it? Did I do it wrong?”

Twilight responded slowly, still amazed at the result, “No, no, you did it right. I just can’t believe you’ve got that large a magical potential.”
Starlight chimed in, “I’ve never heard of a Pegasus or Earth Pony with a reading this high. With no way to shunt it off it’s no wonder your system’s overloading.”

Fluttershy’s voice took on a tinge of fear, “Oh, does that mean your treatment won’t work?”

“No, it’ll work, but it’ll take a lot longer than I’d thought.”

“How long?”

“Minimum guess? Two months.” Noting Fluttershy’s look of worry, Twilight continued, “Sorry, but if I try to leech it off any faster than that I might strain your system and bring on another major attack.”

“I understand. Oh! But my animals! I can’t ask Applejack to look after them for that long!”

Abruptly, Twilight heard a knock on the window. Looking up, she saw a trio of Pegasi hovering outside. Swinging it open with her magic, She was surprised to see Rainbow Dash enter, followed by Derpy and (after some major squeezing) Bulk Biceps. “Hey, Twi! Grabbed these guys on the way back from Cloudsdale. Figured they’d want to check in too.”

“Derpy? Bulk? What are you guys doing here?” Fluttershy asked.

“Are you kidding Fluttershy? We’re teammates! And teammates always look out for each other! Right, Bulk?” Derpy asked her companion.
“YEAH! Anytime, anyplace, if you need us, we’ll come running little lady! “ Bulk enthusiastically agreed.

Rainbow turned to Twilight. “So, Twilight, what’s the story? How long before Fluttershy’s back on her hooves?”

“At least two months. I know, I know, but any faster and she may get hurt” She preemptively answered Rainbow’s incredulous look.

“Are you serious? Ugh, I’m getting sore just thinking about being cooped up in bed for two months.” She shook her wings, accentuating the point.

“Hopefully she’ll be up and about before then, but that’s how long it’ll take for me to get her magic back to normal. We were actually just discussing how to take care of her animals. We can’t ask Applejack to cover it for that long.”

A large grin broke out on Derpy’s face. “Oh! We can help out! Bulk and I would be happy to keep an eye on your critters! Right?” The stallion answered with an emphatic nod.

Fluttershy looked unsure. “Are you sure you two? Just the thought’s enough. It’s a lot of work, and I wouldn’t want you to spend too much time covering for me.”

Bulk shook his head. “No can do, Fluttershy. You’re sick, and we’re gonna help you out. End of story. We’ll take turns with Applejack.”

Fluttershy ducked her head. “Thanks, you guys. Thanks so much.” She then let out a tiny yawn.

“Oh, you must be exhausted! Come on everypony, let’s give her some space.” Twilight said, ushering the others out of the room. As she walked over to close the window, Fluttershy spoke up.

“Twilight, would you mind leaving the window open? The flowers just started blooming, and I just love the smells this time of year.”

“Sure, Fluttershy, anything you need. I’ll be back this evening for another session. If you need anything else, just pull the rope by your bed.”
“Thanks Twilight, you’re *yawn* the best.”

Twilight quietly exited the room as Fluttershy began snoring softly. As she closed the door with a click, she turned around to find Starlight waiting for her. “Starlight? What’s up?”

“Nothing much. I just wanted to see how you were doing.”

“Me? I’m fine. Why?”

“No reason, just with Fluttershy staying here for a few months I wanted to make sure you were alright.”

This statement caused the full scope of the situation to wash over her. Oh, horsefeathers! Fluttershy was going to be living upstairs, in her castle for two months! She’d have to make sure not to let her feelings get in the way of the treatments. There was no way she could take advantage of Fluttershy like that. Luckily, she managed to catch herself before any of her thoughts showed in her expression. “Of course! No trouble here! Why would there be? I’m just looking out for a friend. “

Starlight examined her, a complicated expression on her face. Eventually she shrugged, “Okay, if you say so.” She then turned and descended the stairs.

Twilight took a second to confirm her composure before following. Calm down, Sparkle. Just keep a lid on it, and we’ll get Fluttershy back to normal. Everything will be fine.

Chapter 3

Life at the castle settled into a pattern over the following week. Fluttershy received her treatments twice a day at sunup and sundown, and Twilight spent the rest of the day researching in the library, looking for any scrap of information that would make the treatments more efficient or lessen the burden on Fluttershy. Starlight and Spike helped out however they could, but Twilight’s behavior began to worry the both of them. She was skipping meals, and couldn’t have been getting more than a couple of hours of sleep at a time. Starlight had long since worked out that Twilight had a crush on Fluttershy, but if she kept working herself to death she wouldn’t be any help in treating Fluttershy’s condition.

As she paced in the entry hall trying to figure out the best way to get Twilight to take a break, she was interrupted by a thunderous pounding on the front door. Opening the door, she found herself face to face with an incredibly irate Discord, clearly trying to hold himself back

“Discord! What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing. Nothing at all, save the fact that my best friend is sick, and no one considered it worthwhile to tell me!” He punctuated the sentence by snorting out a cloud of bats that quickly dissipated.

She blinked in surprise. “What? But we sent you a letter as soon as we got her settled here.”

“Well, I didn’t get it. Maybe it got lost in the mail, maybe a Quartzwyrm ate the message, I neither know nor care. What I care about is the fact that it took Sunbutt personally telling me while I was in Canterlot for me to find out. Now, I would very much like to see Fluttershy, so if you’d please?”

Sensing that the sooner the Draconequus could see that Fluttershy was alright the better, Starlight hastily stepped back from the door. “Left staircase. She’s on the third floor in the southwest corner guest room.”

Discord immediately vanished with a flash, forcing Starlight to cover her eyes. Right, teleportation. Somehow she’d forgotten he could do that. She trotted over to the stairs and shouted up, “I’ll let Twilight know you’re here!”

Not at all sure if he’d heard, or having heard cared, Starlight made her way through the castle to the library.

“Twilight! Discord’s here. He wanted to check up on Fluttershy.” She announced, pushing open the library doors. Not hearing a reply, she scanned the room for her mentor. Finally spotting Twilight at one of the far tables, her back turned, Starlight made her way across the cavernous room. As she drew near, she noticed the rhythmic rise and fall of Twilight’s shoulders, and concluded that she must have worked herself through the night, eventually falling asleep at her work.

Sighing at Twilight’s workaholism, her curiosity drove her to look over whatever had so arrested the Alicorn’s attention. Singling out a voluminous stack of papers as the likely culprit, she quietly levitated over the top page of the stack.

Observations of treatment concerning Acute Magical Buildup as caused by underlying Magical Retention Disorder in the Pegasus Fluttershy. Day 1…

Had Twilight seriously kept herself awake all night writing patient observations? Oh Twilight… Starlight thought to herself ruefully. Returning the page, she began to examine the last day’s entries. The first half of the page was normal, but roughly halfway down it quickly began to devolve into decidedly informal content, quickly eliciting a blush in Starlight. Eventually finding herself unable to continue reading, she shook Twilight while calling her name.

“Hmm? Starlight? Whatzamatter?” Twilight yawned out groggily.

“Well, Twilight, you might want to read over your notes for yesterday.”

Confusion and tiredness blended on her face, Twilight complied. As her eyes reached the halfway point, Starlight saw them shoot open wide in panic. The color slowly drained from her face as she continued. Wryly, Starlight noted that her current coloration was more along the lines of mauve than her usual lavender.

Finishing, Twilight studiously avoided her gaze. “H-How much did you read?”

“The patient is utterly adorable. Physician would like nothing more than to slowly nibble her way up from the patient’s primaries until buried in the her soft, pink hair…”

“Ah! Quit it!” She cried out desperately. Glancing up fearfully, she entreated Starlight, “Starlight, it’s not what you think it is! I was just, uh, tired! Yeah! I was tired, and my mind went somewhere crazy, and I just kept writing…”

“Twilight! Stop it. I know all about it. I’ve known for a long time.” Anticipating the oncoming barrage of ‘what?’s and ‘how?’s, Starlight continued, “You talk in your sleep. A lot. And rather loudly, if I’m being honest.”

Mortification writ large on her face, Twilight levitated the nearest book and proceeded to hide under it. Suddenly, the book was tossed aside and Starlight found Twilight’s face entirely too close to her own. “Starlight! Whatever you do, you can’t tell Fluttershy! Please! Promise me!”

“But Twilight, this is tearing you apart! Look at yourself!”

“No, no, no. No! I’m her doctor, and her friend! There’s no way she feels the same way right now, and springing this on her while she’s incapacitated isn’t just dangerous, it’s wrong! Promise me you won’t say anything!”

“OK! Ok. I won’t tell her anything Twilight.” She turned and left the library, adding before she shut the door, “but you should.”

Not waiting for a reply, she began to make her way to Fluttershy’s room. Horsefeathers! Why is that mare so stubborn?! She’s killing herself over nothing! I’m sure Fluttershy would be fine with it if she’d just ask!

These and kindred thoughts played through her mind as she travelled the castle’s halls. Truth be told, Twilight’s timidity had been a constant source of frustration for months now. The two of them were perfect for each other! All Twilight had to do was work up the courage to get the ball rolling.

Letting out one more sigh as she reached her destination, she stopped short upon hearing voices. Not wanting to interrupt, she decided to wait for a lull in the conversation. Her curiosity getting the better of her, she inched forward until she could make out what they were saying.

“And you’re absolutely sure that you have everything you need here?”

“Oh yes, I’m quite comfortable, Discord. Everyone’s been just lovely.”

“Well, if you should think of anything please don’t hesitate to let me know.”

“I will. Oh, wait…”

“Hmm? What is it? Did you think of something?”

“Oh, no. It’s nothing important. I was just thinking that having some of the books from my cottage here would be nice. Twilight’s library is amazing, but it’s missing some of the less, um, academic titles.”

“Say no more!” The telltale sound of his teleportation rang out, followed moments later by another signaling his return. “Madame’s literature, as requested.”

“Oh, thank you so much!”

“Not at all. Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s something I need to do before I leave.”

Starlight quickly backed away from the door to make way for the Draconequus. “Ah, Starlight, there you are.” Before she could respond he continued. “Be quiet and listen. This isn’t easy for me. I was… wrong to treat you the way I did at the door. You did nothing to deserve it, and it was very rude of me. I just wanted to say I’m sor… I’m sorr… I apologize.” He finally succeeded in choking out.

As he turned away, Starlight felt surprise mix with a certain warmth. Ever since the Changeling hive, Discord had been much more courteous towards her. She couldn’t really call it friendship, but it seemed she’d managed to earn his respect. Why, the only other pony she’d ever seen him apologize to was Fluttershy. Fluttershy…

A sly grin grew on her face as she began to hatch a scheme. “Oh, Discord, before you go, could you show me where in the cottage Fluttershy keeps her books? I heard you bring her some, and I’d like to be able to restock them if she runs out.” n

Chapter 4

Fluttershy set aside her newly novel, contentedly. Patchwork Heart had always been one of her favorite stories, and it had been just what she needed to boost her mood. Likely due to her circumstances, she’d found herself noting details she’d never caught before. In particular, she’d found herself empathizing more than ever with Stronghoof, and cheering for his burgeoning love with his doctor Sweetmint as if it had been her first reading again.

Stretching slightly, she reached over for the next book in her pile. Her strength was slowly returning, but she remained incapable of anything more than essential trips out of bed. As such, she was determined to enjoy her books to the fullest. Let’s see, what do we have next? Ah, From Feather to Hoof! She smiled to herself. She’d have to thank Discord later for his selection, picking out two of her favorites (she was sure) at random. Something about the story of a mild-mannered mare taking in a hot-headed griffon with a broken wing had always struck her fancy. Maybe it was the brilliance behind the romantic writing, or maybe it was simply the attraction between opposites, but she’d always loved this story.

Still, with a bit of regret, she set the book aside. It was just too similar to Patchwork Heart. She wanted something a little bit different, though she resolved to read it after one more story. Examining her pile, a look of surprise overtook her features before slowly shifting to one of confusion. It wasn’t that she disliked the books, far from it; every single one was among her most beloved tomes. The problem is that they were all similar to Patchwork Heart. To a one, every story was a romance revolving around a patient and their caretaker.

Huh. Almost like me and Twilight… She shook her head at the bizarre errant thought.

Still, it’s odd. I could have sworn I didn’t file these together. Besides, knowing Discord he probably just grabbed whatever books he came across first. The odds of him grabbing such similar works at random were truly staggering. That said, she did enjoy every book in the pile, and she couldn’t ask Discord to bring her new ones, not after he’d gone out of his way to gather these for her. Determining that she was in for enjoyable (though somewhat repetitive) reading, Fluttershy cracked open From Hoof to Feather and snuggled into a more comfortable position in the sheets, shivering slightly at a damp blast of air from the window.

“Ok, Twilight! We’re heading out!” Starlight declared, holding the door for Spike. Twilight entered the hall to see them out, a worried look on her face.

“Are you sure I shouldn’t come with you? From what I’ve heard this fire’s on the large size.”

Starlight shook her head. “It’s alright Twilight, we’ll be fine. After all, Celestia just wants the town on watch duty. You stay here, Fluttershy might need you while we’re away.

Twilight’s wings fluttered in a clear display of discontent. “I wish we could just open a cloud up over it and put it right out.”

Starlight shrugged, “It’s in the Everfree Forest, so what can you do? It’ll burn itself out before long in this weather, anyway.” She squinted in the thickening gloom. “To be honest, I’m not sure we’ll be able to do much. The weather ponies said tonight’s going to be incredibly foggy. Still, better to have us there and not need us I suppose.”

Twilight started slightly at Starlight’s comment. Fog… and fire… now why does that sound so familiar? Puzzling over the half-memory, she waved goodbye as Starlight disappeared down the road. The sense of discontent and worry grew within her, and she made her way to the library’s selection of meteorology texts. Grabbing every book that seemed like a possible resource, she sat down at the table and began to skim.

Tome after tome she examined, her feelings of dread growing with each completed book. She still couldn’t place the reason, but she was convinced that not only was the weather this evening important; it was also incredibly dangerous. Why? Why is it so important? Where have I seen this before?!”

Found it! In Meterological Oddities: A Guide to Unusual Weather Formations Twilight discovered the relevant passage:

Cumulofeather’s Convergence: this unusual condition arises under a very specific set of circumstances. When large fires occur under conditions conducive to fog condensation, the combination of expelled water vapor and soot particulates leads to the formation of exceedingly dense fog banks. Often nicknamed “Superfog,” this formation is of minor interest to those engaged in the study of weather manipulation. In contrast to its less opaque cousin, superfog responds to Pegasus magic in a manner identical to clouds. The exact mechanism behind this distinction has never been identified, but it is hypothesized that…

Twilight put the book down, her brain rapidly making connections. Foggy weather… and a large fire… fog that responds to magic like a cloud… and Fluttershy likes to sleep with a window open!

As if in response to her realization, Twilight heard a scream of raw anguish pealing from upstairs. Oh no. Fluttershy! Losing no time, she teleported into what could only be described as a scene of pure pandemonium. Within the fog-filled room, Fluttershy floated over her bed, writhing in agony within a cloud of magical energy.Random tongues of discharge sporadically broke through the field, leaving scorch marks wherever they struck.

“Hold on Fluttershy, I’m coming!” Twilight bellowed over the loud roar of the wild magic. Forcing her way through the arcing sparks, she succeeded in winning herself to Fluttershy’s side, quickly tapping into the stricken mare’s magical field. What she found was a system in chaos: magical energy swirled throughout her system in undirected surges, chasing after every point of escape provided by contact with the encroaching fog.

This is bad! If I don’t provide a safe outlet immediately, her entire body may overload! Sorry Fluttershy; this is going to hurt, but I am NOT losing you! Gritting her teeth, Twilight began the by now familiar energy transfer. The raw tidal wave of magic nearly overwhelmed her, but through sheer stubbornness she squashed the energy from a wild flood into a controlled torrent.

No time for finesse! Where’s that window?! Finding the portal, she let the restrained magic loose. An immense blast of energy burst forth from her horn through the window. Bit by bit, the energy rampaging through Fluttershy’s body was stripped away. Her screams of agony continued unabated, and Twilight shuddered to think what siphoning this much energy out of her body so quickly would do to her.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity of the most intense exertion she’d ever undertaken in her life, the last of the roiling magic had been removed. Slamming the window shut, Twilight realized that the shockwave from her blast had cleared the fog from the room. They were safe for the moment. Horror replacing her relief, she rushed to Fluttershy’s side to check on her conditions. Her screams having settled into exhausted whimpers, the yellow mare lay twitching on her sheets, a pool of sweat surrounding her from the ordeal. Running a quick scan, Twilight discovered that while her entire system had been overworked, nothing had broken. Thank Celestia…

Her adrenaline wearing off, Twilight found the full extent of what she’d just been through crashing over her. Combined with her severe lack of sleep, it took everything she had not to keel over instantly. Staggering, she turned to leave the room, only to find an insistent hoof in her mane. “No!”

Huh? She turned to see a terrified Fluttershy looking up at her with tear-filled eyes.

“Please, don’t go! Twilight, I, I just can’t be alone right now. Please, just stay here tonight. I need someone beside me right now.”

“Okay, Fluttershy. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.” She assured her, fighting the black wave of exhaustion drowning her brain. Not processing her actions, she climbed onto the bed, levitating the covers over the both of them. Fluttershy caught her in a strong embrace, burrowing her head into Twilight’s chest as she sobbed. Twilight rubbed her back soothingly, her sleep-addled voice repeating her assurances that she wouldn’t leave. Eventually, the two sank into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Chapter 5

Pain. Everything was pain. Sharp bolts of agony rushed through Fluttershy’s entire body, arresting her every sensation and eliminating all thought of anything save the chance of release. As she bucked and thrashed in the swirling maelstrom, a voice broke through the haze. The words were incomprehensible, but in her state its mere presence was a piece of driftwood in a storm. She threw all her hope upon the voice, desperate for any source of hope that she might escape her torture. The following moments were unbearable, as she lay there silently pleading for the voice to deliver on its unspoken promise. In a single instant, the pain swelled to heights that far eclipsed all her previous torment, before disappearing. In its place was a warm, comforting lavender. Choking back sobs of relief at her release, she basked in the light’s loving embrace. Slowly, the lavender field coalesced into an amorphous shape before her, and began to pull away. She panicked, and though her exhaustion began to babble for it to remain nearby, to not leave her alone. Whatever she managed to stammer out seemed to work, as the color drew next to her. Acting on instinct, she drew it into a deep embrace, her fright and pain slowly ebbing away as she drifted away into a warm, dreamless slumber.

*************************************************************************************

Fluttershy groaned as she began to struggle back to wakefulness. Every square centimeter of her body was stiff, from her hooves to her primaries. Moving anything took a supreme amount of exertion, and she was having trouble convincing herself that opening her eyes would be worth the effort. For the moment, she was content to simply lie there and enjoy the unusually warm bed. That changed as she slowly registered the rhythmic expansion and contraction of whatever she was embracing. Finally realizing that she was clinging tightly to another pony, her eyes flew open, the exhausted muscles stinging with the exertion. Panic briefly swept through her, before the sight of a familiar face calmed her nerves.

Oh. It’s only Twilight. Wait, why isn’t that surprising? She wondered. With no immediately obvious explanation, she began trying to piece together her memories of what had occurred the previous night. I was laying here reading. And… the air began to get cool and moist. Her eyes stole to the window. That’s right. There was fog coming in through the window. She remembered deciding to close the window, but waiting until she finished her current page. She had noticed a stray wisp of vapor stealing closer. And then… And then… she couldn’t remember. It was like a wall slamming down in her memory. She could remember pain, and light, and then waking up.

Intent on remembering, she hammered away at the wall in her mind, chasing any trails of thought that might help to undermine it. Slowly but surely, she managed to piece together the events surrounding her outburst. She realized that, somehow, she’d had a major magical outburst. It had almost overwhelmed her, but Twilight had been there. Twilight had protected her, saved her, and comforted her as she fell asleep. Wait. So that dream was real? And that lavender light. It had been… Twilight?

Fluttershy’s cheeks inflamed at the realization, the possibly romantic implications of her reactions last night not lost on her. It was just the exhaustion speaking. Yeah, that’s all it was.

That’s not it. Oh, horsefeathers. She was arguing with herself again. And judging by the tone, she wasn’t going to be able to run away for long. Ok, so maybe it hadn’t just been the exhaustion. But, she couldn’t just assume that what she’d felt was love. She’d probably just confused the feelings of panic and relief for something else.

That’s not true. Of course it is! It’s not like she’d ever felt this way before.

You’re lying. No, she wasn’t!

You can’t fool yourself. Ok, fine, so maybe she had noticed some… fuzzy feelings towards Twilight in the past, especially over the past couple of weeks. Twilight was an amazing friend, and it was only natural for her to feel comfortable and happy around her friends.

Not all of them. Wait, what?

She’s different. Twilight was… different? What could that mean?

You feel more at ease around her. She… couldn’t exactly deny that statement. But neither could she confirm it. She had simply never given the matter any thought. More comfortable around Twilight? Maybe the voice was right on that point…

You see? No, no, no. That couldn’t be. There was no way Twilight was that special to her.

Don’t deny what you already know. Oh… fine. The more the thoughts turned over in her head, with Twilight innocently snoring right before her eyes, the less she could deny the truth. So she might have a crush on Twilight. So what? It’s not like anything would ever come of it. Better to just forget the whole thing and enjoy being friends.

No. No? What did she mean no?

That’s not enough, Fluttershy. It was. It definitely was. She couldn’t even tell if what she felt was real, or just a case of hero worship. Besides, there was no way Twilight would ever go for it.

Why not? Well… she just wouldn’t. Fluttershy herself didn’t much care one way or the other, but who knew if Twilight even liked mares that way? She’d never mentioned anything. Odds were Fluttershy’s chances were dead on takeoff.

You don’t know that. Well, no, but what did it matter? Besides, this was her they were talking about. Meek, plain, boring old Fluttershy. There’s no way somepony as amazing as Twilight would ever think of her that way.

Amazing? Fluttershy felt her blush grow even deeper as she processed her choice in words. Before she could resume her self-argument, Twilight let out an adorable little sigh, utterly derailing her train of thought.

Fluttershy couldn’t help admiring the alicorn before her. Her beautiful mane, her full lashes, her long, exquisite horn. Her horn… Fluttershy’s eyes were drawn to the magical growth, slowly finding their way down the length to its base. She remembered something from her stories: for unicorns, a kiss at the base of the horn was a sign of deep thanks and affection. She certainly had a great deal to be thankful for after last night.

Slowly, almost without realizing it, Fluttershy drew forward toward the space below Twilight’s horn. This is just a sign of thanks. Nothing more she assured herself. However, her rising heartbeat and shortness of breath disavowed her assertion, the overwhelming feelings growing stronger the closer she drew. As her lips slowly grazed the base of Twilight’s horn, she nearly swooned at the sudden surge of emotion.

*************************************************************************************

Starlight yawned lightly. Thank Celestia that was finished. She knew it was important, but 8 hours of staring into fog would numb anyone’s mind. At least the fire had mostly burned itself out. She was ready to go home, find her bed, and collapse.

An abrupt shift of wind brought with it an odd, acrid odor. She couldn’t quite place it. Charred lichen and stone, maybe? What on earth could make that kind of smell?

Temporarily reenergized by her curiosity, Starlight set to solving the conundrum. A nearby weathervane told her that the wind was coming from the north, past the castle. Well, that’s convenient. No need to change course. Resuming her path, she stayed alert for any more signs of the smell.

It seemed she would be disappointed as the castle came into view. Sighing in disappointment, she decided that rest was the more important consideration at the moment. However, she noticed an odd lack of color in the familiar scene. It took some time to place, but finally she realized what it was: parts of the castle seemed to be silhouetted against a black background. What in Equestria?

Trotting around the side of castle, she was brought to a halt by the sight before. Etched into the closest mountain was a stark, black scar. Located above the snow line, it looked like the snow and rock had been melted away and charred. Whatever had happened had involved an absolutely massive outpouring of energy, and with a mounting feeling of panic, Starlight realized what the source must have been. Fluttershy!

Starlight teleported as near to the room as she could, her aim thrown off slightly by worry. Galloping the rest of the way, she threw open the bedroom door, desperate to make sure her friends were alright.

Whatever she had been expecting, it most certainly wasn’t what awaited her. There lay Twilight and Fluttershy. In Bed. Together. With Fluttershy’s lips in the crook of Twilight’s horn. What.

The two mares froze, their eyes locked together in shock. Fluttershy awkwardly detached her lips, maintaining the shocked eye-lock with Starlight. The seconds dragged by, neither willing to break the increasingly stifling silence.

Salvation came in the form of a yawn. Disturbed by the door, Twilight slowly began to claw her way back to consciousness. Starlight watched as she let out another yawn, opened her eyes, and glanced around sleepily. She appeared confused at the pink mane covering her face, scrunching her eyes in confusion. As soon as she processed that it was Fluttershy she was pressed against, she jumped up with a startled yelp before disappearing in a flash of light.

Taking advantage of the break in silence, Starlight managed to sputter out, “Fluttershy? What were you…? I mean you were kissing her!’

“I don’t know! I was just… I mean she was so… I’m sorry Starlight!”

Twilight chose that moment to rematerialize. Wherever she had teleported to, it had left the right side of her mane soaked and the left side smoking. Starlight decided to drop the subject for now, but she had a suspicion she planned to explore in full as soon.

“Fluttershy! Are you okay?! I’m sorry, I should have checked last night.” Twilight began to quickly check her patient, examining her features and ensuring that everything was working right. “I was just so exhausted after that overload last night. Now, follow my hoof with your eyes.”

Satisfied that there wasn’t any major physical damage, Twilight let out a relieved sigh. “Thank Celestia, it looks like I managed to shunt the magic in time. Are you very sore?” Fluttershy let out a timid nod. “I’m not surprised. Even with my help, that was orders of magnitudes beyond what you’re used to. If you get plenty of rest and do some basic physical therapy, you should loosen up soon.”

Twilight’s examinations came to an abrupt halt, her eyes lighting up with sudden realization. She disappeared in another flash of light, before reappearing holding a familiar gem-embedded wooden box. Without pausing to explain, she held the box up to Fluttershy’s side and watched the gems light up. The colors slowly lit up, finally stopping after green. Twilight let out a delighted squeal, before catching herself with a sheepish look.

“Er... sorry about that. But I have great news Fluttershy! Last night burned through most of your built-up energy, you should be safe to go home after a about a week’s worth of sessions! Wait right there, I need to go make some notes!”

Swept up in her excitement, Twilight left the room for a third time, this time by door. After a few seconds of post-twilight-mania recovery, Starlight turned back to Fluttershy. “So, now that we have some time, what exactly was all that earlier?”

“I… I’m not really sure. Just, with everything that’s happened, and Twilight right there, I just sort of moved without thinking.”

Wait, could it be that she…? “Wait, Fluttershy, do you like Twilight?”

“What? No! No! Of course not!” Faced with a skeptical glance from Starlight, she backed down slightly. “At least I don’t think so. We’re just friends, right?”

“Uh, kissing a Unicorn there isn’t really a “friend” thing to do. Are you sure that’s all there is to it?”

“I… I don’t know. Maybe it’s just all the stress lately, but I’ve been thinking about her a lot lately. I’m scared because I can’t stop, but I’m happy whenever she’s nearby. I don’t know what I’m feeling.”

“Fluttershy, that sounds like love.”

The yellow mare looked away in embarrassment, before quietly squeaking out “Maybe you’re right.”

Starlight cheered internally. Yes! I knew there was something there!

Fluttershy swung back to her, panic writ large on her face. “Starlight! Please! You have to promise me something!” Oh no. No no no no no. NO! “Please, you can’t tell Twilight! Not a word!” Aaaaargh!

“What? But why not?! I’m sure it’ll be fine Fluttershy!”

“Starlight I’m begging you! There’s so much going on, and I don’t even know what I’m feeling. Besides, even if I do have a crush on her, there’s no way somepony like Twilight would ever be interested in a mare like me. Please!”

YOU’RE WRONG! She wailed to herself. Her refusal to break her promise to Twilight dueled with her desire to just tell Fluttershy everything right now. Finally accepting that she couldn’t break her promise, she surrendered, “Alright, fine. I won’t tell her.”

She turned to leave the room, “But Fluttershy, I’m telling you this as a friend: tell Twilight how you feel. If you don’t you’ll always regret it.”

Any further discussion was preempted by the sudden appearance of Spike. The small dragon came tearing into the room, a look of panic on his face. “Fluttershy! Are you okay? There’s a huge blast mark on the mountain!”

Starlight sprang into action, deciding that Fluttershy needed time to rest and sort things out. “She’s fine, Spike. I’ll explain everything, but let’s talk in the library. Fluttershy needs to get some rest.” She turned back to the sheepish patient, adding “Remember what I said, ” before closing the door.