Forever free

by Pumpkin-dreams

Chapters

Part 1: Old version
Part 2: Old version
Part 3: Old version
Forever freed
Forever trapped
Part 1: edited
Part 4: Old version

Part 1: Old version

\AN: This is now the old version, go see part 1 edited version cause it's better.\

"B-but Twilight, it's dangerous in the Everfree..."

"Flutter-"

"There are Manticores, and Hydras, and Cockatrices..."

"Flu-"

"And Dragons and Parasprites and thorns and dark caves..."

Twilight sighed, letting her friend continue to point out the myriad of dangers in the forest. The same forest they had been walking in for the last half hour without Fluttershy noticing. Eventually the pegasus would end her list of reasons not to go in, what she did when she realized they were deep inside was easily predictable by anypony that knew her.

"And Ursa minors and sharp sticks..."

... Eventually.

Catching a break in the rant, Twilight stopped her friend with an outstretched hoof. "Fluttershy, we're already here." Fluttershy looked at the unicorn for a moment, confused, before taking in her surroundings. They were surrounded by tall, dark trees that blotted out the sky with spindly branches, wilted shrubs and an unhealthy grass that defined the strange forest. Her eyes went wide and she let out a high pitched squeak before doing a flip, landing on her back with yellow legs sticking straight into the air and wings glued to her sides.

This was to be expected, honestly. Twilight was amazed that the timid mare had managed to get this far without panicking. "Come on Fluttershy, Zecora's hut isn't far from here." she said supportively, gently nudging the prone pony onto her hooves.

"Eep!" was Fluttershy's reply as she tried to hide behind the other mare. Her impromptu cover rolled her eyes and looked back at the cowering pegasus.

"We'll only be here for a few more minutes so I can pick up some tea from Zecora, then right back to Ponyville," her motivation seemed to have minimal affect. "Fluttershy, the only thing you have to worry about are the animals. I've seen you talk down a dragon, what are a few stray Manticores going to do?"

With the mention of her past bravery, Fluttershy raised her head to see Twilight's confident grin. There wasn't much alternative, now that she thought about it; she could trot back to Ponyville on her own of course. Alone through the dark, eerie forest with it's strange noises and ominous flora, the possibility of a dragon or some other terrible thing hiding behind every tree, hounding her imagination with fright every step...

Twilight blinked at the empty space where a yellow pegasus had been, Fluttershy quickly trotting towards the zebra's hut. "Wow, I must be better at motivational speaking than I thought," the unicorn mused, breaking into a short run to catch up.

Around a bend in the path, the mares could see the gentle lights from Zecora's hut. Seemingly built into an almost spherical tree base, the house would have been creepy had the two not been friends with it's sole resident. To be fair, it was still a touch strange with the carved masks and candlelight. The zebra herself was outside, back turned to the ponies as she looked to the west.

"Zecora!" Twilight called, "It's been-" she started, but Zecora quieted her with gesture. She continued to stare, concentration etched on her face, into the dense foliage, an opportune wind rustling her black and white striped mane. The unicorn almost giggled at the scene, it seemed like something straight from a cheesy adventure story.

Finally, the zebra turned to face them with a warm smile. "Ah, my two pony friends, what brings you to this trails end?"

Fluttershy involuntarily shook; the memories of when that rhyming voice had filled her with dread were still fresh

"Just the usual tea pick up, Zecora." the purple mare said, "and it's been awhile since we had time to catch up."

The zebra shook her head, "I'm afraid that I have not the time, tonight is for a special trip of mine."

"Oh, well, we wouldn't want to bother you. We should just go back to Ponyville, where it's nice and not so dark." Fluttershy said, eager to leave the Everfree forest.

Zecora frowned in thought for a moment, "Perhaps you two can accompany me, this is a sight not only I should see." Twilight didn't hesitate before nodding, happy to learn more of her distant friend.

"You can stay here if you want, Fluttershy. I'd like to see what Zecora has to show us." She told her infamously frightened friend, the mare and aforementioned zebra starting off.

Fluttershy's eyes darted around, realizing that she'd be stuck in this forest either way. Surely it'd be less... terrifying with company though. The pegasus saw Twilight and Zecora moving away and galloped to stay near them, despite her every muscle feeling rigid.

***

The walk was short but quiet, Fluttershy was too busy cringing from imagined monsters to talk in anything louder than a whisper and Zecora's rhyming made conversation a challenge. Twilight wasn't too put out though, they had come to their destination. A circular clearing in the trees, the earth bare and soft, only marred by a lone granite slab in the center.

Zecora approached the marking and gave it a respectful bow. Twilight stood next to her, waiting for the zebra to explain. When she made no move to speak, the mare looked down at the stone. Cracked and worn by time, the inscription was barely legible, 'E-ber Hoo-, F-ever free.' Zecora pulled a slender candle from her saddlebags and placed it atop the slab and began to tell the story in an almost lyrical fashion.

"Back during the reign of Discord when all was mad, the ponies beneath his claw were never glad.
They did not know freedom or peace, only the cruel chaos and his tease.
A colt was raised in this but he craved more, the slavery and torment made his spirit sore. One fateful day he ran free, out to this forest for what he couldn't see."

Pausing, she raised a pair of small rocks above the candle. Zecora brought them together with a clack, creating a cascade of sparks that lit a delicate flame on the wax.

"To be released from his bounds, he left behind all that had become fond.
Ember sought relief from pains, those that would not be slain.
Out he came to this wood, and here he thought his life was good.
He died free but alone, not a soul to hear his last sorrowful moan."

As the last echo of the song drifted away, a sense of restlessness and nervous energy settled around the three. Zecora closed her eyes, humming a low tune in her native tongue. Twilight looked at the stone sadly, silently mourning for the long past colt.

Fluttershy rested on her haunches just behind them, the beginning of a tear in her eyes. She sniffed quietly, letting her long pink mane hide her face. She couldn't imagine what would drive anypony to seek solitude in anyplace as oppressing as the Everfree. If what Zecora said was true... and all those poor ponies...

The pegasus felt something behind her, a passing breeze, and jerked her head to look back. A flash of red and gold darting behind a tree, a childish giggle. Confused, she tried to follow, twisting her head to spot another movement on her right.

Anticipating where the next appearance would be, Fluttershy locked her gaze forward. A colt, mane like dancing flames, met her eyes with his dark blue ones. She saw the burning intensity in those orbs, for a moment she could've sworn she knew how he felt. Exhilaration, fearless, the world open and full of possibilities. Was that how it felt to be free?

It ended as suddenly as it came, the Everfree returning to it's devices as the repose was broken. Fluttershy blinked to clear her eyes, getting to her hooves with a start when she noticed her two companions on either side. "You okay Fluttershy? You look like you've seen a ghost." Twilight asked, her voice weakly suggesting a joke. The yellow mare gave her friend as reassuring a smile as she could muster.

The trio began their journey home, the weight of what had been learned and remembered weighing their hooves. As the two ponies left the zebra, turning towards Ponyville, Fluttershy couldn't help but look back. For just a moment, she had been free from her baseless fears and hopeless temerity. Just a taste, but it had been so tantalizing to the pegasus...

Part 2: Old version

Fluttershy and Twilight stepped out of the Everfree forest as Celestia's sun dipped over the edge of the world, both hearts heavy with the tale Zecora had told them. The purple unicorn was glad to be away from the gravesite, the whole place had given her a persistent feeling of gloom. Thoughts of a different kind plagued her pegasus friend, who had for a fleeting moment knew what it must feel like to be truly free.

Remembering the rush of elation the colt had given her, Fluttershy felt a pleasant shiver run down her back. Compared to those few seconds, her shy demeanor and nervous disposition had been a waste of so many years. All those chances to live, lost because she had deemed them too dangerous. Hay, even being out at night was putting her on edge. She would do almost anything for another chance to feel the relief from those bindings. Almost anything; Ember's grave was likely the only place for that purpose, and it was deep in the foreboding wood. I really shouldn't go back in there unless I have to... she thought, images of angry Hydras and grumpy Dragons filling her head.

This didn't stop her from peeking over her shoulder to look back, heartfelt longing in her blue-green eyes.

Pinke pie's energetic voice interrupted the pegasus's reverie, "Twilight! Fluttershy! I was so worried!"

Fluttershy was wrapped in the pink mare's hug before she could register her presence, Twilight pressed next to her by the embrace. "Pinkie!" Twilight laughed, trying to lighten the vice grip, "We're fine."

Pinkie released her two friends, letting them fall on their rumps. "Oh goodie! I just got a little nervous, 'cause my knee got all pinchy, and that meant something scary was gonna happen, and it was coming from the Everfree forest. At first I told myself 'Silly filly, something scary is always happening in there!' but then I remembered you were in there, Twilight, and then Fluttershy wasn't home, so I guessed she was with you, so I got doubly-worried! And I got all our friends to come find you two, except you were already here, so we found you!" the party pony explained, making different faces to accompany her little speech.

True to her word, the rest of the gang was present. Rarity went to Fluttershy, fretting over the mare's state as she pulled stray leaves from her pink mane. Rainbow Dash was hoofing a couple of bits to Applejack, muttering something about the lack of Hydras.

"Ah get why you were in ther', Twi, but how'd ya get Fluttershy to go in?" the cowpony asked, pocketing her bet winnings.

"Heh, she actually walked in while telling me why it was so dangerous."

"We should remember that next time there's a dragon in town." Rainbow jested.

Pinkie pie perked up, bouncing back to Ponyville. "Come on everypony! We need to have a 'Hurray Twilight and Fluttershy are safe!' party!"

"Please Pinkie, it is far too late for one of your parties. Perhaps a simple slumber party would suffice?" Rarity offered while meticulously examining the yellow pegasus for the smallest hint of dirt on her coat. The group turned towards Ponyville, ready to put the haunting trees behind them.

"Okey dokey lokie!" cheered the bouncing pony, the five friends following in her springy step.

***

Luna's moon was high in the night sky, the ponies still wide awake in the midst of their get-together in Twilight's library. They had managed to convince the studious unicorn not to pull out her 'Slumber Parties 101' list, and so left to their own plans Rainbow Dash and Applejack had been in a game of truth or dare for the last forty minutes, both choosing nothing but dare. The blue pegasus was still working her way out of the knot she had been tied in for the last dare; escaping from one of Applejacks rodeo ties. Pinkie had somehow gotten herself in a similar position without the other earth ponies assistance, but was too busy rolling in her rope cocoon to fix it. Rarity and Fluttershy had declined the invitation to join, one having no taste for the athletes style and the other being, well, Fluttershy.

Twilight herself was having an inner debate about the wisdom of letting her two competitive friends have free reign in their game-turned contest. Hopefully things would stay in control, but past lessons had taught her not to hold her breath.

Rarity spoke up, "You never did tell us what happened in the Everfree forest darling."

Rainbow stopped her awkward one legged hopping for a moment, "Uh, they went to Zecora's and got tea?" she answered with a shrug. Her balance wasn't up to the demands however, with a yelp she was back on the floor. Applejack snickered and began untying the dazed pegasus.

"Yes, well, I don't see any tea leaves." the white mare retorted.

Twilight came out of her thoughts when she noticed the four pairs of eyes on her. "We met Zecora, but she was preoccupied with a special occasion of hers. She offered to take us with her and we said yes." Three pairs of eyes turned to Fluttershy, who offered a nod of her head. As the attention went back to the unicorn, she felt a new, indignant spark in her mind. Did her friends really think so little of her that even following somepony else in a forest was cause for surprise?

No, no of course they didn't mean it like that. They were just... concerned about her, like good friends.

"Zecora took us to a poor colts grave, telling us about how he had escaped from Discord to live free in the forest. And how," Twilight's voice cracked, after finding such great friends she didn't want to imagine how the colt had felt in the end. "How he died, alone."

The group was quiet for a moment, Rainbow Dash and Applejack exchanging a look, Rarity dabbed the corner of her eyes with a napkin. Pinkie pie was the first to break the silence, "We shouldn't be all mopey, this is a party!"

Seeing that she wasn't getting the right reaction, the pony unwrapped herself from the rope in a blink and gathered her friends close. "Sure, it makes me sad to hear that somepony didn't have any friends, but we beat Discord! No pony has to make that choice anymore. Besides, we have each other! We should be happy for now, not sad for then!"

"Ah'm glad there's somethin' other than parties in that noggin o' yers, Pinkie." Applejack said, giving the pony a friendly nuzzle. Pinkie giggled, giving the bunch a last squeeze before letting them back on their own four hooves.

"She's right, this is a party! Somepony get the vanilla lemon drops!" exclaimed Rainbow. The rest laughed, the dark mood lifting away from the merry companions.

Fluttershy smiled as the festivities picked up once more, joining Rarity on an array of carefully dusted cushions, the unicorn getting her mane products out for anypony who would take her offer of a light make-over. Something nibbled at the edge of the pegasus's thoughts though, a certain line from Pinkie. 'No pony has to make that choice anymore.' she had said.

As the levitating brush began to run through her pink mane, that phrase took on a different meaning. Just because no pony had to choose it, didn't mean the choice was gone. The offer was still there, she thought, all a pony had to do was find it. Fluttershy sighed, her own thinking was beginning to sound different. She was happy here, surrounded by friends, nothing to disturb the peace that had come to Equestria after Discords defeat.

The doubt still lingered though; the ghostly brush of the freedom she had felt in the Everfree.

Caught in her turmoil, the yellow mare drifted off to sleep under Rarity's gentle minstrations.

***

Where was she? Fluttershy couldn't see anything, the world was pitch black. A surge of panic struck her, was she blind? Did Nightmare Moon return?! The mare turned in tight circles, trying to see in the void and tripping over her own hoof, falling on a cold and hard surface. She clenched her eyes shut, scared to open them and confirm her continued sightlessness. Like the morning sun, a glow began to cover the scene, Fluttershy could even see it behind her closed eyelids. Slowly opening one eye, her breath caught in her throat.

Fluttershy was trapped in a metal cage, the bars too close to let her hooves through as she hung from some point in the sky. Looking down, she could see Ponyville highlighted by the reddish tint of dawn. It looked normal except for the ponies, each one of them was in a similar cell to hers. They didn't seem to notice their confinement however, trotting down the dirt roads and attending to their everyday business.

The pegasus tried to call for help or make them notice their own entrapment, but her voice died off as nothing more than a weak squeak. "Oh dear, oh what do I do?!" she whispered to herself, pacing around the tight space. There wasn't even enough room to spread her wings! Fluttershy wasn't as attached to the sky and flying as Rainbow Dash was, but right then she desperately wished to be free to spread those feathered appendages.

The word 'free' rang in the air like a bell, making the mare jump. Ponyville melted away, leaving her hanging in the darkness once more. She saw nothing for a short time, then there was a flash of red and gold, spinning around her prison. Faster and faster it went, creating a band of glimmering flames. Fluttershy was trembling now, terrified that the fires would consume her.

'Not free' the invisible bells chimed, disappointment in their sharp voices. She cringed away from the sound, frightened tears dripping down her muzzle. A pair of brilliant burning blue dots peered at her from the ring of sparking red, moving to meet her teary eyes.

She tried to look away, but the orbs held her still with a will of their own. The longer the stare held, the more that bright blue grew until she could nearly see their cores. There was not malicious intent in their depths, like Nightmare Moon, but a key to her cell. A promise, a temptation of freedom. Entranced, Fluttershy took a step towards them before the vision vanished with a 'pop!'.

The pegasus awoke with a start, blinking her eyes to relieve the after sleep from them. A cheerful pink face was smiling down at her.

"Wakey wakey, cupcakes and cakey!" Pinkie sing-songed, bouncing back to her hooves as Fluttershy got to her own.

"I told you Pinkie, we are not having any pastries for breakfast." chided Rarity's melodic voice. The smell of cooking food drove the pegasus into wakefulness, her stomach edging her on.

"Aw c'mon Rarity! A little frosting in the morning never hurt anypony!" laughed Rainbow.

Spike was at the oven, whistling as he cooked the ponies breakfast. Twilight, Rainbow, Applejack, and Rarity sat around a table, steaming mugs in front of each. Pinkie Pie was hopping around the chef, trying to sneak some sugar into the pans, much to Spike's chagrin.

"No offense Pinkie, but Ah'm gonna have ta side with Rares' on this one." Applejack said, taking a hearty gulp of her black coffee. "Ah don't think sugars the best thing fer wakin' up."

The party pony, forcefully removed from the cooking area, pouted. "Everything's better with some sweets!"

Twilight groaned with patience only a pony meant to never see the light of early morning could have.

Fluttershy took her seat next to Rarity and Applejack, just in time for Spike's batch of hay pancakes. The small dragon offered the white unicorn her plate with a special flourish, saying "Your breakfast, m'lady." Rarity smiled at him and patted the dragons head.

"Thank you Spike, spoken like a true, hm, gentledragon I suppose." Theoretically, if one looked at the purple dragons eyes, they would see a pair of cupid hearts. The other five ponies giggled.

When the morning meal concluded, each pony went off on their ways to begin their days duties. Fluttershy trotted through the familiar streets towards her cottage, a shy smile still on her muzzle. That look faded when she spotted the first trees of the Everfree forest ahead, remembering the events of yesterday and her horrible nightmare.

The pegasus lowered her gaze to avoid looking at the border to the forest, still dark as the sun shone brightly everywhere else. Her pace quickened until she was at the door, opening it to see a rather annoyed looking white rabbit.

"Oh Angel! I forgot to tell you where I was going. You must've been so worried about me..." the yellow mare started, the rabbit responded with a huff and a paw pointed towards the food closet. Fluttershy realized her mistake, she hadn't fed her animal friends today! She galloped past Angel, who dusted his off paws and hopped away, his mission accomplished.

Fluttershy went outside to feed the animals in her care, every hummingbird, squirrel, turtle (Tortoise! a nagging thought corrected.) and other various creatures. Spitting out a mouthful of worms to a nest of blue jays, she lingered on the somber forest as she tried to get the taste of slimy dirt off her tongue.

The offer was still there, for anypony to take. It wouldn't hurt to go in there and just check it out. She gasped at another thought; what if that colt needed help! With new determination, Fluttershy descended to land before the edge of the forest. She could do this, just a short walk back to that clearing, if she couldn't find the colt then she'd have to ask Zecora or come back another day. With a deep breathe, she stepped into the grim forest. Nothing bad could happen to her as long as she was careful.

Right?

Part 3: Old version

"J-just put one h-hoof in front of the other..." Fluttershy stammered, making her way deeper into the Everfree. The wind picked up, a desolate whistle weaving around the pegasus, rustling stray bits of greenery. Alright, it wasn't far now, just have to put one hoof- what was that?! She jumped in place, hearing a branch crack somewhere.

Trembling so hard her teeth clicked together, she tried to put the myriad of forest noises out of her mind. There was Zecora's hut, so the clearing should be nearby. Something poked her side, Fluttershy shrieked in little more than a whisper and darted ahead. Panting, her hooves pounding on the dark soil, the mare raced past the rows of slender trees, imagined horrors peering out from between the branches.

She closed her eyes, willing the sights to fade away. Eyesight removed, her hearing picked up the slack, making her ears twist every which way. A muffled crack, rustling grass, something was breathing heavily really close to her- Oh. That was her own panicked breathe.

Something hard meet her hoof mid stride, sending the pegasus tumbling to the ground. Fluttershy writhed on the dirt for a moment, trying to escape from whatever had tripped her until she realized there was nothing. Raising her head, she saw an empty space before her, the earth naked of grass and trees. The clearing!

Her hoof sent a lance of pain up the leg as she stood, the limb looked twisted but luckily was no worse for wear. Looking behind herself, Fluttershy noticed the granite slab centerpiece beneath her pink tail. Smiling a little in relief, she hobbled around to face it, resting on her haunches less than a foot away from the horizontal block.

Wait, what did she do now? Should she wait for the colt to show himself? Should she call out? No, making more noise was sure to attract some unfriendly visitors. The yellow mare contemplated her options; she had come this far, now was definitely not the time to turn back.

With no suitable answer in mind, she idly read the inscription. 'Ember Hoof, forever free?' Fluttershy thought, filling in the blanks. That was when she noticed the small, semi circular indent in the rock face. Raising a curious hoof, she slowly pressed it into the mark, finding her horseshoe fit perfectly. Who made this, she wondered, as the hoof print must've been made by the same pony who placed the grave, and not some wandering animal.

Fluttershy's vision blurred as she looked up from the grave, distorting the forest into a sickly greenish brown hue. Closing her eyes, she shook her head to clear it, opening them again to see a different scene. Standing atop the stone was a brown coated colt, mane like rippling flames. Seeing him closer, she noticed that he had a horn poking from beneath the red and gold hair, and a cutie mark depicting a Phoenix rising from a pile of grey ash.

The unicorn turned to her, blue eyes meeting her own sea-green ones. Her pupils widened in surprise. It was him, Ember Hoof! Smirking at the pegasus, Ember flicked his tail, a wave of translucent sparks rolling off the hair.

"I thought you were gone..." Fluttershy mumbled, too stunned to let her fear build up. The colt threw his head back and laughed, or at least it seemed like he did. He didn't make any noise that she could hear.

Ember sprung nimbly off the stone and started circling the yellow pegasus, ghostly flames dancing in his wake. Once more awe kept the mare from panicking. Only Celestia herself had the same aura as this lone colt; that overpowering veil making the pony seem like something more. Feelings that were not her own played with the frays of Fluttershy's waking mind, trying to wear away her guard.

Fluttershy's wings flapped of their own accord as she followed the colt's movements. After a few more circles, he stopped in front of her again, putting out a hoof, an offer, to his visitor.

This is why she had come, isn't it? To find that stranger from last night, for better or worse. And here he is, ready to give us all we could ever hope for...

I don't know him! It could be a trick, or-or something dangerous!

We shouldn't have to live imprisoned, even if it's our own making. Take the hoof!

Too distracted by her warring thoughts, Fluttershy didn't notice the colt fading away. When his presence began to fade, her eyes shot open. Ember was barely visible, his head tilted to one side. The mare thought she saw his mouth move to form two words: 'Next time.'

With the spirit colt gone, the familiar gloom of the Everfree smothered Fluttershy's resolve. She gasped, how far in the wood was she? The sun had been descending when she had left, it was going to be nightfall soon. The last thing the pegasus wanted to do was wander through the forest when all it's nocturnal inhabitants were awake and hungry.

She jumped to her hooves and galloped away from the stone, slightly hampered by a limp as she threaded between tree trunks and thorny bushes. Familiar terror began to grip her again, bringing her to new speeds as she ran through the forest. A twist and turn, the trees disappeared as she broke through the border. Fluttershy blew a happy sigh, back in Ponyville where it was safe.

The shroud of night had already fallen, sparkling spots of light hanging above a shaded Equestria. Breathing in the chilled air, the mare shook herself off, bits of dirt and leaves drifting away. Rarity would have a fit, she mused. No longer feeling threatened by every noise and shake, Fluttershy took a leisurely pace to her cottage.

A few bats fluttered about, their day just beginning, however the rest of her charges were asleep. The mare whispered them each a sweet dream before entering her home, the scent of flowers and clean wood never being quite so welcome. Angel was resting beside his small house, the white rabbit caught by sleep in his self assigned watch duties.

Giggling quietly, Fluttershy draped a hoof-stitched handkerchief over the slumbering bunny. She yawned widely, her own exhaustion bringing some attention to itself. Snuggled herself into her own warm bed, the pull of sleep tugging her away as her head hit the pillow.

***

This time, Fluttershy didn't panic. As much as before, at least. She still ended up tripping over her own hooves, but she vaguely knew what to expect from this nightmare. Once more light flooded the world, and she found herself suspended above Ponyville in a cage. The other ponies still carried their own prisons, perfectly unaware.

The pegasus tested the bars of her cell, prodding each with a hoof. Finding no way out there, she turned her focus back to the dream-ponies. Maybe if she could get one to come help her, she could escape. "Hello? Can somepony help me?" she asked, but her voice was too hushed to be heard by the ignorant figures beneath her.

Sighing in defeat, the mare tried to keep her imminent claustrophobia at bay. Fluttershy hid behind her jumbled thoughts, doing her best to pretend she wasn't stuck. It wasn't often that she wished she had been born as something other than a pegasus, but unicorn magic would've been a great help. If only Twilight was here, even if the cage was resistant to the bookworms magic, Fluttershy would've appreciated the company. A sudden noise startled her out of her reminiscing, a crackling noise coming from all around her.

The ring of fire had returned, majestic gold flickering off a raging red, and had banished the rest of the world to darkness. Fluttershy watched it, enthralled by the harmless display. A tongue of flame came off the body and licked at the bars, but she didn't shy away from it. When it left, a ruby padlock was locked into the bars.

"Is this a way out?" Fluttershy asked, not sure if the phantom would respond. A streak of brilliant blue worked it's way into the center of the band, spinning faster than the other colors.

'You could be free' the bell voice chimed, friendly taunts beneath it's musical ring.

"What about the others? All those ponies in the cages?"

The flames seemed to give an angry huff, 'They don't see what we see.'

There was a thump above her, the sound of hoof steps trotting across the metal surface. Ember Hoof dropped from the top, landing with a burst of regal fire.

"I was sad you couldn't join me tonight." he said, his voice an echo of an echo, faint and distant. The colt laughed, a sound very similar to burning wood, at a joke only he knew. "But there's always next time, isn't there?"

"W-who are you?" Fluttershy's timidity was returning, and it showed through the tremble in her voice.

"You know well enough, but the who of me is unimporant." he answered cryptically. "I have something to offer, and that is why we are here."

Ember floated a shining red key from somewhere in the void, his telekinesis as shifting as his mane. Dangling it inches before the cell, it hung like an apple to a starving pony.

"To be free, or to be trapped? Your choice, Fluttershy."

***

Fluttershy awoke without her natural grace, flailing for a moment as she slid off the bed. As she stepped on her right fore hoof, a sore ache shot up her leg, not as jarring as the shot of agony it had been. With a limp, she left her bedroom and went to the washroom, splashing water on her face to chase away her disorientation. Looking in the mirror, she saw her butter yellow coat sprinkled with spots of earthy brown, mane equally disheveled. Cleaning the remnants of last night's trip would be a good way to get her mind off of Ember.

Running a bath, the mare lowered herself into the steaming water with a sigh of pleasure. The water was working wonders for her muscles, still tensed by her night terrors. Closing her eyes, she sank up to her nose in the bath.

A flash of fire behind her closed lids made her jump, heart pounding with a burst of adrenaline. Looking around, there was nothing out of the ordinary. Just a lingering piece of her nightmare, she supposed.

Just as she returned to that state of relaxation, a clock rang from the floor below. Fluttershy didn't pay it any heed until she recalled what day it was; she was going to be late for her and Rarity's spa trip! Quickly leaving the tub, she rubbed a towel across her coat and let the water drain out. The pegasus hastily went through the morning feedings before leaving Angel in charge and galloping out the door.

The bunny just rolled his eyes. Ponies, what could you do?

***

Half an hour later found the two friends standing neck deep in imported mud. Rarity was explaining her newest idea for a fall hats line. Fluttershy, normally the most interested of their friends in fashion, was finding herself increasingly distracted by a nearby candle. The flame wavered gently in the air, bringing back thoughts of the fire wreathed colt.

Was he telling the truth, could she be free if she just took his offer? The nervous mare doubted it, but some part of her dearly wanted to try. Even if he was wrong, or just a hallucination, it was worth a shot to shake off the weights she had worn since foalhood.

"- Ooh, what about some feathers. I think, if I could acquire them of course, that some griffon plumage would look fabulous with a fall setting. What do you think Fluttershy?" Hearing no response forthcoming, Rarity leaned closer to the distracted pegasus.

"Fluttershy?" nothing. Rarity lifted one of her cucumber slices to look at the other mare. Fluttershy's eyes were unfocussed, drifting across the room and taking in nothing. Slightly concerned, the unicorn prodded her friend with a hoof.

"Whau!" Fluttershy yelled in her gentle voice, stumbling in surprise and falling up to her eyes in the mud.

Rarity tsked, "Sorry darling, but you were being more quiet than usual."

The yellow pegasus got back to her hooves, nutritious ooze dripping from her muzzle. "It's okay Rarity, I shouldn't have gotten so distracted..." she replied, rubbing her fetlocks together beneath the surface.

Didn't mean she had to be so rude, a stray thought contributed, making Fluttershy wince. Rarity hadn't meant to frighten her...

"If I may ask, what's on your mind Fluttershy?" the unicorn questioned, watching her friend intently.

"I-it's nothing, really." she answered. Unfortunately, she could feel an embarrassed blush working it's way up her cheeks. Rarity's eyes lit up.

"Don't tell me! You found some dashing stallion who swept you off your hooves!" she squealed, tightly curled mane bouncing as she pranced in place.

"No, no! It's not that!" Fluttershy said quickly, trying to diffuse the suddenly energetic unicorn before things got out of hoof.

"Drat," Rarity muttered, "I was so looking forwards to making you a wedding dress."

The pegasus, who definitely had no plans for marriage, blinked several times to make sure she had heard right. "Oh, sorry dear, I was probably getting ahead of myself there." Rarity tittered.

"At least Pinkie didn't have the same idea," added Fluttershy, "She'd probably have invited most of Ponyville to an imaginary wedding by now."

They both laughed at that, until a certain pink pony popped out of a bowl of sponges.

"Wait, there isn't a wedding?" the other two ponies, initially startled until they realized it was their friend Pinkie Pie, laughed even harder. The party pony, never one to overlook a good laugh, shrugged and joined them.

Leaving the spa, Fluttershy hummed a jaunty tune to herself, feeling much more at ease. As she crested a hill on the way to her house, the Everfree forest drew her gaze like a magnet. She shook her head, one trip in that light-forsaken place was enough, two times was far too many.

She didn't convince herself very well, however. Her eyes kept glancing at the twisted branches, imagining what frights would await in those shadows. And wondering what gifts she could find if she searched hard enough.

Forever freed

/AN This isn't the happy ending. You have been warned. \

The jolt that ran through Twilight's veins came with a sense of doom. She stopped dead, one hoof raised, as her eyes searched through the thickets of the Everfree forest. A horrible chill was filling her heart, and instinctively she knew what it meant. Breaking into a full gallop, she screamed into the forest "FLUTTERSHY!"

Twilight trampled thorns, uncaring for the needle-cuts they left in her fetlocks. When the brambles were too thick to simply smash through, she teleported to the other side. The unicorn stumbled into the clearing at last, out of breath and still wheezing out her dear friends name.

Something ominous flitted in the air, Twilight's rational mind trying to ignore it but somewhere inside herself she knew what it meant. She rushed to the granite slab, hoping to see Fluttershy's pink mane poking out somewhere. Instead she saw a butterfly necklace, the colors worn away and lifeless. Twilight lifted it up with telekinesis, her eyes burning with the oncoming tears.

"Fluttershy..."

A few minutes passed as the purple mare stared at the last token of the kind hearted pegasus. Twilight float it into one of her saddlebags, and plodded away from the empty circle. The rest of the searchers would need to know. Her progress was slow, every hoofstep just nailing the coffin tighter. She desperately didn't want to inform the others, because then she'd have to truly acknowledge what had happened. But they deserved to know, even if the weight might crush them.

"We can't just leave her out there!" Rainbow Dash was shouting, head pitted against Applejack's own. Their frustrations had finally overflowed in Twilight's absence, the two mares releasing pent up emotions.

"It's gonna be dark soon, Dash! We ain't gonna do 'Shy a lot of good getting ourselves lost!" The farmer pony retorted, pushing the cyan pegasus back.

Rarity was the first to notice Twilight's return, sitting next to a forlorn Pinkie Pie. "Girls!" she exclaimed, the other three following her eyes to the purple unicorn. Twilight could only meet their hopeful looks for a second before the guilt of what she had to do bent her head down.

That simple gesture was enough, however. Pinkie broke down on the spot, wailing into Rarity's shoulder as her mane simply collapsed. The prim white unicorn next to her rested her head in the drooping pink mane, wet makeup running from her clenched eyes.

Rainbow seemed on the verge of exploding, whether in grief or denial Twilight couldn't tell. "No, Celestia damn it! She's not gone, Fluttershy is not gone! She can't be gone, she j-just can't... not now...." As quickly as her defiance came it fled, and Rainbow fell to the ground, curling up tightly. Applejack hid herself behind her trademark hat, a few muffled sobs making their way through the cloth.

Twilight joined the circle, dropping the abandoned medallion on the ground. The pain in her chest overwhelmed everything else, killed her thoughts and left her numb. Fluttershy was gone forever, the Ponyville six minus one.

***

The funeral was a blur to the five friends. Without anything to bury, Ponyville filled a grave with small mementos of the pegasus, pictures and drawings and carefully written notes mixing in the somber earth. Fluttershy would've been astonished at the turn out, almost everpony had come to see the mare off. The princesses came too, to offer their last wishes to one of Equestria's saviors. As a token of gratitude for one of her heroes gone too early, Luna built a new constellation for the night sky: A butterfly, fluttering through the heavens. That way, she explained to the remaining Elements, she could watch over the world she had tended for so long.

After the rest of the mourning ponies had left, the pegasus's long time friends remained deep into the night. Twilight sat in a heavy silence with Pinkie, Rainbow, Applejack, and Rarity.

"Remember the time, you had to drag her up the mountain Applejack?" Rainbow asked, her voice cracking.

"Yeah, poor thing was so scared o' that dang Dragon..." the cowpony replied.

"That was nothing, compared to how she scolded that giant like a mother to her foals." said Rarity.

Twilight sighed wistfully, "Never thought I'd see somepony like Fluttershy get so mad."

They relapsed into silence, reminiscing on the adventures they had gone on with the absent mare. Pinkie sobbed quietly, earning a hug from Applejack. Twilight joined them, wrapping her forelegs around the two earth ponies' withers. She felt two more bodies press into the embrace, and she didn't feel quite so alone.

Something coughed politely next to the distracted ponies, drawing their attention. A small white bunny stood in front of the grave; after making sure the ponies were watching he placed a vibrant, silvery flower on the freshly packed dirt. Angel's paw lingered on the cold stone, his ears hanging low before he bounced out of the way. A few seconds later, a squirrel bounded up and mimicked the bunny's actions. As the five friends watched, more and more critters came to pay their respects, reverently placing the gleaming flowers in front of the headstone. Even a Manticore humbly approached, dropping his gift into the pile.

They watched this procession for awhile, when Pinkie spoke up, her voice almost as quiet as Fluttershy's had been. "She's really gone..."

"Don't think Ah'll ever meet somepony else with her heart."

"Or that bashful little smile." Rarity said.

"Somepony who could be that timid, yet stare down anything that hurt her friends..." Twilight added.

Rainbow couldn't think of anything to contribute. After all, what words were enough to describe Fluttershy? And so they sat beneath a waning moon, watching the piles of silver flowers grow, taking comfort in the warmth of the ponies next to them.

Far away from the grief, hidden behind the boughs of the Everfree, a butterfly chased a flame through the trees and thickets, laughing with the heartbeat of the world. The two visited the elder willow again, resting against it's bony bark as the weeping branches told tales of lore forgotten times. They danced in the cave of sprites, moving in time to the beat of some runic melody, spinning in the plaything of some god. Up mountains, through rivers and crevices, the butterfly followed the fire. Rejoicing in the release, playing in their forest.

As they flickered through the trunks and bushes, the beasts they passed would greet them with respect. One and all, the animals of the Everfree knew what it took to be free. But that gift was not for them, not yet. There was still work to be done in their lives, until they could join the burning colt in his parade. Only when they finally rested could they be like the fire and its' butterfly, forever free.

Forever trapped

As she turned away from Ember Hoof, Fluttershy knew what her choice was dooming her to. She would spend the rest of her life in a self made prison, restrained and limited by her nervous nature. Wouldn't feel that burning exhilaration or bouts of wild freedom ever again. She didn't look back.

***

She stood next to her five friends, facing down the deity of chaos. The road to this moment had been trying for all of them, Discord had twisted their thoughts against each other. Fluttershy was still ashamed of how cruel she had acted, even if it wasn't her fault. It was only Twilight who managed to purify Discord's influence on them, even though the other ponies had given her no end of trouble. But any good friendship would be hard at some point, and like anything good, it deserved to be fought for.

The temptation Ember had offered her was almost enough to take that lesson away, but without the haze of adrenaline the colt emanated, she knew what had to be done. Even if she could not find freedom from her mind, she could at least be free in her heart. With a smile on her face, Fluttershy stepped through the memory into the darkness of her body.

***

Twilight was running through the Everfree, searching for her pegasus friend. Fluttershy hadn't been around in more than a week, but nopony had noticed until yesterday. Stupid! How could they not notice one of their friends was gone?! Fluttershy could be hurt, or lost, alone and scared!

Some instinct pulled her west, through a tangle of thorny brambles and into a familiar clearing. She had gone here some time ago with Zecora and Fluttershy, and the landscape hadn't changed since then. The granite slab remained in the center of the bare earth, though that shock of pink was new...

"Fluttershy!" the unicorn shouted, galloping to the sleeping mare. Fluttershy was on her side, resting peacefully as Twilight shook her awake.

"T-twilight?" she murmured sleepily, rubbing a fetlock over her eyes. The response was a hug that crushed the breathe from her.

"Oh thank Celestia you're okay!" Twilight exclaimed, nuzzling her friend. The memories of her last week came back to the pegasus, and she returned the gesture.

"Come on, the others will be happy to know you're back." Twilight said, starting off for the border of the Everfree. Fluttershy trotted after, not looking back to see the whisper of a colt, alone once more.

The two reunited friends made a good pace through the gloomy forest, but Fluttershy was obviously distracted. "Is something on your mind, Fluttershy?" Twilight eventually asked.

She almost lost her nerve under the amiable scrutiny, but gulped down her reservations for a moment. This was too important to let drop.

"If I could be free, from everything, to do as I want, but it meant abandoning you, and Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow and Pinkie..." Her blue-green eyes met Twilight's purple ones, the unicorn a little surprised at the firmness in the timid pegasus. "I would rather be trapped forever."

Twilight mulled on this as they kept walking, uncertain of what made Fluttershy say it. When Fluttershy leaned in to give her a quick nuzzle, she turned to see the mare smiling in spite of the frightful wood. Feeling her own grin working it's way across her muzzle, Twilight knew how to respond. "So would I, Fluttershy."

A ball of exuberant pink crashed into the yellow mare, Pinkie wrapping herself around Fluttershy. "Yay! You're safe Fluttershy, really truly totally safe!" she cheered into the other mares' coat. Following behind was everypony else, smiles breaking on their faces when they saw their lost friend returned.

"Where were ya, Fluttershy? We were plumb worried about'cha!" Applejack gently scolded.

"That doesn't matter anymore, I'm here now." Fluttershy answered, and the joyful gleam in her eyes stopped any further questions.

"This calls for a party! With streamers and cupcakes and a big banner saying "Hooray Fluttershy's back!" and CAKE! A huge, ginormous, humongous cake with chocolate and strawberries and icing!" Pinkie declared.

"That sounds lovely." Rarity told her, looking almost like her usual prim self. But Fluttershy could see the last stubborn marks of running makeup and cringed guiltily. "It's okay, darling, you're safe, that's all that matters." the unicorn whispered to reassure her.

The group walked back to Ponyville, laughing at Pinkies eccentrics. Fluttershy was amazed she had ever thought of leaving her friends, the warmth they gave her was better than any rush Ember had offered.

***

Zecora sat next to the grave, sighing. "You play a foul game, but that pony is not yours to claim."

The wind was her only answer, whistling shrilly through the slender trees. But the zebra knew the spirit could hear her. The colt who had chosen to be free and alone, yet longed for someone to share in his revelries. Forever free, forever waiting, forever cold.

Part 1: edited

\AN After running this through the training grounds, I'm re-uploading it for feed back before I take another shot at EQD. Comments appreciated!\

A pair of ponies trotted through the Everfree forest, the forest dark as always despite the midday sun. Fluttershy was escorting Twilight to Zecora's hut, worried for her friend's safety after her encounter with the Cockatrice last year. Twilight hadn't been able to make an excuse to make the journey alone. Not that I mind the company, she thought fondly, the forest was a little less dreary with a friend nearby.

Turning a bend in the path, they saw Zecora coming towards them. "My two pony friends, what brings you to this trails end?" she asked, taking a spot next to Twilight.

"I was just coming to pick up some lavender-berry tea, and it's been awhile since we had time to catch up." Twilight answered. "I actually found a recipe I think you'll find interesting."

Zecora smiled, "A new brew for me? This I must see!"

The trio had made it to Zecora's hut, Twilight and Fluttershy following her inside while the unicorn launched into an explanation.

"Yeah, it claims to be able to provide a temporary relief from most minor ailments, like drowsiness, aching hooves..." Fluttershy tuned Twilight out as she got started. She wasn't trying to be mean, but Twilight could go overboard when she got excited about something. Fluttershy idly watched her two friends chat, scraping a hoof against the ground. Hearing a bird call outside, her ears perked up.

"I'm just going to be outside..." Fluttershy said, her voice unheard by either of her companions. With a shrug, she left the house and wandered about the fringes of the forest, watching the wildlife scurry through the overgrowth. Fluttershy was gently encouraging a ladybug as it struggled up a blade of grass when a light chime drew her attention.

What was that? She glanced around, trying to hear it again. After a few silent moments, Fluttershy returned to watching the insect. 'Ting!'. I'm not imagining that. She stood and trotted around Zecora's home, listening intently. Another musical note rang, drawing Fluttershy to a concealed path, overgrowth spilling onto it.

I shouldn't wander off, Twilight will get worried, She thought, eyeing the unruly bits of flora. There was a flash of color as something trampled a row of ferns, too fast for her to see. Fluttershy jumped back in surprise, then stepped onto the path, curiosity overcoming apprehension. The sound came again, a bell, she realized. It began to ring in an uplifting yet ghostly tune, carried on the wind with no visible source.

Fluttershy listened to the music for a moment, it was making her antsy in a strangely pleasant way; like at one of Pinkie Pie's parties, when she had eaten too many sugary sweets. Her eyes drifted as she let herself get lost in the melody. Fluttershy nearly overlooked the new pony in her stupor, finally refocusing on a sparkle of red and gold.

The newcomer's coat was dark brown, and his mane and tail looked like gouts of fire, speckled with gold. He grinned at Fluttershy, sending a tremor through her body. She felt lighter somehow, relieved of some burden she hadn't been aware of. The colt winked and galloped away, further down the path.

"Wait!" Fluttershy called, then covered her mouth in shock. Why is my voice so loud?

But the colt kept going, and Fluttershy raced after him. Dodging past hanging vines, she chased the colt deeper into the Everfree, leaving Zecora's hut far behind. At times she thought she had lost him, only to catch a glimpse of his fire-like tail. As she ran, the rhythmic chiming of the bells grew louder, drowning out the natural forest noise.

Fluttershy jumped over a bush and landed in a clearing. The forest had retreated entirely from a small circle, leaving dark soil and a lone granite slab. She took a few minutes to slow her breathing, looking around. With no sign of the mysterious colt, Fluttershy approached the stone. Time had worn away the markings on it, but she could make out the title on top: 'F-ever fre-'

"Please come out," she said, relieved to hear her voice was it's normal volume. "Is something wrong? I just want to help..."

The colt sauntered out of the forest at her call, and kept his smirking face looking at her as he circled the mare. "Who are you?" Fluttershy asked, watching him cautiously. He stopped moving, brow furrowing in concentration. The music changed suddenly, making a more distinct noise. It took her a few repetitions of it's new beat before she made out an answer.

"Ember Hoof?" The colt nodded, his grin coming back full force. They were on opposite sides of the stone now, Fluttershy at a loss for words.

"Are... are you okay?" she eventually asked. Ember blew a raspberry at her without making a sound. "You don't have to be rude," Fluttershy mumbled, frowning at him. Ember chuckled, the bells tinkling happily in response. Then he tensed his hindlegs. "Um, what're you do-" Fluttershy was cut off when the colt leapt, straight at her!

***

Back at Zecora's hut, Twilight was watching Zecora mix a pot of her favorite tea as she talked. "It always tastes better when it's from this forest, why do you think that is Fluttershy?" No reply. "Fluttershy?" Twilight turned, so busy chatting she hadn't noticed her friend's absence until then.

"You didn't happen to see where she went?" Twilight asked nervously. Zecora shook her head, stopping her work to look out a window.

"Our friend seems to have gone, but not for a time too long." she said. They left the hut, calling out for their pegasus friend. A high pitched shriek answered, coming from a disused trail. They shared a panicked look and galloped towards the sound.

***

Fluttershy cringed away with a frightened yell, raising her forehooves for protection. A second passed without impact, and she peeked between her fetlocks. Then a rush of alien feelings filled her, sending warm electricity through her veins. The forest snapped into crystal clarity, every color more vibrant, the sounds richer. She could feel the warmth of the afternoon sky on her coat. She could smell the moist scent of the forest, crisp with the spice of fall. Fluttershy felt as light as the wind, her thoughts stripped away and leaving a sense of elation. She didn't need to question where Ember had gone, she forgot all her worries and cares. Giggling lightly in her euphoria, Fluttershy sat in the dirt and let the rush carry her.

All too soon, she felt the ebb of excitement begin to dwindle. She sighed sadly, the feelings already fading to memory. When her heart rate had slowed back to normal, she blinked several times to reorient herself.

Zecora crashed into Fluttershy's back, sending them both tumbling in a mess of sprawled legs. Twilight came shortly after, panting to catch her breath while the two disentangled themselves.

"Fluttershy! are... are you okay?" Twilight managed between gasps.

Fluttershy ignored the question. "Did you see him?" she asked, swerving her head to check the clearing.

Twilight frowned in confusion, "Who?"

Ember Hoof was gone, leaving the three mares to themselves. "Oh, uh, no one."

"You didn't hit your head or anything, did you?"

Twilight was interrupted by Zecora, who had gone to look at the granite slab.

"This I have not seen before, I thought surprises there were no more." she said, studying the piece of stone. Twilight and Fluttershy moved to flank her, squinting to read the old writing. Zecora leaned in close, the two ponies mimicking the action, and blew off the layer of dust on top of it. Caught by surprise, her friends backed away coughing. She chuckled and waved away the cloud with a hoof.

Cleared of the film, the writing was legibile, if a little eroded. As they read Fluttershy swore she could hear the bells, but their happy tune was replaced by a heart wrenching knell.

'Back during the reign of Discord when all was mad, the ponies beneath his claw were never glad.
They did not know freedom or peace, only the cruel chaos and his tease.
A colt was raised in this yet he craved more, the slavery and torment made his spirit sore.
One fateful day he ran free, out to this forest for what he couldn't see.
To be released from his bounds, he left behind all that had become fond.
He sought relief from pains, those that would not be slain.
Out he came to this wood, and here he thought his life was good.
He died a free pony but alone, not a soul to hear his last sorrowful moan.'

"You sure you didn't make this Zecora?" Twilight asked, rereading the monument. Zecora shook her head.

Is this... somepony's grave? Fluttershy pawed at the soil, uncomfortable with standing on a pony's final resting place. Who would want to die out here, all alone?

That pony wanted to be free, so the stone said. But it had cost so much, all his friends and family left behind. He had never seen them again, even when he drew his final breath. To her surprise, she caught herself wondering if freedom had been worth it. Her mind drifted back to the burst of elation she had felt before Zecora and Twilight had arrived. Was that freedom?

"Well, I guess we should head home now..." Twilight muttered. Fluttershy came out of her thoughts and nodded.

"Bye Zecora, it was nice seeing you again." Fluttershy said half heartedly. Zecora waved a hoof to them as they trotted away.

"I've never heard of any legends like that. Actually, there's not a lot of text from Discord's reign at all. Maybe he..." Fluttershy rolled her eyes as Twilight began to rant once more. Is it so hard for her to shut up, a stray thought remarked. She stopped for a moment, stunned by her own thinking. "Something wrong Fluttershy?" Twilight asked, noticing that her friend had fallen behind.

"N-nothing!" she stammered, picking up the pace.

They separated once the Everfree was behind them, Twilight continuing on to her library-home. Fluttershy went to her own house, opening the door to a glaring white rabbit. "Oh Angel! I forgot to tell you where I was going. You must have been so worried about me..." the she started; the rabbit responded with a huff and a paw pointed towards the food closet. Fluttershy realized her mistake, she hadn't fed her animal friends today! She galloped past Angel, who dusted his off paws and hopped away, his mission accomplished.

Fluttershy went outside to feed the animals in her care, every hummingbird, squirrel, tortoise (Turtle! A nagging though corrected. The tortoise had gone off with Rainbow Dash.) and other various creatures. The sun had fallen by the time she had reached the last of her charges. Spitting out a mouthful of worms to the nest of blue jays, she watched the boughs of the Everfree sway in the breeze for a moment.

With a confused sigh she landed and went to her bedroom. Laying down on the soft bedding, Fluttershy tried to replay the events of the day. Specifically, the rush she had gotten when Ember had charged her. But that only made the mare restless. Giving up on the bed, she got out of it with a frustrated huff and quietly tip-hoofed out the door.

Fluttershy crested a hill not far away, sitting down by a tall oak to listen to it's leaves rustle. This was one of her favorite spots to rest during a busy day, the hill offering a wonderful view of her cottage and all it's inhabitants. Watching the little animals play, she felt a glow of contentment. But... something was missing, something she hadn't noticed before now. Her smile retreated into a puzzled frown.

Questions without answers plagued Fluttershy as she lay, and sleep took her unexpectedly.

***

Where am I? Fluttershy couldn't see anything, the world was pitch black. A surge of panic struck her, did I go blind?! She turned in tight circles, trying to see in the void and tripped over her own hoof, falling on a cold, hard surface. She shut her eyes, scared to open them and confirm her continued blindness. When a glow penetrated her eyelids, Fluttershy sighed in relief, realizing she wasn't blind. Though that still left the issue of where she was... After a couple minutes of internal debate, she opened an eye.

Fluttershy was trapped in a metal cage, the bars too close to let her hooves through, the entire thing hanging off some point in the sky. Looking down, she could see Ponyville highlighted by the reddish tint of dawn. It looked normal except for the ponies, each one stuck in a cell similar to hers. She wondered why she had been caught in the air, while they were stuck on the ground. But those thoughts vanished quickly when, scanning the ground, Fluttershy saw a mare, hoof outstretched to a crying foal. The two were locked inches apart.

Fluttershy tried to reassure the poor ponies, but her voice was too weak to carry that far. "Don't worry Fluttershy, this is just a bad dream, I'll wake up soon..." Her self reassurance wasn't doing much. There wasn't even enough room to spread her wings! Fluttershy wasn't as attached to flying as Rainbow Dash was, but right then she dearly wanted to fly away from this nightmare world.

A merry bell rang, making the mare jump. Like the conclusion to a play, a curtain closed on Ponyville, leaving her hanging in the darkness once more. There was a few flashes of red and gold sparks, before it became solid and began to spin. Faster and faster it went, creating a band of glimmering flames. Fluttershy was trembling now, terrified that the fires would consume her.

'Not free' chimed bells, the notes becoming words to Fluttershy. There was a sense of disappointment in the voice. She cringed away from the sound, frightened tears dripping down her muzzle. A pair of brilliant azure dots opened in the ring, peering into her eyes.

Fluttershy tried to look away, but the orbs held her still with a will of their own. The longer the stare held, the more the bright blue expanded until she could only see their burning cores. There was not malicious intent in their depths, but a possibility for mercy. A promise, a temptation of freedom. Enchanted, Fluttershy took a step towards them before the vision vanished with a 'pop!'.

***

Fluttershy awoke with a start as something thumped against her side. "A-angel Bunny? What're you doing up so late..?" she yawned, shaking off the post-sleep daze. Angel frowned at her and pointed at an imaginary watch on his wrist. "I'm late?"

She looked around and saw that she had in fact overslept. Fluttershy's mood dropped as she started with her morning feedings. She was already conflicted over the Everfree ordeal, adding her neglect in responsibility made her feel murky.

Once finished, she plopped onto her couch and tried to clear her mind, but her confusion only deepened. I know, a cup of tea should help me calm down. She agreed with this, and with every intention of fixing herself some herbal drink, started to hop off the cushions. Fluttershy's body didn't respond in kind to her thoughts, and left her lying prone on the couch.

Hours passed, and she was still laying on the furniture. Fluttershy had managed to find some kind of zen, the time had melding into a stream of meaningless blurs and freeing her to be frustrated over the disagreeing thoughts. Part of her wanted to go back into the Everfree and see what Ember Hoof could give to her. This part was new and a little unwelcome, even if it was persuasive. Her other, more familiar inclinations firmly agreed that it was best to stay away from that forest.

So why was it that her hooves had begun to move towards the door?

Part 4: Old version

Fluttershy paced nervously before the border to the dark forest, worry etched on her soft features. Without the welcome company of friends, her mind had hastened to fill with thoughts of freedom. The taste from that first night still lingered, so palpable she subconsciously licked her lips more than once. The dirt here was beginning to form a rut under her hooves, every glance towards the forest met with a wince and her eyes returned to the ground.

The typical, ever persuasive arguments against going into that horrid wood were waning. There could be Dragons lurking nearby, so what? Even if they did want to bother a lone pony, she could stare them down. The Manticores, Cockatrices, and dangerous beasts? If they wouldn't move, make them move. They should know better than to pester the butter yellow pegasus.

Two sides of Fluttershy competed against each other, her demure mantle against a newfound and temperamental anger. Each turn in her pacing seemed to match the twists in their jostling. But her old face was losing ground in her minds arena, incapable of matching the pent up passion of those angry thoughts.

Stopping her frantic trot, Fluttershy looked at the Everfree, biting her lip. Catching Ponyville out of the corner of her eye, the losing side put up one last defense: What about her friends? She couldn't abandon them like this, no explanation.

Some friends, the anger tainted her recollections of the five. Rainbow Dash didn't want to wait for her, they both knew the ground-bound pegasus would hold back the sky loving cyan mare. Rarity, for all her gifts, was possibly the most stuck up and self loving pony in Equestria. Applejack pitied her, she was so easily frightened while the cowpony could face a raging Manticore without batting an eye. Twilight was so reclusive, she often wondered if the unicorn thought of their friendship as a assignment more than a companionship. And Pinkie Pie, well, she was the opposite of Fluttershy in every way. It was a surprise the party pony could keep up the facade of closeness for so long.

Fluttershy's eyes narrowed as the bitterness swam in her veins. Snorting in subdued annoyance she dived into the forest, hooves stomping in defiance of her old reservations. Something howled in the distance, but the pegasus barely noticed. Her goal was set, and everything else had become meaningless.

When she passed Zecora's hut, the zebra was resting on her stomach at the side of the path. Seeing Fluttershy coming down the path at a quickened pace, Zecora wasn't surprised. She merely closed her eyes and yielded to something she couldn't change.

"I'm sorry dear Fluttershy, I should never have shown you were those secrets lie.

Fluttershy passed her without a second look, continuing on to the clearing. The zebra gave a despaired sigh and stood, following the pony. Zecora said nothing, knowing that it would be a wasted gesture; she thought she should perform this last respect for her friend, whom she had in all likelihood doomed.

The clearing was as barren as before, the slab resting in the center. Zecora and Fluttershy stood on either side, the forest din growing silent. Their eyes met, Zecora could see the indignant spark in the ponies wide blue-green eyes. "Leave, zebra." the pegasus said in a low voice.

"There is still time, you have not yet crossed the line."

"I wasted enough time, so please leave me alone."

Zecora bowed her head sadly and consented, her hooves heavy as she left her friend. Fluttershy barely acknowledged her exit, only one thing held her attention. The granite slab, mirroring the sky roughly in the noon light, blurred inscription glowing like Nightmare Night lanterns.

Ember Hoof was there, waiting for her. His spectral coat brushed around hers like smoke, and she hesitated for a moment before returning the embrace. The colt smiled like a father to his children, and raised his hoof to her.

Fluttershy took it.

***

She was reborn like a Phoenix from the ashes, rising into the air with radiant wings. Uplifted, soaring, the wind caressed her body, the flames fanned by the breezes. The smell of earth and tree and wildness. The feeling of life-filled dirt, smooth and moist beneath her hooves. Her eyes gazed into the world like a newborn foal, the colors crisp, fresh, lit with the glow of her own rejuvenation.

Fluttershy took in the world anew, distinctly aware of everything. Blood pulsed beneath her yellow coat, the low bass beats mixing with the symphony she heard. She reared, her hooves twisting in the air, purposeless, perfect. She stomped them back to earth for no better reason than to feel the reverberations of the world itself in her bones.

The smile that crossed her muzzle was wide, uncaring for the darkness, mocking the thought of worries. She was free! What need did she have of petty nuisances like fear?

Laughing with the heartbeat of the forest, Fluttershy walked. Then she trotted. At last she galloped, hooves leaving their marks on the grass, every blade tickling her fetlocks. Her breath came fast and heavy, the lightheaded feeling making her feel above the world. Muscles bent and stretched, crying in a primal ecstasy she had never known.

When she grew thirsty from the exertion, she stopped by a lake. Without a thought she leaped into the crystal blue, sending pygmy waves to the shores. The water was chilled at the bottom, and the mud tugged on her legs when she pressed into it. It was wonderful.

Fluttershy came back to the surface with a gasp, long pink mane plastered across her back. Giggling like a filly she paddled around the lake, watching mesmerized as ripples spread when she broke the mirror-like surface. She thought the sun was dancing in the waves, and broke into a full bodied laugh. It was loud, exuberant and unrestrained. The noise echoed through the trees, no longer imposing to the pegasus.

Sensing her companion was left out, she drifted to the shore and clambered out. The water dripping from her hair chimed like winter bells as they detonated below. Ember Hoof greeted her with a grin, his form waving like a candle on the wind.

Feeling a bout of childish elation, Fluttershy jumped at the colt. He dodged her, laughing with his noiselessness. The mare tried again and again to grab the flickering flame; she didn't bother making words anymore, they were restricting. Instead she opted for odd animalistic cheers as they played their game. The butterfly to the flame, prancing like foals beside a crystalline lake.

At last tired with their play, they lay beside one another, watching the day trade with the night. Pinpricks of light and inky blackness as their blanket, warm and pleasantly pointy grass as their bed, the two slept.

***

This was an odd dream...

Fluttershy was moving somewhere, but she didn't feel connected to her body. No, wait, she wasn't moving. She was being dragged. Up some rough surface, rocks digging painfully into her wings. Somewhere above, she heard something roar and terror dragged through her blood.

Then she remembered; Applejack had to drag her up the mountain so she could face a dragon. Locked by her stupid fears, she had been a burden the whole time, making her friends work harder because she couldn't stand on her own hooves. Her dream self twisted in disgust. 'Pathetic!' she screamed at the whimpering, demure mare, over and over, a scorn on all she had and hadn't been.

'Pathetic, weak, useless...'

***

Fluttershy woke up in the grace of slender trees, bending gently in a cool wind. The dream was quickly forgotten, she turned and stretched herself on the soft grass, a satisfying ache filled her muscles as they were pulled and flexed. Arching her back, she rolled into the grass bedding and wiggled, letting the strands poke into her skin.

Eventually, the mare stood and gazed into the sky. The sun was high in the sky, the brilliant orb without contenders in the cloudless sky. Free, just like she was. Fluttershy laughed exultantly, trotting away with a spring in her step.

Her stomach protested, devoid of a meal since yesterday morning. The pegasus swiveled her head to examine the bushes that littered the Everfree, finding plump purple berries that hung from slim branches, pulled down by the fattened fruits. Biting off a mouthful, she sighed in bliss as the bittersweet juice burst alive in her mouth.

Eating her fill, she trotted through the forest. Fluttershy saw things hidden by the shadows, and laughed at them. It wasn't that bashful chuckle of old, it was a mocking noise for the worms that would seek to frighten her now. Didn't they see? She was free from their little tricks, to the moon with them. The Everfree was her forest now, they would learn to share it with the reborn mare. They would have no other choice.

Ember came soon, red and gold and brown bounding through the flora with careless abandon. Fluttershy followed, flapping her wings to gain on the colt, playing a game of cat and mouse in the dark forest. She didn't know which of them was the cat, which the mouse, but her life was simple and complete in the strange game.

When their play ended, Ember guided Fluttershy far deeper into the wood, where the air was damp and pungent. Through the swamp, balancing delicately on rocks that strained up from the mud, and past trees that had played sentinels for centuries. The flora stopped suddenly, a homage of respect to their patron; an ancient willow, bleached white by its uncountable eons. The leaves had fallen from the dizzying branches long ago, their dust had fed the dirt, making it rich and musty. The roots of the thing were gigantic, big enough to hold a den of wolves in their archways. The two ponies leaped from the hulking lumps, the bark was hard and smooth, almost like satin. They took their rest beside it's grand trunk, the night sky twinkling from between the gracefully hanging branches.

***

This time she was hidden behind a bush, string held tight in her mouth. She was half crazed, muttering to herself. Fluttershy felt bitter, angry, and most of all worried in the shell of who she had been.

She had just wanted the animals to love her, like her friends in Ponyville. Anxiety ripped through her, what if they didn't love her after this? She was a mass of aimless concern, unable to see how absurdly she was acting.

Another moment where she was not free, constrained by her own self. So what if they wouldn't love her? They didn't deserve it, and she didn't care about them anymore. Free, free, free at last, and there was nothing those pestering creatures could do to stop her!

Her dream self opened her mouth to cackle maniacally, and the new Fluttershy laughed at her. Soon, it would all go so horribly wrong, and she'd be back in her cage hoping that something would love her in the morning. But that wasn't true now, she loved being free and needed nothing in return.

***

This time, Ember led her to a cave chiseled deep in the rock, hidden away by tangled, wiry shrubs. Fluttershy brushed past the thicket, following the wavering colt ahead of her. The cave darkened quickly, the echoes of dripping water bouncing around the wide walls. She ignored her lack of vision, just keeping Ember in her sight.

The two stopped on a balcony, overlooking a sphere of carved stone, dimly lit by fey lights emanating from crystal placements. Light blues, dark maroons, elegant purples and shining yellow mixed in the air. It was like a kaleidoscope built by whimsical gods, content to whittle their eternities watching the colors dance.

Ember Hoof grinned, watching the translucent lights reflect in Fluttershy's pupils. Then he covered her eyes with a foreleg and pushed her onwards till they were standing in the middle. Checking to see that everything was in place, as it had been since the creation of this cavern of lights, he gave Fluttershy back her sight with a flourish.

Surrounding the two were shadows of elder beings created by the crystals, seeming to dance to some eldritch orchestra. Their forms slipped and poured around each other, Equestria's never ending rainbow gala. Fluttershy watched them in amazement for awhile, then Ember offered her his hoof. She took it, and was swung amidst the phantoms.

They found their rhythm soon enough. Closing her eyes, the pegasus could pretend to make out the lullaby they danced to, haunting and alien, beautifully foreign. Humming along to it, she dipped and pranced with a ghost in the hall of dancing dreams.

That night they bedded down in front of the cave, Fluttershy exhausted, Ember as sprightly as ever. As sleep crowded around her conscious mind, Fluttershy tried to hum out the discordant melody from the cave. Instead, her weary voice came out with an older song.

"Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy heads..."

***

Fluttershy was stuck someplace dark that smelled thickly of hay and dust. Somepony jostled her side and whispered an apology. They were waiting for something, what was it...

The door was kicked open violently, an exhausted cyan pegasus dragging a disgruntled pink pony by her tail. Dropping Pinkie in the barn, Rainbow collapsed with an air of triumph. Pinkie's hair was straight, her colors looked like they had been washed with dirty water. Fluttershy exchanged an anxious look with the other three hidden ponies. This wasn't how they expected things...

The dream skipped ahead, the five friends were crowded around Pinkie with hopeful smiles, having explained the situation to her. The party pony looked around, unsure, until she perked up suddenly with a sound like inflating balloons. Each of them was pulled next to her in a back cracking hug, Pinkie smiling brilliantly.

The party finally started, her dream body prancing shyly to the upbeat music. The older Fluttershy couldn't stop seeing that moment as she disconnected from her remembered form. Pinkie had been nearly insane with despair when she thought her friends were abandoning her. And, faster than Rainbow Dash, they had given her back her joy.

They had made a pony almost blindingly happy just by being there...

***

Fluttershy stood on the precipice of a mountain, the snow drifts catching the midday light and flashing like stars in the blue sky. All the world was lain out before her, the north wind shrouding her in it's icy covering. The peak of Equestria sang it's own mix on the symphony. It wasn't heavy and bone shaking like the beat of the earth. High, piercing whistles came in sharp bursts. It was like sitting front row, witnessing the strings and wind instruments of the universes ensemble, playing in all their glory.

Looking down, Fluttershy could see the dark green path of the Everfree, bands of sparkling teal running in tiny streaks down it's surface. To the left was a sparser land, trees less packed. Far in the distance, Canterlot sat royally on the side of a lesser height, a speck of light and white.

She swung her head to the right, taking in the endless fields of muted gold. Even from here, she could see the ocean waving in soft breezes. Fluttershy breathed in deep, letting the cold bite of north wind nip along her lungs before exhaling.

Even as Fluttershy took in the magnificent view from the peak of the world, something squirmed uncomfortably inside her. That feeling of absolute perfection had altered; forgotten memories tainting the glorious freedom Ember had blessed her with. Equestria seemed to feel it too, the colors gradually dimming with her discontent. The world wasn't as vibrant as it had been when she started this, more than a week ago, it just felt empty.

Ember looked at her worriedly, was this sight not great enough? Fine, then he would find new heights, deeper depths, sights long left behind by the waking world. Anything to keep the pegasus in her state of ecstasy. If his world wasn't satisfying, then he would change it, simple as that.

Very close by, a Dragon made of gleaming emerald flew above their heads, the wind rushing behind it. Fluttershy's pink mane flew into her face as she watched in awe, the enormous wingspan twisting with untamed strength. Liquid grass-green jewels rained from it's sides, a shower the likes none living could ever see. Ember cheered silently, assured that he could keep Fluttershy entranced.

Then the pegasus cringed away from the winged serpent with a squeak.

***

Fluttershy faced a terrifyingly regal alicorn, the darkest components of night incarnate. Raw power flowed around it, creating a void that she dared not look into. She was sure that the creature would turn on her in an instant; crush her with a thought. End her brief existence with a glare from those horrible, hardened blue eyes, the irises nothing but a darker gash in their frozen centers.

But Nightmare Moon didn't, because Fluttershy wasn't alone. Standing on all sides of her were four ponies she had only just begun to know, and her childhood protector. She floated in the air, fear flooding every inch of her being. Despite her deeply ingrained and well respected sense of when to run, she stood, or flew, firm. They had come this far together, when Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and her had come into this chamber, they knew what would happen. For better or worse, they would not abandon the purple unicorn.

They had placed their lives in Twilight's hooves, and their trust was not unrewarded. With their elements sparkling around them, they purged the twisted mare, and set free the princess so long imprisoned as the Nightmare. As she fainted from exhaustion, the magic finished, she felt safe next to her newest friends.

She was in Ponyville, listening to the princess of the sun while a bashful Luna stood next to the taller alicorn. "- to study the magic of friendship." Celestia finished, and her student beamed. Fluttershy practically squealed in excitement and joined the other four ponies as they welcomed the new Ponyville resident, and their new friendship.

***

The mare didn't wake up this time, instead the dream collapsed with the sound of breaking glass. Ember's world was replaced with an empty void; Fluttershy turned to face the colt, her thoughts no longer clouded by the thrill. Like his illusion of Equestria, the borrowed body was gone, leaving a wraith that matched his colors with two burning sapphires set in the glimmering tongues of fire. They stared at each other, the butterfly and the flame, both understanding that something must change.

Behind the phantom colt was the Everfree forest, bright, alive, promising the perfection of release. Fluttershy turned her head, knowing what would wait on the opposite side of Ember Hoof. A cell door, the lock in the shape of three pink butterflies.

"The choice is yours," Ember said, the flames of youth gone in his long suffering rasp. "Your new life and blissful freedom, or..." his voice turned vehement, and he stopped himself. Or her old life, and all it's miseries, and all her friends. The mare closed her eyes, concentrating deeply.

Vistas beyond imagination, the freedom to run like her wild ancestors, to never be held back by herself. Or a crowd of grinning ponies, the warmth and welcome of home, and fond memories. Exhaling slowly, the mare made her choice.

Fluttershy took that first determined step, and the other way shut forever more.