The Sunset Fantasy

Chapter 4: You Have Our Attention

A large, well-secluded tree an hour’s gallop from Ponyville hung its long arms over the monster. There was no more moonlight, and the sky was a dark blue. The gentle hanging arms of the tree let the monster be, not stroking the scales of the beast. The silent night let its inhabitants listen to the monster’s sobbing.

It was an unnatural sound, coming off as quick rhythmic wheezes more than heartfelt cries. I’m a monster. She continued to cry with her eyes closed. I’m a monster. No noise interrupted the sobbing. I’ve probably scared all the creatures away. It’s for the better.

I’m the monster.

She curled into herself, tucking her face into her underside and using her wing to mask herself from the rest of the world. Trixie’s never going to forgive me. Ponyville will never forgive me. My friends will hate me . . . I can’t go back. I can’t make them worry about me. I can’t risk hurting them.

She sighed. The Everfree Forest is a place for monsters.

THUNK!

Fluttershy raised her wing, peering through to see what had just hit her. There, standing right next to her, was Angel.

Wha- She fully lifted her wing, taking her head from out of its hiding place. Angel, what’re you doing out here? How’d you find me? He hopped onto her snout. What are you doing?

Angel hopped to right in front of Fluttershy’s eyes and, with a smile, began to stroke the base of her snout. She recoiled, pinning her ears back.

Why? I’m a monster, Angel. Why can’t you understand that? I’m only going to end up hurting everypony, and that means you too. He proceeded to nuzzle in between her eyes. I can’t go back, Angel. I’m nothing but a monster. I don’t want to hurt anypony, but that’s all I can do.

“I’m a monster.”

Her voice surprised her, and Angel had to jump off before she sent him flying. She looked back at herself: she was a pony again. She didn’t notice Angel nuzzling her leg as she absentmindedly walked to the trunk of the large tree and curled up against one of its many large roots.

Angel hopped to her, but she held her hoof up. “Go home, Angel. I must stay here.” He placed a paw on her flank. “I can’t go back, Angel. Everypony’d be in danger. I don’t want to hurt anypony anymore.” He tugged at her mane. “I’m a monster, Angel. Nothing more. Go back home.” He tugged again.

“I said go home!” Before she knew it, she was staring at Angel, who cowered back. Fluttershy’s stare didn’t waver as Angel disappeared behind another large tree. Then Fluttershy closed her eyes and cried.

Oh, you’re just awful, Fluttershy. Making him walk all the way back after he came to see you, and in the Everfree Forest where he could be hurt! You don’t deserve to be loved ever again.

A tap on her snout interrupted her thoughts, and she looked up to see Angel petting her snout, smiling, staring at her. Without hesitation she pulled him into a hug. “Oh, Angel Bunny, I’m so sorry I sent you away where you could’ve been hurt or worse! Can you ever forgive me?” He hugged her, and she nuzzled him. “I’ll get you home. Everything will be all right.”

Placing him on her back, Fluttershy rose, walked out of the tree’s protection, and flew above the forest and in the direction of the rising sun.

Over an hour later, Fluttershy reached her cottage but didn’t go past the shade of the Everfree trees. Angel urged her on, but she merely set him down, patting him. They heard nothing from where they were.

“Go on, Angel.” She nudged him, but he wouldn’t move; instead, he grabbed her mane and pulled. “Angel, I can’t go home. I’m a monster.” Angel continued to tug. “Angel . . .” she hung her head.

He wouldn’t stop, and without any more resistance, she dragged her hooves to the cottage. She could hear a small clinking inside, but as she neared the door that was the only noise that came out. Fluttershy stopped in front of her door, no longer pulled by Angel.

He opened the door and continued to lead Fluttershy inside. Once in, Fluttershy looked up to see Trixie pouring food out of a can; her face was deadpanned—though her eyes were baggy—and her diamond necklace was around her neck. She winced as Trixie’s gaze fell on her.

Trixie put the food down, levitated a bag from the table, and placed it in front of Fluttershy. It hit the ground with a THUNK!, and she could see something gold inside.

“Trixie—“

“You didn’t have any bits,” Trixie croaked, massaging her throat and fiddling with her necklace. “This is to help you with shopping.” While Fluttershy was still looking at the bits, Trixie nuzzled her cheek. “Trixie is . . . sorry about last night.”

Fluttershy nuzzled and hugged her. “I’m the one that should be sorry! You’re only trying to help me—“

“Enough,” Trixie whispered. “Trixie forgives you. Let’s just move past this, okay?” Fluttershy nodded. “Okay, then. Your animals have been fed. I’d just like silence today; Trixie’s dealing with a hangover at the moment.” With that, Trixie began ambling towards the stairs. Fluttershy walked to her side and supported Trixie as they haphazardly walked up to the bedroom.

“Thank you,” Fluttershy whispered. “For the bits and the animals.”

Trixie made no response. As she opened the door and ambled to the bed, she turned and spoke two words.

“Cherries, please.”

And then the door closed.

Fluttershy stood there for a moment before trotting back downstairs. Angel waited for her with a worried look, and she sighed.

“I guess everything’s all better now.” She rubbed her hoof in between his ears. “Do we have any more cherries?”

Angel scurried into the storage area. After a few minutes, he returned and shook his head. Fluttershy nodded and picked up the bag of bits.

“I guess I’ll be gone for a while, then.” She ambled to the door again. Animals began to crowd around her, but she didn’t stop walking. “Be, um . . .” She walked out the door, not closing it, and began walking to the market.

The town was abuzz with conversations about the monster. Stalls were crowded by ponies buying food in bulk, while places like Sugar Cube Corner and the jewelry store were closed. At least a dozen royal guards walked around the streets, interrupting conversations or looking about. Mayor Mare was bombarded by ponies left, right and above.

Nopony paid any mind to Fluttershy, which was well with her; she didn’t think she could say anything to anypony that day. With an occasional glance up, she trotted past everypony until she reached her destination: Ponyville’s cherry stand, attended to by a rough-looking pegasus.

“Well, well,” the vendor singsonged with a growl, causing Fluttershy to stop walking. “You’re back. Hopefully you’re not such a doormat as you were, eh kid?” He chuckled.

Fluttershy remained emotionless. “Two dozen cherries, please.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Hmm . . . no foolin’ around today, kid? Eh, it’s just better for business, I suppose.” He counted out the cherries for her. “That’ll be 24 bits, kid.”

She lay the bag of bits on the table, allowing him to take his payment. Fluttershy looked around to see a guard talking to Applejack and Apple Bloom not too far from her. Apple Bloom had bags under her eyes, and Applejack’s were bloodshot. Fluttershy sighed.

“Ahem!”

She turned to the vendor. “Yes?”

“Would ya care to explain this?”

Fluttershy looked down and gasped. There lay two halves of a bit.

The vendor began stepping out from behind his stand. “D’ya really think you could get away with payin’ with fake bits!” Before she knew it, she was face-to-face with the larger stallion.

She scurried back. “I-I didn’t know they were fake!”

“Uh huh, sure!” He stomped towards her; a few onlookers gathered around. “Ya thought you could play a fast one on me, eh? A li’l payback for makin’ ya miss your cherry last time?” He knocked her to her back. “Huh!”

In an instant, Fluttershy stopped cowering. Looking into the eyes of the stallion, all she saw was anger. At that point, Fluttershy stopped resisting; she closed her eyes and waited for whatever would come.

“Guards! Gua—“

“Excuse me,” a calm voice spoke. Fluttershy opened her eyes to see Doctor Whooves standing in between her and the vendor. “So sorry for interrupting, but is it really necessary to get the royal guard involved in such a petty squabble, now would we?”

“Ne—“

“Of course not!” Doctor Whooves chuckled and brought a bag out. He tossed it on the table, where it hit with a CLINK! “There are thirty bits in there. You can count them all out and check their authenticity.”

“Er—“

“And, of course, keep the change. For your troubles.” He turned his attention to her. “Are you alright, dear?”

Fluttershy raised herself from the ground as the vendor was checking each individual bit. “I guess so,” she mumbled. “I didn’t know they were fake.”

The Doctor nodded. “I understand, Miss Fluttershy. You were just given counterfeit money, that’s what happened.”

“I’m a monster.”

“Excuse me?”

She shook her head. “Nothing.” The crowd had dissipated, and the royal guards had no interest in the matter.

Doctor Whooves nodded. “I must ask you to come with me, Fluttershy. There’s something I wish to discuss with you.” He didn’t wait for an answer as he began walking the other direction. Fluttershy silently walked after him.

“Your cherries, dear.”

Fluttershy turned around to grab her cherries. The vendor said nothing as he put the bits away and tossed the fakes ones. Fluttershy walked after the Doctor.

When she refocused, she found herself walking down the hallway of the Ponyville Hospital. Doctor Whooves continued to walk with a grin, and Fluttershy still had her head to the ground. None of the staff paid them any attention, as they had frantic ponies clutching onto them.

Doctor Whooves knocked on the farthest door. It opened a moment later to reveal Nurse Redheart.

“Oh, Doctor.” Her eyes were bloodshot. “Did you bring her?”

“Yes, dear.” Doctor Whooves signaled her inside; Fluttershy wordlessly walked in and turned to face the other two.

Nurse Redheart looked worried, but Doctor Whooves was still grinning. He locked the door. “Right, then,” he began, his voice stern. “Now there is something I wish to discuss with you. I think it’d be a fair trade for helping you avoid a counterfeiting charge.”

Redheart’s eyes widened. “She was counterfeiting?”

“I’m not sure,” he said. “But that’s unimportant right now.” He turned to Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, dear?”

She set her saddlebag on the floor as looked at them. “Y-yes, Doctor?”

“What in Equestria did you become last night?”