6.4: Fluttershy trial

‘’Hum... hello... hellooo... anypony there? Can somepony hear me? Hum, it's just that, well, I am been here for a long time and nothing had happened. Did we forget about me? Wait, is that it! Did we forget about me! I am to be trapped in that empty room until I die of hunger?! Please, I beg you, if somepony can hear me then just give me a sign. Please... it's lonely in there.’’

Fluttershy, feelings the tears coming back once again, used her yellow wings to cover herself like a blanket. This was helping her to relax a little and she felt a wave of drowsiness coming to her.

When she was brought there she immediately went into a panic and flew at every corner to find an exit or an opening. Once a time, at the ruins of the Castle of The Two Sisters, she feels into a trap where she was also stuck a tight room and was separated from her friend Angel Bunny. When she got up and find him again, let just say, it nearly could have ended badly. This had been traumatic for her and since that day she had developed a small claustrophobic phobia because being in tight space remember her that awful time that she had been separated from her little friend. And now, the fear had come to her once again. Time three. Because this time she was now separated from all her friends and they could be in serious danger. The dread was too much and she was hyperventilating. But she tried to calm herself, sit and to just wait for her turn to come. But after all this time, intrusive thoughts that she could have been forgotten came through her and, well the rest you already know it.

In her sleep she dreamed. Maybe it was to retreat in pleasant memories. Or maybe it was to remember her what she could lose. But her dreams were of happy moments of her life. Moments where she had been brave. Where she had stood up for her friends. Like when she had learned to sing in front of others. Or when she vanquished her fear of the eyes of others. All that remembered her that today she had become a braver pony, a pony she could be proud of.

Fluttershy had awakened from a brief sleep. Even though she did not feel more rested.

‘’Did... I dozed off? I wonder how I had managed to do that?’’

To pep herself up, she slapped her two checks.

‘’What I am doing! This no time to be a scaredy-cat. You have proved many times that you are not the same Fluttershy of the past. I just had said I would gladly give my life for them and I will stick to my words.’’

‘’Is it true? Good. Very good.’’

Fluttershy felt a cold running on her back. She had never realized that for a long time, the colorless eyes of Melancholia were watching her from behind. And after hearing that unexpected voice, her first reflex was:

‘’Eeeeekk!!!’’

She jumped forward, stayed spread on the floor and covered her eyes with her hoofs.

‘’Oh sorry sorry, I did not mean to scare you. It is just that your speech was so inspiring, I did not want to disturb it. You not offended are you?’’

Fluttershy did not move but instead she started shaking uncontrollably.

‘’Oooooh, scared are you. Where did go all your courage? After all, your turn has come Miss Fluttershy. Are you ready?’’

The yellow pegasus turned her head and showed to the game master not a face of fear... but a face of pure rage!!!

‘’YOUUUUUUUUUU.’’

She flew before the screen to fully display to the gray stallion all her rage.

Fluttershy was the type to repress what she does not consider acceptable feelings, and especially anger. At the single hint, she buries it deep inside her subconscious even before she realizes she had them in the first place. And nopony was making her angrier that Mel whose methods were repulsive to her. Just hearing him talk was enough to make her blood boil and making her shake with rage. Quickly, the dam was crushed and all those emotions exploded in her in an inferno of hate she thought she would never be capable.

‘’How dare you! How dare you do that to us, you big meanie! Who gives you the right to treat us like toys for your enjoyment ! We're not toys, we are people. Will you like if somepony did the same to you? And not only you openly hurt ponies but you hurting my friends and you made a spectacle out of it! My, friends. You do not, you do not, HURT, MY, FRIENDS.’’

The fury of that yellow mare being angry was sure quite something. The time with the dragon was nothing compared to that. Remember, thousands of ponies could see her. Her and her rage were enough to give to many a fright that went to their very soul.

But it seems that Mel didn't have one. Because his face did not move an inch and his expression was still as perfect as a marble statue. Which raged the pegasus even more.

‘’Don't you dare make that smug face to me! How could you smile like that? You will stop that cruel joke and let us all go and apologize to all of you have hurt. Why are you not responding?! But would you at last stop to make that damn smile! SAY SOMETHIIIIIIING!’’

‘’... ... ... Your turn has come Miss Fluttershy. Are you ready?’’

This... was a hard blow for Fluttershy. Not a once, not a single once of him had been affected. The feeling of futility was enough to snuff out all anger in her, leaving her drain, so drain that she fell flat on the floor, looking at that gray pony like if it was an incomprehensible creature.

‘’You... you really do have no heart.’’

‘’Humm, you may be right. But let us not talk about me, let us about you. You are the star of the show.’’

‘’I don't want to be.’’

‘’Too bad, you have no choice. And for good reason, there is no way I will deprive the audience to see the angel of the Mane 6. Which is you.’’

‘’I... think you are exaggerating.’’

‘’Non non non. It's the truth. At first glance, you may appear nothing more than a simple shy introvert but you are much more than that. Although you are more fearful than the average pony, you don't let that controlling you. Over the years, slow but surely, you have managed to become more brave and to get out of your comfort zone. And believe me, that is a true inspiration to many.’’

The yellow mare was confused and that was making her more nervous. Why does he compliment her like that? She was tempted to feel pleased. If it was not for that sick feeling building up in her stomach. And it didn't get better as he was continuing to sing her praise.

‘’But how do you manage to do that, to surpass your weakness? Very often, the answer is... love. Indeed, your infinite love for all that live is your driving force Fluttershy. With love you are able to make it fall the wall that is your fear. With love you are able to face mortal peril to save your friends. I mean, you just had proved it today.’’

‘’Well, I guess that kinda true. But why//

‘’But all I had mentioned are only half of your qualities. You're somepony who cares and show kindness on all creatures but what I consider your greatest attribute is the effect you have on others.’’

‘’I, I don't understand?’’

‘’What I mean is because of your empathy, you touch them on a deep level and inspire them to be better. And many had become better person because of you. Even you won't deny that. Yes, that what makes a true angel. A pure heart one that inspires others to follow its example. Or at least, to be closer of that example. However... let us finish here. It's not like we have all night.’’

The wall behind the screen opened-up, revealing a corridor.

‘’First, go that way. Then I will tell you what to do next.’’

‘’And... *gulp* and if I don't?’’

Mel casually brushed his hair.

‘’If, you, don't, then you can say goodbye to your precious sanctuary because it will burn to the ground. Oh and probably a lot of your critter friends.’’

The iris of poor Fluttershy shrink in terror and she lost all her breath. Another screen appeared, showing a map of her sanctuary and the forest around it. That and three blinking dots at different locations

‘’Evidently, it was impossible to put the bombs in there because since it is always occupying we will have been noticed for sure. So instead, three bombs had been placed in strategic spots around it. If I detonate them, it will cause fires that will quickly combine themselves to forming a firestorm sustained by its own wind system, practically impossible to extinguish.’’

And to emphasize his point, the dots became fire that spread on the forest for then becomes one single fire that grew in size at a record speed until all was just a sea of fire.

‘’Your sanctuary is for wounded and unwell animals, right? Some of them could escape to safety... but surely not all of them.’’

‘’No!!! No no no please don't, they just innocent animals, they have nothing to do with this! How can you be so cruel? You must do this.’’

‘’Oh, if not, what will you do to me?’’

‘’I will never forgive you.’’

‘’Ahahahaha!’’

Mel went into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, his face resting on his hooves.

‘’Hahaha, is it, haha, is it really the best you can do?! You really are a pure-hearted angel. ... You remember me a lot of a certain little filly.’’

He shook his head momentarily to find back his seriousness.

‘’Let's not get distract. If you want to save your sanctuary then all you have to do is go forward. But if you prefer otherwise, I have no problem//

‘’Stooop!!! Alright alright, I will do it.’’

And with not even taking the time to wait for his answer, she flew straight toward the opening as fast as Rainbow.

At the end of the tunnel only blackness was waiting for her. She could see nothing but she could hear the doors behind her closing, trapping her here. As she was about to ask what to do next, light came from above, lighting her and blinding her. Then other lights came to be, lighting more and more the room before her. She was not sure to understand what she was seeing because it looked like a pool. A large pool that was taking nearly all the room, minus the dry land where Fluttershy was.

She went closer, her muzzle nearly touching the water when an electrical arc crackled in front of her eyes. She jumped back in fright realizing the water was electrified. But that was not all. Torrents of fire came upwards out of the water, making Fluttershy back off even more. The poor pegasus was trembling, hiding behind her wings and looking through the gaps between her feathers.

‘’What is all this? What does he want me to do? Oh dear, oh dear, I have a bad feeling about this.’’

A final light came, lightning now the very end of the room. To reveal that right there was//

‘’The kelpies! But... So... so horrible! How can he do that?!’’

That right. At the end of the pool there was a cubic platform serving as a little island, with on it, a cage with two terrified kelpies inside. The cage was electrified. And before it was a big, weird, gizmo tower thing with thunder coursing through it. No need to be an expert to know this was the power source.

While she was contemplating in horror, Mel appeared behind her on screen like the good little 'not being able to read the room' guy he was.

‘’Ah, I see you have met the surprise guests of this game.’’

‘’I... I just have no word. How much must you hurt until you're satisfied?’’

‘’Until my message gets clearly understood. Those two are kelpies that had been captured from our local lake. And they will soon get a bad time. Now you see the dynamo? And do you hear the beep coming from them?’’

Indeed, Fluttershy could hear a continuous beep noise coming at intervals from the gizmo.

‘’Those beeps serve as a countdown. As more the interval between them becomes shorter, sooner the dynamo while send to those kelpies a hit of many volts. And before you say anything, yes, there is a way for you to save them. You see, those dynamos are quite fragile. A single contact with anything can disturb them and make then short-fuse. Why you in luck, it turn there is a nice pile junk to your left.’’

She turned her head to the left and he was right, there was a bunch of mismatches broken things, mostly made of metal. Clearly it was not there by coincidence.

‘’And you want me to... *gulp* to traverse those traps?’’

‘’Oops, I forgot to mention a detail. You are not at all forces to save them. You can well leave without consequences. For you at least.’’

To her right, the wall open-up to reveal an exit.

‘’What! But... but but but... I am so confuse now. What about my sanctuary?’’

‘’Sanctuary? There is no sanctuary involves.’’

‘’But you had said//

‘’I had said that I will spare your sanctuary if you proceed forward. And that you did. So as a reward I had shut it down the bombs once and for all without any hope they be activated again. It also means that I no longer any incentive to force you to play. Good for you. Too bad for me.’’

‘’ (What! Wh, wh, what he is playing at, it doesn't make sense?)’’

‘’And by the way, I can tell you have a grave misconception. The current the dynamo will give them is not lethal.’’

‘’It's not!’’

‘’No. It has as much voltage as the lightning rods, well, a little more considering their sizes of those two, so the only thing it will do is knock them up. It will maybe hurt them a little but they will live. So, in the end, it's your call. You could decide to risk your life and saved the kelpies from an unjust bad time, or if you find it's not worth the risk you can just go and no consequence will fall on you and although the kelpies won't like that, nothing irreparable will truly happen to them. Your, call.’’

The pegasus was a little taken aback by the choice Melancholia was giving her. But then she looked at the Kelpies. These two creatures, though massive, were now like little frightening animals, looking desperately for a way out but not moving from the center of the cage out of fear of the electrified bars. Fluttershy could imagine what has happened to them. They must have been taken by force to be thrown into this madness, like her. They must be feeling helpless and not being able to understand anything around them, like her. They were looking at her, supplying to save them. To not abandon them.

The choice was not hard to make.

‘’You really expect me to just go my way and let those poor animals being tortured. How can I do that? Even if they will not die, they will be hurt and be traumatized for the rest of their life. They will become afraid of everything, no longer being able to have a good night sleep and feeling they are all alone in the world. That won't happen. Because I will save them, I will show them that somepony cares. You had said that with my love, I am able to push back my fears. Well, that what I will do and I don't care how dangerous your fire traps are. That what you wanted to do isn't. You wanted me to run away and show that I didn't truly grow and ponies can't be courageous. Well guess what, I am not the old Fluttershy and I have the strength to vanquish my fears. You hear me Mel?’’

She turned around to face Mel. Only to saw there was nothing behind her. Mel had gone away.

‘’... You don't even believe I can do it. You are looking that down on me? I don't care. I will show you that you are wrong. And as for you my poor kelpies, don't worry, I will soon get you of this nasty cage. Then that day would be like nothing more than a bad dream. I promise.’’

The kelpies looked at the yellow mare and through her turquoise eyes could see shinning in them the care and love that could come of a mother. This was enough to reassure them and making them less agitated. As for Fluttershy, she went to the pile of junk, scavenging for what would be the most useful.

‘’Not that. No, this won't do. Certainly not that. Oh!! This should do.’’

She decided to settle to an iron bar, long and easy to transport. She grabbed with her mouth but decided it was then time to hurry since she noticed that the interval between the beeps was getting shorter.

‘’Alright, time to go. Now what I have to do is... fly... over those... traps.’’

Although she was full of confidence before, now, looking at those flamethrowers spitting those merciless fire liking the roof and the water below them shimmering with an electrical blue hue was giving her cold feet.

‘’(If... if that fire touches me, what will happen? Would it be as painful as I think? Would it be more? Wait, if get it I will surely fall in the water! What it's like to have electricity coursing through you? Wait there is worse! I never could get out of the water that mean one plunge and I will, I will... die NO STOP!!! Get those thoughts out of your head. Right now they are more scared than you so you have to be the brave one. Be attentive Fluttershy, if you look carefully, you notice there is a pattern at when the flamethrowers light on and off. If you fly slowly between them and time yourself carefully, there should be no problem. Okay go.)’’

She flapped her wings and flew to a careful pace across the booby-trap pool. She stopped at the first fire before her and waited that it was extinguished. When it was gone, she quickly charged. The fire came back and went up. She was at a safe distance. But she could feel the heat penetrating her back. And when it was gone, cold took its place. This was making her nervous. At the moment she was surrounded by deadly flames, too close for comfort, that were making her sweat a lot. Not just because of the heat.

A other shut down, she flew through it, then another. So far, she had made good progress. She had done half of the path and that was making her confidant that she could pull it without problems. But in this moment of inattention, she nearly not noticed the fire trap before her and it threw its inferno, nearly roasting her muzzle.

‘’Eeeeek!!!’’

In her fear she dropped the iron bar from her mouth but recatch it in extremism with reflexes she did not know was capable. The tip of the bar was just at a few millimeters from the electrified water.

‘’It was too close. This not the moment to panic, you must stay focus, you have nearly arrived.’’

Taking a deep inspiration, she finds back her calm and proceed. She traversed another row but then noticed that the beeps were more frequent.

‘’I am running out of time, I need to hurry up. I think it possible for me to fly between them but it is risky.’’

Indeed the spaces between the spits of flames were large enough for one pegasus to fly through but one mistake or wrong move and she was doomed. Her heart was beating at a painfully pace. But mustering all the strength she could in her, she decided to take her chance and flew between two fiery pillars. The heat was high but supportable. Then two others came before her and with address, turn herself around so her body passed at the vertical between them. And right now, she had achieved her goal and had reached the cage.

‘’I did it! I did it, I really did it. In the end it was easier than it looked.’’

The kelpies whined to her because they wanted to quickly get out of here and also they could partially understand that time was running out.

‘’Oh right right, I need to shut down that thing. But how? He had said only one contact would be enough. But if the bar touch it, I will be electrocuted too. Maybe... I should just throw it at it.’’

Settling on the method, she held the bar high, building power and threw it at the dynamo. It was not a strong hit but Mel had told the truth, only one contact was enough. The electricity coursing through it became wild and erratic and it seems it had disturbed an already precarious balance. The machine emitted sparks and soon it broke with a shutting-down noise as a dead cry. Now that the dynamo was devoid of all juice, buzzing electricity was no longer coursing through the cage or the water and even the fire traps had stopped working. All the room was now filled with silence. Except for the cries of joy of a certain pegasus.

‘’I did it! This time I have truly did it. There is no more danger anymore, you are safe my precious kelpies.’’

The cage was not sticking to the floor and was light. It was easy for Fluttershy to lift it and throw it in the water. She went to the kelpies to give them a big hug but they were way ahead of her and jumped on her, crushing her with all their weight and licked her face for showing their affection and gratefulness.

‘’Hahaha, heh stop, that, hahaha, that tickle hahah. Alright alright, me too I am happy that we all fine. You poor little softies. You did nothing wrong but yet you had been thrown into that nightmare just because one jerk had said so. But rest assure, it's all over now.’’

The kelpies clapped their front hooves in joy and to say thank you, one of them gulps her and once again her higher-half was in the mouth of one of those affectionate to a fault creatures.

‘’Again! Oh and why not. It is in way kind of relaxing. ... ... ... ... Okay, that, hum, that enough, it's kinda hard to breathe.’’

The kelpie put her down and released the a little stunned pony. He was feeling guilty but Fluttershy gently stroked his cheek.

‘’Oh it's alright. I know this is just your way of showing love. Nothing to be ashamed of. Now, do you know a way to get out?’’

The kelpies nod with affirmations and dived in the now safe water. They swam to the entry of an underwater tunnel and bid their farewell to their new friend. As they went in, Fluttershy waved at them.

‘’Goodbye kelpies, it was nice to see you again. I hope you will find your way home, please be safe. (I am glad everything turns out alright in the end. And I had shown to all that I am a pony that can be quite proud of herself.)’’

Once she was alone, Fluttershy took the previous entryway leading to she don't know where. She was still afraid but now was way more confident that and felt that she could take on anything. Eventually, she ended up in another not very bright and empty room though a little narrower than the two previous ones
.
The only thing greeting her was, nearly fixed on the front wall, another holographic window displaying Mel, clapping at her.

‘’Bravo Miss Fluttershy. Well done. What you had shown was truly an inspiring show. You, risking mortal perils to save poor creatures that you barely know all from just the kindest of your heart. You, who so scare of nearly everything had just shown that even the most cowardly pony had the potential to become the most courageous with the help of love. What a display of courage. What a display of selfness. Not that I expected anything else.’’

‘’Well I don't really feel better to be complimented by you. Anyway, as you had seen, I had succeeded your challenge. So I see no reasons to stay her and I politely ask that you let me go heh hold on wait!! Did you say that... that you expected me to succeed?!’’

‘’But naturally. Anypony who just know a little about you could tell that it would be impossible for you to resist the urge to protect them.’’

‘’But...? but I don't understand, if you know in advance what I will do it then why test me in the first place?’’

‘’Because it would have been inspiring. And inspiring it was. I assure you it's not sarcasm, I genuinely feel you were inspiring. It is a shame you could not see yourself. It was like... ahh how could I describe that, it was not like seeing a heroine but more like... more like seeing a mother. Like if the love that you have for those creatures, for all creatures, is so strong that it could be called motherly and that you were protecting them like if they were your children.’’

She sure did not expect to hear that and she blushed like a tomato.

‘’Sorry sorry Miss Fluttershy. It's just the image that comes to my mind when I see you. Heyyy you know what, this actually makes me think about one story, a story that I had written myself but that I never could publish. Would you like that I tell you the general lines of it?’’

Once again she felt goosebumps on her skin. ‘’Why nothing he was doing was making sense’’ she was telling herself. But it did not matter because the game master continued to do what he wanted.

‘’Once upon a time, there was a mare who had a son. For this mother, her child was her most precious treasure. Just seeing him being himself was the greatest joy she could feel. But she also wanted to make sure he would be a decent pony. So she had taught him at a very young age how to be kind, how to always help those in need and how to care about others. And she succeeds. That colt had managed to grow into a model of virtue. He had become a stallion and was guaranteed to have a bright future. Something the mother wished more than anything. But one day... one day a cart on a slopping street had a malfunction, broke and roll down without its pony driver. At the same time, a young mare was crossing the street and did not know she was on the way of the cart and that she won't survive the collision. But the young stallion was there. And when he saw that mare in danger, his legs moved by themselves and he pushed her out the way, saving her life... but losing his in exchange. Although it was a heroic act, the mother was inconsolable, of course, since she had forever lost his irreplaceable son when he was supposed to have a bright future. For days she tortured herself with the same questions: why did it happen and why he risked his life for a complete stranger. But then a horrible realization came though her. It was 'her' that had taught him that. It was 'her' that had taught him how to think about other before himself. He had died because of the lessons she had given him. And as she realizes that, she fell even more in despair. ... ... ... So how did you find it.’’

‘’Depressing. Very depressing. I don't want to be rude but it seems coming from out of nowhere.’’

‘’Quite the contrary. But what I want to emphasize is parents fear for their children and that why they feel it is their duty to give them advice. But what they fear even more is that they inadvertently give them advice that will in the long run be harmful to them or even cause their death. To have their children die because of the advices they give them. Make no mistake, this is, the, worst, nightmare of all parents. But you know, it does not only apply to parents and children.’’

‘’Look mister Melancholia, I am getting tired of your nonsense and randomness and my patience begins to run thin. I have succeeded your trial and I esteem I have the right to go home.’’

‘’Succeed? Oh Miss Fluttershy.’’

Mel rested his chin on his front hooves and made a soft and back chilling smile.

‘’Who had ever said that your trial had even begun.’’

‘’What!!’’

‘’Oh you thought that your trial would have been a simple test of courage? But no, it was just a simple bonus, a sort of a side-show with the simple goal to be inspiring. For them.’’

He pointed to the right and a part to the wall went-up like a sort of solid curtain, revealing behind it a giant glass window showing another empty room. Empty except for two of these dynamo things, close to the window and buzzing with current. The yellow mare was once again lost but in the other room, a door opened up and from there, none others than the two kelpies she had saved.

‘’The kelpies! What are they doing here?’’

The kelpies once they saw Fluttershy across the window made cries of joy to see her again. At least she thought they were doing that since the glass was seemingly blocking all sound.

‘’Why aren't you home, I thought it was over for you too? Mel, what are you doing with them.’’

‘’It is now that your true trial begins. But don't worry. Because for you, I had prepared a very simple trial that will be super easy. All you will have to do is watch. Yup, that right. That all you will have to do. Just, watch.’’

‘’Watch? But watch what?’’

‘’The nightmare of all parents.’’

The curtain that had gone up was now going down to cover once again the window. But this time it was moving at a slow, slow, very slow pace. But what was the most scary was that the attitude of the kelpies had changed. Gone was their joyous mood and instead they were panicking, jumping in all the place and looking afraid of something. Or for something.

‘’But, but what, what is going on? Why are they panicking? Mel what are you doing to them.’’

‘’There is something I must tell you. This glass is special. Not only is it soundproof but the important part is that it can create a optical illusion. Not from your side but from them, welllll... better that I show you.’’

The holographic screen changed and instead of showing Mel, it shows the window from the side of the kelpies. Fluttershy, at first, wasn't sure of what she was seeing. She could see herself through the glass but her image was weird. Like if from that side, she had more.... deep for like of better words. She understood now what he wanted to mean by an optical illusion. She found it was like seeing one of those 3D image stamps that were all the rage in youngsters. It was especially true for the lowering curtain that was looking like... like…

‘’*gasp* (Oh no! That's the reason why they are panicking. From their sides, this curtain look like the roof! It likes if the roof is lowering itself to flatten me! They are not scared for themselves, they are scared... for me!!!) Mel, stop that, you scare them for nothing.’’

‘’Sorry but even me can no longer stop it. Now, what do you think the kelpies will do?’’

‘’What do you mean? They probably

BA-BUMP

The confusion was now gone. All the pieces were assembling themselves with painful clarity. She thought that all the bits Melancholia was saying and doing were just random nonsense but they were all parts serving to fulfill a diabolical goal.
The illusion optical was enough to even fool a pony. For a time. Then it will quickly realize it is just an illusion. But the kelpies were not pony. Their views were not working the same way. And Fluttershy know that animal had a tendency to be easily fool by those kind of trick. So course they will believe Fluttershy is in danger to be flattened to a pulp. And they will naturally think that the only way to stop that contraction was

BA-BUMP

was to short-fuse the two dynamos. They know how to do it. Fluttershy had shown them how. It is by

BA-BUMP

It is by throwing something at them. But their room was empty, there was nothing to use. So their only way was

BA-BUMP

was

BA-BUMP

BA-BUMP

BA-BUMP

BA-BUMP

to throw their own body at them.

‘’I see you have realized. And before you ask, this time the voltage... is deadly.’’

Fluttershy dashed to the window and hammered the glass with the energy of madness.

‘’Nononono, don't to that, it's a trap, I am not in danger. You don't have to sacrifice yourselves.’’

She gesticulates wildly, often doing an X sign with her front hooves. But the kelpies clearly were misunderstand her since they could not hear her. They stop panicking, looked each other in the eyes and nod at each other. Then, they both went toward the dynamos.

‘’I beg you, listen to me! It is not the roof, see.’’

She flew up higher than the curtain to show them it was just a curtain. I quick glimpse at the screen was enough to realize that from the other side she was looking like she was desperately pushing backing the moving roof. I was not working.

The curtain was now half-closed. The kelpies were in front of the two dynamos, afraid and hesitating. She went back to the window and no longer able to listen to reason, was hitting it with both front hooves, hoping to break it.

‘’Please, I beg you to stop, you don't have to do that. It is not because I had risked my life to save you that you have to do the same. I did that so you could be safe. What is the point if you throw that away? You don't have this obligation, I won't blame you if you go away. Please stop stopstopstopstop don't do the same as me. I DON'T WANT YOU TO DIE!’’

‘’You do realize that from their point of view it looks like if you are screaming for help. I'm afraid you are making things worse.’’

Was the taunting Mel thrown at her. The curtain had nearly finis its decent. The pegasus had to lean to still see. She was still hammering the glass without losing speed, hoping to smash it. A faint trace of blood, the blood of her hooves, was starting to form on the transparent surface.

The kelpies had no longer any fear in their eyes and looked at Fluttershy and gave her smiles as a goodbye.

‘’I BEG YOU, DON'T DO THIS.’’

The curtain had closed. But not before having leaving enough space to let a flashing blue light invaded all the room. And let Fluttershy know of the fatal conclusion.

‘’NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!’’

The poor yellow mare was resting on the floor for quite a while, crying all the tears she had. The face of the game master appeared behind her and his detached attitude was a clear sign that he did not have a once of sympathy for her.

‘’Very tragic is it not. I do not deny that I am the author of it but still, it is also true that you all could have decided not to follow the script whenever you wanted.’’

‘’Why *sniff*, why did they do that?’’

‘’Can you blame them? You had the courage to selflessly save them in their darkest hour. Is it not normal the kelpies wanted to take example on you?’’

‘’I never *sniff*, I never wanted them to take example on me.’’

‘’Of course you didn't want. But you see, the problem is that each of our actions send a kind of message. People, and even animals listen. They see the act of someone and naturally think there is a lesson to learn. We all learn principally by imitating others. So seeing from that angle it is not really possible to never teach something.’’

‘’But... but how could I know it will happen? I just wanted them not to be hurt, how could I know they will be in an even more deadly danger because of it. I just wanted them to be fine. I did not care what would happen to me.’’

‘’First, don't say: ‘how could I know’, it's the most stupid thing to say. Secondly, what you say is very hypocritical. You are willing to sacrifice your well-being but not that the others do the same! Like if you want to keep the monopole of sacrifice for you alone. Well, what you just say is the paradox of selflessness. Because true selfless doesn't want other to be selfless. If those we care care more about others than themselves then it is a little unproductive. But you just had experienced that yourself.’’

‘’Y, y, you're a monster. Why did you do that?’’

‘’I felt it was the only way to make you, no, to make all understand that the so valorize action to make other better is a double-edge sword. One that is hard to see but that I consider is very well here, have consequences and all must open their eyes to it. That kindness and selflessness might be their own enemy, as baffling it may sound. I do not say they have no place to be. But they might hurt you when you expect it the less. Maybe something similar will happen again. Or maybe it is already in the process of happening.’’

The poor Fluttershy jerked in choc. She did not want to listen to him but his words were like poison sipping into her skull, changing the colors of the world into a much darker tone.

‘’I am sure nopony would thank me for changing a virtue into a grim thing. But I don't care, life is full of cruel absurdity and being blind to it would change nothing. So think well the next time you show care for another. Farewell Miss Fluttershy.’’

Mel went away, leaving at last the yellow pegasus alone in her misery. She didn't have the will to get up and was feeling another wave of tears coming up. She tried to hold them back to at least show to herself a little bravery. But she failed and soon, the only thing she could do was to go into a fit of crying like she had never done before in her whole life.

Fluttershy trial
The lessons that we teach

|***|

*knock**knock* *knock**knock*

‘’Mel. It's time to eat, dinner is ready.’’

*knock**knock* *knock**knock*

‘’Come on big bro, you have been in that dusty atelier for ages. You need some fresh air.’’

*knock**knock**knock**knock**knock**knock**knock**knock*

‘’I warn you, I can do that for aaaall day.’’

‘’Alright alright, I'm coming. Shesh Flo, I was on a roll with my painting. Inspiration was flowing like water.’’

‘’That is not an excuse to forget that the outside world exists.’’

‘’Hey there was nothing I could do. My demons were forcing me.’’

‘’Oh no, you will not use that excuse on me. Again. Sometimes I fear that without me, you will become a loony living in his own world. So what about your painting? Is it progressing well? Can I see it?’’

‘’See it! Hum, well, the truth is, well, I rather not. It is not finished and you know how hard is it for me to show incomplete work.’’

‘’Yes, you and that annoying quirk of you. Do you like to tease?’’

‘’Sorry Flo. It is just that I have often crippling doubts until I put the finish touch. I can't help to have those intrusive thought that tell me that what I am doing is... trash.’’

‘’Oh Mel. You really should not think like that. You are one of the greatest artists on Equestria. I had seen the sheer quantity of stuff you have done. Just give a little time and you will see that people will soon see the true genius that you are. If only you just stop letting yourself be so isolated. Well, coming to a family dinner might be a good start. So come upstairs and let's go eat at last.’’

‘’Yes mom.’’

‘’Oh shut up you big doofus.’’

**|**

The young filly Floral felt her heart being crushed. This happy memory did more harm than good. Water was even starting to pour from her eyes.

‘’Wait for me big bro. I promise you, I will fix everything. Just... just wait for me.’’

Author's Note

And here we done with Fluttershy trial, another one I was impatient to write. Of all trials, this one is the one I am the most proud of. I just hope that I had managed to well convey its message. It is a pretty complicate stuff to explain.

Anyway, hang in there, we have nearly finish with the game of Melancholia. Only two more. Next is Pinkie Pie turn. Stay tuned.