The Black Beast

by Amethyst_Dawn

Rating: teen
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, Violence, Dark, Gore, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Horror, Fluttershy, Adventure
Length: 6307

On an ambassadorial expedition to a land Equestria has never seen, Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle stumble across an adventure they could never be prepared for.

Fluttershy has been summoned by Twilight Sparkle to join her on an expedition into the depths of the insoluble wasteland that is the mythical Empire of Labyrinths. The Princess s hoping to establish an ambassadorial commute once they find the rumored civilization, but they are unexpectedly roped into investigating mass disappearances at the behest of the mighty Caesar. Entire villages have vanished, leaving ruins and carnage behind, and all who have pursued investigation never return. The lone survivor speaks of a monster that moves with the shadows, and is born from the evil in your heart. With allies new and old, the ponies set out to solve the riddle of the Black Beast.

In doing so, they’ll find themselves on an adventure without precedent, and they’ll be encountering nightmares beyond imagination.

Published 2020-06-25 04:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-06-25 04:30:01 UTC

The Aidibbon

Though there are many who believe that the unknown is a fearful thing, most who agree with a deeper comprehension will notice that very few others understand the simple truth that what is yet undiscovered will only ever be a justified terror if those who discover it are ignorant enough to venture into the worlds beyond their understanding without suitable preparation. Even the most detailed plans can crumble into dust if the desired path is too linear, and no contingencies for factors beyond reasonable foresight. The most brilliant tacticians and experienced matriarchs won’t hesitate to attest to fears of an overlooked constituent festering inside their strategies like a grotesque infection, corrupting their careful constructions until the very foundation of the project implodes. For what every leader and council fears most is that lingering conceptual dread that festers in the minds of all living beings sapient enough to recognize it, for it is the very thing they exist to conquer: Inevitability. And it was in defiance of that very notion that a Galleon was commissioned.

The hull of the massive airship was bathed in the crimson light of the sunset, painting the semi-metallic mass a fiery orange that glinted painfully in the eyes of an approaching entourage. A pastel banner flew proudly above, the colored cloth reflecting its light against the whitened fabric which made up the mammoth envelope that it was tethered to, and that held the vessel beneath it above the plains of the earth. The royal craft creaked restlessly in its place against the cliffside dock, and with a mechanical groaning extended an elaborately decorated plank that clicked into place at the hooves of a pensive Pegasus. Her gentle steps onto the wooden slates worked in synchrony with her timidly firm facade to radiate an air of grace and duty, and her flowing pink mane was held aloft by the nudge of the morning’s breeze. She stood there, forehooves set on the first steps towards what she believed would be the greatest undertaking she’d ever face, her hindlegs the only thing anchoring her to her homeland. Her eyes were closed as she took in the cool air, expelling the tension from her core with a breath. From behind, a comforting hoof rested on her shoulder, commanding her attention to the regal figure of her friend.

“How are you doing, Fluttershy?” The taller mare asked, stooping down ever so slightly to be level with her companion. Fluttershy felt a slight pang in the back of her heart at the name, letting out a slightly more tense gust of air. It had been almost a month since they spoke, the duties of a matriarch keeping the elder from maintaining her relationships as much as she’d promised. As much as Fluttershy loved watching their clique settle into individuality, a small part of her grew lonely as the past five years seemed to tediously crawl with less and less interaction than she had become accustomed to. Adding on to it, the subtle hesitation in the way her name was spoken reminded her of how little she brought herself to reach out. Sometimes, she was surprised that her oldest friends remembered anything about her. Their time as the adventurous defenders of Equestria was coming to a close, and she could feel it.

“I’m…” She began, looking up to the deck and bustling crew of what was likely going to be her home for a few months. Her words died in her throat as she stared into the distance, considering if she should broach her concerns to the Princess. She knew it was a fear they all felt somewhere in the depths of their souls, but she was uncertain if dragging such a buried tumor to the surface would be any better than letting it rot into oblivion as time marched on. She decided to leave the subject for another day, letting the binds in her heart tighten as she let her eyes drift shut again in a rueful blink. “I’m fine, Twilight.” She asserted, inhaling after a pause that felt like an eternity. “I’ve just never been off the continent before, unless you count visiting the hippogriffs. We’ll be going such a long way, I guess I just have the jitters.”

“I’m sure everything will be perfectly fine,” Twilight gave a patient smile, and her voice flowed with calm assurance. The subtle, ethereal waves in her indigo mane travelling higher with her head as she erected herself, making the double stripe of magenta and violet running through it flicker like a calming flame. Fluttershy watched as Twilight turned her own gaze to the hull of their transport, and allowed herself to glow as she examined the vessel. “It’s a simple trip across the ocean. I commissioned the Aidibbon with everything we should possibly encounter in mind, and Spike and I scoured every fleet, harbor and inn at every corner of the nation for the best crew we could find. Everything should be accounted for.” Fluttershy felt a smile creep across her lips as she watched Twilight’s breast swell with pride, joining in looking over the Galleon.

The Aidibbon was a beautifully crafted ship; designed from bow to bilge with a tactical blend of ornate grace, integrity and stability. The whole of her hull was sculpted from solid oak, each plank individually plated with a thin layer of shardstone to weather rot and deter harpoons. The blended materials made the belly of the boat shine with a dull metallic brown. Crescent staves of stainless steel decorated and supported the outside of her beams, and great plates of marbled gold curved like the waves of the sea were set to reinforce her bow. Her forecastle was shielded by a grand Equestrian crown, golden and set with a trilliant amethyst on the brow. Her bowsprit towered forwards like the horn of a charging Unicorn, swirled with dulled gold to match and roped to secure a triad of jib sails boasting the Equestrian pattern. Her decks were layered and enclosed, more akin to a three-story house than any skyfaring vessel, and her sterncastle towered over the main deck. In place of gunports, bronze-rimmed windows lined the walls of her decks and twinkled with the welcoming light of iron lanterns. The quarter itself was elevated enough to house the bridge, a helm clearly visible through a sweeping windscreen. The walls of the half deck were punctured with three circular gunports on each side, housing a sextuple of blacksteel harpoons; each large enough to require a seated gunner. Her masts were plated to match her hull; the main mast was as thick around as a cedar, her mizzen erupted from the roof of the poop, and her foremast was angled from her forecastle in a way that seemed to branch out from the main. Thick, twin pearly sails draped like fins from settings affixed under the keel to another pair behind the gallery, designed to act as rudders. Her captain’s quarters bulged out her sides like the stumpy fins of a primitive zeppelin; angular and bulky, yet it complimented the Aidibbon’s body like the tail of a sparrow. Her railing was golden, held up by figurines of twin alicorns every three paces. And atop her gargantuan envelope; accessible only by the precarious shrouds or by flight, held heavenward by the main mast, was a crow’s nest.

“One-hundred eighty feet of Equestrian craftsmanship,” Twilight breathed, a spark of admiration igniting in her eyes as she idly talked to nopony in particular. “The Shipwrights more than earned their commission.” Fluttershy bobbed her head gently, finally lifting her hindlegs off the dock. One measured step at a time, she steadily boarded the Aidibbon.

A phlegmatic carmine Pegasus watched from Fluttershy’s timid walk from the deck, a bijou simper that stretched her lips the only hint of an expression from her. Her sage-shaded mane was cropped in a straight cut that hung by her neck, and shielded her face from the light of the sun. A continental line rested firmly on her crown, hued a dark indigo and trimmed with a canary stripe. The rest of her uniform followed suit; a gold-trimmed indigo peacoat loosely hugged her form, adorned with brass buttons and epaulettes of marbled gold. A line of striped medals decorated the coat above her breast pocket, which was sealed by a small button bearing an intricate emblem. A pair of grey trousers sat snugly around her flanks, concealing her cutie mark but allowing her tail to flow out. She grabbed the trim of her cap with her hoof, and bowed low with a flourish as Fluttershy and Twilight strode onto the deck.

“Ballast is prepared and the winds are fair, your majesty.” The Captain piped, her words firm, quick and deliberately articulated. “At your wish, anchor’s aweigh and we’ll set the course for Θevrumineś.” Twilight’s step halted at the name, a hint of surprise in her tone as she turned to the Officer.

“I take it you were able to conclude our direction, Raspberry?” Twilight ducked her head so her horn wouldn’t scrape the underside of the doorway’s arch. The Captain nodded firmly, replacing her cap and gesturing aft with a hoof.

“Yes, your highness.” Raspberry noted calmly, turning to lead the pair further into the ship. Fluttershy flinched at the commotion of the crew racing to and fro, keeping herself close to Twilight’s side. In spite of the clamour, Raspberry’s commanding timbre remained distinct enough for Fluttershy to hear the conversation. “Cobble managed to figure our best course should be due southeast by south, that should give us a large enough margin to stumble across the empire eventually.”

“A comforting choice of words, Captain.” Twilight giggled, her dulcet playfulness ringing while her calculated steps betrayed her attempts to guess Raspberry’s path to the observant eye. The Captain, for her part, didn’t flinch at the remark. She quickly voiced her reasoning while casting an unsubtle glare towards the Princess.

“If your majesty will forgive me-” Raspberry paused to step over an erroneously scattered trail of gunpowder, casting a glower towards a particularly large stallion hurriedly placing the leaking barrel before reaching for a broom. “-the charts we were provided with are outdated by a millenia, and their depiction of coastlines and islands that we know for certain exist are grossly inaccurate. I’d say that it’s a miracle that Cobble was able to determine our heading, without mentioning the certainty with which she did...”

Fluttershy unintentionally let the bantering pair drift ahead of her as she watched the mammoth stallion by the barrels with a captivated curiosity, transfixed by movements in his shoulders and flanks that seemed slightly off for a pony. Her interest was kindled further as what she thought at a wayward glance was a hoof opened up into a very reptilian claw, grasping the handle of a broom with a tenseness that pulsed a few muscles along the stubby talons. Fluttershy examined the shape of the digits as she approached, recalling how they folded out in an attempt to reason if they folded inwards to form a hoof. She raised her own hoof next to the motionless claw, comparing the two in size and shape.

It was then that she felt a pair of eyes weighing on her, and the realization of just how hard she was staring dawned on her. She looked up to the stallion, who was smiling at her with a sincere amusement. Fluttershy jolted back with a squeak, prompting a booming laugh from the creature. She felt her face flood with color as a few more crew cast glances in their direction. She opened her mouth to apologize, but her words were silenced before they came as the stallion spoke first, extending a talon for a shake.

“Sorry miss,” he chuckled as Fluttershy timidly took his claw, “I didn’t mean to scare you away. You can keep looking, feel free to ask questions. Don’t worry about offending me” Fluttershy was taken aback by the comfortable tone of the stallion, and how gently he held her hoof. As she stammered, she noticed even more oddities about his appearance. His eyes were ovular, almost slit, and his irises were faceted like sapphires. Two cartilaginous growths somewhere between a Unicorn’s horn and a dragon’s fins rose out of the back of his skull, just behind his ears. Through his grin, Fluttershy could see that his teeth were flat like an average pony’s, with the exception of two pairs of minute fangs that hooked over his premolars with a sharp underbite. His other claw rested on a crate, balled into a fist that almost seamlessly resembled a hoof. His ash-brown mane was shaggy, lined with a tan stripe haphazardly running jagged through the mess. His light coral fur was rough and wiry, resembling the pelt of a tundra wolf more than the coat of a pony. His wings were sleek and slender, and covered base to tip in sharp, angular feathers. A reptilian tail lazily swayed behind him, tipped with the firm hook-like spade that was typical among venomous dragons. Fluttershy’s confusion must have been painted across her face, as her staring provoked another laugh from the stallion. She felt embarrassed by her rudeness, and she returned her gaze to his face.

“If you don’t mind… what are you?” She ventured, trying her best to phrase the question so she didn’t sound like she thought of him as some sort of lowly animal. By the twinkle in his eyes, her attempts were halfway successful. The creature released the broom in his claw, and patted Fluttershy’s shoulders with a friendly roughness.

“Don’t feel bad for never seeing the likes of me before, filly!” He chortled, his tone blunt and merry. “As far as I know, I’m the only half-breed in Equestria. The name’s Timber Ashes, a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Shy!”

“Nice to meet you too, Timber.” Fluttershy smiled, standing upright. She breathed as a tension she didn’t realize she was holding fell away from her shoulders, relieved when the weight of the awkward meeting lifted away at his recognition. Even as a friend and counselor to the Princess, she wasn’t accustomed to creatures recognizing her without having directly contributed to saving their lives. And with how quiet Equestria had become, facing fewer national threats than ever before, there were few ponies that cared to delve into the lives or names of Equestria’s heroes. Fluttershy felt her chest puff out slightly, her heart feeling lighter by the second. “You know who I am?”

“Well, yeah.” Timber reached out for the broom again, taking it in both claws. His graceful form turned towards the trail of gunpowder, and started sweeping with long, gentle movements. “My mom loves to visit Sweet Feather ever since it was opened for visitors, I think you’d definitely remember her if you saw her.” The way he moved as he passed by Fluttershy as he talked was almost like his body was swimming through the air, even though his claws remained anchored to the ground. Gradually, his words sank into the context of his appearance, and a gear clicked into place. Fluttershy’s eyes grew slightly wider as she looked him in the eye, her lips stretching with a knowing smile.

“You’re Gnaw’s son?” She ventured, the image of the smaller Cinder-Dragon that frequented the animal sanctuary filling her heart with fond memories. Timber’s smile widened, and he nodded for her to follow as he kept sweeping. “Oh, she’s such a dear to have around, and the animals do love her so. Especially the jackalopes! Have you seen her frolic with them?” A simple nod from Timber as he worked was enough incentive for Fluttershy to continue, aimlessly chattering with a comfort she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“This is where you’ll be staying for the length of the voyage, Miss Shy.” Raspberry asserted, shoving a large pair of adorned wooden doors so that they swung inwards. “I’ve been instructed to let you get settled in before we shove off. All the better for me, a lot still needs to be done before then. Mind the bell, galley serves a full dinner when it’s rung. We shan’t wait for you.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Fluttershy stepped in hurriedly, examining the elegant simplicity of the quarters’ composition with a glance. Everything seemed perfectly tailored to her preferences, from the potted flowers to the color of the sheets on the canopy bed. Not too much, but not too little. Fluttershy let out a quiet chuckle, shaking her head as she thought of Twilight slaving away to plan out every main bedroom to suit each of her aides. In particular, her attention was drawn to a small figurine of a serpentine creature with limbs of various types that stood at the foot of the mattress, facing the door with a wide, single-fanged cornball smile.

“Oh, and one more thing.” Fluttershy’s eyes were torn away from the ornament at the near-silent sound of the doors behind her sliding shut. Just before the entrance was completely sealed, Raspberry’s voice rang through again. “Please do inform your company that pets aren’t tolerated aboard my ship.”

Fluttershy opened her mouth to inquire the context for the statement, only for the doors to latch with a metallic clack. In the same instant, a burst of light erupted from behind her, and the familiar sensation of numerous little feet thudding onto her back. She giggled as one distinct set of fidgeting paws flattened her ear, and rustled a lock of her mane over her eye. She reached up with a hoof, gently picking up the kit and lowering to her face. The brown-speckled baby bunny kicked playfully at Fluttershy, wriggling excitedly as she brought her snout close to nuzzle it.

“Well, hello there Pneuma!” Fluttershy tittered as the kit hugged her muzzle, a loving smile settling on her features while she lifted it back up to her hair. “Now, how did you get here? Oooh, don’t tell me that you and your sisters were already lonely!” The flurry of whimpering and chattering that followed from the quarter dozen lagomorphs perched on her body brought another laugh to her throat, and she held a hoof up to her lips to stifle it. “Now, now. I know I’ll be gone for a while, but both Discord and Dr. Fauna promised to take good care of you while I’m gone.” She rolled her eyes as another wave of protests surged out.

“Oh, come come!” A chastising voice called out, returning Fluttershy’s attention to the odd figurine. The statuette was now impatiently tapping its foot at the bickering bunnies, feigning indignity as it proudly set a claw upon its chest and stuck its snout in the air. “I’m not that impossible of a caretaker! I snuck you all the way up here just so you can say goodbye, and this is the thanks I get?” It grasped at itse chest, buckling forward and lifting a paw to its forehead in a dramatic display. “Oh woe to me, the unloved and unforgiven! To be disregarded so callously when all I desire is unending adoration!”

“Are you done, Discord?” Fluttershy watched the scene with a patient smile, and a quirked brow. The Draconequus pouted, unveiling his true form with a bright flash. His serpentine figure hunched forward, his nape pressed against the ceiling as he crossed his arms. Fluttershy’s smile widened as she approached him, and set a tender hoof against his arm. She had to tilt her head to look him in the eye, craning her neck with a minor ache. “They’re not the only ones who wanted to say goodbye, are they?” Discord’s posture faltered just enough for the untrained eye to catch.

“Well, naturally not!” He chided, flicking the wrist of his talon to produce a comically sized scroll. He affixed a modest pair of reading glasses onto his elongated snout, squinting his yellowed eyes as he read off the list. “There was also Salver, Cornelius, Picker and Bumbo. They all send their regards, the Hydra says he’ll miss you and that he wants a recommendation for a veterinarian who’ll help with his sprained neck, Phyllis wanted me to wish you a happy birthday in case she doesn’t make it that long, and the Bunny family wanted you to take this with you.” Discord snapped his talons, summoning a small necklace over Fluttershy’s shoulders. He glanced out from behind the large parchment and gave her a deadpan look. “Harry wanted to come along too, but there was no way in Equestria I’d be able to get that stuck-up officer’s permission to lug that fat bastard in here.”

“Oh, Discord.” A mirthful snort escaped Fluttershy’s nostrils before she could contain herself, Discord’s antics offering their usual beacon of gaiety for her. She set a hoof to her muzzle again, hiding her snickers behind it. “I’m going to miss you too, if you actually stay behind this time.”

“That was only the one time!” Discord huffed sorely, waving his paw dismissively as his props vanished with loud pops. “I’ve learned my lesson! I need trust you well enough to let you wander off on these adventures. Leaving the boundaries of Equestria. Completely unchaperoned. With no insurance policy whatsoever.” His tone grew more stained with each addition, his stature gradually tensing until he inhaled measuredly, and released the air with the sound of a summer breeze. “Where are you going, again?”

“Twilight said the empire is called Θevrumineś,” Fluttershy enunciated the alien name carefully, hoping to capture it correctly. “It’s supposed to be the homeland of the Minotaurs, and Equestria has never reached out before.”

“Oh, is that all?” Discord heaved a sigh of relief, drawing a confused glance from Fluttershy. She caught a gleam in his eye as he snapped his fingers, summoning a swirling vortex that opened to the familiar scene of rolling fields and artificial habitats. “Why didn’t you say you were going off-continent? That’ll help me sleep a lot better!” Fluttershy opened her mouth, only for the Draconequus to cut her off with a talon pressed against her lips. “Oh, please! Don’t insult yourself with pointless questions, Fluttershy. There’s nothing interesting for me out there, no magical monsters or good days to ruin. Just dust and misery and bleugh. Nothing you can’t handle on your own, you might as well be going to Klugetown.”

“... right,” Fluttershy’s eyes stared blankly at her friend, a confusing array of emotions bringing her comprehension to a full stop as Discord scooped the bunnies out of her mane, and stepped through the portal into the sanctuary. She wasn’t sure if she felt annoyed, insulted, or reassured by the implications of his statement. And before she could fully decide on an emotion, they had said their goodbyes, and Discord was gone.

After a good few moments of staring into the empty air that had hosted the gateway, Fluttershy smiled to herself. No matter how many years pass, she could never predict what that creature was going to do. With light hooffalls, she made her way to the dresser beside her bunk, took the chain from around her neck, and gently placed it into the topmost drawer. The golden emblem patterned to the shape of a rabbit’s foot gleamed in a wayward ray of moonlight, encircled by the etchings of a short plaudit.

For the mare who cared for me until the end.

To the small throng of ponies who watched from below the mountain city, the departure of the Aidibbon was as graceful as it was poetic. With the crash of a bottle and a cheer from the gathered; the vessel was set adrift in the winds, and steered southeast by south. But, for Fluttershy, who watched from the forecastle as the crew buzzed to and fro, it was a plague to the senses. The clamour and turbulence of hundreds of hooves thundering across hollow wood pounded into her very skull like the drums of a hellish ritual, and she often found herself stepping aside to dodge the odd shipmate rushing to adjust some bundle of rigging or another. It was all very confusing and overwhelming, and it eventually drove the poor mare to the end of the bowsprit. It was as close as she could get to the quiet of the open air, the distressing cacophony near muted in comparison by the mercy of the port winds.

It was there, in the stillness of the breeze that carried murmurs of the baying ponies, that the reality of their voyage truly dawned on Fluttershy. A great weight like a stone set into her chest, and her breaths felt dull and thick. Had she really resigned herself to spending weeks aboard this boat? Even the very concept of waking up day after day to such a racking tumult tore at her insides like a grater, running her shoulders and spine full of frozen blood. With a resolve as firm as steel, Fluttershy placed a forehoof onto her breast and took a deep breath. Her eyelids fell, and she released the air with a whistling coo as she extended the hoof outwards. She visualized the black tar that stained her stomach and stuck her to what she dismissed as trivial anxieties peeling out of her chest with her hoof, as if she was extracting the roots of a weed. But it was a weed that always left more seeds behind whenever somepony managed to deracinate it, clinging with its foul tendrils until she tossed it over the side into the oblivion that was the distance between her and the soil. With another breath, and then another, she repeated the ritual until the stone fell from her heart. With one last soothing gasp of the night air, she unfurled her wings to guide the chilled, steady gale of the ship’s motion through her feathers.

It was at the precise moment, when her heart had at last started to still, that she was swiftly and cruelly awakened from the pleasant dream of peace in isolation. Flutterhsy winced as the knotted end of a free-swinging rope batted her snout, interrupting her meditation as fiercely as if she were thrown into the icy sea. She swatted the invader with a furious accuracy, sending it swinging upwards and away into the air. Her eyes locked onto the offending coil, and she prepared herself to catch the line when it swung back as though she were a panther awaiting the opportunity to pounce on an annoying macaw. But swiftly, any thoughts of properly snagging the cord were brushed aside when a small figure slid down the rope with practiced ease, as if they were a capuchin on a vine.

Within the time it took for her to rationalize what she was seeing, Fluttershy found herself facing a particularly diminutive, iris-coated Pegasus perched with one hoof on the knot; the other hindleg resting firmly against the bowsprit. The newcomer’s mane complimented the mare’s iris coat: seamlessly making her resemble a gentle moonrise reflected onto the side of a passing cloud, starting with a dark admiral blue at the roots, and gradually falling through a gradient to a cool azure. Fluttershy would’ve rightly mistaken the mare for a teenage filly due to her stature, were it not for the clear indications of a weary age that coated the whites of her arctic eyes.

“C’mon, ma’am.” The night-mare’s tone offered, soft and slow as she held her hoof out to Fluttershy. Her lips stretched into a friendly, but tired smile as the steadily increasing speed of the airship blew her mane with rubbery movements. “It’s quieter up top.”

Just three years ago, the mere prospect of a climb up the rigging of a mid-flight airship would have been the very thing that glued Fluttershy to the safety of any vessel’s deck. The open wind that surged against her back, once a mighty and unfeeling force to cower from, was now relegated comparable in her mind to the warning roar of an ophiotaurus: dangerous only if you’re exceptionally foolish. Additionally, she did her best to shrug off the vast emptiness that seemed to stretch eternally in every direction save forward, and kept her eyes firmly upon the back of the night-shaded Pegasus that led her upwards. The firm fabric provided an illusion of security as it barely shuddered in the moving air, rubbing like thick leather against Fluttershy’s hooves whenever she tucked them through the tightly-bound ladder and burning the skin beneath her coat. She felt the hiss of air through her teeth and the grunts of exertion far more than she heard them, the coarse sounds whisked away before they could fully escape her lips. Each pull was a strain, her legs aching with a dull fire by the time she could vaguely see the flag atop the crow’s nest, flapping in the same violent winds that threatened to tear her from the ropes if she so much as unfolded her wings.

When her forehooves finally met the relatively stable roof of the envelope, Fluttershy felt a washing surge of relief flow into every nerve of her very skin, dropping herself down onto her side in the hopes of a brief respite. A swift nudge from her guide dashed those hopes, forcing Fluttershy onto her hooves again for what she feared would be an agonizing hike. That was, until she set her sights on the crow’s nest.

From the docks, the post looked to be the standard issue for a crow’s nest, which was in her mind nothing more than an oversized basket stuck to the end of a pole for Pegasi and the more daring of Earthens and Unicorns to secure themselves in, nothing but life-lines and thin rails between the flightless and a long drop. The Aidibbon, as Fluttershy felt she should have expected by now, was once again proving herself to be far from minimalistic. Instead of a humble bucket, her crow’s nest more closely resembled a pavilion, and was vaguely reminiscent of Neighponese architecture. It was walled in by an octagonal arrangement of curved windows, each panel separated from its neighbor by a polished log serving as a pillar. Through the glass, Fluttershy could see what looked like a mechanical telescope.

As the Pegasi drew closer to the structure, it became more and more apparent to Fluttershy that there didn’t seem to be any doors anywhere on the nest. She could see straight through to the other side of it, and all the way to the tail fins of the bag. She raised her voice to the mare in front of her, hoping to be heard over the wind.

“Is there a way to get inside?” The unusual volume pulled at her throat like a farmer dragging a plough, but the effort proved fruitful as the mare turned to look at Fluttershy. She smiled, and motioned with her head towards a small hatch that neatly blended with the other panels on the roof of the nest, before shakily climbing up to it. Fluttershy almost felt a fool for not noticing it herself, a frustrated grimace curling her cheeks as she let out a tense breath. For the time being, she decided to set her self-denigration aside.

Fluttershy watched as the smaller mare ducked into the lookout, easily slipping through the trapdoor like a puffin ducking into its roost. Fluttershy was quick to follow, hoping to escape the wind. Fortunately, in spite of some difficulty pulling her flanks through, the freezing night gales were quickly remitted to memory with the sturdy clap of the sealing hatch. Fluttershy allowed herself to drop to the floor once again, her body and face swiftly greeted this time with the firm cruelty of polished wood. But the pain of such a fall was a welcome exchange to the exhaustion that she endured outside. Her chest heaved with every breath, and her eyes floated somewhere between open and closed. She watched through bleary vision as the mare that led her here shuffled around the small space, gathering what looked like a small tea set around an equally small furnace. Fluttershy, at a loss for more interesting movements to grab her attention, couldn’t help but study the curiously sized Pegasus as she trotted to and fro.

“Here you go, miss.” The Pegasus spoke, kneeling down to Fluttershy with a small cup. The pungent floral scent of black tea slithered through the steam, and into Fluttershy’s nostrils. It stirred her from her enervated stupor, inviting her onto her haunches with a siren call, where she then took the cup with a silent thank-you. The lingering aroma soothed mind and body as Fluttershy felt the bitter liquid slide down her gullet, the natural energy slowly coursing into her head and pulling her inch by inch away from the sweet embrace of an uncomfortable rest.

Once she was certain she was awake enough to think, Fluttershy felt the soothing silence of the elevated perch sink into her muscles and pull the tension away. The tarry sensation fell from her body, leaving her in a near-euphoric sense of content she hadn’t felt for hours. She turned to her savior, permitting herself a genuine smile as she watched the mare plant herself on a perfectly sized seat firmly fastened to the mechanisms underneath the telescope.

“Thank you for everything, Miss…?” She prompted, observing as at the tug of a lever, the massive spyglass gyrated due east.

“Night Cloud, Ma’am.” Came the brief, collected reply. Flutterhsy’s smile grew wider as the back of her mind admired how suitable the name was. “Sorry I didn’t warn you about the battle it is to get up here, your majesty, but I know from experience that you weren’t in the mood for warnings.”

“It’s… just Fluttershy,” Fluttershy asserted, wincing at Night’s reverence. “I don’t want anypony to feel like they have to address me like royalty, I’m... not that important.”

“Either way,” Night Cloud continued, pressing her brow into the dual eyepiece with a squint. “Just know my quarters are always open if you need a quiet place while the Princess is occupied.” It was then Fluttershy noticed a very modest cot tucked against the wall behind the furnace, a thick woolen covering draped carefully over the glorified hammock. True to Night’s word, this was where she would seem to be spending the majority of her time during the expedition.

“Though, if you want to make a habit out of visiting,” Night announced, peeling herself away from the telescope. “You’re going to have to tell Thunder. She can get you caught up, teach you how to maneuver through the rigging, fastening your lifeline, recovering from a wind-whirl, all that.” She let out an amused laugh, a single bursting breath that echoed around the chamber. “Don’t want a pretty thing like you to be a splatter on the hull, do we?”

“Well,” Fluttershy felt her spirit lighten at the morbid humor, carefully ruffling her wings to straighten out the sore tendons. “I could use a refresher course. It’s been too long since I had a flying session with Dash, and it might be nice to feel the wind under my wings like that again.”

“Don’t get out much?” Night guessed offhandedly, stepping down from her seat. Fluttershy felt her face heat with embarrassment, avoiding eye contact as Night chuckled. “Don’t feel too bad about it, Fluttershy, I understand.” Fluttershy’s mind twinged with intrigue, setting her head to an angle.

“You do?”

“I’m betting,” Night nodded, “could be wrong. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before; close friend clique, introverted pony feels happy with people they think of as more family than friends. Friendships stay strong as ever through the years, but the chemistry slowly erodes when everypony starts living their own individual lives away from the clique, and the introverted pony doesn’t notice until it’s too awkward to say anything.”

Fluttershy stayed quiet, prompting Night Cloud to smile empathetically. “Yeah, I’ve been through it too. Twice, maybe more. First time I didn’t even notice until we hadn’t talked for three years. Nothing is forever, ma’am. Not life, not power. Not even friendships, really.” She rested a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder, gently holding her gaze. “Don’t let it drag you down, though. You and the Princess are like family, even if she doesn’t have much time for you anymore.”

“... thank you,” the renewed weight on Fluttershy’s mind held a chokehold on her voice, anchoring her eyes to the wooden floor of the crow’s nest. Desparate to change the subject, she took another drink of her tea. “Are you going to help me train, then?”

“Nah,” Night Cloud waved a hoof dismissively. “I can teach you how to grip and climb better than a squirrel, but my wings just aren’t good for the hard flying anymore.” She paused as if she noticed the concern writing itself on Fluttershy’s face, and laughed in another quick burst. “Heh, I appreciate that you’re worried, but I’ve spent more of my life on wood, rope and canvas than I have in the clouds or on the ground. If I slip this far in, I might just deserve whatever happens to me.”

Her confidence offered Fluttershy some comfort, permitting her to chuckle with the mare. She drank the rest of her tea, the rejuvenating flavor contrasting her souring mood with a welcome fury. She thought that maybe, just maybe, this voyage might be an opportunity to distract her mind from the burdens it carried.

Author's Note

And so a new adventure begins...
I've been experimenting with prose and tone with this one, and as always I appreciate your comments, critiques and criticisms.

Until Next Time, God Bless You!
~Amethyst Dawn :heart: