Book 3 The Shadows: obscured by the shadows

Fizzlepop woke up the next day trying to remember where she was. It took her a second before yesterday’s memories returned and it finally hit her that she was in one of the rooms of the Castle of Friendship where they were letting her stay for the time being.

She trotted down the hallway and around the large table from yesterday, but she couldn’t find anypony until it dawned on her that they must all be at the school next door.

She walked in, cautiously, she didn’t know exactly where to look for Twilight, though she did see Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and some other blue pony talking in one hallway.

Thankfully, some purple unicorn bumped into her.

“You must be Tempest? I’m Starlight,” Starlight Glimmer introduced herself. She seemed pleasant and sincere.

“Nice to meet you,” was all she could think to say, before adding, “I’m looking for Twilight.”

Starlight offered her help, and they walked through another hallway and turned left and came to a large office.

Twilight Sparkle was talking to Spike over some scroll when they walked in.

With a friendly smile on her face, Starlight left Tempest there and went on her way.

“What’s up?” Twilight asked the newcomer, with a slightly puzzled look.

Tempest felt the scar over her eye burn.

“I wanted to ask for your help. I’ve been exploring Equestria for some time, but I still don’t feel ready. This is new to me,” she explained slowly.

Twilight nodded.

“Well, we’ll help you with that! I have the perfect way to do it in mind, although, it’s going to be slightly modified. Last time I tried this it was a disaster!” she nervously snorted.

As Twilight went on, Fizzlepop came to realize she was going to spend one day a piece with each of Twilight’s friends, in the hope that they could give her a brief review of each element of friendship: laughter, kindness, loyalty, generosity, and honesty.

“I’d love to teach you more about magic, as well,” Twilight added, “but I think we already went over that lesson.”

Fizzlepop nodded. She had seen it firsthoof and came to know friendship again because of it.

For starters, Fizzlepop had to help at Sugarcube Corner. The Cakes who normally ran it were out for the day, and Pinkie Pie would have otherwise been there all by herself. Fizzlepop didn’t think it would be too hard. She had once worked in a tavern, and though it took some getting used to, she got a hold of her duties and was soon flying through all the baking and orders in the shop.

Twilight Sparkle stopped by in the middle of the day and walked up to Pinkie Pie, who was sitting at a counter watching Fizzlepop’s progress.

“How’s she doing?” Twilight asked, sounding upbeat as she watched Fizzlepop zooming through putting cupcakes in order in the front. Unfortunately, as they were watching, Fizzlepop had temporarily forgotten her own strength, leaving icing and cake bits all over the wall and floor.

Pinkie Pie chuckled, but said more seriously, “I dunno, Twilight,” then in a whisper, “she’s scaring the Cakes!” And Pinkie Pie swiveled Twilight’s head toward the corner of the shop to look at two cakeboxes with googly eyes. On their faces were drawn horrified expressions.

Twilight rolled her eyes.

The next day, Fizzlepop had to care for Fluttershy’s sanctuary animals. She didn’t think it would be too hard, but then she realized how weird it was just to see them. Outside of Equestria, there were creatures that looked so much like these. She wasn’t sure, also, how exactly to “take care” of them.

Fluttershy left Angel with her and walked off to have tea at her cottage with Twilight Sparkle.

Everything was fine until Angel hopped over to them in a mad hurry.

“What is it, Angel?” Fluttershy sweetly asked, watching his frantic charades until her eyes widened and she bolted.

Twilight hurriedly teleported herself over and saw what Angel must have told Fluttershy.

All the animals were either in battle formation or locked up. Fluttershy was flying around in a flutter. The animals were stock still until Tempest called out:

“Forward! March!”

Every animal moved forward at a pace.

“Roll to the left!”

Every animal did its best to comply.

A few birds hopped up and passed around treats after each command.

Angel sulkily went back to a cage in his dunce corner, placing a makeshift leaf hat on and closing the doors on himself.

Fluttershy fainted to the ground near Twilight’s hooves.

“She’s just training them!?” she gasped, as Twilight calmed her down.

It was the same thing with Rainbow Dash and her doing a seven legged race the next day. Fizzlepop thought it would be easy, but they struggled to keep in step. She walked firmly and swiftly, but so out of step with her partner that she left poor Rainbow Dash to struggle and flop around trying to keep it together the best she could. They knocked a few out of the race, though, and came in second.

Rarity tried having Fizzlepop help her with clothes for the orphans the day after, but Tempest created such plain clothes that it gave Rarity a heart attack.

And Applejack? Apple Bloom and her friends still aren’t sure what to make of what happened that day.

Twilight called Starlight to meet up with her later that day in her office.

“Yes, Twilight?” Starlight asked.

“We need to talk about Fizzlepop,” Twilight told her, “She’s doing great, but I think you can probably help her more, knowing what you’ve been through.”

Starlight thought about it for a minute, before responding with, “Well, I don’t know about that. I can try.”

“That’s all I ask!” Twilight said and hurried her out the door.

*** *** ***

Starlight made her way to the guest’s room and knocked on the door.

She could hear the hoofsteps going up to the door as Fizzlepop cautiously cracked it. Seeing Starlight there, Fizzlepop opened the door wider and let her in.

As she did so, Starlight looked around the room.

It seemed so bare. There were no keepsakes, no photos, no knick knacks that really showed who Fizzlepop was.

“So, how’s your week been?” she found herself saying, in the hopes to break the awkward silence.

Fizzlepop wasn’t sure where to begin, but she told Starlight as much as she could.

“I don’t know how any of that was supposed to help. I still feel unprepared to meet my friends again,” Fizzlepop muttered.

Starlight instinctively put a hoof on her shoulder. She almost pulled it back when Fizzlepop met her eyes, but she left it there.

“Well, you’ll probably never feel prepared.”

“Thanks,” Fizzlepop mumbled. She looked toward her window and down onto the street below when her eyes widened.

It was him!

Starlight kept going.

“I can tell you, it’s hard sometimes. Not knowing how other ponies will respond, whether or not they will forgive you, or even if you fully forgive them. But the best thing to do is go for it, you know? The worst thing would be to not know.”

Fizzlepop looked back at Starlight in surprise.

“You really think so?”

“I know so!”

“Well, thank you for your help,” Fizzlepop said, and ran out the door. Starlight looked back toward the now empty doorway in confusion.

“I wasn’t sure that would work,” she said under her breath, and trotted back to the school.