Fluttershy's Nature Show

The scene resumes as the birch wolf sets the camera on the ground, accidentally clicking one of the buttons. It shows a clearing, with a large pack of timber wolves surrounding the girls, who are clad only in their socks, shoes, and a layer of mud. Their wrists are still being held by the timber wolves that brought them there, and they have been made to kneel before the trunk of the fallen oak.

The oak log is a strange sight to see, not because it has fallen, but because it has an eerie, blue-green glow to it. A chunk of its bark has been torn off and made into a mask, which hovers above the stump, staring down at them with an unmoving face.

"Don't be scared, Twilight," says Fluttershy, trying to console her. "Think rational thoughts. Timber Wolves are vicious. If they wanted us dead, we'd not have made it this far. They need us for something. We may yet make it out of this alive, just don't panic."

Twilight nods as the line of wolves on the far side of the clearing parts, and two more maned timber wolves come in. One is made of spruce, with a dark brown body and deep green mane made up of needles. The other is light brown, with a mane of notched leaves. A handful of red mulberries hang down under his mane, the bursting of which has dyed his chest and shoulders bright red. They approach the birch wolf and, after some deliberation, the three of them move over to look at the camera. They sniff it all over, taste it, and then return to the trunk.

As they climb atop the fallen tree, the surrounding pack all sits down at once, leaving the only standing parties as the three maned timber wolves and the ones holding Twilight and Fluttershy in place.

The trial begins with the spruce wolf barking and growling. When he finishes, the mulberry one takes his role, and finally, the birch wolf barks a few times directly at the girls. Silence falls as the wolves await their response.

Twilight swallows hard and turns to her expert. "Fluttershy?"

In response to Twilight's decision, the oaken mask sucks up the glow of the fallen tree, five gaseous tendrils sprouting from its edges and writhing around. The mask floats over to Fluttershy, binding to her face as the tendrils force their way into her ears, nostrils and mouth, worming their way in until the mask sits firmly on Fluttershy's face. Her eyes glow with the blue-green sheen of the oak tree, and her body is soon engulfed in its light.

Once her body goes limp, the wolves holding her release her. She slowly sits back up, looks down, and removes her shoes and socks. Once fully grounded, she smiles. "That's much better." Her voice is echoed with a series of growls and snarls. The birch wolf barks back at her. "Yes," she answers. "It is as you say; we are ready."

"Fluttershy, what's going on?" pleads Twilight. "Are you okay?"

"We are bound to the spirit of the glade," responds Fluttershy. "We are not the one called 'Fluttershy,' but rather an amalgamate of her and the tree. It is now that we are together that we may begin. Please, be silent. If she cares for you at all, she will do what she can to protect you."

Twilight nods and remains silent and still. The maned wolves take turns barking and growling, snarling and howling. Whether at each other, or at Fluttershy, it doesn't sound particularly pleasant. This goes on for quite some time, until the glade falls silent again, and all attention turns to Fluttershy, who stands up.

"Part of what you say is indeed quite true," she roars. "However, in jumping to conclusions, you have made a few fatal errors that have caused you great shame in the eyes of your progenitors. While it is true that pony development has reduced your hunting grounds, and while it is true that these ones smell of the great slayers, a deep probe into this one's mind has shown us the face of the great grandmatron's thief. She has shown us her relations with those of the forest, and her unwillingness to harm our kind. She has even gone so far as to show us that she has taken part in efforts to regrow the forest; not just here, but in other places, as well." She turns to face Twilight. "As for her compatriot, she considers her to be harmless and well-meaning, if sometimes misguided."

Twilight's jaw drops. She says nothing, but her face is filled with confusion, with just a hint of hurt. The maned wolves continue their unintelligible conversation, ending with the spruce one growling and snapping at Fluttershy.

"No."

He growls and snaps again.

"Not at all."

The mulberry one barks.

Fluttershy is silent for a moment. "It is to preserve their memories for a longer period of time, and to allow them to share their memories with others."

The wolves seem to grow angry at the idea.

"We disagree. It seems that sharing these memories has the intention of keeping other ponies from encroaching on our home. Whether or not it will remains to be seen. However, we believe that it is important that memories in our favour be put on full display."

The maned wolves discuss amongst themselves what to do next, then turn to Fluttershy.

"No. Both ponies are to be set free. Both are to be given passage out of the forest, and their box of memories must be sent with them. My host is adamant about no further harm coming to them."

The birch wolf barks at her.

"Then let it be paid in fresh blood, given willingly from this body. New blood, not to be spilled in splashes, but to be rained down, covering the path and breathing new life into the forest. We will give you her blood."

"No, you can't!" cries Twilight. "Don't hurt Fluttershy!" She fights against her bondage, but Fluttershy places her hand on Twilight's shoulder.

"Calm yourself!" she barks. "There is harm that must be done, but the pony will survive. She will be released at the end of our ritual, with no lasting physical damage."

With a tearful nod of acceptance, Twilight drops her gaze to the ground.

The maned wolves discuss briefly the plan, then howl into the sky, joined quickly by all of the others, barring the ones holding Twilight in place. Fluttershy howls along with them, her pony voice not vocalizing in the process. Once the call is finished, the trees around the glade begin to glow, each with a different colour. Some are red, some are blue, others are purple, but they all glow briefly, until one in particular, a willow with a pale lavender glow, refuses to go out. It begins to grow more powerful right as the reel ends.