Metanoia

by littlerobotbird

Rating: teen
Tags: Original Character, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Sad, Main 6, Other
Length: 87046

When Twilight begins to lose control over her magic, our six heroes hunt for answers.

When Twilight finds herself suddenly losing control over her magic, our six equine heroes find themselves drwn back to the site where they became the Elements of Harmony to confront an ancient creature, older than Equestria itself.

[Status <10.01.2014>]
Arc 00, Arc 01 edited; Interlude in progress

Published 2011-10-18 19:12:31 UTC
Last updated 2012-08-28 07:03:56 UTC

02 [Arc 00 - Potency, Part Two] <rev. 08.06.2014>

Wispy tendrils of fog rolled across the path in front of her, pushed on by some unfelt breeze.

Somewhere beyond the lazy gray wall of lowborn cloud lay the thatched-roof cottage she sought and beyond that lay the dark and mysterious depths of the Everfree Forest where nature, having been free from the influence of ponykind, had run rampant for hundreds upon thousands of years, leaving it a dangerously unpredictable and mysterious place.

As if at a crossroads, the young pegasus stood just off the path, fidgeting nervously as she peered at the grey mists swirling before her. Her traveling cloak clung uncomfortably to her sides in the humid morning. She beat her wings once, then twice as she shifted her saddle bags up to a more comfortable position on her back. With a forced shiver, she tried to rid herself of the morning’s chill and the dew that seemed to cover every inch.

"Maybe a day or two more..." she murmured to herself, blowing a limp strands of damp, pink mane out of her face. "Wait for the sun to clear away all this fog at least."

The pegasus stared for another moment, hoof pawing at the ground idly as though it held the answers to her dilemma just beneath its surface. She could feel a tremble of nervousness creeping up her spine, wings locked tight to her sides as she felt the urge to run building.

"Somepony out here?"

The little pegasus nearly fainted dead away at the sound of another's voice breaking the quiet stillness. Instead her hooves found purchase in the damp soil and she disappeared beneath the exposed roots of a nearby tree, landing with the quiet slap of watery mud.

She lay there, trembling as she listened to the squelching steps draw closer to her. She could hear them wandering towards her, their rhythm steady even with its gentle stutter. They stopped a moment and the pegasus could hear a soft, snorting chuckle issue forth from the mystery pony.

"Well, I reckoned I heard somepony out here," the smug sounding voice began from just above and behind her.

She twisted her head around to find the aged face of an earth pony mare peering down at her, a raincoat obscuring much of her.

"How many times you been out here this week, young one?"

The pegasus was speechless for a moment, her fear heightening at the realization before falling away beneath the spell of the old mare's smiling face.

"Just once or twice..." she admitted meekly, climbing slowly out from under the tree roots and onto solid, if damp, ground, hooves slipping on the muddy sides of her unsuccessful hiding place.

"Well, I do dearly hope that you weren't scared of little old me," the old mare chuckled, aiding the pegasus in getting back onto level earth and to all fours. Bringing the young one up to look her over with smiling, blue eyes that shone with a familiar warmth from within her hood. "So...what's a little filly like you doing out here all alone? Lookin’ for somepony in particular?"

"I'm not a little filly," she whispered in response, looking towards the fog bank that had tormented her mere moments ago, but seemed a welcome escape route.

"What was that?" the old mare asked, a hoof to her ear in an overt show of auditory inadequacy, the smile betraying her.

"I'm not a little filly," the pegasus repeated herself, louder this time.

"Well, you sure talk like one," the old mare smiled, letting out a short, rasping laugh, "You might want t’work on that, darlin'."

The pegasus meeped, seeming to sink into the ground at the reproach.

"An' as to my other question...?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," the pegasus suddenly stood upright, twisting back to grab something out of her saddlebag, "I-I am actually looking for s-somepony."

"Hopefully I kin help," the old mare offered as the pegasus dug around for a minute before coming up with a small letter clutched in her mouth.

"M spose't mee 'er," she began with her mouth full, the old mare freeing her soon enough, tucking the letter into her coat, "Sorry."

"No need for apologies, miss," the old mare dismissed the pegasus, motioning for the pegasus to follow her. "C'mon now. Can't have you catching yer death a'cold here."

"O-okay..." came the timid response, the pair disappearing into the fog bank.

Keeping close to the older pony, she soon found them at the cottage.

A few minutes more and the pegasus found herself sitting before a small table in the cottage's main room, sipping slowly from a cup of steaming hot tea. She shivered lightly beneath the warm blanket wrapped around her while the old mare cleaned up the kitchen. The letter lay forgotten for the moment at the table's center while the pegasus’s bags and the old mare's coat hung side by side near the door, dripping quietly.

"Hope you're enjoying the tea. Old family recipe," the old mare gave the pegasus a sly wink as she took her place at the table. She blew softly on her own cup before looking to the unopened letter. "Don't suppose you know what's in that?"

"No, ma'am," the pegasus admitted, pulling the blanket tighter around her. "This tea is lovely, though, thank you."

"You're very welcome, young lady. Good t’hear manners are still well an' good among you young'uns."

The pegasus merely blushed at the compliment, her eyes fixed squarely on her tea.

"Well, let's see what all this is about then, shall we?"

Shakily the old mare rose to her hooves, drawing the letter towards her. The pegasus found her gaze raising seemingly of its own volition, curious as to the letters contents as well. As the young one watched, the old mare's opened the letter, eyes darting over the page, her face curious at first, but slowly and steadily morphing into a frown before glancing up to meet the pegasus' blue eyes with her own.

"Well, I s'pose there’s a resemblance," the old mare muttered, her expression an enigma to the timid pegasus. "Got an awful lot of yer daddy in you… better or for worse, I s'pose."

"Th-thanks?"

“Lot more grown since the last time I saw ya...” the mare muttered to herself as the yellow pegasus shrank beneath the earth pony's examination. "Well, I s'pose we best get you settled in."

"Settled in? Here?"

"Well, yeah, girly. What did you think I was going to do?" the old mare looked at her with a look of incredulity as she made her way around the table.

"I don’t… What do you me—" she stammered, interrupted by the elder mare’s sudden embrace.

"Y’all didn't think I'd leave my only gran’daughter out in the cold, did you?"

"Granddaughter?"

"Oh, I know. It's been years an’ I’ve got quite a few more gray hairs in my mane, but surely you remember yer ol' granny, Fluttershy?"

The scene froze, Fluttershy's consciousness suddenly running cold as she looked up into her grandma's warm blue eyes. The pegasus could feel her breath caught in her throat, her body suddenly feeling as though she had sunk into a deep snowdrift.

She remembered the disbelief, the betrayal that she had felt in that moment. She remembered reading the letter herself. Reading it over and over and over again, looking for something that simply wasn't there.

But she ended up happy, right?

Maybe it took a month or two, but… she didn't need to feel those things anymore.

So why did she?

"Wh-what's going on?" Fluttershy asked, her words coming out in a burst of frosty air.

But no answer came.

No words came as the cottage grew darker and faded away along with the kind, old earth pony with the familiar blue eyes. Soon she was left in the dark, just as she had been then.

"Don't worry, Fluttershy, everythin'll turn out alright in the end.” She remembered her grandmother’s words, the even, wise tone she’d taken. “Even if it dun seem like it at first, things'll get better."

She could feel her granny's lips on her forehead that first night as she tucked the pegasus into bed, the warmth of the comforter surrounding her as she had gone to sleep, the sounds of the countless critters down the stairs.

Then, as suddenly as the warmth had manifested, it were gone and it their place was a pulsing ache. Fluttershy found herself writhing on the floor, clutching at her fore hoof as the burning ache flowed up her leg.

A soft chuckle echoed in the empty darkness.

"Things just aren't so alright in the end."

[o-0-o]

"Whoa there, girl!" Applejack shouted as she tried to keep the thrashing pegasus under control, deftly avoiding the panicked hoof whipping right at her head. "Yer fine! Yer fine, Fluttershy! Everythin's fine!"

Almost immediately the pegasus began to settle, staring up at the farm pony's reassuring smile before glancing around to find that she was in her bed, the morning sun filtering in through the window.

"Is she okay?" a nervous voice asked, drawing Fluttershy's attention to an oddly distraught Pinkie Pie, a tray covered with a kitchen towel balanced on the pink pony's back and thick bandage wound around her head.

"She'll live, but I don't want her tearing apart her bandages," Applejack replied, running a calming hoof down the pegasus's back. "How you feelin', Shy?"

"I...I'm fine. Why wouldn’t I be?" she whispered, trying to think of a reason for Applejack and Pinkie being in her bedroom. Then the memories came roaring back, a soft shudder rippling down her spine. "Is Twilight okay?"

"Twilight's just fine. I think she's a mite more worried about you than herself right now," the stetsoned pony answered, maintaining her smile as she continued, "Now how 'bout you tell me how yer hoof is doin'?"

"It...it doesn't hurt at all." Fluttershy drew the offending hoof to her face, finding it to be completely encircled in bandage.

"Hurt at all when I press it?"

Fluttershy merely shook her head, brow furrowed in surprise as the earth pony pressed tentatively against the mummified hoof.

"Wow, Applejack, you did great!" Pinkie exclaimed as she bounced towards the bed, the tray thankfully now resting on a bookshelf. The pink pony staring down at the pegasus with a bright smile, but Fluttershy found herself staring at the bandage on her head.

“What happened to your head?”

“Oh, this is from when I hit the tree,” Pinkie answered matter-of-fact.

“Hit the tree?”

“Oh, don't you worry none, Fluttershy. Us earth ponies got thick skulls.” Applejack tapped her own head with a hoof to demonstrate. “An' Pinkie's is even thicker than most.”

“Yes indeedy!” the pink pony exclaimed with a quick bounce punctuating her excitement over the apparent compliment.

“So, how did you...” Fluttershy's words trailed off, finding it simpler to just hold up her well-bandaged extremity.

"Years on th' farm," Applejack responded, chest puffing out in pride. "Gotta know some first aid if'n yer gonna work the fields."

"Thank you, Applejack," Fluttershy whispered as she continued to examine her hoof.

"Well, I reckon we best get them Nurse ponies to look at it afore I go above giving you a good, clean bill o' health, but you're certainly welcome," the farm pony said with a subtle curtsy before turning to the still eagerly bouncing Pinkie Pie. "But before that... what've you got for us, Pinkie?"

"Weeeeeelllll...Fluttershy doesn't have as many ingredients as I’m used to... so I had to experiment a little teensy weensy little bit, but I managed to make some deliciously scrumptious, oh so wonderful," Pinkie paused for effect as she made it back to the tray in a single bounce, tossing the towel away with a flourish to reveal, "muffins!"

"Er..."

Pinkie beamed with pride as her two friends glanced over the tray of misshapen mystery goods of dubious origins.

"Don't they just look delicious?" the pink pony asked before tossing an oddly speckled muffin into the air, catching it deftly in her maw before smiling at the pair, cheeks undulating with foodstuff.

"They look...um...nice."

"Yeah! They look, uh, nice, Pinkie."

[o-0-o]

It was nearly midday when the library door swung open to admit the pair of grumbling ponies.

"The rosemary an' birdseed actually weren't too bad, but what pony in their right mind puts raw fish in a muffin?" Applejack asked nopony in particular, Fluttershy giving a pained smile at her friend's confusion.

"Well, it is a delicacy in eastern Equestria...but not usually as a muffin, no..." the pegasus remarked, her stomach tumbling slightly as she dragged herself to one of the cushions set out around the center of the library's main room.

"S'pose that's just her way. Bein' all experimental an' the like." Applejack sighed as she flopped onto a cushion next to Fluttershy. “Thought fer a sec I was goin' t’have to ask Redheart for the stomach pump.”

"At least most of them were edible this time," the pegasus offered, trying in vain to defend the party-loving pony against both Applejack and her own cartwheeling stomach.

"There's that, I, uh, guess," Applejack murmured, a soft blush coursing over her face.

"Applejack! Fluttershy!" A voice above drew the two ponies attention from their gymnastically inclined interiors as a blur of purple and green descend the stairs. "Fluttershy, you're alright!"

"Well, of course." Fluttershy couldn’t help but blush as the little dragon looped his tiny arms around her. "Didn't Twilight tell you?"

"She made it sound like she exploded and almost blew your leg off!” Spike cried out, arms remaining locked tight around Fluttershy.

“Nothin' that excitin', Spike,” Applejack muttered as she rolled over on her pillow. “How's Twi doin'?”

“She's been all mopey ever since she got back… I don't think she's slept since, either,” the baby dragon explained, finally relinquishing his hold. “She's really worried about you, Fluttershy.”

"Oh, it wasn't anything that bad. It was just a bit of a burn...no worse than if I’d spilled hot tea on it," Fluttershy reassured the dragon, showing off her newly re-bandaged hoof. "Should be as good as new once the magical...um, what did Nurse Redheart call it, Applejack?"

"Huh?" the farmer pony asked, shaking herself out of a trance, eyes focused on the top of the stairs, "Oh! It was, uh, Residual Magic somethin’-somethin’. Transmissal Field?"

Spike and Fluttershy simply stared at the distracted earth pony for a moment, waiting for her eyes to wander, but the pair of green eyes stayed rooted to the spot, ears twitching beneath her trademark hat. Slowly the work pony rose to her feet, a determined grimace on her face.

"Well, ain't that just a right kick in the flank," Applejack broke the silence with a strong stomp of her hoof. "That unicorn ain't gonna make her feel any better that way."

Fluttershy gasped as the workhorse stomped by her and right up the stairs.

"We should probably go after her, right?" Spike asked, taking off for the stairs before halting at the first step. Turning to the injured pegasus, he motioned to her bandaged hoof. "Did you need any help?"

"Oh no, I'll be fine. You just hurry on ahead."

"Oh, okay." The little dragon took off like a shot up the stairs where Fluttershy could now hear a muffled argument.

Standing up slowly, the pegasus made sure to keep her weight distributed over her three good legs before stretching her still sore wings and hovering up the stairs.

[o-0-o]

"You just don't understand, Applejack." Twilight sighed, leaning halfway over her desk as though she were about to pass out then and there.

"What don't I understand? That you're being plumb idiotic?" Applejack retorted, steadying the unicorn as she swayed lightly. “You need your rest, Twi!”

"I know, I know... I should sleep, but I can't," she grumbled as Fluttershy crested the top step, touching down just behind the pair as Spike sat on Twilight's bed. "I have to know why this happened?"

"What do you mean, Twilight?" Fluttershy interjected, immediately drawing a gasp from the unicorn.

"Fluttershy! You're okay!" Twilight choked out, breaking out of Applejack's grip to wrap her hooves around the pegasus, squeezing her tightly.

"Of course I am," Fluttershy stated blankly, rubbing the unicorn's back with her bandaged hoof as a wetness spread where Twilight had buried her face into her shoulder. "But you really should be getting your rest, shouldn't you?"

"Oh, Fluttershy, I thought I really hurt you," Twilight whispered, trembling as she ignored the pegasus's question. "I'm just so glad you're alright."

"She's fine, Twi, but you ain't," Applejack grumbled, trotting over to the pair.

"Applejack's right, Twilight. You need your rest. Especially after using so much magic."

The unicorn suddenly sagged at the mention of magic. "Right...you're right, it's just..." the unicorn stammered as she released the pegasus from her embrace and trudged back to the desk. "I can't rest… at least not until I know why."

"Twi, I don't pretend to know all about magic and whatnot. I know that you blowin’ yer horn out has you stressed an' all, but—"

"It's not that. Not just that anyways."

"Well, then maybe you ought to explain afore I go runnin' my mouth," Applejack spoke bluntly, resting her forehooves on the desktop so that she could get herself eye to eye with the unicorn. "We're your friends, Twi. Don't go keepin’ us in the dark."

"It’s just... I'm scared."

"What are you scared of?" Fluttershy asked in a quiet voice, moving to the unicorn's opposite side.

"I—I'm not even sure," Twilight admitted, tears welling up in her eyes. "I haven't ever lost control of my magic like that. Not since I was a little filly... the Princess taught me how to control it and I just… I just lost it like that.” She tapped a hoof against the desk. “Celestia always warned me how dangerous uncontrolled magic can be… ”

“Any particular reason why?" Applejack asked, giving her space to vent. "I mean, maybe you were just overtired or stressed or somethin'."

"No, I was perfectly fine."

"An allergy, maybe?" Fluttershy chimed in, thoughts wandering back to her tea.

"No, I don't have any allergies except..." The unicorn sat up straight for a moment before slumping back down. "No… there wasn't any poison joke around the cottage."

"I dun think this would have been much of a joke anyways. Not that plant's M.O. either…" Applejack stated, rubbing a hoof thoughtfully under her chin. "Do you… wait, never mind."

"What?" Fluttershy and Twilight asked in unison, both turning to the farm pony who looked suddenly nervous.

"Well, you remember anything from when you lost control? Anything, y'know, odd?"

"Besides the obvious?” Twilight let out an insincere laugh. “No, not really… I just remember feeling like something was trying to…"

“Tryin' ta what?"

"Like something was trying to rip all the magic right out of me…" Twilight suddenly looked incredibly queasy, sweat running down her brow, her normally purple complexion taking on a noticeably greener hue.

"Oh… sorry, Twi. Didn't mean ta make you think about it… I'll, uh… go get you a glass of water," Applejack stammered out before dashing down the stairs to the kitchen, Spike trailing just behind the workhorse.

"Um, Twilight," Fluttershy began meekly, eyes locked to the floor.

"Fluttershy?"

"I felt the same thing when I was trying to get to you. It felt like I was being drained. And there were these things that kept grabbing me…"

"I...I'm so sorry, Flutter—"

"No, Twilight… I don't think it was you…"

"What do you mean? Of course it was me! It was my magic!"

"Well, it was your magic, but there was something else too…"

"Something else?" Twilight seemed to perk up a bit at this, but Fluttershy found herself staring at the floor as soon as she had met the unicorn's eyes.

"Yes… it felt like something was watching us…"

"You... you're right. I do remember that… I just thought it was my imagination though."

"I don't think it was a pony… and I don't know of any creature that could do something like this, but Twilight?"

"Yeah, Fluttershy?"

"It wasn't your fault. I'm sure of it."

"Thanks, Fluttershy… Maybe I shouldn't feel so guilty, but if you had gotten hurt…" Twilight trailed off, allowing her chin to come to rest on the desk's cool surface.

"No lasting harm, no need to apologize, Twilight."

"How can you say that? I nearly burned your hoof off!"

"My hoof is fine, no more than a first degree burn,” Fluttershy rebuked her friend, turning her bandaged hoof over in front of the unicorn, “I've done worse making soup."

"But it was still my magic that did it. Even if something else did it, I'm the one who lost control over it."

"Twilight!" Fluttershy yelled suddenly.

Twilight snapped her head around to look at the now agitated pegasus, the unicorn's eyes widening at the sight. "Y-yes, F-fluttershy?"

"It was not your fault. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes."

"Now I don't want to hear you blaming yourself anymore," Fluttershy commanded, staring the unicorn into submission. "And I want you to get some sleep. Do you understand me?

"Yes, ma’am," was all the unicorn managed before bolting up to her bed and slipping immediately under the covers, Fluttershy's ever watchful eye on her.

"Dang, Fluttershy, the heck was that?"

Applejack stood at the top step, baby dragon with a tray of water perched on his head in tow as the both of them stared at Fluttershy, slack-jawed.

"Oh… m-may have overdone it. Just a little." The pegasus simply blushed.

"An’ remind me to never get on your bad side."

Spike slid the tray full of water onto the newly vacated desk, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Didn't even know you had one...although I s'pose now I know why Applebloom keeps callin' you the Stare Master."

"Does she?" Fluttershy grinned sheepishly before breaking into a more genuine smile as she heard the telltale snores of a deep, restful sleep floating down from the bed. "We should let her get some rest..."

[o-0-o]

"I'll be with you in just a moment," came the sing-song welcome as Fluttershy and Applejack entered the Carousel Boutique, the jingling of the doorbell announcing them to the out-of-sight proprietor.

"May...maybe I ought to wait outside, Fluttershy," the cowpony stammered slightly, looking as though she were more than willing to bolt right through a wall if it meant freedom.

"Nonsense, Applejack," Fluttershy hushed her as from the back of the shop they could hear the hushed whisperings of Rarity and another pony.

The store fell silent a moment before the unicorn's perfectly coiffed mane came into view.

"Oh, Fluttershy!" Rarity exclaimed when she saw her pegasus friend, Applejack having slipped behind the pegasus. "Have I missed our weekly appointment, dear? I didn't think I'd been working for that long, but I have been a bit behind as of late."

"Oh no, Rarity, that isn't until tomorrow," Fluttershy said, peering over the unicorn at the back of the shop where she could still hear the stilted mutterings of the other pony.

"Oh, is it now..." Rarity laughed nervously, glancing over her shoulder. The unicorn's nervous air disappeared, however, the moment she spotted a familiar looking stetson half-hidden behind Fluttershy. "Oh, I see you've brought Applejack."

"Er...hey, Rares," the orange furred pony said with a awkward wave of her hoof before stepping out from behind her cover. "The shop… looks good."

"Thank you. Lots of hard work keeping it up, but I manage," the fashionista replied, eyes looking the farmer over.

The silence was deafening as Fluttershy could only look back and forth between the tongue-tied earth pony and the almost glaring unicorn. The only sound was the continued murmurings from the back room.

"Ahem… Rarity?" Fluttershy intervened just as it seemed Applejack would melt into a puddle of sweat.

"Oh...yes, Fluttershy?"

"There's something important we needed to tell you about."

"Yes?" the unicorn's face brightened for a moment, a knowing smirk appearing on her face as Applejack continued the self-appointed task of counting the number of nails holding down the boutique's floorboards.

"Something happened to Twilight last night..."

The unicorn's face falling to a momentary look of disappointment before being quickly overridden by a look of worry as she processed the words.

"Oh my, she is alright, isn’t she?"

"She is. She's resting at the library right now—"

"Won't be up fer a while, I reckon," Applejack broke in, her normal confidence having seemingly returned. "Not if Fluttershy's stare has anything to do with it."

"Applejack!" Fluttershy gasped, face flushing crimson.

"Fluttershy! You shouldn't use your… abilities on your friends!"

"Oh, pipe down, Rarity. She had Twi's best interests at heart. That pony's kept herself awake all dang night worried about what she did to Fluttershy," the work horse explained, Rarity's anger slowly dissipating, "Fluttershy just made sure she'd get herself some sleep."

"Oh, I see… And what happened to...?" Rarity began before looking down towards the pegasus's still bandaged hoof. “Dear, what happened to your hoof?"

"Oh, it's just a minor burn, really."

"Minor nothing. How could Twilight do something like this?"

"Slow yer gums there, girl. Twilight wasn't exactly in full control of ‘er faculties last night. At least, that's how I've heard it from Pinkie," Applejack continued, circling towards the unicorn, taking a sidelong glance at the back room.

"Oh… what do you mean she wasn't in control of herself?"

"She lost control of her magic—"

"Darn near tore Fluttershy’s cottage apart, too," Applejack quipped, jerking her head towards the increasingly flustered pegasus.

"Whoa!" came a familiar voice from the back room. "Er...I mean… nothing but clothes back here. Carry on!"

"Rainbow, that you?" Applejack called out as she made her way towards the back room, Rarity simply biting her lip as Fluttershy watched with a quizzical look.

"Nope! Nopony back here!" the voice replied as the farm pony disappeared from view. "I mean… uh, meow?"

"Well, that's a right fancy lookin' cat, ain't it?" Applejack laughed raucously as a soft groan emanated from the back.

"You tell nopony. No. Pony."

"Hmmm… maybe, what's it worth to ya?"

"What?!"

"Aw, I'm jus' kiddin' ya, Rainbow. This will be goin' in mah private collection, though." A flash illuminated the doorway for a moment before Applejack returned, a Polaroid tucked neatly into her hatband, developed side down. "Borrowed your camera for a second, Rares. I’ll gitcha a new pack sometime."

"Applejack…" Rarity groaned, rubbing her hooves over her temples as the cowpony simply grinned ear to ear. "Must you do this to my model?"

"Model?" Fluttershy muttered, feeling somewhat lost.

"Nah, just to that one," Applejack replied, her grin widening even further if that was possible as a very disgruntled cyan pegasus clopped dejectedly into the main room.

"I hate you, you know that?" the blue pegasus grumbled, a lacy under outfit still draped to her as she glared daggers at the work pony.

"Rainbow Dash, yer momma would be just appalled," Applejack began in mock horror. "Lettin' somethin' so trivial ruin such a gee-orgeous friendship."

"I will get you back."

"I know," the farm pony replied, pressing her face right into the pegasus's. "That's the fun part of this here relationship."

"Oh, it is on!" Dash grinned, the pair pressing their heads together hard as Rarity merely sighed and moved to remove her outfit from the equation of carnage to come.

"Um…" Fluttershy began, hoping to salvage the situation somehow, voice coming out as little more than a whisper.

"Rainbow, dear, hold still!"

"You think you got me good? This ain't nothing compared to what I'm gonna do!"

"Big talk for the filly in the frou-frouey frills."

"Girls?" Fluttershy interjected meekly, taking a step towards the competitive pair before scrambling away as the pushed each other back and forth.

"Frills! Well at least I'm not...the filly in the silly hat!"

"Hey! This is a mighty respectable hat!"

"Silly hat! Makes you look like a squatter. Hah!"

"That, missy, is a societal misconception!"

"Girls?"

"Will you both settle down, you're going to tear my work to shreds at this rate."

"Apples to apples, Applesmack."

"Oh, you wanna to feel a right good applesmack? How 'bout I give you a good buck?"

"Bring it on, ponygirl!"

"That does i—"

"GIRLS!" Fluttershy yelled, drawing the attention of a very red face Applejack, a newly disrobed Rainbow Dash and a sullen looking Rarity with a lightly torn outfit draped over her back.

"Er..."

"We have more important things to discuss right now."

"Fluttershy's right," Applejack admitted before turning to Dash, "Truce fer now?"

"Yeah, yeah. Truce, whatever," the rainbow-maned pegasus huffed as the two shook on it, Rarity returning from the back room sans ruined outfit. "So what happened to Twilight? She's okay and all, right?"

"She's just fine. She's really just very exhausted at this point," Fluttershy meandered, slowly wilting under her friend's curious stares. "But that's not the most important thing."

"So what is?" Dash asked as she took to hovering above the trio.

"The important thing is why."

"You got somethin' outta Twilight?" Applejack asked, scratching at her ear with an idle hoof.

"Well, I wanted to have everypony here," Fluttershy began before realizing they were still short at least one pony not in the know.

"Speakin' of which, where is that girl? Told her to meet us here after she worked her shift for the Cakes." Applejack glanced up at the clock to confirm her suspicions before continuing. "She should have been off by n—"

Applejack was cut off as the door to the boutique slammed with a blur of pink.

"Oh my, oh my, oh my, oh my, oh my," the blur repeated over and over as it looped around the room several time, dragging reams of cloth and other dressmaking supplies into a vortex before screeching to a sudden halt in front of a very red faced Rarity.

“Pinkieeee...” the unicorn moaned as the pink pony glanced at the wake she had left.

"Oh, um… sorry, Rarity."

"Just please be a tad more… collected, dear," Rarity said with an exasperated smile, her magic working quickly to tidy the shop in Pinkie’s wake.

"What took you so long, Pinks?" Applejack asked, holding her hat down as Dash made a half-hearted swipe for the photo.

"Oh, darn! I'm late, aren't I?" Pinkie chirped, bouncing in place with a nervous energy. "The Cakes kept me because they thought I was having a seizure!"

"A seizure?" Rarity cocked an eyebrow as the pink pony came to a full stop.

"I know, silly right? I would never steal anything from the Cakes and I don't think I have anything anypony else would want…" Pinkie muttered, putting a hoof to her chin, bemused by the thought.

"Oh, by Celestia…" Applejack gasped as she realized what Pinkie's scatter shot verbalizations had neglected to state outright, her sudden fright giving Rainbow the opportunity to pluck the photo from the farm pony's hat. "Pinkie, did you have another doozy?"

"Oh right, that's what I came here to tell you all!" Pinkie bounded into the air excitedly before pumping the air breaks and setting her hooves back on the floor. "Oh, we have no time to waste! Follow me!"

Without another word she was gone in a blur, the door to the boutique flapping back and forth as the remaining quartet simply stared at where she had been just a moment before.

"Ugh, Pinkie Pie..." Applejack groaned and as if by magic the bouncing pony appeared before them again, the door slammed open before her as she high-stepped in place.

"C'mon you silly fillies, get your flanks in rank and let's go go go!" the party pony commanded, looping around and grabbing Rarity by the tail and galloping off with her to parts unknown.

"Pinkie Pie, now really!"

Applejack and Dash could hear the unicorn's protests as the pair made off in hot pursuit of the galloping pink pony, Fluttershy just behind.

Soon enough all four found themselves outside of the Ponyville Library, Pinkie finally letting go of Rarity tail, the unicorn crashing unceremoniously to the ground, momentum no longer aiding her defiance of gravity.

"Er… Pinkie, don't mean to question ya, but nothin' seems wrong," Applejack said, earning a glare from Rarity as the unicorn waved her poor, mangled tail. "Nothing worth a doozy at least."

"It seems… quiet," Fluttershy whispered, eying the tree as though a hydra or an ursa were about to tear its way up from the roots.

"A bit too quiet..." Dash muttered darkly, flapping idly as she crossed her hooves over her chest. "Well, I'm bored."

"Give it a minute..." Pinkie urged, leaning towards the tree on the tips of her hooves.

Just before it seemed the pink pony seemed about to fall forward a sudden and familiar cry rang out from inside the tree, but, before anypony could enter to investigate, a familiar purple figure had burst from the upstairs windows in a flash of magenta.

"Twilight!" All five of the ponies shouted in unison as their friend tumbled down the dirt road just behind them.

For a moment the unicorn didn't stir, eyes still closed and face remarkably serene for having belly-flopped a good twenty feet into well-trodden dirt.

"Twilight, Twilight! Are you okay?" The silence that had grown was broken as Spike rushed between the five awe-struck ponies.

"Is she?" Dash echoed as the baby dragon placed a clawed hand to the unicorn's neck.

"Sh—she's got a pulse and she's breathing… Twilight?"

"Well, what in Tartarus happened? She was sound asleep when we left."

"Uh… I don't know. She was asleep and then her horn started glowing like crazy and she just launched right out the window!" the dragon rambled, staring down at the still slumbering unicorn as Fluttershy drew closer, trying to inspect for any damage.

"I don't think she broke anything..." Fluttershy murmured, finding herself with a knot growing in her throat as she ran her hooves over the unicorn's body, trying to feel for any telltale signs of injury. "We should probably get her to Nur—"

She wasn't able to finish as Twilight's horn lit up once more, body seeming to hover as it was pulled by the wayward horn. Fluttershy jerked back, terrified for a moment as Spike grabbed onto the foating unicorn's tail, trying to pull her back.

"A little help, guys!" the little dragon cried as, even with his claws dragging furrows in the street, he couldn't stop the unicorn's magical momentum.

"C'mon, girls, pile on," Applejack took the lead, tackling Twilight to the ground.

For a moment, the unicorn halted, but the victory was temporary. The glow increased and the unconscious unicorn began to move faster as Dash and Pinkie joined the pile, Fluttershy galloping up to grab the unicorn's tail, digging her hooves into the ground as she beat her wings furiously.

"Wait! I have an idea!" Rarity exclaimed from behind the group before taking off past them in a hard gallop. "Just keep her here, I'll be right back!"

"Rarity, consarnit! We need you here!" Applejack yelled after the fashionista as, even with the combined weight and efforts of four ponies and one dragon, Twilight was moving faster by the moment, heading—much to Fluttershy's dismay—straight towards the site of the unicorn's last loss of magical control.

"C'mon, Fluttershy, flap harder!" Dash implored, circling back from her spot on top of Pinkie to grasp at her fellow pegasi's waist, flapping her wings fast enough to make a hummingbird on a caffeine-drip look slow.

"I'm trying," Fluttershy panted, not used to the strain, hooves scraping across the street before she felt them suddenly freed from the dirt and her body flapping in the air as the unicorn's body short forward in burst of magic.

"What's the—?!" came the confused yells of various Ponyvillians as the sextet shot by, Twilight's glowing horn leading the charge through the market as various ponies dove for cover.

"Guys, I don't think this is working!" Applejack yelled back, Pinkie's tongue lolling out of her mouth as the wind whipped over them, a path a destruction and dazed ponies left behind them.

"Y'think?!" Dash found herself in the uncomfortable position of being completely without control as she clutched at Fluttershy while the other pegasus bit down hard on the tail in her mouth.

"Guys?" came Spike's terror filled voice, the baby dragon having latched onto Fluttershy's tail after losing his grip on Twilight's.

"Yeah, Spike?!" Pinkie asked, having thrown her hooves in the air as she sat atop the mobile unicorn's flank.

"I think we're gonna crash!" the dragon yelled, pointing towards Town Hall as it loomed in the distance.

"Well… that ain't good…" Applejack stated bluntly before grabbing the unicorn's ear with a hoof. "Twi, now might be a good time for you ta wake up!"

"Pease wake’p, pease wake’p, pease wake’p," Fluttershy repeated around the hair in her mouth as she screwed her eyes shut tight.

A moment passed and she could hear Pinkie, Applejack, Dash and Spike scream, the impact seeming to be upon them.

And then the screams faded to gasps and whimpers.

The wind that had been whipping through her wings disappeared and she felt herself hit the ground with a thud accompanied by three smaller and one rather large thud.

"What… what jus' happened?" Applejack cried out in confusion as she rolled off the now immobile unicorn, she reached up with a hoof and let out a sigh of relief as it found her favorite hat. "Are we dead?"

"Dead? I should hope not after getting myself all sweaty."

"Rarity? That you?" The work pony could hardly believe her eyes as she spotted the white unicorn standing just to their side with a rather pleased look about her despite the dirt stains on her legs and now thoroughly mangled coiffure.

"But what… how did you… did you just save us?" Dash stuttered as she got to her hooves, eyes threatening to roll out of her skull as she pressed a hoof to her aching forehead.

"Hmm… I suppose I did save you," Rarity replied with a smile.

"Rarity? The how? If y’don't mind."

"Oh, right. I saved you with those!" the prim unicorn replied with a flourish, motioning to Twilight's now darkened horn. Or, rather, what sat on her horn: a pair of rather intricately styled rings comprised of several dark gray bands twisted around one another, numerous sigils and symbols covering its surface.

"Ooo… it looks neato! What is it?" Pinkie chimed in, giving the ring a tentative proke with her hoof, a tiny magenta spark emitting from the ring.

"Calm down, dear, you'll chip a hoof at this rate," Rarity hushed her boisterous friend, the pink pony bouncing excitedly, before continuing, "Those, my good ponies, are inhibitor rings."

"What-now rings?"

"Oh, Applejack, you really should have paid more attention in class"—the work pony's face dropped into a grimace at the mention, Rarity's eyes widening slightly as well before she coughed awkwardly and continued. "Yes...so, as I was saying, an inhibitor ring is a practice device for adolescent unicorns. Something for us to overcome and practice with to improve both our power and fine control over our magic."

"So… you disabled Twilight's magic?" Fluttershy asked, curious as she examined the ring. Faintly she could see the telltale light of magic coursing through it.

"Well… not exactly. The ring only inhibits to a degree," Rarity began, her face shifting from her former pride to something more akin to embarrassment. "I'm honestly surprised that it worked on a unicorn of Twilight's caliber. It was somewhat of a long shot in retrospect. It’s good I thought to bring more than one."

"Y’don't say..." Applejack raised an eyebrow at this admission before glancing towards the town hall a mere thirty yards away. "S'pose we al jus' get lucky sometimes."

"Agreed," Rarity said as she circled towards Applejack, offering the work pony a helping hoof.

"Thank ye kindly," Applejack spoke softly as she took the proferred hoof. Straightening her hat, she took a look around, the ponies from the market had kept their distance thus far, all of them seeming dumbfounded at best. "Think they'd be used to this sort of craziness by now."

"I know. I'm completely used to it!" Pinkie agreed, giving the work pony a side hug before bouncing back to Fluttershy as the pegasus looked over the still unconscious Twilight.

"Twilight?" Fluttershy whispered as she shook the unicorn gently, drawing out a soft groan before her eyes flickered open.

"Fluttershy?"

"Twilight, you're okay!" Spike exclaimed, bounding over Fluttershy to wrap himself around the unicorn's neck.

"Of course I… why am I lying in the dirt in front of Town Hall?"

"Maybe we should get you back home before we start talking about it."

"And what's on my horn?"

"Twi, when we get you home. Don't make me use Fluttershy on you."

"Applejack!" Fluttershy gasped as the work pony simply chuckled, but the ploy worked as Twilight fell silent.

Letting Applejack pull her to her hooves, Twilight stood unsteadily for a moment before the septet began the walk back to the library, Applejack and Rarity flanking the purple unicorn somewhat uncomfortably before the slack-jawed stares of what seemed to be half of Ponyville.

"I swear, this town has just been getting stranger and stranger..."

Author's Note

[revised 8-6-2014]

03 [Arc 00 - Potency, Part Three] <rev. 08.07.2014>

"So are you girls going to tell me exactly wh—HURK!"

Twilight found herself rendered breath deficient as Applejack gave the rope one last tug. The farm pony's rear hooves pressed against the side of the unicorn's bed as, end clenched in teeth as she pulled it the full length of her body.

Twilight was going no place nohow if Applejack had anything to say about it.

"Sorry, Twi, but we can't have you going off like that again." The work pony finished tying the final knot before dropping down to the floor, Twilight’s face having taken on a reddish tinge.

"But I can barely breathe!" the unicorn gasped as she craned up head up from her pillow, eyes bulging. Quietly, Fluttershy plied at the bonds with a hoof, straightening them into more manageable rows.

"Applejack, surely this is a bit extreme," Rarity chimed in as she looked over the scene, eyebrow firmly raised in the face of the earth pony’s derisive snort.

"You saw what happened, Rarity. Not that I don't trust your judgment"—now it was Rarity's turn for a derisive scoff—"but, like you said, we don’ know how well that ring of yours'll hold up."

"Speaking of which, what is on my horn?" Twilight broke in as Fluttershy worked the coil of rope down the unicorn's body a bit so that it would rest on her stomach rather than her lungs, the unicorn's hooves still left free to point at the rings.

"They’re inhibitor rings. I'm surprised you didn't know immediately..."

"Oh… and why exactly do I need them?"

"You lost control again…" Fluttershy muttered softly as she slipped a few bits of thin, soft fabric through the ropes to keep them from digging into flesh.

“You dragged us across half of Ponyville! Almost right through the mayor's office too!” Spike declared excitedly. “You should have seen every… pony’s…” His excitement was quickly replaced by embarrassment before the icy glares of his friends. “Er… sorry. A little claw in the mouth. Heh…”

"Oh…" Twilight's face fell, her head flopping down onto the pillow. "I was kind of afraid you'd say that..."

"Don't worry Twi, we're all here for you... an'... an' we'll just…" Applejack stammered, glancing around the room for some hint of an idea before her eyes finally brightened. "We'll send a letter to the princess. If any pony'd know what's going on, it'd be Princess Celestia, right?"

"I… I guess you're right," Twilight replied, managing a small, wry smile as Spike dashed over to the bed from his place on the window sill, the little dragon glad to finally be of some proper use.

"I'll go get you some water," Fluttershy murmured as Rarity levitated over the purple unicorn's quill and ink along with a small bundle of parchment.

"But what do I even say to her? ‘I can't control my magic and I don't know why’?" Fluttershy could hear Twilight ask frustratedly as she descended the stairs.

"Well, perhaps not in those exact words…" she heard Rarity chime in before the Fluttershy’s focus shifted to the Library's kitchen, where a very bouncy Pinkie Pie and a surprisingly monochromatic Rainbow Dash resided, having both gone to prepare a late lunch.

"Rainbow? What in Eqestria happened?"

The typically cyan pegasus looked confused for a moment before glancing down at her flour-coated flanks.

"Oh, Pinkie's teaching me how to bake!" the pegasus stated, puffing out her chest as she rolled out a bit of dough before her grin became a bit sheepish. "Annnnd a bag of flour might have gotten a little bit away from me."

"It was awesome the way you dove all the way across the kitchen to catch it!" Pinkie chirped, coat surprisingly clean given the state of the rest of the kitchen. "It was like one of those spy movies, except instead of a detonator it was a bag of flour! And instead of catching it, you blew it up!"

"Yeah. Well, I make everything look cool." Dash smiled before looking over to the pink pony in confusion. "Detonator?"

"Y'know, for a bomb”—Dash simply stared at the earth pony quizzically—“Those little round black things or, or the bundles of little red sticks that go BOOM!" Dash crashed back to the floor as Pinkie shot up between the pegasus and her ball of dough.

“Pinkie!”

"Well… don't let me interrupt," Fluttershy said, stepping carefully through the disaster area that Twilight's kitchen had become, grabbing a tray and loading it up with a few glasses of water.

"Stop doing that!" Dash exclaimed from the floor, wings fluttering in agitation.

"Doing what?"

"That! Whatever it is!"

"Bye, girls," Fluttershy bid farewell as she exited the kitchen, tray balanced between her wings as the bakers simply ignored her.

"Well, how can I stop it if you don't tell me what it is, Dashie?" Pinkie countered with a giggle.

"That thing you do with the appearing and the disappearing and, Celestia, I've got a migraine now..." Dash rubbed at her temples as she fluttered her way back onto all fours before glancing at the now emty entry to the kitchen. “Where’d Fluttershy go?”

“Back upstairs I think,” Pinkie replied, working an elbow into her dough with an almost manic vigor.

“She seem sorta… off to you since the thing with Twilight?”

“Hmmm…nope, seems like the same ol’ Fluttershy. And somepony’s dough’s looking all shaggy!”

“What?”

“C’mon, you got to work them ‘bows, Dashel!” Pinkie said, giving the pegasus a start as she seized her forelegs and began mashing them into the dough.

“I am! I am!” she declared, trying to shrug off the pink pony, but her eyes kept wandering back to the empty doorway. “Hm…”

[o-0-o]

Fluttershy was still shaking her head at the pair as she carefully made her way up, head to the side so she could keep an eye on her cargo.

"—that enough?" she heard Twilight ask, a block of silence following before Fluttershy made it to the top of the stairs in time to see Spike gripping the newly drafted letter to the princess. "Alright, Spike, send it."

"Can do," the little dragon replied and in a burst of green fire the letter disappeared into the air, off on its journey to Canterlot.

"So… now all we do is wait, I guess…" Twilight murmured sullenly.

The room was uncomfortably silent for a moment, the only sounds being those of the pair of ponies still arguing downstairs. As Fluttershy looked from pony to pony to dragon to pony, she saw the same look of helplessness on each.

"Maybe a distraction would help?" Fluttershy offered, shuffling the tray of water off her back and onto the nightstand.

“Oh, that sounds like a splendid idea!” Rarity declared, clopping her hooves excitedly. “We could make it like our slumber party!”

“Jus' with a few less trees through the window, eh, Twi?” Applejack replied, giving Twilight a nudge with her elbow, drawing a smile out the sullen unicorn.

“I guess a game might take our minds off all this,” the unicorn replied with a shrug. “I guess Spike can be my hooves for the time being.”

“Yes, ma'am,” Spike saluted, hopping up by the unicorn as Rarity began to levitate out several board games that had been stuffed beneath the guest bed.

“Let's see what we have here… checkers, chess, pony-opoly and Candyquestria?”

“Whoa!” Applejack yelled out as she was knocked aside by a sudden blur of pink.

“Did somepony say Candyquestria?!” the pink pony exclaimed, trotting excitedly in place. “Ooh, ooh, ooh! I love Candyquestria!”

“Pinkie, how do you always do that?”

“Always do what?”

“How do you always...” Rarity began before shaking her head. “Nevermind, I choose to accept that you are, and always shall be, Pinkie Pie.”

“Well, duh! Who else would I be, silly filly,” the party pony stated, drawing a laugh from the still fallen work horse.

“So, Pinkie, what exactly is Candyquestria?” Twilight asked, catching sight of soft blue glow before all light in the room suddenly disappeared as curtains were quickly closed.

Everything was shrouded in darkness a lantern clicked on to reveal the pink pony with a rather serious look on her face.

“Candyquestria, my little pony? Do you not know, do you not recall the legends of this most legendary and mysterious of places?”

Twilight opened her mouth, presumably to answer that no, she indeed did not know nor did she recall, but was quickly silenced as Pinkie continued, stalking about the room.

“Do you not know of the grand adventures, the great sorrows and greater triumphs to be had in this land, this most fabled land of Candyquestria?”

“N-no?” Fluttershy admitted from beneath Twilight's bed when she lay quivering.

“Then you also do not know of the mythical beasts that stalk these lands. The great treasures that lie in wait for an adventurer of great cunning and bravery. And it is a most cunning and brave adventurer whom you shall be if you choose to accept this most epic of quests. A hero to all ponykind.” As the party pony began to wrap up her speech, she strode on her hind legs to the side of Twilight's bed, the bound unicorn beginning to squirm beneath the ropes as Pinkie drew closer and closer.

“Uh, Pinkie?” Twilight squeaked out as Pinkie stopped just next to her, looking at her with a hard stare.

“You! Twilight Sparkle!” the pink pony decreed, pointing a hoof directly at Twilight whilst striking a heroic pose. “Do you choose to accept this role as hero for all of Candyquestria or let all fall into darkness and chaos?” Pinkie fell silent, hoof nearly pressed to the unicorn's nose as Twilight felt herself going cross-eyed staring at it.

“Um...yes?”

Immediately the curtains swung open, the room taking on its more natural warm glow as Pinkie, lantern gone, dropped back to her hooves.

“Yay! There's also candy! That's why it's Candyquestria instead of just Equestria. Get it? Candy, Equestria, Candyquestria! Or maybe it's because of copyright law...” The pink pony sat down on her haunches, pondering this a moment before bouncing right up again. “But still! There's candy!” she half-exclaimed, half sang out, clopping her hooves together excitedly.

“Candyquestria it is,” Rarity declared as the glow faded from her horn, earning a smug stare from Applejack as the work horse got to her hooves. “What? I told her I'd help her do her perform the introduction with proper style next time we played.”

Applejack merely shook her head as Fluttershy crawled out from her hiding spot. Pinkie tossed open the box and began to furiously set up the game's many pieces in a blur of hooves.

“Now,” Pinkie began as she finished her rapid set-up, a devious, almost sinister grin appearing on the party pony's face, “let us begin...”

[o-0-o]

“Seriously, Pinkie, how do you keep doing that?” asked a very frustrated, but now much cleaner and colorful Rainbow Dash as she resisted a growing urge to flip the board right out the window.

“Years of practice, Dashie me lass,” Pinkie replied with a nudge to the pegasus's ribs, drawing out a grimace as Dash begrudgingly moved her piece back a dozen spaces and out of the dungeon entirely. A good half-hours progress lost in the roll of a dice.

“That's like, the fifth time, though.” Dash pouted as Pinkie maintained her sly, all-knowing grin. “It just isn’t possible!”

“In the lands of Candyquestria, Rainbow, all things are possible,” the pink pony mused mysteriously as the rest of the ponies stared on with various levels of amusement written on their faces.

While most of them had been at least fairly successful in their own campaigns versus Pinkie's oft-times diabolical dungeonmastery, the rainbow-maned pegasi's strategy of rush all comers had been a bit of a flop, resulting in her avatar moving backwards far more often than not.

“Rainbow, dear, you really should try to pace yourself,” Rarity suggested, her own avatar having made it through to the third dungeon where much of the rest of the group resided, waiting for the impatient pegasus to finish the second.

“I'm a gonna have t’agree with Rarity on that one, sugar-cube,” Applejack smiled, taking a bit more pride than necessary in being out in front of the competition. “You're never gonna beat me at the rate you're goin'.”

“Oh yeah, then I'll just have to go faster,” Dash declared, eliciting a groan from Rarity as she rubbed a hoof on her forehead.

“That is exactly the wrong thing to do, Rainbow.”

“Oh I'll show you,” the impatient pegasus replied, ignoring the white unicorn's audible groan as Twilight and Fluttershy both choked back a chuckle.

The game had been going on for quite a few hours now and the purple unicorn's spirit's seemed to have greatly improved by the company and antics of her friends in spite of everything. They had broken only once for a late lunch that was surprisingly edible and even tasty considering the state Rainbow had been in when she brought it up to the rest, having been abandoned by her more experienced co-chef.

Since then, they had found themselves ensnared in the intricacies of Pinkie's particular brand of Candyquestria, which the pink pony had taken to raising to the level of ancient Equestrian theater with bouts of dramatic monologues and choreographed death scenes for the dungeon bosses. At the moment, with the sun beginning to set on Ponyville, the pink pony had taken to wearing a dark, flowing cloak and affected the persona of some devious dungeon master with a nigh unpronounceable name.

“C'mon, Dash, make your move,” Spike stated as the cyan colored pegasus mulled over the board, the dice balanced precariously on her hoof as she did so.

“I'm going, I'm going. Don't rush me,” she replied, ruby eyes focused intently on the board before her. She shook the dice lightly before juggling them with a hoof and rising dramatically onto her hind legs, eyes never leaving the board as she prepared her roll.

“Rainbow, roll alr—BRAAAAAP!”

A sudden and rather large belch seized the dragon, drawing everypony's attention as a scroll materialized in a burst of green fire and knocking him to the floor with the sheer force of it before another crash split their attentions.

“Aw, Rainbow, now the boards all messy,” Pinkie moaned, the rainbow-maned pegasus now splayed across the board, having lost both the dice and her balance.

She laughed nervously, before flapping into the air, many of the game's pieces coming with her only to fall back down in a series of soft clinks. “Um...new game?”

“Hold up there, Dash.” Applejack waved a hoof dismissively as Spike grasped the scroll and climbed back up to Twilight's side. “We best be seein' what the princess has to say.”

“Spike, if you’d please,” Rarity said with a flourish of her hoof as the five unbound ponies huddled around the little dragon, Twilight craning her neck so she could read the letter over his shoulder.

“Ahem. To my dearest, most faithful student Twilight,

“I regret that I cannot come directly to you at the moment in your time of distress. As there is a diplomatic crisis in Canterlot, my schedule is at present dominated by the affairs of state despite my wish to help you personally. I have no personal experience with what you have described, but I have passed along your exhaustive list of symptoms to my personal physicians.

“While they are uncertain of an exacting cause, they came to the conclusion that your magic's instability may be a stress reaction compounded by insomniac tendencies.

“I do hope that you are not upset with me for having taken the liberty of disclosing some of your old habits to the Doctor Sterling. I hope that I have not overstepped any bounds in having done so, but I know that you would most certainly be honest about this particular quirk, given the severity.

“The doctors have concluded that, with some proper rest and relaxation, you should find yourself and your magic back in optimal shape in several days time. Given some of the details you've included in your letter, it seems you may have been hitting the Equestrian Journal of Medicine a bit hard lately. I suggest you take a good long break from your studies in books and simply enjoy yourself with your friends as much as possible.

“Time permitting, I would like to come for a visit as soon as it is feasible. I hope that when I arrive I shall find you in better health and good spirits should you follow their advice.

“Your loving teacher, Celestia

“P.S. If the more eccentric symptoms worry you, perhaps you should take measures to keep yourself stationary while unconscious. Common sense may be common, but sense is sense.”

“Common sense, indeed,” Rarity quipped with a small smile as Twilight blushed a dark fuchsia.

“Well, if'n those doctors say so, I s'pose we just ought to get you a whole lot o' bed rest,” Applejack affirmed before looking around at the group of ponies assembled. “Maybe we really ought to have a slumber party. Keep you from goin' stir crazy an' all.”

“Ooh, ooh, a slumber party! I love parties!” Pinkie chirped, looking rather ridiculous as the once grim dungeon master hopped about like a filly on one too many cupcakes in her dark flowing robes. “I don't think I've ever had a slumber party… isn't it hard to party while you’re asleep?”

“I dun think most would be gettin' any with you around,” Applejack joked, the pink pony's bouncing having shaken off most of her costume by now. “Maybe me an' Rares take the lead on this.”

“I think we should make plans first,” Rarity stated, a worried look on her face. “Just so no pony wonders where we've gone. I've already closed the boutique for the day, but Sweetie Belle might worry if she drops by.”

“Oh and Gummy'll be wondering where Momma Pie is. I can't worry my little baby,” Pinkie said, the bounce in her step coming to a sudden halt.

“I best tell Big Mac and Bloom where I'm gonna be, too.”

“I haven't been to my cottage since this morning. I should at least have Angel watch over things while I'm here.”

“Alright, so we all go make our plans, then come right back,” Dash stated, brushing the last few bits of board game out of her hide.

“But, we can't leave Twilight here with just Spike to look after her,” Fluttershy reminded them, Twilight's face brightening up at the suggestion. “I'll keep Twilight company while the rest of you make your plans.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Let's get her started then,” Applejack said as the four ponies began to file down the stairs. “We'll be back afore you kin say ‘Appaloosa,’ Twi.”

“Thanks, girls,” Twilight smiled as they disappeared from view one by one, the door to library slamming home distantly.

Fluttershy flew up to the window overlooking the front of the library and waved a hoof at the departing ponies, Spike joining the pegasus on the window sill.

“Twilight, how are you feeling?” Fluttershy asked as she turned around to find the unicorn pressed flat on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

“Mostly fine, I guess...” the unicorn muttered as Fluttershy fluttered back, putting a worried hoof to her shoulder.

“Mostly?”

“Yeah… I mean”—the unicorn closed her eyes, liquid cresting her shut lids—“I'm really happy you girls are here and that you'll still be here, but…”

“But you're still scared?” Fluttershy offered as Spike leaned over the back of the bed, silently worrying.

“Yeah. I mean my talent is magic. My element is magic. I've practically lived, eaten and breathed magic since even before the Princess took me under her wing...” Twilight trailed off as she blinked the tears out of her eyes, Fluttershy carefully wiping them from her cheeks with a wingtip. “Thanks.”

“Think nothing of it,” the pegasus replied, giving the unicorn a soft smile before both fell silent a moment.

“It's just...” the unicorn began, biting her lip as she tried to find the words. “It's just losing control like this. I want to understand it… I want to know what is going on. I hate not knowing, not being prepared...”

“None of us do, Twilight. Nopony does, but it's one of those things every pony has to deal with sometimes, right?”

“I guess...” the unicorn muttered, unconvinced.

Fluttershy bit her lip, mind racing for an example to soothe her friend's worries. “Remember when you were researching Pinkie Pie?”

“Yeah, load of good that did… still don't know what makes that pony tick,” Twilight replied with a chuckle, brightening at the memory.

“I don't think any of us ever really will, but that's not my point. Sometimes we don't have to understand things in order to be able to deal with them. If we did, I think Pinkie would have driven a lot of ponies to the asylum… probably in her Pinkie-copter,” the yellow pegasus admitted, drawing a smile out of the unicorn.

“Give her time, I'm sure she'll manage,” Twilight joked. “That or she'll throw a party so big the universe will have a second big bang.”

“It'd be the funnest Armageddon anypony ever attended.”

“Have you two been looking in my diary?”

“Aaahhh!” Twilight yelled out as a chaotic pink mane appeared just behind Spike, sending the baby dragon onto the bed as Fluttershy merely looked on with eyes seemingly too large for her head. “Don't do that.”

“How did you know about the Ponygeddon?” Pinkie inquired, squinting her eyes as she leaned uncomfortably close to the unicorn's face.

“Ponygeddon?” Twilight laughed awkwardly, eyes whipping back and forth between the party pony and Fluttershy.

“So, you don't know?”

“Know about what?”

“I was hoping you'd say that,” she stated, giving Twilight and Fluttershy one last stare before reverting to her normal happy-go-Pinkie self. “It'll be the bestest, most awesomest surprise ever!”

“I'm sure it will be, Pinkie Pie,” Fluttershy said as she and Twilight shared a sigh of relief. Pinkie, meanwhile, bounced in place, eyes screwed shut as she presumably imagined the universe-shattering awesomeness that would be the Pinkie Pie's Ponygeddon Party Palooza.

“Thanks, Fluttershy,” Twilight whispered as the yellow pegasus began to leave for her cottage, prompted by the collection of voices below.

“It was nothing, Twilight. Now, you just relax and we'll all be enjoying a nice, soothing slumber party in no time.” With that, the pegasus took off down the stairs, nodding to her returning friends before emerging into the dusk-covered streets of Ponyville.

As she trotted down the streets, Fluttershy found herself chewing her lip nervously, going over the advice she had just given her friend. She wasn't sure if she even really believed her own advice, but it seemed to have worked for the unicorn so they had to have been the right words. Hopefully.

It was the right advice… there might be plenty to be scared of though. Even if the doctors think its stress… Fluttershy thought to herself as she glided on the last dying thermals, watching as Luna's moon crept steadily into the sky. As the pegasus stared at the glowing white orb, she couldn't help but feel a shiver course down her spine. The feeling of those staring eyes returning, if only for a second before she shook the memories from her mind. It was probably all in your head, Fluttershy… everything will be fine in the morning. You'll see.

[o-0-o]

By the time Fluttershy had fed and taken care of her animals, the day had been subsumed entirely by the night. The glow of the street lanterns shining in the distance were the only sign of Ponyville as the yellow pegasus prepared to leave her home. She hoped in reliable paws.

"And you'll remember to change Mr. Mouse's sling, won't you? And check the splint on Ruby's wing?" Fluttershy asked nervously as she adjusted her traveling bag.

The little white rabbit—to whom she had entrusted the cottage and its inhabitants to—gave a sharp salute and a vigorous nod of his head.

Fluttershy knew the rabbit could be trusted. He ran a tight ship after all, lording it over most of the animals. With a surprisingly comforting, iron paw as well. She gave the saluting rabbit one last nuzzle before trotting towards the door.

"Okay, Angel, now you take care of yourself," Fluttershy began, turning to leave before looking over her shoulder at the rabbit now retreating up the stairs. "And I don't want to hear about any wild parties when I get back, mister."

The rabbit stopped dead in his tracks, turning to face the pegasus from the third step. He stood on his hind legs, giving his caretaker an aptly angelic grin beforing sign her promise to be a good little bunny scout. If an angelic halo could have appeared above the rabbit's head, it probably would have.

"Alright, Angel, take care." With that the rabbit vanished up the stair.

Fluttershy made her way to the door when something caught her eye—a titleless volume on her bookshelf, wedged between volumes of Bird Fanciers Weekly and Crochet Workshop Quarterly.

She plucked it from the shelf, tipping it open to reveal a hollow cut into the pages filled to bursting with letters. Pulling out one in particular, she slipped it into her bag.

It might make Twilight feel a little better, she thought, running a hoof over the other letters, the rest of them all unopened. Might make us both feel a little better.

Shutting the book and slipping it back into its hiding spot, she trotted out the door, shutting it softly, but firmly and taking off in the air towards Ponyville

As the the night breeze flowed beneath her wings, she swore for a moment that she could hear music playing behind her.

Perhaps the little rabbit would at least remember to clean up this time.

Smiling softly, the pegasus began to follow the lanterns that lined the streets of Ponyville towards Twilight's house, the library looming large in the distance.

"I hope I wasn't gone too long," Fluttershy murmured to herself as she realized that all the windows in the tree house had gone dark as were most of the windows in little town. As she made her final approach, she landed just before the entrance way to find it ever so slightly ajar, the smell of burning reaching her nostrils.

Maybe Rainbow tried cooking dinner for everypony.

Fluttershy made her way into the library, striding carefully into the darkened innards of the great oak.

“Hello?” the pegasus whispered into the dark, wings still half-extended as her body sent reflexive flight signals coursing through her body. “I—is anypony here?”

There was no answer as the pegasus made her way up the stairs.

“Rainbow Dash?” she asked in barely more than a whisper as she came to the second floor of the tree, not making it another step before her hoof hit something soft and warm. “Did you burn something?”

“Mmm...five more minutes, Sweetie Belle...” came a familiar moan as the soft and warm something rolled over and grasped Fluttershy's hoof.

“Rarity?”

“Huh, whuh?” came the less than dignified reply. A short cough later and the room was suddenly covered in a soft blue glow as the unicorn's horn flared into life, revealing her confused face. “Oh, Fluttershy. What happened? Why am I on the floor?”

The pegasus didn't reply as she surveyed the scene, all of her friends lay scattered, unconscious, around the bottom of the second story awkwardly with the exception of Applejack and Twilight. Ignoring the confused fashionista for a moment, Fluttershy lifted herself into the air and gasped at what she saw curled up next to Twilight's bed.

“Applejack!” she cried out and shot to the earth pony's side.

The earth pony was shaking terribly, a bit of smoke rising off her coat, glowing eerily as it was lit by Rarity’s magic.

“Fl-fluttershy? Where's Twi?” the work horse asked, trembling she clutched her barrel with her hooves.

“She’s...” Fluttershy let out a second gasp as she saw the empty bed, the ropes laying on the floor, their singed ends still smoking. “She's gone!”

“Twilight's gone?” Rarity cried out before scrambling to her hooves and up to Twilight's bed, taking up the burnt rope in her magic. “Where could she have gone?”

“She was goin’ for… the stairs… bunch of you j-just kinda dropped when she went by y’all… I-I tried to tackle 'er… but she had this weird glow about her...” Applejack explained through clenched teeth as she tried to roll to her hooves, Fluttershy acting as a willing crutch.

“Applejack, what happened to you?”

“S-same as yer hoof I r-reckon,” she replied, tipping over and slumping down against the bed to reveal a long, ragged burn running along her underside. “Th-think it's mostly just the shock of it. Hurts like the briar fulla brambles though.”

“I-I'll go see if I can fetch some bandages,” Rarity asked, her complexion having taken on a rather green hue.

“I should have some in my bag,” the pegasus stated bluntly as she shimmied her saddlebags to the floor. “Rarity, I could use your magic.”

“Of course, dear,” the unicorn seemed less than sure, but she held her ground as Fluttershy’s supplies cascaded onto the bed.

“C-can't waste no time… we gotta go after Twilight. Somethin' bad’s got into her,” Applejack pleaded as Fluttershy began to set cool wet cloth over the wounds, sending shivers through the work pony.

“I know, Applejack, but we've got to get you ready to first...” Fluttershy trailed off as she noticed the smell of burnt wood amidst the scent of branded flesh that threatened to overwhelm the pegasus gag reflex. Glancing down, she could see a distinct trail of hoof prints, glowing a soft blue in the glow of Rarity's horn. The unicorn glanced down, following the pegasi's gaze.

“It seems she's left us a path to follow at the least,” the unicorn stated before moving to follow the trail, pausing a moment to relight the bedside lantern with her magic before trotting down the stairs.

“G-good… now we just got to git to following it,” Applejack stated as she tried to roll to all fours only to have a yellow hoof pin her in place with a surprising amount of strength.

“We're getting you bandaged first, then we wake up all our friends, then we all go after Twilight,” Fluttershy commanded.

Applejack tensed before relaxing fully beneath the hoof with a sag of her shoulders.

“If it's any consolation, it doesn't appear that she was in much of a hurry,” Rarity called from the front window and from their vantage point, Applejack and Fluttershy could see the evenly spaced hoof prints disappearing into the dark of Ponyville, each pair spaced a hoofstep or so apart at most.

“Alright, get me fixed up so we can go sort this mess out.”

Applejack sighed, lifting herself onto the bed so Fluttershy could begin her work.

As she bandaged the earth pony, hooves working off muscle memory, her thoughts drifted to the wayward unicorn.

In the morning, Twilight... Everything will be better... You'll see.

Author's Note

[revised 08-07-2014]

04 [Arc 00 - Potency, Part Four] <rev. 08.08.2014>

"I still can't believe I got taken down by Twilight," Dash muttered as the quintet of ponies made their way to the outskirts of town "That is just so not cool."

"Rainbow, dear. I rather think we have bigger things to worry about at the moment," Rarity chimed in, leaning down as her horn glowed steadily, illuminating the tracks of smoldering hoof prints.

"'Sides, she didn't really ‘take you down’ so much as she put you t’sleep."

Applejack winced as she walked, still tender as Pinkie acted as mobile crutch. Rarity had had some knowledge of first aid spells, but nothing up to the task of the earth pony’s long burn. The best she’d had was a spell she often used for pricked hooves, quickening the scabbing process on the burn. So Applejack simply shrugged it off, took the spell and a roll of bandages from Fluttershy, and had them on the trail quick as she could manage.

"Still… that so is not going in my bio," Dash stated flippantly as she flapped sullenly along just above the group.

“Thinkin' about a biography, Rainbow? Right now?" Applejack asked, obviously exasperated.

"Well, yeah, Twilight's ghostwriting it and she's the one who's missing, so of course I'm thinking of it," the pegasus's voice cracked slightly at the word missing. Even if she lacked the words, she was worried too.

"She'll be okay, Dash," Fluttershy stated as she ascended to her fellow pegasus's altitude.

"Hey, I'm not worried. She's got Rainbow Dash on the case," she declared, any worry scurrying to hide behind bravado before the she descended to just in front of Applejack and Pinkie, hovering backwards. "We'll be laughing about this by morning, right, girls?"

"That's more like it, Dashie!" Pinkie chirped, but even the party pony seemed in a less than partying mood, her usually poofy hair seeming to have lost quite a bit of its bounce. “We'll all be back in time for pancakes!”

"Yeah, this'll be fine. As long as we're all together…" Dash trailed off as her eyes darted ahead to the glowing tracks.

The group fell silent as they made their way into the outskirts of Ponyville, the path now lined with shrubbery and trees rather than the buildings and fences of the town proper. Fluttershy found herself flapping along silently, staring up at the moon. The night air felt rather cold around the yellow pegasus's body, the warmth of the summer’s day all but gone. With a sigh, she dropped until she was hovering just a few feet off the ground.

I hope Spike won't be too worried when he wakes up…

He had thankfully slept through the whole ordeal, having settled down long before Twilight…

Long before her magic had once again been tapped into and manipulated.

Whatever sleep spell she had used, it had been a fairly strong one and had been especially effective on the already sleep-deprived dragon. Nopony had been able to wake Spike so they had left a note next to him on the bed instructing him to send their letter detailing the most recent happenings to the princess as soon as he stirred.

Fluttershy meeped as her teeth came down on her tongue, thoughts turning to images of Spike waking to find himself alone. How worried and scared he would be.

I hope we’re back before then.

“You okay?”

Fluttershy let out a second meep, dropping involuntarily to her hooves as a rainbow-colored mane suddenly filled her vision.

“You tryin' t’scare her half to death or somethin', Dash?” Applejack asked as she and Pinkie passed the pair.

“She's fine,” Dash retorted, helping her fellow pegasus back to her hooves, draping a comforting wing over her. “You are fine right?”

“Y-yeah…” Fluttershy stammered for a moment, hoof still tender as limped steadily onward. “I'm just worried about Spike… he'll be all alone when he wakes up.”

“Nah, we'll grab Twi and be back in time for breakfast. I'll even cook!” Dash exclaimed, drawing a smile from the yellow pegasus.

“Think so?” Pinkie chirped back, bouncing in reverse now alongside Applejack.

“Yeah, this'll be easy as pie!”

“Easy as lemon meringue?”

“Um, sure, Pinkie Pie,” Dash answered. “Anyways, we just got to be cool and confident.”

“I daresay, words from the Book of Dash.” One could hear the smirk in Rarity’s voice alone. “You should consider it as an epigram.”

A quiet gasp brought the group to a halt, Rarity's horn going dark for a moment as they all stared at where the trail had led them. Before them lay the Everfree Forest. That much was certain and perfectly benign, but it was not merely that fact that had brought everypony to a sudden and complete halt.

They had found themselves at a very specific entrance to the forest of fables and campfire tales. An entrance that they had used before. One they had used as a group—a complete group—just the summer prior.

“Well, that's more than a lil’ forebodin', ain't it?” Applejack muttered as she leaned away from Pinkie, trying to stand under her own power. A grimace seemed to have been permanently etched on her face, but she stood.

“You remember, too?”

“This is the path we took to the castle? The Royal Pony Sisters’?”

“Ooh… that's kinda spooky…” Pinkie cringed uncharacteristically, seeming to physically deflate, drawing a look of concern from her fellow earth pony.

“C'mon, Pinks, whatever happened to all yer singin' 'bout ‘gigglin' at the ghosties’ an' all? Everfree’s never scared you none,” Applejack remarked, her attempt at a comforting smile twisting as she tried to put a hoof on a now shivering Pinkie Pie.

“Yeah… but that ghosty was a just a nasty, meany snoot… I don't like this new one,” Pinkie declared in an oddly quiet voice before, out of nowhere, Rainbow Dash appeared before her.

“Pinkie, will you snap out of it?!” the rainbow-maned pegasus growled, snatching the pink pony into the air and shaking her violently.

“Dash!” Applejack cried out.

“Snap out of it!” Dash demanded, giving her one last good, hard shake before dropping her down onto her own hooves.

“Weren't that a lil' much?” Applejack asked, eying the cyan pegasus uncertainly.

“Pinkie Pie?” Fluttershy murmured as she just stood there for a moment, swaying back and forth slightly as her eyes danced in their sockets.

“Bbbrrrreeeee!” A tremor went from the very tip of her little nose to the last hair in her tail. Her mane and tail puffed out the moment she stopped shaking. “Whew! Don't know what got into me there. I was all sad and dumpies for a minute, then Dashie shook me and, poof! All better! Oh! Do you think there'll be candy apples this time?”

“There's the Pinkie Pie I know,” Dash laughed as the pink pony began to trot excitedly in place, Fluttershy and Applejack sharing a sidelong glance at the party pony's recovery.

Applejack could only give a half-hearted shrug of her shoulders in response. It was Pinkie Pie. Nopony knew just what made her tick.

“What're we waiting for, then? Let's get these rears in gear!” Pinkie declared, sidling up a nearby tree. Clutching it with her hind legs, she thrust a fore hoof dramatically at the foreboding forest. “We shall confound scary at every turn! Onwards! To adventure, me ponies!”

[o-0-o]

By contrast to their prior journey to the ancient castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, the trek through the Everfree Forest an uneventful and eerily quiet one. Even the forest seemed brighter and more welcoming beneath the bright light of the full moon. Paths seemed wider and less claustrophobic. More akin to leisurely stroll through the White Tail Woods than a dangerous sojourn into the deadly unknowns of Everfree.

Easily the worst of it was the smell of scorched earth and wood where the Twilight’s trail led. The smell invaded their noses and hung thick in the air, but still, they were thankful for the uneventful journey. The scents of flowers and plant life mitigated the acrid scent to a degree.

“It's so… quiet…” Fluttershy murmured as she carefully ducked beneath a low hanging branch, tendrils of smoke flowing from its scorched surface.

“I know… could hardly make it a step last time without somethin' or other croppin' up to take us down…”

“It does seem rather… peaceful.”

“No Nightmare Moon this time, I reckon.”

“Not such a bad thing though, is it? Nice and quiet.”

“It's jus' sort of… unnerving…”

They had made down the cliffs without so much as a pebble tumbling by them. They had traveled through much of the rest of the forest without hearing even the hoot of an owl much less the roar of a manticore. The trees even seemed to be in a more friendly and less animate mood beneath the bright light of the moon.

They had just passed by the river, now calm without any flamboyant sea serpents stirring up its depths with a moustache emergency. The forest seemed to thin just out as a deep fog began to roll in, casting a deep gray hue over everything. Soon enough they came to what had been their final challenge on the journey.

“Well, bridge ain't collapsed this time at least,” Applejack muttered as the group stared over the chasm to the crumbling castle beyond.

“You're welcome.” Rainbow smirked before flying over the bridge, stopping midway over the gap before returning with a look of disappointment, “Actually, maybe don't thank me after all.”

“Oh?” Rarity tweaked an eyebrow.

“It looks like Twilight burned through half the boards on her way over,” Dash replied as Rarity took a few tentative steps towards the bridge, the glow from her horn lighting the smoke that curled up from its wooden planks. “It might be sturdy enough if we go over it one by one really, really slowly… but it looks like it's about ready to collapse.”

“Aw, horse apples.” Applejack hurled her hat down in disgust. “Knew there'd have to be at least one curve ball. Too dang quiet.”

“I could try and carry you over,” Dash suggested as the earth pony set her now dusty and bent stetson back on her head.

“Dash, don't take me the wrong way, but yer a lot quicker flier than you are strong”—the rainbow-maned pegasus bristled a moment before letting out a sigh—“an' I don’t think Fluttershy's hoof’s good enough to be able to help you there.”

“Then what's your idea?”

“Jus' gimme a minute, I'm thinkin'…” She began to stride back and forth, glancing across the chasm before turning to look about their side of it.

“Maybe I should go scout ahead?”

“Safety in numbers, darling,” Rarity muttered sadly as she stared over the gap at the castle. “Whatever has gotten into our dear Twilight is obviously not friendly. We simply cannot have anypony getting hurt while we’re separated, can we?”

“I guess not.” She plopped down onto the ground, propping her head up on a hoof as she glared daggers at the faulty crossing. “I hate waiting…”

“What if we—” a sudden tremor cut off the pink pony's speech as she bobbled and vibrated over the ground for a solid five seconds before coming to a stop, bug-eyed and dizzy. “Wow… now that was a doozy.”

“What abou—” A loud crackle filled the air, cutting off Dash as the night sky was lit by a familiar magenta glow. “Well… horses apples.”

“We have to get over there now, Appleja—”

A loud crack silenced Rarity as she turned to find the work pony, a grimace on her face and her hind hooves on a tree.

“Less talkin'. More buckin',” she stated through gritted teeth as she prepared her hindquarters for another buck of the old tree again.

“What are you… oh!” Rarity's eyes lit up with realization as she saw the lean of the tree. It looked to be just long enough as well. “Pinkie, help Applejack. Rainbow, Fluttershy, see if you can push it from the top. I have an idea.”

“Okie dokey loki!” the pink pony agreed, bouncing over to Applejack's side. Her bucks were less skilled than the farm pony’s, the tree shuddering perceptibly beneath their combined might.

Fluttershy and Rainbow flew up to the top of the tree, pressing themselves against it, feeling it bow just slightly beneath their hooves.

Meanwhile, Rarity's horn glow softly. The bright blue glow of her magical influence came to encompass the entire length of the tree. The air became filled with the snaps of branches and twigs as they were cleanly snapped off and discarded by the unicorn's magic, falling like snowflakes into the foggy chasm.

“I think it's… gonna give,” Applejack yelled out through a battery of pants and wheezes.

Below, Fluttershy could hear the telltale cracking of wood that signaled the end of the tree's defiant uprightness.

With a final tandem buck and a sonorous crack, the lower trunk split, leaving the pair of pegasuses feeling the tree fall from them. Applejack and Pinkie stumbled backwards after their next buck collided with only empty air.

“Oh dear, I didn't think this through quite all the way,” Rarity muttered idly as the entirety of the tree, glowing bright blue with her magic, crashed down towards the gap.

“Rarity, the hay you…”

Rarity could hear the work pony, but couldn't respond as she was jerked forward by her magic. The tree wasn’t falling straight enough and it was looking to take the unicorn, scrabbling hooves and all, with it into the abyss.

“Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear,” she gasped as she dug her well-manicured hooves into the dirt, the edge of the cliff coming up awfully quickly.

“Whoa there!”

Rarity’s momentum quickly halted as Applejack grabbed ahold of her tail. Sweat beaded on the unicorn's forehead as she tipped the tree towards its proper place, its weight continuing to pull her forward as the work pony pulled her the other way, Pinkie, Dash and Fluttershy having each grabbed a hold of Applejack.

With a solid thunk, the tree settled into place, a makeshift bridge next to now impassable one. Rarity released her grip on the tree and felt herself yanked immediately back onto a less than soft pile of ponies.

“You alright, Rares?” Applejack asked in between gasps of air.

“Well, I do believe my tail's seen better days.” The fashionista chuckled as she waved the mangled appendage idly before her “But I seem to be in one piece.”

“Figures you'd focus on somethin' like that,” Applejack said with a grin as she pushed the unicorn off her.

As they both stood, simply letting the silence be for a moment, the rest of the ponies were resigned to the ground for the moment.

“Thank you, Applejack,” Rarity said, giving her friend a tired smile and a gentle hug.

“None need, Rare. It’s what friends are s'posed to do,” Applejack replied simply.

“Aww… that’s cuuuute,” Pinkie murmured as she lay on the ground, head in her hooves as she looked up at the pair, both ponies rolling their eyes.

“Pinkie, can you get off me already?” Rainbow inquired, annoyed at the pair of hind legs keeping her pinned to the dirt, Fluttershy letting out a soft giggle as she squirmed out from under the party pony's midsection.

As the rest got to their hooves, Applejack trotted over to the makeshift bridge, giving it a tentative shove. She tried to haul herself onto the log, but after a few fruitless attempts she turned to her friends.

“Um… might need a little help.”

“Applejack!” Rarity cried out as she looked over, trotting quickly to her side. “You're bleeding.”

“Oh… well, would y’look at that,” the work pony muttered as she looked down to find that her bandages were stained with dark bands. “Guess apple buckin' and scabs ain’t a good mix.”

“We've got to treat those, Applejack.”

“Nah, don't have the time. I'll feel it in the morning, but we've got to keep moving.” She jabbed a hoof skyward towards the unnatural magenta glow rippling above the old castle. In the distance, they could see the castle tower lit up with a similar, but much brighter glow. “Might not be a morning if we don't keep going.”

“What do you mean?” the unicorn inquired, head lowered and panting as the strain on her magic finally caught up to her.

“Just a feeling, Rarity, just a real bad feeling.” Straining, she hefted herself onto the tree with a bit of help from Rainbow Dash. Slowly, the group made its way over the makeshift bridge to the glowing ruins.

[o-0-o]

“It’s kinda pretty if you look at it long enough,” Pinkie offered as she helped Applejack up the winding staircase.

“Pretty creepy if you ask me,” Rarity muttered in response as she and Fluttershy leaned against one another for mutual support, Dash having taken over point duties.

“It's still really quiet. But I guess we're not all yelling for Twilight this time,” the cyan pegasus said as she flapped carefully up the stairs, keeping herself just below the numerous support arches.

“We could hear them when we were running up last time,” Fluttershy whispered, cringing at the memory of the dark mare's wicked laughter.

“Yeah, she was all, ‘The night will last forever! Bwah-ha-ha!'” the pink pony began, lowering her head as she attempted to affect the tone Nightmare Moon had used a year ago. “And then Twilight was all ‘The elements of Harmony are right here!’” Her head popped up once again, the shift leaving Applejack grimacing. “And then black snooty was all scared and we started glowing and those little rock things started floating around us, and we shot out a big, ginormous, spectacular double-helix rainbow beam of good stuff and everything got really loud and then really quiet, and, and—” The party pony stuttered momentarily before she found herself halted by a familiar hoof planted itself squarely in her maw. She proceeded to murmur confusedly around it before falling silent with a blush, blue eyes meeting the Applejack’s grimace.

“We were all there, sugarcube. Don' need no reminders.” Applejack smiled as she removed her hoof before falling to all fours with a wince. “Especially if'n we have ta do something like that again.”

“You don't think Nightmare Moon is back, do you?” Rarity asked as the group slowly began to trek up the stairs once more, Rainbow Dash looking down at them with a look of obvious impatience.

“I don't think so… but something about all this don't sit right. Too familiar…” Applejack winced at an unnatural breeze washing over them, the top of the stairs seemingly just around the next bend. “Besides the obvious with Twi's magic goin' all screwy.”

“I think we're almost at the top,” came the rainbow-maned pegasus’s exclamation before she zipped around the last curve. “Um… we've got a problem.”

“Oh my…” A scattering of gasps and murmurs escaped them as they caught up with the rainbow-maned pegasus.

The ancient throneroom was cast in a soft magenta glow that seemed to coat every available surface, giving the entire place an otherworldly quality. Motes of congealed magic hovered in the air like dust. There was an electricity in the air that seemed to tug at the flesh and fur. Fluttershy felt as though every part of her body was being pulled or pushed by some unseen force and, glancing over at Pinkie, she could see that she wasn't alone as the pink pony's mane had become a mohawk of sorts, every individual hair seeming to stand on end.

“Twilight?” Applejack almost whispered.

The unicorn lay unconscious at the back of the room near a pedestal upon which the ancient throne of the sisters had undoubtedly sat, horn glowing weakly as soft sparks lept into the air before fading into the soft ambiance.

“Careful,” Fluttershy said quietly as the work pony strode quickly towards her fallen friend on quiet hooves, the rest of the group just behind.

Her body was surrounded by scorch marks, only some of which seemed to be new. One could just make out the shadows of some older stains of black that had blurred and faded through time.

“Twi?” Applejack repeated as she crouched down low to the unconscious unicorn, pressing a hoof gingerly before outright shaking her. “Twi?! Can you hear me?”

“What was that?!” Pinkie broke in, her eyes wide and her body twitching with a nervous energy.

“What was what?” Rarity asked before the answer came in a soft tremor that ran through the floor, the white unicorn finding herself struggling for balance. “What is that?!”

“Dash, get over here an' help me with her!” Applejack demanded as she grabbed at the fallen unicorn's tail, the rainbow-maned pegasus joining her as they dragged her towards the stairs.

“Twitchy-tail! Twitchy-tail!” Pinkie cried out and in a blur of pink she joined Applejack and Dash in yanking the still unconscious unicorn off the platform mere moments before a sizable chunk of ceiling smashed down right on the spot.

“Dash!” Fluttershy cried out as the collapsing stonework hit the ground with a thunderous crash, sending debris into the air, obscuring the scene.

“Are you all alright?” Rarity asked, coughing fitfully as the sudden shaking halted, the dust already beginning to settle

“Seem t’be.” Applejack, Rainbow and Pinkie emerged alongside Twilight in a twisted heap just outside the now rubble covered platform. “Good goin' by the way, Pinkie.”

“Come now, Twilight. This is no place to nod off,” Rarity stated, shaking her gently as she could.

“Mphlgrobchemp…” the unicorn grumbled incoherently.

“Well, at least she’s mutterin’. Hey, Rainbow, help me get her on my back.” Applejack motioned to Dash as she shook bits of debris from her wings.

“Applejack! You loco in your coco? You're injured!” Pinkie bumped her gently aside in a moment of earth-shattering lucidity. “Dashie, if you’d please,” the pink pony stated with a very lady-like curtsy towards a thoroughly bewildered Rainbow Dash.

“She’s right. Fer the best, Dash,” Applejack said with a slight groan before turning to look at Rarity who had gone slack-jawed and wide-eyed. “What, weren’t expectin’ me to delegate?”

“No… that.” The rest of the group followed Rarity’s eyes to the pile of debris that littered the platform.

The glow that had once filled the entire room like a swarm of fireflies now converged on the pile of twisted stone. Individual chunks began to collect and meld together as the fallen stonework flowed like liquid under the influence of the wayward magic. Fluttershy looked to Twilight only to find that the purple unicorn still unconscious, horn dark. When she looked back, the pile of material had seemingly begun to shape itself by the influence of some unknown player.

“Ladies, p-perhaps we had best be on our way,” Rarity stammered as the entire group simply stared, unmoving, at the seemingly living mass of stone and glass.

Stone continued to knit itself together, the pile rising higher and higher in room as it became a long, mostly cylindrical construct. Pieces of the floor were absorbed in its quest for growth, the liquid mass leaving gaps in it as it drew itself upwards.

“Um… why ain't we left?” Applejack said idly, still unable to look away from the growing monster before them, hooves moving backwards slowly.

“That's… big…” Dash said, looking over her shoulder as she pushed an entirely rigid Pinkie Pie back towards the stairs, unconscious unicorn still unawares on the pink pony's back.

“Ponies…” came a sudden echoing voice that brought everypony to a halt. “You little…insignificant ponies…” The stonework had seemingly solidified, the voice echoing from the serpentine statue left behind.

“Wh-who's there?” Pinkie asked nervously, staring up into the snakes face just in time to see a pair of glowing eyes materialize in a burst of magenta light, magic curling like smoke from it as the beast began to move.

“Oh, little ponies…do you not recognize me?” the snake hissed as it drew up to its full twenty feet of height, filling the room to the ceiling with its bulk. Its silvery, metallic fangs glowed as magic dripped from its mouth with every word. “Do you not remember your victim?”

“Wh-what're you talkin' 'bout? I dun remember facin' no snake demon,” Applejack stammered as the group backed up as one. Fluttershy found herself rooted in place next to the stairs, quietly resisting the urge to flee as her friends drew closer and closer.

“A pity. I did so hope that you would remember before I destroyed you all.”

With that the snake sank low, its long tail whipping out along the side wall and crashing into the stairway arch.

“Fluttershy!” Dash cried out as an explosion of dust obscured the yellow pegasus from view, the snake rearing once more.

As the dust cleared a very dazed Fluttershy stumbled to the ground in front of rainbow-maned pegasus, the world spinning around her. She muttered incoherently as Dash rushed to her side. As Rainbow knelt by her friend she looked over shoulder, glaring at the snake.

And it smiled back, stony tongue tasting the air.

“Oh, little Rainbow Dash. Feeling powerless are we?” the snake laughed, a smirk on its stony features as every word dripped with spite. “Feeling ever so helpless?”

“Oh, I'll show you helpless!” the pegasus yelled before launching herself at the snake.

“Rainbow, you idiot!” Applejack yelled as Fluttershy shook her head clear just in time to see the cyan pegasus charging the monstrosity.

“Helpless this!” Dash called out as she turned and gave the snake the hardest buck of her life.

As Fluttershy watched, the cyan pegasus froze at the full extension, eyes going wide as a crack echoed throughout the room. Fluttershy could see a look of incredible pain show up on her friend's face.

She had, after all, just tried to buck a solid stone.

“Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, oh my goodness, Celestia, ow!” Rainbow cried out as she flew away from the snake in a twisting, fluttering flight.

The serpent looked upon her with utter amusement, a dark chuckle escaping it.

“Dash? Izzat you?” Twilight murmured, drawing Applejack's attention as the unicorn’s eyes fluttered slowly open.

“Twilight, you're awake!” Pinkie declared as she glanced back at her luggage.

“Applejack? What's going—Snake!” The unicorn yelped, nearly back-flipping off of Pinkie as she saw the stone serpent. Twilight promptly found her hooves scrambling wildly away from the beast, eyes wide open at the sight of it until she hit the wall.

“Twilight, get a hold of yourself!” Rarity said, grabbing the fleeing unicorn, Twilight's hooves still pressing against the wall so hard that she might disappear into the cracks.

“Yeah, we've got a mite of a problem here,” Applejack said, eyes on the laughing stone serpent.

It was laughing quite boisterously at this point, apparently charmed by the ponies’ antics.

“Well, now that we're all together and awake. Perhaps it would be best if we end this while the night is still young,” the snake said, teeth bared and glowing in the night.

Its silhouette cast a long shadow over the five huddled ponies, Twilight's eyes shimmering with fear as the snake's glowing orbs met her own.

In the middle of the stare-off, Dash continued to flap about haphazardly, cursing her herself out rather loudly.

“Now…which pony would like to be destroyed first?”

“Oooh, me! Me! I love firsties!” Pinkie yelled out, bouncing towards the snake without a shred of fear.

“Pinkie, are you crazy?” Twilight yelled out, bug-eyed and trembling.

“That's what they tell me!” the pink pony answered cheerfully in her sing-songy voice, bounding straight to the base of the snake as it stared down with malevolent mirth.

“Well, since you're so eager,” the snake hissed through a fanged smile, rearing up as the little pink pony simply stared up at her impending doom, a cheerful smile always on her face.

“Pinkie, what the hay are you doing?! Run!” Applejack yelled out, setting off the rest of the ponies, each urging the party pony to move, to run, to skip, to jog, to do anything.

“Pinkie! Get out of there!” Dash demanded, pain having faded enough for her to hover, wings flapping somewhat out of unison. She struggled to maintain her altitude as she watched the pink pony simply stand below the monster.

“Nah, I'm good.” Pinkie just smiled.

The snake reared to its full height, head scraping against the ceiling before it struck. With lightning precision, the snake’s fanged maw came crashing down on her as everypony averted their eyes, unable to watch as the monster struck the ground with a thunderous crash.

“Pinkie?” There came a sorrowful echo as Fluttershy whispered her friends name, the snake rising back from its strike, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake.

“Pinkie Pie?”

The dust cleared to reveal an empty crater where the pink pony had been.

“Now, who wishes to be next?” the snake inquired before letting loose a malevolent laugh before there came a sound, the serpent's glowing eyes going wide and its jaw snapping shut.

“Aww…silly snakey! You’ve got to finish what you start first!”

The snake twisted about to find the party pony still quite alive and in one piece, resting on its back with a mirthful grin plastered on her face.

“You shouldn't skip anypony, now should you? Isn't much of a party if everypony's arguing over who's first.”

“What?! But how did you?!” the snake stammered as it flipped between the crater and the pink pony bouncing excitedly on its back. Jaw hanging loosely, it had to collect itself for a moment before it glared down at the source of her irritation with fiery eyes. “Never mind. Now, hold still.”

“Well, that doesn't sound like much a game.”

The pink pony pouted, lower lip thrust out as the snake reared back once again before snapping down.

“Can't party standing still!” the pony shouted as she skidded down the beast's back and out of danger, the beast crying out in pain as its fangs sunk its own rocky hide.

Jerking back almost immediately, a burst of magic issued forth from the wound as it glared daggers at its bouncing prey.

Back by the now collapsed stairwell door, Fluttershy and Applejack approached Twilight as the newly awakened unicorn clutched Rarity's leg like a filly during her first thunder storm. The white unicorn simply ran a hoof through her friend's mane, trying in vain to soothe her as she would her little sister.

“C'mon, Twi, you got to get a hold o' yerself! You know all about magic creatures and the like, doncha?!”

“Oh, Celestia, it's a giant snake! A giant snake! Why did it have to be a giant snake?!” The unicorn was inconsolable, eyes screwed shut tight as she shook.

“Twilight,” Fluttershy whispered, giving the quaking unicorn a comforting nuzzle.

“Y-yeah, F-f-fluttershy?”

“We need you to get a hold of yourself right now, okay? So we can make everything better.”

“O-okay, I'll try…” She didn’t release her hold of Rarity, but at the very least the tremors coursing through her body quieted. “W-where did it come from?”

“Near as we can tell... you”—the unicorn's eyes widened at this tidbit of information—“or yer magic at least.”

“Well, th-that might explain why it's a snake,” the unicorn mumbled before slowly opening her eyes to stare up at the beast.

Fluttershy followed her gaze to the pink pony bounding around on the snake’s back. The snake maintained a quick pursuit, but seemingly anytime it was within striking distance of the little pink mare, she slipped away to reappear somewhere else in a hot pink blur. The snake merely growled and hissed at its prey, any former eloquence lost in its growing frustration with the time and space defiant pony.

It seemed she had the battle well in hoof, but it was obvious, even from a distance that even Pinkie Pie had her limits and was fast approaching them. She had given up any quips she had been using on the monster in favor of focusing on her escapes.

“Oh, Celestia, my hooves,” Dash moaned as she collapsed onto her side, keeping her hindhooves elevated off the ground. She pushed her upper torso up as she berated herself. “Why did you try that? Seriously, why?! What the hay were you thinking?!”

“Rainbow, are you—er…oh dear…” Fluttershy stared in disbelief at her fellow pegasus's rear hooves in blatant violation of proper bedside manner.

She could see the cracks in the hooves, the flesh already swelling around the injury, giving them a rather purplish hue.

“Can still fly at least,” Dash laughed in exasperation before turning her attention to Twilight.

The unicorn was deeply embroiled in her study of the creature as it dove and weaved about itself in its pursuit.

“I think I know what it has to be.”

“Care to fill us in?”

“It's a golem.”

“A whatem now?” Applejack merely scratched her head in confusion.

“A golem.” She closed her eyes. “A magical creature created from the binding of magic around a normally inanimate object. In this case, the stonework of the castle,” Twilight answered succinctly, releasing her hold on Rarity and rising to her hooves. “But usually golems are mindless servants. They can't speak or even think without a master controlling it.”

“So we just need to find this master then?” Rarity queried, the worry on her face growing by the moment as she watched Pinkie skid down the serpent's, doubling back as the snake twisted on itself.

“It looks more complicated than that,” Twilight replied. “I think it's its own master.”

“We have to attack it somehow,” Applejack muttered. “Any ideas, Twi? Ain’t lookin’ like brute force'll do it.”

“Definitely not…” Dash mumbled as Fluttershy looped a bit of spare bandage around the cyan pegasus's hooves. It'd at least cushion them somewhat until they could get some proper medical care.

“I… I think I know how to, sort of, short circuit it, but I need time to focus. You'll have to distract it… somehow.” The unicorn looked at her friends as she finished, eyes full of worry.

“I'm not sure how much time we can give ya, but we'll give it our darnedest,” Applejack stated with a tip of her hat before turning to face the serpent. “C'mon, ladies, we got ourselves a little pink pony in need of some back up.”

“Hey, it looks like we've got a real party now!” the aforementioned pink pony yelled in a ragged voice as the snake readied itself for another shot at its prey. But it found its attention drawn away by the three additional ponies in its peripheral vision. The creature hissed loudly as it turned to face the new threat, neglecting to notice Pinkie charging up its back.

“C'mon you overgrown grass snake! Free eats!” Applejack yelled up at the monster, grinning maniacally. “Get ‘em here!”

The serpent grinned as it reared back to strike at the work pony, never hearing the hooves running up its spine.

“Don't forget about me! Peekaboo!” Pinkie called out as she reached the snakes head, jamming her forehooves into its eye sockets.

The serpent roared in apparent agony before a burst of energy blasted Pinkie, sending her flipping through the air.

“Pinkie!” Dash cried out, lunging through the air at the earth pony, catching her just short of the ground, the pair crashing into the corner in a tangel of hoof and wing.

“Uggh, don't let me do that again. Not very fun…”

“Pinkie…you are so…random…” Dash gasped out as Pinkie simply grinned.

“Make-outs later, girls!” Applejack yelled out, dodging the snakes tail as it came down hard on the floor. “Rarity, what are you waiting for? A monogrammed invitation?”

A hoof immediately plugged the pink pony's mouth, a frown showing up on her normally happy features before Dash removed it.

“I don't even have my bag, silly Dashie,” the pink pony muttered darkly before bouncing to her hooves and subsequently collapsing face first into the floor. “Though I wish I had my socksies…”

“That doesn’t look good.” Dash looked over the scorched ends of Pinkie's hooves before turning to look for somepony with a more medically valid opinion. “Fluttershy!”

“Dash?” Said pegasus looked over from Twilight—the unicorn having slipped into what appeared to be a deep, meditative trance—as the snake twisted and struck at Applejack in the middle of the room. “Oh, Pinkie!”

“She needs help and I've got to get back in there!” She zoomed off as soon as the yellow pegasus made to move to Pinkie's side. “I'mma comin’, AJ!”

“Well, hurry it up then!” Applejack cried out as she scrabbled over and through the serpent's coiled body, desperately avoiding the snapping jaw. The work pony wasn’t in any condition to take the beast head on and had taken Pinkie’s example, using its own body against it, making the snake loop about itself.

“Hey, snakey! Why don't you pick on somepony that's up to speed!” Dash yelled out as she banked hard around the serpent's head.

It let out an annoyed roar, but returned to its hunt for the work pony.

“Hey, don't you ignore me!”

“Rarity, c'mon, do something!” Applejack yelled out as she skidded to a stop before the snake's glaring eyes, having been worked slowly into the corner of the room.

“I am!” the white unicorn finally answered, her horn glowing a blinding blue. “Be ready!”

“Ready for what?!” Applejack cried out in panic as the snake flitted its tongue out at her, but suddenly the work pony found herself calm as she spotted a shimmering blue streak along the ceiling. “Um… snake monster, sir?”

The creature merely hissed in response, eyes dancing with magical energies as it glared at the little work pony, flicking tongue nearly knocking the earth pony's stetson to the floor.

“Y'all might wanna look up.”

As the snake glanced up, a large section of the roof came crashing down right on its head, Applejack scrambling through a section of coil. A blur of blue collided with the scabbling work pony just as the head impacted the floor, sending up a cloud of debris.

When the dust settled, the snake didn't move, its head covered in debris as Applejack laid, half-crouched on the safe side of the serpent's coil, Rainbow Dash nudging the earth pony to her feet before hovering herself just off her hind hooves.

“Are you okay, Applejack?” Rarity huffed as she helped the work pony over towards Twilight, the blue glow fading from her horn.

“Yeah…that must one heck of an eye you got though,” Applejack replied, motioning her head towards the now collapsed section of ceiling. “You find a stress fracture or somethin'?”

“No, I'm afraid I actually couldn't find one actually,” the unicorn chuckled, flushing with embarrassment. “So, I just pulled really, really hard.”

“Hah! Got a bit o' workhorse in that fancy-pancy unicorn exterior after all,” Applejack joked as she collapsed next to Twilight.

“So it seems,” Rarity admitted tiredly as she laid down next to the work pony. “I don't think I've used this much magic in a day since… well, I don't believe I've ever used so much.”

“Is it dead?” Dash murmured aloud as she flew over the top of the snake, not seeing any movement, but still unsatisfied.

“I surely hope so.”

“Do we…poke it with a stick?”

“Don’t think we’ve got a stick big enough, Rainbow.”

“What do you think, Twilight?” Rarity asked. “Twilight, dear?”

The purple unicorn remained completely oblivious to the world, brow furrowed and eyes closed in a deep trance

“Should we wake her up?”

“She's not asleep, Rainbow…she must still be working on her spell,” Rarity murmured as she studied the purple unicorn with a careful eye. “I don't know if we can wake her or not…it could set off the spell prematurely.”

“Don't s'pose you happen to know what kind of spell it is.”

“My magical knowledge is far more… rudimentary. I haven't the faintest idea what she could be working on. And that makes me more than a tad nervous,” the unicorn admitted, glancing around the ruined and now thoroughly destroyed throne room.

It looked as though the room were more or less in a state of slow collapse and simply needed a push in the wrong direction before it would.

“Considering everything we've dealt with today, one more mishap is the last thing anypony needs.”

“Amen to that, sister.” Applejack chuckled, enjoying the feeling of the cool stone through her bandages. “Hey, Fluttershy. How's Pinkie doin'?”

“She should be just fine…same burns as the two of us. They'll be tender for at least a bit,” Fluttershy replied as she wound the last of the bandage roll around the pink ponies well-toasted left hoof, its partner already well and bound.

“I'll be back and partying in no time!” the pink pony exclaimed with a bright smile, “How about you, Dashie? How're your hoofsies?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, in a minute,” the pegasus mumbled distractedly in response, drawing ever closer to the fallen serpent.

“Rainbow, your bandages are loosening,” Fluttershy stated as she finished her bandage job on the party pony.

Pinkie immediately half-limped, half-skipped over to the rest of the group as Fluttershy joined Rainbow Dash in the air.

“You should be careful around it.”

“Hey, I am being careful. Not like I’m jabbing it in the eye or anything,” the cyan pegasus retorted as she circled high above the stony body. “It's not even glowing anymore.”

“Still…it makes me nervous…”

“Fluttershy, your own shadow makes you nervous.”

“Hey, that's not…entirely accurate,” Fluttershy retorted weakly, drawing a chuckle out of her fellow pegasus.

“You and that dragon though. Got to give you props for that.” Rainbow smiled at Fluttershy as the yellow pegasus rubbed over her bandaged hoof idly.

“Only after you kicked him in the face…you really should have apologized you know.”

“Hey, I wasn't the one polluted the air in Ponyville with stank morning breath,” the rainbow-maned pegasus said as she glided down to the ground.

“It still wasn't very nice of…” Fluttershy words stuck in her throat as her hoof began to throb and burn strangely.

“Nice, you want to talk about nice? That dragon was a jerk. Puffing smoke right in Twilight's face when she was just trying to explain things”—Fluttershy's eyes grew large, voice not responding to her brain's cries—“popping Pinkie's balloons and…well, I can't really blame him for chasing away Rarity, but…whoa…you feel that.”

“R-Rainbow?” Fluttershy managed to choke out, the sound of rocks falling echoing in the distance as the pegasus hovered in place, the pain throbbing in her skull drowning everything out.

“What's goin' on?!” Rainbow cried out as the floor beneath her shook violently,before she looked up at the Fluttershy… and the giant, glowing eyes right behind her. “Oh, horse apples…”

“Fluttershy!” Applejack cried out, the three aware, earth-bound ponies noting that their monster was not only alive, but mobile and angry.

“Rainbow…” Fluttershy groaned softly, her wings flapping weakly as they threatened to give out at any moment. Her head throbbed, her eyes teared up from the pain as she felt a breath of arcane wind flow over her.

Rainbow Dash launched herself into the air as Fluttershy turned towards the breath, eyes growing wide as she stared at the dripping fangs, the eyes of the beast always upon her.

She couldn't look away, couldn't move, could do nothing but hover as the snake roared towards her. As the serpent's gaze broke with hers she found control too late, curling around herself defensively down only to feel something soft impact her, sending them careening through the air.

Eyes opening a moment, she saw rainbow mane as the world spun about behind it. Then they hit the ground hard and both lay, immobile.

“I will not be cast away so easily! Not again!”

The serpent roared towards the immobile pair of pegasi, its massive bulk hitting the stone so hard the pegasi were momentarily weightless, surrounded by shards of stone. Fluttershy found herself tumbling limply. She saw Dash's mouth moving slowly, so slowly, her hoof reaching out as wings struggled for control.

And then there was the pain.

A pain that drove away all perception.

That drove away all but itself.

The magically charged fangs ripped into her.

Their searing heat scorched the flesh, forcing out all thought.

She was lifted high into the air, a blur of cyan sliding down the glowing fangs to join the yellow blur of her own body.

Her world was filled with pain and the laughter of the beast within and without.

Then there was a blinding flash.

And then there was nothing but silence and dark.

[o-0-o]

She awoke to a dull ache, the ground beneath her at an odd angle as she felt herself sliding ever so slightly. She struggled to lift her head, feeling a heavy weight press down on her. Rolling her head she could just make out a blue lump laying atop her. Beyond it she could see the snake’s rocky corpse, the remnants of its head glowing a bright white as thunder crackled overhead.

She heard the faint echoes of voices.

Weakly the pegasus lifted her one free hoof and tried to stir the blue lump, but as she pressed her bandaged extremity to it she felt something cling to her hoof. Something wet and sticky.

“Rainbow?” she whispered weakly, staring at the stained bandage as it dripped.

There came a cry from the distance, a blur of purple and white and orange and pink dashing towards them as Fluttershy found her vision swimming.

She could feel them near her, a hoof on her back as the world seemed to tilt and sway unnaturally. The stars high above even seemed to sway it the open windows as the floor rumbled.

No…don't go to sleep… Have to stay awake… Her head fell back to the floor. Her body just felt so weak.

Her head throbbed, the pounding growing louder as she realized somepony was talking to her.

It brushed a hoof through her mane, glowing as it whispered to her, telling her it was all going to be okay. It would all be okay.

But things just aren't okay in the end, are they, Fluttershy?

Author's Note

[End Arc 00]

[revised 08-08-2014]

05 [Arc 01 - Perturbation, Part One] <rev. 08.09.2014>

[-|-Metanoia-|-]

[Arc 01 - Perturbation]

[o.0.o]

"—get her so she don't fall off again."

"I am trying, Applejack!"

"Try faster, then! They ain't lookin' good."

"…"

“…”

"There! That should hold well enough."

"Twi, now you jus' keep concentrating and we'll all get through this."

"Okay… I can handle this…"

"You can, Twi. We know you can."

"How far do we have?"

"A hard gallop…a good half-hour to go…"

"We can't go that fast, Applejack."

"We'll jus' have to go as fast as we can…"

"Twilight, can you last that long?"

"She has to."

"…"

"I’ll be fine, Rarity."

"…"

"Sun's almost up… do you think Spikey's woken up?"

"…"

"Ah dunno, Pinkie… I hope he is an’ the cavalry’s comin’, but I don’t know.“

"How's Rainbow?"

"Not terribly well… Fluttershy's not much better… "

"…"

"Considering what happened, we should be thankful that they're breathing…"

"And we gonna keep them that way, Rares. We're gonna get through this."

"…"

"Hey, what's that?"

"What's what?"

"That, over by the mountains."

"Dunno… Looks like it’s moving whatever it is. Oh, by the stars, Is that…?"

"Spikey woke up! Spikey woke up!"

"Lil' dragon came through after all."

"Rarity, can you signal her somehow?"

"Working on it."

"Twi, jus' keep doin' what yer doin'."

"…"

"Princess."

"…"

"I fear what my past has led to… Come."

[o-0-o]

As the light of the new day filtered into the cottage, Fluttershy awoke slowly to gentle knocking. She found herself with hardly the energy to stand, much less answer the door.

The knocks persisted a moment longer before she heard the jangle of the doorknob and a musty smelling breeze blew over her.

“Fluttershy?”

She looked up, cringing at what she saw.

“It’s time.”

[o-0-o]

It was overcast, but not rainy that day.

The sun's feeble attempts to burn away the clouds seemingly thwarted by some presence… or perhaps the lack thereof as a grayish glow was cast over the field.

It was still early in the afternoon. In the distance, the market was only just winding down. Many of the shops would be preparing for the night shift while others prepped for the afternoon and night rushes to come. School fillies and colts would be hurrying home from school, excited for the freedom that the final bell brought.

In Ponyville, life went on all the same.

In the field just beyond, it could never be again.

The soft light of the occluded sun set a somber mood for the proceedings.

Five ponies stood beside the sealed casket, all prepared to be lowered into the warm earth at the flip of a lever, but none of the five was gifted with the courage to allow its finality. Not just yet at least.

Fluttershy stared at the casket with burning eyes. The plainly colored wood and static seeming to her the antithesis of the once-pony it housed. Plain and stationary... anything but…

She could feel something eating away at her thoughts as she was less and less able to even look at the casket.

It was almost incomprehensible, despite its concrete presence before her. It was as inconceivable as it had been the week prior or a week prior to that. It was something that couldn't be and shouldn't be.

To lower it… would be to admit it.

To admit that the fiery and brash pegasus was gone. That everything that had been her was now confined to memory.

Fluttershy found herself staring resolutely at the ground just before the casket, her head throbbing terribly as she spotted the jagged scar in her peripheral vision. It cut across her chest and abdomen, just barely visible beneath newly sprouted fur. A shudder went through her as she remembered that night and her gaze shifted, unable to look at the evidence before her. Instead, she looked to her friends for comfort.

A few feet away sat Pinkie Pie… but there was no bounce in the pink pony. None of the usually endless energy.

No, she sat quietly, body sagging as if it were on the verge of collapsing into itself. Even her mane seemed to have lost its luster, falling in limp curls about her shoulders as her tail pooled likewise on the grass. She wore a thin, black veil over her face, but still Fluttershy could see the tears streaming down the earth pony's face. In her mouth, she clutched a single black balloon that drifted languidly overhead.

Hoof on Pinkie’s back, Applejack stood staring at the casket quietly, her face unreadable. Her hoof simply moved in a comforting circle on the pink pony's shuddering back as Applejack drew the earth pony closer.

Beyond them, Twilight stared at the casket, wide-eyed as a few stray tears dripped down her face. A small stack of note cards lay forgotten on the ground in front of her. The dewy field claimed the bottom of the stack as tears wore at the top.

Next to her, Rarity sat, an almost perfect facsimile of Applejack with a comforting hoof wrapped around her fellow unicorn. Her face was bereft of tears, but still, her blue eyes shimmered with her restraint, whispering near silent comforts to Twilight.

Her tears could be shed later. For now she had to be stronger.

Glancing back to the casket, Fluttershy could feel her stomach quietly twisting itself into knots, her heart thudding inside her throat.

She wanted to break apart.

To cry and sob and curse…

But she didn't.

She couldn't.

As she drew a hoof away from her eye, it was dry to the touch.

Silently, she wished for a rain storm to come and aid her farce.

But it was overcast.

Not rainy.

Quietly, she slipped away from the group, away from the damnable casket, and trotted sullenly up the hills surrounding the field.

Soon enough she found a tree under which to rest, an enormous willow that overlooked everything. From there, she could see the small gathering of ponies, but it all looked so much smaller… so much further away. So much more distant.

This isn't how things are supposed to go… She stared up at the protective cover of the tree, its limbs drooping towards the ground as if attempting to comfort the pegasus.

With as much strength as she could muster, Fluttershy gave the tree a hard buck, face contorted in frustration.

The tree hardly moved. The only sound was the quiet rustling of leaves in its upper branches as the Fluttershy collapsed to the ground. Her hind hooves throbbed, momentarily distracting her as she felt the coolness of the damp grass.

For a moment she remained still, her eyes focused on the individual blades of grass just before her muzzle. She watched as they twisted and bowed beneath the soft, cool breeze, a chill coursing up her spine.

She wondered…

If she could just focus on the grass before her, would she have to think about anything else?

If she focused on just a single blade of grass... if she just focused on something so insignificant…

Maybe she could simply push away everything else.

“Fluttershy?” A soft voice broke her train of thought.

“Applejack…” Fluttershy muttered in response, her eyes drifting up to meet the work pony’s worried gaze. Fluttershy could she the tell-tale signs in the orange pony's eyes: dark circles, redness, the slight snuffle in her voice…

“How you doin’?” The question hung in the air. The answer was obvious, but steeped in relativities.

It was silly question, but more than that it was an empty question.

“Not good.”

“You want to talk? Might help.”

“Not really…”

Nothing was said for a moment as Fluttershy returned her gaze to a single stalk of grass. She could hear her hooves come closer before something warm pressed against he. Fluttershy looked over at her friend laying beside her, an oddly serene look on her face.

Applejack's eyes were closed, the breeze coursed through her mane, stetson having been left elsewhere for the day. She seemed to be empty of thought, mouth curled into a nearly imperceptible smile as she took in a deep breath of air.

“It was my fault,” Fluttershy mumbled out as she lowered her gaze once more.

“Nope,” came the monosyllabic response.

“I froze. I’m the reason—”

She found herself with a hoof to her lips, not in malice or annoyance, but just… there.

“Not even another word on that, ‘Shy. Nopony in their right mind would look at all this and blame you.”

“But—” Fluttershy began as the hoof was removed.

“No buts. Ain't nopony's fault 'cept that monster’s,” Applejack interrupted, giving the pegasus a hard stare before her green eyes softened. She glanced over to the three ponies still below. “That's goin' fer you an' Twilight too.”

“It wasn't her fault… she wasn't in control of—”

“And you were?”

“I...”

“Fluttershy? What's really botherin' you?

“It’s…” The words stuck in her throat the moment she tried to vocalize them. She stared into the work pony's eyes, watching herself mirrored in them.

“There’s something else… ain't there? It isn’t feelin’ responsible…”

Fluttershy didn't answer for a moment. She simply closed her eyes, trying to capture that momentary serenity that Applejack had, but all she felt was cold.

Opening her eyes once more, she rubbed at them, trying to rid them of the soreness she felt. As she removed her hoof she glared at it as one might a traitor to the kingdom.

“Why can't I cry, Applejack?”

“What d'ye mean?”

“Why can't I cry?” the pegasus simply repeated, looking to the orange pony with bloodshot, but perfectly clear eyes. “I can cry when one of my animals dies… I can cry when I'm scared… Why can't I cry for her?”

“I dunno, Fluttershy,” Applejack admitted, hooking a hoof around the now shuddering pegasi's shoulders, drawing her closer. “We all end up grievin' in our own way…”

“You'd think that would be mine…” Fluttershy muttered with a pained chuckle, crossing her forehooves before resting her head atop them. She stared down at the distant casket, vision blurring as her focus shifted between it and the stalks of grass before her.

“Maybe… maybe y'think Rainbow wouldn't want you cryin' for her… maybe you think she'd want us all smilin' and celebratin' her life.”

“Maybe…”

“Jus' that it doesn’t much feel like a time fer smilin'… does it?”

“No… it doesn’t.”

“Things get better, Fluttershy… it might be a long time afore they do… but they do.”

“I remember the first time you told me that…”

“Were a long while ago… wish it were longer…”

Fluttershy didn't answer. She simply stared off into the distance, looking beyond the field before them as the shivers faded from her body.

[o-0-o]

The cottage was terribly quiet when Fluttershy came home that evening.

Most of her animals had moved on. Injuries mended and sickness abated, they went on their way and out of her life. Many more would soon be migrating or beginning their long winter hibernation.

The cottage once so lively would become a lonely, quiet place.

Letting the door click shut behind her, Fluttershy began to slowly trudge into the cottage, head bent as she went.

Everything was oddly immaculate, not a single thing out of its place. Angel must have been busy during the day. The little rabbit was in his bed beside the couch, legs twitching slightly as he slept deeply, no doubt dreaming of endless alfalfa fields.

Fluttershy allowed herself a little smile as she bent down to give the bunny a light peck on the head.

You're a good bunny, Angel…

As she drew closer to the bookcase, however, her smile soon disappeared. Poking out from between somewhat organized stacks of books on plants, herbal remedies and animals, there was her secret book, canvas-bound portfolio, its woven cover worn and torn in several places. Most ponies would have dismissed it at first sight, the papers it contained yellowed and warped by the years.

To Fluttershy, it was a collection of memories. Memories hastily taken and haphazardly organized. Walking slowly and softly as to not disturb her slumbering assistant, the pegasus gripped the bindings in her mouth, drawing it from the shelf. She bit down hard as she felt the papers within shift, threatening to slip from its grasp.

Into the kitchen she went, slipping it onto the table before taking a seat before the folio. The fading light of the sun cast a soft yellow light over its well-worn contents.

Maybe I should leave this for the morning, part of her argued silently, eying the book as one might eye a predator in the far distance, wary yet curious. But… maybe it'll make me feel better… maybe Applejack was right…

Tipping open the cover with a tentative hoof, Fluttershy slowly spread out the contents of the portfolio.

There were certificates she had earned from her school days in Cloudsdale, a scattering of hoof-paintings from her foalhood as well among class assignments. Most of it, however, was made up of magazine and newspaper clippings.

One in particular caught the pegasi's eye.

“Unexplained Phenomenon Near Cloudsdale,” the article heading read, a picture of a grayscale ring of light taking up much of the page.

The sonic rainboom didn't quite work in the black and white of newsprint. Perhaps that was why it had remained an old mare's tale even after. The article speculated on many, but didn't commit to any explanation. The reasons ranged from natural phenomenon to the test of some sort of super weapon to Princess Celestia having a bit of fun at her subject's expense and even to the second coming of some long-forgotten harbinger of doom.

I wonder if Dash ever read these, Fluttershy wondered silently, a sad little smile on her face as she silently giggled at the absurdity of some of the explanations. She would have loved to see their faces at the best young fliers’ competition.

Her eyes slowly meandered the article as she thought back to that day at flight camp. She didn't think she'd ever felt such a wide range of emotions in single day, not before and not even after.

The embarrassment she had cowering before those bullies…

The fear during her long fall from the clouds to earth…

The joy when she discovered not only her talent, but her calling…

Fluttershy ran a hoof over the picture, tracing the arc of the rainboom with the tip. It hadn't been the first time that she'd met Rainbow Dash… but it was the first time they'd actually talked to one another...

[o-0-o]

The afternoon long since been subsumed in the soft dark of early evening when the little filly heard the voice calling for her.

“Fluttershy?!” the familiar voice cried out, sending a few of her animals scurrying away in a mad panic. “Hey, Flutters, you out here?!”

“Rainbow Dash?”

“Hey, Fluttershy!” the rainbow-maned filly appeared, wings buzzing as she coasted lazily around a tree, a grin plastered on her face. “I was wondering where you went.”

“I've been down here mostly…” she whispered, nudging the little rabbit that had pressed itself comfortably into her side. “Time to go, sweetie.” She smiled at the rabbit as it took a few tentative hops towards the forest brush before vanishin with a nod from Fluttershy.

“Was I, uh, interrupting or something?” Rainbow asked as she landed, staring at the animals as they looked back with glares. “These yours?”

“Well, no… I mean sort of,” Fluttershy stuttered for a moment, glancing around at the animals as they stayed at a distance from the cyan pegasus. “She's not here to hurt anyone. Promise.” Rising to her hooves, she nudged Rainbow towards the scared pack of animals, “See?”

“Uh… Hi?” Dash gulped slightly as the animals glared daggers at her.

“She could be your friend too.”

“Um… friend… right…” Dash laughed nervously as a surprisingly large mass of woodland critters came out of the forest, from the brush, the trees, the sky, the water… seemingly from every conceivable direction they came to inspect the new pegasus in their midst.

After a moment, they seemed satisfied, but still scattered back into the forest, a little bunny thumping out a goodbye before disappearing for good into the brush.

“Bye…” Fluttershy whispered as the last of them scattered before the growing dark, the forest falling into silence.

“Uh… sorry 'bout that, Flutters.”

“It's okay. I'll see them another time,” the yellow filly muttered in response, pawing at the soil with an idle hoof before turning to Rainbow. “What are you doing down here?”

“Well, I'm supposed to be your wingpony, right?”

“That's just something the councilors made up. It doesn't really mean anything… you said so yourself.”

“Yeah… I kind of did, didn’t I?” She dug into the soil distractedly, staring at the furrow she was making. “Bluh! I'm just no good at this kinda stuff.”

“What kind?” Fluttershy asked with a genuine curiosity.

It was the first time she'd see the brash pegasus struggling with her words. Usually Rainbow's words were out her mouth before even first thoughts had the time to cross her mind.

“Y'know… apologies and junk…”

“Apologies?” Now Fluttershy was well and truly surprised. “Apologies for what.”

“For being a jerk!” Rainbow exclaimed angrily, but it faded quickly. “I haven't exactly been all that nice… but then I saw those bullies making fun of you and…”

“Yes?”

“I dunno. I just didn't like it one bit. I hated it!” she stated resolutely before turning to face Fluttershy eye to eye. “I'm not like that, am I?”

“Well… not really… I mean I don't think you are.”

“Aw, cripes… I haven't been much of a wingpony for you, have I? I mean you can hardly fly and I just ignore you.” The spiky-haired pegasus let out a frustrated yell as she delivered a hard buck to a nearby tree. “I suck at this.”

“It's not your fault…”

“But it is, Fluttershy! It really is. I don't see how it can't be.” Rainbow grasped the yellow pegasi's shoulders with her forehooves, a wife grin on her face. “But I'm gonna fix it.”

“Fix it?”

“Yeah, we're gonna have you flying like a pro in no time flat!” She lifted the pair up into the air, Fluttershy’s wings flapping in a panic. “You ready to train?!”

“Uh… I don't know… I mean…”

“I'm not hearing a yes.”

“Well, I mean it'd be lovely, but—”

“Ain't any buts here 'sides all the flank I'm gonna have you kicking. You're my wingpony, Fluttershy, and it's past time we got you up to snuff.”

With that, Rainbow pulled the gangly yellow pegasus up into the air above the trees and let go. Fluttershy was unsteady at first, blushing furiously as she tried to make sense of what had just happened, but as she looked at the pure determination on her... wingpony’s face she felt herself relaxing, the fluttering of her wings growing steadier, more relaxed… more natural.

It was the first of many such lessons as Rainbow worked to make good on her promises. It was still a good while before the Fluttershy as comfortable in the air as she was with all four hooves on the ground, but Dash held up her end.

Through almost all of flight school she was there for Fluttershy anytime she needed her.

And then one day, she was gone.

[o-0-o]

Looking up from the article, Fluttershy stared at the living room, the silence of it seemed so wrong. It was just so large… so empty…

Shaking her head to clear the unwanted thoughts, she returned to her piles of memories, flipping through to find a few more clippings. There were quite a few more involving Rainbow Dash. News of the Junior Speedsters exploits in Equestrian Athletics Quarterly, including the naming of a certain filly as pony to watch.

She even had a few clippings of the Wonderbolt's activities, mostly tryouts and acquisitions, but there had been no mention of her friend in these. As a filly, Fluttershy had always assumed Dash's place in the Wonderbolts had been preordained by Princess Celestia herself. The rainbow-maned filly had certainly done the job of convincing her of its inevitability…

This isn't how you said it'd be…

With a cry of frustration, Fluttershy brought her head down onto the table with an audible thunk that echoed through the kitchen.

She didn't want to think like that. She didn't want to think about the future. She didn't even want to think about the present.

She wanted back the past, undiluted by what had happened, still somewhere in her mind in pristine condition.

Oh, Rainbow… I'm sorry… Fluttershy willed the tears to come, but still, she found herself staring out at the moon as it hung high in the sky with vision unobscured.

With a soft sigh, the yellow pegasus got to her hooves, pushing the pile of scraps back into the portfolio before closing it gently. Slowly, Fluttershy crept into the living room. She looked from the stairs to the basket in which Angel slept, the rabbit's face scrunched up, nose sniffing at some smell only he knew.

With a soft smile, Fluttershy made up her mind, lifting herself up onto the couch next to the rabbit's bed. Tucking her legs under herself and curling her tail around protectively, Fluttershy watched the little bunny slumber, the slow rise and fall of the his chest, the intermittent twitch of a whisker or leg at some unknown fabrication of his dreams.

“Good night, Angel Bunny,” she whispered as she closed her eyes, waiting for the peace of sleep to come.

[o-0-o]

“C'mon, why don't you just fly away? Can't you fly?” the mocking calls fell upon the gangly pegasus as she cringed beneath their verbal onslaught.

Blue eyes staring through her feathers, she watched as the pair of young colts circled above, laughing as she cowered on an isolated cloud.

“Afraid you're gonna fall? What kind of pegasus are you?” one of them asked her mockingly, drawing up close to the pegasus filly.

She simply stayed quiet, tightening her wings around her, hoping in vain that they would simply disappear if she couldn't see them.

“C'mon, um… Klutzershy!”

“Heh heh, Klutzershy…”

“Yeah, I know, that was a good one, huh?”

“I think it could use some work,” a familiar voice broke into the chatter between the bullies. The little filly could feel the cloud she was on sag slightly with the weight of an additional pony. “Maybe you should go work on it somewhere else.”

“Oh, yeah, and what're you gonna do about it, lady?” one of the bullies demanded defiantly before a sudden, high-pitched yelp filled the air.

“My hoof, your face… do you really want to see what I'll do about it, you little cloud-biting punk?” the familiar voice inquired in a sweetly no-nonsense tone.

“N-n-no, ma'am…” the bully stammered out before the little filly heard the mad scramble of panicked wings.

After a moment or two, the telltale flapping of wings faded, leaving only the gentle sounds of the high currents.

“Fluttershy? Honey, you okay?” the voice asked as the little yellow pegasus slowly retracted her wings, revealing the absence of the bullies and the presence of somepony new and very much welcome.

“T-thanks, Mom…” the little pegasus squeaked out, tears streaming from her eyes as she immediately attached herself to the mare's leg.

“Shhh… shhh… everything's fine now, ‘Shy,” the mare whispered, running a hoof through the filly's mane before sitting down and lifting the little pegasus up. “Momma's lil' girl's gonna be just fine. Now ain't she?”

“Yeah,” the little pegasus answered with a soft giggle as her tears finally ran dry.

“Now, you remember what I told you, right?”

“Yes…” the filly muttered, looking down, shame-faced.

“You've just got to be more assertive, Fluttershy. Colts like that just keep hounding you forever if you're not willing to stand up.”

“I know… but they were just so… And I was… scared.”

“I know, Fluttershy… you've got a lot of your daddy in you, but you've got me in there too,” the mare spoke softly, giving the little filly a tight hug.

Fluttershy clambered up onto the almond-furred mare’s back.

“Now, how 'bout we get our hooves back on solid cloud. Flight Camp can wait another day.” She smiled back as she flared out her wings.

The little filly cried out happily as she clung to her mother's neck, burying her face into the auburn mane as the wind whipped by. Screwing her eyes shut, she relaxed into the familiar scent of her mother's mane.

She felt so safe there.

So secure.

As she opened her eyes again, however, she found herself gripping nothing. The scent vanishing into the black void that surrounded her.

“Mommy? Mommy, where’d you go?” she called out in a panic, voice echoing ceaselessly in her mind before, with a whimper, she laid down, cringing before the all-encompassing dark.

[o-0-o]

“—n-need to s-see her…”

“Hold her down for Celestia’s sake!”

“Where is she? Have to see her…”

“Where is that sedative?”

“Right here, doctor.”

“What are you waiting for? Administer it!”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“N-need… need to… where… Flutter…”

“Calm down, Miss Dash, calm down.”

“Doctor! Her eyes are o—oh my goodness.”

“What is… oh dear…”

“Nurse!”

“Yes, doctor?”

“Get me another sedative and some gauze.”

“…”

“Nurse, are you—Yes? I’m sorry, but we’re in the middle of—”

“…”

“Yes, I know the risks, but are you certain that is wise?”

“…”

“I'm not questioning your knowledge, milady, but it could…well, it could kill her.”

“…”

“Yes, ma'am… Nurse? Administer it.”

“Fl…fl…”

“Calm down. It'll be okay… you're both in good hooves.”

“Fl—”

[o-0-o]

Fluttershy awoke with a start, falling off the couch and onto the thankfully soft rug below as her legs scrambled in a mad panic.

“Whuh…what?” She lay on the floor,confused and panting as she waited for her heart to stop thudding so loudly in her chest.

She stared around to find that the sun was down now, the cottage bathed in a soft dark as the thinnest rays of moonlight streamed in through the windows.

Outside she could hear the faint chirps of crickets and the hoots of an owl in the distance.

And there it came again.

A soft tapping noise as if somepony rapping at the cottage door.

For a moment, Fluttershy found herself paralyzed, unsure of whether the noises were real or the product of her still sleep-addled mind. She glanced over to find Angel still slumbering peacefully, her confusion only deepening. She looked away to stare at the cottage door and waited for a sound, any sound.

Then it came again: a soft rapping at the door followed by a series of unintelligible words.

Rising slowly to her hooves, Fluttershy crept along the floor, wings locked tight to her sides as she trembled with a nervous fear.

“Flu-er-hy,” the muffled voice called through door.

Fluttershy's ears perked at the sound of her name, fears abated before they were replaced by confusion.

“Who would be out here so late?” she whispered to the empty room as she drew herself up from her low crouch, walking more confidently to the door.

“Fluttershy, are you there?” the voice called as Fluttershy pressed an ear against the door. It was a familiar voice, feminine, yet having a juvenile, boyish sort of quality to it. “Fluttershy? It's really cold out here.”

“Who's there?” Fluttershy barely choked the words out, her throat suddenly parched as she pressed an ear to door.

Her eye darted between the table and the couch as a part of her mind tried to determine which would be the better, quicker hiding place.

“It's me, Fluttershy. Can you let me in… it's cold,” the voice replied.

That same familiar voice…

“O-okay…” the yellow pegasus stammered as she grasped the door, letting it swing open slowly before she let out a loud gasp.

There before her stood a cyan pegasus, her mane marked by every color of the rainbow, that omnipresent smirk plastered on her face.

Without a thought, Fluttershy slammed the door in the apparition's face and dove beneath the table.

Fluttershy trembled, hooves wrapped around a leg of the table she hid beneath. She drew her wings around her, feathers vibrating as she tried to block out the world and retreat into their darkness.

A voice groaned just outside the door.

“Nopony's there… nopony's there…” she muttered quietly, but the voice remained. “There's no such thing… no such thing…”

“Oh… mah nose…” the voice moaned out.

Only, it seemed different somehow.

It was now younger… not the voice of a full grown mare nor even an adolescent. Folding her wings back slowly, Fluttershy crept over to the window and peered out before, with a gasp, she flung the door open.

There was no cyan pegasus. No shock of rainbow hair. There wasn't even a full grown pony. She watched her writhed in the dirt, an orange hoof pressed to its nose as a fuschia tail twitched.

“Scootaloo!” Fluttershy darted to the little filly's side. “Oh, Scootaloo, I'm so, so sorry.”

“Mah nose…” the little pegasus squeaked out as she rolled from side to side in the dirt.

“Oh my goodness.” She quickly scooped the little filly up into her forehooves and hovering them back into the cottage.

[o-0-o]

“Okay… now just keep your head tilted back,” Fluttershy spoke softly as she gently coaxed the filly's head back until her eyes stared up at the ceiling. “There you go. Better?”

“Unh hunh…” Scootaloo confirmed, a hoof keeping a bit of tissue pressed to the end of her muzzle, a small pile of them having accumulated beside her on the kitchen table.

“I am so… so sorry,” Fluttershy reiterated for what was likely her fourteenth apology in the last minute, shame having all but been etched on her face.

“S'okay…” the little orange filly murmured quietly, keeping her head tilted as Fluttershy worked on cleaning the scrapes that littered her patient's back.

“Now, this might sting a little, but just keep your head up,” Fluttershy warned before pouring a bit of iodine over her back. She could see Scootaloo tense, but otherwise she stayed perfectly still. Fluttershy cocked an eyebrow at the filly, drawing a slight shrug from her.

“Wasn't always so awesome with my scooter,” she answered the unasked question with a somewhat embarrassed grin, her voice having taken on a distinctly nasal quality. She maintained her grin for only a moment before her face took on a confused look as her eyes looked over her shoulder at the elder pegasus. “So… um… why did you slam the door in my face?”

“Sorry… it's just…” Fluttershy stammered slightly, her voice raising an octave even as her volume shrank. She was silent a moment as she sponged off the excessive iodine and began to bandage it. “I was startled. I thought you might be… I thought you were…” How to admit to a filly that you were scared of ghosts.

“Yeah?” Scootaloo asked, her voice filled with curiosity more than anything else.

“I thought you were Rainbow Dash for a second,” Fluttershy admitted softly, her movements slowing at the name.

“Really?” the little pegasus asked, initially excited by this case of mistaken identity.

“You remind me of her when she was younger… you sound a bit like she… used to…” Fluttershy offered, trying to comfort the little filly as a ring of tears formed at the bottom of the little pegasi's eyes.

“That's cool…” the filly replied morosely.

“Here, let me see that tissue,” Fluttershy asked, removing the bloodied paper before examining the little filly’s upturned nostrils. “I think it’s all dried up. You should be able to lean your head forward.”

“T-thanks, Fluttershy. I'm sorry I startled you.”

“I forgive you, Scootaloo. I just can't believe I slammed the door on you like that…”

“It's okay, I've done a lot worse… and I guess it's kinda my fault for being out here so late…”

Fluttershy was quiet a moment, trying to find the least accusatory means of asking. “Why are you out here so late, Scootaloo?” She helped the little filly hop down onto the floor, both walking into the living room where a fire now roared in the hearth.

“I-I couldn't sleep…”

“But why are you all the way out here? Your parents will be worried sick about you.”

“I… I had a question I needed to ask you.”

“It couldn't wait for the morning?”

“No… well, probably, but… I-I don’t know…” the little filly stammered as Fluttershy led her towards the couch she’d pushed in front of the fireplace. The perfect place for a shivering filly to warm herself. “I just really needed to ask you… an-and—”

“Scootaloo, it’s okay. I'm not mad,” Fluttershy whispered, a few stray tears trailing down the little pegasus's face as she trembled.

“It's just… she's just gone!”

Fluttershy bit her tongue, remaining silent a moment as the little pegasus stared up at her, face streaked with tears, beggining for answers that Fluttershy simply didn't have. With a soft sigh, Fluttershy lifted herself onto the couch next to the shivering filly, wrapping a wing around her.

“I know, Scootaloo… I know…”

“It's just… I never got to…” the filly choked back a sob as she nestled in Fluttershy’s grasp.

“It's okay, Scootaloo, it's okay,” Fluttershy hushed the little pegasus, nuzzling her gently as she felt the warm tears cascading across her side.

“I just wanted to know,” the little filly paused a moment, trying in vain to compose herself, wiping the tears from her eyes as best she could. “Did Rainbow even like me?”

The little filly stared up at Fluttershy with such a broken look…

She seemed as though she were made of something so fragile, so delicate that the softest breeze could crumble into dust.

Oh, Scootaloo… Fluttershy found herself without an answer, the little filly's wide eyes seeming to swallow her whole with their pleading.

Finally, Fluttershy took a breath, dimly realizing that she'd been holding it. She pulled the little filly close to her, wrapping her wing tightly around the little pegasus before pressing her head to the filly's.

“You were like a sister to her, Scootaloo,” Fluttershy whispered before she lowered her head, staring into the fire. Its warmth seemed so distant compared to the little thing pressed against her.

“T-thanks, Fluttershy,” the filly choked out, managing a wry smile as she buried herself into the older pegasus's side.

“You should get some rest… things look better in the morning,” Fluttershy murmured as she watched the flames flicker and dance in the hearth, listening to the soft sound of the filly's steady breaths.

Things will be better in the morning, Fluttershy… just get some rest.

Author's Note

[revised 08-09-2014]

06 [Arc 01 - Perturbation, Part Two] <rev. 08.12.2014>

"I can sleep later…"

"Dang it, girl. You ain't doin' anypony any good keepin’ this up. It’s been three days straight for Celestia’s sake."

"Mmf… Later."

"…"

"…"

"Dang it… fine…"

"…"

"Twilight?"

"…"

"You okay, sugarcube?"

"Just talked to the nurses…"

"What'd she say?"

"Th-they don't know what to do. It's been weeks now and sh-she just doesn't seem to be getting any better. She just… she just won't wake up…"

"It's okay, Twi. We’re all scared."

"It's all my fault… I-I—"

"Not this again… Twi, don't make it so I have t’buck sense inta ya. Weren't nopony's fault. Nopony's, got it?"

"I could have been stronger or smarter or… something…"

"Can't go changin' the past, Twi. Hindsight ain’t somethin’ t’focus on at times like this."

"But…"

"We need you here, Twi. Here and now."

"I know…"

"…"

"…"

"We’ve got to keep strong… for her."

"I know…"

"…"

"There's something else…"

"What’s that?"

"They're hiding something."

"What would they be hiding?"

“…”

"Twi?"

"I’m not sure… but there's something that they're not telling us…"

“She wouldn't do that… would she?”

“I wouldn't have thought so… but I've known her long enough to know when she's keeping something from me. But about something so serious…?”

“…”

“It’s just…”

"…"

"…"

"H-hello?"

"Room's private, mister."

"I was told this is where—"

"What are you doing here?"

“…”

"I came to—"

"To see her?"

"Y-yes…"

"Get out."

"What's all this about, sugarcube?"

"Just get him out."

"I… I'm s—"

"It's too late for that."

"…"

"Y'know what? I'm getting some air… and if he's still here when I get back…"

"…"

"You don't deserve her, you know? You don't even deserve to look at her."

"…"

"…"

"The heck was all that?"

"…"

"I'm sorry, sir. She's not normally like that…"

"No, she was right. I’m years too late here. I’m sorry… I’ll go."

[o-0-o]

The little filly watched her friend shrink into the bustling backstreets of Cloudsdale. The smile she had worn faded slowly as the cyan pegasus had vanished from sight, slowly replaced by a frown.

She was supposed to be happy, wasn't she? Happy for her friend's new success? Her new opportunity?

After all, it wasn't everyday that a filly, not even graduated from flight school, was selected to join the Junior Speedsters. It was the opportunity of a lifetime… at least in foalhood. Another step towards her goal.

The Wonderbolts. Rainbow Dash would go on and on about the stunt ponies. It was destiny and nothing was going to stand in the way of her becoming the top flier in all Equestria.

Her excitement had been infectious, sweeping up Fluttershyin its grasp with ease.

It served as a sharp contrast to the fear they had shared just hours earlier that day.

"Oh, Celestia…"

"Rainbow? What's wrong, Rainbow?"

"It was just a little prank… they wouldn't would they?"

"Wouldn't do what?"

"You don't think they're going to kick me out do you? Over a little prank?"

"Well, the teacher seemed pretty mad, but you've been so much better lately…"

"I know, but you haven't seen my record. Lots and lots of red ink…"

"Oh…"

"Yeah."

"Why did you do it?"

"Hoops dared me."

"And you listened to him?"

"He called me a chicken."

Fluttershy simply stared.

“Chickens can't even fly! Well, not very far, but still!”

Fluttershy’s stare grew to a disappointed frown.

"Yeah, I know. Be better than them. It just really got under my fur."

Fluttershy simply sighed. "When are they calling you in?"

"After last bell. Can you stick around? Please?"

"Um, usually I get picked up… I don't think my mom would…”

Rainbow eyes were wide and teary as she stared at her.

“Well… I'm sure she'll understand helping a friend."

"Well, you should probably get to your class. Wish me luck."

"Good luck, Rainbow."

With that she had disappeared into the class, leaving Fluttershy to collect herself. She bit her lip as she strode back to homeroom, worried for both herself and her friend. What in the name of Equestria would she have done without Rainbow as wingpony? She certainly wouldn't have made it as far as she had. She'd already repeated flight camp twice before after all.

Sure, Rainbow usually played fast and loose with the rules—she was unusually prone to demerits and even an outright citation or two—but her heart was in the right place.

The school could see that, couldn't it?

Hours later, though, the pegasus lived up to her moniker as she tore a rainbow-hued path from the school's entry doors to where her friend waited by the gate, smiling from ear to ear.

"Omigoshomigoshomigosh! Fluttershy!"

"What is it?"

"It is the best thing ever!" Rainbow yanked her up into the air, twirling the pair about.

"What? What?!"

"I just got picked to join the Junior Speedsters!"

"That's great news, Rainbow." Fluttershy’s eyes were wide as she was set back down on solid cloud, her tone muted.

"I know! I thought I was going to get kicked out for sure. Then the principal walks in with the head of the Junior Speedsters herself. The head, Fluttershy! I got picked by the head of the Junior Speedsters. A former Wonderbolt picked me!"

"That's great."

"I know! Oh my gosh, I'm so happy. I get to leave for their camp in a week. Can you believe it?! I'm going to be a Junior Speedster! Oh, I am so rubbing this in some faces!"

"Rainbow…"

"No time, Fluttershy, time for face rubbings!"

And with that the spiky maned pegasus was gone, a tumultuous wave of excitement left in her wake.

"A week?"

The words took a moment to settle in for Fluttershy. She promptly sat down as she came to the realization. It plied at her nerves even more than Rainbow’s possible expulsion.

It was the best and the worst all wrapped up.

"Fluttershy?"

She stayed quiet, mood tipping between fear and joy.

"Fluttershy? You okay, honey?"

"She's going away, Mom." Fluttershy turned to her mom, the elder pegasus with a comforting hoof stretched over the wall to rest on her shoulder.

"Oh, ‘Shy, she's not going away forever. This is just… a great opportunity. But she’ll be back soon enough."

"I know… but she's going away."

"She'll be back, Fluttershy. You two are friends. Heck, you act like sisters. And she's not the sort to abandon anypony, trust me."

"But…"

"Don't worry, you've still got a week with her and you'll see her afterwards. Junior Speedsters is usually only a year anyways. Plus, you'll see her whenever they break camp. First break’s coming up at the beginning of summer."

"How do you know?"

"Hey, your momma’s a dreamer. I followed the Speedsters when I was younger. I was even invited to a tryout or two.” Her mother smiled down at her, eyes lighting up. “Hey, how about we follow along. They usually have Speedsters news in the papers. Maybe we could try a scrapbook or something so you can follow her even when she's not here."

"Th-that might be nice."

Her mom had been right in some ways. Following her friend had helped. It had helped for years, but she wouldn't see her friend in the flesh again for years after that last week.

"I'll miss you, Rainbow," the little filly muttered as the world seemed to come to a halt about her, the words hanging in the air as the school began to shimmer and fade from view.

The image of her friend leaving remaining as everything else disappeared into a black fog. She stared a moment longer as the cyan filly vanished fully, leaving her in the silent darkness as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry…"

The suddenness of the interruption caused the little filly to jerk her head back and forth in search of a source. She spun around to find her the cyan pegasus sitting there.

Not as she had been all those years, but as she remembered her.

"I'm sorry, Fluttershy. I didn't think I was leaving you like that. I really didn't," the mare whispered quietly, an idle hoof scratching at the nonexistent ground beneath them.

"It wasn't your fault. It was an opportunity. I understood that eventually. I shouldn't have taken it how I did," Fluttershy replied, taking a tentative step towards her friend, her still gangly, uncertain legs trembling as she did so.

"I'm still sorry. I shouldn't have abandoned you like that. I mean, I'm supposed to be a loyal friend, right?"

"You are… were." Fluttershy stumbled with her words as she sat down in front of her friend, pressing a diminutive hoof to the mare's cheek as she stared up. "Why'd you have to go?"

"Isn't how either of us thought it'd go, huh?" Rainbow admitted.

Her cheek felt so warm to Fluttershy. So alive. Fluttershy could even feel the warmth of the tears that dripped from those ruby eyes, the gentle shifting of flesh beneath the soft cyan fur as she tried to fight them back. Fluttershy looked into those rose-colored eyes and saw only her friend. Not a memory, but her friend.

Fluttershy embraced the other pegasus, wrapping her hooves tightly around Rainbow's middle. She pressed her face into the soft fur of her friend's chest, letting the tears fall as they may. She could feel the hooves embracing her in turn, squeezing her delicately, as one might a child.

And they simply stayed that way a moment in a comforting silence. Fluttershy snuggled in closer. She wanted to hear her friends heartbeat the way she had listened to her mother's when she'd been younger. The steady rhythm letting her know that everything was alright. Everything would be alright.

As she opened her eyes, blinking the tears from them, Fluttershy tightened her hold. A sudden fear coursed through her.

"What is this, Rainbow?"

"Hm?"

"Is this real? Am I just imagining this?"

"I don't know… does it matter?"

"Maybe not…"

Neither said anything for a while as Fluttershy screwed her eyes shut. They simply stayed, unwilling to risk breaking the dream.

"Fluttershy?"

"Mm?"

"Are you mad at me?"

The question echoed. It was no longer Rainbow's voice that spoke. It was no longer the mare's embrace that comforted her. There was an older voice now. A familiar voice.

The comforting warmth of her friend was replaced by a sharp, abrasive cold.

"I…"

The words stuck in her throat as she grasped for the cyan pegasus only to find herself grasping at blankets and sheets, the feeling of fur replaced by fabric.

"Fluttershy? Are you mad?" the voice was older, but somehow it sounded as though it came from a young colt rather than a full grown pony. It spoke as a broken creature does, a desperate creature… a pitiful, frightened, desperate creature.

As the little filly opened her eyes, she stared with tear-stained vision at the bedroom from her childhood. It was night, the room enveloped in a darkness broken only by the soft orange glow of the streetlights outside. The soft tapping of a hoof on the door echoed painfully throughout the room. In vain, she tried to burrow into her bed, perhaps hoping that she might disappear beneath the sheets and end up somewhere else.

"Fluttershy, please don't hate me," the voice begged, the tapping of the hoof slowing to a stop before she could hear a him slip to the floor. "Please…"

She could hear the soft gasps of ragged breath just outside the door as, body shuddering, she buried her tear-stained face face into a pillow, answering softly for nopony to ever hear.

"But I do…"

[o-0-o]

As the first rays of the new day filtered into the cottage, Fluttershy awoke slowly. Her eyes burned gently as she rubbed a hoof across them as memories of the previous night burbled to the surface.

"It's morning, Scoo—" Fluttershy cut herself off abruptly as she lifted her wing to find nopony there. She stared at the spot a moment, sleep still slowing her thoughts.

It was strange. There wasn't even an indentation in the cushion. As she ran a hoof over the spot, she felt only the coolness of the fabric. Looking around herself, she found that the couch was back in its usual spot beside Angel's basket.

"Angel?" She whispered, a shiver coursing down her spine as she carefully hopped down to the floor. She could hear the telltale sounds of wood scraping against wood coming from the kitchen.

At a quick trot, Fluttershy made her way into the kitchen to find the little rabbit hard at work preparing breakfast on the counter, his fur stained with tan batter as he stirred it furiously.

"Angel?"

The little rabbit turned and gave the pegasus a curt, welcoming nod before returning with greater gusto to his work. Fluttershy drew closer, leaning her forehooves on the counter before continuing the conversation.

"Angel, do you know where Scootaloo went?"

The rabbit stopped stirring a moment before turning to look at the pegasus with an eyebrow cocked in confusion.

"Scootaloo. Little orange pegasus? We had a sleepover not too long ago?"

The rabbit nodded, but maintained his look of incredulity. With a few quick movements, the rabbit had dropped his work and had a paw pressed to the pegasus's forehead.

"Oh, Angel Bunny. I'm not sick."

Angel nodded slowly, but kept the paw on her head before signing rapidly with the other paw to the yellow pegasus. Fluttershy let her eyes widen in surprise as she grasped the rabbit's meaning.

"What do you mean nopony?"

The rabbit repeated his signs, ending with a forceful squeak of affirmation before waving a paw towards the living room for effect.

"Nopony other than me has been here all night. But I slammed a door in her face. Didn't that wake you up?"

The rabbit shook his head before again repeating its prior gestures.

"But what about the…" Fluttershy trailed off as she glanced back at the kitchen table. It was completely empty, the bandages and tissues from the last night gone. "You didn't?"

The rabbit simply shook its head before letting out a worried squeak, nuzzling the pegasus affectionately.

"I… I'm fine, Angel. I just had a very odd dream," Fluttershy mumbled in response, a tiny shiver coursing through her as she truly felt the morning's chill. "So, what are you making?"

The rabbit gave an excited squeak before tilting the bowl towards the pegasus to reveal the orange and rather chunky mix within.

"Carrotcakes?"

Angel gave an affirmative salute before beaming at the pegasus excitedly.

"That sounds lovely."

The rabbit returned to his work with a newfound vigor as Fluttershy sat herself down at the table. She held her head in her hooves, trying to keep the feeling of pressure contained within her skull as it began to throb.

There was not a sign anypony had been sitting on the table the night before. There were no signs that anypony beside herself had been in the cottage.

Maybe I should go see somepony. Talk to somepony…

[o-0-o]

The thick, overcast skies of the previous day remained as Fluttershy walked slowly through the largely empty streets of Ponyville. Even as she strolled through the market, where ponies typically gathered en masse for the proper exchange and purchase of their everyday essentials, she hardly saw more than a dozen ponies.

It seemed that the townfolk had made themselves scarce. Hardly a dozen stalls were set up, including a familiar apple cart.

"Hey, Fluttershy," Applejack greeted her, dropping her usual salesmare’s grin in favor of a softer, more genuine one. "We missed you this morning. Feelin' any better today?"

Fluttershy simply stayed silent as she came to the cart, hesitating as she thought over the morning and the night, but most of all the memories.

“No. Not really."

"It's alright, Fluttershy. Things jus' take time is all. Nopony’s gonna rush you."

"I know. You already said so," she replied, perhaps a bit more curtly than she had intended. "Sorry…"

"No need to apologize. You're hurtin'… We all are…"

"How's business today?" Fluttershy interjected, a change of topic seeming to be for the best.

"Well"—Applejack hesitated a moment, Fluttershy glancing away from her questioning gaze—"things are a mite slow today. Was gonna try an' show Apple Bloom the ropes, but, well, you can see for yourself."

"Oh." Fluttershy followed her friend’s gaze to find the aforementioned filly curled up in a bushel, napping peacefully.

"Don't s'pose things would be none dif'rent were she awake. And don't have the heart to wake her anyways," the work pony mused, giving the sleeping filly an affectionate nuzzle.

"She looks peaceful," Fluttershy whispered, watching the gentle rise and fall of the filly's chest before turning to look at the sparsely populated market square.

Her thoughts were scattered and confused as her gaze roamed the square.

Like Angel said, it didn't happen. Was just an odd dream…

As if on cue, an orange blur powered across the market on a scooter, red wagon in tow.

"Well, ain't peaceful much longer," Applejack remarked with a roll of her eyes, smile returning to her lips. "Hey, Scoots. Sweetie Belle."

"Is Apple Bloom around?" Sweetie Belle asked as the scooter and wagon rolled to a relatively soft stop, skidding to a halt in front of the apple cart. At least they hadn't had the quite spectacular dismount they'd had the previous time Fluttershy had seen them.

"Huh? We crusadin' today?" came a tired, confused voice from the opposite side of the cart, Fluttershy watching as the little red-maned filly braced herself on the apple basket as she got her hooves under her proper.

"Never-ending crusade, Apple Bloom," Scootaloo stated rather bluntly, grinning in determination.

"But doesn't it end when we get our cutie marks?" Sweetie Belle asked, the pegasus filly simply sighing in exasperation at the question.

“Well, duh,” Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "But until then. Never. Ending."

"Oh…"

"Um… I'd really like to, guys, but—"

"Aw, Applebloom, you ain't gonna miss nothing round here, I reckon," Applejack interrupted with a playful nudge to her little sister, "Y'all can skedaddle an' go questin' or crusadin' or… whatever. Jus' be careful… I don' want to see y'all makin' the paper again."

"Thanks, AJ! We'll be good!" the filly gave her sister and hug before jumping into the wagon.

As the little yellow filly fumbled with her helmet, Scootaloo trotted over to Fluttershy, the older pegasus having shrunk behind the cart a bit, trying to pacify the ache that rattled around in her skull.

"Fluttershy? You okay?"

"Oh, I'm fine," she lied, giving her best smile, which immediately drooped at the little filly's look.

"You don't look fine."

"I'm not actually," Fluttershy whispered honestly.

"Yeah… it sucks," the little filly stated, face falling for a moment before brightening right back up. "But she wouldn’t want us like that, right? Being all mopey and junk?"

"No… Probably not."

"Um, Fluttershy?"

"Yes?"

"Did Rainbow ever…" The filly scratched at her head with a hoof as she struggled to find the words before falling silent, looking up expectantly to the older pegasus.

"She liked you a lot, Scootaloo. You even remind me of her when we were younger… I think she probably thought the same."

This drew a small smile out of the little pegasus before she walked back to the wagon, now with the full complement of crusaders in tow.

"Bye," the little orange filly waved before her wings began to buzz, the wagon lurching forward, departing for parts unknown.

It wasn't real… so what was it?

"Somethin’ on your mind?"

"Hunh?" Fluttershy sat up straight as Applejack's question broke her from her thoughts. "Oh, I'm sorry… I was just thinking…"

"Doin' a whole lot by the looks of it. Do you want to… talk 'bout it?" Applejack asked, voice tinged with nervousness.

Fluttershy bit her lip before moving closer to her friend. "It's just… I keep remembering her, but not always right…"

"Not sure I follow, sugarcube."

"I had a dream… I think. Scootaloo showed up in the middle of the night and I thought she was Rainbow Dash for a moment…"

"You sure she didn't? Show up, I mean… not the other thing."

"Angel said there wasn't anypony else at the cottage last night… and Scootaloo didn't seem to remember it if she had been. It just seemed so real… and it was… nice. We talked about Rainbow a little bit."

"Huh…" Applejack stared out at the market a moment before turning back to Fluttershy with a reassuring smile. "Reckon you're under quite a bit of stress. Mind tends ta play tricks sometimes… you gettin' enough sleep?"

"More than enough, I think. The birds started their migration so they don't wake me early anymore."

"Well, maybe you’ve just got a bit of cottage fever. Can't be too healthy to be cooped up, all alone."

"Maybe you're right."

"Should probably try spending some time out on the town. Might be a bit boring around these parts fer a few hours more." Applejack grimaced as she glanced around the largely deserted market. "Maybe try Rarity’s. Two o' you could have lunch or something. Probably do you better than watchin' stand here like a statue."

"That—” Fluttershy began, fighting to mask the disappointment in her voice.

"An’ after I’m all done here, how 'bout I come by yer cottage? I can be by right after I drop this here cart off?"

"Oh, that sounds lovely," she replied with a tiny smile. It would be nice to have somepony over at the cottage.

"Alright, I should be there 'round sunset or so. Only got a few deliveries this afternoon," Applejack stated, giving Fluttershy a wide smile and friendly bump with an elbow. "We'll make a good ol' time of it."

"Thanks, Applejack."

[o-0-o]

"Darling! How are you?"

Fluttershy was surprised by how readily Rarity dropped her work when she had walked into the boutique. It was as though she'd been looking for the excuse.

"Oh, I'm fine."

"You don't look fine, dear," Rarity mused as she pulled the pegasus into the back room of the boutique where the dressing room was set up alongside a pair of plush couches.

"Is it so obvious?" Scootaloo had seen right through it after all.

"Perhaps not to the average laypony, but I am your friend. Besides, I know it hurts." Rarity smiled as Fluttershy suddenly noticed the thick bags that hung beneath her friend's bloodshot eyes. She'd been crying. Recently too.

"None of us are fine."

"Nor can we be expected to be. For all her brashness and arrogance, Rainbow was a part of all of us," the unicorn murmured, putting a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. "A part to you especially."

"Me?"

"Well, naturally, darling," Rarity began with a smirk, even as the beginnings of a tear formed in her eye. "You knew her long before any of us did. I daresay you were quite a bit closer than either of you let on."

"Wh-what do you mean?" Fluttershy asked, suddenly wary of the direction of the conversation.

"Only that you two have always been rather… Oh how to put this…"

Fluttershy raised an eyebrow as she stared at the pondering unicorn.

"Well, you know how I have my Sweetie Belle."

"Yes." Fluttershy found herself less wary and more confused.

"Well, you know how frustrated I can be with her at times?"

"Yes…"

"But still, for any frustration she shall cause me I wouldn't trade her for the world… do you follow?"

"I think so? Maybe… not really."

"Well. I think that was the relationship you had with Rainbow… To be perfectly frank, I can't see it any other way," Rarity admitted, drawing the pegasus into a brief embrace. "For all your differences… you were family to one another."

"Maybe…"

"Not maybe, darling," the unicorn replied, grasping the pegasus's shoulders in her hooves as she looked her directly in the eye. "You balanced one another. With all her attitude, she was never the best with talking things out with other ponies. Likewise, you've always had that shell of yours to retreat into. You've always been a calming presence for her, and she a get-up-and-get-going sort for you."

"And now she's gone."

"But not forgotten. She's still here, Fluttershy," the unicorn said, pressing a hoof to Fluttershy's chest. "She'll always be in there."

"I know you're trying, Rarity… but I just don't know."

"Perhaps something to clear our heads. A trip to the spa might do the trick. We missed our usual time last week. Perhaps it would do us both some good to simply relax." Rarity offered with a soft smile.

"Maybe…" Fluttershy trailed off with a soft nod of her head.

Perhaps it would do some good. If only to rid herself of the headaches that had been plaguing her of late.

"Well, no time like the present then," Rarity stated, maintaining her grin as she dropped to the floor with an audible clop and hurried them right out the door.

[o-0-o]

"It has been quite the while, hasn't it?"

"It's been years…"

"It's remarkable to think about it… so many years. So many fond memories," Rarity sighed as she soaked beside Fluttershy in the spa's hot tub. They had opted for the most basic of treatments. It wasn't a time for the usual after all. This visit was purposeful. Purely practical. Albeit she was certain Applejack would have snorted at the idea of a practical spa visit.

"Feels strange. Talking about it like this…" Fluttershy mumbled, leaning on the edge of the tub, head resting on her fore-hooves as the warm waters relaxed her.

"I know… seems like only yesterday that we met, doesn't it?"

Fluttershy merely nodded as her eyes began to feel heavier and heavier. She breathed in the warm spa air, the scent of lotus blossoms permeating it.

“Odd to think it was such a long time ago. Relatively speaking of course.”

“Of course…”

It was so relaxing. So warm and peaceful. Perhaps this was the right idea. Her head certainly felt clearer as she let herself drift, the gentle lapping sound of the water lulling her to sleep as the unicorn chatted on.

[o-0-o]

It was so warm. So peaceful. The homey smell surrounding her. Soft hooves carefully traced the contours of her body, alternating between scrubbing, rubbing and tickling as the foal giggled in her mother's grasp.

A simple song filled the air alongside the slapping water as Fluttershy squirmed in those loving hooves.

"Oh m'darlin', oh m'darlin'," the older pegasus sang softly as she spread the foal's tiny wing, drizzling warm water over the feathers before repeating the process with the other. "Oh m'darling, Fluttershy..."

A high-pitched giggle flung from the pegasus foal’s lungs as her mother scrubbed over her stomach, still thick with baby fat.

"Thought you lost and gone forever… darling Fluttershy," she sang as she lifted the tiny, dripping foal from the tub, bundling her into a thick blanket before moving to sit on a thick woven mat.

"Sky?" a voice called out from somewhere behind the pair, the infant falling silent as her mother turned towards the door.

"We’re in the bathroom," she called back.

There came the soft sound of a door opening and closing gently.

"Is she asleep?" the voice asked in a soft, nervous tone as the infant's eyes scanned for the source of the new sound.

"No, she's just quiet… you know how she is."

"Oh… sorry."

"Just come over here, Dewy," Sky Skimmer ordered with soft chuckle and the infant gave a soft smile as a pair of turquoise eyes came into view, looking down on her warmly.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" he whispered, running a careful hoof through the infant's short mane before laying down next to them.

"Yeah. Kinda makes everything else not matter all that much, doesn’t it?" she replied sadly before leaning down to kiss Fluttershy's forehead.

The infant's eyes screwed themselves shut of their own accord as she felt the soft, caring lips upon her… the warmth of the blanket wrapped about her… the gentle eyes watching her. So much love surrounding her…

And then, Fluttershy felt cold.

As she opened her eyes again, she found herself staring at mound. Somepony's hoof was wrapped around her shoulder, but she could only stare at the mound of newly piled dirt as the words of comfort went unheeded. She didn't bother to look up as the gentle rain soaked through her mane and the simple outfit she wore.

She could feel her hooves sinking slowly into the new mud as the hoof left her shoulder. The parting words were lost in the gentle din of the rain. She couldn't cry… she wasn't supposed to cry.

That's what granny had told her. She was supposed to be happy… to be happy because that's how she ought to be.

But she didn't want to be happy. She didn't want to be content with just memories. She didn't want to think about being happy again. She couldn't think.

"Hey… yer her, um, gran'daughter, right?" a nervous voice broke through the quiet rainfall, startling Fluttershy as she crouched as if from a blow.

"Uh-huh…" she mumbled in reply, expecting just another empty condolence.

"Just wanted to say…" the voice stumbled over her words as the pony drew closer, hoofs sloshing in the puddles.

"I know," Fluttershy interrupted, seeing the muddy hooves halt beside her out of the corner of her eye. “I know what you’re going to say.”

"Oh, well, even so, I'm sorry fer yer loss… Really I am."

"I'm sure you are." She just wanted them to go away. To leave her alone with her thoughts… with her memories.

"I am…" the voice said curtly as though some ancient honor had been tarnished by Fluttershy’s implication. "I… I know what it's like…"

Fluttershy didn’t reply, her blood simmering beneath the surface.

"It gets better after a while. It don't go away… but it gets better."

"Does it?" Fluttershy asked softly, a mix of anger and incredulity as she turned to look up into the solemn face of a stetsoned mare. The pegasus stared into the other pony's eyes a moment before the anger drained from her.

"Eventually… it does."

Fluttershy looked down, sniffling.

A hoof wrapped around her shoulders, drawing them closer.

"Who did you lose?"

"...my parents."

"Oh…"

It was silent for a while as Fluttershy found herself unable to look up into the mare’s eyes again. She couldn’t look at that pain again.

"It still hurts a lot… but you keep on goin'. For them if not for yourself."

"But… how do you? I don't even know what to do…"

"My granny used ta be real close t’her… she was still in that old cottage by the forest, right?"

"Yeah…"

"Still helpin' animals an' all?"

"Yeah… I helped her with them sometimes. A lot towards the end,” Fluttershy murmured before shifting herself to reveal the trio of butterflies on her flank. “My special talent is working with animals even."

"Well, seems you've got an idea, then."

"But I can't possibly run it all on my own… it's so big an-and there's so many…"

"S'alright, sugarcube. Ain’t expectin' you t’do everything yourself. How 'bout I come by and help you…"

"Oh, I couldn't ask you to do that."

"You ain't askin'. I'm offerin'. Name's Applejack," the stetsoned pony offered a hoof, giving the pegasus a reassuring smile.

"Fluttershy," she replied, finding the work-worn hoof surprisingly gentle as they shook.

Both ponies cringed as a crack of thunder rolled across the field, the drizzling rain only seeming to worsen.

"Maybe we all ought to be gettin' out of this rain. The Acres are a bit closer than yer cottage I reckon. We can get you nice an' warmed up there."

"That sounds… nice." Fluttershy smiled as the work pony led her away from the grave.

"What neighbors, and friends, are s'posed ta do, Fluttershy," Applejack stated, flipping her hat onto the pegasus with deft jerk of her head. "It'll keep the rain out of yer eyes. C'mon."

Fluttershy allowed herself a little smile as she adjusted the stetson, following the slow trot of the farm mare. She closed her eyes, following the sounds of Applejack's sloshing hoof steps as she thought to herself a moment.

Maybe the farm mare was right and it was what Granny had meant for her. Maybe it was how she was supposed to go on… how she was supposed to keep Granny going on.

"Applejack?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"T'ain't nothing, darling."

"Huh?" Fluttershy intoned, eyes snapping open.

"Oh it's nothing, darling. Really, it was my pleasure," the white unicorn stated with a certain satisfaction as she positively beamed at the flustered pegasus.

It certainly wasn't what Fluttershy had expected when she had strolled into the boutique looking to have a hole in her granny's old coat properly patched for the upcoming winter.

"Um… but about my—"

"Oh darling, you mustn't wear that old thing, you need something to help you shine!" The unicorn gesticulated excitedly as she levitated the coat onto a nearby hook. "And now that we've got you hair done to properly frame that wonderful bone structure…"

"What?"

"It's a compliment, darling. Go with it. You really do have a model's physique you know."

"I… um, thank you?"

"Think nothing of it, darling. You really should try the spa sometime," the unicorn stated, levitating all sorts of makeup and other items of beautification as she curved around the slightly cowering pegasus. "Ponyville may be a small town, but the sisters have all the refinements of a pair of first class Manehattan resort. It's a surprise we've been able to keep them from being snatched up!"

"A spa might be nice… but I don't really have the bits for something like that."

"You simply must treat yourself to it sometime. It is worth every bit, I swear. A pony of your beauty absolutely must go…" The unicorn trailed off momentarily as she ran a bit a eyeliner carefully around her subject's eye. "Oh! In fact, we could go together!"

"I couldn't let you do that."

"No excuses, darling. Rarity Unicorn does not let fabulosity such as yours go to waste. It would be positively criminal," the unicorn stated as though it were Princess Celestia's honor and the fate of Equestria on the line, stature and face suggesting a moment of genuine import before she broke into the excited smile of a little filly. "Besides, I've wanted somepony to go to spa with. Oh, we will be the best of friends!"

"Friends?"

"Of course, darling, two fabulous ponies like ourselves should most certainly be acquainted and by the state of your mane I am most confident that you are in need of a friend such as I," Rarity finished with a flourish, flipping a mirror around to reveal Fluttershy's reflection.

The tangled mess that had been her mane was straight and flowing now, several flower blossoms weaved through the strands of hair. Her once dull yellow coat now almost shimmered in the soft light of the boutique, even her cutie mark seemed to glow with a newfound brilliance. The make up Rarity had used provided only a subtle accent of the pegasi's natural features… a bit of blush on her cheeks mixing with the rampant blush she felt.

"I look… nice…"

"Oh, I do hope you mean more than simply nice, dear. You look absolutely fabulous if I do say so myself." The unicorn beamed knowingly as her magic quietly straightened a few stray hairs."Of course, when you start with such a wonderful base… well, I can't say I'm not more than a tad jealous. You are, as they say, a natural beauty…" She held for a moment, waiting for the pegasus to chime in.

"Fluttershy."

"Charmed to meet you, Fluttershy. I am certain we are going to be the best of friends, you and I."

Fluttershy couldn't help but smile as Rarity turned her from side to side, showing off every detail of the new and, as the unicorn might have put it, fabulosified Fluttershy.

"Thank you, Rarity," Fluttershy whispered as the shop began to darken and the unicorn faded away. The pegasus closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of the memory before she felt something familiar surround her.

It was so warm. So peaceful. Those soft hooves on her body. The giggle of a little foal. The splash of water. A simple song filled the air.

"Oh m'darlin', oh m'darlin'…"

But the light had faded. The hooves had vanished from her sides.

"Oh m'darling, Fluttershy…"

The warm water had gone cold as the foal slipped below the surface. Cold eyes stared through the water as she sank deeper and deeper. Deeper and deeper.

"Thought you lost and gone forever…”

Deeper and deeper into the endless dark.

“… darling Fluttershy…"

[o-0-o]

She awoke shuddering and wet. She shivered, partly from the inhospitable cold, partly from the unexplainable fear that coursed through her. Frightened turquoise eyes darted about the empty room she found herself in.

She couldn't remember coming in here. She certainly couldn't recall a reason for her to be alone in an abandoned building. She couldn't even recall having left on an errand that would have required such a detour.

“Hello?” she whispered as she rose from the floor, body soaked and shivering in the cool, stagnant air.

There was no answer as she walked on hoof-tips towards the only visible door in the room. She glanced at the window to find that the sun was going down rapidly.

It would be dark soon. She had to get home. She was supposed to meet somepony there. She was no longer sure who, but there was somepony waiting for her, she was sure of it.

“Anypony here?” She nervously grasped the door ring with a hoof, opening it with a slight shudder as even cooler air rushed in around her. “I'm going to leave now… if that's okay with you…”

Quickly and quietly, she slipped out the door. As the door slammed shut, she began to gallop. Hooves striking the ground hard as she made for home, something in the air. The streets of Ponyville were deserted as she ran past, dark windows lining the houses, unlit lampposts lining the streets. She ran without a care for this strange happenstance until she came upon a certain building.

It was an old shop, done up to look like an old merry-go-round from some long-forgotten state fair, but utterly devoid of color. Its windows seemed to stare back at her with empty husks.

Then the building gave a shudder and a shake, a loud crack driving the pegasus back to her hooves.

She just wanted to be home. Away from all this strangeness.

She didn't look back to see the shop and the world twisting behind, the shop collapsing, roof, walls and windows into a heap that was soon absorbed into the dark.

She simply kept up her gallop, Ponyville streaming past.

As her hooves brought her to the comfort of her cottage and the door clicked shut behind her, the darkness became complete.

The moon did not rise.

The stars did not appear.

The waking world simply vanished into the dark.

Author's Note

[revised 08-12-2014]

07 [Arc 01 - Perturbation, Part Two] <rev. 08.13.2014>

“...never thought about it much. Not nearly as much as I should have. I… I should have thought about it then. In between, sure, but after... I just didn’t. I'm sorry I wasn't there when… you know. I should have been there. You shouldn't have had to go through all that by yourself…”

“...”

“Y'know... I went to your house afterwards. You weren't there anymore. I had to hear it from some jerk at the weather factory what happened.”

“...”

“I... I didn't mean it like that. Sorry. I don't think you ever told me either though. You just changed the subject or I'd get distracted or you'd distract me. Makes me wish I had a bit more focus, y'know?”

“...”

"Yeah, of course, you'd know. I think you knew me better than I knew me back then. Knew how to work me too. Maybe I should be mad, but I can't be mad at you. Dunno if anypony could.”

“...”

“Think you freaked me out a little at the gala… Don't think I ever expected to see that... or you with a stallion's voice... or staring down a dragon... this last year's been pretty weird, huh?”

“...”

“Twilight said I should keep talking like this, but I'm running out of things to say. I'm not good at this stuff. I... I just want you to wake up...”

“...”

“Please, just wake up...”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“I'm sorry to interrupt, but visiting hours are almost over, Miss.”

“Can I stay, please?”

“I'm sorry, hospital policy.”

“I'm sure it wouldn't violate the policy if we have a moment to say good night, will it?”

“...”

“...”

“No, ma'am... that'll be just fine.”

“...”

“Thanks, Rarity...”

“Go say good night, dear.”

“...”

“...”

“Good night, Fluttershy... see you in the morning...”

“...”

“...”

“Ready to go?”

“Yes, nurse, we're ready.”

“Right this way.”

“...”

“I know you can hear me, knave. Know that we shall find a way. I promise you that. My debt to this one will be paid in full.”

[o-0-o]

“Sometimes, after a big ol' storm like the one we had last night, y’gotta get out there in the forest and track them critters down,” Grammy dictated, Fluttershy trotting close behind her.

She trotted slow, careful to keep the old earth pony in front of her as much as possible. Head bowed, her mind raised the specters of threat from every shadow to be found amongst the trees, every crackle of leaf or twig. With a quiet murmur of fear, she shrank down, slowing to a crawl as thunder rumbled in the distance.

Grammy, however, simply smiled as she looked back at the shaking pegasus. “Can't be gettin' scared o' yer own shadow there, Fluttershy.”

“I'm not scared of my shadow, Grams.” She bristled as much as possible, hoping the artifice of confidence would be enough. As she crouched lower to the ground, wings half-unfurled as her body prepped itself to flee—by air or by ground didn’t matter—honesty slipped from her at the crack of a twig. “I'm just scared of what's out there.”

“T'ain't nothin' t’be afeared of here, young’un. This ain't Everfree proper,” Grammy articulated, stopping to nudge the pegasus back to her hooves, wearing a knowing grin. “'Sides, you can always fly away... yer ol' Granny's gonna be the one runnin' fer her poor ol' life.”

“Oh, I'm sorry...” Fluttershy shrank down again, avoiding the earth pony's gaze.

“Cripes, girly, I'm jus' makin’ fun,” Grammy muttered, putting a hoof to her head before motioning Fluttershy close. “Y’really do have yer daddy in you. Couldn' ever spot ‘im a joke neither.”

“Really?”

“Darn straight. Did my best with that boy. Figure her turned out mostly alright.”

“But... why did he—”

“Fluttershy.”

“Yes?”

“What'd I tell you 'bout that question?”

“Not to ask it?”

The elder mare grimaced. “T’be honest, I jus' can't answer it. Ain't nopony able t’answer for another one like that.”

Fluttershy's face fell as she leaned heavily against her grandmother, pressing her head beneath the elder pony's chin.

“But I just don't understand. We were doing alright together... weren't we?”

“Were you?”

“I thought so...”

“Fluttershy?”

The pegasus glanced up into the softening eyes.

“Now, I want you to be perfectly honest. If not with me, then with yourself.”

“...We weren't.” Fluttershy stared down at the damp path below.

“Well... I can't pretend to understand it neither.” She lifted the yellow pegasus's chin so that they could look at one another eye to eye. “But I can tell you that yer daddy loves you. He truly thought this was for the best.”

“Maybe...”

“Ain't no maybe. We gonna git a smile on that pretty little face or my name ain't Grammy.”

“But it's not—”

“Hush, darlin', we gotta get back to the work at hoof. What're we out here for again?”

“Searching for injured animals?”

“Good to know you were listenin'.” The old earth pony tousled her granddaughter’s mane. “Now, how 'bout you get to checkin' ‘neath the brush on that side. They get skittish when they’re scared. You've got to be gentle with 'em an'... aw, heck, look who I'm talkin' to.”

“Okay, Grams.” Fluttershy gave her best smile, a small little thing.

“Thatta girl.” The old mare chuckled, nudging her on her way.

Fluttershy trotted over to the side of the path to root around the brush, her grandmother doing the same for the opposite side.

She had a difficult time believing her grandmother. To be sure, Fluttershy felt comfortable with her. She knew her to be sincere and genuine, but, still, she didn't want to believe anything at the moment.

She wanted to be confused.

It was confusing and she had the right to not understand.

Her hoof struck something soft beneath the bushes before she felt a sudden pressure. Drawing it from the brush, she let out a gasp as a tiny little bunny dangled from it by its teeth.

“Oh!”

Instinctively, she shook her hoof rapidly, trying to dislodge the rabbit. With keratinous scrape, the bunny flew off and crashed to the ground some distance away with a loud squeak.

“Oh, no! Oh, I'm so sorry, little bunny!”

“Fluttershy, what're y'doin'?”

“I-It bit me and-and I threw it and... Oh, no, are you okay?” She felt as though she might hyperventilate as she fluttered closer to the stunned lagomorph.

As soon as she was within a foot of it, the rabbit leapt to its paws, holding its paws up threateningly. It growled and hissed and spat angrily as it hopped from foot to foot, daring her to come closer.

“D-Don't be scared, little bunny. Everything will be fine,” Fluttershy cooed as she made herself as small and non-threatening as she could, lowering herself until her belly dragged on the cool, wet soil.

Ever so slowly, ever so gently she crept forward, extending a hoof in friendship.

A hoof that the rabbit immediately smacked away with a powerful jab of his leg before bopping the pegasus on the nose with a forepaw.

Fluttershy cried out in surprise, recoiling from the feisty little creature, nose as well as her pride stinging. “That wasn't very nice.”

“They ain't always,” came sage wisdom from her grandma, the old mare undoubtedly suppressing a chuckle.

“You shouldn't be mean, little bunny.”

The rabbit simply stuck out its tongue, blowing a raspberry before resuming its stance.

Fluttershy frowned, but kept up her attempts, reaching towards the bunny once again. “Come here, little guy.”

It hopped back a step, continuing to bounce from leg to leg.

“Gotta be tougher.”

“Come here now?” Fluttershy could hear the sound of hoof meeting forehead behind her.

The rabbit simply took advantage of her confusion to jab at her with his leg, connecting solidly with Fluttershy's cheek.

“Hey!” she cried out as something in her just snapped.“That wasn't very nice.”

The rabbit began to stick his tongue out again, but quite suddenly found itself frozen in place, vision filled by a pair of glaring turquoise eyes as its tongue flopped limply from its mouth.

“You shouldn't be mean to other creatures. It's not nice,” Fluttershy stated in an oddly motherly tone as she glared down at the now petrified rabbit. “You especially shouldn't be mean to creatures that are just trying to help you. Now what do you have to say for yourself?”

The rabbit fell back, stunned. It lay on the ground for a moment, even after she had taken a step back, holding her glare steady. Slowly, it rose to its paws, squeaking out a stuttered apology.

“Good. Now you should run on home now, um, if that's okay.” Her tone faded as her normal demeanor bubbled to the surface, cheeks flaring a brilliant pink. “Go on, mister.”

The rabbit didn't move, a blank look on his face as he stared up at her.

“Shoot, Fluttershy. Don’ know where you got that stare from, but dang it if it ain't useful,” Grammy said, clopping her hooves together in a slow, quiet applause.

“Stare? Oh, I'm sorry. I don't really control it. It just kind of happens sometimes... when I get, uh... mad,” Fluttershy excused herself, sinking down in embarrassment as the old mare trotted up.

“Sorry nothin’! That was a bit of the ol' remarkable. I can see why this is your talent. You've got a gift for 'em... even the little, ornery ones.”

The bunny stuck his tongue out at the older mare before cowering beneath the pegasus's shifted gaze.

Grammy let out a chuckle as she watched him pull back. “You best be gettin' along there, rabbit.”

“Your family is probably worried sick about you...” Fluttershy whispered, blinking her eyes to rid herself of the burn.

The bunny didn't move, however. It just stared up at her with the same unreadable expression.

“Don't you remember where your home is?”

The rabbit's look didn't waver even a bit as the pegasus looked into his eyes.

“You don't have a home, do you?”

The rabbit nodded quietly before hopping up to the crouching pegasus, nose twitching. He gently patted her nose in apology before nuzzling against her hoof.

Granny wasn’t smiling anymore as she placed a hoof on Fluttershy’s back. “It happens. Nature's got its nasty habits and storms ain't any different.”

“But we won't leave him here, will we?”

“Well, he dun look injured,” Grammy scratched at her chin thoughtfully. “He’s gonna have to pull his weight if’n we bring him back.” She turned to the rabbit. “I don't give free rides, rabbit.”

He gave a sharp salute, standing tall as the old mare scrutinized him, feet locked together in a position that seemed quite unnatural for his anatomy.

“He'll need a name. ‘Shy? What’re you thinkin’?”

Carefully, Fluttershy examined the rabbit a moment. A soft beam of light bore down on the bunny through the storm ravaged canopy of the forest. His soft, white fur shined brightly amidst the dull brown of the forest, his presence in it seeming almost celestial as the sunlight caught him just so.

“How about… Angel?”

[o-0-o]

Eyes slipping open slowly, Fluttershy awoke to her head throbbing mercilessly as the harsh, orange sun poured in through the window.

Immediately, she snapped her eyes shut again, fumbling for a pillow to cover her as she waited for the ache to cease. Her hoof found blanket and she immediately buried herself in the comforting dark.

Ugh... what happened last night? Did I drink something? I don’t normally, right?

Confusion roamed her thoughts as she quietly willed herself back to sleep where her the ached might be mitigated. But sleep was not forthcoming, and she reluctantly rolled off the couch onto her hooves. She kept the blanket draped over her head, however. Opening her eyes naught but a sliver, she began to trudge towards the door only to stumble to the floor.

Sighing, she lifted the blanket off her head to find her hind hoof tangled in a basket filled to the brim with blankets.

She must have left it out last night for some reason. Then forgotten about it when she’d fallen asleep on the couch.

With a groan, she stood back up, grasping the basket in her mouth as she made her way to the kitchen for some breakfast, feeling her way around.

Maybe I'll go see Twilight today... maybe she'll have something for this headache... a spell, a potion, tea, something.

Some company might do some good.

[o-0-o]

“Twilight?” Fluttershy called out softly as she stepped nervously into the Books & Branches Library.

The streets of Ponyville had been all but deserted, the loneliness of the town putting her on edge.

The state of the library itself didn't help matters.

It seemed that some phenomena of highly localized tornados had torn through the shelves. Most of the books were now stacked in disorderly piles around the main floor with further stacks trailing up the bookcase, loose papers and other debris scattering across the floor as a breeze blew in the open door.

“Fluttershy?” came a familiar voice from the library's hidden-away kitchenette. A little dragon jogged into the foyer.

“Oh, hello, Spike... is Twilight in?”

“Well... yeah... but it's not real pretty up there,” the little dragon said, jabbing a claw towards the ceiling before glancing around. “I guess it isn't really any prettier down here though.”

“It is a little, um, messy. Is something wrong?”

“Twilight's been a little... stressed. She keeps talking about going back to the beginning and stuff like that,” Spike answered with a soft sigh, his shoulders sagging as the sigh blossomed into a yawn. “Been keeping me up with harmony this and harmony that. Can't follow a word of it to be honest.”

“Can I see her?”

“Knock yourself out.” Spike stared at the mess of a main floor before them. “I've got my claws full down here.”

“Thank you, Spike,” Fluttershy whispered, giving the little dragon a quick, friendly nuzzle before carefully making her way up the cluttered stairway.

“Just be careful, Fluttershy. She’s a little... off,” Spike called after her as she crested the top of the stairs.

The second floor was in an even more chaotic state than the ground floor had been.

Several desks were piled high with papers, quills, ink jars, veritable skyscrapers of books and equipment the pegasus wouldn't have thought out of place in a medical laboratory. Between the desks were even larger stacks of books, having been arranged into haphazard rows. She couldn't even see the other side of the room for the dense maze of literature before her.

Fluttershy could hardly even comprehend the number of books.

I don't think the library even has enough shelves for this many books…

Somewhere within, Fluttershy could hear muttering. It wasn't an unfamiliar sound to the pegasus, having arrived in the library to find Twilight deep in her study many times before, but the rate and tone of her friend's speech were worrisome.

“Twilight?”

Fluttershy had been around the unicorn enough while studying to know when she was submerged in it. This somehow seemed beyond that. It was more akin to her rampant anxiety at a visit from Princess Celestia.

“Twilight, are you um... busy?”

“Oh! Fluttershy? Good, you're finally here!” Her voice came from somewhere across the room. It sounded as if she were calling up from a papier-mâché well. Fluttershy could hear a scramble of hooves and the shifting of papers echoing off the walls.

“You were expecting me?”

“Well, where else would you go?” The voice drew closer now. Fluttershy wandered carefully through the stacks as they precariously leaned and swayed above her. “Well, maybe SugarCube Corner, but really, where else is there?”

“What do you mean?” Fluttershy cocked an eyebrow as she glanced through the stacks, trying to hone in on the unicorn's voice.

“Not important! You're here. That's good. We can fix everything now,” Twilight rambled on, appearing around a corner, nearly bumping into the pegasus as she gave a start.

“Goodness, Twilight! What happened to you?”

The unicorn's mane was a ragged mess, her teeth ground against one another subconsciously, her breaths came in ragged, frustrated gasps as she stalked towards the pegasus.

“Oh, nothing. Just been busy. Oh so busy. Busy, busy, busy,” the unicorn muttered as she stood, her eyes seemingly unable to look straight ahead as they darted about the room. “But that's not important. Like I said... we can fix this now.”

“What?”

“Everything's going away. Can't you feel it. This place isn't stable anymore,” she stated, waving a hoof about demonstrably, knocking over a nearby stack. “Too much doesn't make sense! Too much is missing. We have to fix it and we have to fix it now.”

“Stable? Fix... Twilight, are you feeling okay?”

“Never better! Well, that's not true. I've been better. But I'm sane, if that’s what you’re asking. I know I am! Even if I disappeared last night. Poof! Right into the aether! It was only for a little while though. I got better!” the unicorn yelled out suddenly, panting as she grabbed Fluttershy suddenly with a flare of magenta magic. “Here, walk with me,” she muttered, dragging the pegasus through the stacks quickly.

“Twilight, what are you doing?” It was a minor miracle that the stacks of books held their composure as the pegasus was roughly yanked about.

“We've got to get moving. No time to chat!”

Fluttershy could feel a familiar panic settling over her, wings flaring in panic as she struggled against the unicorn’s aura.

“Twilight, you're not making any sense!” Fluttershy stated as they stopped in front of another desk, more organized than the three near the stairs, only a few papers laid on its surface in a neat stack.

“You know I'm not crazy, right? You feel it too?” Twilight demanded, spinning to face the pegasus as the aura faded away. “We're all just barely here. We have to get her back! It's the only thing that makes sense right now.”

“Get who back? Rar—” Fluttershy was abruptly cut off by a sudden, piercing pain, her next words forgotten as she rubbed at her temples. Every spike of pain reminded her why she’d come to library in the first place. “Get... who back?”

“You see! You feel it! It's happening. You know it! Even if you don't,” Twilight mused, her crazed tone fading as it was replaced by a more familiar, collected tone.

“What does that even mean?” Fluttershy asked between pained gasps of air, having slumped to the floor as she clutched at her head with both her forehooves. “What are we even fixing?”

“I-I don't know how to explain it. I just know that she's the key!”

“Who, Twilight?”

“Rainbow Dash!”

“She's… she’s gone, Twilight.”

“But we can get her back! We have to get her back. This all started with her and this is ending without her. Ergo, we have to get her back. It's a perfect plan, Fluttershy!” The unicorn clopped her hooves together excitedly as she dumped various books onto the table, the harsh glow of her horn filling the dark stacks of books with magenta light.

“No it isn't... that's insane. She's... she's dead. I don't want to admit it, but she's dead! She's gone and we just have to... we just have to deal with it.”

“No!”

“Twili—”

“No. I will not go gentlly into some damn good night! I won’t! I will go down fighting. It will not get us,” Twilight growled before turning her eyes upward, eyes narrowing as she screamed at the ceiling. “You hear that, whatever you are?! You stupid jerk!”

“Who are you talking to?”

“I… don't know... doesn't matter,” the unicorn muttered darkly, a sudden air of defeat settling around her.

Fluttershy simply watched the unicorn breathe for a moment. Twilight’s anxiety fading as she raised her head, a gleam of determination shining in her eyes. “Just wait here, I'm going to get some things.”

“And then what?”

“Then we're going to go get our Rainbow back.”

“Twilight?” Fluttershy called out worriedly as the unicorn disappeared back into the maze of books, the sound of hoofsteps fading until she was alone in silence. “Oh, Twilight...”

Fluttershy breathed deep, trying to slow her heart, but the musty air choked her. In defeat, she slumped to the ground. Somewhere in the room a clock ticked the minutes by, echoing throughout the room as Fluttershy's ears twisted about, listening for some sign of her friend.

Perhaps she had gone downstairs. That could explain her crushing absence.

But at the very least, the pain in her head had faded, her thoughts coming unimpinged as she rested her head on her hooves.

Why isn't anypony else here?

Twilight was losing her mind... maybe she already had.

Fluttershy wouldn't have pegged her as being the one to snap. She always seemed to be the logical one. The calm and collected one. Maybe the... whatever it had been, had shaken her confidence. Maybe Twilight had needed somepony to help her through everything. Maybe...

Oh, Twilight... I'm sorry. I should have been there for you the way—

Another headache cropped up as Fluttershy struggled to finish the thought.

She tried to remember her grandmother... the first funeral the pegasus had ever been to.

She remembered the empty, hollow words from ponies she had hardly known, ponies she hadn't even been sure had known her grandmother in the slightest.

But somepony had been different.

Somepony that had been sincere.

Somepony had been honest in their empathy.

Fluttershy's stomach twisted into knots as she rubbed a hoof in circles on her temple, the coolness of keratin soothing her aching head.

Who? Why can't I remember?

She thought back to her second funeral.

It had been overcast, the softened light of the sun setting a somber mood for the proceedings as five ponies stood beside a sealed wooden casket. She remembered the coolness of the day. She remembered leaving the funeral, watching it continue without her from a nearby hill.

Then... nothing else.

Pinkie Pie was there... Twilight was there...

The ache returned full force as she tried to sort through the confused images of the memory. An earth pony, a pegasus, a unicorn and...

Hadn’t there been five ponies?

Had it really just been the three of them...

I hate like this, she thought quietly to herself, head buried in her hooves.

Thinking about it was getting her nowhere fast. All it seemed to get her was a headache. With a soft sigh, she closed her eyes, concentrating on the dull ticks of the distant clock.

I just want to go home...

[o-0-o]

The room was dimly lit, a single lantern hanging above an occluded window providing the sole source of light. Fluttershy clutched a spoon in her mouth, the filly pegasus running it clockwise around a pot, steam rising in ghostly wisps from it as the magically derived flames crackled softly beneath.

Their kitchen was simple, utilitarian, hardly large enough to house a small refrigerator and a single-burner stove with a sink between them, but she made due with it. It served their needs well enough. She couldn't ask for more.

“It's a’most ‘eady!” she called around the spoon, glancing over her shoulder at the darkened living room.

The soft flicker of their second lantern cast the room in a soft glow as the last rays of the sun filtered in through the apartment’s front window.

She could make out the form of a pony sprawled on the small couch that dominated the living space, but the pony remained silent, stirring only slightly at her update.

With a soft sigh, she returned to stirring, allowing herself a small smile at the scent of boiled vegetables wafting from the pot. It was his favorite. It always cheered him up before... even when it was one of the bad days.

Carefully, she slipped the spoon from the pot and tossed it into the sink, slipping it expertly through the slit between the sink lip and the cutting board that served as makeshift countertop. With a hoof, she pried open the cupboard, grasping a pair of bowls in her mouth and setting them down on the cutting board.

Grabbing a potholder with her mouth, she lifted and tipped the pot carefully over the bowls, doling out the soup in two equal portions. She set the pot down and clicked off the stove.

“Soup's done,” she called softly into the living room, eliciting a quiet grunt from the pony lump.

Fluttershy gripped the cutting board in her mouth, balancing the bowls cautiously as she walked around the still packed boxes that littered the outside walls of the apartment. Skirting her way around the maze of boxes she had come to know by heart, Fluttershy made her way to the front of the couch.

A small coffee table the only other piece of furniture in the living room, the lantern's light revealing the piles of mail and newspapers that littered it. Fluttershy let a pained grunt as she balanced on three legs, using a hind hoof to clear one corner of the table before setting down the cutting board.

She'd have to tidy things up later.

“Daddy?”

The motionless heap breathed soft and shallow. He'd fallen asleep.

She had hardly the heart to wake him.

He worked hard. He was tired.

But he still needed to eat.

The months had begun to show, the skin on his underside ran taut over bone.

“Daddy… it's time to wake up.” She shook him with a gentle hoof, a pair of blood-shot eyes flickering open slowly, glowing dully in the lantern's light.

“Oh... hey, Fluttershy. I'm sorry, I must have fallen asleep,” he stated sleepily, rubbing at his eyes with a hoof as he swung his body into a proper sitting position, a few pops issuing forth as he stretched out.

“It's okay. I know you're tired,” Fluttershy said with a soft smile as she pressed herself beneath his chin, giving him a long nuzzle, drawing a tiny chuckle from the older pegasus.

“Not too tired, Shy-Shy,” he replied, looping a forehoof around the young mare's shoulder. “Not ever for my baby girl.”

“I know, Daddy,” she murmured before slipping from his sidelong hug to push the table towards the couch.

“Oh! You made dinner,” the bleary-eyed pegasus realized, nostrils flaring as he took in the scent of the freshly prepared soup. “It smells wonderful.”

“Thank you. It’s your favorite.” Fluttershy blushed lightly at the compliment as she settled onto the couch. With a soft grin, she nudged her father gently. “Go on. You must be starving by now.”

“Oh... I am... I just want to enjoy the smell of my daughter's cooking for a moment,” he stated, extending a wing over the smaller pegasus, beaming at her, “Don't let me hold you back though.”

“Okay...” She gripped the rubberized edge of the bowl with her lips, tilting it back slowly. She sipped the still-hot broth, the occasional carrot or bit of celery slipping into her maw.

As she set down the bowl again she became keenly aware of her father's eyes. Turning her head to the side, she found her father staring at her with a sad little smile on his face.

A too familiar smile.

“Sorry...” He lowered his gaze, choosing to stare at the wisps still steaming from his own soup. He lowered his head until it rested atop his hooves just off the edge of the couch. He blew weakly at the still hot soup, watching as the steam danced before him. “You remind me of her so much...”

Fluttershy stayed silent. She never quite knew where it would head. But she knew enough

“You're beautiful, Fluttershy... just like your mother...” He looked up at her.

No, not at her. He was looking through her... at somepony else. But that was okay.

“I'm sorry...”

“You should eat your soup before it gets cold,” Fluttershy replied, nudging the older pegasus towards the soup, but he caught her with a hoof, bringing her into a tight hug.

“I'm so sorry, Fluttershy...”

“I... I forgive you, Daddy...”

“I know you do...” He chuckled sadly as he held her tight, a dampness forming on her mane. “She wouldn't want it to be like this, right?”

Fluttershy didn't say a word.

She simply stayed silent, staring at the hooves looped about her father as she felt his breaths draw in raggedly, body shuddering as he embraced her.

“She wouldn't want it to be like this...”

[o-0-o]

Fluttershy’s eyes opened slowly, mind fuzzy as she took in her surroundings.

She was in the library, stacks of books crowding in on her from all sides.

Her head thudded as she tried to recall why she had come to the library in the first place. She had come to see Twilight about something.

Why did I come here?

“Something about a headache, wasn't it?”

Looking over her shoulder, Fluttershy found a unicorn stallion sitting in a rather odd position, his back to the wall and rear hooves crossed as he held a book in his forehooves.

“How...?” Fluttershy sputtered, shaking her head in an attempt to clear the cobwebs from her thoughts, “Who are you?”

“They're very realistic.”

“What?”

“The books, my dear. Very realistic. Quite good really,” the unicorn muttered, turning the book towards Fluttershy and flipping through the pages. “See. Real text even.”

“Well... it is a library...”

“I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe just wood bound up as books or somesuch. Or perhaps there would only be text so far,” he mused, returning the book to a stack and grabbing another with his magic. “Ah! Another one. And it's one I remember. Ah... a Mr. Thomas, I do so adore your poetry. Gryphons have such a way with words. Warrior spirit, perhaps. Have you read it?”

“Y-yes... I believe so,” Fluttershy stammered as the book was thrust into her face, the pages flipping by as she shrank back from it.

“Ah, well, I suppose that explains it,” the unicorn muttered, snapping the book shut before tossing the book back atop a nearby stack. “Hm... how boring.”

“Uh...”

“Oh, not you. I assure you.” The unicorn gave a respectful nod of his head. “It is rather nice to have some company for a change.”

“Company?”

“Quite right.”

“What do you m—”

“Fluttershy!”

“Twilight?” Fluttershy twisted her head to see that her friend had returned, a pair of saddlebags full to bursting with papers and books draped across her back.

“Who were you talking to?”

“I don't know his na—” Fluttershy began, turning back to find that the stallion had vanished.

But he was just...

“Fluttershy?”

“Didn't you see him?”

“See who?”

Maybe Twilight isn’t the only madpony here...

“Nevermind, not important. We've got to get back to the beginning of all this, Fluttershy. That’s where we fix this,” the unicorn stated curtly, levitating one of the saddlebags onto the pegasus. “Now or never.”

“Where?”

“You'll know when we get there, c'mon,” Twilight muttered, horn glowing as she pulled the pegasus back through the maze of books and down the stairs towards the door before stopping.

“Twilight? Where are you two going?” Spike asked as he peered down at them from a ladder, a stack of books balanced in his claws.

“Ready, Fluttershy? I don't know what will happen when we leave here,” Twilight asked nervously, a hoof on the door as she ignored the query.

“You go outside, duh,” Spike stated, cocking an eyebrow at the ragged librarian.

“Spike... just… shut up.”

“That wasn't very nice.”

“There's no time for nice, Fluttershy,” the unicorn pleaded, motioning toward the library door. “We need to go.”

“Okay... I'm ready, Twilight...”

“Okay, let's g—”

She didn't get to finish as the door was flung inwards to admit a blur of pink, Twilight slamming into a nearby, thankfully empty bookcase.

“Ohmigosh! Fluttershy! I'm so glad I found you! We have to go! Nownownow!” Pinkie yelled out, trotting in place before hoisting the thoroughly confounded pegasus onto her back and taking off down the street, Twilight's scream of frustration following them.

Author's Note

[revised 08-13-2014]

09 [Arc 01 - Perturbation, Part Five] <rev. 08.22.2014>

"—uncertain that we should be shouldering so much risk."

"But is it not worth the risk, sister?"

"…"

"Are we not indebted to her? To all of them?"

"I don't deny that! But the risk to us—to Equestria—should anything happen to the Elements… I do not know if one pony can be worth that risk."

"…"

"Please, don't look at me like that, Luna."

"How should I look at you, sister?"

"…"

"…"

"You know where our responsibilities lie. It is not as though nothing is being done. I have top minds looking into it. They simply need time."

"More time than we have, sister."

"Luna?"

"I had aeons, sister, aeons of memories. It took years for it to affect me and years longer for it to take over. You couldn't have known before you did."

"…"

"I doubt she has more than a decade or two’s worth. She will not last as long as I."

"How long?”

"Perhaps a few days, perhaps even a week. She is a bearer and perhaps that may aid her."

"I… I will see that their efforts are redoubled."

“…”

“…”

"Celestia?"

"I know you believe yourself indebted, that you must do all in your power to aid her, but we must think of Equestria. Please do not think me cold for saying such."

"I… I do not."

"…"

"But if these top minds have no answers?"

"…"

"…"

"Then we will trust in the Elements."

"…"

"…"

"Sister?"

"Yes, Luna?"

"Thank you."

"…"

"…"

"You should rest, Luna. The sun shall rise soon."

"Just a bit longer."

"…"

"…"

"Good night to you, sister."

"And good morning to you."

"…"

"Oh, I’m sorry… I didn’t know anypony was in here or I would have knocked."

"You needn’t apologize. You perhaps have more claim to be here than I."

"Princess?"

"She is your friend after all."

"And yours too… in a way."

"You’ve been studying the Elements again?"

"How did you… nevermind. Yes I have. Anything that might help."

"My sister still seeks to understand them as well. They reside in the hooves of her most trusted advisors as we speak."

"Princess Celestia believes that they can help?"

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. She is merely being diligent in her caution. As is her duty as ruler."

"Caution?"

"You know what afflicts your friend, do you not, Twilight Sparkle?"

"No. Actually I don’t. I have guesses and theories, but nothing concrete."

"…"

"Why haven’t you told us?"

"…"

"…"

"I am sorry for this, Twilight. I should have seen to it that you of all ponies were informed, but the risks this information carries—"

"Princess, I’d much rather you tell me than explain why you shouldn’t."

"…"

"…"

"I see Lady Applejack has influenced you a great deal. Rather blunt in your dealings with royalty, are we not?"

"Princess—"

"Please, let these formalities fall aside. ‘Luna’ shall suffice our need for expediency."

"Alright."

"…"

"…"

"I fear embarrassment may rob me of my tongue… but may guilt allow my conscience speech. Twilight, your friend's affliction is somewhat my own doing."

"What?!"

"Not my own creation, but certainly of my own doing. My own will… or lack thereof."

"You’re not making sense, Luna."

"I’m certain you have a theory, wise though young Twilight Sparkle."

"…"

"…"

"Nightmare Moon."

"In a sense… I was Nightmare Moon… she was—is—a part of me. The darkest part of myself."

"I… I still don’t understand."

"Do you know why I became Nightmare Moon? Do you recall the legends?"

"Uh… just that you became jealous of Princess Celestia… that you were angry that ponies would play in her day and shun your night. But I assume it wasn’t that simple… was it?"

"Indeed not, though what you said does not ring false. Even now I shoulder some… resentment for my sister’s place in the hearts of our ponies. But I would not be so careless and callous as to rend from our subjects her life-giving sun. An eternal night is careless at best, a damning of the world at worst…"

"…"

"And still I attempted it not only once, but twice."

"You… or Nightmare Moon?"

"We are one in the same, Twilight."

"But she wanted eternal night…"

"And to some extent, so do I. But I know what insanity it is. I have the wisdom to be satisfied with the way things are."

"But… not then?"

"No, I ceded control to another. Of my own free will, I allowed my mind and body to be corrupted by the nightmare’s ancient power. And it is this same power that afflicts your friend."

"Then surely the Elements of Harmony—"

"Could save your friend?"

"Yes."

"It is possible. I believe as you do, but with a bearer the befallen one…"

"But couldn’t it? Even with—"

"I do not know. Celestia does not know. I scarcely hope that even her brightest minds could ever truly know without trying. Even if we had the time."

"Had the… How much time does she have, Luna?"

"I fear not much longer. I have seen the affliction from the other side. Its curse is insidious and swift. Even weakened as it is."

"But you survived it… and if it's weakened then—"

"I am an alicorn, Twilight Sparkle. I have lived for thousands of years and become stronger over those many millennia. I do not wish to be so blunt, but, compared to me, she is but a newborn foal unsteady in her first steps. It moves so quickly and—I am afraid—it will devour her if left unchecked."

"I… I…"

"There is little more to say, Twilight. We can only wait and hope for now."

"But we have to do something."

"I agree… and we shall. I promise you at least that."

[o.0.o]

It was a sunny day.

The last morning before their performance at the Summer Sun Celebration and Fluttershy found herself wondering how exactly she’d let herself be talked into performing before the whole town. Not to mention in front of the Princess of the Sun herself!

She’d have to learn to be more assertive when it came to Rarity’s requests. Just a Rainbow had been telling her for years.

But for once, she wasn’t nervous. Anxious to be certain, but brimming with confidence in her avian friends. They had worked so hard and so long to prepare.

Even if there were still a few well-intentioned show-offs among them.

Off-key and off-rhythm, one in particular, an adolescent blue jay, belted out his part of the song with far more gusto than necessary, desired or remotely tolerable.

"Oh my," Fluttershy mused quietly to herself, nervously glancing aside before addressing the songbirds. "Um, stop, please, everyone."

The birds fell immediately silent, but Fluttershy could see the little blue jay puffing out his feathers, proud and wholly ignorant of his aural malfeasance as Fluttershy flew up and hovered before him.

"Um, excuse me, sir," Fluttershy began, shocking him from his proud stance with surprised chirp. "I mean no offense, but your rhythm is just a teeny tiny bit off."

The bird nodded happily, Fluttershy smiling at the gesture before hovering away from the tree.

He was a good bird, too prideful at times, but she knew his heart was in the right place.

"Now, follow me, please. A one. A two. A one-two-three—"

"Hello!"

A voice broke in, shaking her concentration and sending her birds scattering away as she gasped in surprise.

As Fluttershy turned, she found an unfamiliar, purple unicorn on the ground below, a sheepish grin now forming on her face as the birds’ screeches slowly quieted.

"Oh my. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to frighten your birds," the interloper explained nervously. "I'm just here to check up on the music and it's sounding beautiful."

The unicorn’s sheepish grin became a reassuring smile as Fluttershy floated to the ground, her heart still beating from the shock.

She was thankful for the compliment, but found herself actively avoiding the unicorn’s eyes, pawing at the ground nervously for want of something to occupy herself as she glanced up sparingly.

"I'm Twilight Sparkle,” the unicorn stated, friendly grin hiding an obvious nervousness that Fluttershy took no comfort in. “What's your name?"

"Um… I'm Fluttershy," she mumbled in reply.

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

"Uh…" Fluttershy began softly, instinctively shrinking away from the unicorn before repeating herself even more softly.

"Didn't quite catch that."

She veritably squeaked her name from behind her long, pink mane, letting it cover the blush she felt burning her cheeks.

"Well, um, it looks like your birds are back," Twilight stated nervously, soft chirps filling the silence behind them. "So I guess everything's in order… Keep up the good work."

Fluttershy squeaked out a thanks, standing stone-still as though her body had solidified into a yellow statue.

As she watched, Twilight retreated to talk to somepony—no someone—by a bush. A tiny, adorable—

"A baby dragon!" she cried out excitedly, nervousness forgotten as she rushed over, knocking Twilight out of her way. "Oh, I've never seen a baby dragon before. He's so cute."

"Well, well, well," his smug voice echoed, but there was nothing there.

There was no baby dragon.

There was just a empty spot beside the bush.

As she looked back, the tree was empty despite the trills and chirps she heard… distantly.

But still, there was a purple unicorn on the ground, picking herself up in a daze, as she stood a blankness seemed to fill Fluttershy’s vision, the unicorn fading until—

[o.0.o]

"Fluttershy!"

She awoke with a start, eyes wide as a pair of hooves shook her mercilessly.

"Wh-wha—Twi-ilight?" she stuttered confusedly as she took in her surroundings.

They were at the cottage again.

It was empty now. The walls were completely bare of everything that was supposed to be, only the barest essentials left.

Fluttershy lay on the ground as the purple hooves lifted off her flank, snapping back to their very frightened and frazzled looking unicorn owner.

"Oh, thank Celestia. You’re awake." Twilight breathed a sigh of relief.

"Of course I am. You woke me up," Fluttershy stated bluntly, staring up at Twilight from her side. Slowly, she rolled to a more comfortable position on her belly as the unicorn trotted over to the front window. "You were shaking me really hard too…"

"Oh, sorry about that," Twilight muttered distractedly, staring out the front window before moving on to the next and then the next. "It's just I could feel it happening and I got kind of well… terrified."

"Feel what happening?"

"I was just… fading away. Like a candle about to be blow out in the wind. I don't know how else to explain it," her voice echoed from the bathroom before the unicorn darted towards the cottage's back windows in the kitchen.

"That's…" Fluttershy hesitated to call the explanation insane if only for reasons of propriety. "I don't even know what that is, Twilight."

"That's fine." Twilight flopped to the ground next to the pegasus. "I think we ought to be confused. None of this really makes any sense. I mean, it's not exactly normal, right?"

"No… it’s not."

"But as long as we're still here, there's still a chance to fix it."

"But what are we trying to fix? It seems like everything that's wrong is wrong in my head!"

Twilight was silent a moment, her eyes darting around the cottage as if the answers would be found there, mixed into the woodwork.

"You… may be onto something there, Fluttershy. I think you might’ve gotten it."

"What? Gotten what? I feel like I understand less than ever!" Fluttershy cocked an eyebrow at the purple unicorn, Twilight grinning at her with an almost maniacal look of excitement.

Maybe Twilight really had cracked, but—

"Exactly!"

"Exactly what?"

"That! What you were just thinking. You think I've cracked. You might even say that I've gone 'loco in the coco,'" Twilight explained, her voice twisting strangely at the last word as she rubbed her forehooves together, "And it's true. We have gone crazy. Together!"

"Twilight you're making… sense."

"No, Fluttershy, you're making sense! You get it, right?"

"I… maybe? I think so… but…" Fluttershy grimaced at the mere thought of it. It seemed even worse than if everything was real. "I don't know any other way to explain it."

"And neither do I!" Twilight yelled with a triumphant jab of a hoof. "And that's why it fits! I don’t have a single idea that you don’t! Doesn't that make you just ecstatic?"

Fluttershy chuckled. "You're just glad that you understand it. Isn't that right?"

"Exactly!" she declared, throwing a hoof around Fluttershy. "I am Twilight Sparkle after all! well, sort of her."

"But if this is all in my head then—?"

"What's going on out there?" Twilight finished the thought, excited smile fading away. "I don't know, but I don't think that we're alone in here. Can you feel it?"

"I… No, I don't think so." Fluttershy looked down, trying to think back over the past few days, but only able to manage a few disparate images, little more than distinctly colored blurs. "I don't remember much of the last few days. I just have a strange feeling about them."

"Do you remember me?"

"Well, of course I do, Twilight."

"Right. Right. Otherwise I wouldn't be here… probably."

"I… suppose so."

"Okay… let's just think about this logically then."

"That sounds like Twilight."

"Yes, well, thank you for that. But on to more pressing things," Twilight stated with a confident stomp of her hoof.

"I… I guess we start with what we know."

"Yes! We should, shouldn't we?" Twilight intoned happily as she took up a quick pace, back and forth in front of Fluttershy. "So what do we know so far?"

"Well, this is all in my head somehow."

"So we're in the subconscious… maybe a dream of some kind."

"But things are off and I've been having headaches. I do remember those…"

"Alright, headaches and things being different than they should be. The obvious symptoms."

"Symptoms?"

"Well, assuming this is some kind of illness," she stated matter-of-factly, taking a wayward glance out the window.

"Um, I don't really know anything else."

"C'mon, Fluttershy, think!" Twilight snapped her head around, glaring at the pegasus.

"I'm trying to!" Fluttershy cried out, closing her eyes as she rubbed her hooves against her temples.

"Okay… okay. Well just… think about what you do remember."

Fluttershy was very silent for a few moments as she tried to relax herself. She simply focused on her breaths. In and out. In and out.

"I remember the…" She didn't want to say it, but it was the clearest one she had. "I remember going to her… her…"

"Her funeral. Rainbow Dash's funeral."

"Yes," Fluttershy whispered quietly. "I remember you being there. You and some other ponies. A…"

A pink earth pony with a balloon, quiet for a moment, laughter subsumed by sadness.

An orange earth pony, trying her best to console her friends, comforting without empty words, with only honesty.

"But I can't see them…"

"Just try, Fluttershy. That's all I'm asking," Twilight whispered as she set a hoof on the pegasus's back.

"Okay."

A unicorn, her tears would come later, for now she would be generous with her strength.

And there was Twilight, prepared as always, even when nopony could be for the loss of a friend.

"Twilight, it's not working…" Fluttershy trailed off into silence as she found them no longer in her cottage, but in a familiar field, her voice choked by the lump in her throat.

"I think we may have stumbled onto something," Twilight muttered from somewhere to her side, but the pegasus wasn't listening.

There, far below the willow beneath which the pegasus lay was the funeral, just as she remembered it. Only—

"Twilight… they aren't there."

"Yes they are! They're just… oh…"

Down below, there was a group of ponies.

Five ponies.

Only they were like no ponies that Fluttershy had ever seen before.

They seemed to the barest shadow of a pony—no mane nor tail nor coat of fur—just a body and the base structure of a pony left.

"Wh-what are they?"

"I don't know."

As Fluttershy rose nervously to her hooves, the purple unicorn began to trot down the hill.

"C'mon, Fluttershy, just… stay close."

"Okay," Fluttershy replied in barely more than a whisper as she followed close on her friend's hooves, peering around the unicorn as they descended.

As they drew closer, more details of the strange ponies became visible. Moving to the left of the shadow ponies' side in a slow circle, they could see only gaping white eyes on their otherwise featureless faces.

One shadow had a pair of wings that seemed to be in a constant state of disintegration, filtering away in the breeze only to reform the next moment to be blow away again. Another pair of them had horns that followed suit, the unicorns appearing to lose and gain their horns with each gust. The last of them had hooves that seemed to leech into the soil before returning with quiet crackle in perpetuity. Really their only means of distinction between one another.

"Um… hello?" Twilight called out as they approached the group, Fluttershy's eyes darting between her friend, the shadow ponies and the familiar casket. "Anypony home?"

"Tw-twilight…" Fluttershy squeaked audibly as the shadow ponies turned to stare at them in unison. They remained silent, however, looking with eyes that pulsed gently with that strange white light.

"They don't seem particularly aggressive." Twilight swayed from side to side, watching the five sets of sightless eyes following her every move. "I'm not sure they even have the capacity for aggression. They seem kinda… dumb."

"Oh, you shouldn't make fun of ponies like that…" Fluttershy stated simply, eyes refocusing on the casket.

"Fluttershy?"

"Yes, Twilight?"

"I don't think they're actual ponies," Twilight stated as she waved a hoof, the shadow ponies following her hoof-tip. "I don't think they'll be offended."

"Twilight, can we go somewhere else… please?"

"Hm?"

"I… I really don't like it here. I want to go somewhere else," Fluttershy spoke in barely more than a whisper.

"They aren't going to hurt us, Fluttersh—" She glanced over her shoulder at the trembling pegasus, following her gaze to find the heart of her perturbation. "Oh…"

"I hate this memory."

"Fluttershy…"

"Why couldn't I forget this one?" Fluttershy asked, glancing up expectantly at the overcast skies above before burying her head in her hooves, screwing her eyes shut. "Why can't things just go back to normal?"

"F-Fluttershy?"

"What?!"

She opened her eyes to find that the grassy valley they had been in had been replaced by something new.

"Fluttershy, where are we?" Fluttershy looked to find Twilight standing over her.

Twilight seemed smaller than usual. Her voice higher.

They were in a room that was familiar to the pegasus. The comforter, the bed, the windows, the door, even the voices just outside…

"Fluttershy, you okay?"

"Twilight, why are you a little filly?" Fluttershy asked dumbly, the unicorn cocking an eyebrow as she took a step back.

"What do you mean, I was always a…" Twilight looked down to find that she was no longer a full-grown mare before she glanced up. "Huh. You're different too."

"What?" Fluttershy glanced over her shoulder to find that she’d been affected as well. Her body was that of a young filly, gangly, awkward legs and all. Slowly she stood on her disproportionately long legs, wobbling slightly as the bed bowed beneath her.

"Er… can I touch the floor?" Twilight asked nervously, eying the cloud floor of the room, reaching over the side of the bed to test it with a hoof.

"You should be fine, I think. This isn't real after all," Fluttershy replied before watching as Twilight hopped tentatively off the bed. As her hooves contacted the floor, the unicorn bounced slightly, a smile forming on her face.

"Oooh… it’s all squishy and nice." She let out a rather juvenile squeal of delight as she gave an experimental hop.

"Twilight?" Fluttershy watched the little unicorn bounce up and down.

"Oh, I almost wish I was born a pegasus. You guys get to do this stuff all the time!"

"Twilight, are you feeling okay?" Fluttershy was used to the unicorn being somewhat excitable at times, but this seemed excessive, especially as the unicorn bounced about, delighted squeals filling the room. "Twilight?"

"What's up, Fluttershy?" She landed with an enormous smile on her face, body buzzing with filly energy.

"Um, well, you seem a little… excitable. If you don't mind me saying so," Fluttershy muttered as she lowered herself off the bed, a knot reforming in her stomach as the pair of familiar voices bickered outside.

"Oh! Serious business. Right. Sorry," Twilight muttered, grinning sheepishly as she halted her momentum.

"It's okay. I don't think it's your fault."

"Yeah, it's just that being like this," the little unicorn gestured to her now more diminutive form. "I just feel so excited! I don't even know why."

"Maybe it's the way you told me your cutie mark story"—Fluttershy’s brow furrowing in concentration—"I remember when you finished the story you wouldn't stop jumping around the table. I didn't think you'd ever stop. Seemed as though you were probably a pretty excitable little filly."

"Well… okay… but where are we?"

"This…" Fluttershy paused as she looked around the room.

The voices from the next room were muffled by the walls, but she knew what they were talking about, she knew what came next.

"This is where I grew up in Cloudsdale… with my parents…"

"Oh, so this is what a cloud house looks like on the inside?"

"Pretty much, not all of them are so nice though…" Fluttershy hopped off the bed, but made no move to go further.

Twilight didn't reply as Fluttershy stared at the floor, idly manipulating a bit of cloud with a hoof, shaping it into a little pony reared up on its hind legs, wings flared behind it before she pressed it back into the floor with a quiet sigh.

"Do… do you want to talk about it?"

"There's not much point. I'd just be talking to myself anyways." She sniffed a little before stepping to the door. "You'll hear soon enough anyways…"

"Fluttershy?"

"Just follow me…"

"Oh. Um, okay then," Twilight muttered submissively as they slipped into the hall.

The voices were more distinct now. Her bedroom was upstairs and the voices down, but the tone was undeniably one of frustration. As they neared the end of the hall and the top of the staircase, they could finally distinguish the voices as belonging to a male and a female.

As Fluttershy peered down from the top step, she could see her parents…

Just as she remembered.

The living room below was mostly empty—a dining table and a long flat couch the only furniture—as they faced each other.

On one side, there was a male pegasus with yellow-cream fur and with a short brown mane, a pair of turquoise eyes stuck in what seemed a perpetual weariness that belied his age.

On the other side, there was a female pegasus with an almond colored coat, auburn mane and tail flowing nearly to the floor, a pair of red-brown eyes glaring angrily at the other pegasus as her tail flicked in agitation.

"It isn't fair! You know it isn't. None of this is right!" she growled, jamming her muzzle directly into his face.

"Of course it isn't fair, but that doesn't make this wrong, Sky," he replied in a soft tone, nearly bending backwards as she pressed further towards him still, perhaps a step away from bowling him over proper.

"This isn't about that. You know it isn't…” she trailed off with a huff, stepping away as her wings trembled at her sides.

"But how can't it… It always comes right back to it."

She cursed under her breath, head lowering. "Don't make this about that. We tried and we're still trying…"

"We are. You even said it was for the best…"

"I know what I said. You don’t have to tell me. This isn't about her anyways."

"Then what is it?"

"I—just… sit down, okay?" She put a hoof to her head.

"Are you ready to talk then?"

"Just—give me a second…"

He did as bidden, sitting down on the couch.

"Alright, all the time in the world," he said with a wry smile, drawing a soft half-chuckle from her.

"Dammit, Dewy, at some point you're going to have to just let me be angry."

"No… I don't think I will," he smiled genuinely at her as she turned with a wry smile of her own. "I don't like you angry… or sad."

"Yeah, well, ain't you just a sweetheart…" she muttered, blatant sarcasm undercut by her soft smile.

"I'm yours, Sky."

"Will you just stop being so nice and sweet?" She stomped a hoof in frustration as she turned to face him fully.

He simply stayed silent this time as she stared at him.

Her eyes were filled with frustration and an odd, radiant sadness.

"Ready to be quiet?" she asked with a trembling voice.

He didn't answer with words, he simply nodded, sitting up on the couch as straight as he could as she let out a soft sigh.

"I had… I had dreams, Dewy. Lots of dreams…"

"I—"

A hoof found his mouth as soon as it opened. He stared at it a moment before slowly nodding his head, the hoof leaving his mouth as she stared him down.

With a sigh, he drew a hoof across his lips before crossing his heart with it.

"Good," she stated simply before she sat down next to him on the couch.

Both were silent for a spell before she continued.

"I know you know,” she began, “but I had dream dreams. And not one of them included any of"—she paused a moment to wave a hoof at the sparsely furnished room—"this. This wasn't in the plans! I wasn't supposed to be settling. I mean, someday, yeah, but now?"

"I…" A quick look silenced him once more.

"This wasn't supposed to happen like this. I wasn't supposed to be settling down with a foal… and a stallion to take care of me. I had… I have dreams. Dreams I'm never going to see through and it's eating away at me. It feels about that way too…"

"That way?"

She didn't hush him this time, merely chuckled sadly at the question.

"It feels like I've got something inside, eating away at me. Like you could cut me open and there wouldn't be anything there any more. I feel hollow, Dewdrop. I feel empty and it's killing me." She glanced up at him as his forehooves trembled nervously, unsure of whether to wrap around the mare or stay put. Eventually he drew her close, wrapping a wing around her for good measure.

"You shouldn't feel empty, Sky. You shouldn't have to," he muttered, seemingly unsure of his words.

"I know… and that feels like the worst part of it."

He merely cocked his head, staying quiet as she pressed her head against his chest.

"Heh… you smell like soup," she laughed a trembling, sad mockery of a laugh.

"It's ready any time, y'know," he shared in the laugh, looking down with worried confusion.

"I know it is and I know you are," she muttered. "And that's what makes it so terrible. As much of a screw up this all is, I should probably be thanking my lucky stars. A beautiful little filly… a loving stallion for the both of us… and all I can think of is my stupid dreams."

He bit his lip, glancing away for a moment, wing shuffling her closer as he turned his gaze to the floor.

"Am I a bad pony?"

"What? No…"

"Then why do I feel like this?"

"I… I don't know," he admitted, keeping his eyes on the floor as she tilted her head up. "I think it just means you're a pony. Not a bad pony. We all have dreams…"

"Yeah… sure…"

"Hey, I have dreams too."

"Dewy?"

"Yeah?" He looked down, their eyes meeting as she gave a soft grin.

"All this"—she motioned to the room with a wing—"is your dream. You're the one who's cut out for this life. You're the one who wanted the Equestrian dream, two foals, a wife, a nice house and a good job. All we need is a pet and a convertible chariot and we're good."

"Isn't—”

"Ain't it enough?" she supplied the rest and he simply nodded. "I wish it were… I just feel like I'm suffocating here. I want to spread my wings, but I can't… I'm a pegasus… meant to be free in the sky."

"I'm a pega—"

"I didn't mean it like that… I wouldn't anyways. It's just too… claustrophobic." Slowly she slipped out from his wing, dropping to the floor and striding uncertainly for the door. "I… I just need to go stretch my wings or something."

"When will you be home?" he asked in a soft voice, wing still stretched over the empty space where she had been.

"Soon. I'll… I'll be home soon," she whispered, glancing up the stairs and freezing as her eyes met the soft turquoise of her daughter’s. "Hey there, Shy-Shy."

"Momma?" Fluttershy whispered, staying at the top of the stairs, her hooves wrapped around the top railing.

"You… you should be getting your rest, Shy. Little fillies need their rest," she muttered, hoof on the doorknob as she smiled up at her daughter.

"Are you leaving?"

"Just for a little while. I'll be back before you wake up tomorrow," she promised as the door cracked open, the glow of the streetlight casting a soft orange glow over her. "Jus’… just go back to bed and Daddy'll be right up to tuck you in."

"I'll… I'll be up in just a moment, Fluttershy." He nodded along as she slowly edged the door open fully.

"Oh… okay…" Fluttershy murmured, the tears in her eyes invisible in the shadows as she retreated out of sight, still listening.

"By morning, right?"

"Just need to stretch my wings. Don't worry so much. I know what I have. Not gonna do anything too stupid. I can't be that much of a screw-up…"

A half-hearted chuckle filled the air, trailing into silence before Fluttershy heard the door click shut.

"See you in the morning… Sky Skimmer…"

Hurriedly, Fluttershy dashed back to her room, yanking the covers over herself. She lay in bed, quietly listening for her father's hoofsteps. Eventually she heard him before her bed sagged with his weight.

"Daddy?" Fluttershy choked out in a quiet voice.

"Hey, Shy," he whispered as he rubbed a hoof on the little pegasus's back, trying to massage away the tears.

"Is Momma mad at me?"

"Oh, Fluttershy… Nopony could ever be mad at you. Mom's just a little confused right now. She just needed some air."

"Is she coming back?"

"Of course, she will. She loves you, Fluttershy. Couldn't keep herself away if she tried."

"Y-you pr-promise?"

"I promise, Fluttershy. Cross my heart and hope to die."

"Daddy?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I sleep in your bed tonight?"

"…Of course, Fluttershy," he murmured in response, rolling off the bed before flaring his wings, quietly hovering over her. He gathered the trembling filly in his forehooves, blanket and all, before hovering down the hall, setting her down on his bed before crawling in himself.

"Th-thanks, Daddy."

He was quiet for a moment as he shifted around beneath the comforter, freeing his forehooves to wrap around the bundled up filly, drawing her close. She could feel his soft breaths on the back of her mane as he leaned down to softly kiss her forehead.

"Sleep well, Fluttershy. Tomorrow will be a better day."

The air seemed suddenly cold, his warm breath vanishing as she felt a pair of eyes watching her, the comfort of the bed lost as she shuddered.

"Fluttershy?" a familiar voice echoed in the room.

The pegasus twisted around to find the purple unicorn looking at her with sorrowful eyes.

"She didn't come back did she?" She looked on the verge of tears.

"No… she didn't…" Fluttershy set her head back down, closing her eyes as warm tears stained her cheeks. "H-he lied…"

[o.0.o]

"—ajesty?"

"Yes… I am quite sure."

"But, if only we had a bit more time to examine the dangers."

"Time we do not have, councilor."

"Your majesty, with all due respect, I hope you are looking at this as a Princess of Equestria."

"And what, pray tell, do you mean by that?"

"Merely suggesting that you are not looking at this objectively."

"Oh?"

"Yes, your majesty."

"…"

"You are the regent of Equestria, your majesty. The leader of all ponydom in fact. To act so rashly is… is…"

"Unbecoming."

"Perhaps worse than that."

"Perhaps… perhaps…"

"Then can we call off this foolishness. To so willingly risk the elements… even for a conduit."

"A hero, I believe you mean."

"Even for a hero, Celestia."

"Ah, dropping pretense, you're finally learning."

"Celestia, please, as your friend, I only ask that you think long on this."

"I have, my student, I have."

"Former student now, Celestia."

"We are never truly more than students."

"A wonderful sentiment, I am sure."

"Then let us speak without pretense or sentiment then."

"Yes… let’s."

"…"

"This is stupid."

"Oh?"

"This is stupid and foolish. Even for you."

"…"

"…"

"You know I could send you to the moon for that."

“Bylaws may even require it."

"Indeed."

"…"

"…"

"Please… think! Think carefully. As a friend, I ask you."

"…"

[o.0.o]

"Fluttershy?"

A worried voice echoed in the darkness as Fluttershy stared into the shadowy abyss. She could feel a hoof shaking her gently, trying to break her from her mental stupor, but she simply lay there, unmoving.

"Fluttershy?"

"He lied…" Fluttershy murmured, no joy nor sorrow in her tone as she spoke.

It was simply a fact to be stated and recognized.

"He couldn't have known, Fluttershy."

"He lied…"

"He couldn't have known what was going to happen… he didn't lie."

"He promised she'd come back… she didn't…"

"Fluttershy…" The hoof left the pegasus as she drifted into the darkness, closing her eyes.

"Snap out of it!"

"Whuh?" Fluttershy felt a set teeth grasping at her wing, pulling her head from its place buried in cloud in a less than gentle manner.

"C'mon! Everypony's already left!"

As she trembled she felt the frustrated glare of the cyan pegasus on her back. "I-I'm s-sor—"

"I-I'm s-s-sowwy…" the rainbow-maned filly mocked her. Eyes narrowed, she stared at the trembling Fluttershy.

"B-but…"

"No. I don't care if you're sorry. I don't care if you're scared!" she paced around Fluttershy, ruby eyes always on her. "Nopony cares! Don't you get it?!"

"I… I…" Fluttershy stammered, tears welling up her eyes.

"Oh, don't even start that!" Rainbow pressed her muzzle to Fluttershy's as if to stare the tears right back into their ducts.

"Rainbow… It's just so…” Slowly, Fluttershy peered over the edge of the cloud before skittering back immediately as she saw the ground so far below. "High."

"But you, for Celestia's sake, you're a—uugggh!" Rainbow cried out in frustration, doing a short loop in the air to burn off some of the built-up aggravation. As her hooves made contact once more with the cloud, the rainbow-maned pegasus stood still, the frustration in her eyes replaced by confusion as the pair fell silent.

For a moment there was only the soft howl of the jet stream, Fluttershy's pink mane blowing in front of her eyes as she peered out from beneath her hooves at her disappointed wingpony.

"I'm sorry…" Fluttershy muttered quietly, turquoise eyes staring out from within the protective shelter of her hooves.

"Yes… yes you are," Rainbow replied coldly. She glared at her fellow pegasus a moment longer before sitting down firmly on the cloud, entwining her fore-hooves in a clear sign of frustration.

Fluttershy merely looked down at the fluffy white beneath her, digging out a small hole through which she could spy the ground so far below. With quiet meep, the yellow pegasus curled into a tight ball, burying her face into her hooves and mane.

"You are sorry, Fluttershy… so… so sorry."

With a gentle gust, she felt the other pegasus take off and suddenly she was alone on the cloud, the idle winds her only companion.

"Fluttershy?" A hoof, pressed to her flank, shook her gently. "Fluttershy, where are we now?"

"Twilight?" Fluttershy lifted her eyes from the protective darkness of her hooves to the softly smiling face of her unicorn friend.

"Yeah… still here, Fluttershy. I'm not going anywhere." She paused for a moment to look around and, as the unicorn stepped away, Fluttershy found herself in a familiar place. "Though, it looks like we have. Where are we now?"

"It's… it's Cloudsdale."

"Well, I guessed that much, but which part. This isn't the coliseum or the weather factory. Kinda looks like a school," Twilight mused as she examined the building in front of them.

"Well, it is a school. It's where they hold Summer Flight Camp every year too. And it's where I…" Fluttershy trailed off into silence as she looked over her body. She was still a filly rather than a mare.

It felt strange to be so young again, all the ancient fears and worries flooding back. She could see the gate where she'd been dropped off for the first day of flight camp, the thought of that day sending a shudder through her.

"Fluttershy? You okay?" somepony asked, but they seemed distant as she stared at the gate.

"Oh, you must be Fluttershy. Pleasure to meet you," a large pegasus mare intoned, smiling as she peered over a pair of horn-rimmed glasses.

Fluttershy shrank back from the mare, burying herself into the auburn mane beside her, refusing to meet their gaze.

"Fluttershy," came a slightly shocked voice, Fluttershy following the mane's motions as the pony attached to it sat down, wrapping a hoof around her. "Sorry… she's just a bit… well, shy."

"Fitting name."

"Yeah…"

"It's a very pretty name too. Wouldn't you say so, Fluttershy? It's quite a lovely name."

"M-maybe…?" she mewled quietly from within the protective curtain of her mother's mane before she slowly found herself lifted up.

"And she's a pretty lovely one too, isn't she?" Her mother stared at her with a bright smile and shining eyes, drawing out an elusive smile on her daughter’s face.

"Okay, Momma."

"I'll be just inside when she's ready, Miss…?"

"Sky Skimmer."

"When she's ready, Miss Skimmer."

"Okay," Sky muttered in reply as she rocked her daughter back and forth in her forelegs. "You're getting way too old for this, ‘Shy."

"Nu-uh."

"Yuh-huh," she replied, a soft nuzzle belying her disagreement. "Momma bird can't have her babies in the nest their whole life."

"But I'm not a baby bird, Momma."

"No, but you are my baby," she declared before attacking the filly's belly suddenly with a devastating raspberry.

"M-mom!"

"Remember, never leave your belly exposed or the raspberry monster'll getcha!" she mare warned before diving back in, a fresh round of stuttering laughs filling the air.

"Momma!"

"What?"

"We're at school…"

"Hey, if you're gonna be a foal, Shy-Shy, you're gonna be my foal," she smiled gently as she set Fluttershy back down on her hooves and stood up.

"I'll always be your foal, momma."

"Of course you will, but you still got to be your own mare."

"Bu—"

"No 'buts' about it. Every pegasus goes through flight school. I did it, your dad did it and now you're gonna do it. It's just a part of growing up, honey."

"I know…" the little filly muttered dejectedly, staring at her hooves.

"Don't worry, ‘Shy. I'm sure you'll make plenty of friends."

The voice faded as Fluttershy glanced up to find the shimmering image of her mother fading away into the darkness.

"Momma!" she cried out.

Fluttershy lept for the mare, but her hooves were left grasping nothing as she fell hard onto the compacted clouds beneath. The image twisted away like smoke in a breeze as a sudden cold took hold of her.

"Momma, come back…"

"Fluttershy?"

"What is it, Twilight?" The pegasus sniffled as she turned to look at the unicorn.

They'd been left alone by the fence.

The school now lay shrouded in an infinite darkness. The sky and ground below Cloudsdale had vanished with the memory, the hollow structure of the school all that remained as a frigid wind coursed over them, her tears cold as they drifted down her cheeks.

"I… I don't think we can stay here, Fluttershy," Twilight stated nervously, eyes fixed on the school as it began to crumble and tear.

"Why not… it's as good a place as any…" Fluttershy slumping to the ground.

"We need to go. Right now."

"Why?"

"Because if we don't go—”

The unicorn was cut off as the building shifted with a thunderous crack, the front of it falling away and through the cloud ground before the rest tilted into the newly punched hole, disappearing into nothingness.

"Go where?"

"I don't know!" Twilight yelled out before sinking down next to the pegasus. "I… I don't know, but we can't just stay here. It's coming."

"Let it… maybe then this will all make sense."

"Look around!" Twilight commanded, waving a hoof towards the gaping hole as the far end of the fence slowly peeled away into it with a rattle. "There won't be anything left when it gets here."

Fluttershy stayed quiet, watching the fence as it slowly slipped away into the hole.

What is wrong with me?

"I don't think it's normal, Fluttershy," Twilight answered. "I think it's doing this… whatever it is."

"But why?"

"I don't know, but you can't let it. We both know that."

"O-okay…" Fluttershy mumbled as she rose unsteadily to her hooves. "But how do we get out of here?"

"Just give me a second to think," Twilight replied, trotting over to what remained of the fence before running a hoof thoughtfully over the gate, bits of the cloud that formed it peeling away in her hooves before drifting lazily away.

"What are you thinking, Twilight?"

"About what you were thinking…" she mused mysteriously before turning. "What were you thinking about, Fluttershy?"

"It was… um…" A gentle pain at the back of her head made her wince as she tried to remember. "I think it was… it was mom… and my first day at flight camp."

"What else?"

"And… and…" The pain only increased as she thought back.

"Snap out of it!"

The words were like a slap of cold water against her face.

"The first time I met Rainbow Dash…" Fluttershy visibly winced as Twilight set a comforting hoof on her shoulder. "It, um, wasn't a very nice memory…"

"That's okay, Fluttershy, but I think we have a plan now."

"We do?"

"Yep!" The unicorn trotted away with a visible bounce in her step. "Tell me, what's been consistent this whole time, Fluttershy?"

"Um… nothing really. Just some… unhappy memories."

"Exactly!"

"Exactly what?"

"Memories, Fluttershy, memories! They're the key. That's what’s been off… that's what's missing! That's why you can't remember—"

Fluttershy buried herself into her hooves at the high-pitched scream the came from between Twilight’s slowly moving lips. The blinding pain split the pegasus's skull as the world blotted out for a moment, nothing but pain and a yawning void of darkness as her vision swam.

"Fluttershy! Fluttershy, are you okay?" Twilight asked worriedly, grabbing her as Fluttershy shivered in pain, breaths coming in ragged gasps.

"N-n-no… I'm not… it hurt…"

"It's okay, Fluttershy. We'll sort through this. We'll get them back somehow."

"A-all our friends?"

"Yes, I promise…"

"O-okay…" She struggled back to all fours, Twilight nudging her up. "S-so we kn-know it's memories n-now… wh-what do we do with them?" she asked, voice coming out in halting stutters as she prayed for the throbbing pain to fade.

"Think about it. We're in your head. This is your mind. These are your memories. Even me!" She punctuated each statement with a gentle nudge of her hoof, a smile growing on her face as she hefted the pegasus up.

"So… whatever it is—"

"Is playing on your terms."

"Okay… so what do I do?"

"Er… I don't know? We use that somehow…"

"Oh… right. Well, we keep visiting memories, right?" Fluttershy lowered her head in thought as they walked slowly away from the growing chasm behind them.

"Yes."

"An-and we end up following them. So, maybe I just have to remember someplace… a better place."

"A better time might be good too," Twilight said, head twisted to watch the ever-expanding void. "I don't think we have all that much left in this one."

"Okay… just give me a moment."

Fluttershy leaned heavily against Twilight as they continue their slow walk, closing her eyes as she tried to think of a memory. She thought back to that morning, to waking up in the emptied cottage, to the all-encompassing darkness…

"Fluttershy! Don't think about that! It just makes it grow faster!"

"Oh… sorry…"

With a grimace on her face, she tried to think back to her fillyhood, her foalhood ever, a scattering of memories coming out in a jumbled mess of images and voices. She could feel sweat beading on her brow as she tried to sort through them.

She was standing behind a rock, terror coursing through her as bits of it fell away to reveal—

The pain returned at the mere thought, not as strong, but enough to drown out her thoughts, driving her back to the present.

“Something earlier maybe…”

“Okay…”

“You're pathetic… I can't believe I got saddled with pegasus that's afraid of heights… what kind of pega—”

“Not that one either!”

“Oh… um…”

She screwed her eyes shut, before opening them again. Glancing back, she stared at the gate, watching as it crashed into the abyss, the clouds behind them beginning to sink into it as they trudged slowly away.

But her thoughts weren't on the gate… they were on the comforting scent of her mother's mane… of boiled carrots and celery… of a soft, loving embrace…

[o.0.o]

She had come home from flight school to find her father alone, the door to their cloud house left slightly ajar. He'd lept up excitedly for a moment before settling back down onto the couch.

"Sorry, Shy. Thought you were your mom for second…" he trailed off, but his excited grin never left his face as he patted the cushion beside him.

"I'm not that big, daddy." Fluttershy replied, hopping up onto the couch and pushing into a hug.

"You so sure?" He looked her up and down, a look of incredulity on his face. "You look like you're almost full-grown mare to me."

"Daddy…" Fluttershy laughed before giving quick a quick, familial peck on the cheek. "I'm not full-grown."

He paused a moment, running a hoof through her mane before giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. "How's school been, ‘Shy?"

"It's been… alright."

"How's your flying?"

"It's getting better… Rainbow's been teaching me!" she exclaimed, a sudden excitement in her voice as she flapped her wings hard, launching herself into the air somewhat unsteadily before rising into a hover. "See, Daddy?"

"I see you, Fluttershy," he replied with a smile, watching the violent beats of her still-developing wings as she buzzed around the house. "Just be careful of—"

Fluttershy found herself in a sudden daze as her head smacked into the light fixture that dominated the center of the ceiling.

Birds dancing around the corners of her vision, the little pegasus felt her wings beat out of rhythm before halting their motions as she fell a few feet right into a pair of careful hooves.

"Gotta watch where you're flying,” he whispered, face contorted in worry as he hovered them into the kitchen. Setting the stunned filly down on the kitchen table, he dug through the icebox and emerged with a bag of ice clutched in his teeth.

"I'm… I'm okay…" the filly pegasus stated as she shook her head, trying to clear away the birds that pirouetted merrily at the edges of her vision.

"Well, let's do this just in case then…" He placed the ice bag gingerly onto a rather sensitive part of her skull. "Doesn't look too bad…"

"Th-thanks, Daddy…" she whispered as her vision slowly cleared, head throbbing distantly. Taking her forehoof in his own, he placed her hoof atop the bag.

"Alright, now just keep on that for a bit… should get the swelling down…"

"Swelling? What happened?" a worried voice asked, causing her father to flair his wings in surprise, nearly knocking the ice pack off.

"Sky?" He turned to the mare, soft bags ringing her eyes as they peered into the kitchen with worry.

"What happened to Fluttershy, Dewdrop?" she asked curtly, stalking over to the table.

"Sh-she just got a little over excited about flying… bumped her head on the ceiling light," he replied, withering a bit beneath the power of the mare's focused glare.

"S-sorry…" Fluttershy mumbled softly, adjusting the ice pack. “I didn't mean to…”

"It's not your fault, honey. We all get a little excited sometimes," he hushed the little filly, giving her a soft nuzzle as the stare slowly softened.

"Your daddy's right. We all get a little too excited sometimes." Her mother fell silent a moment, Fluttershy watching as they shared a curious look. "Are you okay?"

"I feel a little better already," she muttered, lowering her eyes the floor before returning them to her mother, glowing with excitement. "Oh, but you should have seen me!"

"She's got a bit of her mom in her, that’s for sure," the male said, putting a hoof on the filly's back. "Think she's got a natural flier in there… shoulda seen her buzzing around like a hummingbird."

"It was great, Momma!"

"I'm sure it was, baby," her mother replied with a forced grin as she brushed Fluttershy's mane away from her face.

"How"—her father bit his lip before continuing—"how did the try-outs go?"

"Oh… that can wait for now," she answered with a soft chuckle, lowering her head slightly as if trying to duck the stallion's gaze. "How was school today, Shy?"

"It was good… Rainbow's been helping me out lots!"

"Rainbow seems like a good sort. You ought to invite her over sometime."

"Really, that'd be wonderful," Fluttershy said, a face-straining smile now thoroughly plastered on her face.

"Yeah, how about this weekend maybe?"

"Really? This weekend, this weekend?"

"Of course." Her mother nodded, the same half-smile on her face, but the filly couldn't see it through the sudden wellspring of anticipation that flooded through her.

"I'll ask her first thing tomorrow!" Fluttershy declared excitedly, the pain of her head forgotten as the ice pack was quietly lifted away.

"Alright, doesn't look like anything major… you're good, Shy." Her father helped her off the table and to the floor. "Just be extra careful when you fly indoors, okay, little lady?"

"Okay, Daddy."

"Alright, why don't you go sit in the living room while your mother and I make something for dinner," he said, nudging her towards the living room with a not so subtle brush his wing.

"Okay," Fluttershy replied, trotting into the living room and plopping down onto the couch, grabbing a magazine from beneath the table.

Wild Equestria it was titled, the cover a picture of a mother manticore nestled with her young, a rather adorable sight considering the creature's reputation. As she began to leaf through the magazine, the kitchen remained quiet for a few minutes.

Soon enough, however, it was filled with the sounds of clanging pots and pans, a steady rhythm of cupboards opening and closing. Fluttershy lay on the couch, half-reading, half-resting as the smell of boiled vegetables began to fill the room.

With the smell, however, came the hushed voices as she listened in without really meaning to.

"So… how did the try-out go?" he broke the silence, keeping as casual and nonchalant as possible.

"How do you think?" she hissed back.

The kitchen fell quiet again save for the sounds of cookware, a knife striking a cutting board in a steady rhythm.

"It… it didn't go well. I’m sorry. I don't mean to snap like that," she answered herself with a soft sigh.

"I know you don't."

"Yeah, well… I still shouldn't be like that."

He didn't reply, seemingly focused on preparing the food.

"Dewy, say something."

"Just… just don't worry about it so much. We'll be alright."

"I know we will. It's just… nevermind…"

"No, tell me."

"It just kills me, y'know?"

"No… I don't. I really, obviously don't."

"I… I don't know how to explain it. At least, not without sticking my hindhoof in my mouth six ways from Sunday." She laughed a nervous, stuttering laugh.

"Still aren't getting out of talking. You can't keep on keeping on like this…"

"I know I can't. One day things'll get better and everything will be sunshine and rainbows… some manure like that, right?" Her voice cracked, seeming on the verge of tears as she tried to chuckle at her own words.

"Yeah… something like that."

"Y'know… before all this, I wasn't all the happy."

"And now?"

"Gettin' to that…"

"Alright."

"Before all this, I wasn't happy. Didn't much care to think on it."

"Then…"

"Then I was scared. Terrified. Not so much about it… but about everything besides it. I had a plan. I was gonna follow in Daddy's hoofprints. I was all set to too…"

"First in your class, former co-captain of the Junior Speedsters… all lined up… I know…"

"Then I messed up… messed up bad…"

"It wasn't so bad…"

"Not talkin' about us, featherbrain." A laugh belied the insult. "No, I messed up before that. That’s why I ended up meeting you in the first place. Betcha didn't know that part, didja? Huh, smarty-smart-smarty?"

"One point to Sky."

"Yeah, well, I think I damn near got myself blacklisted. Turned out I didn't, but now…"

"…it feels like it's too late."

"Something like that."

"So, what were you thinking when…"

"Complete terror, what else?"

"Ah…"

"It's not like that, Dewdrop. It hurts that you think so."

"I didn't say anything."

"Yeah, well, the silence is damning and all that rubbish…"

"Shh! ‘Shy's right there… language."

"Don't shush me, Dewy… just don't."

"Just… keep it down…"

"I don't have any regrets there. Get that through your skull… No. Regrets."

"Then why do you do this to yourself?"

"Do what?"

"Set yourself up for disappointment. You're gonna be moping around here for days."

"Hey, at least I'll be around for Fluttershy."

"That isn't fair."

"No… it ain't."

Their voices disappeared, the sound of the tea kettle going off blotting them out for a time as Fluttershy read through a rather horrifying description of a dragon that had made its den in the mountains near Fillydelphia.

"Heck, I don't know… could do me some good."

"What do you mean?"

"Sunshine and Rainbows, Dewy. If ‘Shy's friend lives up to her name, I'll have both over the weekend. We can make a day of it. Go to the fair or something. How come we don't go to the fair anymore? Shy's always liked the animals…"

"Yeah, she does, but you remember why we don't.”

"Oh, right…"

"B-but… I dunno, maybe things will be better now… we're all a little older."

"Yeah… more mature or something, right?"

"Something like that… Hey, Shy!"

"Daddy?" The filly jolted up from her half-sleep on the couch, peering over at the kitchen to find the table already set.

"Time for dinner, honey."

Fluttershy simply stared at the pair as they sat down around the kitchen table. The perfect tableau of a pony family before her.

But something lingered there, formerly unseen… formerly unheard.

"Fluttershy…?”

Formerly unnoticed.

“Hey… Fluttershy?"

Formerly ignored.

[o.0.o]

"Hey, Fluttershy?" A voice broke her concentration as she stared at the empty kitchen before her, Twilight off to the side, waving a hoof in front of her face. “Fluttershy? You there?”

"What happened?"

"Well… I think it worked… but I think this one might be only a temporary fix," she stated, pointing a hoof behind the pegasus towards the front end of the house.

As Fluttershy twisted around to look, she gasped.

Behind her, where the front of the house should have been was a blank white. Not a white cloud wall nor even the lack of a wall and overcast sky outside, but just a lack of anything.

It was empty space and, as her eye drifted to the edges of this patch of non-existence, it appeared to be growing. As she looked, the corners of the room bled away, tiny grains of existence whipping away into the white abyss.

"My goodness," Fluttershy said quietly, darting from the couch to hide behind Twilight, the unicorn merely giving a soft snort at the pegasus's antics.

"Fluttershy, we've got part of this puzzle now. We don't need to be afraid of that."

"We don't?"

"No, we don't," she reassured the trembling pegasus. "We just have to figure out a way to use this to our benefit… then figure out a way to get her back."

"Rainbow Dash?"

"Precisely."

"What do I do then?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Twilight asked, eyebrow cocked as she glanced over her shoulder.

"Um… no?"

"A memory of your parents brought us here… so if you can grab a memory of Rainbow Dash—a fresh one—maybe—"

"Maybe we'll find her!” Fluttershy interrupted, eyes glowing with hope. “You really think so?"

"I do, but who knows?" She shrugged, looking at the pegasus with a different pony's familiar, devil-may-care grin. "It's worth a shot, right?"

Fluttershy summoned all her courage as slipped out from behind Twilight, staring at the crumbling memory in front of her.

“Okay… Let's go.”

Author's Note

[revised 08-22-2014]

10 [Arc 01 - Perturbation, Part Six] <rev. 08.23.2014>

“—has been cleared and court has been canceled for the evening.”

“Excellent.”

“Milady?”

“Is there more?”

“Yes, milady. Councilor—”

“Wishes for me to reconsider once more?”

“Yes, milady.”

“Tell him that I have long considered it and apologize for our inability to come to a more mutually agreeable outcome.”

“Milady?”

“He'll know exactly what I mean.”

“…”

“Don't look worried. He's nowhere near as scary as he acts.”

“To you, perhaps, milady.”

“Just mention Whinnyapolis to him. That’ll straighten him out.”

“Duly noted.”

“…”

“And as to the other preparations, your majesty?”

“Have them brought here and send for the conduits.”

“When do you wish to receive them?”

“As soon as possible.”

“…”

“You are excused.”

“…”

“…”

“Your majesty?”

“Is there something on your mind, Miss Duster?”

“Er… well, yes. Though I fear it is not my place to say.”

“You may speak regardless.”

“Thank you, your majesty.”

“…”

“I wish to give my thanks. The young miss deserves as much… I think so at least.”

“…”

“Good luck, your majesty.”

“…”

“…”

“To us all…”

[o-0-o]

“C'mon, Fluttershy! We totally need to try the zipline again!”

“I-I don't know, Rainbow. It's really more for the younger ponies, isn't it?”

“Yeah, the ones that can't fly yet, but c'mon, it's still fun!”

“I-If you say so.”

“Then, c'mon. While the line's still short!”

A pair of cyan hooves met yellow-coated flank as Fluttershy was pushed towards the line, a sheen of nervous sweat on her forehead as her hooves dragged furrows in the cloudy street.

Her stomach had only just caught up with the rest of her body mere moments prior and already they were going again?

She gulped they drew closer to what was surely becoming the bane of her existence. Or at least the bane of the last half-hour as they queued up for the fifth of sixth time.

As Rainbow bounced excitedly in line, Fluttershy glanced back to where her parents had sat down on a patch of cleared out cloud. She could feel her heart leap into her throat watching their expressions, but, try as she might, she couldn't make heads nor tails of them. They sat beside one another, flank to flank as they spoke, never looking at each other.

Her mother wore an unreadable smile, eyes on Fluttershy and Rainbow. Her father's expression was nearly blank, watching on the wandering crowds that marched up and down the fair boulevard.

“Hey, Fluttershy, you okay?”

“Oh… I'm fine…” Fluttershy replied, her concentration broken.

“You sure?” Dash examined her idly. “You look a little bit greener than usual. Like, neon lime or something. Doesn’t look so good.”

“Oh, maybe I'm just a little, um, queasy.”

“Queasy? From this?” She jabbed a hoof in the direction of the zipline.

One end was anchored to Cloudsdale, the other end attached at ground level far below. The sight of the rope stretched out so far below sent an involuntary shudder through Fluttershy by itself, her wings ruffling nervously.

“It's just… really far…”

“Aww… c'mon, ‘Shy,” Rainbow said, hitting Fluttershy softly in the shoulder with a friendly hoof. “I thought you were over that. I mean, c'mon, a pegasus afraid of heights, right?”

Fluttershy didn't answer, turning away from her friend and shuffling nervously. She knew she shouldn't be afraid of heights. She was a pegasus after all.

The air was her meant to be her element, her domain. It was just that, everytime she looked down from Cloudsdale…

“Hey… it's cool if you don't want to do it again,” Rainbow offered, giving her a reassuring nudge. “I mean, you did look a little sick after the last one. Maybe you've, uh… got a bug or something.”

“Maybe.”

“Wanna go sit down for a sec?”

Fluttershy simply nodded, her eyes watery as she was led out of line to a nearby, clear patch of cloud. The pair sat down, Fluttershy stretching herself out flat on the ground. Her eyes trailed back to her parents, watching them through the gaps in the meandering crowds.

“You sure you're okay?” Dash asked in a strangely quiet tone, drawing Fluttershy’s eyes away. “You've been kinda quiet all day… even for you.”

“I'm okay.”

“Hundred-percent sure?”

“Yeah,” Fluttershy replied stoically, closing her eyes as she listened for the soft breeze.

“Fluttershy. I know I'm not the best at this kinda junk, but if you want to talk or whatever, I'm still here. I'm your wingpony after all.”

“I know you are…”

“Fluttershy?”

“Yes, Twilight?”

Fluttershy's eyes immediately snapped open to find the purple unicorn before her, a filly just like herself.

“Twilight? Who the hay’s Twilight?” Rainbow echoed as she shifted her gaze from Fluttershy to the unicorn. “You know her?”

“Y-yes…” Fluttershy replied, staring at the filly unicorn standing before her with a smile on her face.

“I think we did it, Fluttershy!” she yelled out excitedly, bouncing like… well, like a little filly, circling around the pegasus pair.

“What? What'd you do?” Rainbow asked, scratching her mane with a hoof as she tracked Twilight’s excited bounces. “Am I being pranked or… hey, wait a second…”

“We did it, Fluttershy! We did it!”

“Wh-what'd we do, Twilight?”

“We did this!” Twilight stopped bouncing, motioning around with her hooves. “All this! I'm not supposed to be here, Fluttershy! Not like this and not at all! We're figuring it out!”

“We are?”

“Of course we are, silly,” she replied with a bright smile, giving the pegasus a quick, friendly nuzzle before returning to her bounces.

“Wait…” Dash intoned, staring at Twilight, eyes on her forehead.

“What is it, Rainbow?”

Rainbow turned to Fluttershy. “She's a unicorn.”

“Well… of course she is…”

“You're friends with a unicorn…”

“Well, yes… so are you.”

“Okay, gonna ignore that for a sec. You're friends with a unicorn?”

“Yes, I am.”

“A unicorn in Cloudsdale.”

“Yes, Rainbow.”

“A unicorn… walking around Cloudsdale. Am I the only one seeing the problem here?”

“Oh, Rainbow, just because she's a unicorn doesn't mean she…” Fluttershy trailed off as her eyes went wide.

She spun to locate Twilight, but she found only a filly-sized hole in the cloud street below which she could hear a distant, wailing scream.

“Where'd she—”

“Twilight!” Fluttershy didn't hesitate, diving through the cloud with a powerful flap of her wings.

“Fluttershy!” Twilight called out as Fluttershy stretched herself out fully and folded back her wings, the winds tearing at her.

She could feel the chill of the high altitude as she pierced through them, chasing the string a filly-sized holes through the scattered clouds. The glow of the setting sun cast a yellow hue over the cloudscape that stretched out as far as one could see. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the royal castle in Canterlot in the distance, the moon peeking out from behind it. One eye on her target, she stared at the moon at the very edge of her vision, feeling something strange.

An odd presence drew her attention as a dark stain stretched across the lunar body. The mare in the moon stared as Twilight's flailing form loomed larger.

Larger and closer.

“Fluttershy, quick!” she heard a voice yell from behind her.

“Oh my goodness, oh my goodness…”

She heard the familiar scream as they shot downwards, eyes tearing up as the wind snapped at her face. Far below, as the ground rushed up to meet them. A familiar cliff side in the middle of the Everfree growing large in her vision.

Twilight's piercing scream brought Fluttershy back to her goal as she grasped one of the unicorn's hooves—

—and Rainbow Dash grabbed the other.

“Phew…” Twilight breathed a sigh of relief as she found herself supported securely by the pair. Suddenly, she slipped a bit from Fluttershy grasp and quickly they lowered towards the ground.

“Sorry, girls. I'm not used to holding anything more than a bunny or two.” Fluttershy blushed nervously, Twilight's eyes on the cliff face as they descended.

As they reached the ground, setting the unicorn down safely, Fluttershy turned to face her friends.

Or what remained of them…

“Twilight?”

“I know…”

Fluttershy looked to find it was just three of them, a trio of blank, wisplike pony statues standing beside them. She could feel the cold chill as darkness descended on them, the light of afternoon blotted out by the eternal night that Nightmare Moon had promised.

“Is somepony going to explain what’s going on here?” a brash voice demanded, drawing both ponies attention.

“Rainbow!” Fluttershy gasped out, immediately tackling her to ground and squeezing her tight. “Rainbow, you're here!”

“Yeah, I'm here! But where the hay is here and… oh…”

“What is it, Rainbow?” Fluttershy asked worriedly, allowing Rainbow to slip from her grasp and roll to her hooves.

“I think, uh… I think my brain just caught up or something… and…”

Rainbow shook her head furiously, hitting it with a hoof a couple times for good measure. “What's going on here, Twilight? One second I was back in Cloudsdale… as a little filly. Now I'm in Everfree with you girls and back to being a mare.”

“I don't really have the specifics to be honest,” Twilight replied, scratching at the back of a foreleg, “but, as far as I can tell, none of this is real… even us.”

“You, me and Fluttershy?”

“No. Just you and me. We're in Fluttershy's head judging by the memories.”

“Um, girls, if you wouldn't mind?” Fluttershy interrupted timidly.

“What's up, Fluttershy?” Twilight smiled brightly, excitement hardly contained.

“Can you not talk like I'm not here… if that's okay.”

“Sorry. This is just a bit complicated and well… weird. Really weird.”

“Wait, so, we're in your head?” Rainbow asked, bringing her muzzle within a few inches of Fluttershy's, examining Fluttershy head as if looking for an entrance, peering deeply into her ear canal.

“It seems so.”

“But you're here too?”

“Y-yes.” Fluttershy shrank back, knocking away the cyan hoof attempting to pry open her ear.

“How does that make any sense? I mean, I feel real”—Dash paused to chomp down on her foreleg, letting out a loud yelp—“and able to feel pain.”

“Rainbow, you're not dreaming. Don't be silly.”

“Well, if I'm not me, then where am I? The real me, I mean—” She staggered back as a pair of yellow hooves wrapped themselves around her, a bundle of pink and yellow burying into her chest. “Er… Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy didn't answer. She simply held on tighter, cyan fur dampening with tears.

“Fluttershy? Twilight, what's wrong with her?” Dash asked, the tiniest tremor underscoring her voice.

“Um… Rainbow Dash… I don't really know how to put this but you—the real you—died.”

“What?”

The cyan pegasus sat down hard, taking Fluttershy with her.

Fluttershy pressed herself into her friend's chest harder as she felt an awkward hoof brush through her mane.

“It's okay, Dashie… you're here now,” Fluttershy whispered, choking the tears back as she squeezed as hard as she could.

“I… guess…” she croaked out in response, running her hoof down Fluttershy's back in jerky, unsteady motions. “Kinda can't breathe, Shy.”

“S-sorry…” Fluttershy released her, sitting down next to her and leaning against her friend's shoulder.

“So, um, how?” Rainbow asked before coughing softly. “How did it happen, I mean? Was it awesome?”

“Really, Rainbow?” Twilight asked incredulously, cocking an eyebrow at the now smirking pegasus. “You just found out you’re dead and that's what you want to know?”

“Hey, if it happened, it happened. No use in being sad about it forever.” Rainbow shrugged, hoof continuing to run down Fluttershy’s back. “And besides… I'm curious.”

“Well, you're Rainbow Dash alright.” Twilight chuckled, trotting over to the cyan pegasus to give her a friendly nuzzle. “Good to have you with us again.”

“Yeah… with you where though?”

“You don't recognize it?”

“Well, yeah. That's the cliff where… Ah…” Her face fell as she looked from the cliff to the motionless statues beside them. “The night we defeated Nightmare Moon?”

“Exactly.” Twilight motioned to the night sky, the moon lighting the cliff face, its surface devoid of the gray silhouette for the first time in a thousand years.

“Sooo, if this is a memory, what does that make us?”

“Er… well”—Twilight tapped a hoof against her chin—“I guess we're memories too, but I’m not sure to be honest.”

“I think…” Fluttershy began before falling silent, eyes flicking between Twilight and Rainbow.

“Spit it out, ponygirl,” Rainbow said with a gentle smile and roll of her eyes. “It's not like we're going to make fun of you. And we're not real anyways.”

“Well, um, like Twilight said, I think you two are memories or a mash of them,” Fluttershy whispered, brow furrowed as she thought back on all that had happened in what felt like only a scant few hours.

“Hmm… a conglomeration of memories given mild sentience… sounds like a legitimate theory, Fluttershy,” Twilight commented with a slight grin. “Better than anything I could’ve come up with, though, I am you in that case, so I guess it's exactly what I could’ve come up with.”

“Okay, so we're glomerated memories given sentences,” Dash motioned with a hoof for Twilight to get on with it. “So, what're we doing here?”

“Well… I figured that we needed to look for you.”

“And besides my exceedingly amazing awesomeness, why?”

“Um, well, since all this started with you… I thought it might end with you too.”

“Okay, then, you've got me. Now what?”

“I don't know?”

Rainbow promptly fell back to the ground with a sigh of exasperation.

“What are we trying to do, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked with a genuine curiosity, remembering the unicorn's panicked words at the library.

“Well… we needed to find Rainbow. I honestly thought something would happen when we did”—her tail flicked in agitation—"but apparently not.”

“Back at the library, you kept talking about going back to where it started too.”

“Well,” Twilight began with a chuckle, “I don't think we get much more beginning than this night… and…”

“Oh…”

The thought had struck both at the same moment, Rainbow staring at them with curiosity as they fell completely silent, just staring at one another as a pair of grins slowly formed.

“Uh… either of you gonna give a pony a break here?”

“Rainbow, don't you get it?” Twilight asked, an undercurrent of excitement in her voice.

“This all started when we went to the old castle,” Fluttershy continued.

“Old Castle? Where we beat Nightmare Moon?”

“And the snake golem too!” Twilight added.

“Snake what-um?”

“Big, giant snake made of stone. You were bit by it.” Twilight stared, Rainbow seeming entirely nonplussed. “You tried to buck it right in the face! You don't remember that?”

Rainbow shook her head. “Nope, but that sounds like kind of an awesome way to go.”

“Do you remember bucking a dragon in the face?”

“Yeah. Still don't know why you let him off like that though,” Rainbow stated with an indignant huff. “He was still a jerk for taking a nap there.”

“What's the last thing you remember before now, Rainbow?”

“Um, I went over to Fluttershy's cottage… she was showing me how to make soup from scratch,” Rainbow answered, drawing a smirk out of Twilight. “What? My parents are coming to Ponyville for a visit! I’m supposed to entertain them or whatever…” She continued, a soft blush creeping its way over her face.

“Fluttershy?” Twilight turned from Dash to Fluttershy only to find her curled up in a trembling ball.

“Y-yes…?”

“Fluttershy, you okay?” Dash asked, eyes widening.

“F-fine…” she whispered through chattering teeth, fearful eyes darting between the pair as they looked upon her with concern. “P-please… Please don't make me remember it…”

“Er…”

Twilight tapped a hoof as Rainbow placed hers on Fluttershy's shoulder.

“What don't you want to remember?” Dash asked, her voice seeming distant.

“Fluttershy… I think you have to.”

“No… I don't want to. Rainbow's here. If I remember… she might… she might…”

“What's she talking about, Twilight?”

“She doesn't want to remember you dying, Dash…”

“D… does she need to?”

“I think she might…” Twilight whispered in reply. “There's something keeping her here, Dash. Something real bad. It all started with that… If we go back to the beginning, that beginning, then we might be able to figure out what's going on before it's too late.”

“Too late?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh…” Dash was quiet a moment before she burrowed underneath Fluttershy and standing up, leaving a shocked yellow pegasus draped her back.

“Rainbow?” she gasped out, kicking her legs softly as she tried to slide off of her friend.

“Fluttershy. Are you listening to Twilight?”

“Y-yes…”

“Do you understand?”

“Yes…”

“Alright,” Rainbow muttered, dipping her head to allow Fluttershy to slip onto her own hooves. “I'm not going to abandon you. I might be a memory or conglomeration or whatever the hay Twilight said, but I am still Rainbow Dash, got it?”

“Yes… thank you.”

“Okay. Now, I want you to listen to me carefully. If there's something here, something bad, then you—we are gonna have to do something about it,” she spoke carefully, rose-colored eyes staring down Fluttershy. “I'm not going to have my best friend from Cloudsdale sitting around moping while mind worms or whatever eat her brains.”

“Mind worms?” Twilight snickered a little, drawing a smile from both pegasi.

“First thing that came to mind. Sue me.”

“I think you read too many of those science fiction comics, Rainbow,” Fluttershy muttered, a small smile growing on her face.

“Well, I read a lot of them with you, if you remember.”

Fluttershy simply smiled at Rainbow for a moment. Even if she wasn't the real real Rainbow Dash, she was real enough.

That thought alone relaxed her.

“Alright, so what's the plan, egghead?” Dash asked, breaking the happy silence that had taken hold.

“Well, we need to get to that castle,” the unicorn began, staring off into the forest. “Or rather, we need to get to that moment. If Fluttershy can remember it, we should get there in no time at all. It worked to get to you.”

“Okay,” Rainbow murmured in response before glancing over at Fluttershy.

The ease Fluttershy had felt was all but gone at Twilight’s words. Her body immediately felt on the verge of collapse at the merest prospect of remembering it.

“Fluttershy, do you think you can at least try?”

She didn't answer, her throat feeling scarcely wide enough for air to pass much less words. Slowly, she shook her head, eyes lowering to the dirt.

“Um… backup options?”

“We try it manually,” Twilight stated with a solid stamp of a hoof.

“Manually?”

“We get to the castle and hope for the best. This is the night we beat Nightmare Moon. Maybe that will, I don't know, trigger a memory or something.”

Fluttershy glanced up, staring at the grinning unicorn for a moment in silence. Glancing around, her eyes fell on the trio of motionless statues around them.

“Twilight, what about everypony else?” Rainbow spoke up, following Fluttershy's gaze.

“They… they're already gone,” Fluttershy answered, something unfamiliar welling up inside her. “But we'll get them back. Won't we, Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow simply smiled in return, giving Fluttershy a soft nudge.

“Absolutely.”

[o-0-o]

“—is requesting to see you, your majesty. I'm afraid his fears were not assuaged by your words.”

“By all means… see him in.”

“Right away, your majesty.”

“Oh, before you go.”

“Yes, your majesty?”

“What is the status of the elements?”

“They will be here within the hour. His lordship was somewhat particular about their handling and care.”

“As is his wont.”

“…”

“And the conduits?”

“Within the hour as well. They seemed quite excited by the prospect when it was broached. If you'll allow me, they seem to be a confident group.”

“Indeed, they’ve made Equestria proud.”

“Ma'am?”

“Merely thinking aloud, my subject.”

“Shall I see his lordship in, your majesty?”

“…”

“Right away, your majesty.”

“…”

“…”

“It is good to see you once more, my student.”

“Former student.”

“…”

“Perhaps you’re right, Princess. I worry too much about this… but somepony has to. The powers we are toying with here—”

“Are ancient and dangerous as I am well aware. I am a well-traveled mare, Dawny.”

“Dawny, you majesty? I would like to think I’d outgrown that name by now.”

“Indeed you have… And yet Dawny you remain. How about that?”

“Princess…”

“…”

“Celestia? How can this game continue? You know the risks as well as I do. In fact, you know them far more intimately than any ever could. They—”

“Speak your piece, Dawning. Do not spare me words if you wish to hold my respect.”

“They cost you, Celestia. They cost all of Equestria your sister for a thousand years. Can we so easily repeat that mistake?”

“You speak of this with certainty.”

“As certain as I can possibly be given the circumstances.”

“What I did a thousand years ago, I cannot regret it. I may lament it. I may sob and weep over it, but I cannot regret it. I did the right thing… for Equestria.”

“And what of now? How can this be right for Equestria?”

“You reveal your ignorance, Dawny.”

“It is not willful, I assure you.”

“…”

“What else have you kept to yourself?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Perhaps you cannot believe in my methods. Perhaps you believe in your knowledge, but these are things that are beyond any living pony save the alicorns. The forces we are dealing with are more ancient than any book in the archives, stretching farther than any line a pony can lay claim to.”

“Then please, by all means, illuminate me.”

“I may be the Princess of the Life-Giving Sun, but even I know that there are shadows best left in darkness, where the light of curiosity should not travel. I do apologize, Dawning. I do not wish for you to have to toil so in ignorance. I know how it eats at you.”

“…”

“I merely ask for your faith, Dawning.”

“Faith, Princess?”

“Yes, I assure you, I recognize the irony well.”

“And you bid it all the same.”

“…”

“Upon one condition.”

“…”

“…”

“A bold move. You pique my curiosity, my student.”

“Please, keep yourself safe.”

“Don't I always?”

“Celestia, I don't think Equestria can bear another such loss.”

“Equestria or yourself?”

“…”

“…”

“Good luck, Princess of Equestria.”

[o-0-o]

“And I think we've officially entered 'Creepytown Junction,'” Rainbow declared, rapping a hoof against the stone face of a manticore, reared on its hind legs and snarling silently. The statue glared at her as she made faces at the odd echo of the memory.

“'Creepytown'… right…” Twilight murmured in response, examining the sextet of statues facing the petrified beast. “It’s more strange than anything else.”

“Errgh…” Rainbow groaned as she pressed against the monstrous statue, sending it tumbling over to the ground with a thunderous crash. “And the deadly manticore is defeated by the one… the only… Rainbow Dash!”

Fluttershy watched in amusement as Rainbow took a victory lap around the valley before landing atop the fallen beast, giving it her best heroic pose.

“Rainbow… really?” Twilight groaned, a hoof pressed to her forehead. “This is serious.”

“Hey, just trying to keep the mood light.” Rainbow shrugged, hopping off the statue and pressing towards the darkened forest. “Let’s keep her movin’ then, ladies.”

Twilight and Fluttershy quickly trotted up, keeping close together as the forest canopy blotted out the night sky and the light of the moon with it.

The forest seemed somehow even darker than Fluttershy remembered. A steady, chilling breeze blew through, but the branches did not stir nor did the leaves or bushes. The muddy, sinking soil of before was now hard beneath their hooves, their steps echoing ceaselessly in the strange forest. The chill sent tremors down her spine as she pressed herself tightly against Twilight.

“Hey, Twilight. How ‘bout you work some of your magic? It's kinda getting too dark to see in here.”

The purple unicorn started at Dash’s sudden interruption of her thoughts, sending crimson flushing across her face as it was revealed in her magenta glow.

“Right. Good idea…”

Like the manticore before it, the forest seemed to be made of stone, the branches unmoving as Twilight's horn cast its light. As Fluttershy brushed up against a bush, she felt the hard leaves scraping at her coat, several snapping off with sickly crack.

“Why’s it like this?” Rainbow asked, glancing over her shoulder.

“I don’t know… I still remember what happened that night. All of it… It certainly wasn’t like this,” Twilight replied, waving across the petrified brush around them, hooftip sending the brittle leaves scattering to the hard ground.

“Maybe we’re getting close,” Fluttershy offered hopefully, steering herself and Twilight around the brush as much as possible.

“Hey, I think I see something up ahead!” Rainbow called out, shooting ahead excitedly with a flare of her wings.

With hardly even a glance, Fluttershy and Twilight galloped after her only to grind to a sudden stop.

“Deja vu…” Twilight muttered darkly as the trio stared at the monstrous trees, wickedly malicious grins abounding as the petrified forest menaced them quietly.

“Hey, check this out.” Rainbow beckoned them closer, standing before a quintet of statues in the middle of the trees.

These statues were different from the last ones. Now they had faces, frozen in silent screams.

Fluttershy walked beside them, inspecting them as she would an injured creature. She stopped at one in particular of the statues, a pegasus with a long mane.

“That’s me,” she stated simply, drawing Twilight's attention.

“Yeah, that should be. And that'd make this one Rainbow Dash,” Twilight muttered, motioning to the second pegasus statue just beside Fluttershy. “And this would be me or—”

Fluttershy dove to the ground, a choked cry of pain issuing forth from her throat. It felt as though somepony was dragging a rusty fork across her eardrum, Twilight’s voice drowned out by the high-pitched squeal.

“Fluttershy!”

Dash and Twilight were at her side almost immediately, lifting her to her hooves as she panted heavily. Rivulets of sweat ran down her forehead as the shock faded, leaving only a quickened pulse.

“Fluttershy, what happened?” Dash asked, lifting the other pegasus's head with a gentle hoof. “You okay?”

“I-I d-don't th-think so…” Fluttershy replied in stuttered whispers cut between sputtered pants and gasps as they led her away from the statues.

“It… It doesn't want you to remember…” Twilight stated.

“Remember what?”

“Us… them.” Twilight jerked her head towards the statues.

“How the hay does that work?” Dash replied in frustration as the trio moved beyond the covered meadow.

Fluttershy watched as they passed by a sixth statue, a bouncing mane topping it. No scream on its face, but instead a jovial grin.

“You'll remember, Fluttershy… I know you will.”

Fluttershy winced at the twinge of pain, however fleeting, but she felt better as they passed by the laughing pony.

“I-I… I think I'm okay now…”

“You sure, Fluttershy? We don’t mind or anything.”

“I'm… I'm sure,” she replied, their hooves leaving her reluctantly.

Letting Twilight and Rainbow Dash walk ahead a bit, Fluttershy stood and turned back to the statues. She looked at them, looking from statue to statue before her gaze settled on the final statue once more.

“I will…”

[o-0-o]

“—may not be too late… I do not wish a repeat of the past.”

“Nor do I, Sister.”

“You know that I do, don’t you?”

“Celestia?”

“I do regret that day… I regret everything about that day.”

“…”

“I regret everything about the months—the years—leading up to that day.”

“It was not you at fault, Celly…”

“Hmm… Celly…”

“…”

“I think that's the first time you've called me by that name since your return…”

“I…”

“Do not worry, Luna. I know I was not the best of siblings…”

“…”

“…”

“Celly, I am sorry if I have been distant. I simply—I did not wish to be a burden on you nor your kingdom. I thought it best if I… If I…”

“I cannot blame you for your anger, Luna.”

“And I cannot blame you for your actions, Sister. You did what was right. I was not myself. I understand that and I accept the blame.”

“…”

“Will they arrive soon?”

“Within the hour.”

“Good.”

“…”

“Let us begin then.”

[o-0-o]

“It's kinda squishy. Liiiike… a mattress full of gelatin maybe?” Twilight stated with an experimental bounce on the strange surface.

“Or an overripe nimbus,” Rainbow added as Fluttershy tapped inquisitively at the motionless river, the surface sinking before rebounding almost immediately.

“If you don’t want to walk on it, you two could always just fly right over,” Twilight offered from the center of the river, bouncing up and down slightly as she trotted back towards them.

“Might be for the best,” Rainbow stated as she landed by Fluttershy, following her gaze to the frozen sea serpent beside them.

“He looks sad.”

“It was a mustache, Fluttershy. He was clearly overreacting,” Rainbow deadpanned, rolling her eyes at the well-coiffed sea serpent. “Still can’t believe how we calmed him down.”

“You mean”—Fluttershy glanced back at the sextet behind them, a puddle of water surrounding them as a unicorn stepped forward—“generosity?”

“What was that?”

“N-nothing…let’s keep going.”

Fluttershy flapped her wings, hovering just above the ground before fluttering across the unmoving river to join Twilight on the other side.

“We’re getting closer. Feel any different?” Twilight asked, kicking her hooves as she tried to flick off some of the congealed water clinging to her.

“A little bit… maybe, I don’t really know.”

“It’s okay. We're going to get through this together,” Twilight said, turning to find Dash still on the other side, examining one of the statue ponies carefully. “Rainbow Dash! You coming or not?”

“Oh, yeah… Coming!” said pegasus shouted back before shooting across the river in a quick, rainbow-hued arc.

“What were you looking at?”

“Don’t you mean ‘who?’”

“Oh…”

“It’s weird. I remember them… but I don’t.”

“What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked quietly.

“I mean… if I’m a construsive memorial given stridence or whatever, I should have all your memories, right? All three of us should share the same memories.”

“That’s the uh… theory,” Twilight responded.

“Then why do I remember them when Fluttershy can’t? What the hay does that mean?”

“Hopefully it means that they’re still here somewhere…”

“It means we can win,” Fluttershy finally spoke up as they crossed into the forest once more, a look of determination crossing her usually passive features.

“Hopefully… yes.”

“Hey, Fluttershy’s right. We find this—whatever it is—kick its flank and everypony goes home happy,” Dash declared with a wide grin, mirroring Fluttershy.

“In a manner of speaking, yes. That’s the hope,” Twilight said, a smile creeping onto her face. “Just don’t get cocky. We don’t even know what we’re dealing with yet.”

“Aw, Twi, quit being such a wet blanket.”

“I am not a wet blanket. I am being practical.”

“Practical… wet blanket. To-may-to, po-tah-to.”

“Rainbow, be nice,” Fluttershy requested softly, smiling gently as the pair glared at one another. It was a comforting sight amidst the dark, stagnant woods.

Just up ahead, Fluttershy could see the tiniest sliver of light, a familiar chasm laying just beyond the edge of the woods.

“Hey, I think—”

“There it is!” Twilight shouted excitedly, bolting towards the gap in the forest. “We made it!”

“Twilight! Wait up!” Rainbow shouted after the galloping unicorn before her eyes went wide, shooting after her.

“We're almost there! We're going to—Whoa!”

“Twilight!” Fluttershy gasped as the unicorn disappeared over the cliff edge, followed shortly by a rainbow colored blur.

“What's with you and falling off things today?” Fluttershy heard Rainbow ask as she hauled the now furiously blushing Twilight back up onto the cliff.

“I… uh… forgot the bridge was out,” she admitted sheepishly, glancing over the side of cliff before letting out a relieved sigh. “Thanks, Dash.”

“No prob. Rainbow Dash don’t leave her friends hanging.” Rainbow puffed out her chest before deflating slightly. “Huh, bit familiar, ain’t it?”

Fluttershy and Twilight simply nodded as Rainbow trotted over to the edge, glancing down at the bridge’s remnants. Her eye traced the mess of wood and rope as it disappeared into a bank of fog.

Retreating from the edge, Rainbow stretched her wings before turning back to face her friends.

“This won’t take long,” she said, giving her wings a few test flaps before launching herself backwards over the cliff edge. “Back in a flash!”

“Be careful!” Twilight shouted, eying the fog nervously.

Less than a second later, Rainbow appeared at the other end of the chasm, rope clutched in her teeth. Working quickly, she hauled up the bridge, tying one end of it off on the rocky post.

“Great job, Rainbow!” Twilight shouted over the gap, testing the bridge with a hoof before stepping out onto it.

“No prob! Was even faster than I thought I’d be!” Dash called back before tying off the other half of the bridge and turning back. She grinned as Fluttershy stepped out onto the bridge. “Not even a chall—”

Fluttershy and Twilight gasped as, with a rush of wind, the thick fog shifted to separate them.

“Rainbow!” Fluttershy cried out, ears drooping as she disappeared from sight.

“C'mon, Fluttershy!”

Twilight plowed ahead, preparing to charge through the unnatural mist, only to hit a wall when she reached it, bouncing back and onto her rump.

“Twilight!”

Shaking the cobwebs from her head, the unicorn lept to her hooves and strode back, more cautiously this time, to the fog bank.

“Rainbow!” Twilight called into the fog. “Rainbow, are you okay? Can you hear me?”

Fluttershy walked past the panicked unicorn, pressing a hoof to the wall of fog. It felt completely solid. Contrary to the river water, it had no give to it at all.

“Rainbow?!” Fluttershy shouted into the barrier, pressing an ear to it. “Rainbow, are you there still?!”

At first, she heard nothing at all. Then she heard a muffled voice followed by hooftaps from the other side.

“I’m still here”—she paused for a moment—“What happened?”

“I… I don’t know,” Fluttershy said, voice cracking as she ran a hoof across the barrier, searching for a hole, a fissure, a crack—any sign of weakness. “Can you fly over it?”

“Oh… good idea! Jus’ a sec!”

There was silence for a moment before Fluttershy felt a vibration surge through the barrier followed by a series of swears that brought a soft blush to her face.

“Where did Rainbow even learn those?” Twilight asked as she leaned against the barrier.

“I, um, have no idea where she would have, um, learned those,” Fluttershy muttered, cheeks flaring as ever brighter pink as she avoided the unicorn’s curious eyes.

“Rainbow, are you still okay?” Twilight called out, tapping gently.

“Yeah… I'm fine,” came the blunt reply. “Except for my pride and my skull… just fine.”

“What happened?”

“It didn’t work,” Rainbow declared bluntly.

“Well, I know that much!” Twilight yelled angrily.

“Twilight!”

“This is serious, Fluttershy,” Twilight hissed back, her eyes growing wild with fear. “This is not a time to be joking!”

“Calm down! Jeez… I’m fine here,” Rainbow interrupted, drawing the pair’s attention back to the opaque fog. “Just feels like I just flew into a cliff face. It’s kinda weird here, but I think I’m safe. Don't worry.”

“Weird?” Twilight looked from the barrier to Fluttershy, eyebrow quirked as she quivered nervously.

“Rainbow, what did you mean by ‘weird’?” Fluttershy asked, throat threatening to rend her voice from her.

“There’s… It’s…”—she fell silent a moment before continuing—“I dunno. It’s like there’s just nothing here. Just a whole lot of white.” Rainbow’s confusion sent a shudder through Fluttershy as she recalled the empty white eating away at her fillyhood home. “Think I’m just stuck for now. How’s it on your side?”

“Like a brick wall,” Twilight replied, hoof clacking against the barrier as she stamped in frustration. Her eyes went wide for a moment as she brought her hoof back to examine it. “Owwww…” she hissed in pain, shaking her now throbbing hoof. “Yeah, think we’re stuck here too.”

“Well, why don’t you two look for a way around,” Rainbow suggested. “I’m pretty sure I’m good for now.”

“No, no, no… we can’t do that,” Fluttershy stated softly, glancing from the fog bank to Twilight. “We can’t abandon her!” Her tone was high-pitched and panicked.

“Fluttershy, maybe if we look, we’ll find a way to get her out of there,” Twilight offered, setting a hoof on her shoulder. “There’s no sense in just waiting around.”

“Twilight’s right,” came Rainbow’s voice from the other side, “you need to keep going if you’re gonna figure this out.”

“But—”

“No, 'buts.' I need you to be tough right now.”

“Oh… okay…” Fluttershy muttered softly. “But what about you? What if something bad happens? I… I…”

“Nothing’s gonna happen. Worst thing, I'll be bored. Besides, even if something did hap—”

Fluttershy cut her off with a frightened squeak before muffling it with a hoof.

“Even if something bad does happen, I wouldn't be gone… not really.”

“But…”

“She's right, Fluttershy.”

“Listen to Twilight, Shy. She'll help you get everyone back.”

Fluttershy pressed her ear to the barrier, staring into the fog with bleary eyes. She could just make out her silhouette, just a vague outline in the swirling mists.

“You've got to deal with this thing.”

But something was off… the silhouette seemed to be growing, getting darker.

“Rainbow?” Fluttershy whispered, voice choked as the shadow grew.

Rainbow couldn't hear her.

“That’s the important thing right n—”

A flash of lightning split the skies, blinding Fluttershy as the accompanying thunder vibrated the wood beneath her hooves violently.

She could hear Twilight yelp as they were sent sprawling back across the bridge, tumbling along the planks. Fluttershy grabbed at the ropes to keep from slipping over the side. She lay there, sprawled out, forehooves wrapped tight around a bit of rope as the tremor ceased as quickly as it had come.

“Fluttershy, you okay?” Twilight asked as Fluttershy’s vision came back to her.

She nodded weakly, struggling back to her hooves before nearly losing her footing as she glanced back at the fog bank.

“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy cried out in a hoarse voice, half galloping, half flying to the fog barrier. “Rainbow! Rainbow, say something, please!”

“I… It…” Twilight was at a loss as she stared at the fog.

It was no longer a natural white. It was no longer as it had been moments ago, the color from her memory. The strange fog had taken on an angry red color, swirling violently before them as if a tornado raged within.

Fluttershy stood, her legs threatening to give out as she stared at the silhouette within the fog.

“Rainbow…”

The motionless silhouette of the pegasus seemed to be just on the other side, unawares as an enormous shadow loomed over her, seeming to fade and reform constantly.

No… no… no…

Fluttershy sat, petrified and helpless as she watched the shadowbeast rear up.

“Rainbow!” Twilight cried out as the beast came down with a thundering crash, sending ripples through the bridge and Fluttershy back to her knees. Through watering eyes, the yellow pegasus watched the beast fade away.

It faded, leaving the shadow of the pegasus behind.

A wickedly curved spike driven through it.

“Rainbow… please… say anything…” Fluttershy whispered through choked sobs, hooves sliding down the barrier. “Please… not again… not again…”

The cold breeze blew.

Somewhere in the distance thunder rumbled and the skies above shifted rapidly above them as it began to rain.

A sprinkle became a shower became a pounding downpour as the angry red faded back to its natural gray.

Fluttershy was numb.

She stared at the motionless silhouette on the other side, heart ready to burst at its seams. Her breath came in sharp, shuddering gasps as she weakly pressed a hoof to the impenetrable bubble. She mouthed the name as the syllables were rent from her, threatening to from her altogether. Nose itching from the acrid rain, a deep shudder ran through her.

“No…”

Fluttershy felt an almost imperceptible tremor course through her.

“No… no… no…”

The yellow pegasus sniffled softly, trying to wipe the rain out of her eyes with the back of her foreleg.

“No, that isn’t fair!”

Fluttershy glanced back to see Twilight’s horn aglow, the boards rattling beneath her as the unicorn charged at the bubble.

“Give her back!” Twilight screamed at the barrier.

Fluttershy gasped, falling to the side as the charging unicorn struck the bubble with a thunderous crack before skidding back a few feet and tumbling onto her back.

“Twilight?”

“It isn’t fair!” she cried out, seemingly oblivious as she righted herself and charged the barrier once more.

“Twilight! Stop!” Fluttershy cried out as the unicorn was sent flying back violently.

The fog barrier cracked with angry, mocking arcs of electricity, the same color as Twilight’s magic as the unicorn tumbled back across the bridge a good ten feet from the sparking orb.

Twilight groaned as Fluttershy immediately rushed to her friend’s side.

“Are you okay?” she asked, watching as rain struck the groaning unicorn, sizzling away on contact. Tentatively, the pegasus laid a hoof upon the unicorn only to yank it back, an arc of electricity scorching her hoof. “Twilight, say something?”

“It’s… it’s not… it’s not fair…” the unicorn choked out between tears, clutching her body as it shuddered unnaturally.

“Twilight, can you hear me?”

“N-not fair…”

Fluttershy watched as the rain deepened, wicking away into the air in a steady flow of steam. Biting her lip, she sat down beside the shuddering unicorn, reaching a hoof steadily towards her chest, ignoring the pain as the minuscule arcs of magic lanced across her hoof. Soon enough, she could feel the unsteady rise and fall of her friend’s chest as well as the steady flow of the arcane energy.

“Tw-Twilight…” Fluttershy whispered, drained as she struggled to heft the unicorn onto her haunches.

“Flutter… Fluttershy?” she mumbled in return, swaying in Fluttershy’s hooves as the harsh breeze threatened to send them tumbling off the twisting bridge. “You're still here?”

“I’m here, Twilight… it’s okay…”

“No, it’s not… how can you say that?”

Fluttershy didn’t reply as she felt herself slide down onto her haunches, leaving her staring into the unicorn’s half-closed, violet eyes. Twilight stared at her, tears streaming down her face, mixing with the rain as a distant rumble of thunder filled the air.

“It took her… it took her again…” Twilight stated bluntly.

“It isn’t fair…” Fluttershy murmured, her heart sinking into her stomach.

“It took her and we… we couldn’t do anything…”

“It isn’t right…”

She felt it, an indescribable warmth—

“Why are we so helpless…”

—building deep within of her.

“We… we aren’t,” Fluttershy stated. “We aren’t helpless.”

“It took them all. What are we supposed to do? What can we even do?”

It was a burning, wonderful light—

“We get them back.”

“But without her—”

—filling her being completely.

“We go on…” Fluttershy whispered, eyes shut. “We go on and finish what we started. We get them back—all of them—and we face whatever did this…”

“But… it’ll destroy us…” Twilight trembled at the thought. “It got her! If it got her… what chance do we have?”

“It didn’t get her, Twilight. It can’t because we won’t let it,” Fluttershy declared as she opened her eyes, pushing the unicorn to her hooves before rising herself.

Fluttershy took a step towards the still crackling barrier, its depths swirling violently as its color shifted again.

From gray to brilliant red, it soon settled on a mocking cerise.

But Fluttershy no longer saw the mist’s colors. Her eyes were focused now. She saw through it. She saw past the fog. She saw it.

“You won’t win!”

“But how will—”

“You hear me, you big, dumb meanie! You won’t get my friends!”

The light filled her absolutely, filling every fiber of her being, radiating into the aether and beyond.

“You won’t get Twilight or Rainbow!”

It was a light that could not be contained—

“You won’t get Pinkie—”

—could not be concealed—

“—Rarity—”

—could not be denied—

“—or Applejack!”

—that could not fail.

“You won’t win! I won’t let you! Do you hear me?!” Fluttershy yelled at the barrier before her, glaring with barely restrained rage. “What do you have say?!”

The fog within shifted from its former hue, deepening to a seemingly infinite black. She could see it within as it reared before her, blotting out the rains and sky as the shadow threatened to crash down upon them, upon everything

“Fluttershy?” Twilight murmured worriedly as the gray storm clouds were blotted out by the beast.

However, her eyes focused not on the vanishing skies, but on the soft light now encompassing Fluttershy.

A soft, pink hue that seemed to come from the pegasus’s very being.

“Fluttershy, you’re… you're glowing.”

She didn’t respond, grinding a forehoof against the bridge plank as she prepared a charge. With a feral snort, she galloped towards it, wings flared wide as she drove at the barrier.

“Get out of my head!”

As she made contact with the barrier, head lowered, time slowed to crawl.

In awe, Twilight watched the pink light that now surrounded the pegasus concentrated at the foremost point where Fluttershy had hit. The light grew and grew until it filled the unicorn’s vision, obscuring the black fog from view before it simply burst in a cacophonous explosion.

“Fluttershy!” Twilight cried out in panic.

The pegasus was sent hurtling backwards as an angry roar filling the air. Flaring her horn, Twilight grabbed the pegasus with her magic only to find herself being flung backwards with her, the pair landing in a heap on the cliff edge.

“Oh, by Celestia! Fluttershy, are you okay?” Twilight scrambled out from the pegasus. She wasn’t moving. Gently, the unicorn shook her friend. “Please be alright… please, please, please…”

“Mmmrph… Twilight… what happ— oomph!”

Fluttershy suddenly found herself at a loss for oxygen as Twilight’s hooves wrapped tight around her.

“I thought it got you! I really did!” Twilight buried her face into the pegasus’s shoulder before slackening her grip. “Are you okay? What just happened?”

“I… I don’t know. I just got…” Fluttershy trailed off as she turned to look at the bridge, jaw slackening at the sight. “Di-did I do that?”

At the chasm before them, the fog had been blasted from the bridge. The swirling black steadily whipped away in the wind as glowing flecks of soft pink light fell like snowflakes around them. Fluttershy scrunched up her face as one settled on her nose, tingling gently.

“It’s… so warm…” she remarked as it whipped away in the gentle breeze, staring up in awe.

Even the clouds that had covered the sky had dissipated, leaving a crisp, clear night to behold as a thousand stars twinkled overhead.

“Fluttershy?” Twilight came alongside the pegasus as they both stepped towards the bridge.

“Yes, Twilight?” Fluttershy replied, somewhat distracted as she idly traced the wandering paths of the pink orbs as they descended from the sky.

“You remembered…”

“I… I did…” Fluttershy murmured in response, looking down at her hooves as she thought for a moment. “I did! I did, I did, I did!” she exclaimed, drawing Twilight into a happy embrace before she hopped excitedly from fore to hind hooves.

“I think we really have a chance, Fluttershy!” Twilight stated, smiling from ear to ear.

“I think…” Fluttershy’s face fell as she glanced across the bridge at the strange gray statue just on the other side of the bridge.

Both fell silent, Twilight following her gaze. Slowly, they walked across, path still cast in a pink light as the tiny orbs continued to float down around them.

Fluttershy felt warm and cold at the same time, her stomach twisting as she knelt before the odd statue. It was a pegasus pony laid out on its side, a wickedly curved fang pinning it to the ground. Its eyes were half-lidded, face twisted into a pained grimace, hooves and wings splayed out awkwardly.

“I… I won’t let you down, Rainbow…” she whispered, kneeling down and resting her head on the statue’s chest “I promise.”

“You can do this, Fluttershy. We know you can,” Twilight stated, staring up at the swirl of magenta light marking the tower.

The tower where it all began.

I won’t fail you, Rainbow…

Author's Note

[revised 08-23-2014]

11 [Arc 01 - Perturbation, Part Seven] <rev. 08.24.2014>

“…ain’t goin’ no place, y’hear? No matter what.”

“…”

“You wanna say something ‘fore we get started?”

“…”

“…”

“We’re here, Fluttershy. All of us are here…”

“…”

“…”

“Tha’s alright, Rares. Let it out…”

“…”

“She ain't lookin' too good, is she?"

"Applejack!"

"Sorry, I'm just…"

"We all are."

"…"

"…"

"Madames?"

"Oh, sorry… didn' see y’there…"

"That is quite alright."

"The princesses ready?"

"They should be here momentarily,milady."

"Thank y’kindly."

"Madames."

"…"

"…"

"Y'hear that, 'Shy?"

"This'll all be over soon."

"Yeah. We'll be back in Ponyville lickety split."

"…"

"Jus' you wait, 'Shy."

"…"

"Jus' you wait…"

[o-0-o]

The door to the ancient castle swung listlessly from its groundings as the pair entered the roofless room. The grand night sky cast a soft blue over everything as Fluttershy stared at the empty shrine at the center of the entry hall.

“The Elements. They’re already gone…” Twilight said, clearly disconcerted their absence as she ran a hoof over the shrine’s base.

“It must be farther along then we thought,” Fluttershy muttered, distracted and more than a little antsy.

As she studied the vines creeping over the columns that had once held up a long gone roof, she could hear the quiet pitter-patter of rodentine feet from somewhere ahead. Somehow, the sound set her at ease as she glanced from the lonely shrine to the tower sitting beyond the broken stained-glass windows lining the hall.

“Twilight, where are you?!”

“Look!”

The tower remained alight with the soft, magenta glow as Fluttershy and Twilight exited out the back of the entry hall.

The exterior stairs had long since crumbled away and so they found their way to another point of entry: a stairwell that spiraled upwards to reach the old throne room.

“Feels so strange to be here…” Twilight mumbled as they began their ascent, hewing close to the central column.

“How come?”

“Just, I’ve never actually come this way. The first time I teleported up with Nightmare Moon. I wasn’t even awake the second time,” she reminisced, brow furrowed as she trotted. “Nothing I’m going to get my tail in a twist over. Just thinking out loud.” Twilight fell silent with a soft blush, smiling reassuringly at Fluttershy.

Slowly they made their way up, the ceaseless echo of their hooves filling the stairwell.

Soon, a magenta glow began to creep down the stairwell and Fluttershy couldn’t help but feel a tingle of fear crawl up her spine as a cool breeze flowed down around them.

The thought of what might lay just beyond the last curve of the stairs…

She could hardly even bear to think of it.

“Twilight?”

“Yes, Fluttershy?”

“What do you think will be there?”

Twilight was quiet a moment, lowering her head in thought before glancing back up at her friend. Her smile was gone.

“I don’t know.”

“Oh…”

“I don’t know, but I know that I believe in you. And I know that you believe in our friends. I don’t think I need to know anything else right now,” Twilight whispered, giving Fluttershy a reassuring nudge. “I’ve just got a feeling.”

“A feeling?”

“Yeah. That they’re here for you. In here, out there… I just know that they’ll be all around you, lending their strength,” Twilight stated, smiling sadly for a moment before turning her attention back to the steps before them. “Maybe that’s kinda silly, but, either way, I always know that things will work out somehow when we’re all together. And we’re always together, Fluttershy, even when we’re apart.”

“Maybe.” Fluttershy stared at her ascending hooves. “They aren’t gone. They’re still here, out there. They wouldn’t abandon us. They never would.”

“Absolutely, Fluttershy.” Twilight nodded.

Steadily, the glow increased in intensity as they mounted the stairs, growing to fill the entirety of the curved stairwell as the drew nearer to the top. Then they could hear it, softly at first, but growing in volume.

“You little foal! Thinking you could defeat me!”

The voice boomed in her mind, its familiarity sending a quiver of fear down both ponies’ spines.

“Now you will never see your princess, or your sun.”

Twilight gave a visible shudder the throne room entrance came into view.

They rounded the last bend and gasped at what they found.

“The night. Will last. Forever!”

Maniacal laughter rang out in the deserted throne room.

“Where is she?” Twilight hissed as though the volume of her voice would control the appearance of the night mare, her head low as they entered the room proper. “You heard it too, right?”

Fluttershy simply nodded, glancing around the room with wide eyes and trembling hooves.

The room was just as she remembered, like the entry below only more complete.

But there was no Nightmare Moon.

Not even a statue of the corrupted alicorn graced the empty hall. The room lay completely bare save for the rogue vine that had climbed its way steadily into the room over its many years of neglect.

“She should be here. It only makes sense…” Twilight trailed off as she made her way to where the throne would have sat a thousand or so years prior, hooves moving at a quick clip. “She was right here.”

Fluttershy remained silent as she moved slowly towards the unicorn.

Something was off.

A heaviness in the air. A cold chill running down her spine.

It hadn’t been so foreboding even when they had been hot on the trail of the ponynapped Twilight Sparkle and her captor, the infamous Nightmare Moon.

Of course, she had been surrounded by—

“Fluttershy! Come look at these.”

Her reverie broken, Fluttershy looked to the empty pedestal at the back of the room as Twilight waved her over, a small smirk growing on her face.

“What is it, Twilight?”

“Look at these markings.” Twilight took a step back from the pedestal.

There, in a nearly perfect circle, was a sextet of scorches lining the edge of the pedestal’s top.

“They look—”

“New. Exactly. Feel them.”

Fluttershy ran a hoof over the nearest mark, her eyes going wide as she felt an odd warmth course up her hoof, a rather familiar warmth in fact.

“What does this mean?”

“I don’t know, but I think we’re in the right place to find out,” Twilight stated with a confident grin. She led the pegasus from the platform and back to the entrance. “It’s been here, Fluttershy. Recently, too.”

“What do we do then?”

“I don’t know. Maybe we just… wait?” Twilight shrugged, settling down beside the stairs.

“We can’t just wait. There has to be a way,” Fluttershy stated, fur bristling even as her stomach twisted into knots, hardly able to believe the words coming out of her mouth. “There has to be a—”

“Way to draw it out?” Twilight asked, face stern as they looked into one another’s eyes.

“Y-yes?” Fluttershy felt her heart sink.

“You know how we can.”

“I… I can’t,” Fluttershy whispered.

“It worked once before,” Twilight stated calmly. “I don’t like it either, but I don’t like the idea of just sitting here and doing nothing even more.”

Fluttershy’s voice was lost for a moment, managing only a soft squeak of discontent.

She couldn’t let the unicorn do it.

She simply couldn’t.

“No… we can find another way.” She couldn’t look the unicorn in the eye as she spoke.

“We have to try.” Twilight laid a hoof on the pegasus’s shoulder.

“No…” She shrugged off the lavender hoof before sinking to the floor.

“It’s the only thing we know works…”

“Please… just no…”

“Fluttershy…”

“We’ll find another way!” Fluttershy yelled suddenly, Twilight jumping back a solid foot as the pegasus’s tear-stained face glared up angrily.

Twilight simply stared for a moment.

Her breaths came in hard, ragged gasps, her eyes bloodshot, wild and desperate. After a second or two, the pegasus slipped back to the ground, eyes closing as the tears ceased to flow.

"I… I don't want to be alone…" Fluttershy spoke in little more than a whisper, the room blotted out by her thick pink mane as it flowed in front of her muzzle.

Soon, the only sound in the room was the nervous shuffle of hooves drawing nearer until Fluttershy felt them embrace her.

“You won't be alone, Fluttershy.”

[o-0-o]

“We're almost ready.”

“Good… good…”

“…”

“I am glad that you've decided to attend, my student.”

“I thought it best that I observe. Just in case the worst does come to pass.”

“…”

“…”

“So little faith.”

“You would know best, milady.”

“And such insubordination as well. I fear I’ve taught you too well.”

“…”

“…”

“I believe in you, milady. But all this. Just too much is unknown.”

“Indeed.”

“I stand by my prior assessment. The risk—”

“Is high. Your fears are understandable. There is a great deal of fear to be had, toiling in ignorance, but this is a burden that were—are forced to bear.”

“Forced?”

“…”

“I fail to see how we are being forced in any way. This is not a necessary risk in the least. There are other conduits. Perhaps it would take time, but surely it would mitigate the danger if not your conscience.”

“There may be… greater dangers in not taking this risk.”

“…”

“…”

“What aren't you telling me, Celestia?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Your majesty!”

“…”

“M’lord?”

“…”

“Are they prepared?”

“Yes, your majesty.”

“Let us begin then.”

“Yes… let’s.”

[o-0-o]

Fluttershy trembled in Twilight's grasp; the hooves were warm, but devoid of any comfort as she found her thoughts playing the moment over and over in her head.

If it had done what it had to Rainbow Dash, what were the chances that Twili—

“It's a chance we need to take,” Twilight whispered softly, her chin resting atop the pegasus's head as her hooves held tight. “I… I'm scared too. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t, but I'm not what's important here. You are, Fluttershy… you are.”

“But… I can't do this alone…”

“You won't be, Fluttershy. Remember, even if I'm not here, I am. Dash had it right. You’re what matters here. Not Rainbow Dash. Not me. Not Pinkie or Rarity or Applejack. Besides”—she paused a moment as Fluttershy tilted her head up to look—“I know you'll remember us. I know you'll win because I know you.”

Fluttershy lowered her gaze to stare at the empty room around them, glancing at the pedestal at the center of the room.

She recalled the corrupted alicorn standing at the room’s center. She thought back to the night she had sealed her friendship with not only Twilight, but the others as well. Ties that had previously looped between them by happenstance and chance were solidified and tightened. She could feel the warmth she’d felt that night as she looked from the deserted pedestal to Twilight's smiling, confident visage.

“O-okay. You’re right. We can do this.” She slipped from the unicorn's hooves and rose to her own.

“Know we can, Fluttershy,” Twilight said in response, rising and trotting over to the pedestal. “Okay… right about here.” She positioned her hooves carefully before looking back at the still trembling but determined pegasus. “Ready?”

“Well, no… but I know we have to,” Fluttershy said with a wry little smile. “How are we doing this?”

“I figure if you stay by the door and I stand here,” Twilight began, motioning to her hooves, “then we might trigger the memory.”

“And you think that will work?”

“It's worked pretty well so far,” the unicorn stated with a shrug of her shoulders.

As Fluttershy watched on, Twilight stared intently at the center of the platform.

She stared.

For a few seconds…

…then minutes…

“Twilight?”

“Yeah?”

“Nothing is happening,” Fluttershy stated bluntly, shifting from forehoof to forehoof nervously.

“Yeah… I can see that,” Twilight replied before falling silent, glaring at the faulty platform. “Stupid rock.” She growled audibly before perking back up. “Maybe if you go down the stairs and come back up?”

“Um… I'd rather not,” Fluttershy admitted, sweeping an idle hoof across the floor. “If you wouldn't mind…”

“Fluttershy…”

“Okay,” the pegasus agreed in little more than a murmur, trotting towards the staircase.

She paused a moment at the top to glance at Twilight.

“It'll be alright, Fluttershy,” her friend reassured her, the soft smile belying the nervous tremble of her body. “I know it will.”

Fluttershy didn't speak, she simply nodded before trotting down a few steps until the room was out of sight.

“Twilight!”

“Yeah?” the reply echoed off the stone walls.

“I don't think this is working!”

“Just give it a minute!”

“I don't think it's—”

A harsh shriek issued forth from the top of the stairs, Fluttershy's eyes going wide as the fur on the nape of her neck stood on end.

“Twilight!”

An evil laugh filled the stairwell as they ran up the stairs.

They’d recognized the shriek. The thunderous crash of hooves on stone that followed had only fed the doubts and fears, but they were compelled onwards. They felt something. Something that permeated the very air.

“Don't worry, Twilight, we're here,” Pinkie called out as they pressed on.

“Don't worry, we'll be there,” Applejack hollered as well.

A chorus of hope for the lone unicorn as she faced the threat of Nightmare Moon.

Alone, but not for long.

“You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that?”

They arrived at the top to find Twilight in a standoff with the corrupted alicorn. The dark visage of the alicorn spoke of a rage barely contained as they took flanked their newfound friend.

“Well, you're wrong, because the spirits of The Elements of Harmony are right here!”

As she spoke, the remnants of the elements began to shake and shudder and glow at the dark alicorn’s feet.

“What?” Nightmare Moon reared back in surprise as they lifted into the air all around her.

“Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of Honesty!”

A few of the remnants broke away to encircle Applejack, glowing a soft orange as they did so.

Fluttershy glanced at to the main concentration to see another grouping of shards peeling away.

“Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of Kindness!”

She flapped back as the now pink glowing shards surrounded her, arcing around her almost protectively.

“Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of Laughter!”

Pinkie bounced up excitedly as a group of blue shards surrounded her, Fluttershy smiling softly at her infectious excitement.

“Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift represents the spirit of Generosity!”

The usually talkative fashionista blushed as a ring of purple shards surrounded her.

“And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart's desire represents the spirit of Loyalty!”

Rainbow simply hovered, her determination unwavering as red-glowing shards flew around her, glinting dangerously.

“The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us.”

“You still don't have the sixth Element!” Nightmare Moon sputtered, a subtle fear tinging in her voice. “The spark didn't work!”

“But it did. A different kind of spark,” Twilight corrected the alicorn before turning to her allies. “I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you. The spark ignited inside me… when I realized that you all”—she turned her focus back to the alicorn—“are my friends!”

Fluttershy gasped as a ball of light formed just above them.

Rays of blinding-white light flooded down as a new element, the sixth, descended just above Twilight as the dark alicorn could only shield herself from its light.

“You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the… the spark, that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth element: the element of… Magic!”

Fluttershy felt a warmth invade her as the shards surrounding her no longer simply glowed with the light, but were imbued fully with it. The gray stone became pink crystal as she felt their energy flowing through her every cell and fiber. She closed her eyes as the pink crystals shot towards her, opening them once more to find that they had formed a singular crystal that now hung about her neck in a clasp formed from the aether.

As she closed her eyes again, however, she did not find herself staring into the familiar dark, but, like a babe opening its eyes for the first time, she saw the world anew.

She saw her friends as they surrounded her, but not as mere unicorn, pegasus or earth ponies.

She saw them not as ponies at all, not as mere corporeal beings that could be brushed aside by the threat before them.

She saw the light of their very being made visible. The glowing silhouettes of their auras reaching out to touch her own as they all flowed together around the Twilight’s magenta silhouette before forming into a ball of pure light as they all lifted into the air.

The pure ebbed and flowed together into a rainbow of light that coursed upwards before swirling around the now screaming alicorn.

Her cries increased in volume as Fluttershy could feel the energy being drained from her, the fuel for something she couldn’t explain but implicitly understood. She could feel something building as the rainbow formed a brilliantly colored tornado around the dark alicorn.

And, as she looked over, she could make out the black silhouette of its form within the vortex, but beyond it, she could see the faintest outline of another aura, an aura of midnight blue within the black shell.

Finally, Fluttershy felt it coming to a head, the alicorn’s cries fading beneath the sound of the whirling magic. But something was wrong… something was off.

She could hear it.

Softly at first, but growing by the second until it filled Fluttershy’s mind and subsumed her thoughts in fear.

Laughter.

It was laughter.

Dark, knowing laughter.

Fluttershy’s eyes snapped open in time to watch the rainbow twist and shift before exploding outward, sending the ponies scattering across the room. Fluttershy tumbling back along the floor before collapsing in a dazed heap.

With a groan, shelooked up to find that the rainbow vortex remained, swirling about the dark alicorn as her laughter filled the hall.

“Did you honestly believed you could defeat me so easily?”

Fluttershy watched in horror as the colors bled from the rainbow and vanished into the gray air, slowing as the energy was taken from it.

“Oh, you poor… poor little foals,” the voice calmly reproached them, speaking as if to a child whose ice cream had fallen into the dirt. “So much faith. Broken so very easily.”

Fluttershy trembled as the vortex halted, leaving a gray swirl that began to chip and crack. Panicked, she glanced from the disintegrating rainbow to her friends as they lay, scattered and struggling.

“Oh, my sad, pathetic, little ponies…”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened as the rainbow crumbled to reveal the dark alicorn.

Or rather, what she had become.

“Perhaps now you will know…”

An audible gasp rose from the ponies as it rose from the ashes of harmony. Wisps of pure darkness curled up from its pitch-black form as it stepped forward, smiling with glinting teeth that would’ve seemed more at home on a dragon or a manticore than anything remotely equine in nature. It looked upon them with cruel, draconic eyes that seemed to pierce, sending a shudder of fear through Fluttershy as she struggled to her hooves.

“This ain’t right… this ain’t how it happened…” Fluttershy heard Applejack’s voice echo softly beside her.

A deep, rumbling laugh echoed in the hall as the nightmare strode towards them. Fluttershy could feel her knees trembling as the floor began to shake and, with a cacophony of cracking stone, the room tumbled apart around them as the nightmare filled it fully.

The deepest dark filled the sky above them as the beast stared down at them.

“Now you will know your folly!”

Fluttershy gasped as a trio of shadowy tendrils lashed out around her. She watched as they struck at and then through her friends. One by one they cracked and burst apart in bursts of light that were soon consumed by the dark.

For a moment, Fluttershy was silent.

Then she felt it building in her constricted throat.

She screamed.

She screamed as the last of them faded.

She screamed as the tendrils lanced towards her.

“Fluttershy!”

She screamed as they tightened around her neck, choking the voice from her as she was thrust into the air.

All she could do was kick her hooves futilely, trembling wings clasped to her sides as she stared into those terrible, slitted eyes before her as their color shifted.

“Fluttershy! Hold on!”

She could hear the yells as the beast’s gaze pierced her with its now red eyes. She gave a shudder as her limbs went limp, the air cut off. She could feel everything starting to slip, the image before her swirling and fading the longer she stared.

“Let her go!”

The crackle of electricity filled the air as the nightmare let out a bestial roar, shaking her to the core.

She felt the beast’s grip slip from her and soon enough she felt stone beneath her hooves once more.

“It could have been gentle, you know…”

She heard it whisper in her mind, the voice seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Gasping and choking, she stared up at the now smirking nightmare.

“Get away from her!” Twilight yelled, drawing the nightmare’s attention as her magic concentrated around her horntip. She growled as her horn arcced with arcane energies, moving to fill the space between Fluttershy and the nightmare.

“So sad,” it remarked, simply shaking its head, the omnipresent smirk remaining as it feigned its sympathies. “This could have been so much easier if you’d just been cooperative. Nopony had to be hurt.”

“Liar!” Twilight hissed, bits of magic shooting off her horn as she wielded it like a torch against the darkness before them.

Fluttershy could say nothing, her body refusing to comply. Whether it was to flee or fight, it didn’t matter. She could only stare at the beast, trembling with an all-encompassing fear.

“Well, if you shall cling to these”—the nightmare leaned dangerously close to Twilight—“silly little apparitions, perhaps I will simply have to rid you of them.”

The nightmare shot forward, the magic surrounding Twilight’s horn dispelling as the unicorn ducked the beast’s snapping jaw with a frightened yelp.

“Twilight!” Fluttershy managed to cry out as a tendril of darkness snaked forward to grab Twilight’s neck and hoist her into the air.

Legs kicking against the incorporeal shade, she was lifted up to eye level with the nightmare.

“What a sorry apparition you are. Strange that you’ve survived this long.”

“D-don’t hurt her,” Fluttershy stammered out. “P-please… don’t.”

“Do you hear that, my little apparition? Do you hear how pathetic your master is?” the shadow asked the flailing unicorn as its form twisted and shifted, the once equine shape losing its definition as it grew larger and longer. “Perhaps you should have learned from her.”

“Fluttershy…” Twilight gasped out as she was lifted higher and higher.

“Please… please don’t…” Fluttershy choked on the words, tears flowing freely.

“Fluttershy… don—”

The beast grinned wickedly, a pair of monstrous fangs now protruding from its maw as it choked the life from its victim.

“Fluttershy… don’t give… don’t give in…”

Fluttershy found herself unable to reply, feeling her frightened eyes upon her.

The beast merely laughed as it lowered the unicorn towards Fluttershy.

“Oh, what shall you do, little pegasus?” it rumbled with a mocking laugh, the grin widening as it became more and more defined, scaly tail wrapped tight around the unicorn’s throat.

I won’t let you down, Twilight… any of you…

The serpent’s laugh filled the hall as it looked upon her with malice-filled eyes. Its body coiled as it reared to its full height, the throne room groaning as it expanded impossibly to accommodate the beast’s massive girth.

Slowly, the beast brought Twilight down to Fluttershy’s level so that they might look one another in the eye.

“Perhaps you need a moment,” it said, black tongue flicking out.

“Flutter… shy,” Twilight choked out, voice strained. “I know you ca—”

“Twilight!”

Fluttershy’s cry mixed with the echo of the snap and, with a soft thud, the body hit the floor just before her. Her neck was twisted at an odd angle, lolling, eyes still wide open.

“Oops, too late.”

“Twilight.” She stared at the now motionless unicorn, shuddering as she brushed a hoof across her side.

She felt cold… so cold…

Slowly, before Fluttershy’s eyes, the colors faded, leaving behind a cruel, stone representation of the unicorn.

“Oh, this just won’t do,” the snake cooed, trailing a coil cautiously over the stony remains. “We certainly can’t leave her in such a state. It simply wouldn’t do.”

The beast pulled back, Fluttershy moving to grab the unicorn before it slammed its tail hard into the ground, sending Fluttershy back onto her stomach and the statue into the air.

“No!”

Fluttershy made a desperate to dive for her, but, as she skidded across the floor with a powerful flap of her wings, she watched it crack and break apart.

Trembling, she felt the ash settling around her, a small pile accumulating in the soles of her forehooves before the horn hit, shattering completely.

She simply stared for a moment, eyes burning as she felt the bile bubble up in her throat.

“Tell me, little one.” The snake curled about the trembling pegasus, its voice cooing gently as Fluttershy felt its tongue tasting the air around her. “How long do you wish to play this game of yours?”

Fluttershy was silent, the snake’s breath scattering the ashes across the floor as she could only watch.

“Or rather,” the serpent’s voice filled with a cruel sneer as it encircled her, “how much longer can you keep playing this game?”

The pegasus whimpered, eyes screwed shut, as the serpent’s tongue flicked through her mane, tasting her apprehension, her fear, her cowardice.

“Such a weak, pathetic specimen. Are you certain you’re even a pegasus?” the nightmare asked with a smile, lowering itself to eye level as it shrank to a more manageable size. “Hardly even a pony. Perhaps something in the rodent family would have suited you better. Perhaps even a hermit crab.”

Fluttershy curled tighter around herself as the nightmare shrank to a pony-sized serpent. She could feel the coolness of the scales as they sapped the warmth from her. The light dimmed and the throne room faded away until it was just Fluttershy and the nightmare, suspended in darkness.

“Now… your friend on the other hoof…”

Fluttershy’s ears perked, shivers ceasing even as the coils tightened.

She felt it once more.

“Rainbow Dash. There was a specimen of a pegasus. So bold. A bit arrogant, but a pony that could get things done,” the nightmare mused as Fluttershy’s eyes opened to stare at the distracted serpent. “That could have been a challenge. Some sport at least.”

Fluttershy felt it growing within her, a familiar feeling.

“But alas, we have poor, pathetic little Fluttershy. Truly is a fitting name for you, isn’t it?”

”Stop talking about her…”

“What was that?” the snake asked mockingly, uncoiling slightly as it looked at her. “Does the poor widdle Fwuttershy have something to say?”

“Stop talking about her,” Fluttershy growled, eyes shut as a few stray tears curled down her cheeks. “You don’t have the right.”

“Oh, and who will be stopping me, little one?”

“I will,” Fluttershy whispered, eyes opening to reveal a pair of glaring turquoise eyes.

“Hmph,” the nightmare snorted, unfazed by the pegasus’s stare. “You must be kidding.”

“You won’t win,” she stated, the edges of her eyes beginning to glow, a soft pink light filling them.

“Oh, this again,” the snake mused, drawing back as Fluttershy stood, her body filling with strength. “Perhaps this will be a bit more interesting.” The snake chuckled as it rose again, its mass increasing once more to fill the blown apart throne room, the light casting away the darkness.

“We beat you once. We can do it again,” Fluttershy whispered, taking a solitary step towards the serpentine monster as her wings flared aggressively behind her.

The pegasus’s natural turquoise eyes had been subsumed by the pink light and she could once more see the beast, not as it appeared, but as it truly was: a formless shadow that pulsed and throbbed with darkness. She traced the flowing black tendrils that extended from its body, linking it to the shifting throne room.

“Oh, this will most entertaining,” the nightmare remarked, voice no longer coming from its serpentine mouth but the room itself, the stones trembling with its deep, rumbling bass.

“You don’t scare me,” Fluttershy stated, her conviction wavering ever so slightly as she heard the stonework groan, threatening to collapse around them.

Spiderwebs of cracks shot through out the stonework as a deep, throaty rumble surrounded the lone pegasus.

“But you should be.” The tremors of the beast’s laughter shook the room to its very foundations as the shadow expanded ever larger before, without warning, it cracked apart. “Only a mad pony wouldn’t be…”

The room split right down the middle, the walls and windows snapping into twisted shards that burst outwards, leaving only the barest structure remaining as a few stray columns and the entrance were still rooted to the relatively intact floor by vines.

Fluttershy glanced about, eyes wide as the forces of gravity seemed lost to this world, bits of the former room hovering as remote islands in a sea of endless dark.

“For you see, dear Fluttershy,” the serpent began, “you are in my domain now.”

Author's Note

[revised 08-24-2014]

13 [Arc 01 - Perturbation, Part Nine] <rev. 09.14.2014>

“Oh, Fluttershy? Fluttershy? Where are you, Fluttershy?” the voice sang the questions sweetly. “Where have you gone? Where could you be?”

“There you are!”

Fluttershy squealed as hooves hooked about her waist, dragging her from her hiding spot beneath the couch and into the air, spinning her around the room before drawing her into a familiar embrace.

“Awww, you found me!” she cried out in faux disappointment, pouting dramatically.

“Well, you shouldn’t leave your tail hanging out then,” came the reply, complete with a hearty laugh.

“My…” She quirked an eyebrow.

She hadn’t considered her long pink tail at all, the tip still resting just in front of the couch, making it obvious where she had been hidden.

“Oh… well…” Her once-dramatized pout edged gently into reality.

Dissatisfaction, however, was soon buried by a sudden fit of laughter as her pursuer blew a big, wet raspberry right on her exposed belly.

“M-oooom!” she cried through the sudden onslaught of the dreaded giggles, her mother coming up for air to give her a moment’s respite.

“Oh no, Fluttershy!” she cried out in mock horror. “It’s the dreaded giggle monster come to get you! Rar!” With that, the pair of auburn eyes dipped and a fresh set of fits seized the little filly as she squirmed in her mother’s grasp.

“Qu-quit it, m-mom!” came the stuttered cries of not-yet-surrender.

Her mother halted momentarily, glancing up with a cat-like grin before pressing her assault once more.

“Pl-ea-ease!”

Another brief respite as her mother looked up.

“Please whom?”

“Please, mom!” Fluttershy responded immediately.

“Hmm… not sure….”

“Please, ma’am!”

“That’s a girl.” Her mother gave a curt nod, rolling off the filly and up onto the couch. “Ready for bed then, squirt?”

“But I wanted to wait for daddy,” Fluttershy murmured, staring at her mother with a big, begging eyes. “Just a few more minutes?”

The elder pegasus hummed. “Alright, a few more minutes, but he’s not off work ‘til really late, honey. Sure you can make it?”

“Oh, I’m not tired at all,” Fluttershy replied with a nod.

“Alrighty, ‘Shy. So what should we do while we wait then?”

“We could play a game… maybe. If you want to, I mean,” the little filly replied, stumbling over her words.

“Sure thing. How about…” She trailed off for a moment, eyes rolling over the nearby bookshelves. “Oh! How about we play Weather Wars? Your little friend seemed to really enjoy that one.”

“Oh… um… maybe…” Fluttershy mumbled as she recalled her rainbow-maned friend’s veritable repertoire of victory celebrations.

With a few precise flaps, her mother zipped over to the shelf, grabbed the game and was back before Fluttershy could muster a more proper protest.

“Oh… seems we’re missing some of the pieces…” She dug around in the box for a moment, the rattle of plastic rather muted. “A lot of the pieces.”

She looked up to find her daughter’s head hidden behind a wing, the bright red of her blush filtering through the feathers.

“Um… sorry…”

They had spent the better part of an hour tracking down pieces after a particularly exuberant shuffle sent the game, board and all, scattering out the window. They probably hadn’t even found half by the time the sun had set and they were called inside.

“Well… so much for that game.” Her mother was quiet a second, eyes searching the cloud home before settling on the staircase. “Oh! I have a great idea!” she shouted excitedly, shocking Fluttershy out from behind her wings. “Wait right there!”

In a flash, the older pegasus was up the stairs.

Fluttershy could hear mumbles issuing forth from the bedrooms. Then a loud crash, Fluttershy wincing at the sound, followed by a long string of words that brought an even heavier blush to the little pegasus’s face.

A moment later, her mother trotted happily down the stairs.

“Tah-dah!” she declared with a flourish, clutching a large bucket in her mouth and looking somewhat more disheveled than usual as she set it down.

“What’s that?”

“What do you mean? You don’t remember the last time we were out at Grammy’s cottage?”

Fluttershy thought a moment and shook her head.

“Oh… well, I guess it has been a while,” her mother murmured, tapping a hoof on her chin. She shook whatever deep thoughts from her mind and glanced down. “It’s a bucketful of clay!”

“Dirt?”

“No! Well… yes, technically, but a specific kind of dirt. You really had a real tal”—she paused a moment, tongue stuck out in concentration as she tried to work the lid with her hooves before giving up and gripping it with her teeth to yank it open—“talent for it too. Just need to add a bit of water,” she hastily interjected as Fluttershy scrunched up her face at the dry, powdery mass inside the bucket.

Fluttershy gave the grayish clay an experimental sniff as her mother clomped into the kitchen.

It had a nice smell to it, a familiar scent that directed a pleasurable shudder down her spine.

By the time her mother had returned with a pitcher of water and a few large towels on her back, Fluttershy had relaxed a great deal, smiling at the pleasantly earthy odor.

“Ha! Knew you’d remember.”

Fluttershy sat up, smile replaced by a grimace. “What’re the towels for?”

“So your father doesn’t”—she drew a hoof across her neck and gurgled dramatically—“me.”

Fluttershy stared at her mother, wide-eyed.

“So we don’t make a mess of things is all. Sorry,” she apologized with a sheepish grin. “Don’t think your daddy would appreciate us smearing dirt all over the living room, right?”

“Oh… of course.”

She recalled the last time her mother’s friends had come for the evening, leaving the living room a mess. A strange silence had hung over the house for a full week, broken only by iterations of ‘Fluttershy, tell your father this,’ and ‘Fluttershy, tell your mother that.’

“We certainly don’t want that,” her mother stated, giving Fluttershy a quick, assuring nudge before dumping the pitcher into the bucket. “C’mon, let’s get to it.”

“What do we do?”

“Well, first we need to mix in the water, I think…” she muttered uncertainly, jamming her hooves into the watery clay with a soft sploosh and a squelch.

“Can I help?”

“‘Course. Hop up.”

Fluttershy jumped onto the coffee table cautiously. Peering into the bucket, she watched the mare’s forelegs working the now grey-brown mixture. Tentatively, she reached her hooves in, her mother pulling away as Fluttershy’s hooves sank into the muck with a delightful squelch. She couldn’t help but giggle at the feel of it, the coolness wonderful on her hooves.

“Good idea, huh?” Her mother grinned. “Almost thought you should have been born an earth pony the way you took to Grammy.”

Fluttershy didn’t reply, far too busy working the heavy lumps of clay, the water seeming to disappear as the lump took shape.

“Alright, looks like you’re done. Now for the fun part.” Her mother pulled away an area rug, spreading out the towel on the cloud floor itself, weighting the corners with whatever was close at hoof.

Then, rather unceremoniously, she dumped out the lump onto the spread towel.

“Now we create! Muah!” She let out a single deep laugh akin to those Fluttershy had heard from the scientists in those monster movies her parents didn’t know she’d seen with Rainbow Dash.

“Create what?”

“Whatever we want to…”

[o-0-o]

“Hey… Fluttershy…”

A pair of hooves shook her gently, eliciting an unhappy grumble as the pegasus merely turned over in her seat.

“We’re here, ‘Shy. It’s time to wake up.”

“Buh. It’s too early…” the little filly muttered, curling up even tighter to shut out the encroaching sunlight.

“It’s past noon.”

“…more sleep…” she demanded blithely, trying to roll over only to flip herself out from her seat and onto the cloudy surface of the parkway. “Wha?”

“We’re at the fair,” the voice cooed, a hoof hefting her up before flicking a stray tuft of cloud from her mane. “Told you you shouldn’t have stayed up so late.”

“Oh… but we were just having so much fun… and Daddy was—” She broke off for a moment as the words stuck in her throat. “Did Daddy come home?”

“Yeah… tried getting you up for breakfast so you could say goodbye, but you well all tuckered out,” her mother chided her gently, lifting the filly onto her back. “He ended up having an early shift so we thought that you and I could have the day together.”

“Just the two of us?” Fluttershy perked up at the notion.

It’d been months.

“Just the two of us.”

Fluttershy smiled as her mother tossed a few bits the cabby’s way, the surly-looking pegasus snatching them out of the air as he took off for another fare.

“Well… somepony’s huffy today,” her mother muttered. “Well, won’t be letting anything ruin today now, will we?”

“Nope!” Fluttershy chirped excitedly.

“That’s m’girl!” Her mother grinned, giving the little filly a nuzzle. “So what should we do first? We could try some of the booths or the concession or one of the rides! I heard they were preparing an awesome cour—” She halted, craning her neck up to stare at something. “Oh…”

Fluttershy followed her gaze, her stomach doing a preemptive flip.

“Oh… my…”

[o-0-o]

It was a much greener Fluttershy that wandered out of the flight course, followed by her ecstatically gushing mother.

“And then the loop! Hit that going full-out!” she yelled excitedly, giving Fluttershy a crunching hug that only exacerbated the little filly’s gymnastically inclined innards. “And he thought that yer momma didn’t still have it. Well, we showed him, huh?”

Fluttershy managed only a weak nod, hooves uncooperative as she staggered forwards, trying to match her mother’s excited trot.

“Hey… you alright, ‘Shy?” A hoof appeared at her side to steady her.

“I’m—urp—fine…” she replied, choking down a bit of bile.

“Maybe we’ll um… do something a bit calmer now,” she offered, bringing the smaller pegasus to her side so that she might serve as a crutch. “Something with a few less G’s.”

“That sounds… nice.” Fluttershy blushed, her gaze stuck to the cloudy surface beneath them, watching to make sure her hooves contacted the surface properly. “Sorry I didn’t do so well, Momma…”

Fluttershy felt her crutch vanish for a moment as her mother halted rather suddenly. As the little pegasus looked back, her mother’s face was obscured by her mane.

“Momma?”

There came no reply for a moment, just steady breaths as Fluttershy moved to her side.

“Momma… something the matter?”

“Yeah… lot of things,” came a half-choked, chuckling reply. “But none of that right now, okay?”

Fluttershy fell quiet as she slipped beneath her mother’s mane. Looking up into her mother’s face, Fluttershy bit her lip at the bitter mix of humor and sadness found there.

“It’s supposed to be our day, ‘Shy. That means its your day too.” She paused. “Your day especially.”

“It’s okay. I just like it when you’re happy.”

“I…” She straightened up, hugging the little pegasus tight before brushing her own mane from her face. “You’re a great kid, you know that?” Her eyes were red but no longer teary. “So how about we find something we both like. Might be good for us both to just slow down and enjoy the day.”

Fluttershy smiled in response before glancing about. "Oh! How about the weather ride?” she asked, gleefully tugging towards the familiar attraction.

“You sure? It’s kind of a little filly ri—” She cut herself off as Fluttershy gave her a look. “Fair ‘nough. Let’s go.”

As the pair took off, neither noticed the world behind them tearing at its seams, a soft blue light cutting through the clouds as what was forgotten vanished into a gray mist.

[o-0-o]

“Ooooh…. my head…”

“…”

“Did it work?”

“I… I do not know.”

“Fluttershy? Can you hear us, Fluttershy?”

“…”

“Wait… what’s happening?”

“Tha… that can’t be right.”

“…”

“Princess?”

“…”

“Fluttershy?”

[o-0-o]

Minutes later, the pair were locked securely into a car, Fluttershy grinning excitedly as her mother squirmed a bit in the less than mare-sized ride.

“Do we need this?” she asked the attendant, gesturing to the bar pressed into her stomach.

“Regulations, ma’am,” the pock-marked colt replied blankly, moving on to the next car as theirs departed the station.

“Bah on your regulations,” she muttered darkly, Fluttershy giggling.

“Oh, momma. It’s not so bad.”

She continued to squirm beneath the bar. “I hate being trapped like this.”

“Shh-shh! It’s starting!” Fluttershy hissed as they came to first part of the ride, an excited stallion’s voice crackling to life.

“It is a question that had baffled ponykind for thousands of years,” the voice declared in a masterful show of practiced excitement. “How to create and maintain weather for all the ponies of Equestria! Back in the pre-alicorn era, before the reign of our dear princess Celestia…”

The voice rambled on, unimpressed upon by Fluttershy’s excited gasps at the spectacle around her nor by the hardly stifled groans of her companion fidgeting with the cart.

“There has got to be a latch or a button or a—Ha!” She spotted the emergency latch, sending the bar into an upright and blissfully open position. “Much better. I tell ya, whoever designed this did not have ponies in mind. I mean, who sits like that, honestly? Anypony you know?”

“Nope,” Fluttershy replied with a smile as the elder pegasus stretched out.

“Definitely didn’t have pegasi in mind.”

“Won’t we get in trouble?”

“Aww… what’s the worst they’ll do? Kick us off? Nopony’ll notice before we’re at the end anyways,” she stated before lowering her voice. “‘Sides, between you an’ me, I’m thinking that colt was a few droplets short of a raincloud.”

“Mom!”

Fluttershy rolled her eyes, but even she had to admit it. It was far more comfortable without the bar. She took a more natural position as she stared out at the displays.

They’d arrived at one of the largest scenes: a scale model of the whole of Equestria lay about them, complete with slowly moving weather systems the PA droned on about.

She swore that she could even see a pony or two moving about if she squinted real hard. It just seemed so small from where she sat.

“Big, huh?”

Fluttershy looked over at her mother, an eyebrow cocked.

“Well… the model too, but I meant the real thing.”

“Oh… yeah…”

“I mean, just look at Cloudsdale.”

Fluttershy glanced to the left of giant spire that was Canterlot Castle to the floating city of Cloudsdale. She could make out the coliseum and the city proper. She could nearly even make out the block upon which they lived.

“And just think, we’re tiny little specks somewhere in there.”

“Yeah…”

Their car passed by a particularly nasty-looking patch of weather, their narrator talking about weather wrangling as a squadron of tiny mechanized pegasi intercepted the storm.

“Makes you think.”

“I guess…” Fluttershy muttered, her eyelids beginning to droop as the narrator’s excited drone faded to a steady, soothing tone.

“I’ve been thinking, ‘Shy, I think… ‘Shy?”

Fluttershy merely yawned in response.

“Still sleepy?” her mother asked, scooting over to heft the smaller pegasus up into her hooves. “That’s okay, baby… we can always talk later.”

“You can talk now… if you want.” Fluttershy stifled a yawn as her eyes closed, her mother’s hooves swaying her gently back and forth. “I’ll listen…”

“It’s alright… we’ll talk later. Just relax.”

Fluttershy snuggled into her mother, digging her head into the soft chest fur, wings fluttering as she got comfortable.

“Momma?”

“Yeah, ‘Shy?”

“Can… remember when you used to sing?”

Her mother was quiet a moment. “Yeah?”

“Can you sing to me?”

“Yeah, I think I can do that.”

“Thanks, Momma,” Fluttershy whispered.

She coughed and began to hum, voice cracking slightly before she began the song proper.

“Hush now, quiet now,

Time to lay your sleepy head.

Hush now, quiet now,

Time to go to bed…”

Fluttershy’s eyes closed fully as the song went on, the dull drone of the narration vanishing, leaving her with only the lullaby. Memories of a bygone time bubbled to the surface, a feeling of peace she hadn’t felt in years returning.

“Hush now, quiet now,

Time to lay your sleepy head.

Hush now, quiet now,

Time to go to bed.”

Unbeknownst to the little pegasus, something had shifted around them. The model Equestria had changed. The once blurred edges of the models had crystallized. The once plastic trees and magical apparitions had been replaced by something truer as, up from the Everfree Forest, there rose a shadow.

“Drifting off to sleep,

The exciting day behind you.

Drifting off to sleep,

Let the joy of dreamtime find you.”

Up from the forest the beast rose, attacked and pestered by a blur of red. In a distant corner of her mind, she could hear the familiar brow, her brow creased as a cold sweat broke out along her. The skies above swirled with the strange clouds, crackling with an arcane light, glowing a deep magenta before, with a flash, the light cut through the dark.

The echo of a scream filled her ears just beneath the song.

“Hush now, quiet now,

Time to lay your sleepy head.

Hush now, quiet now,

Time to go to bed.”

The car ground to a stop, the lights above dimming as the ride was filled with the magenta light. The thick cloud walls that blocked the ride from the rest of the fair bulged beneath the influence of a soft blue light before they suddenly burst inwards, Fluttershy shooting up as tearing winds ripped through the ride.

“Hush now…”

“Momma, what’s happening?!” Fluttershy cried out, burying herself further into her mother’s grasp, staring up with frightened eyes at the seemingly oblivious pegasus, her eyes closed as she continued her song.

“…quiet now…”

Their car heaved to the side violently, the magical track it had been following vanishing along with all the other cars beyond them, bursting into shadowy motes.

“Momma!”

Hooves slipped as both were sent careening from the car, Fluttershy’s undersized wings beating hard just to keep herself steady as her mother’s grip vanished.

What’s happening?

No longer was she above a model Equestria.

She was hundreds of miles above the real thing, her mother tumbling down through a hole in the clouds as storms raged about them, tearing apart what remained of the ride’s facade.

“…time to lay your sleepy head…”

Fear coursing through her, Fluttershy instinctively folded her wings and dove.

Her mother seemingly locked in her position, an automaton’s hoof running through a now absent mane as the song gently rose to greet Fluttershy.

“Hush now, quiet now…”

“Mom!”

Fluttershy rushed towards her mother, hooves outstretched as tears were torn from her eyes to join the chilling rains .

“It’s time to go…”

She grasped at her mother, hooves missing once… twice… before they found her the third time, looping beneath the elder mare’s shoulders.

“Mom! Please wake up!” she begged, pulling and yanking at the frozen pegasus. Her wings beat as hard as they could, but were unable to slow, much less stop, their descent. “Please!”

As she cried out the second time, she clutched her close, a strange warmth filling the filly. A pink glow flowed out from daughter to mother.

“Wha? Fluttershy?!” her mother gasped, eyes wide and panicked, her hooves immediately grasping at her daughter. “What’s happening?!”

“I d-don’t kn-know!” Fluttershy choked out, still beating her wings as furiously as she could.

Glancing down to see the ground rising to meet them, her mother immediately flared her wings wide, clutching Fluttershy to her chest before angling them slowly out of their dive. They glanced over the top of Everfree, leaves and branches whipping at them as her mother dodged around clawing treetops, trying to level them off properly.

Her mother yelled something over the roar of the storm, the winds buffeting them as the rains finally caught up with them, sending them deeper and deeper into the dense woods.

“There! There!” Fluttershy shouted, spotting the familiar patch of grassland.

Just beyond her cottage… her—

Her mother cried out as they were dragged downwards by an added weight, sending them both tumbling to the thankfully muddy ground.

All was quiet for a moment, just the distant thunder and rains settling around them.

“Fluttershy! Baby, are you alright?”

“I-I think so…” Fluttershy whispered as she carefully disentangled herself. “Are you…”

Fluttershy’s mother didn’t reply, simply staring at the filly turned mare in disbelief, eyes tinged with tears.

“Y… you got big…” she muttered, words almost lost in the howling storm.

Fluttershy looked at herself to find that her mother was indeed right, her lanky filly form replaced by her… well, by her normal body. A strange sense of foreboding settled in the pit of her stomach.

“Mom… we have to go…” she whispered, frightened thoughts dancing in her mind.

“Go? Go where? And what happened? You were so small and now you’re… big and I…” Her mother choked on her words, grasping Fluttershy tight to her as fear filled her voice. “I-I remember. Oh, Celestia…”

“Mom, we need to go. We need to run!” Fluttershy implored, fighting the older pegasus’s fearful grasp.

“I’m so sorry, Fluttershy. I’m so, so sorry…” Fluttershy could feel the warm tears as her mother buried her face in her chest. “Please forgive me…”

“I… I don’t…” Fluttershy murmured in confusion, awkwardly patting her sopping mane with a hoof, but there came no reply.

The storm began to slacken even as the darkness around them grew thick. Fluttershy watched in horror as forest edge darkened and then swelled, shadows stretching towards them like a hundred grasping hooves.

“We have to go! We can talk a little later, but for now we have to go.”

Fluttershy dragging her mother back from the shadows before suddenly being halted by a sudden cry of pain.

“Mom!”

Her mother collapsed to the ground, twitching and writhing in agony.

Fluttershy’s eyes darted over her, seeking some source for her distress, but she found none.

“What’s wrong?!”

There was no reply, just a groan as the darkness crept forwards slowly.

Fluttershy begged and pleaded, pulling at her mother’s hoof even as her own hooves struggled in the mud. She stared down at her mother’s heaving chest and then, aided by a flash of lightning, she saw it.

There, a tiny tendril of shadow running into her mother’s chest from the inky black shadows.

“I-I’m sorry, Fluttershy…” she gasped out, half-buried in the muddy earth as Fluttershy slipped and landed with a wet plop in the muddy field.

“I won’t leave you, Momma…” Fluttershy clutched her tight, watching through tear-streaked eyes as the formless shadow drew fully from the forest, a wall coming towards them.

“I… I’ll find you, Fluttershy… I promise…” her mother whispered, blackened eyes fluttering and hooves clutching blindly at her daughter.

“You don’t have to find me. I’m right here, Mom,” Fluttershy muttered blankly as the dark crept up her mother’s hindlegs. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“You need to,” she whispered, voice distorting strangely. “It’s getting cold…”

“I’m no—”

Fluttershy was cut off as the dark hit them, sending her falling back out of instinct, hooves slipping from her mother’s.

“Mom!”

She made a run at the dark barrier, but was yanked back roughly.

“Lemme go! I have to get her!” Fluttershy cried out, looking down to find strands of blue glowing thread laced across her body. “What are you doing?!” She glared at the purple silhouette just behind, the presence of another silhouette, this one a soft blue, only serving to deepen her frustration.

“Go… Fluttershy… go…”

Fluttershy struggled against the magical bonds to no avail, limbs twisting against it weakly until the thread dug painfully into flesh.

“Save her, please!” Fluttershy begged the silhouettes, her body slackening.

The purple silhouette looked to the blue before staring off into the dark. It seemed frustrated as it levitated the now limp Fluttershy onto the blue silhouette’s back.

“Please…”

With a determined huff, the purple silhouette moved into the dark, horn glowing as a thousand needles materialized from the aether to flank it. It turned back momentarily, nodding to the blue silhouette before its horn ignited with magic, a shower of needles plunging into the dark.

Fluttershy shuddered as the roar once more filled the air, the shadow writing as it rose into the air, the blue silhouette taking a few, cautious steps backwards.

“Oh, please no…”

Fluttershy watched in horror as the inky black began to collect a meld into something cohesive, something recognizable. She didn’t have long to watch, however, as a wispy branch, held by a shimmer of magic whipped the blue silhouette’s hindquarters, sending it into a mad gallop.

“No, wait!” she cried out helplessly, watching at the dark formed into a enormous, clawed fist and, as it slammed to the ground.

The unicorn silhouette dodged it as once, rolling aside beneath a second before the third hit and it burst apart, purple motes of light settling around it.

No… not again. Not this again…

She had little time to think as she struggled against her bonds.

“We can’t leave them!”

But the blue pony only galloped harder towards her cottage, reaching it as the dragon’s roaring head burst the shadows.

We can’t just abandon them… we have to go back…

Her silent pleas went unbidden as they rounded the cottage, Fluttershy’s eyes going wide at what she found where her chicken coop had been.

“A… a cann—” Fluttershy gasped as the blue silhouette bucked its rear, sending the bound pegasus up and into the enormous cannon’s barrel, sliding down to the bottom. “Oh, no, no, no, no…”

A small hatch near her head opened to reveal the blue silhouettes featureless face. Somehow she could feel it’s smile as it nodded its head rapidly ‘yes, yes, yes, yes.’

“I can’t! This is crazy!”

The silhouette paused a moment as if to ponder the pegasus’s words before turning back with that same implied grin, nodding vigorously as if to say ‘Yes, and very much yes’ before grasping at the binds around the pegasus, breaking them with a good, hard tug of its teeth.

“Bu-but my wings!” she sputtered out, lifting a limp wing to demonstrate.

The blue silhouette simply gave her a friendly noogie before slamming shut the hatch.

Fluttershy sat in the dark, hooves pressed against the slick innards of the cannon as it began to shift, the cranking of gears echoing through the firing chamber. She watched as the sky shifted around above her until the cannon was pointed directly at the moon.

All was still for a moment before there came a gentle ratta-taptappatap-tap-tap from the cannon wall.

Fluttershy cocked an eyebrow but otherwise didn’t move.

Then it came again, the melody familiar.

Is… that’s… Fluttershy lifted a hoof hesitantly to the cannon’s side.

The melody repeated once more and the pegasus finished it off with the last two notes.

Wait a—

In an explosion of streamers, confetti and what appeared to be a rather large birthday cake, Fluttershy hurtled from the cannon, screaming as she arced towards the moon.

Twisting about in the air, her half-extended wings and her momentum keeping her steady, she looked back at the rapidly shrinking cannon.

No…

She watched the shadow dragon loom over the oblivious silhouette, the blue mare’s hooves waving excitedly as it bounced on its hindlegs.

No no no no no!

It shattered, the beast’s massive clawed foot piercing cannon and silhouette in one go.

Fear rippling through her, Fluttershy spread her wings painfully as she reached the top of her arc.

Her attentions turned to her inevitable destination deep within Everfree. Her wings already cramping, she began her descent, the roaring winds lifting the loose feathers and down from her as she tried vainly to control her flight.

A sudden burst of lightning nearby startled her, wings snapping shut instinctively.

She plummeted, a familiar sight rising to greet her.

The beginning…

Out of the corner of her eye, a blur of red wings hurtled towards her.

[o-0-o]

“Please, Fluttershy… please wake up…”

“…”

“A moment…”

“What?”

“Jus’ do like she says, Rainbow…”

“I… but… okay…”

“…”

“Fluttershy… if you can hear us… we have something to tell you…”

Author's Note

[revised 09-14-2014]

01 [Arc 00 - Potency, Part One] <rev. 08.05.2014>

[-|-Metanoia-|-]

[Arc 00 - Potency]

[o.0.o]

In the spiraling void before all things, there was but shadows and darkness.

Of these shades, the Queen rose in silence, hooves as large as an ocean, wings as wide as a valley and horn as tall as a mountain.

From the darkness she carved the land. First it was the size of a mere grain of sand, but it grew ever larger as more and more of the shades coalesced around the Queen.

As she continued her works, she gave birth to light in twain and from the light came everything that we know today.

From the dark sprang dirt and stone, valley and mountain.

From the mountain sprang water, flowing into a great ocean.

From the valley sprang tree and brush, forest and field.

From the field, the forest and ocean sprang creatures both large and small.

After the birth of all, the Queen receded from her works to rest, the light flowing into all places the shadows had left, forming two orbs that the land might never want for its touch.

The first was sun, the second moon, the Queen’s eternal daughters.

They watched the land, growing close to their mother’s works and, in particular, the ponies in their nomadic herds moving across the great prairies. And all was well for a while.

However, the ponies soon outgrew their prairies and conflict arose between the herds as the fields and forests were savaged by their appetites.

The wisest of the ponies went to the daughters, begging for respite from their wanton hunger..

The daughters thought long and turned to their mother.

The great and powerful Queen looked upon her daughters’ favored children and smiled upon them, giving them a piece of herself.

The daughters returned to the ponies with the gift of strength, hooves with which to shape the lands as they saw fit.

And so the Queen returned to her rest and the ponies flourished as, with this gift, they began to sow the land with seeds. The exhausted fields were revitalized with wheat and grain and all manner of edible things.

Soon after, the herds began to come together in villages and all was well for a while.

Then one day came the storms that they had once borne in the depths of the forests. They rolled across the land, destroying the ponies’ works, their villages and fields torn asunder.

Once more the wisest gathered, begging of the daughters some reprieve from the sky’s wrath.

Once more the daughters turned to their mother.

The great Queen looked upon her daughters’ favored children and smiled upon them, gifting them a piece of herself.

The daughters returned to the ponies with the gift of flight, wings with which to shape the sky as they saw fit.

And so the Queen returned to her rest and the ponies flourished as, with this gift, they calmed the storms and rebuilt. And so their villages became towns and all was well for a while.

Then one day came the beasts, from the dark place where the Queen slept, gryphon, manticore, chimera all besieged their towns.

For a third time more the wisest gathered, begging of the daughters some reprieve from the creatures.

For a third time the daughters turned to their mother.

The Queen looked upon her daughters’ favored children and smiled upon them, gifting them a piece of herself.

The daughters returned to the ponies with the gift of magic, horns with which to defend against the beasts.

And so the Queen returned to her rest and the ponies flourished as, with this gift, they tamed the wild parts of the land and rebuilt themselves even quicker then before. And so their towns became cities and all was well for a while.

Then came discontent, discord and strife, not from without but from within the herd. Pony of hoof, wing and horn all fought one another. Once brother and a sister, mother, father and children unto each other, now they fought in the name of their gifts.

For a last time the wisest of them, Earth, Pegasus and Unicorn, all gathered, begging of the daughters some reprieve from their pride.

For a third time the daughters turned to their mother.

But the daughters found naught but a whisper where the Queen had rested.

Her giant hooves with which the land and seas were carved had been given to the ponies.

Her wide wings with which the skies were shaped had been given to the ponies.

Her long horn with which the lifeblood of all flowed had been given to the ponies.

There was but one thing left for the Queen to give.

And so the once-Queen looked upon her daughters and smiled upon them.

[o-0-o]

“...she gave unto them her wisdom and vanished from the land”

As Fluttershy finished the story, her brow furrowed. It hadn’t exactly been the happiest of endings to that story or the most conclusive—albeit she presumed the next bits of the story were to be assumed to be the royal sisters taking over the mantle of ruling on behalf of ponydom, but still...

“So what did you think, Roby?” Fluttershy asked the blue crested robin that perched at the top of her mane, the bird letting out a guttural chirrup in response. “Oh, I don’t think it was pompous. That’s just her style with myths. Something in the translation from Old Equestrian, I think.”

The robin let out a discordant chirp before hopping down onto the book. Gazing up into the pegasus’s kind blue orbs, the bird scratched lightly at the cover and let loose a series of chirps and trills.

“Well...I don't particularly like the ending either, but we all know that things were better down the line?”

The bird tilted his head in thought a moment before a solemn, conciliatory tweet escaped his throat, pawing at the closed cover with a balled-up talon.

“There's a good birdy,” Fluttershy cooed affectionately before rising up and stretching her sore back.

Sitting on the ground for so long, even to do something as relaxing as reading to one of her animals, had the side effect of throwing her spine out of whack. As she finished stretching out the kinks, a few gentle pops echoed in the quiet meadow where they had been reading through the manual of fables for a solid hour or so. She then leaned her head down to the bird, allowing him to latch onto the end of one of the long pink locks of her mane.

“Careful now, Roby,” Fluttershy reminded the little bird as he clutched its talonful of mane with its diminutive claws. “Don't use your wings. I can crouch down more and you can climb up my back.”

The bird simply dismissed the notion with an aggressive chirrup, climbing up a particularly thick section of mane with its talons, making in to the top of the pegasus in good time.

“There you go.” She knew she hadn’t needed to worry; she had done her work on the robin’s broken wing and she knew him well enough to know that he wasn't so reckless or arrogant as to reinjure himself foolishly. He had a nest, a family and a life to get back to after all.

No need to worry at all.

The yellow pegasus found herself staring out at the meadow, almost wanting to bed down for the night. It was just so peaceful on the hill. The sun’s last fleeting rays of light feathering out over the horizon, she could already see the moon peeking over the mountains in eager anticipation of the night.

It had been a beautiful summer’s day.

Nearly a year had passed since the fateful day when Nightmare Moon had returned to wreak her terrible vengeance upon Equestria; a year since she’d met Twilight Sparkle and become a part of the Elements of Harmony; a year since she found herself suddenly, with five other ponies, a part of an indivisible friendship.

It hardly seemed like it could be only a year.

It was strange to be linked by... by... Fluttershy didn’t even know what to call it. Destiny seemed the right word, but ponies as timid as Fluttershy just didn’t fit into anything involving destiny.

Whatever you want to call it, I’m glad, Fluttershy thought, sighing happily as she began to stroll gently down on the hill, shutting her eyes and taking in the sounds of the approaching night.

She knew the path home by heart. She may have been close to the Everfree Forest, but she had no fears when she walked the meadows and forests that surrounded her cottage home. Here she was in her element, the gentle summer breeze coursing through the branches of the forest, the rustling leaves creating a soothing chorus to the falsetto singing of the nightingale.

Sometimes, if she listened to them long enough, she could almost sense the meaning in their harmonies, could nearly hear the words to their songs.

What are you singing about tonight? she wondered wistfully. What songs do you have for this—

“Hey, Fluttershy!”

The pegasus gasped aloud, eyes shooting open as the songs of the forest suddenly grew quiet.

“Fluttershy, you home?”

“Oh, darn,” Fluttershy exclaimed as she broke into a quick trot towards her cottage where she found a unicorn with her face pressed to the window, awkwardly balancing on one hindleg whilst she stretched a forehoof over to knock on the door.

“Oh, there you are, Fluttershy,” the unicorn smiled as she spotted the yellow pegasus's approach in the window’s reflection. Dropping back to all fours, she took a few steps towards the approaching pegasus. “Hope... I hope I'm not interrupting anything.” The unicorn smiled sheepishly, noticing the now desolate silence left in the wake of her yelling, the robin nestled in Fluttershy's mane letting out an chirp of annoyance. “Er, sorry...”

“Oh, it's okay, Twilight,” Fluttershy reassured, pushing the cottage door open before motioning her friend inside. “I must have forgotten you were coming over for tea. I was watching the sunset go down when I should have been watching the time,” she continued with an awkward chuckle, wearing her own, equally sheepish, grin.

“It's alright, Fluttershy. There's no reason for apologies,” the unicorn replied, trotting into the cottage. “I know this is kinda last minute. I just appreciate you saying yes.”

Fluttershy lingered at the doorway a moment, ears trained on the confused silence of the forest before it was broken by the off-key caterwauling of a sparrow.

There we go, she thought as the night chorus resumed, shutting the door with a contented smile.

[o-0-o]

“Wow, this is really good tea, Fluttershy. Even better than the tea I get from Zecora,” Twilight admitted in surprise after her first few, careful sips. “What’s in it?”

“Oh, not anything special, just rosemary with a bit of lavender really.” Fluttershy smiled softly, scratching at the back of one foreleg with the opposite hoof before glancing over the table at the unicorn, eyes lighting up. “The soil is really very rich near the edge of the Everfree Forest. It just seems like the herbs and flowers grow especially well here.”

“I always kinda wondered...” Twilight began before a sudden blush silenced her.

“About what, Twilight?”

“Well, you live so far from Ponyville. And so close to the Everfree Forest,” the unicorn started awkwardly, gesturing uncertainly to the forest out the back window. “I mean, I know you’re not the... the... uh...” she trailed off, her tongue seeming to be suddenly a few sizes too large for her mouth.

“Type to live in the middle of things?” the pegasus offered helpfully, refilling the tongue-tied unicorn’s cup.

“Well, that too… but you just don’t seem like somepony who would live so close to a place like the Everfree Forest,” Twilight explained, some of her confidence returning as she took another sip of the tea, the warmth helping to relax her. “I mean, you could live by one of the farms and still be close enough to your animal friends, right? This place just seems so remote and, well, don’t you get lonely out here all by yourself?”

“Well, I always have them to help with that,” Fluttershy smiled, motioning to the animals that filled in around them, suffusing the air with a variety of chirps, trills, squawks and squeaks.

Even her newest charge, the little robin Roby, sat outside a small birdhouse, seemingly discussing something of grave import with a small white mouse that had climbed up one of the numerous ramps that seemed to litter the cottage’s limited wall-space. Fluttershy's gaze hung on one particular animal before she continued: a small white rabbit that had taken to snoozing on the living room couch.

“And I am a little scared of the forest sometimes... but I couldn’t just abandon my home or my animals, could I?”

“Well, what about other ponies?”

“Oh, Twilight, I have plenty of company coming by. Rainbow comes by every Saturday and I always have my spa day with Rarity. Not to mention I always make sure to visit Applejack and Pinkie Pie when I’m running errands in town. And of course, you’re here right now,” Fluttershy rattled off with a bright, disarming smile aimed directly at her unicorn friend.

“Yeah, but I wasn’t always.” Twilight sighed at the admission, Fluttershy’s expression likewise turning dour.

“Is there... is that why...” Fluttershy struggled with her phrasing a moment, examining the suddenly sullen-looking unicorn. “You’re not here for tea and conversation, are you?”

“Yes I am!” Twilight said rather loudly, stamping a hoof on the table in affirmation before grimacing. “Er, yes and no, really. I am here for conversation, and the tea is lovely, but I do have an ulterior motive… of sorts. You’re not mad, are you?”

“Why would I be mad? I’m just glad you’re here, Twilight.” Fluttershy smiled before placing a hoof on the unicorn’s shoulder. “But if there’s something on your mind you certainly shouldn't keep it all bottled up,” Fluttershy said, taking on a gentle, almost motherly tone.

“Well, it's just that I've been here for almost a year now and I'm starting to realize that there's a lot more to all of you than I thought,” the unicorn started, her tea cup clinking against its saucer as the magenta hue faded from it. Slipping out from Fluttershy’s grasp, the unicorn began to pace restlessly in front of the table. “I feel like I've failed.”

“Failed. Failed at what, Twilight. You've been a wonderful friend since you arrived. I mean, maybe you were a little intimidating at first and there was the whole thing with the parasprites”—Twilight visibly flinched—“the incident with the Manehattan bakers”—Twilight halted her pacing and shuddered—“oh, and that day with all the noodl—”

“Oh, no, no, no, no, no... don't even mention that again. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at marinara sauce the same way again.” Twilight sat down with an audible thump, holding her hooves to her ears as though she could shut out the event, banishing it from history and memory with the simple gesture. “I'm just glad that Pinkie was there to pull my flank out of the fire on that one.” She paused before muttering under her breath, “Who would have thought such a small pony could even do something like that!” Twilight shook her head, fur ruffling from nose to tail as she tried anew to shake the memory. “Nothing like that, Fluttershy. Something more a bit more basic.”

“What did you mean then?” Fluttershy asked, taking a sip of her own tea as she looked at the unicorn with a look of thinly veiled concern.

“You remember why I'm in Ponyville in the first place, right?”

“Well, at first, it was to oversee the Summer Sun Celebration,” the pegasus began, looking to Twilight for affirmation before continuing, “and now to study the magic of friendship.”

“Right, exactly!” Twilight affirmed excitedly, hopping back to her hooves and trotting around the table, tea forgotten as the unicorn sat right beside a now somewhat flustered Fluttershy.

“I'm afraid I’m still a little lost, Twilight. You've written plenty of letters to the princess. And you've learned so much...” the pegasus mused as the cacophony of chitters and chirps in the background faded to a dull roar, the sun disappearing below the horizon fully.

“I have... but I feel like there's so much more I haven't learned. I've learned tons about how ponies act and react, how ponies feel—more than I ever did in all the years in Canterlot—but,” Twilight's face fell at her use of the most contrarian of conjunctions, “I don't feel like I've even scratched the surface. Not even of my best friends...”

“Oh, Twilight,” Fluttershy reproached her friend as gently as only she could, “most ponies spend entire lifetimes just trying to figure out just one pony. Did you expect to know everything in just a year?”

“You know... at first, I really thought I could,” Twilight chuckled at the apt reproach. “Everypony seems so simple at first... everypony has their role and I was really just looking for my own place, but then you all just keep surprising me.”

“How so?”

“Well... how about you standing up to that dragon?”

“Oh,” Fluttershy's authority wilted at the mention of the incident, the bashful pegasus staring at the floor. “That was nothing really. I couldn't let my friends get hurt while I just stood there, could I?”

“No... but I would have never thought that'd you'd make a full-grown dragon cry like that. I didn't even think you could get angry,” Twilight smiled at the memory of the demure pegasus staring down the dragon easily a hundred times her size.

“Well, sometimes ponies can do amazing things for their friends,” Fluttershy agreed nervously, the phantom itch on the back of her fore leg having returned with a vengeance.

“That's just it, though. I expected Rainbow to go and try and buck a dragon or even for Applejack to do it, but there you were, terrified of dragons and then threatening to tell one’s mother that he'd been a bad, bad boy.”

“He wasn't a bad boy,” Fluttershy corrected, a consistent blush seeming to have stained the pegasus's cheeks a soft pink. “He just made a bad decision.”

“There's the Fluttershy I know,” Twilight replied with soft chuckle before her face fell suddenly. “And that's just the problem.”

“Hm?” Fluttershy cocked an eyebrow.

“I don't feel like I really know any of you.”

“Oh, Twilight, don't be silly. Of course you know us. We're all friends.”

“I know, I know... we're friends. You all are my best friends. Heck, you might even be my only friends along with Spike,” the unicorn mulled over this fact a moment before continuing. “But I want to know you all better.”

“I shouldn't be surprised,” Fluttershy grinned as a deep reddish hue graced the unicorn's face. “That's who you are, Twilight.”

“Yeah, as Rainbow already told me, always the egghead.”

“Oh, she wouldn’t,” Fluttershy put on a play of shock, knowing that the brash, no-nonsense pegasus most certainly would.

“I know she didn't mean anything bad by it... and, she's right, I am an egghead. All my best friends before you girls were books. It’d figure that I'd start trying to study you.”

“That's you, Twilight, and we wouldn't have it any other way,” Fluttershy stated, giving the unicorn a friendly nuzzle.

“And Applejack said pretty much the same thing,” Twilight said softly.

“Oh...have you already talked to her about all this too?”

“Yeah... Actually, I've talked to pretty much everypony else about this.” Fluttershy's ears drooped slightly at this. “Oh no, nothing like that. It’s just been gnawing at me the last few days—it certainly wasn’t on any of my checklists—and I was trying to ignore it. I hadn't even thought of how to start and then it just kind of came up when I was at Rarity's this morning.”

“So, what did you find out?” Fluttershy asked, quickly forgetting any trepidation as curiosity filled her.

“Well, I certainly wouldn't have thought that Rarity and Applejack would have been friends when they were little fillies... they just seem so, so...”

“Opposite?”

“Yeah, who would have thought, right?”

“Nopony that’s just met them would... but they get along in their own way,” Fluttershy mused, brow furrowed in thought.

She hadn’t been privy to this bit of information either. It wasn’t the most surprising revelation, but still intriguing for the pegasus.

“In their own way for sure. Remind me to tell you about how my first slumber party went sometime.” Twilight chuckled softly. “Anyways, after I was done talking to Rarity, I bumped into Pinkie and Rainbow in the market and I just kind of started.”

“And what did you learn from them?”

“Well, I think I may have become Dash's unofficial biographer incidentally.” Twilight affected her best annoucermare voice. “Only pegasus to ever perform the legendary Sonic Rainboom and soon to be a world-famous Wonderbolt!” she announced with the requisite flourishes of her hooves. With a smile, she recalled the quite animated conversation she’d had with the rainbow-maned pegasus.

“On the other hoof, Pinkie was a whole other kind of conversation. I just couldn't get her to talk that much. Not about her fillyhood anyways. She just sort of kept steering the conversation away from it. I did manage to bribe her with cupcakes at Sugarcube Corner, but she just repeated what she told the Crusaders.”

“They told you?”

“Well, to be honest, I may have bribed Apple Bloom after talking with AJ.”

“Twilight!”

“Sorry, I was curious... figured she might have the 'inside scoop' so-to-speak,” Twilight replied, ears laying meekly against. “I was just curious.”

“Still, bribing Apple Bloom to learn about Applejack. It's not like Applejack wouldn't have told you herself,” Fluttershy said, giving the unicorn a stare any mother would be proud to have in her arsenal. “She’s not one to lie about such things.”

“I know, I know. Honest to the core, she told me. But still—after talking to Rarity—Applejack's not as forthcoming as I thought.” Twilight seemed a bit saddened by her findings, using the moment of silence that followed to drain the rest of her now lukewarm tea. “She might not lie, but she doesn’t always tell the complete truth. But I suppose everypony has their own secrets.”

“That... that is a little surprising,” Fluttershy murmured, her own cup entirely forgotten.

“And that's what I'm getting at,” Twilight stated, stomping a hoof for emphasis. “As close as I feel to you all, it’s like I'm just as far from the real you as I was at the beginning... and that's what I’m here to remedy.”

“Oh… so that's why you’re here?”

“Pretty much all of it… in detail.” Twilight paused for a moment as she set the empty tea cup down on the table, turning to look the pegasus in the eye only to find that Fluttershy's gaze was now firmly tethered to the wooden floor of the cottage. “Fluttershy?”

“Y-yes?”

“I really do want to get to know all of you... especially you?”

“Especially me?” the pegasus squeaked nervously, the beads of sweat forming on her brow dripping down to sting her wide open eyes.

“Yeah... you and Pinkie seem to be a biggest mysteries. Rainbow told me a lot about when you girls were in flight camp together, but beside that... well, that's really all I know. I know a little bit more about Pinkie from the Cakes... but you… you're like an enigma to me.”

“An enigma?” Fluttershy broke out into shudders at this last statement, giving Twilight a moment's pause.

“I-I don't want to press you or anything, though. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“Tha-that might be for the best. I'm really not very interesting anyways,” Fluttershy stammered as her voice rose steadily in pitch, eyes tracing a particularly interesting fracture in the wood floor. “It'd just be a waste of your time.”

“You're my friend, Fluttershy, you could not possibly waste my time,” Twilight spoke quietly, the soft smile on her face translating perfectly into her words. “Rainbow Dash when she starts talking about how she saved all of Cloudsdales from Windigos as a filly, maybe.”

Fluttershy let out an involuntary chuckle but kept focused on the floor.

“But like I said, I don't want to make you uncomfortable. The last thing I want to do is to push any of you away after all.”

“I-I appreciate that, Twilight,” Fluttershy whispered, finally looking up into Twilight’s eyes. “Maybe I'll be... maybe I can talk about this another time... I just don't know if… well, it’s just a little out of the blue.”

“It's okay,” Twilight whispered, running comforting hoof down the pegasus's back, feeling the shudders coursing their way between her wings.

“It's not that I don't want to exactly...” She bit her lip, silencing her uncooperative tongue.

“I just want to know you Fluttershy,” Twilight began. “But I want you to want me to know you... or rather, I want you to be comfortable... or—”

“It's okay, Twilight... I know what you mean. I just don't know how to—Twilight? Are you okay?” Fluttershy found herself glancing up to greet a much paler looking Twilight.

“Ooo... feeling kinda light-headed all of a sudden,” the unicorn muttered, staggering to her hooves before bracing herself against on the table. “Was there something special in that tea?”

“No... just rosemary and a tiny bit of lavender. Nothing out of the ordinary,” Fluttershy replied, giving her own tea cup an accusatory glare. “You're not allergic are you?”

“I don’ think so,” Twilight wavered back and forth a bit before regaining her balance. “It's just a bit late maybe... haven't been sleeping so well...”

“Maybe I should walk you home then,” Fluttershy rose to her hooves, the quakes that had wracked her body having vanished entirely as she drew even with the unicorn, extending out a wing to support her friend. Allowing Twilight to use the her as a crutch, Fluttershy made her way towards the cottage door.

“Th... thanks, Fluttershy, I don't know what's come over me... maybe I should sleep in tomorrow. Midweek is usually... pretty slow anyways at the library.” Twilight tried to put on a reassuring grin, but managed only a grimace as a wave of nausea washed over her. “Hurk... oh yeah, a good night's rest in my own comfy, comfy bed...”

“And you'll be so nice and cozy in your snuggly wuggly bed,” Fluttershy smiled, grasping the door handle in her mouth, pulling it open as she bore the unicorn's steadily sagging weight.

Oof… maybe the hospital would be shorter from here… Or Sweet Apple Acres even, Fluttershy wondered silently, trying to shift the unicorn farther onto her back.

“Hee, hee... snuggly wuggly... you silly filly. I'm not a foal...” Twilight giggled as she closed her eyes, a dumb little smile making its way onto her face as the pair stepped into the cool night air.

“Of course you're not,” Fluttershy nodded, sweat building on her brow as the unicorn leaned more and more heavily on the pegasus. “You’re a big filly.”

“Yeah! I’mma big filly!” Twilight squealed excitedly, swaying wildly as she pumped a hoof into the air.

I don't think either of us are in any condition to get you anywheres, Fluttershy thought to herself as she gave the unicorn an extended look.

Twilight trembled slightly as she leaned against her friend, her brow darkened from sweat as her hooves struggled to maintain her balance. For the moment, the pegasus was the only thing keeping the unicorn from face-planting directly into the ground.

“Twilight?”

“Yeah, silly pony?” The unicorn giggled deliriously.

“You know... there's a really comfortable bed right upstairs. It's so very nice and soft... just the thing to make you feel all better,” Fluttershy offered, slowly steering them back towards the cottage.

“Tha sounds nice...but where would you sleep?”

“Oh, don't worry about me. I can always sleep on the couch,” she grunted, shifting more of Twilight’s weight onto herself, “or I could even bring in a nice, fluffy cloud to sleep on.”

“Oooo… a cloud, that sounds really nice an—Oof!”

Just as Fluttershy managed to get the cottage door open all the way, the weight became too much. The unicorn's hooves, unable to find purchase on the wood floor, slipped and left the pegasus bearing Twilight's full weight, sending the pair to the ground in a heap.

“H-h-heavy...” Fluttershy huffed, one wing pinned in an awkward position as the other was being crushed against the floor.

That’s going to be sore in the morning...

“Come on, Twilight,” she pleaded with unicorn. Twilight had apparently slipped into unconsciousness, Fluttershy only getting a half-mumble for her troubles.

“Fluttershy! Hey, Fluttershy!” a familiar voice called out from behind them in a rather unfamiliar, panicked tone. However, the Fluttershy simply couldn’t process it until she felt the unicorn's weight rolled off of her. “Are you two okay?”

Twilight gave a little giggle and a snort before falling silent again.

“You two have been sneaking cider without me? How could you?!”

“Pinkie Pie?” Fluttershy gasped, thankful for the night air that filled her lungs before finding more questions to ask. “What are you doing all the way out here”—she sucked in a few more lungfuls—“at this time of night?”

“My Pinkie-sense, silly,” the pink earth pony submitted bluntly with a knowing grin, leaving the pegasus baffled.

“But nothing fell, and I certainly wouldn't call this”—she gestured to the collapsed unicorn—“a doozy, she just fainted...”

“Well, I did get a doozy... just not about here. It was… It is...” Pinkie stammered, drawing a knowing smile from the pegasus.

It was just Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie after all. She’d always had a knack for just being in the right place at the right time and Fluttershy certainly wasn't going to question it at a time like this.

“You can tell me all about it in a minute, but we should really get Twilight into my bed so I can take a look at her. I might have to send you to fetch Nurse Redheart too,” Fluttershy stated, casting a worried glance at the purple lump blocking the doorway.

The pink-furred mare nodded exuberantly before burrowing under the unconscious unicorn before rising with her balanced precariously on her back.

“So what happened?” Pinkie asked as she trotted into the main room of the cottage, Twilight murmuring in her sleep, sweat dripping from her forehead despite the cool breeze coming from the door. “And it better not be cider related.”

“I don't know... I think maybe she had a allergic reaction or something to my—”

Fluttershy didn't make it another word and Pinkie didn't make it another step as the cottage was suddenly filled with a blinding flash of magenta light, the pair finding themselves hurled outwards.

The yellow pegasus found herself thrown hard against against a window, the glass crackling underneath her from the sheer force, while Pinkie was nearly pitched through the cottage door. The pink pony's body pinned awkwardly against the door frame, half of her limbs whipping about under the influence of an unnatural wind while the other half struggled to hold her in place, scrabbling for something to grab or grip or hook on to.

At first, Fluttershy eyes screwed shut as she tried to look at the source of their distress, the wind tearing through her fur and feathers. The light was nearly bright enough to see even through her eyelids. Slowly she fought to open them before the wind snapped them wide open. Fluttershy's pupils expanded in horror as she stared at Twilight.

Her friend's eyes stared out at nothing and, more than that, they were nothing.

The unicorn’s once lavender eyes had been replaced by an unnatural pair of glowing white orbs. Twilight's gaze darted wildly as her body contorted strangely into seemingly impossible forms for any pony not made of rubber or at least double or triple jointed.

Bolts of magic shot out from her writing form, leaving scorch marks on the wooden floor. A stray bolt hit a tea cup and leaving a tiny ficus tree in its place before slowly the magic condensed to form a solid barrier of crackling magic around the unicorn.

“Twilight!” Pinkie yelled over the cacophony of snaps and crackles exuded by the display of unicorn magic before her. “Twiligh—”

The pink pony didn't get to finish as a fresh burst of tremors coursed through her body, Fluttershy watching as Pinkie vibrated along the frame and right out the door, disappearing with an audible yelp.

“Pinkie!” Fluttershy called after the earth pony, just barely able to hear a resounding thunk from outside, before turning her attention back to Twilight and their more immediate problem.

The sheer volume of magical energy set Fluttershy's fur on end as she felt herself being pressed hard against the window. She could hear the glass slowly splintering beneath her as she stared at her friend's floating form. She needed to get herself onto something more solid as quickly as she could. Then she had to get to Twilight somehow and do…

...something!

“Twilight!” Fluttershy cried out as she rolled herself carefully across the window and, legs shaking and wobbling beneath the strain of the magic bursts. She managed to rise to all fours, albeit shifted ninety degrees up from what gravity would normally allow. The pegasus panted, her legs constantly buffeted by the cyclone of magical energies that filled the cottage. As she looked around, she found the main room deserted, save for herself and Twilight.

I hope everyone's alright, the pegasus thought to herself as she stared at the spot where her couch was pressed against the wall, her lapine assistant, along with all the other animals, having disappeared from sight.

“Twilight?! Twilight, can you hear me?!”

If the unicorn could, she gave no sign of it, eyes continuing to dart every which way, blindly searching for something. The unicorn's face was a contorted into a mixture of fear and pain as her body twisted about beneath her, head and horn staying eerily still.

Gathering all her strength, Fluttershy began to inch her way along the wall, moving away from the front door and towards the kitchen. Twilight had ended up almost perfectly in the center of the room, leaving only one way to get close to the writhing unicorn.

“If you can hear me, Twilight,” Fluttershy yelled out as she tentatively tapped a hoof on the ceiling before, feeling the magical energies rolling over her in waves, “I'll be there soon!”

Okay, Fluttershy... remember... it’s just a hop… The pegasus rocked herself back and forth on her hooves. ...a skip...

Flaring her wings, she locked her eyes on her friend.

...and a jump!

Fluttershy brought her wings down in as powerful a stroke as she was capable of as she pushed off the wall with all four legs, twisting herself into an upright position just before the magical wind caught in her wings, unceremoniously slamming her right into the ceiling.

“Ooooo.....” she moaned as she lay, stunned, on the ceiling.

That was a really bad idea…

But it had worked. The same pressure that had pressed her against the wall was now working to keep the pegasus on the ceiling.

“Need to...” The pegasus huffed as she rolled over onto her hooves, rising unsteadily on them. “...practice landing.”

She could feel the blood rushing to her head as she crawled along a ceiling joist, using it to steady her steps as she drew closer to the unicorn. The arcane winds that tore at her grew steadily worse and more chaotic as she closed the last few feet between her and Twilight. Soon enough, she found herself crouched just above the unicorn, the barrier snapping at the pegasus with bursts of energy. Being so close, she could just make out the nigh imperceptible tendrils of energy that reached towards her from the magenta sphere.

“Tw-Twilight!”

“Fl-flu...” the unicorn stuttered as her white, sightless eyes turned towards the trembling pegasus above, breaths coming in stuttering gasps.

“Yes!” Fluttershy yelled back, her voice growing hoarse as she felt her energy slowly bleeding away as the tendrils of magenta energy grasped her. “I-I'm right here, Twilight.”

“Whuh... what's going on?” Twilight nearly whispered, sounding like a lost little foal. “Why can't I see you?”

“I have no idea,” the pegasus cried out, tears cresting her windswept eyes as she tried to lift herself onto her hind legs, wings adjusting to keep her balanced. “Just know I'm here, Twilight.”

“I... you're here?” the unicorn asked in obvious confusion as she tried to close her eyes to no avail. With a frustrated grunt, Twilight gave up, shaking her head back and forth before turning once again to face Fluttershy. “Wh-where are we?”

“You're still in my cottage,” she stated, trying to reassure the visibly frightened unicorn, her body at least seeming to have calmed since they started talking. “Everything's going to be okay, Twilight. Just focus on my voice and repeat what I say. ‘Everything's going to be okay.’”

“Okay, I... I trust you, Fluttershy,” the unicorn replied, biting her lip as a stray tear bled out of her eyes before flying off to splatter against the wall. “Everything will be okay... every will be okay...”

“Everything will be okay,” Fluttershy replied, hind legs shaking terribly as she stretched her upper body towards her friend. She grimaced as the winds buffeted her, threatening to send her tumbling back across the ceiling. “Every... thing...”—she reached a forehoof down, wings buzzing ceaselessly against the winds—”will… be...ok—” She snatched her hoof back with a cry of pain, barrier crackling.

“Fluttershy?!” the unicorn yelled, her body spasming as her face twisted into a look of worry, blank eyes glancing around the ceiling. “Fluttershy?! What happened?! Are you still there?!”

“Ev... everything will be okay,” Fluttershy repeated the mantra as calmly as she could, staring at the scorched tip of her hoof as tears blurred her vision and her body threatened to give out from the strain.

“Everything will be... will be okay.”

Fluttershy bit her lip hard as she reached her hoof out once more. She could feel the energy of the barrier, the crackling power that coursed through as it drew power not only from the unicorn, but everything around her as well. She could feel the scorching heat as with gritted teeth she plunged the hoof through the barrier. As her foreleg passed into the bubble of energy, time seemed to stumble for a moment, the winds slowing to a stiff breeze as Fluttershy felt... something...

There was a presence that tapped into her own energy as she stretched her hoof towards her friend. Suddenly, she was being watched from everywhere at once, unseen eyes examining her carefully and thoroughly.

Who do we have here? a soundless voice inquired, its tone curious and nonchalant as the phantom watchers circled her.

Everything will be alright…

Ignoring the strange voice, she made one last, desperate thrust towards Twilight and found her. Her hoof coming to rest on the unicorns mane, a thousand staring eyes watching the act as the storm returned full force, the energy of the barrier coursing through the pegasus, sapping her.

“I'm right here, Twilight,” she whispered weakly, the unicorn's body settling as the white glow began to fade from her eyes and, with it, the unknown observers fading away as well.

With a loud pop, both ponies dropped to the cottage floor in an unmoving heap, the magenta glow dispelled as the magical winds were snuffed at their source.

The cottage sat still for the moment, only the sounds of labored breathing to be heard within.

[o-0-o]

“Fluttershy! Twilight!”

The sudden cry stirred Twilight, drawing a long groan from the unicorn as a blur of pink and magenta appeared above her.

“Omigosh! I was so worried when I got thrown out the door. I was all like whoosh right out the door and then I hit the tree and I was a little woozy for a while and there was still all sorts of crazy coming out of here and—”

“Pinkie?” Twilight interrupted with a groan. “What happened? What are you doing here?”

“Well, I was sleeping upstairs at Sugarcube Corner when my Pinkie-sense started acting really weird! I vibrated right off my bed and almost went right out the win... dow...” Pinkie trailed off as a soft whimper emanated from the yellow-furred lump at her hooves. “Fluttershy?”

“It hurts...” The pegasus was curled tightly around herself, shuddering.

“Fluttershy!” Twilight exclaimed as her consciousness returned fully, rolling unsteadily onto her hooves, Pinkie helping to steady her as the pair looked down at the trembling pegasus. “What is it? What's wrong? What happened?”

“My... my... everywhere...” she muttered in response, struggling to uncurl enough to show the pair.

Pinkie knelt beside the pegasus and began running a steady hoof through Fluttershy's limp mane, her own sagging as she teared up.

“It's okay, Fluttershy,” Pinkie whispered with a sad smile. “Auntie Pinkie’s here.”

“I'm a... a...”

“A year older than me... yeah, I know,” Pinkie finished for her with a hollow giggle. “Auntie Pinkie's still here for you.”

“Twi... Twilight?”

“I'm here,” Twilight spoke softly as the pegasus's trembling turquoise eyes met her own.

Slowly, but surely the pegasus uncurled to reveal her injury. Twilight restrained a gasp as she saw her friend's hoof, the entire end of her leg looked like a solid cylinder of ash.

“I can't... I can't...” Fluttershy couldn't feel her hoof, but there was the pain: a throbbing, searing pain that ripped the breath from her and sent her thoughts scurrying away.

“I... I...” Twilight stuttered for a moment, her brain searching for something, anything. “A first aid spell?”

“Anything, Twilight,” Pinkie gave her affirmation, still trying to comfort the pegasus as best she could.

Twilight closed her eyes in concentration as she focused on the charred hoof. She held her breath as she tried to tap into her magic, opening an eye to find that few magenta sparks falling ineffectively from her horn before a sudden splitting headache overwhelmed her.

The unicorn groaned as she threw herself to the floor, hooves grasping at her temples to soothe the sudden ache. Tears glistening at the corners of her eyes, she reached a trembling hoof up to her horn before yanking it back.

“Ahh!” It was scorching hot to touch. As she glanced up at the spire of fleshy bone she could see wisps of smoke whipping away from its still white-hot surface, the smell of singed mane invading her nostrils.

“What's wrong, Twilight?” Pinkie asked, a hoof moving methodically through the pegasus's mane, a twinge of panic in her voice.

“Twili...” Fluttershy groaned weakly, her eyes blinking rapidly as if on the verge of fainting dead away, everything around her a multi-colored blur.

“I...I...” Twilight's brain was seemingly unable to process anything for a moment before a single phrase replayed itself in her mind. “Everything will be alright.”

“Ev—Every...”

“Everything, Fluttershy. Everything will be alright.”

“Everything will be alright… Everything will be alright...”

As she took up the steady mantra she could hear Twilight and Pinkie talking, but already everything was blurring into an incomprehensible mass. Soon she could only hear her voice… and another’s...

Everything will be alright...

Author's Note

[revised 8-5-2014]

08 [Arc 01 - Perturbation, Part Four] <rev. 08.16.2014>

“Pinkie, what're you doing?” Fluttershy demanded, voice strained as she waited for the world to stop spinning.

After a haphazard tour of what had seemingly been every backstreet, alley and byway in all of Ponyville, Pinkie Pie halted suddenly in front of Sugarcube Corner, Fluttershy rolling off her and onto the ground with a soft thump.

She lay there for a few moments, watching Pinkie vibrate with a nervous energy, eyes darting around. Fluttershy could hardly recall the last time she had seen her friend in such a state, the earth pony's usually unruly curls seeming all the more chaotic as strands poked out at every angle.

“Oh, please,” Pinkie begged under her breath.

“Pinkie, w-what're we doing here?” Fluttershy slowly rolled onto her hooves, legs trembling as she stood.

“Shhh!” Pinkie hushed, hoof to the pegasus's mouth as she glanced about. “It might hear you…”

Fluttershy looked around.

The streets had been all but abandoned during their marathon gallop from the library. Even now there was nopony to be seen, much less feared. Slowly the pink hoof left Fluttershy’s lips, but Pinkie continued to scan the street.

With a satisfied hum, Pinkie beckoned the pegasus to follow her into Sugarcube Corner. Eyebrow fully cocked, Fluttershy did as she was bid, following her into the darkened confectionery.

The front was clean but empty, looking abandoned despite the stocks of cakes and other treats out on display. The lack of anypony sent a chill through Fluttershy’s wings. Usually the store would be filled with ponies picking up desserts or putting in orders. The Cakes seemed to be missing as well, the kitchen silent and dark as Pinkie led her through the storefront and into the dining area of the shop. Pinkie held up a hoof as she halted. After looking out the side windows, she darted into the kitchen and back before once again motioning for Fluttershy to follow. Slowly, they made their way up the stairs to Pinkie's flat. Once again, they halted while the pink pony darted over to a pink door with a heart-shaped window in it, peering intently through the oversized peephole.

It was mostly dark with only the soft light of the overcast day casting shades of gray over the normally bright and colorful room. It looked as though Pinkie had set up a party, but as Fluttershy stared at the pink pony, she knew it wasn't so. Nervously, Pinkie dashed all over the room, inspecting every corner and crease of it before she hopped onto her bed, bidding Fluttershy to do the same.

“Pink—” Fluttershy immediately had a hoof lodged in her face as the pink pony glanced up worriedly at the ceiling and the balcony that ran around the outer wall of the room.

“I… I think it's gone…” she visibly cringed a moment at her words before relaxing, dropping her hoof.

“What's gone?”

“I can't say.”

“You can't say?”

“Exactly. If I say it, it'll know.”

“Why did you bring me here?”

“Because I'm scared, Fluttershy,” she whispered, looking down at her hooves as if she expected them to fall off at any moment. “I'm scared. I know I shouldn't be, but I really, really am…”

“Well it is a little dark, but you could turn on th—”

The hoof again found her mouth, but gentler and without the panic. Pinkie simply shook her head before dropping the hoof to the bed.

“Fluttershy... I want you to remember. I want you to remember me. I want you to remember all of us before everything is gone,” Pinkie pleaded, prostrating herself before the pegasus, hooves pressed together as she gazed up with watery eyes.

“Pinkie… I don't understand. We're not going anywhere,” Fluttershy ran a hoof through the earth pony's mane, her thoughts returning to Twilight. It was too much to ignore.

Something isn't right…

“That's okay. Just…” Pinkie shivered as she sat up again, her unruly hair sagging as she looked into Fluttershy's eyes. “Do you remember the first time you were here?”

“Of course. When I came to Ponyville for the first time.”

“And I was so super excited”—she punctuated the sentence with a happy bounce—“I was all ready to throw you the biggest, bestest bash ever!”

“But you didn't,” the pegasus replied with a soft smile.

“No. You didn't seem up for a big ol', humongoginormously awesome Pinkie Pie party so we had a small one.”

“Yes. It was nice.”

[o-0-o]

It had been the first time she’d ever set hoof or hair in any city other than Cloudsdale.

Needless to say, she was nervous, but she was a full-grown mare and determined to prove it. If not to others, than to her self at least.

“Come now, Fluttershy, there is nothing to be frightened of. I'm sure they're all very nice ponies,” she reminded herself as the pegasus taxi took off into the air. As soon as her hooves had hit earth, she’d felt a shudder of excitement and fear course through her. It seemed that she’d arrived during the busiest time of the day.

The Ponyville market bustled with activity, the young pegasus mare glancing about the masses of ponies flowing through the market square. Instinctively, she cowered within the swirling mass before shaking herself of the fears that danced in her head.

"You are a mare now, Fluttershy."

She took a deep breath and stood tall, looking for somepony that might be of help.

“Um… excuse me…”

The passing colt ignored her or simply didn't hear her over the crowd noise before vanishing into the swirling throng.

“Ma'am.”

The purple earth pony went on scolding her child, the foal tugging disobediently at his mother's tail, begging for a some elusive treat or toy.

“And now we're going straight home, are you happy?” The now sulking colt winced at his mother’s disappointed glare as she pulled him away and into a wall of pulsing bodies.

“Um… sir?”

The trotting stallion simply barreled on by, pulling along his cart as he spared nopony a second glance, a path seeming to magically open before him.

Ears folded back and head stooped low, Fluttershy began to pick her way carefully through the crowded market, seeking a peace that surely resided beyond them. She felt the beginning of a tremble as she drew closer to the edge of the market, pressed in on all sides by scores and scores of ponies until she was swept up in a mass of departing market-goers.

Oh, dear…

Her throat constricted and her breathing became shallow as she found herself half-submerged in, half-dragged by the mass, even with the bustling market fading behind them. As she glanced over her shoulder, seeking some avenue of escape, she found her vision suddenly obscured by a mass of fluffy, magenta hair as she crashed into somepony.

“Whoa,” somepony cried out in a high-pitched voice as Fluttershy stumbled and collapsed in that fog of hair, somepony struggling beneath her.

“Oh my goodness… I'm so somwry—” Fluttershy tried to apologize, but accidentally chewed on a tuft of the magenta cloud that smelled of…

Cotton candy? No… cupcakes? Cotton-candy cupcakes?

“Well, that's a silly way to greet somepony,” the other pony snorted as Fluttershy continued to extricate herself from the deliciously-scented fluff. "You know you're supposed to say ‘hi' to ponies from the front, right?" The pony giggled.

“I'm sorry. I-it was an accident. I-I wasn't watching where I was going an-an-and oh my goodness, I'm so, so sorry,” Fluttershy begged as she finally disentangled herself enough to find a pair of jovial blue eyes staring back. Soon Fluttershy and the smiling earth pony were largely alone in the middle of the street, the crowd keeping on their way.

“Oh, you're new aren't you? No wonder I've never had a greeting like that,” the pink earth pony spoke excitedly as she got to her hooves, helping Fluttershy back to hers as well. “Don't you end up scraping your knees a lot though? Seems like that'd hurt if you did it every single time. Although, you're a pegasus… so maybe you guys do it in the air. That'd fix the knee-scraping.”

“I'm sor—”

"But doesn't that scare you? Having everypony sneaking up on you just to say ‘hello’?"

"Well… we don—"

She gasped as realization dawned upon her. “It's like a prank! Ooh, a prank every time you meet somepony new! That’s awesome!" She beamed, giving Fluttershy a playful nudge. "You got me good."

"I didn't mean to—"

“Oh, wait, but you're new!” Fluttershy's apology was cut off once again as the pink pony bounced up and down in excitement. "That means I have to throw you a party! It'll be so much fun and Pinkamena Diane Pie knows fun! What do you say?”

"Oh… um, I don't know…" Fluttershy mumbled reflexively, brain still struggling to follow the stream of words. She had shrunk down as much as she could before the seemingly boundless energy of the pink pony. "I'm not really much of a party kind of pony…"

"Everypony likes parties! I should know. I'm Ponyville's official party pony!" she continued, seemingly unaware of Fluttershy's protests.

"Official party pony?" The question set off a temporary, blessed silence as the pink pony put a hoof to her chin thoughtfully.

"Well… maybe not official official—the mayor still needs to read over my proposal and send it to the city council and maybe call a referendum—but I'm definitely the party pony for the job if said job even exists, which it totally should!" She puffed out of her chest, beaming at the pegasus with more teeth than any equine perhaps ought to be able to.

“Oh… um…” Fluttershy stumbled over her words, her momentary hesitation drawing the pink pony to a halt. “Well, I don't really know you and—”

“Oh, that's easy,” she interrupted with a snort, thrusting a hoof towards Fluttershy. “I'm Pinkamena Diane Pie Pie, but everypony calls me Pinkie Pie. Pleased t’meet'cha.”

“Oh…” Her voice dropped as she realized the protest's apparent flaw.

She stared out from behind her long mane at the pony with a mix confusion and an odd sort of fear. She wondered idly if Pinkie Pie was always like this. And, moreover, if anypony could possibly be like this.

"So, what's your name? If we’re not gonna be strangers, I need to know your name too. Otherwise this is like… one-way strangers and that’s just silly."

"It's, um… Fluttershy," she whispered defeatedly, taking up the pink hoof in her own.

“Y'know should really talk louder, otherwise nopony will be able to understand you, Umfluttershy.” The pink pony gave an involuntary snort. “Oh, sorry, sorry! It's a very nice name. Never heard of anypony with a name like that. Well, except for Mr. Geddonwisitt, but he was kind of a grumpy, meanie pants. I mean, I said I was sorry about the wall… and the door… and the stairs. You seem nice though, Umfluttershy.”

“It's, uh, just Fluttershy. Sorry if I'm talking too quiet. I'll try and talk louder,” the pegasus said meekly as she was pulled to the side of the street, a cart rumbling by a second later.

“Oh! Fluttershy, sorry! I don't always listen so well. The Cakes say all the words go in one ear and out the other.” Fluttershy idly wondered if the self-proclaimed party pony fancied the title of dessert-whisperer as well as said pony nudged her along the sidewalk. “Actually, a lot of ponies say that. That I talk too much and I don't realize it, but I don't think I talk too much, do you?”

“Well, no offense, but maybe just a little?”

The pink pony's face fell, the pegasus immediately casting her eyes downward at the sight.

“Sorry…”

“Well. Maybe they're right. They'd be the ones to know… especially the Cakes. Oh, but no time for apologies! We've got to get a party set up for you so all of Ponyville can get to know you."

“A-all of Ponyville?” Panic seeped into Fluttershy's voice, the mere thought of it sending a shiver through her.

"Well, what better way to introduce you, and have lots and lots of fun than a party? And as the unofficially official Ponyville greeter and party pony it is my solemn duty to make sure you are well-greeted and having a blast!” Pinkie declared, puffing out her chest once more as she halted them to turn and smile at the pegasus.“Well, nopony's said anything so far, so maybe it isn't my solemn duty. But, that'd be so exciting, wouldn't it? It'd be like the bestest job ever! Ooo! Except for official cupcake tester! Wouldn't that be a great job?”

"Yes?"

"Oh, this is going to be so much fun! We'll have games and cake and candy and piñatas.” She counted off the needs on all four hooves, teetering on her back a moment before looking up at Fluttershy. “Gotta have piñatas. They're like a game and candy all in one!” She popped back up onto all fours. “Oh, oh and lots and lots of ponies for you to meet and talk and have fun and be the best of friends with!"

Fluttershy's eyes went wide at the mention of crowds of ponies to meet, her stomach twisting into knots. “Oh, well, I don't know if I'd want to go to a such a big party. I don't really like crowds all that much,” Fluttershy admitted quietly, already soft voice growing quieter and higher in pitch as she folded to the ground.

Pinkie Pie, however, fell oddly silent for a moment as she gave the pegasus a sidelong stare. “But… everypony likes a party,” she stated softly.

Fluttershy shifted uncomfortably before self-proclaimed party pony as the pink pony's eyes trembled. “It’s not that I don’t enjoy parties… It's just that… um…”

"Oh…?" Her previously bubbly persona seemed to have been subsumed by a dark cloud. Even her poofy mane seemed to sag as her eyes watered.

"I just don't like big parties. I… I get nervous in crowds. Ponies always tell me I’m a little too… shy…" Fluttershy admitted with a deep blush.

Pinkie remained oddly quiet a moment more, eyes narrowing. Then her eyes cleared up slowly as she reached a hoof to pat the pegasus on the head.

“Aw… nopony's sad at a party. Parties are for happy times. Nopony's sad when they're partying,” Pinkie declared confidently even as the pegasus cringed. “Buuuuut, maybe we'll just have a small party?”

“I should really be getting…” Fluttershy trailed off as she looked up into the Pinkie's eyes, a bright smile having returned to her face. “Okay. Just a small one…”

“Yay!” Pinkie cheered. “Oh, you haven't been to Sugarcube Corner yet, have you?”

“No I—”

“Oh, right. New to town, huh? Of course you haven't been there. Duh,” Pinkie continued, slapping her forehead with a hoof before yanking Fluttershy to her hooves and dragging her off through the streets of Ponyville. “We should totally go to Sugarcube Corner. It's the bestest place in town. Everypony should visit! Oh-oh! We can have the party there, too!”

“Um… yay?”

[o-0-o]

“Oh, Pinkie!” a somewhat portly, blue earth pony mare exclaimed as Pinkie skid through the swinging door of the rather thematic Sugarcube Corner, a flour-coated, rose-colored mane bobbing as she poked her head over the counter.“You should really slow down a little, dear. You're likely to run somepony over going so fast.”

“Sorry, Mrs. Cake. I'm just really excited!”

“Well, I can see that,” Mrs. Cake replied, noting the bouncing pink pony's obvious enthusiasm before glancing over the excitable pony to see a huffing, puffing yellow pegasus sprawled behind her. “Oh, who's your friend?”

“This is Fluttershy. She's new,” Pinkie stated, grabbing up the pegasus into a bone-crunching hug as she beamed at the matronly confectioner. “We're going to have a 'Welcome to Ponyville Party.'”

“H-hi,” Fluttershy gasped out, still at a loss for oxygen after having been pulled and then dragged through what must have been half of the town. As the rest of her breath was being squeezed from her, her eyes spun in their sockets. Everything had blurred into a series of muddied images and shouts from her excitable firecracker of a tour guide.

“Would you like a glass of water, dear?” Mrs. Cake asked, cocking her head to the side as she motioned for Pinkie to settle down.

With a quick apology, Fluttershy was released, allowing the pegasus to stand somewhat uneasily. She sucked in as much air as she could as Pinkie continued to rattle with barely restrained energy.

“Th-that would be lovely,” she whispered, legs shaking from the strain. She’d run more in the last hour than she ever had in her life. She thought for a moment she might collapse or that her sore hooves might disintegrate.

“Pinkie, dear, why don't you go upstairs and straighten things up while I get your friend here something to drink.”

“Ooh, great idea!” Pinkie exclaimed before disappearing into the kitchen in a blur of pink, a cry of panic issuing from the kitchen. “Sorry, Mr. Cake!”

Fluttershy watched the pink earth pony slip into the side of the storefront and zoom up the stairs.

“Carrot, dear, are you alright?”

“I'm fine, honeybuns… just startled is all.” A tall, earth pony stallion poked his head out of the kitchen. “Pinkie seems excited today. Oh, who's this?” he asked, peering at Fluttershy with a warm grin.

“This is Fluttershy. She's new in town,” Mrs. Cake answered as she pushed up the counter flap, motioning for her to follow.

With a thankful smile, Fluttershy complied, walking unsteadily into the back, legs feeling as though they were made of marshmallows… overdone marshmallows.

“Carrot, would you mind watching the front a moment?”

“Of course, Cup. Oh, but keep an eye on the layer cake, they shouldn't be more than a few minutes more,” Mr. Cake replied, exchanging his dirtied baking smock for a cleaner apron as he stepped up to the register.

Fluttershy moved on into the kitchen, following Mrs. Cake.

The kitchen was quite large, far larger than any kitchen Fluttershy had been in before. An enormous oven took up nearly an entire wall by itself while the rest had long runs of counter top. A refrigerator sat to one side with a sink in the middle and a smaller more conventional oven opposite them. An outline in the floor hinted at a basement pantry below.

It was relatively clean too. Only a corner of the countertops showed any sign of use, but the smell of freshly baked goodies was overpowering. Fluttershy found herself in awe, wishing she had brought a cookbook or two along with her from Cloudsdale.

“Are you okay, dear?” The worried voice snapped Fluttershy out of her reverie as she found herself sitting at a small table tucked away in a corner of the room, a glass of water sitting in front of her.

“Oh, sorry. Your kitchen is just so… you have a very nice kitchen.” Fluttershy kept her focus on the glass of water.

“Oh, do you enjoy cooking?”

“Oh, very much yes. I mean, I'm not anything special, but I enjoy it all the same,” the pegasus said, her excitement tempered by a fierce blush.

“Well, if you'd ever like to try anything, I'm sure I could offer you the run of the kitchen sometime. With supervision of course.”

“Oh, that'd be simply wonderful,” Fluttershy exclaimed excitedly, wings giving an excited flap, her blush somehow deepening as she smiled up at the earth pony across from her.

“I do apologize for Pinkie Pie. She can get a little bit… well, let's just say, she can be a bit overzealous,” Mrs. Cake said with a gentle smile as Fluttershy gulped down the water, reveling in the pleasant coolness of it running down her throat.

“Well, she seems nice.”

“Oh, the poor dear. I know her heart's in the right place, though. She just needs to learn to tone it down. Just a bit.”

“Maybe a little.”

An awkward silence descended over the kitchen as they stared up at the sounds of moving furniture emanating from the second floor among other, less readily identifiable sounds.

She swore for a moment she heard the deep, throaty call of a tuba and the high-pitched screech of some well out-of-tune, stringed instrument.

“So, what brings you to Ponyville, Fluttershy?”

“Oh, I'm here to meet somepony. Family actually.”

“Oh… are you feeling quite alright?”

“Oh, never better,” Fluttershy replied a little too quickly as she plastered on the biggest smile she could manage.

“Well, let me tell you one thing,” Mrs. Cake said, leaning close as if to disclose a deep, dark secret. “If anypony can cheer a pony up, Pinkie Pie can. If you’ll let her,” Mrs. Cake whispered before standing up from the table. “And I think both of you could use a friend right now.”

Before Fluttershy could think of a response, Pinkie came bouncing down the stairs, smiling ear to ear as she came to stop, her frizzy mane filled with bits of streamer and confetti.

“C'mon, Fluttershy! It's time to par-tay!” Pinkie decreed, grabbing Fluttershy by the hooves and springing up the stairs as Mrs. Cake looked on with a smile.

“You two have fun now.”

[o-0-o]

“And you had a lot of fun, too,” Pinkie whispered with a smile, some of her usual joviality having returned as they reminisced. “We played pin the tail on the pony, hoofs and horseshoes, truth or dare, danced 'til our hoovesies hurt, had a pillow fight, snacks, cake, punch, cupcakes”—the pink pony took a gasp of air—“and a piñata! It was great.” She slumped down with a soft, contented sigh.

“Your parties are always the best.”

“Even the small ones.”

“You did a wonderful thing for me too. I certainly wasn't looking for a party when I first got to Ponyville. I didn't even think there would ever be a reason to again.”

“Hey…” Pinkie whispered, brushing a tear away from Fluttershy's face. “When you've got Pinkie Pie, everyday is a reason to party. If only because we're all still around.”

Fluttershy chuckled weakly, staring at the pink pony with incredulity. “Since when did you think about things like this?”

“Well, I do have time for things besides parties, pastries and prankings, I'll have you know,” Pinkie stated with look of mock hurt that quickly broke down into a shared bout of giggles. “I know, it really is all about the three P’s. This really isn't my place though, is it? At least, not usually. But I think I might be the only one left to do it if Twilight won’t… or can’t.”

“Pinkie… what's happening?”

“You can feel it too, right?”

“Something's wrong… I know it.”

“I know. I'm scared of it too, but maybe… maybe we can just enjoy this right here. Maybe, if we just stay, we'll be okay,” Pinkie offered as she drew Fluttershy closer. “Remember after the party?”

“Of course. I don't think I could forget it so easily. Could you?”

“No… don't think I could.”

[o-0-o]

It was approaching midnight when Fluttershy awoke to find herself in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar town.

Normally, this would have sent her into a right panic, but there was something about the room, an undeniable, radiant sense of joy, a sense that things would be better. A sense of undeterrable optimism, really. It was part of the reason she’d ended up staying for the night.

It had been dark by the time the two-pony party had wound down. Not so dark that Fluttershy couldn't have gone out to find lodgings of her own or even to track down the cottage that was her ultimate destination in town.

It was dark enough that she was inclined to accept her host's demand. If only for the sadness in the Pinkie’s eyes at the mere mention of leaving.

“Pinkie?” she muttered confusedly as she looked over to see the silhouette of a pony in a window.

“Oh, Fluttershy. You're up?”

“Um… yes, I guess I am,” Fluttershy replied, rolling out from under the comforter and onto the floor, the quiet clip-clop of her hooves echoing in the dark room. “What are you doing awake?”

“Oh… should be asleep, shouldn't I? Have to get up early and help the Cakes open the shop and all.”

“So… why are you awake?” Fluttershy asked as she drew up to the window beside the pink pony, now able to see her in the moonlight.

Her mane seemed to be wavy and long now, her bush of a mane replaced by a much straighter, simpler look. Even the bright pink of her fur seemed somehow washed out in the night.

It felt as though Fluttershy was looking at an entirely different pony than the one she had just danced and played games with so few hours before.

“I just couldn't sleep. Too many thoughts running around my noggin. You know how it is.”

“Would you like to talk about it?” Fluttershy asked, a hoof scraping anxiously against the floor as Pinkie glanced towards her. “I mean, only if you really want to, but it might help.”

“Maybe…” the pink pony whispered sadly. She was unsure, that much was clear from the way her gaze flitted between the moon outside and the floor at her hooves. “Fluttershy?”

“Yes?”

“Can I ask you a question?” Pinkie shuffled her hooves, eyes firmly glued to the bottom of the window now. “Besides that one, I mean.”

“Of course,” Fluttershy replied, stooping down slightly as she tried to get a good look at her face.

“Are we… are we friends, Fluttershy?”

“Well…”

Fluttershy hesitated. After all, she had only just met this pony. And she certainly hadn't come to Ponyville looking for friendship…

Could one even be friends after so short a time?

It seemed so unlikely, but somehow she had an answer. She didn't understand it, but she had it.

“I think we are.”

“Thanks for saying that. Even if you don't really mean it,” the pink pony whispered with a sad smile.

“Pinkie, I think I do mean it. Honestly, I don't really know why or how, but it certainly feels like we're friends, doesn't it?” Fluttershy argued, drawing a confused look as the earth pony finally looked up at her with watery blue eyes.

“Maybe that's what Papa meant,” Pinkie whispered almost inaudibly, wiping her eyes with the back of a hoof before looking up at the pegasus, a little smile slowly growing on her face, “So, how do you like Ponyville so far anyways?”

“Well, I was a little scared at first. There were just so many ponies around. I really am glad that I ran into you,” Fluttershy admitted, returning the smile in earnest. “But, um, if you don't mind me asking, why are you crying?”

“To be completely honest, I'm kind of new to Ponyville too.”

“So, the unofficially official greeter thing…?”

“Well, like I said, nopony's said anything else, so until further notice, right?” Pinkie replied with a giggle, some of the life returning to her. “But yeah… I just kinda made that up on the spot. Didn't mean to fib like that.”

“Well, you were pretty convincing. Especially the party pony part.”

“Oh. Well…” the pink pony began with a laugh, twisting so her cutie mark was plainly visible. She tapped the trio of balloons emblazoned on her hip. “That wasn't a fib, not even a little, itty-bitty one. Pinkamena Diane Pie is one-hundred-and-ten percent all party pony!”

“Oh, I couldn’t argue with that. No pony but a party pony could have thrown such a fun party.” Fluttershy giggled softly, glancing over at her own cutie mark.

“So, what do the butterflies mean?” Pinkie asked, her gaze having followed the pegasus's. “Do you like to catch them?”

“Not really,” Fluttershy muttered, giving the earth pony an incredulous look. “I like animals. I have kind of a special connection with them.”

“Ooh… like a superhero!”

“A what?”

“Y'know, a hero… only more super… -ry… -ish.”

“Oh, I'm not really hero material. I mean, I like to help if I can, but I'm not brave or courageous or anything like that…” she trailed off, blushing furiously at the pink pony's take on her talent.

“Aww, you're just a little shy… Hey! Fluttershy!”

“What?”

“No, I mean, Flutter-shy. I just got it! That name is perfect for you!”

“Um… thank you?”

“You're very, very welcome.” Pinkie sprang forward, her energy returning in force as she grabbed the very surprised Fluttershy in a tight hug.

“P-Pinkie?”

“Yeah?”

“I think you're crushing me,” Fluttershy grunted through gritted teeth, her wings pinching together terribly.

“Oh, sorry!” Pinkie blushed as she immediately relaxed her grasp, letting the pegasus breathe. “I'm just excited.”

“I can tell.” Fluttershy chucked weakly out, sucking in deep breaths.

“Are you excited?” Pinkie asked, a bright smile seeming to light the darkness as Fluttershy regained her breath.

Fluttershy didn't answer for a moment, looking away from the grinning pink pony to peer out into the dark streets of Ponyville. The moon shone brightly, casting a soft blue glow over the town. The Mare in the Moon herself seemed to stare down at them. A shudder coursed through the yellow pegasus as she glanced from the window back to the pink pony beside her.

Her smile hadn't wavered at all.

“I think I am,” she said and gently hugged the pink pony back.

[o-0-o]

Fluttershy held her eyes closed as the memory faded away, well-aware of the hooves clasped about her.

As she opened her eyes slowly, she found herself in Pinkie's room once more. Only different now, if subtly.

It was as though somepony had flipped on the lights.

The room shone as brightly and vibrantly even in the dark. Brighter than she had ever seen it before day or night. It was done up properly for a party, too. A long table took up the center of the room, crowned with a towering behemoth of a cake that seemed like it could likely hold a pony or two within its sugary depths.

On top of each plate was a hat, each covered in a different design. As she looked over them, she spotted one with her own cutie mark emblazoned on it, several pink butterflies. There was one with pink balloons for Pinkie and another with star-bursts for Twilight…

Quietly, the pegasus looked over the remaining three plates in confusion. Curiously, one was covered in apples and another with diamonds, while the final plate was missing its hat.

Maybe…

Maybe Pinkie had been in the middle of setting up the party…

“Pinkie… what's all this about?” Fluttershy whispered as she felt the pink pony squeeze her tighter. “What's wrong?”

“Oh, lots of things, but they don't really matter in the long run,” she replied in a shockingly even tone, grip tightening even as she glanced up at the pegasus with a strange little smile.

“Pinkie?”

“You'll remember, Fluttershy. I know you will. Even if you don’t for a little while. And then we can have this party with all your friends,” she whispered, eyes filled with sorrow in spite of her bright smile.

“Pinkie, I could never forget my friends,” Fluttershy reassured her, but Pinkie simply shook her head, that same odd smile remaining.

“You will, but that's not important,” she replied, burying her head into Fluttershy shoulder. “You'll remember… that's what's important. I know you will…”

“What do you mean? How could I forget you… or Rainbow… or Twilight… or…”

Fluttershy felt a knot lodge firmly in her stomach as she stared at the table. Something was wrong there.

Six plates… six ponies…

She could feel the headache returning as Pinkie relaxed her grip, allowing the pegasus to stand up.

“It's coming now,” Pinkie stated bluntly, drying her eyes with a hoof. “You need to get out of here.”

“What's coming? Why can't you tell me?”

“Oh, Fluttershy,” Pinkie whispered, a hoof to the pegasus's cheek, “Don't worry about it. You've got to go.”

“To go?” Fluttershy echoed as Pinkie roughly shoved her toward the rear balcony. “Pinkie, what are you doing?”

It was night now, all of Ponyville under a thick blanket of darkness as Fluttershy's hooves scraped noisily over the wooden platform. Methodically, Pinkie pushed her to the edge of the platform before stopping. There was a foreign look of coolheaded determination on Pinkie’s usually jovial features, but there was fear in those eyes.

“Flap those wings, Fluttershy… it's time to go,” Pinkie stated simply as she gave Fluttershy a rough shove.

Fluttershy’s wings flared instinctively as her hoof scraped the edge of the platform. “What? Why? Pinkie, tell me what's going on?”

“No can do, Shy-Shy,” Pinkie said with a wry grin before giving the pegasus one last, hard push into the air.

Fluttershy slid off the edge of the balcony, her wings catching her as she hovered just off the platform, confused as a sick feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.

“Pinkie?”

“Don’t worry, Fluttershy. Twilight’ll take good care of you. See you later, okay?”

“Fluttershy!” a new voice shouted out, startling her.

But before she could look for the source she felt something grab her, yanking her away.

Pinkie waved weakly at the pegasus as Sugarcube Corner slowly shrank.

“But Pinki—Twilight?” she gasped out as she looked down to find the unicorn galloping below, her magenta aura surrounding Fluttershy.

“No time to explain, we need to go! Now!” Twilight yelled out as Fluttershy lowered to the ground, hooves breaking into a gallop as they met earth. “Follow me!”

“Where? Why?” Fluttershy stuttered as she galloped beside the unicorn, chancing a quick look back at Sugarcube Corner, “What about Pinkie?”

“It's too late, Fluttershy… She knew—”

A thunderous crack split the silent air. The sky lit up as Fluttershy jammed her hooves into the dirt and spun to look at Sugarcube Corner.

“Pinkie!” she screamed as the top of the confectionery split and collapsed in on itself, the bottom floors alight with flame. “Twilight! We have to go back for her!”

“No!” the unicorn denied her, pulling back on the pegasus with her magic.

“Twilight! We have to!”

“It's too late! We have to keep moving now or it will have all of us!” Twilight grunted with exertion as she dragged Fluttershy away.

But Fluttershy’s hooves dug in hard, her vision filled by flames.

“Let go!” Fluttershy screamed at the unicorn, but Twilight was unmoved, dragging her further and further down the road. “What kind of friend are you?!”

“The kind that's keeping her friend safe!” Twilight roared back, pulling the pegasus from the dirt and pulling her forwards until the two were nose to nose.

“You're letting her die, Twilight!” the pegasus accused, glaring daggers at the unicorn.

“Who, Fluttershy?!” Twilight demanded, voice choked. “Tell me who?! Say her name!”

“Pin—”

The pain sliced through her consciousness, sending her to the ground, hooves on her head. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think for a moment before the pain faded. She felt the magic around her relinquish its grip, allowing her to look back at the inferno that had been Sugarcube Corner.

With a final shudder, the roof fell completely, the façade, blackened by the merrily dance fire, falling into a heap as the darkness seemed to wrap around it.

“Wh-what's going on?” Fluttershy whispered in terror as the flames began to dissolve, the ruins of the confectionery… her friend… everything disappearing into the dark.

“Everything's going away. We have to go,” Twilight spoke softly, lifting the pegasus to her hooves with a burst of magic. “We have to run, Fluttershy.”

“Where?”

“To where this all started, Fluttershy,” Twilight answered.

Fluttershy stared for a moment as the building was subsumed by the dark.

She turned and they ran.

They ran through the empty streets, the night sky darkening further and one by one the stars were extinguished, the black shadow creeping over the moon before it too drowned in the dark.

They could but gallop.

They galloped as hard and fast as they could, the glow of Twilight's horn lighting the path as the sky vanished.

On they galloped. Until their hooves ached and their legs burned. Until they had left Ponyville far behind.

Through the blackest of nights held back only by the soft glow of unicorn magic.

They galloped for the cottage.

They galloped for the Everfree Forest beyond.

They galloped for the abandoned castle beyond that where this had all begun.

Author's Note

[revised 08-16-2014]

12 [Arc 01 - Perturbation, Part Eight] <rev. 08.27.2014>

“Something about all this jus’ ain’t sittin’ right.”

“Doesn’t matter… we have to do this.”

“I know. Doesn’t make this feel any better though. Can’t say I’ve ever seen her look so worried… either of ‘em.”

“I… none of that matters. We know what we have to do. We’re here. Let’s do it.”

“I don’t mean nothin’ like that. Just feels like we’re missin’ things, y’know? Like they're keepin’ somethin’ back.”

“…”

“…”

“I know… same here.”

“…”

“…”

“Are you two ready?”

“As we’ll ever be.”

[o-0-o]

Debris fell like hail around her as the snake smashed into and, with a flex of its massive coils, through the column.

Fluttershy skittered along the floor before lifting back into the air as it pulled itself from the ruined stone and dust. It let out a rumbling growl as it turned to face, scaly lips twisted in a grin.

She had only time to gasp before raising her wings up high to sink beneath the serpent as it coursed by just above, scaley underbelly scraping against her wing tips. Mouth agape, Fluttershy watched as yard after yard of monstrous beast flowed overhead, her wings working in slow flaps as she studied its fleshy armor..

It seemed endless.

“You are in my domain now.”

“It doesn’t matter where we are! You won’t win!” she yelled as the serpent looped around itself to face her.

Fluttershy could feel the dread threatening to overwhelm her as she studied the the long, thick fangs that hung from its maw, dripping with a black sludge.

“You won’t win! I won’t let you!”

The beast merely laughed, sending a shudder coursing down her spine. She wanted to run, to flee far from this room, but she pushed down the fears and held her head high. Swallowing hard, she held her ground as it reared to attack again.

It lunged, serpentine body cutting through the air as she felt the familiar power building. She didn’t move save to maintain her altitude as it drew nearer and nearer, maw spread wide. The gaping black of its open throat threatening to consume her, she merely stared down the approaching doom.

At the last second, she rolled over in the air, dropping beneath its hurtling form only to flare her wings to her hind hooves to bear before bucking the beast right in its expansive underbelly.

Its angered roars filled the air as it reeled back, fading into the darkness. Where her hooves had hit, the scaly flesh had split in a glowing red light as a thick black liquid dripped from it.

Fluttershy lowered to the ground with a few powerful flaps of her wings, her hooves crackling as her body radiated a pink light. She couldn’t help but feel confidence bloom at the beast’s apparent pain, the dark tendrils that had attached it to the room receding back to bind its wound closed.

“Hmph… Old tricks.” The beast grimaced before renewing its grin. “How about we try something new?”

It lashed out with a trio of shadowy tendrils, sending bits of floor flying into the air, carving deep divots into the stone where Fluttershy had just been. The pegasus could only weave her way through the hail of debris before something slammed into her from the side, sending her careening back through the air. With a cry of pain, she smashed into the top arch of the entry and plummeted to the floor, slamming down with an audible thump.

Hacking and coughing, she rose to her hooves, one wing hanging limp at her side while the other trembling at her side. Eyes on her unsteady hooves as she took a few stumbling steps towards her opponent. At a tremor of laughter, she peered up to find the nightmare shifting once more.

“Perhaps this will be more to your liking.”

It let the words hang in the air as the shadows encircled it, snapping and cracking as they knit into a broad torso. A pair of tendrils stretched down to form arms from which a pair of wicked talons sprouted. Behind it, Fluttershy could see the changes continuing, sinewy muscles built up into a pair of spires that thrust out from the beast’s back, skin forming between long fingers of bone soon wrapped in taut, black flesh as they formed the wings of a—

Dragon… Fluttershy thought to herself, legs already quaking at the prospect.

“Oh… but, of course, my dear little Fluttershy,” it growled, once blunt muzzle lengthened into the long, curved snout of a true dragon. It grinned, now with a new mouth filled with dripping, razor-sharp teeth and, with a snort, shadowy flames shot from its nostrils. “What kind of host would I be if I didn’t indulge my guests’ deepest fears?”

Oh, Celestia—

"Cannot help you here, I’m afraid,” the new-formed dragon declared with an insidious smile, wings flaring as its lower body finished forming, a pair of wicked talons stepping forth, dragging furrows through what little remained of the floor. Whatever remained of its serpentine body swayed across the floor in long lazy sweeps as spikes jutted out along its length.

Fluttershy scrabbled back, just missing the stairs as she pressed herself against a bit of wall. As the nightmare strode forward, teeth shining in the halflight, she felt the strength draining from her.

“Even less of a challenge then I’d thought,” the dragon breathed, dark, purple flames punctuating each word as it drew nearer. “Let us make this quick then.”

Fluttershy swallowed hard as it loomed large before her. Smiling, it began to draw in the air as if to suffocate her, a fireball growing at the back of its throat. However, behind the dragon, something caught her attention: a familiar whistle.

Both glanced over to find a brilliantly shining, orange silhouette charging as a long glowing lasso hurtled at them. The dragon’s eyes went wide as the rope ensnared its muzzle and, as Fluttershy watched with mouth agape, yanked it down towards the flying hind hooves of the orange pony, hitting a clap of magic

The nightmare fell back with an enraged growl as the rope dissipated into nothingness, leaving a ragged crack across its jaw.

“You bring them here?!” the dragon yelled out, fire spilling over its teeth as it lept to its talons.

Who?

Another, curter whistle drew her attention, the orange mare beckoning her towards the stairwell. In her shock, she didn’t move, the dragon letting out a massive roar that rang through her skull. With a gasp, she looked to the dragon only to find her vision filled by a massive purple flame coursing towards her before something slipped about her middle and pulled her roughly into the stairwell.

Eyes still looking back, she watched the flames hit, a large section of the archway simply ceasing to be as it was struck. She cringed as the dragon let out another ear-splitting roar, finding herself thumping hard onto the orange silhouette’s back as the dragon pursued.

Instinctively, she grabbed onto the pony for dear life as it reared up and shot down the stairwell. The dragon stopped at the top, its bulk too much for the curved stairs, and vanished from sight around the bend.

It seemed for a moment that its pursuit had ceased as its angry cries were replaced by the steady echo of the orange pony’s hooves. Fluttershy felt her nerves calmed by constant clatter of keratin on stone as it galloped down the stairs.

“Who are you?” Fluttershy whispered as she peered at the orange silhouette. She swore she felt it staring back, radiating a comforting warmth despite any discernible facial features. Save for the whipping mane and tail, it was a blank slate of an earth pony.

Not wholly unlike the statues they had come across…

Soon, however, the relative calm was interrupted by the renewed roars of the nightmare reverberating through the stone walls of the tower. The silhouette galloped closer to the inside track of the stairs as sound began to focus just beyond the outer wall. Staring out at the windows as they whipped by, she spotted the dark shadow of the beast drawing ever closer.

“Watch out!”

The outer wall burst inwards as a dark scaled talon grabbed for them, the pair slipping beneath one before having to leap the first talon’s sibling as it crashed through just in front of them. With a well timed buck of its hooves, the orange silhouette sent them hurtling forward and sent the dragon reeling.

Looking back at the debris that had been the outer walls, Fluttershy watched the silhouette of the dragon pass by again, sending tremors through the stone steps.

With a cry of fear, Fluttershy pulled back on the orange silhouette, flaring her good wing. The silhouette’s hooves scraped loudly against the stone steps, seeming to turn to berate the pegasus before it saw what Fluttershy had, the stairwell in front of them crumbling as the dragon’s claws ripped open the stairwell.

“Nowhere left to flee, little one!” the dragon roared as its head plunged into the newly enlarged tunnel of stairs. Its red eyes were alight as smoke curled up from its lips.

The silhouette simply glared at the hulking beast, hoof pawing at the stone step upon which they’d stopped.

“Oh… no…” Fluttershy groaned, hooves wrapped securely around the orange pony’s neck and eyes wide as she stared into the gaping maw, ready and able to swallow her whole.

And then, she felt a rumble coming from the orange silhouette as it faced the dragon, the orange mare’s tail flicking in agitation.

“Hmph, another brave one,” the dragon smirked, its noxious breath flowing over them, choking the air as the stairs seemed to dim and fade away. “Will you so readily sacrifice? I wonder…”

The orange pony stomped a hoof aggressively, making as if to charge the dragon. The nightmare simply grinned, smoke soon replaced by licking flame as it prepared to meet the silhouette’s challenge.

“No, no, don’t!” Fluttershy cried out as she peered around the orange pony at the dragon.

Suddenly, she felt a wave of calm coursing through her, the orange pony swiveling its head to stare back at her. She could almost see a wink on its featureless face, a look that said everything would turn out just fine before turning back to the dragon.

The silhouette gave another brazen stomp of its hoof, snorting before it reared back on its hind legs and charged.

The nightmare quirked an eyebrow, its omnipresent smirk widening before, with a stone-shaking roar, its flames filled the stairwell.

Fluttershy screamed as they charged the approaching flames, clutching the silhouette tight as it barreled down.

And then her scream faded as they veered suddenly to the inside of the stairwell, the silhouette galloping up the inner wall a few steps before flinging itself and Fluttershy over the encroaching flames towards a window.

“No!”

Fluttershy could hear the dragon cursing as they broke through what remained of the ancient glass and tumbled into the darkness.

Flapping her good wing in a panic as they spun uncontrollably through the air, Fluttershy stared back as well as she could to watch the dragon pulling its head from the ruins of the stairwell, stone and dust falling about it. What little remained of the tower crumbled before her eyes, leaving naught but an ashen-colored cloud where the old castle had once been.

“You will not get away from me!” the dragon roared from somewhere within the gray cloud.

“Oh, please, please, please,” she squealed in fright, invoking anypony able to aid them as she clung to the orange silhouette, tears streaming as the winds whipped them from her eyes.

Oh, please, Celestia, Luna, anypony!

Fluttershy prayed silently, burying her face into the back of the orange silhouette as she fought their descent. Her flaps became steadier, her wing spread more fully as she gained some measure of control. No longer were they tumbling through the air; they were now dropping like a stone into the seemingly infinite dark.

Oh, please just let us land someplace soft…

Fluttershy could feel the silhouette tense the moment before they hit with a loud squelch.

What?

The pegasus found herself suddenly surrounded on all sides by some mysterious goop pressing in on all sides. Her grip slackened as she began to extricate herself from the strange slop. In a half-panic, she swam in the direction she hoped was up, hearing her hooves slap against the thick liquid as she breached the surface and threw herself over the lip of a large tub.

Grape juice?

She could taste the fruit on her tongue as she blinked her eyes open to find that they had indeed landed in a mass of half-pressed grapes, watching as the juice sloshed over the side of the oversized barrel. Glancing over the side of the barrel to the ground, her eyes went wide as her inexplicably smiling savior stood in the middle of an expansive apple orchard.

“A-ap-Appleja—”

A draconic roar filled the air, the trees shaking beneath its onslaught.

Before Fluttershy could even glance towards the beast, she felt something loop around her waist again and yank roughly from the tub to land back on the orange pony with a loud “Oof!”

“There will be no escape for you!”

Fluttershy cringed the orange mare shot forward into the orchard, following a well-worn main path through the trees. Hooves secured once more, Fluttershy looked back to find the nightmare descending upon them, wings seeming to fill the sky as dark flames poured from it. The beast dove towards the trees, eyes glinting with malice.

“Right! Right!” Fluttershy cried out, pulling on the silhouette's neck as the dragon cut a fiery swath through the orchard.

The orange pony did as beckoned, dashing right even as it gave the pegasus a quick and dirty look, but Fluttershy simply stared back at the full-grown trees being reduced to ash and cinders. She could only breathe a sigh of relief as they disappeared into the orchard proper, the orange mare weaving through the trees in a random pattern.

Did we lose it?

She glanced skywards, trying to spot some sign of the beast through the thick rows of apple trees. She felt an anxious calm settle in her as their gallop slowed.

“I think…” Fluttershy trailed off as she slumped down. “I think we're alright n—”

She cried out in shock as an apple tree speared the land before them, sending Fluttershy to the ground as the orange pony reared back.

“Surely you didn’t think it would be easy,” the beast cooed, a tree clutched in each claw as it hovered, an amused smile on its scaly features. “Now, be good little ponies and hold still!”

Fluttershy froze momentarily as the dragon bore down, but, with a quick nudge from the silhouette, she rolled to her hooves and took off alongside it. They galloped to the main orchard path, the orange pony leading her through the densest rows of trees.

“Oh, good! I was so hoping we could make a game of it!” the beast growled as it continued to hurl trees at them.

Fluttershy gasped, wind whistling through the branches of an apple tree turned projectile as it hurtled towards them. She felt something slam into her side, pushing her into another row as the tree spiked the ground between her and the silhouette, the tremors running through their hooves.

“Yes! Yes!” Tree after tree shot through the air at the fleeing ponies as the beast’s mocking laughter surrounded them. “Scurry like rats!”

Fluttershy found herself dodging and weaving through the orchard, the tremors becoming constant as projectile after projectile impacted the earth. By the time they made it to the main path, she was gasping for air.

“We… can't…” Fluttershy spoke through staggered heaves as she followed the silhouette down the middle of the road. “Can’t… hide…”

They were utterly exposed as the dragon reached the break in the trees, following them easily now that they had ceased their bobbing and weaving, and began following the linear path of the road. Fluttershy groaned fearfully, glancing back to see the dragon’s wide grin, hefting a rather sizable tree in a talon.

“We have to move!” Fluttershy veritably squeaked out, trying to push the orange pony back towards the tree line.

But It didn't break for the trees.

It wouldn’t break for the trees.

It simply maintained its line straight through the orchard, glancing back at their pursuer with a determined glint in its absent eyes.

Fluttershy felt oddly at ease beside the pony and soon ceased pushing it, content to gallop flank to flank with it. But, with the dragon so close, she couldn't help but tremble at the thought of what approached. She could feel her wings snapping up to her sides, legs threatening to give out each time they hit the hard-packed earth.

“Oh… you make this far too easy, Elements,” the dragon spoke as it hovered closer, fist wrapped tightly around the tree.

Fluttershy glanced from the orange silhouette to the dragon, biting her lip so hard that a distinct coppery taste filled her mouth. She looked to the silhouette with fear written plainly on her features, waiting for the other horseshoe to drop.

“We have… to get off… the path,” Fluttershy gasped out, watching the silhouettes well-furrowed brow. It had to have a plan. But before she could ask, a roar interrupted her thoughts as she snapped her head around to see—

Oh, no… Fluttershy mewled silently, staring at the tree now hurtling straight for them.

She could only think to hurry her gallop before she was pulled from her hooves. She landed on her rump, dazed and confused before she felt the glowing orange rope tighten about her stomach.

“What are you doing?!” Fluttershy demanded, voice panicked.

The silhouette simply stared at the dragon, hooves planted solidly in the dirt as they watched the tree hurtle towards them. Fluttershy scrabbled for footing before the mare gave a subtle tug of the rope, glancing over as if to plead for her trust.

Fluttershy just stared in return, body trembling as she realized what was to happen.

Please… she mouthed the word, choked by fear.

Just before impact, the orange mare reared up, the rope tightening about the pegasus as she was pulled hard towards the orange mare. She cried out as she was sent flying in a wide arc, first towards the incoming tree before the orange silhouette slammed her hooves down and sent Fluttershy careening through the rest of the loop and away from the dragon.

No…

Hurtling through the air, Fluttershy stared at the orange mare as the tree impacted.

[o-0-o]

“Something’s wrong.”

“…”

“Something’s wrong. We need to call this off.”

“…”

“Princess?”

“…”

“Celestia?”

[o-0-o]

Fluttershy watched helplessly as the tree struck, the orange mare bending and warping around the cracking and splitting wood before it shattered in a burst of white light.

“Applejack!” she cried out, the orange motes of light that remained slowly dissipating into nothingness.

With a dark chuckle, the dragon’s focus was once again upon her, locked onto her as she hurtled down the path. The dragon brought its wings down heavily and swooped down through the crumbling orchard, the once green and vibrant foliage faded to a deathly ash as the nightmare flew overhead.

As her senses returned, Fluttershy strained open her wings, able to manage little more than a controlled glide from the beast.

“Alas, poor Fluttershy. Abandoned once more,” the dragon mocked, one of its claws dipping into the orchard to pluck another tree from the earth, the leaves and bark of the tree cracking away in its grasp until nothing but an ashen spear was left. “How does it make you feel? To have them sacrificed so.”

“Shut up!” Fluttershy snapped, wings traveling in slow, wide arcs as the dragon continued to gain ground.

Below, the orchard was fast running out, the trees that had once seemed endless fading away into an all-consuming dark.

“Give up, little one,” the dragon cooed. “Surrender yourself and this could be so much easier for all involved.”

“I said shut up!” Slowly she lost altitude as the wind tugged at her battered wings.

I won’t give up… Out of the corner of her eye she could see the feathers slipping from her wings. She was bound to lose control at some point, but until then she simply stayed her course.

And then she could feel it drawing closer, its hot breath coursing through her fur as she closed her eyes, waiting for the worst to come. And then…

[o-0-o]

“This isn’t normal…”

“…”

“…”

“No. It isn’t.”

“But you won’t stop it.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“…”

“…”

“Because I can’t.”

[o-0-o]

…nothing.

No rush of air, no impact.

Not even wind rustling through her wings.

“What?”

Fluttershy could hear the disbelief in the nightmare’s voice as she opened her eyes to find herself surrounded in a soft blue aura.She found a unicorn standing beside her as she was lowered onto the ill-defined soil. A well-coiffured mane fell beside the purple silhouette’s horn as it glowed a soft blue in the darkness before fading.

“Th-thank you,” Fluttershy stammered out uncertainly before a rumbling laugh broke in.

“Oh, how sweet you make this,” the nightmare cooed, dropping heavily to the ground. “So willing they are to sacrifice.” It plucked up a second apple tree in its free claw, bark and leaves burning away. “Is that something you will allow?”

Fluttershy simply stayed silent as she turned to face the beast, backing away slowly as the purple silhouette interposed herself between pegasus and nightmare.

“So be it, little one,” the nightmare mocked before leaping back into the air, hurling first one spear and then the other with a roar.

Fluttershy’s heart leap into her throat as she grabbed onto the purple silhouette, trying to force it back.

“We have to go!” Fluttershy grunted in exertion as she pressed futilely at the stoic, purple silhouette. It simply wouldn’t move as Fluttershy’s hooves slipped against the black earth, sending her collapsing to the ground.

The silhouette simply let out a dismissive little scoff, standing tall before the falling projectile, horn flaring into life.

Even as she buried herself beneath her hooves, Fluttershy felt something hurtle forth from behind them followed moments later by a thunderous crash. But there never came the the impact that she had expected.

Peering out from between her hooves, she watched a set of now very badly dented ponyquins drop to the dirt with a clang. As she stoo, she found that the twin spears had embedded themselves in the dirt to either side of them.

“What?” Fluttershy cocked her head to the side. “Where did—how? What?”

“With the—and the—What?”

The purple silhouette simply huffed at the shared confusion of pegasus and nightmare.

“How did yo—”

A shudder coursed through the ground, interrupting her questions as her hooves splayed wide for balance.

The dragon growled as it took a step forward, flaring its wings wide.

The silhouette did not back down, however large the nightmare swelled, a half-dozen or so ponyquins coming between her and the dragon.

“Let us proceed then, Element,” it bid cooly as Fluttershy glanced between it and the silhouette before something caught the corner of her eye.

There, in the dakness behind them, something shimmered.

“What is tha-AaaaAaat!” Fluttershy’s whisper turned to a yelp as she was yanked onto the back of the already galloping silhouette, its ponyquins haphazardly flung at the nightmare.

Roaring in frustration at the sudden turn of mood, the dragon batted away the ponyquins as they ran towards the shining something in the dark. The beast lifted into to the air to pursue, hurling curses and flames after the pair.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy could see the shimmering tear bend and warp until it was recognizably a door. With a push of its blue aura, the silhouette slammed it open to reveal a long hallway that seemed to go on forever as it arcced out of sight. She could hear the sound of its hoof hits shift as muffled dirt gave way to the echoing tap of the hard tile.

Turning back, Fluttershy saw the nightmare hurl itself after them before the door slammed shut in its face.

They stopped for a moment, watching the closed door as the nightmare’s muted roars sent trembles through the hall. They persisted a moment longer before the door bent and vanished back into the darkness, sealing them in silence.

“Oh… Oh my goodness…” Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief as she slipped down on the silhouette’s back.

The silhouette was silent, even as it broke into a steady trot.

Fluttershy glanced around the long hall to find it strangely devoid of detail, dark save for the light of hanging lanterns. Gradually, the silhouette slowed again to a stop, ears twitching in an agitated manner.

“Where are we going?” Fluttershy asked, but received not an answer from the unicorn as it glanced around. “I guess I’ll just walk on my… own?” As she moved to dismount, she found herself unable to, a soft blue glow holding her in place. The unicorn turned to face her, shaking its head.

“Are… are we safe here?” Fluttershy asked, tightening her grip slightly.

The silhouette glanced down, shaking its head again before continuing its quiet trot down the seemingly endless hallway.

Then there came a tremor, the only sign of it being the sudden sway of the lanterns overhead.

Then there came another.

And another.

A lump caught in Fluttershy’s throat as a chill coursed down her spine. The purple silhouette turned and Fluttershy followed its sightless gaze back down the hall from which they had come. Around the bend they could see a glow that intensified as the tremors grew worse.

“Oh… no… no, no…” Fluttershy muttered ceaselessly, head throbbing as she sensed it, the purple silhouette moving backwards as it kept its eyes on the glow.

Above, the lanterns swung wildly, their flames clinging to life within their glass enclosures.

“Come back, Fluttershy.”

They came on a chilling wind that blew through the hall, a chorus of whispers. One-by-one, the lanterns flickered and went out. A soft blue light filling the hall as it quickly replaced the warmth of the lantern light.

“Don’t abandon them, Fluttershy.”

The floor trembled, cracking and splitting beneath the silhouette’s hooves. Fluttershy found herself lifted down just behind the unicorn.

“Don’t leave them, Fluttershy.”

They echoed in the constricting hallway, the walls seeming to pulse and throb around them in time with the pegasus’s heart, the ceiling bowing as if ready to collapse in on them.

Fluttershy’s focus shifted between the silhouette and the encroaching dark.

The voice came from everywhere at once, issuing forth from the walls and ceiling and floor, only to echo softly at the back of her mind in the same moment.

“Don’t leave us, Fluttershy. Stay with us. Don’t abandon us like they did…”

[o-0-o]

“I- I am fine…”

“You are not!”

“…”

“Luna?”

“Yes? What is it? What can I do?”

“You don’t feel it, Luna?”

“No… no, sister, I do not.”

“…”

“…”

“Milady… what is happening?”

“Exactly what is meant to.”

[o-0-o]

“Don’t abandon us like they did…”

The words hung in the air as the hall stilled. The lanterns burst into life once more and Fluttershy was alone with the silhouette again, its horn dimming as it glanced about the hall.

“W-we sh-should k-keep m-moving…” Fluttershy stammered, hooves uncooperative as she stood, stuck to the spot and staring into the darkness.

The silhouette stepped past the rooted pegasus, pushing the pegasus along with magic before she found her strength.

“Fluttershy…”

Her eyes went wide as the voice echoed, spinning around to find nopony there. Glancing over her shoulder at the silhouette, she found it still walking steadily away, unaware of the voice.

“Fluttershy… where are you, Fluttershy?”

The silhouette’s magical grasp released her as she took a few tentative steps, trailing the silhouette by a few yards.

“Fluttershy… where have you gone?”

She slowed a moment, glancing from side to side, eyes wide but her her heart quiet.

“I thought you were lost, Fluttershy…”

Something in the voice was familiar, all her fears seeming to drain away.

“But now I’ve found you…”

She stopped in front of a familiar door.

“Come in, Fluttershy.”

The door swung open unto darkness—

“Come in, my darling Fluttershy.”

—and into the darkness she vanished.

Author's Note

[revised 08-27-2014]

14 [Arc 01 - Perturbation, Part Ten] <rev. 09.14.2014>

With a crash, Fluttershy burst through a castle window with the red blur, tumbling to the floor in a heap of wings and hooves before sliding to a stop against the far wall.

Everything was silent a moment, the sound of heavy breaths filling the room as the storm’s din slowly faded.

Coughing and sputtering, Fluttershy shoved the red silhouette off angrily, it trotting away a few steps before looking back at the huffing pegasus.

Wh-why would you… how could you do that? she thought, the words subsumed in frustration.

“Why did you all take me away from her?!” she yelled at the silhouette, voice shrill and broken. “Why did you abandon them? Why did you make me abandon them?!”

The silhouette didn’t reply, simply cocking its head to the side as it stared past her at the magenta silhouette on the other side of the room. The unicorn’s focus was on the stairwell entrance, however.

The throne room again.

Dusty, dirty, empty… a void…

It seemed as though it had never been touched.

Any damage from the previous battles forgotten by the ancient walls, restored to—what one could only state with bitterness—its former glory.

“Why did you…? Why?” the yellow pegasus mewled softly, her eyes welling up with tears as the anger faded away, the dark weight of defeat settling upon her.

“Indeed. Why?” the voice boomed from the entrance, Fluttershy diving instinctively behind the magenta unicorn. “She was so much happier… how could you do such a thing? Separating a child from its mother like that. Haven’t you a heart, Elements?”

Fluttershy cowered behind the magenta silhouette, shivering as the beast manifested. Darkness bled through every crack and crevice around the entrance, its draconic form soon filling the room entirely, the red silhouette taking to the air.

“She would have been so much happier.”

It was hurt, body suffused with decay. The shadows that comprised it seemed to drip away into nothingness in a constant cycle as the shadows around them flowed into it as if a lifeline.

Even its mocking laugh seemed pained now.

“But you had to ruin it, didn’t you? A joyful reunion of mother and daughter…”

With an audible growl, the red silhouette shot like an arrow at the beast, slamming into the side of its head, sending it crashing down into the wall.

It lay, stunned for a moment as the stony structure heaved and crumbled beneath its weighty impact. With an unheard roar, the red pegasus came around for another blow, but as the silhouette came around, hooves at the ready, it was snatched from the air by a shadowy claw formed from the aether, a wispy tendril of darkness linking it to the beast.

“You think me defeated, elements!” it roared out its frustration. “We have only just begun, younglings.”

“Let her go!” Fluttershy cried out, adrenaline flooding her veins as she lept from behind the magenta unicorn.

“You think you may command me, weak little pegasus?” It smirked and smashed the red pegasus into the floor.

It lay there, unmoving as the dragon turned to her.

“Do you think yourself in control here?”

“I… I…” Fluttershy sputtered as her courage quickly drained away.

“You think you have the strength? When so much of it has been borrowed?” the beast inquired as it drew closer, picking the red pegasus up and slamming it back down with each and every step.

“St-stop!” Fluttershy cried out as she watched the limp red form being driven hard into the stone.

The magenta silhouette slipped between Fluttershy and the nightmare, much to the beast’s amusement.

“Borrowed from the Elements… from your friends… from these fleeting memories…”

Fluttershy ducked down, unable to bear the nightmare’s gaze even as a shimmering shield materialized about them.

“What will be left when they are all gone.. when you are truly, utterly abandoned.” It paused its stride momentarily, dripping grin growing wide. “I do wonder… what will be left of you?”

The magenta silhouette stood strong, hooves planted firmly as the shield glowed brighter.

“Let us see then—”

Dropping the red pegasus, the beast raised a clawed fist and brought it down on the shield with a thunderous crash.

“—what—”

Once more, the shield held as the ground began to crack and bow beneath them.

“—is—”

The ground crackled and the shield began to splinter and crackle, the magenta silhouette falling to them ground, horn sparking as it struggled to maintain.

“—left!”

The shield burst apart, the magenta silhouette crashing into Fluttershy, the pair tumbling onto their backs.

Fluttershy groaned as she struggled back to her hooves, staggering to the unicorn’s side.

“No.. don’t leave…” she gasped out as she grasped the motionless unicorn before it crumbled away in her hooves.

“Let us finish then, young one,” the beast stated in a tired, exasperated tone. “Let us be done with this nonsense.”

It raised its clawed fist to strike but suddenly found itself knocked back by a blur of red streaking back through the window. The beast growled from the ground as the red silhouette lit upon the ground just before Fluttershy. It postured itself against the beast, forehoof scraping at the floor in threat.

“Such persistence, Element. Must we continue?” the beast asked blithely, lifting itself from the ruins of a column with a rumble of frustration. “What do you hope to gain?”

[o-0-o]

“Time…”

“Beg yer pardon?”

“Time… we need time…”

[o-0-o]

Trembling, Fluttershy watched the red silhouette dodge the nightmare’s swiping claws, circling to strike the nightmare with a rising hoof to the jaw.

Quickly, the silhouette retreated from range as a blade of shadowed flame sliced down from the ceiling. It waited for an opening and charged the beast, looping around a stream of flame before crashing right into its exposed throat with a shoulder. The nightmare choked, fiery blast ceasing as it collapsed to all fours before the red silhouette sent it crashing back with a well-timed blow to its chest.

The silhouette flipped back in the air, looping towards Fluttershy and looking by all accounts ready to deliver a final Strike before, with a whiplike crack, the nightmare’s tail sent the red shade retreating once more before the back of one of the beast’s claws caught it, sending it crashing through a window.

“And now, little one,” it hissed, drawing closer on trudging claws to Fluttershy’s corner of the room, “this can be over.”

The nightmare slunk along the floor, lower half breaking down into incorporeality as its top half seemed to bend and ripple.

Even with it weakened so, Fluttershy could only cower, tendrils of shadow pressing her to the stone.

“Now…” it gasped out through gritted teeth. “Submit.”

I won’t, I won’t, I won’t, I won’t, I won’t, I won’t, I won’t, I won’t… she repeated over and over in her mind.

“Submit!” the nightmare demanded as she felt the cold of it closing around her.

No, no, no… she replied silently, curling around herself as tightly as she could.

“SUBMIT!” the beast roared, not in words, but in Fluttershy’s head as her hind hooves kicked at the suddenly missing floor, desperately trying to flee. “SUBMIT!”

“NO!”

Her eyes snapped open as she felt something coming. The tower had faded, an all-consuming dark everywhere, but as she peered into the dark, she saw the bright flash of red cutting through.

She saw through the dark, through the nightmare.

The red struck the nightmare full force, the nightmare’s form shattering before her eyes. The darkness swept away as the red pegasus skidded along before her, a pair of familiar eyes staring at her from beneath the red light.

“It’s time to wake up, Fluttershy…”

“Rai-Rainbow?” she whispered hoarsely.

“C’mon, Fluttershy… you can do it…”

“Is it… are you…?” She reached a hoof towards the other pegasus, but something caught her eye.

A coil of shadow… snaking across the floor…

“It’s time, Fluttershy…”

Fluttershy felt cold, all the colors fading away, the red of the element the only light as the beast molded itself into a familiar form.

Rainbow… please… please… please… she begged silently, body stiff and unmoving. Please…

It struck, shadowy fangs piercing through them. She felt the burn once more, watching as red light poured from the newfound wound.

She couldn’t breathe.

She couldn’t think.

She could only watch as the light bled away. She grasped weakly at the silhouette, at the cyan pegasus, at her friend as they lay on the floor.

Distant voices echoed, unintelligible and unwanted as her hoof grasped for the other mare.

“Rainbow? I’m sorry, Rainbow… Please don’t go…” She cried softly as she clutched at her friend, something thick and wet pooling between them.

“Fluttershy?” came the soft whisper.

“I’m… I’m here…” she replied, eyes dimming as the color drained from the other pegasus.

“No…nopony else…”

“What?” Her eyes fell shut, feeling so heavy. Her breaths coming in staggered gasps as she drew her friend close with weak hooves, unwilling, unable to let go.

“Nopony else needs to hurt.”

Fluttershy’s eyes snapped open and her blood ran cold.

“Nopony else needs to be hurt because of you.”

Fluttershy watched as a twisted smile crept across the pegasus’s monochromatic face. The usually rose-colored orbs a dark gray, the pupils shrunk to tiny pinpricks.

“Nopony needs to be hurt trying to protect a sad little weakling like you.”

Fluttershy scrambled back, her wound sealed as they were returned to the throne room once more.

“I would have thought that this would have made you happy.” Rainbow shook her head as she walked closer, shadows bleeding from its abdomen, fomenting in the back of its throat to lace each word. “Where’s your Kindness?”

Fluttershy simply stared in shock at her friend, pressed back as her innards twisted with the urge to vomit.

“How cruel it is for you to keep doing this to your friends… Tsk-tsk, Fluttershy…”

Then something broke.

“To lead them so foolishly…”

Something deep inside.

“To give them up so selfishly…”

Something deep inside her simply—

“To sacrifice them.”

—snapped.

“How could you—”

The gray pegasus didn’t finish as she was slammed to the floor by Fluttershy, her hide glowing a deep, dark pink.

“How dare you!” She lifted the other pony up only to slam her down with a snarl, stone cracking beneath the blow. “How dare you do any of this to anypony!”

She raised up, face twisted in a mask of rage, anger seeping from every fiber of her being.

“I hate you!”

She slammed down, forehooves pressed together, on the other pegasus’s face, hooves hitting home with a sickening crunch.

“I hate you!”

Again.

“I hate you!”

And again, the feel of cracking bone reverberating up her hooves.

“Just go away!”

A final time her hooves came down before she collapsed, sobbing beside the mangled mash of her best friend.

I… I…

She couldn’t think as she stared at the body.

Its face was unrecognizable, a gaping hole set in the center of its abdomen from which shadow still pumped.

She felt suddenly hollow. She felt so empty as pinkish motes of light blew from her by some unfelt breeze.

I can’t…

She didn’t move as she felt the familiar cold sweep about her.

I can’t anymore…

She let it invade her until she was awash in it, an ocean of darkness.

I just ca—

Her thought was interrupted as a sudden wave coursed over her.

Followed by a familiar, earth-shaking noise.

That’s… familiar…

She watched it through the window, a rainbow wave of light coursing towards them, lighting the dark.

Why is it so familiar…?

She watched as it hit the room. The stones disintegrating beneath its might, tearing the throne room to pieces.

It’s so beautiful…

Then it hit. An indescribable pain shot through her. It felt as though she was being torn apart, every hair and feather ripped from her at the root.

She was cast down, falling into the pit of infinite blackness. She felt something lift from her, the cold seeping from her.

Flying away, passing back just behind the wave of light as it abandoned her to the dark.

Why are you going?

She could hardly think, her wings wavering at her sides as she plummeted towards infinity, yellow feathers twisting up through the air as they peeled from the rapidly diminishing limbs as if to mark the way back.

Why do I feel so sad?

She watched in confused fascination as a trail of tears whipped from her eyes, flowing upwards with the feathers as her vision began to fade.

Oh… Who are you?

The last thing she noticed—

Where are we going?

—a glowing, pink pegasus plummeting towards her, its hoof stretched towards her.

[o-0-o]

[End Arc 01]

[o-0-o]

[Epilogue]

[o-0-o]

“Ughh.... my head...” Rainbow Dash groaned as she rubbed her aching skull with a forehoof. She could only stand part way before a sudden twinge of pain shot through her abdomen and she dropped to a crouch.

Well... that hasn’t gone away...

Gently, she was hefted to her hooves proper by a stone-faced Applejack. Glancing over to where Pinkie and Rarity lay, she found them half-conscious on the floor of the large bedchamber turned hospital room.

Twilight, on the other hoof, was already at Fluttershy’s side, eyes darting across the pegasus’s prone form.

“That had to work, right?” A nervous tremble coursed through her as she tried to shift her weight onto her own hooves, the necklace hanging heavy around her neck. “The Elements certainly took enough out of us.”

Applejack merely rolled her eyes, shifting the cyan pegasus closer before helping her limp towards where Fluttershy lay, still tucked into her bed, still unconscious.

“Did it work?” Twilight asked suddenly, voice devoid of emotion.

“I... I do not know,” came the worried reply. The moon princess looked on, the royal sisters having stayed to the back of the room during the operation along with their advisors.

“Fluttershy? Can you hear us, Fluttershy?” Rainbow croaked out, brushing against her hoof.

But Fluttershy was silent. Still silent.

Rainbow pressed her head to Fluttershy’s, whispering softly.

“Wait... what’s happening?”

With a surge of excitement, of hope, Rainbow rose up to find that something had indeed happened.

But not anything good as the color drained from the unconscious pegasus.

“Tha... that can’t be right,” Applejack remarked, voice cracking as she stared at the line of gray that seemed to be slowly, but surely making its way across the pegasus save for one spot.

It’s... it’s working... Rainbow stared as the Element of Kindness glowed a dull pink, Fluttershy’s usually soft yellow complexion remaining, if only just there. Isn’t it?

“Princess?” Rainbow turned to face Luna, eyes pleading for something, the merest shadow of a hope.

But Luna simply watched, the silent observer, her expression remaining impenetrable.

Rainbow turned back to her friend, hoof brushing against the golden surface of the element, touching another hoof to the element about her own neck.

“Fluttershy?”

Please, Fluttershy...

“Please, Fluttershy... please wake up...” Pinkie whispered, the pink pony appearing beside Rainbow, a bleary-eyed Rarity at her side.

They stood in silence, five friends locked together by failing hope as a pall of helplessness was cast over them all.

“A moment...” Luna cast a shield spell, gently pressing back the five elements from their sixth.

“What?” Rainbow demanded, her voice missing the edge of anger and indignation she desired.

“Jus’ do like she says, Rainbow...” Applejack said, hefting the cyan pegasus back.

“I... but... okay,” Rainbow mumbled, feeling the defeats accumulate.

The moon princess passed into the bubble she had created around the bed and to Fluttershy’s side, bending her head down to the unconscious pegasus.

“Fluttershy… if you can hear us… we have something to tell you…” Luna trailed off into whispers, eyes focused and determined as the rest could simply look on.

Slowly, the shield spell collapsed to a single point of blue light at the tip of her horn as she touched it to the Fluttershy’s chest.

“Princess Celestia?” Twilight murmured as she watched, her mentor slipping to her side.

“Yes, my student?” Celestia replied, voice seeming detached as they looked on.

“Have…” Twilight choked on her words, swallowing the lump lodged in her throat before continuing. “Have they failed before?”

Celestia was silent a moment, content to simply place a hoof on her charge’s shoulder. “Yes…”

“Time...” Luna finally spoke aloud.

“Beg yer pardon?” Applejack asked as the five friends crowded back around the bed.

“Time… we need time…” Luna replied, looking forlorn as she stared at Fluttershy, hoof tapping at the edge of what remained of Fluttershy’s color.

“Well, how do we get more?”

“We…I do not know.”

“C’mon, Luna, think!” Applejack demanded with more anger than she’d perhaps intended, pushing.

“We are playing at powers beyond your comprehension, Lady Applejack,” Luna hissed in reply as she pressed back against the earth pony. “It... It is a will I can scarcely comprehend either...”

“I… I’m sorry. We’re all worried... An’...” Applejack tipped her hat back, trailing off into silence.

“Wait…” Luna murmured, her horn lighting once more as she took a few steps backwards.

“What? What’s happ—”

Twilight was cut off as her question was answered as the Element of Kindness burst forth with a blinding pink.

A beam shot from the element, striking each of its peers in turn—Honesty, Generosity, Laughter, Magic and finally Loyalty—before the magic arced back its beginning: the Element of Kindness.

“The hay!” Applejack cried out as they were pulled roughly into the air, the room alight with a familiar kaleidoscope of colors before the five dropped to the floor in a chorus of painful thumps.

The room faded into darkness before something audibly burst, dust filling the air.

Rainbow coughed, sliding along the floor towards the nearest pony, a hacking and sputtering Twilight Sparkle.

“You alright?” the pegasus asked, tapping a hoof to the unicorn.

Twilight choked down a cough, but nodded her head before calling forth her magic, an arcane wind blowing through the room to clear away the dust. The trio of windows along the wall bursting open with the aid of yellow magic as the fading sunlight streamed into the room alongside fresh air.

A combination of light and dark blue magic brought the magic-powered ceiling lights back to life, the ornate chandelier flaring brightly before settling on a more normal luminosity.

“Everypony okay?”

“Everypony seems to be in one piec—” Rarity cut herself off, letting out a gasp as her eyes trailed towards Fluttershy.

“Fluttershy!” Rainbow, ignoring the aches of her body, hurdled Twilight to grasp the pegasus. “You’re awake!”

“It worked!” Twilight exclaimed excitedly as the quintet crowded the conscious and confused pegasus.

“Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy whispered, looking down at the rainbow-colored mane buried into her chest.

“Yeah, ‘Shy?” Rainbow twisted around to look up.

“You smell.”

“You really could use a bath, darling,” Rarity replied, voice giddy as she hugged the yellow pegasus tight before her nose wrinkled as well. “The both of you actually.”

“Baths later! Hugs now!” Pinkie declared with a joyful giggle, her seemingly elastic hooves ensnaring the whole group.

From afar, Luna watched with a genuine smile plastered across her face, a familiar wing closing over her.

“I... I am so, so very happy, sister,” Luna whispered, pressing into her elder sister as joyous tears fell.

“I know. I am as well,” Celestia replied, nuzzling her younger affectionately, wiping away the tears with a wingtip.

Behind the royal sisters, a deep grimace upon his face, stood a grey-blue unicorn with a disheveled, silvery mane that belied his noble dress.

As he watched on in rapt fascination, what remained of the Element of Kindness floated away on the evening breeze.

[o-0-o]

The cave was alight with the crystals’ strange glow.

Set into the walls, they formed orderly rows and, though they were all at of differing levels of growth, there was an intentional quality to their arrangement as they cast an strange pink hue over the cave walls.

Once upon a time, the cave had been a natural formation. Its purpose left to the wonts of time. But now, it was orderly and new, its luminosity only growing in the presence of its guest.

Meanwhile, the mare stared at it, a gouge into the stone wall of the cave, a wound torn deep within the earth. It rippled and bent before her eyes as she walked forward on unsure hooves stung by the coolness of the cave floor. Curiosity and caution wrestled in the depths of her mind as she drew nearer to it.

Slowly, deliberately, the wound expanded and she spotted something beyond it, shining in the darkness. She reached a hoof, feeling something resisting her.

She drew back, examining her hoof as the shadowy appendage rippled before her eyes. She turned towards the crystal-covered walls, catching the barest hint of her reflection, a pair of glowing eyes glinting off its polished surface.

Turning back to the hole, she pressed her hoof to the barrier, staring nervously at the point of contact. Screwing her eyes shut, she pressed through first her hoof and then the rest of her before she felt it...

The warmth… the light…

She opened her eyes to find herself standing on a sandy peak, an infinite desert spreading before her.

In the far distance, a spire reached up, up into the brown sky, its tip aglow with a warm, beckoning light.

Author's Note

[revised 09-14-2014]