Fluttershy and the Forest Fire
It was a hot, clear day in Ponyville. The trees swung in the air, the birds sang sweetly, and there was no prediction for even the slightest cold breeze to come in. Just pure, hot air blowing around the town.
One afternoon, Fluttershy was mending her bushes just outside her cottage, when Rainbow Dash arrived. Her face was sweating from the heat.
"Hello, Fluttershy!" she said as she wiped her forehead. "Lovely day, isn't it?"
"Oh! Hello, Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy replied. "Yes, it is a lovely day. And to think that it's very hot out."
Rainbow Dash chuckled. "You could say that again. I'm already as hot as a metal pole exposed to the sunlight!"
Fluttershy laughed. "I know you are."
Angel hopped to Fluttershy to ask her something.
"The flower garden needs more water? Okay, I'm coming. I just need to finish my conversation with Rainbow, then I'll come, okay?"
Angel left Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash.
"Anyways," Rainbow began, "you think you can come on a small trip with us to the Everfree Forest?"
"The Everfree Forest?" questioned Fluttershy. "Isn't it too hot to go there right now?"
"Not today, but tomorrow," Rainbow corrected.
"Okay," answered Fluttershy. "But I'm only coming to make sure that the wildlife there are safe from the hot conditions."
"Great! So we'll see you tomorrow! Bye!" Rainbow left very quickly.
"Goodbye!" Fluttershy walked back to her garden to take care of her flower garden.
Fluttershy dug and poured water around the garden to make sure the plants get the moisture they need to produce honey for the bees. Angel looked over the flowers in case they looked dried out.
"Phew!" said Fluttershy. "That was a lot of work today. But I'm just glad we got it all done."
Angel nodded in agreement.
"Well, what do you say we go and take a rest?" Fluttershy suggested. "We've done enough work for today."
Angel was already sweating from the heat of the Sun. He definitely agreed with Fluttershy going inside.
"Okay. Let's go." Fluttershy and Angel went inside their cottage as the Sun continued shining across them.
It became dark. It was still hot, but not as hot as before. Inside the cottage, everything was hustle and bustle. The bears drank some water, squirrels gave each acorns, and birds were caring for their children.
"Wow," said Fluttershy. "Everyone, I have an announcement!"
Every animal stopped what they were doing and turned their heads to Fluttershy.
"Now, tomorrow will be very hotter than today, so whatever you do tomorrow, I hope that you all stay safe from the heat and stay hydrated. You got it?"
The animals agreed.
"Good. Now continue whatever you're doing." Fluttershy walked upstairs to her room and laid on her bed.
"I just hope tomorrow would be a good day."
The next day, Fluttershy was with Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack. Rainbow Dash was there as well.
"Water, check," Twilight wrote down. "Magnifying glass, check. Okay, we're all set!"
"Hey, Twilight?" said Fluttershy.
"Yes?" Twilight answered.
"How can you be so sure that the temperature around here won't be as hot enough to start a forest fire?"
"I'm sure that won't be the case," Twilight said. "Princess Celestia said it shouldn't be that hot."
"Well, it shouldn't." Fluttershy still felt the strong heat in the air. She had her doubts.
"Okay, girls. Is everyone ready?" said Twilight.
"Yep!" the rest of the ponies said except Fluttershy.
"Alright. Let's go exploring!" Twilight and the rest of the ponies disappeared into the forest.
The Everfree Forest was dark and spooky. It had an unnatural sense of realism in the Equestrian world, which was so unnatural that some have said that any pony who ever came in has never come out, and therefore, never heard from again. But it didn't scare any of them. Well, almost all of them. Fluttershy was afraid of the eerie looks of the forest.
"I really don't think we should do this," she said.
"Relax!" said Rainbow. "Stop being a 'shy' pony and be brave! It's not that hard! Especially since you're friends with nature and everything."
"I'm sorry, but I can't!" Fluttershy said back. "This is too much! Even for me!"
"Fluttershy," Twilight said. "I don't get it. You're friends with Angel and the other animals, but here, it looks like you're not even trying."
"Twilight," Fluttershy began to point out, "remember the time we stopped Nightmare Moon by going through this particular forest?"
"Yeah," replied Twilight.
"Well, this is the reason why. I don't want this to happen again..." Fluttershy hid behind her mane.
Twilight smiled. "Don't worry, Fluttershy. We keep you safe all the time. There's no way we won't- Ah!"
A wasp stung Twilight in the forehead. Twilight fell to the ground. She groaned in pain.
"Are you okay, Twi?!" Applejack said.
"Oh... Yes, Applejack. Thank you. But I don't think any spell could heal this." She got up.
Rainbow looked at her forehead. "Not too life-threatening. You'll be fine."
"How do you know that?" said Applejack.
"I just know," replied Rainbow. "I knew someone in this particular situation."
"Okay," Applejack exhaled.
"Anyways, should we go back?" Twilight suggested.
"Yes, please!" cried Fluttershy. "I can't take any of this anymore!"
The rest of the ponies except Twilight groaned.
"Come on, every pony," said Twilight, "I think Fluttershy doesn't feel like doing this anymore."
"But she told me she would go!" Rainbow exclaimed.
"Rainbow. Let it go," Twilight said sternly.
So Twilight, Fluttershy, and the rest of the ponies left the forest. But they didn't know that an unknown magnifying mirror reflected the sunlight to the grass, and black smoke rose from it.
The ponies got out safe and unharmed.
"What in the world, Fluttershy?" Rainbow said exasperated. "If you didn't want to go, you could've just told me you don't want to go! It was that simple! We wouldn't mind!"
"Rainbow, easy," Applejack said.
"No, Applejack. She's the one that started this." Rainbow looked at Fluttershy angrily.
"Well," Fluttershy said back, "I only wanted to go, just to make sure none of you get hurt in there!"
Twilight looked at the forest and noticed black smoke rising from the trees. "Um, girls?"
"What?" Rainbow and Fluttershy said in unison.
"Look over there." Twilight pointed to the forest.
To their shock, the Everfree Forest appeared to be burning down!
"Oh no!" cried Fluttershy. "The animals! I have to save them!"
"Wait, Fluttershy!" said Rainbow. "Come back!" But Fluttershy was long gone.
Thick, black smoke covered the forest in a pitch black hue. Fluttershy coughed as she breathed in, but she wouldn't give up. Not right now.
"I'm coming, everyone!" exclaimed Fluttershy as she flew deep into the burning forest.
Butterflies, birds, bunnies, and squirrels took cover from the burning fire. But Fluttershy flew in as fast as her wings could carry her.
"Come on! Follow me!" Fluttershy said.
The animals followed Fluttershy's order and ran to her, so that she could guide them out of the forest quickly. Other animals followed suit. Branches from the trees cracked and snapped to the ground. Fluttershy was terrified, but she didn't want to let the animals down.
Just outside, the other ponies were worried.
"I hope Fluttershy's okay out there," Rarity said. "I can't bear the feeling of losing her."
"So do I," said Pinkie.
But Rainbow felt the most terrible of all. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy," she said to herself.
Then, with a gasp and a groan, a yellow pegasus came out of the smoke, with all the animals following her.
"Fluttershy!" the ponies cried. "You're safe!"
Fluttershy was covered from head to hoof in black soot. But she was alright.
"Maybe try double checking with the weather?" she suggested.
"I will," said Rainbow. "So long as you don't do anything like that again. We were so worried about you!"
"Well, maybe this time," Fluttershy replied, "don't go too hard on me for being afraid of things."
"I won't," Rainbow said. "I won't."
The ponies laughed as more pegasi came in to help extinguish the fire.
That night, Fluttershy was in her cottage. She heard knocking outside her door.
"Come in!" she said.
It was Rainbow Dash.
"Hey, uhh..." she began, "so I'm starting an expedition in the Crystal Mountains. You want to come or not?
Fluttershy thought about it.
"I mean, it's okay if you don't want to come," said Rainbow. "We'll be fine."
"Are you kidding?" Fluttershy replied. "I'll come with you! I already feel braver than before!"
"Are you sure?" Rainbow asked.
"Yep!" answered Fluttershy.
"Okay, then. See you." Rainbow left.
Fluttershy exhaled. "I think we'll still keep an eye on them. You'll never know what happens."
