Destroy yourself or... Destroy YourSelf

<>

She smiled.

He did not.

Hmnnn*

“Just make sure to make something that keeps the cold out, for a normal winter day, if I want something more, I will be back with Fluttershy.”

<>

She chuckled.

<>

With that the unicorn went up the stairs, not even ten seconds later he started hearing the light sound of a sewing machine.

He put his shirt back and then looked at the Pegasus staring at him.

“What?”

The pony shook her head, seemingly escaping whatever trance she was in.

“How… why would you die tonight?”

“I may, or may not die tonight, It depends on me.”

“That… that doesn't matter!-”

“It does not.”

She growled.

“I want to know why you think you even have a chance of dying tonight!”

The pegasus screamed while throwing her arms up.

He blinked and then tilted his head.

His lips stayed in a straight line all the while.

He is a good liar, a very good liar.

Not that this… trivia has any relevance after changing so much but, together with falling for that man’s illusion… recognizing liars has become something quite easy.

Not flawless, never flawless but… the blue pony is very much one.

At least her worry seemed genuine at least.

Her confusion… only somewhat.

‘Half-truths really are the hardest to recognize, even if you do you have no idea what is the lie and what is the truth.’

Sigh*

“Yuujirou Hanma invaded my body and entered my soul through the flask of blood you broke, he killed me 279 times, in a span of 23 hours, well, fortunately, the soul doesn't… perish unless it gives up, but really… that won't matter much.”

“I entered that same place we foug- well, not fought, more like the place I was spanked and tortured, and… we talked.”

THUMP!

The pony’s eyes widened.

“He gave me an, well, ultimatum, or maybe just a warning, yes… more like a warning, said that the wounds gained there would reflect here when we fought again, well, his last words were something like ‘You have a day to find something to help you, if you don't, then prepare to die tonight’.”

He sighed.

“But that doesn't matter, not without first telling you how everything works, so, tell me Rainbow Dash, do you have any idea how mind over matter works?”

She blinked, more in confusion than anything else.

“...No?”

His eyebrow lifted, he had never met someone he could call a horrible liar before today.

Not even someone so gullible.

He had not spoken of mind over matter with the pegasus, so either she was fishing, or it too exists in the world of Equus.

Sigh*

‘Then again assuming she has anything besides incomplete information is unrealistic.’

“Then let me explain it, Mind over Matter is first obtained by surpassing the threshold of emotion present within the brain, I have thought about it extensively and reached a conclusion upon it.”

“By doing this, that is, reaching the peak of what one’s brain can achieve in the terms of emotion one’s soul reflexively acts as a defense mechanism to handle the burnt of those same emotions hence allowing the user to not die out of shock.”

He lifted his finger.

“But… why? The soul doesn't act when someone is stabbed, or even in states of extreme fear to the point of causing something such as a heart attack, taking that in mind why would it act in this scenario?”

His voice wasn't… emotionless, but it was flat.

Something he noticed quite easily, the Yellow Pegasus did seem to be the exception to… most of him.

‘He~’

He didn't change as much as he thought, he doesn't know if that's good or not.

“Well, in my view, while the chemicals in the brain cannot reach the soul in any manner they can however interact with the spirit, do remember this is a simple theory, it has no science method based facts.”

She nodded.

“Now continuing on, the reason as to why I believe that is very simple, the soul is insanely powerful due to its very nature, any direct connection to the body, unless enforced by a restriction would have automatically overdriven the flesh.”

“To put it simply without the soul restricting itself or being restricted the physical body would be dominated more as a consequence of the soul’s nature than any actual purposeful action.”

“Now while I do not have proof I have some things backing this theory, mainly a technique of mine, I call it phantom system.”

He coughed.

His eyes were fixed forward, not particularly looking anywhere within the fashionista’s boutique.

“With it, I can send signals from my soul towards my body hence assuming direct control of it, the problem is, the signal is too spread out, and that is the only problem, well, actually my subconscious fights against it too but again the problem is born out of a lack of precision, not output.”

“The body doesn't have a way to resist the soul only my… inexperience and lack of control allow it to ‘fight back’.”

“Anyways, the fact is the signals from the soul are much more powerful than what the body can ever hope to resist, hence my belief that there's a middle ground between soul and body, that being spirit.”

“After all, I have facets, past lives that have all of their memories recorded, and a will of their own, even if ridiculously small.”

”Wait, what?”

“The spirit transfers the memories and experiences of the flesh towards the Soul, allowing it to make another facet, that being me, the current HUB facet.”

“Taking that in fact I can be mostly certain that the brain can affect the spirit and the spirit can communicate with the Soul, Hence…”

Rainbow’s eyes stayed glued onto Tyronus.

Her wings beat lightly, she had never particularly liked studying, being a Wonderbolt aspirant she only did the bare minimum to get by.

The lectures weren't something she liked either, she’d go as far as to say she hated them, but… well, she doesn't really know why but, hearing the human explaining everything made her excited.

Is she becoming a fanfilly?

“If the brain generates a strong enough chemical reaction nearing the limit of its capability for a moment or perhaps for some moments the spirit sends the information to the soul in the same intensity making it snap toward the body in a more… close manner.”

“Now, I don't know what created the soul, the spirit, or the body, whether it was a God, Concept, Demiurge, or even the Soul itself I. Don't. Know, all I do know, is that there's something between Body and Soul.”

His tone deepened.

“And I don't think it was put there for my benefit.”

Rainbow's face twisted.

“Why not?”

Hmph!

“Fool, the soul is by itself the most selfish thing I have ever seen, to evolve on the usage of mind over matter one has to have contempt and disregard for everything that is not it, only working for their self and fight against everything else.”

“It would never chain itself down or put contingencies in place to block its own power, much less to put it in a dormant state, only allowing the body to act.”

He shook his head.

It made sense, the soul is something rather absurd by its own nature, any pantsy coward without the will to surpass it or the way to do so would want to contain it somehow.

Whether this coward is God or not he doesn't know.

All he does know is that the Celestial made his Self remember a terror it wanted to forget.

Something happened to him, and he can't remember it.

Or maybe refuses to.

“It is as I said before the soul is a concept, not the concept of the soul but the concept of the Self, this alone makes it different than anything else.”

“The self is self-centered, individualistic, egoist, and selfish meaning that on a fundamental level, it doesn't have a purpose contrary to all other concepts it doesn't have it, a need to exist, or even a motive to.”

“Even egoism and selfishness need to exist, an example, oxygen is a selfish element, it forms bonds with many other elements and often takes electrons away from them.”

“Hehe.”

He leaned forward, getting close to the blue Pegasus as she suddenly started laughing.

Reeling back she closed her mouth and stared at the wide-open eyes of the human.

“But then you tell me, it's not alive, it can't be selfish! And I answer you, since when was selfishness a feeling?”

He leaned back.

“Being selfish is a state of being.”

Seeing the pegasus’s gobsmacked face he smirked, more out of the reaction his words caused than anything else.

“Back to my point, even the smallest and most ridiculous concepts have a place within the universe.”

He lifted his finger.

“But not the self, you see, my theory is that the concept of self exists only within the physical, or at least that it was born from it, metaphysically speaking concepts are just one, varying in intensity and extremity but still, I do not believe merging concepts exist.”

“Oh sure, harmony can be good, but it isn't, it can be evil, but it isn't, it can be neutral, but it isn't.”

Her ears flipped.

“Ahm?”

“It's not that confusing, imagine harmony as a blue block, and good as a white block, you’d think both would be intertwined, with a mix of blue and white right?”

She nodded.

“No, not at all, a concept is different, a concept is only itself, nothing else, chaos will continue to be chaos, whether good or evil things happen is irrelevant, those are simple side effects of its actions, not facets of its essence, concepts only have one facet, nothing more..”

“Now… beings made of flesh are complex, this complexity is allowed to fester in us because we are not pure, we are not metaphysical, just, physical, perfection is a concept not a goal for us, hence, we can never obtain it.”

Rainbow blinked.

This… conversation? Explanation? Was turning very… philosophical.

Not that she disliked it.

“But that's the weird part, the Self, contrary to the body, despite harboring many other concepts is pure because it doesn't allow those concepts to be part of it, it doesn't allow other colors to be themselves they have to be the self.”

“No, it eats those concepts and makes them a part of the Self.”

Her face scrunched, did he… did he just say two completely contradictory things?

“The red color of rage is now a simple colorless thing inside the self after being eaten and digested, it's still rage, but it doesn't belong to the concept of rage anymore you understand?”

Her mouth opened as she made a sound of acknowledgment.

The color thingy was super helpful.

Like, rage = red + greed = orange results in a deeper orange.

But red rage and orange greed + transparent self equals transparent.

In other words Self is still self, it didn't change like the mixed colors, it just became… more, while still being… not pure, just less and more than itself?

It's confusing.

It's like… Self is Self, no matter how big or small it is.

Pure but… not really?

“Concepts exist within physical creatures, but within the self, there is only the self, independently if the Self can show other concepts within itself it keeps being the self and nothing else, It doesn't give ground.”

“The Self can be happy, sad, good, evil, anything, but good, evil, chaotic or harmonic cannot be anything besides themselves, they have purpose and reason, while the self does not.”

“A I… think I get it.”

Dean nodded and then continued.

“But you have to ask yourself, why?”

Rainbow’s head tilted.

“Why would the soul need the body in any way? I mean it could simply train by itself and grow stronger right? Why would it incessantly go through its rebirth cycle? It's infinite, it doesn't die of old age, it doesn't need to restart like a Phoenix.”

Unconsciously she nodded, a curious and intrigued expression plastered on her face all the while.

“Well, to that I have only one answer.”

She leaned closer

He shrugged.

“I don't have the slightest idea.”

Only for her expression to fall.

“Oh? Did you expect something? No, of course I don't know I am a novice in all of this, less than a week in fact, an equestrian week of course.”

“Uh?”

“But, I do have a… theo- no more like a guess, and that being… something is forcing the soul to act this way, and I don't think it's quite the other concepts.”

Her wings ruffled.

It was like watching one of those fantasy

Like when Super Galaxy Ponnen Lagan threw a universe at the Chaotic spiral.

She screamed like a filly when she saw the scene finally animated.

Talking to Tyronus about his totally not secret main character power felt like the same.

She was totally talking to a Ponyme protagonist!

Well, not that she forgot how she spoke how he’d die tonight but they’re getting there!

“But this speculation is just taking precious time out, so I will follow on.”

“Ahhhm.”

She let out a disappointed moan just for her eyes to narrow and for her body to shoot up.

“Wait, you can't just stop there! You gotta tell me what’s forcing your soul to stay locked with your body!”

The pegasus flew into the human’s face while screaming, or maybe whining?

It didn't matter, he stood quiet.

Sigh*

“All I can say to you is that the body is an incredible anchor for the soul, for those that did not obtain mind over matter even if their soul gives up it will not cease to exist exactly because the body will anchor it, only after the body dies will that soul cease.”

“This is the only clue I have as to why something like this would happen, but then again for the self to willingly restrict itself to this point something rather extreme must have happened.”

Hmnph*

He crossed his arms, a serious expression formed on his face at the same time.

“As I said however, it doesn't matter, all I have is speculation with no concrete proof or a way to get it, drop it, anything further will just waste both of our times.”

“Uuuughhhh”

The pegasus whined again before landing and laying on her giant pillow once more.

Dean ignored her.

Human or not he had no wish to see a naked woman sprawled on the ground.

“Now I need you to understand one thing the soul is beyond matter, you could take the energy it takes to spit or the one that it takes to create a universe and throw on it and still nothing would happen, because despite its power, an entire universe is still simple matter.”

“The soul is a concept, the concept of all lives it has lived, the soul is the TRUTH of the self an insignificant slice of something beyond matter and yet still a part of the universe.”

“Meaning that as it grows and expands it can envelop more and do more, mainly it is restricted to itself, for example, I am Dean Tyronus Starfield and hence my soul can only affect things that are Dean Tyronus Starfield at a conceptual level.”

With her body still sprawled over the giant pillow she hummed.

It wasn't hard to understand, just… long.

“Of course to do such a thing it needs power, and how does something like the soul get more power? It's a concept, it can't lift weights now can it?”

Absently she nodded.

“Weeeell… it can, somewhat, the universe is made out of concepts too, fire, life, magic, death, atoms, strings, matter, antimatter, gravity, many, many concepts, being a concept itself the soul is part of this big pie that is reality.”

“But, even then, it's special because the universe doesn't need it to exist, it's not a fundamental or necessary force by any means, it is alone, yet… It just might be the best concept there is.”

He smiled, truly smiled.

He had been thinking about it for a long time.

All theories, but even then, even if he isn't on the right path, he feels like he is correct about a thing or two.

“The Concept of Self, of an individual, well… first I have to reinforce something, as I said before the concept of good can only be good independently if its actions result in something bad, Good will continue being good because it is just good.”

“Maybe in an extreme manner, maybe in a light manner, maybe in a neutral manner, it doesn't matter.”

“At the end of the day, good will be good, and that is the same for all concepts, they are limited because they only represent a single facet of the universe.”

“Not the self, you see… the self, simply doesn't give a damn about anything, including reality and the laws governing it.”

“It only cares about itself, meaning that it can possess the other concepts of this reality pie while still being itself.”

Rainbow tilted her head while nodding at the same time… it was adorable.

“Perhaps… an easier explanation should be on the way, you see, the self, It eats the concept of will and emotion to expand and grow and gain more force to tweak things like itself and the universe around it.”

“Ironically, something that cares only about itself cannot grow without the existence of another.”

He chuckled.

“The stronger it is, the more it can expand and fight against everything else, you see the soul is truth as I said, and so are the other concepts, but… as I said they are not like the self, they are unchanging.”

“Incapable of being more, because contrary to the self, if they take something else into them, they will no longer be themselves, hence… they are sturdy, unmoving, stubborn.”

“If their very essence determines certain rules exist they will never allow those same rules to ever be broken, and the self doesn't like that very much.”

He lifted his shoulders while the blue pegasus looked attentively at him, both her ears stood fully up while hearing him.

‘She does know this is just a theory right?’

“It wants to do whatever it feels like doing, those damn concepts won't stop it, but it's weak, it's independence and ability to have more than one concept and still be itself cost it very much.”

“Many things can have the concept of self, perhaps I am mistaken, and perhaps the soul is just the concept of the soul, and those who obtain mind over matter are those that lean heavily on the concept of the self.”

“Maybe the concept of the soul doesn't even exist, maybe what I call a soul is just infinity, I don't know, I can't know for sure, but I have a guess, I have a dream, and I have the will, so I will find out.”

Sigh*

“But for now, that does not matter, you see the soul can draw in the very essence of those beings, those concepts, and use it to grow stronger, but that alone is not powerful enough to breach the gap between body, spirit, and soul.”

“For example, even with me being… me I didn't immediately gain conceptual strength when I obtained mind over matter, no.”

“This body is physical, to gain more strength and grow my soul would need to fight against physics and reality as a whole to strengthen m-”

Rainbow suddenly lifted her hooves.

“Wait wait wait, are you telling me your soul has… what infinite strength? Or that it can alter itself to have infinite power, because… it's altering itself right?”

He shook his head.

“No, a soul is a conceptual thing, punches and kicks can mean something conceptually speaking but the strength is in, well… concepts, a life well lived, and everything else.”

“In a soul vs soul contest, the winner will always be the one with the highest will, the one that lived and endured more than the other, strength is irrelevant, instead of force vs force it's more like a fight of my life versus your life.”

“ooh”

She nodded.

It was complicated but… she understood.

She might not have liked studying but she wasn't an idiot by any stretch of the imagination.

“Besides the soul is truth, it cannot change to something else, only by living and pondering can it grow, or shrink, a soul cannot lie because it is the Self, to lie would be to change the self hence transforming that lie into truth.”

Her mouth formed an O.

“As I said before one obtains Mind Over Matter by reaching the limit of the brain’s emotional capacity, but of course that is not how I obtained Mind Over Matter.”

“Eh?”

“After you attacked me-”

She shrunk back.

“And I almost died I was transported to some sort of mindscape, a spiritual realm of sorts, something extremely unlikely to happen by itself, my belief is that Yuujirou’s shard intrusion on my body somehow resulted in a knee-jerk reaction of my soul into bringing my HUB facet, my mind inside my mindscape.”

“Something so unlikely and impossible to happen whatever created the spirit did not think of making any contingency against it, with reason of course, what kind of idiot would let his own soul be invaded?”

He scoffed.

He let it.

“Hence I arrived on that astral plane of sorts to try to expunge his soul out of mine like a virus even without fully knowing what I should do, now, I have to say this to you, obtaining Mind over Matter is perhaps the single most difficult thing a human can do.”

His tone lowered.

“I have already said this, but perhaps you didn't quite understand the gravity, so I will say it again, that man killed me 279 times, during a period of 23 hours.”

Her face scrunched.

It isn't the first time he says that to her but… his voice, even that first time, it was so… normal, had she not been there she’d not have believed him solely because of this.

But then again the human did seem… stoic.

“And only on my 278th death did I manage to obtain Mind over matter, I pissed myself dozens of times, vomited many more, cried even more, as it was expected of someone that had his own stomach used to hang him.”

“Uugh.”

She shuddered.

“Souls can't be destroyed you know, only if they give up do they cease to exist, Yuujirou knew that, knew that I’d come back no matter what, knew he didn't have to hold anything back…”

Hmn*

“It was fun.”

Her brows furrowed.

“For him that is, judging by how much he was laughing.”

Only for her entire body to flinch.

Hmn*

“But I am not here to have a pity party, so hear me well.”

She blinked and then straightened herself.

“Will wasn't what let me survive, it was spite and hate, what let me finally obtain mind over matter was will, at some point, I stopped fighting just because I hated myself, and started fighting because I wanted to win.”

Sigh*

“Didn’t matter if it was impossible, I’d do it and that's that, and… I obtained it, after 23 hours of pissing myself, having my insides ripped out, my own bones used to stab my body, and my skin treated like an onion, I finally obtained Mind Over Matter.”

He closed his eyes.

“uuuuu.”

And took a big breath of air.

That was truly the best memory he had.

He’ll make sure to change that.

“The difference here is, it wasn't my brain that reached the peak, but my soul, something that I think allowed me to reach it much easier.”

“What?”

He chuckled.

“You still don't understand, do you? Getting Mind Over Matter is the hardest thing to do on my planet, the brain has limiters, you either die or faint well before reaching the requirements for it.”

“Your body gives up on you, many, many things go wrong before you finally reach that point, years are necessary to reach it unless your past life did something incredible and passed it on to the current one of course.”

“Don't you understand? I had no limiters, I was a soul, it was infinitely easier to reach Mind Over Matter in that state, I cheated, I had it easy.”

“...uh?”

“ha…haHAHAHA!”

Dean laughed at the pegasus’ face, which immediately became a deadpan one as she heard him laugh.

“I didn't have dedication blue.”

”Blue?”

“I had hate, hate and spite, not will, not discipline.”

His tone dropped.

“And most certainly not dedication.”

She shuddered, the human’s voice was kinda sensual deep, very, very deep when he wanted to.

“That’s why I asked to train with you, to gain strength, lose weight, and most importantly, to gain discipline, but going on.”

“That, well, gaining Mind Over Matter… had a side effect, of course, you see, for the users of this power one thing, one… quote rings absolutely true, in the path to infinity, nothing besides all is an equivalent price.”

“That is to say… starting by that point, every single attack on my soul, would reflect on my body, hence… I will die tonight if I do not find anything to heal myself.”

“Oh…”

She blinked.

“Wait a minute, why don't you just remove this thing from you then? The pri-”

He lifted a palm.

She closed her mouth.

“I have no problem in explaining it to you, so stay quiet, and I will do so.”

She frowned but then nodded.

Promise or not she’d help anycreature in need.

That's what guards are for.

Name: Fluttershy.

Title: Cutest Pony in Equus, Animal Caretaker, Little Flame.

Age: 16.

Location: Equus, Equestria, Ponyville.

Date: Ponysesho-day - 9th - Hayprance.

Time: 13:04.

“I have no intention of dying woman.”

“I know Star, I know…”

Turning around he walked away.

She watched it silently.

Not even the blue Pegasus’ brief stare could take her out of it.

Sigh*

She walked back, closing the door as she did so.

Without looking she extended her wing and took the small circular wooden table from the ground.

Thud*

And threw it back where It was.

Closing her eyes she breathed in… and ou-

“AAAAAH!”

CRACK!

Snapping the Pegasus kicked back the table with all her strength, sending it through the window

“YOU STUPID FUCKING WHORSE OF A… EXCUSE OF A PONY! AAAAAAAA!”

CRACK!

“Ugh!*”

Hitting the side of her sofa the thing tumbled over, but not before a pulse of pain shot out of her hoof.

She breathed in and out, her chest rising and falling quickly as she fumed.

‘What the buck did I do?’

She fell limp to the ground, her front hooves gripping the sides of her hea-.

“?”

A flash of light hit her eye, shaking her head she looked toward its source, only to see a shard of glass and many, many others together with it.

She could see her reflection, brushed fur, mane, and a Star’s braid.

It is beautiful, she likes it, it makes her feel… different, she can't remember the last time she changed her manestyle, no, wait, it was… 8 years ago, her dame came to her cottage and decided to change everything.

She tried to keep it, but… she forgot about it after a day, and a week later her mane came back to normal.

Her dame asked about it, she said she forgot, and then that was it.

She blinked.

‘She… never tried to do anything anymore after that.’

Her breath stuck in her throat.

‘Little things for one, can be a big thing to another.’

Her breath was stuck, or maybe she couldn't breathe, something wanted to leave her throat, she couldn't push it out.

‘It’s funny, you only realize you made a mistake after doing it.’

She breathed in.

“Ffffffff.”

And out.

“uuuuuu.”

Star… star worked to make her mane pretty, she shouldn't destroy it just because of that Mare.

Yes, yes, she took enough away from her, things that were not solely Rainbow’s fault but also hers, she let them slip, maybe she didn't reach in the first place, but not anymore.

Starfield is hers, nopony else’s, hers, her friend, her human, and she has to make sure to keep it that way.

She turned away and stared at the door.

Maybe a day ago her heart would have been beating like a drum in her chest, just like the last time she had to leave after a panicked nurse ran to the other side of the village to her cottage to drag her to the hospital and talk to Star.

something she is very grateful for now

She was afraid of… everything back then, maybe she still is now.

But… That motherbucker wanted to kill her Star.

Pff~

She chuckled and then walked towards the door.

It’s funny.

Opening it she trotted out and then closed the door.

The only things that let her get out of that house back then were emergencies, when the delivery ponies couldn't bring her food for one reason or the other.

Her life on the line was the only thing that could make her Mare up and go out.

And now? Now it's the life of a friend.

Really, Flutter Shy… what a ridiculous Mare.

Tap* tap* tap* tap*

Her hooves clicked on the stony soil, three minutes passed before she set hoof on one of the village’s bridges.

She briefly looked at the small river below, 100 years ago it was a small stream of water that connected to the Everfree.

Around the time she settled down, the stream started to grow, a decade later it became big enough to be called a river, as far as she could see Canterlot Mountain hadn't changed, meaning something changed inside the Everfree.

“The most dangerous Forest in all of Equestria.”

And not one anypony could just walk up to, she doesn't know what the Princess did to the place but considering how an animal attack didn’t happen for longer than she was alive she certainly did something.

“Fluttershy!”

Her body slightly jumped at the sudden sound, snapping her eyes toward it she saw a green-furred, blonde-maned Mare with a smile on her face and a cat’s paw as her cutie mark.

Thump*

“How are you filly?”

She froze, her muscles suddenly clamped down around themselves as her body became stiff as stone.

‘What are you doing you idiot?!’

She blinked and then held down the urge to gulp.

‘You need to keep moving you imbecile, why did you stop?! Why are you stopping!? It's just another pony! Where was all that bravado? Are you going to freeze, tremble, and cry again?!’

The mare extended a hoof.

‘MOVE!’

She already had.

Her hooves moved.

She didn't remember telling them to.

“Cat paw… how are you?”

She asked after clopping the mare’s hoof.

Her body relaxed.

The mare smiled.

“Oh you know, better than most.”

Her voice lowered, briefly the cat-like mare looked past the pegasus, to her right, and then back again.

Her fur stood up

“Spoiled is depressed, so is Smith, it passed but… there were more than 40 dead.”

The yellow pegasus resisted the urge to lower her head.

“...What?”

“Oh… you didn't know? I mean you stay hogged on that cottage of yours for months on end, of course, you don't know.”

The mare’s smile disappeared, a serious expression replacing it a second later.

“All ponies older than 97 died during that Demon’s attack.”

THUMP!

Her body shook as if lightning hit her.

“Everypony?”

Cat Paw shrugged.

“Everypony that got hit, Smith is good, everypony else lucky enough to be away or not in the village at all too.”

Hmph!

A small smile formed on her face.

“For some Faust Blessed miracle no Foal died, well, some almost did, lil Zipp almost got her throat ripped out by a critter.”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened as her ears shot up.

“Nightjar doesn't want any kind of dog near her again, the poor stallion can't even sleep alone without the little one screaming in the middle of the night, hmph* makes you wish even more for Princess Luna to be here doesn't it?”

Unconsciously, she nodded.

Her mind wasn't on the conversation.

She kept walking, Cat Paw followed soon after.

That… is not a small problem.

Thump!

It may be ridiculous to consider it in modern times but… in the past entire villages razed their weapons to run a single creature out of town.

Creatures were chased away or hunted just by being different, yes that was hundreds of years ago but she knows for a fact ideas don't die like mortals do.

That demon killed more than 40 ponies, in the history of Equestria, when disharmony and malice ran rampant creatures were killed for less.

Yes, ponies are better now, but if her nation’s history shows something it is what pony crowds are capable of doing.

Ponies are a herd species, with half of their tribes serving as herbivores, many, many enemies saw that as a weakness, an invitation that the friendly Equines wouldn't pose a threat.

The number of modern Creature rights violations that happened during those times, done by either ponies or their enemies says otherwise.

Ponies make easy connections and grip on them for maybe the rest of their lives, there is a reason beyond what he did for her to make her love Star so much.

She knows exactly what she’d do to anycreature that harmed Star, much less kill him.

And she knows she’s not the only one with a connection that deep.

More than 40 dead, most, if not all elderly ponies, ponies that had a long time to make friends, something even stronger in a village like Ponyville.

“Ug-”

Her breath stuck in her throat.

What… what are they going to do with Star?

Her human isn't weak, at least not all the time, but he is fragile.

‘Star is in danger.’

Maybe she should have gone with him?

‘Star is in danger.’

Maybe she should have dragged him with her?

‘Star is in danger.’

Maybe she shouldn't have given him to that excuse of a whorse

‘My star is in danger’

She shouldn't have let him go away, he could have stayed on her cottage’s premises, train there, she’s the only one who needed to go away.

‘Star is in danger star is in danger Starisindanger StarisindangerStarisindangerStarisindangerStarisindangerStarisindang-’

She looked up.

‘Wasn't he always?’

She exhaled.

‘Focus on tonight, Star can take care of himself, go to the hospital, ask some questions, get help, go back, somepony has to have something.’

Her wings fell as her body relaxed.

“But let's not dwell on those things, tell me, how are you? You didn't answer, oh, and what about the thing I asked, it's been almost a year, are you sure you don't want to do it?”

She opened her mouth.

Cat didn't let her.

“Aaaand about that thing?”

The feline mare whispered as if talking about a secret.

Seeing Fluttershy’s confused expression she sighed.

“You know the one that arrived at the start of the year.”

Fluttershy’s head tilted, what was the ma-

Her eyes widened as she stared at the mare unblinkingly.

’Measure your words.’

Her eyebrows furrowed.

She understood.

She is… not surprised, unfortunately.

She is angry.

The earth pony must have realized it as she stopped talking.

Without any input, the pegasus started to think about everything she knew about the mare.

The crown pays ponies to follow the works set out for their cutie marks, she for example works as an animal caretaker, taking anycritter that needs rehabilitation or a talking to, not training, just a small talk and rehabilitating them.

Of course, being shy and… antisocial she couldn't go around seeking customers, she doesn't even promote herself, no, the country gives her animals to take care and in exchange, she gains a weekly salary, 337 Lunar bits per week and 3.370 per month, more than enough to sustain her.

She could be receiving much more, Cat Paw being living proof of it, if she accepted the mare’s request to connect her to her pet then the extra 60 bits per session would add quite significantly considering the number of ponies that would travel to see somepony with an ability as rare as animal speak.

not a quite right assumption but that is fine

Coisty? Yes, but she is not the one who decides the price for her service, as controlling as it may be the crown knows best than her in that.

If she felt the contrary she could take a simple commercial test and in case of passing, set her prices.

Overcharging and undercharging would still gain her fines in the future if she was proven to be doing it out of malice of course.

She could have been receiving much more than she does now, the talent to speak to animals is extremely rare, the spell to do so is so absurdly complicated, arriving at a point where a mage can do it would necessitate years, and even then only talented mages would be able to.

Without a cutie mark to do the heavy lifting these kinds of spells become extremely complicated.

Magic is not just knowledge if it was then a simple knowledge-sharing spell would guarantee Equestria to have the most powerful magicians of all of Equus.

Magic is experience, magic is… a conversation between you, and a being so far above your existence the very notion of fully understanding it with a mortal piece of meat, as complex as it is, is laughable.

Of course, psychic talented creatures can speak with animals but contrary to her cutie mark that does most of the heavy lifting they have to do everything manually, Screw Loose is a good example of this.

The earth pony mare can talk to animals psychically but from what her critters told her she doesn't seem to be good at it, with constant headaches, an inability to be understood in turn, and finally a mental blend.

Some critters came back having some very confusing memories of being a pony.

She was too afraid to talk and help the mare before, maybe she should do it now?

‘No!’

She’s diverging, the point is, she is one of the very small number of creatures capable of speaking to animals in the entirety of Equus.

Hence why after being forced to go to the marketplace for supplies, as she is sometimes, Cat Paw talked to her.

Well, she didn't talk back, much to the contrary, from what she remembers she shrunk upon herself and whispered so low not even an elephant would be able to bear her.

Why… is she even thinking of that?

Because she is trying to understand the Mare in front of her.

She didn't seem the type to… disrespect other creatures, but then again she isn't a mind reader actually, maybe she is, according to Star at least so she can't really know for certain but… some hints are already there.

Describing her friend as anything less than a creature is already a signal, a very bad signal.

She can simply not know the full story and make assumptions but, independently, no one is going to hurt her friend No. One.

Her eyes narrowed further, she couldn't hold back a glare anymore, one would think a mare like her wouldn't be capable of truly glaring at someone with the eyes of a thousand suns.

They’d be wrong.

The feline mare flinched, reflexively she took a step back.

Fluttershy took one forward.

“What?”

A forced smile formed its way into the feline mare’s muzzle.

“O-oh I mean I don't know what it is yo-”

“It?”

Her fur stood on edge.

Her body shook.

Fluttershy… was not like this, not at all.

And when did she gain that mean stare, what does she think she is, a grumpy dragon?!

‘And why are your wings rising filly I'm not gonna eat your foals!’

“THEM! I meant them, you know me and my curiosity ha haaaaaaaaa.”

“Oh… so it was that?... Curiosity?”

She pressed her lips.

“Then let me quench it for you, his name Is Dean, Dean Tyronus Starfield, he is a human, and he is my friend.”

The feline mare looked away, she followed.

“You know… I’ve never thought about killing any creature in my life, but now I understand, I understand why somecreatures speak of revenge, why they are selfish, why they aren't kind.”

Her tone was low, calm even.

The feline mare didn't seem to like it, however.

“So I understand why some ponies would want to hurt him, even if it wasn't his fault, even if nothing could have been done about it.”

The green mare’s eyes trembled.

“Oh...”

Fluttershy tapped her chin at the sight, it would be better to clarify this before it becomes a problem.

“Believe me I wouldn't protect him if he had done it, I wouldn't have done anything, the little pony from just 7 hours ago wouldn't have been able to even if she wanted it, she’d just watch, but not me.”

“I… am just realizing this now you know? I am selfish, I am a good mare, I am a good pony, I’m not violent, nor am I chaotic.”

Slowly she crept closer to the feline mare whose fur started to stay on edge, it was no wonder.

Being stared at by two glowing blue orbs of magic full of hostility would do that to anypony.

“But I’d do everything in this life to protect what I love, and at least gain some sort of satisfaction before dying if I can't.”

Her voice depended.

“So understand this Cat Paw, I get it, I understand how everypony is thinking, and I’m happy, happy that I understand, happy that I can sympathize and empathize with everypony, and It is exactly because I understand…”

She paused.

“That I just can't care.”

Something hit her nose.

She sniffed it, and then focused back on the feline mare.

Ponies sweat, their coats just absorb it.

Funnily enough, she can smell it, all ponies can, even funnier, sweat has chemical compounds that change when somepony is feeling something different.

“Why are you afraid?”

The mare clamped up.

“Of course I am not! and… you mane! It's so pretty, your tail too, I didn't know you could do braids hone-”

“I didn't.”

“?”

“Star did, he took care of it.”

“O-oh, ok.”

She continued to stare

The green-furred mare’s lips trembled.

She opened her mouth.

The feline mare was faster.

“So… umm, I’ll go now, bye!”

She mare shot back, going on the opposite of her before turning right and going even further away.

Thump!

Directly toward where Star had gone to.

She lifted her leg.

Only to stop.

A second later she kept walking, the next she entered the village’s marketplace.

‘Star can take care of himself.’

… that doesn't mean she doesn't want to be the one to do it

Sigh*

Why do ponies need to be s-

“!”

She froze.

And then blinked.

Her head snapped back, she could see Cat Paw running with every muscle on her body.

“Eh?”

W-what did she just do?

No, seriously, by Faust, what did she just do?!

She… had never done that, when a pony insults her she just shrinks… back…

“Oh.”

She… grew.

“He, hehehe haHAHAHAHA!”

Her shoulders rose and fell together with his barrel, she couldn't hold it back, it was hilarious.

“Ha haha~”

She continued walking, ponies stared, Aqua mist, Big Wig, Cup Cake, Forest Spirit, Jasmine leaf, they all stared, hours ago she’d have run away crying, now? She felt nothing, Nothing!

Of course she didn't, she promised to fight a demon, she screamed at an idiot who could spontaneously gain strength out of anger, and crush applewood, something much more resistant than her skull might she add.

No… talking of all things didn't make her afraid anymore.

It is true, brave Fluttershy does exist.

Even more…

She could do it, make a promise by her name, right here, prove she really meant it, but… no.

She knows Star, at least a little bit of him, and she knows herself, at least a little bit.

Nothing should force her to act, not a threat of death, not one of isolation, nothing.

It would feel wrong, for her even, it would feel wrong for her.

She wants to do this because she wants to, she wants to help and continue to help despite everything because she wants to, not because of a consequence.

She understands a little better now, it's still stupid in that very specific situation, but she understands it, why Star insisted on not hurrying it up despite everything.

Still…

She clamped her mouth shut.

She’s still learning isn't she?

Cat Paw wasn't being rude, or aggressive, she just… never saw a human… she was just curious.

Her ears flopped.

For a moment she felt the urge to run to the feline Mare and apologise.

But… no, Star is more important.

Well, who’d have guessed

A decade of social isolation has consequences!

Hmph

She huffed.

“He…hehe.”

And then laughed.

She may have been seeing things that weren't there, but now that she noticed it… she wasn't feeling even a bit nervous.

She continued walking, the day waits for no Mare after all.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Minutes passed as she walked through the marketplace, a happy expression stayed plastered on her face all the while.

Ponies smiled, and even a certain Jenny, she nodded to them, but nopony truly talked to her.

She’s fine with it, well… not feeling nervous while talking and having the courage to start a conversation are two very different things.

Her heart still beats a little quicker at the thought.

‘Little trots Shy, little trots, one day you’ll be running filly, believe it!’

A determined expression formed on her face, strong Fluttershy isn't only in her head anymore!

“Heya Fluttershy, how have you been?”

”eep!”

A cheery voice said from her left, snapping her face toward it she looked at Acrylic Paint, a white earth pony stallion with a red beanie and covered in ink.

Forcing her body to stop shaking she coughed into her hood and then looked at the thin stallion.

“I… am fine Paint, bu-”

“Oh that's wonderful, you see, I wasn't here when that thing happened, a tragedy let me tell you, buuut, I uhmmm, I’ve heard that a creature followed you home yesterday and that somepony heard shouting coming from your house.”

He came closer, a worried look plastered on his face all the while.

“So… are you fine? Annnd, is that creature the one that… you know?”

The stallion asked tensely.

She blinked and then tilted her head.

A second passed, she breathed in and out.

She understands the worry, she really does, but this is an opportunity, one to clear things up about Star.

Determined or not she isn't strong enough to stop an entire village from lynching him.

‘Oh.’

She realized something.

Hmnn*

No… she understands a little bit more now… why Star wants to be strong, it's a worriless life.

She wants to be strong too, now… just in one more way.

“Uhmmm, Flutt-”

“Dean Tyronus Starfield, I call him Star, and he is not a demon if that is what you are asking.”

A forced smile appeared on her face.

The stallion clearly realized it as he hummed in doubt.

“I… see, but, did he do anything to you?”

Her expression fell, the forced smile was replaced by a hard frown as she looked at the Stallion.

Contrary to Cat Paw he kept looking at her.

Hmph*

She huffed and then opened her mouth.

“Star would never hur-”

She stopped.

And then blinked, it came out of nowhere, a thought, no, a memory, something her friend said.

‘I will never lie.’

Her eyes flickered to the ground.

Star… wouldn't like this, would he?

It might be different, a completely different circumstance but… This is one of the things Star is right about.

If you fold, if you back down once, even if it's something small, you’ll keep doing it.

The extent of her will should not extend to the limits of her convenience.

She wants to protect her friend, yes, she will always want to do so, but she doesn't need to lie to do it.

Star wants to face the consequences of everything he does, and for more stupid that this might sound, lying would remove that very same accountability.

He’d be angry, perhaps with a very good motive.

She doesn't truly care about that, it would hurt, but him being alive and angry with her is better than him dead.

She’d lie if she had to.

But she doesn't.

Star said he would, not that he wanted to, but that he would do it, if something he couldn't stand happened, he will do it, then again… so would she.

Star isn't cruel, he isn't somehuman who deserves to be hunted down, he isn't, so she won't act like he is.

She looked at Paint, and then breathed.

“Star… is learning Paint, learning, and healing, he didn't hit me, broke some things but nothing I couldn't fix.”

The stallion frowned.

She held back a sigh.

“He gave me this braid you know, he’s kind… sometimes.”

She waved her hoof.

“Angry some others, just like anycreature, as for the shouting? I am sorry about that, I will make sure to ask for somepony to decouple the walls later, now! I have to go.”

She turned and started walking again.

Only for the white Stallion to get in her way.

💢

A vein popped on her head

Irritation crept up her spine.

“No, what I meant was if you are ok, if you are… safe.”

Fluttershy looked at the stallion’s face with a deadpan expression, only to exhale and relax her muscles.

She exaggerated her tone with Cat Paw, her actions too.

Maybe she did it with Rainbow too.

It needs to stop.

Before it becomes any worse.

It was hard, fear kept her from improving, her emotions kept her from doing anything for years, it might be a different situation now, but the core is the same.

She feels, she acts, she regrets.

Emotions can't keep controlling her, they can't keep controlling the direction of her life.

It happened after Flight Camp, it happened after talking to Star, many, many times, it happened with Rainbow, with Cat Paw, and now with Acrylic Paint.

‘Enough of this.’

Becoming emotionless isn't something she wants, but neither does she want to be so weak-willed that anything she feels, compels her to act upon.

Star is… ridiculous, for some things, he claims to be better than the animals of his world, beyond his nature, contrary to them.

And then he goes around admiring a monster that acts solely on what he feels like.

Oh, she has no doubt her friend has some complex and weird motive to do so, but the hypocrisy is still there.

The thing is, Fluttershy needs to be the one who decides, not what she has, her emotions they can guide her, show paths, but she is the one who needs to decide, for herself.

“I… am most certainly not safe.”

His ears perked up and his mouth opened just as an alarmed expression formed on his face.

She didn't let him speak.

Snapping her hoof forward she held his paint apron and dragged him closer.

“Oah!”

With neutral eyes and a firm tone, she spoke.

“I promised to fight a bucking demon just to show him that he can trust me.”

Her tone was calm, her voice slow.

She didn't feel angry, or sad, or even annoyed.

She… felt nothing really.

The words that left her mouth, did so as the forms of the thoughts of a worried friend.

Nothing more.

“I promised to meddle with souls just to learn how to connect them, how to put somepony into a situation where lying is all but impossible.”

Her grip tightened.

“I promised to show every millimeter of the disgusting, revolting, and ugly parts of my life to prove a point.”

She breathed in… and out.

“I promised to unite my soul with his while a bucking demon stayed inside it.”

The painter’s eyes widened.

༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄༄ ༄ ༄༄ ༄ ༄

A small breeze blew throughout the marketplace, blowing her mane into the wild, strangely enough, it carried no sound.

… Everything was silent.

Her chest felt hot.

“I will almost certainly die, if not that pass through something worse than what every single creature did during that day.”

The stallion opened his mouth.

She didn't let him.

“No? Is that what you want to tell me? No? To not do it.”

His mouth opened, no sound came.

She understands it, Ponyville, Equestria in general, despite what ponies are capable of doing, the country itself is in a very peaceful era.

Not even ponies as old as Granny Smith saw war, much less somepony like Acrylic Paint, even less somepony like her.

“... There are things in this world creatures consider more important than their lives, I… wasn't like this yesterday, I am now.”

She rolled her eyes at the stallion’s expression.

What does he think? That Star is controlling her mind?

“Oh, I won't die for him if that is what you’re thinking about.”

His shoulders relaxed.

“I’ll die for myself.”

༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄

Only to tense up again.

She held back a cough.

“I made a promise, and… let me tell you something Paint, today I have realized how important truth is, what you speak, how you act, what you think, I understand more of it now.”

Her throat hurt.

Sigh*

“I… am a coward.”

Her expression remained neutral.

The same couldn't be said about the stallion in her hooves.

“I always knew it, I just didn't acknowledge it, Fluttershy is a coward, but she doesn't want to be one, she never did.”

She shook her head.

“No one does.”

༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄

Her hair flew, blocking her vision for a second.

‘It's windy today hmn?’

She continued.

“There are things creatures put over their own lives, for some being alive is more important than anything, anything at all, I can't say that… wish is wrong, not wanting to die is natural… expected even.”

“But I’m already tired of doing just what is expected, just what is reasonable.”

‘Maybe that’s why Star’s world is so strange? Because they don't want to just do what is reasonable anymore?’

A small smile formed on her muzzle.

Her chest warmed.

“Star… made me want to change, no, he made me strong enough to act on it, I… want to have something, no, I always wanted to be something, strong Fluttershy! I’d say and then not do anything to be her.”

Her eyes softened.

She felt the urge to cry.

She couldn't.

Wouldn't.

Not here.

Star’s life may just depend on what she says here.

On how she acts here.

She doesn't want to have to avenge her friend.

She’ll make sure she never does.

Ever.

“That human has a golden tongue you know, making a disgrace like me actually change.”

She heard a gasp.

She ignored it.

“I want… to be honest, I want to be brave, I want to be strong, I Want To Be…”

She clamped her mouth

Something felt stuck in her throat.

“Ugh!”

It tried to leave.

“Huf-!”

Her chest burned.

She held back tears.

Vomit.

She felt like vomiting, without having anything inside her stomach.

She couldn't hold back anymore.

“Me.”

Everything went black.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Only for a single light to shine into her.

[MEDIA=youtube]SGnvlW89-Us[/MEDIA]

With a soft tone, Fluttershy sang

In the depths of Tartarus…

Where demons reign~

One can see~

A tormented fighter with no tears to five~

Dies and dies, there is no win~

Against a monster, that is so grim~

Victory he seeks but can never achieve~

Fighting against a demon so mighty, there’s no hope to win

Her tone deepened.

But I'll be the light, that guides him through,

With every step, I'll see it through.

I'll stand as a friend, against his doom,

Banishing demons with all that is kind.

Not letting him break, or lose this fight

With love as my sword, and courage as my song,

I'll protect him from all that is wrong.

Through trials untold, and battles unseen

I'll face his doom, with unwavering esteem.

For within his heart, a flicker of hope

A chance for redemption, a way to cope

With everything, That Led To This!

A way to win, against a demon so grim!

I'll stand as his shield! Against his doom!

Banishing demons with all that is good.

With love as my sword, and courage as my song,

A wide smile formed on her muzzle, for the first time since the start of the song, she moved.

And started dancing.

I'll protect him from all that's wrooooong!

With each passing day, my resolve grows strong!

To save him from the devil,

Who dragged him to Tartarus where he doesn't beloooong!

For in his soul, I see the light!

A beacon of will, Shining So Briiiight!

A human so strong, you will see.

One day he will properly live all will see

Through storms untold~

And trials so grim

I'll be the light that shines from withiiiiin!

For in his struggle, I see his might,

A warrior's spirit, burning bright.

Even though a demon’s path.

Dying And Dying, Every Night.

Fighting to see the moon adrift.

The sun in the sky.

And the day even a bit

You won't see a single tear leave through him.

He’s not a monster, nor a fiend!

Just a human, so close to his end!

Just a creature on his wit's end!

A friend so dear, that helped me see.

What am I, a living being!

Who’s tired of suffering, so alone!

A friend is all I thought I needed, but happiness needs to come from meeee!

So do hear this plea, pay attention to me.

All of ponyville

Let my friend beeeee~

.

.

.

please

“fffff”

Her vision was blurry.

Everything was silent.

Light suddenly enveloped the world again.

She wiped her eyes and then looked at the stallion in front of her.

Only to see him frozen in place, both in body and expression.

She understands it.

A heartsong… is not something common.

Much less a lone one.

It only truly happens when a pony or sapient creature overall feels extreme positive emotions.

Or, as it happened to her, the need to bear all of her soul to the world.

One… does not lie in a heartsong, no, as the very name implies it is a song that comes from the heart, everything she feels, everything she wants, everything she is, thrown into a song, for all to hear.

Her body felt light.

She is happy.

Mainly because that alone proves she isn't being controlled.

Most importantly, it shows, with no uncertainty that at the very least she thinks Star isn't a bad creature.

It's not an absolute confirmation, not for them but… Star will most certainly not be crowded by ponies and lynched now.

Just…

She looked at the Stallion’s astonished face.

She has to make sure.

“Maybe you should talk to him, when he learns Equish of course, maybe then you’d understand, why that human doesn't speak any lies, and why I’d want to do so too.”

Her eyes fell.

“... He’s not that monster you know?”

Sigh*

Her throat hurt.

“That thing did far worse to him compared to what happened to all of you, I… don't want to be insensitive but the ones who died were lucky to do so only one time.”

The stallion’s head reeled back.

“Starfield suffered a thousand times more what every creature here did, and that thing is still not done with him.”

Anger seeped its way into her voice.

“Depending on that idiot, it won't be for a long time.”

Together with a pained expression.

“Imagine it for a moment, dying, imagine that suddenly, something hits you, you fall, you are confused, and the next second you have your insides on the outside.”

Had she always been able to put this much emotion in her voice?

“You stay down, in pain, in agony, your body broken enough that moving is less than a dream and more like a delirium.”

“Imagine it happening to you, something so horrid one would think only in the everfree something like this would ever happen.”

“And then you come back… only to be mauled, only to have five flat, worm-like claws buck a hole in your chest, only to have your own hoof, connected to that single limb that isn't quite yours anymore used to crush your head.”

THUMP

THUMP

THUMP

Her eyes flickered, she could feel the Stallion’s heart hammering on his chest, she felt bad, but not much.

Although… she is somewhat confused, even for a normal grown pony… her words shouldn't be this impactful, the poor stallion was trembling.

She tilted her head, nothing…

Hmnn*

His heartbeat spiked, his body shook more.

She ignored it, the colt was just weird, still… that was making him uncomfortable.

Releasing her grip she watched the Stallion fall and catch himself a second later.

She kept looking at his eyes.

Moving closer she touched the side of his barrel with the tip of her hooves.

“!”

He froze.

She forced herself to keep looking into his eyes, she is uncomfortable.

’Why is his face glowing blue?’

No matter.

A friend's life matters more than comfort.

“Here.”

She pressed harder.

He flinched sideways.

“Imagine everything there, inside you, getting out, imagine what that thing with five fingers, soft ones, blunt ones would have to do to reach it, to reach inside of you and pull that maze out.”

She moved closer, almost touching his snout with hers.

“Imagine how much you’d scream until he reached it, now imagine how much more you’d do so when it started to wrap it around your neck.”

Snapping her legs back she moved back.

Ignoring the Stallion’s gasp for air she continued.

“And then… when you stop breathing, everything goes dark, the pain stops, finally… time passes… a second, maybe two, and then… you open your eyes again.”

“No… you don't have the luxury of rest, not with that thing inside you, not a second passes, something comes down and rips your spine out, the same thing that did it last time too.”

“You don't get to die, you just come back… for hours on end, you die, die, and die some more, 278 times, 23 hours, almost 24, almost a day, you die at the blunt claws of a creature that just wants to hurt you.”

She breathed in… and out.

“You weren't here Acrylic Paint, if you were you’d understand how much a single second means at the blunt-clawed demon’s arms, much more for tens of thousands, I don't understand it, but I will.”

Her volume increased.

“There's A Monster Inside My Friend, In The Most Literal Way Imaginable, And I Won't Accept Anypony Thinking He Is The Same Thing As It, So I’d Appreciate It If All Of You Didn't Make It Harder For My Friend.”

“Contrary to you he can't do something as ridiculous as rest anymore, the next time he sleeps 8 hours will become a day, one where that thing keeps, keeps, and keeps killing him!”

“And now I am here, going to that hospital, praying to Faust with every trot that there's Something there that can heal him while he sleeps.”

“Because that thing is going to keep killing him, and contrary to before his body will reflect it.”

“I can't help him by taking that thing out, he won't let me, and I understand why, for a creature so similar to me I Understand why he won't let it go.”

She sniffed.

“It doesn't mean I approve of it, so leave him alone, that thing already tortures him enough.”

Hmph!

Turning around she started to walk away, just to freeze, and then look back.

“Oh, and what I speak with my friend is of no business of anycreature besides us.”

“Oh… ok.”

Looking forward she continued walking, leaving the white stallion behind to his own thoughts.

The marketplace seemed quieter as she did so.

.

.

.

.

.

A minute more passed as she kept walking, until… she realized something.

She blinked and then smiled, her heartbeat didn't increase, even a little bit!

Well, she felt a little anxious of course, but not nervous!

Even more, she sang!

Her first heartsong after an entire decade! And it was BEAUTIFUL! Awesome, amazing, exciting, and amazing, did she say amazing? Because it was!

“Hmmn hhmn hhmnnn.”

She hummed as her hooves began to skip, a happy smile stood plastered on her face as she did so.

“Hmmn hhm- hmn?”

She paused, almost out of the marketplace, right where she could see the hospital a sign caught her attention.

“Dreamy Beds & Beyond, selling you everything you need for a good sleep below Luna hmn.”

Interestingly enough both the sun and the moon were named after the Princesses, the sun was named Everglow while the moon was named Luna.

Although… maybe the Princess changed her name to just Princess Celestia? She doesn't know where exactly that ‘Everglow’ was taken from.

Turning her eye forward again she cont-

She paused.

.

.

.

She needs furniture, right? That and human-appropriate food for tomorrow, Star will need it.

She has enough money for a bed but… no place to put it… besides her own room.

Hmnnn*

Clop* clop* clop* clop* clop*

S-star won't like it, yes, he warmed up to her hugs a little bit but that is a little bit too much, even if she just wants to help a friend!

But putting it in perspective, if she was Star, after a night of unimaginable agony and despair, she’d at least like to wake up in a fuzzy, comfortable bed.

Fully physically well.

She… really should go to the hospital, but it's just 13:19.

She looked at the store, and then at the hospital, and then at the store, and then at the hospital, and then at the store…

‘Aaaah!’

Without waiting another minute she jumped in, just to see a gray Stallion.

‘That’s a pretty colt.’

“Welcome to Dreamy Beds & beyond, we, well, I mostly sell beds, but also some incenses, dream catchers, nightmare wards, cloud walking enchantments, and crystals besides expertly crafted cloud beds.”

“My name is Dreamy Bed, and…hmnnnn.”

The stallion crept closer, closing an eye he stared at her while tapping his chin.

Something hit her nose.

She blinked.

‘It… smells good.’

THUMP!

Her heart beat quickly.

It wasn't out of nervousness.

“Looking at you, I guess you’d want a double bed?”

THUMP!

“Y-YES! I mean, no! Kinda?! Ah! Anyway I need a bed and I need it fast, I have to do some very important things now so I can only come back later in the day.”

“My friend is… taller than most ponies so I’ll need a custom bed and all… van you… make one for him, and if so, how much?”

The stallion moved back, a smile staying present on his muzzle all the while.

“I am a lucky colt you know, arrived here only an hour after…”

sigh*

His shoulders slumped.

“That horrible thing happened, worst of all? I can't speak of it to anycreature outside the village you know?”

Her eyes widened.

“what?”

He nodded.

“Yes, by Princess Celestia’s very own decree, not like I don't understand you see, a demon is no laughing matter, but stopping visiting ponies from leaving for 8 whole days? It seems a bit exaggerated, you know? The princess can trust us.”

She stood silent.

“But you are not here for this! The bed! What do you need of it? With legs, without them, the diameters.”

“Oh, it's… not for me, I made a friend, he’s a biped, he’s 1 meter and 67 centimeters, his arms, he has 2 of those, around 60 centimeters, 75 to 80 centimeters for his legs, h-.”

Wee weew*

Her head snapped toward the gray Stallion, who promptly clamped down.

Did this motherb-

She closed her eyes.

‘Calm down, calm down.’

She exhaled, getting angry seemed to be something quite easier to do when something you love is related.

Did the colt just whistle for her Star?

She understands he has very long legs, more furred than other parts of his body even, and he actually has more muscle than fat on them, besides his tights seeming very squishy BUT!

Who the buck does this motherb**er think he is?!

Her face fell.

“He weighs around 77 kilos, I want the bed big enough for him to turn around during his sleep, make it with legs, and make sure the borders are not hard.”

The stallion blinked at the mare’s sudden hard tone.

… Did he say something?

“I-I see, I can do something like this, but I need to know what kind of materials you want me to use to give you an estimate, cotton, linen, flannel- applewood, oak, sugar pin-”

“Ironwood, use Somnambula cotton, latex foam, make the headboard soft too, put drawers in the lower part of the bed, make a cloud-soft pillow… no, make it three, and make them big enough for him to be comfortable.”

He forcibly smiled while noting everything in a pad.

Mares are weird.

“Will that be all Miss?”

“... Yes, can you deliver it tonight?”

He tapped his pen on his cheek.

“Mnnnn* it is going to be a rushed order so I’ll have to add some bits to that, but I can do it no prob, Dreamy Beds & beyond will be a household name in the future, With this mark in me, It will be my destinyyyy- ugh*”

Snapping her arm forward Fluttershy gently forced the Stallion’s mouth close.

She had no time for another heartsong.

The stallion’s ears flapped and he looked at her with sad eyes.

… now she understands a little bit why Star thinks she’s so cute.

Sigh*

Backing down she released the stallion’s muzzle and looked at him with apologetic eyes.

He opened his mouth, an angry expression quickly forming on his face while he did so.

He wanted to shout.

She didn't let him.

“I’m sorry.”

The stallion paused and then blinked.

“I have to go to the hospital, my… friend, I don't know if he’ll make the night, I’m sorry if I seemed rude, I’m a little protective of him, he’s… my first friend… in a long time.”

She didn't cry.

It would take a lot more than this for her to do so.

“He’s… going to sleep and he might not wake up, and I just want him to lay on something comfortable, and I want him to wake up in something soft after that thing finally stops playing with him!”

THUD*

She bucked a wall right beside her and then went quiet.

Huff* huff* huff

Her chest rose and fell.

She didn't do anything, why is she feeling so tired?

The gray stallion blinked and then clopped his forehead with his hoof.

“... Oh, would you look at this! I forgot during this entire chaos, I would have made a discount for the first customer who came to my store.”

She blinked.

“It would be a 50% one, but why don't I up it to 60? Just for the inconvenience hmn? You can choose anything.”

Getting closer to the pegasus the stallion leaned in and whispered.

“I’d personally recommend the cloud bed, it's a special one you know, made specifically to be turned into one at the cloud factory and enchanted to adapt to the user’s size and weight.”

“You can stretch or even compact it to take with you anywhere, there’s even a warm and cooling crystal to activate the enchantments on it, besides… you can even activate the massager mode.”

“Have I talked about the weight capacity too? Because it's unlimited, the density crystal inside it will take care of anything… that's not a mountain.”

He giggled

“Even more, it has a shelf life of 10 years before a pegasus specialist needs to come in for repairs, everything together is 22.222 but with the discount you can reduce it to 8.888 bits.”

The Stallion slowly walked back.

“wink.”

And then winked, very slowly.

‘Did he just say wink?’

And then laughed.

Why the buck was she being the plothole this time?

“He…”

Really, Fluttershy is…

“Hehe…”

A ridiculous mare.

“HahahahaHAHA.”

She laughed.

‘The world isn't your enemy fool.’

Her vision went blurry.

“Ha…haaa…”

The gray Stallion hugged her.

This… this is something worth crying for.