Fluttershy could hear nearly everything. The way her friends' mouths gaped open, their hearts pounding in their chests as they realized Twilight’s reversal spell had failed. She turned to them, eyes still an unnaturally bright red. They seemed to glow as anger rushed through her.
“You.” She growled. Her ability to speak had come back, but had lacked the quiet tone she usually spoke in. She crawled toward the purple pony just a few feet ahead of her. All eyes watched her predator-like movements, hooves light on the ground as she prepared to pounce. “You did this to me…” she gritted her teeth, ears pinned so far they nearly laid flat to the back of her head.
In one quick movement, she opened her wings and showed her fangs to the pony she now hovered inches above. “You and your stupid spell!” She spat. Twilight's eyes widened, body unable to move away though danger was face to face with her.
Fluttershy was right, she had caused this. But she was only doing what was necessary, right? Twilight didn’t mean for this to happen, for one of her friends to turn into… A monster. How could she fix this, to return their loving, kind and shy pegasus friend back to normal?
A flash of orange snapped Twilight out of her thoughts, and the creature was now caught in Applejack’s strong hooves. “I hate you!” Fluttershy hissed, thrashing around in an effort to break the earth pony’s grip. She squeezed just a bit tighter until things relaxed, finally opening her eyes to Fluttershy’s sobbing face.
The orange pony eyed Twilight, waiting for her reaction, for her to say even one word to maybe help this situation. It never came however, just tears. She felt so overwhelmed with emotion, sadness and grief over the potential loss of who her friend used to be.
“I think it’s best if all of you leave, I’ll calm her down in the meantime. Maybe sort some things out.” Applejack said, though she really had no plan of what to do with fluttershy due to her current condition. Would she show her the same aggression she had to Twilight?
It was too late to change what she had said, for Rarity placed a hoof to Twilight’s shoulder, indicating that they should listen to the farm pony’s wishes. The other two glanced at fluttershy, nodding and turning away to leave the farm. Rainbow Dash looked the most heart broken, and it was clear to why as they’d known each other the longest out of the entire group.
They all followed the exit path, tails swishing in the breeze that was surprisingly calm for the season.
It was quiet, the only sounds were coming from the yellow pony she held in her arms.
Under the light of the moon she looked peaceful now. It was strange to see after their long night of chasing a shadowy figure through the trees. She was scared then, but now it was like looking at Fluttershy, just Fluttershy. “I’m sorry.” She whispered, her throat tightening as an uncommon feeling weighed heavy in her chest. Her vision blurred with forming tears, ones she quickly brushed away with her hoof.
“This is my fault, Fluttershy, if I just let things go your way none of this would’ve happened.” Her voice quavered. “Please don’t blame Twilight.” Fluttershy lifted her head, sighing as she finally calmed down.
“I don’t blame either of you, I’m just so scared, Applejack.” She placed a hoof to Applejack's arm, making her release her grip entirely. She sat beside her, giving her a glance that let her know she wasn’t planning an escape. “I’m scared of what I am now.” She leaned back and fell into the grass.
Her eyes bore into the starlit sky, her mind and senses so busy and uncomfortable she needed any kind of distraction from it.
Applejack joined her and let out a long exhausted sigh. The whole day had taken a toll on her, both physically and emotionally. It was the strangest day she’d had in a while, one that started at the most mundane place she could think of. She glanced at Fluttershy, at the now apple red color her eyes became after her transformation.
It was quite a pretty sight, in a bit of an unsettling way.
“Do you have anything you want to ask?” Fluttershy spoke, breaking the silence between the two of them. Applejack's ears perked up, jumping a little as the sudden noise surprised her. “Huh?” Fluttershy rolled to her side, attention fixated on the orange pony.
“I know you’re curious, so just say what you want already.” She was a bit impatient, the bat instincts making her that way. It shocked her slightly, but it seemed a lot of things weren’t in her control anymore. “Well…” Applejack started, hoping to not offend her in any way with what could come out of her mouth.
“Do you remember anything? From your past, I mean.” She laid on her side to face her, brows upturned in a concerned expression.
“Just bits and pieces.” Fluttershy revealed.
“I’m not exactly her anymore, something in me changed.” It was sad to hear, but as crazy as it was, she didn’t view the changes like the others had. Yes she was different now, nearly entirely different, yet Fluttershy still gave her a feeling that existed even before her transformation.
Fluttershy moved closer, breathing in the earth pony’s familiar scent. She looked through half open eyelids and furrowed one brow at Applejack’s unidentifiable expression. “Does that bother you?”
“No, not at all.” She smiled slightly. “You’re still you.” Her eyes locked with that striking red again. They were hypnotic in a way, so dazzling like the juiciest red delicious, or an expensive ruby.
Fluttershy listened in, the badump of valves in the heart making their presence known, and loudly. It gave Fluttershy a pinch of red to her cheeks to know why Applejack's heart was beating so fast. Was it a blessing or a curse to have the ability to hear so strongly?
“Your heart’s beating really fast. Are you okay?” She teased, smiling at the way she was able to have fun even after such an eventful evening.
“Yes, wait, you can hear that?” She blinked a couple times, backing up a little, embarrassed she was able to hear what nearly gave what she was feeling away. As silly as it was, she silently begged that fluttershy wasn’t also able to read minds. “I do have vampire fruit bat hearing now, so yes.”
Applejack coughed and sat up, trying her hardest to find a way to deflect the attention from her and her heart. “It’s getting late isn’t it? I think you need rest, especially after the day you’ve had.”
Fluttershy giggled under her breath at Applejack's very smooth way of changing the subject. One thing pulled at her mind however, something she hadn’t even given a single thought to before now. Where was she going to go now? She couldn’t possibly show up to her cottage like this, she could scare every creature away. She didn't want to risk them all being afraid of her, she couldn’t even handle the thought.
Applejack caught on to Fluttershy’s anxiety, and placed her hoof on the yellow bat pony’s head. “You can stay at my place tonight, it is pretty dark out, not easy to see in the dark.” Fluttershy felt relieved, keeping to herself that though yes it was dark, her eyes could still see just as well as if it were daytime.
Applejack stood up, waiting for Fluttershy to follow as she made her way inside the nearby house and to her bedroom.
The door to the room had a red apple engraved into the wood, and it opened with a single touch of Applejack’s hoof. “You can sleep here tonight, and I’ll sleep out in the hayloft.” Fluttershy climbed into bed, surprised that she wasn’t the one sleeping where the farm ponies kept their hay. “In the barn? Are you sure?”
“Of course, I sleep in there by accident most of the time anyway. And you deserve to get some much needed rest.” Applejack smiled, pulling the covers over her sleepy eyed friend.
“Goodnight.” She spoke quietly before exiting the room.
Now fluttershy was left with nothing but her thoughts, her seemingly never ending thoughts. She pulled the sheets over her head, blocking the sounds of crickets outside the nearby window.
She wished Applejack had stayed, at least then she wouldn’t feel so alone. It was still very frightening to know many of her memories were missing now. What had she forgotten? Why did she forget? Could it be that the transformation made her lose herself?
She didn’t like thinking about it, or how her friends looked at her before they left the farm. Those terrified eyes, their pinned ears, their whole demeanor, it was something they’d never acted like before. She wished that part of her memory would vanish instead.
Applejack, she hadn’t been as afraid though, and Fluttershy was curious as to why. Any creature would be afraid to see what she turned into, yet the apple farmer hadn’t. It made her smile, even relaxing her mind a bit.
She was certain tomorrow probably wouldn't be any better, but she had a tinge of hope. She felt safe here, surrounded by farmland, apple trees, and a cozy red blanket.
The apples on the pillowcase faded as she shut her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
