Fluttershy reached the exit of the Everfree Forest and looked for the fire-haired Wonderbolt. When she couldn't see her, she tried calling her.

"Spitfire? Spitfire! Where are you?"

Upon calling her, Spitfire arrived in mere seconds.

"I knew that I heard you call me, Fluttershy.", Spitfire said, "So, what is it?"

"I need your help.", Fluttershy said, "I have to get to Twilight's castle, because I think the Elements of Harmony are there, and to honor my friends, I want to place them on their graves. The problem is that the changelings are everywhere in Ponyville, and I can't face them alone."

"Of course. Me and the rest of the Wonderbolts will help you. A friend of Rainbow Dash is someone we always do a favor for.", Spitfire said, "Just wait here and take cover, I'll be right back."

And then, she flew away. Fluttershy did as Spitfire told her and took cover behind a big rock. She didn't want to be spotted by any changelings if they came here. While Fluttershy did hear some passing the rock she was hiding behind, at least they didn't see her, which relieved her a lot.

Soon after, Spitfire returned, with Soarin, Surprise and Misty Fly by her side.

"Now, we may only be four, but we should be able to get you to the castle safely.", Spitfire said, "So what do you say? Shall we get going?"

Filled with determination, Fluttershy smiled. "Let's go!", she said.

And so, the five Pegasi stormed towards Ponyville. Already running into the small town, several changelings attacked them. Spitfire and the Wonderbolts made short work of them, and even Fluttershy collected her courage and helped fight them as well. Since this was about her friends, it gave her a reason to fight. She was no longer holding back like the meek and shy Pegasus she used to be.

After a while, Twilight's castle was in sight.

"There's the castle! We're almost there!", said Fluttershy.

However, before Fluttershy and the Wonderbolts could enter the castle, a lot of changelings came from all over, and they didn't stop coming. Fluttershy helped the Wonderbolts as well as she could, but they just kept coming.

"Get into the castle!", Spitfire shouted, knowing she had to protect Fluttershy from harm.

"But what about you?", Fluttershy asked, unsure of what would happen to Spitfire and the other Wonderbolts.

"We'll keep them busy. Just go!", Spitfire said.

Fluttershy nodded. Suddenly, she saw changelings approach her quickly. And before any of them could reach her, Fluttershy went inside Twilight's castle and shut the door.

Now inside the castle, Fluttershy was met with nothing but silence, probably because nopony was there. She did hope that Spike survived the battle and retrieved the elements from her dead friends.

"Spike?", Fluttershy called out, just to be met with a little echo.

No response. Fluttershy roamed the abandoned castle, hoping that Spike is there. When she couldn't find the little dragon, she tried again.

"Spike? Can you hear me?"

And again, Fluttershy was met with an echo.

Soon, she found the room with the Cutie Map and the six thrones around it. Knowing that five of them will forever be empty, Fluttershy became sad again and started to cry again.

"I just shouldn't have gone to Zecora... Just because I didn't want to make amends with Angel on the spot and agreed to a plan that was doomed to backfire, my friends are dead...", Fluttershy said, all while crying so many tears.

But then, she heard a voice.

"Fluttershy? Is that you?"

Fluttershy immediately stopped crying. She recognized that voice. Looking around, she soon spotted the purple dragon.

"Spike!" Fluttershy rushed over to the dragon, picked him up and hugged him tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay!", she said.

"I... know, but... could you please let me breathe?"

Fluttershy eased her grip on Spike and put him down. "Sorry, Spike. I'm just so happy to see you. I thought you were dead too..."

Spike looked down. "No, not me... But I witnessed everything.", he said, "Knowing that the girls didn't have a chance, I made a run for it. The Evil Trio didn't chase me, but they made short work of the girls... I just don't know how all this came to."

Fluttershy had to tell the truth. "I think this is all my fault.", she said, "Just because Angel didn't understand my dilemma and I didn't try to make amends on the spot, I agreed to Zecora's plan for me and Angel, but the plan horribly backfired, and... and... now the girls are dead! Losing my Sweet Feather Sanctuary is one thing, but losing the girls is the worst that could happen, and I would never try to harm my friends..."

Spike tried to comfort Fluttershy before she started to cry tears out of pure anger.

"Hey, it's okay, Fluttershy. You had no idea what would happen with that plan.", Spike said, "But why did you even agree in the first place? You could have just declined and tried to talk to Angel in private. I thought you never agreed to plans you didn't trust."

"I had no choice.", Fluttershy said, "Me and Angel were arguing, and the tensions between us became stronger because he wanted my attention, but I couldn't, because I was overworked with my duties in the sanctuary. But why couldn't he understand that? Why did Zecora have to show him how overworked I was? This got my sanctuary closed because of that plan... And then... all these horrible things happened..."

"There's always a choice.", Spike said, "You could have just explained to Angel in detail how difficult your job in the sanctuary was and that he just can't handle it. Like, even Twilight made a choice in a no way out situation."

Fluttershy just couldn't be comforted. She was angry, sad and desperate, all at once, a flurry of emotions. "I just wish I could undo everything. To just go back in time and prevent my past self from going to Zecora and plunging the world into darkness.", she said in a mix of anger, sadness and desperation.

Spike shook his head. "Yeah, you wish. I know from Twilight and Starlight that time travel is not good. Imagine the future will be even darker than this."

This made Fluttershy angry. "HOW CAN IT BE WORSE THAN THIS?", she yelled, "DIDN'T I TELL YOU THAT THE GIRLS ARE DEAD AND EVIL TOOK OVER EQUESTRIA? HOW CAN A DIFFERENT FUTURE BE WORSE!?"

Spike was scared. "Whoa... I've never seen you this angry before..."

Fluttershy shed more tears. "I'm sorry, Spike.", she sobbed, "I just want my friends back, and I would be willing to tear the fabric of time and space apart if I could. No matter the cost, I would do anything to bring my friends back to life."

"I know that.", Spike said, "But time cannot be reversed. And you can't cast time travel spells without a horn anyway."

"Yes, I know, Spike...", said Fluttershy. She was well aware that she wasn't a unicorn, and therefore, this means that her friends are truly gone for good.

"Is there anything else you need to tell me?", Spike asked.

Fluttershy then remembered why she came here in the first place.

"Spike, you don't happen to have the Elements of Harmony somewhere, do you?", Fluttershy asked, "I'm sure my friends would want them back."

"I do, actually.", Spike said and brought a box over that had the element necklaces and the Crown of Magic inside. "When the Evil Trio went away, I quickly snatched the necklaces and the crown and brought them back to the castle to hide them in a safe spot that only I know.

"I said it before, but I have to say it again, Spike. You are a really smart little guy.", Fluttershy said.

Spike blushed at this compliment. "Well, I wouldn't say I'm that smart.", he said. He then put a saddlebag on Fluttershy's back and stashed the elements in there. "Just be careful with those. You don't want to lose them, do you?"

"Don't worry, I won't.", said Fluttershy, "Thanks for the help, Spike."

"Anytime, Fluttershy.", said Spike before the two told each other goodbye.

With the help of the Wonderbolts, Fluttershy managed to escape from Ponyville, and together, they made a dash back to the Everfree Forest. She thanked the four Wonderbolts for helping her to retrieve the elements, and Spitfire told her that if there ever was something she needed help with, she could ask her every time.

Now, Fluttershy was back in the forest, the Element of Kindness around her neck and the others safely stored in her saddlebag. Returning to the tombstones of her friends, Fluttershy looked at them again and placed the element necklaces, one by one.

She started with Rainbow Dash. She put the Element of Loyalty in front of her tombstone. "I'm so sorry, Rainbow.", she said, "I wish I would have been there for you girls. No matter what happens, I would always stick to my friends in the face of danger. To you especially, Rainbow. You always protected us from any danger, no matter how big or dangerous it was... "

Not noticing that the element started to glow, she put the Element of Laughter on Pinkie Pie's grave.

"I'm sorry, Pinkie. You always gave us a laugh in even dark circumstances, which motivated us all.", Fluttershy said, "And I wouldn't say that I never tried to make ponies laugh myself. Being kind also comes with comforting ponies, making them happy again..."

Next was the Element of Honesty, which she put on Applejack's grave.

"Sorry, Applejack. I know we had our differences at times, and we argued about it sometimes, but arguments are a part of friendships.", Fluttershy said, "You argue and make amends. And honestly, I wish me and Angel made amends without all this happening..."

The next element was Generosity, which Fluttershy put on Rarity's grave.

"I'm sorry, Rarity. You're a really good friend, so generous that you would give away your most cherished items if somepony needs them.", Fluttershy said, "Although I also remember being generous myself one time, when I made that dress for you after you had a mental breakdown and you weren't confident about your sewing skills..."

As she recalled that memory, her smile turned back to a frown as she put the last element on Twilight's grave - the Crown of Magic.

"And you, Twilight...", Fluttershy said, "You would have been a great ruler over Equestria. You learned everything about friendship, became a princess, stood by our side against any dangerous villain and helped us to find a side of ours we never would have found without you... Thank you, Twilight."

As Fluttershy moved back from the row of tombstones, it was in that moment where she saw the elements glowing. She then felt her own element on her necklace glowing, a magical surge going through her body, and with a little spark in her eyes, she triggered the Element of Magic, which started to glow too.

"Wow! What is happening?", Fluttershy wondered.

As she tried to make out what was happening, five ghosts suddenly came out of the ground, and they carried the elements on them.

It wasn't just any ghosts. Those ghosts were her friends. Fluttershy's eyes widened at that sight.

"Girls...", she said.

"We all heard you, and we're happy that you learned about friendship just as much as we did, if not more.", Twilight said, "You are indeed worthy of becoming the Flame of Harmony, the last hope for Equestria."

"Flame of Harmony?" Fluttershy couldn't believe what Twilight told her. She heard about the Flame of Harmony from foal stories and legends.

"Yes.", said Twilight, "Cozy Glow, Chrysalis and Tirek are still out there, much stronger than ever, and only you are remaining to defeat them and take back Equestria."

"Oh... I don't know if I can...", said Fluttershy, becoming nervous about what's going to happen.

Then, Rainbow Dash started to talk. "Come on, Fluttershy! You have faced countless evil monsters with us and we always survived!", she said, "Now that you are the last one standing, it's your task to defeat that Evil Trio. Come on, Fluttershy! Do it for Equestria, do it for me... Do it for yourself!"

Fluttershy remembered these words. That's what Twilight said to motivate her to fly on the tornado to get the remaining wing power. And now, her childhood friend motivated her too...

This motivation from her friends made her put up a determined face. "All right, I'll do it!", she said bravely.

"Then take our power.", Twilight said, "Go to Canterlot, defeat the trio and save Equestria. We all believe in you..."

With these words, the ghosts discharged the necklaces and crown and gave all their power to Fluttershy, who started to transform as she was imbued with lots of harmonic magic.

She transformed into the Flame of Harmony.

Along with the looks she took when imbued with the magic from the Tree of Harmony, the Rainbow Power form, she was filled with so much magic that her mane and tail were filled with so much magic that they moved wavy, just like the mane and tail of Princesses Celestia and Luna.

Fluttershy was stunned by the sheer looks of her new form. "Oh my... I feel like a legendary superhero...", she said with bliss. Her bliss then changed to determination when she realized that she now had a chance to take on the Evil Trio. As she felt the magic of the six elements surge through her body, Fluttershy felt that her friends stood with her, maybe not physically, but spiritually at least.

"Okay... Now to get to Canterlot and put the reign of Evil to an end.", said Fluttershy, spread her wings and shot towards the exit of the Everfree Forest and into the direction of Canterlot.

Author's Note

Now Fluttershy has a chance. If she can't save the world now, I don't know who will...

It's funny how all of this has come to, huh? All because of Zecora's stupid plan and because Fluttershy couldn't stand arguing with Angel... These things have lead to this moment...

Can Fluttershy do it? Can she save the world against all odds?

To be continued...