The Pony with Two Souls

Fluttershy’s family home was on the outskirts of Cloudsdale. It was a quaint place, it was clear they had bits, but compared to other ponies they were by no means wealthy.

Twilight trotted up to the door. But, before she could knock, a lengthy teal stallion threw open the door. “Are you a unicorn?” The man-bun wearer asked.

She was startled both by his sudden appearance and by his question. “Um… yes?” She said, and as far as she was concerned that was the truth.

“Hmmm-“ he seemed to be taking her in, as if something wasn’t quite right about her. He crouched, bending his long legs in a strange fashion. He seemed to be peering beneath her cloak, like she was hiding something. “Are you… sure?”

Twilight stamped her hooves down, pinning the cloak to the clouds. Not giving him the opportunity to look up it. “What are you? Some sort of freak!?” She snapped harshly.

He stood up, a sort of strange smile crossing his face. “Well, no need to be so hostile! I’ve just never seen a unicorn who could walk on clouds, that’s all.”

“It is a new spell, so I wouldn’t expect you to know about it.” She lied rather matter-of-factly.

The oily-looking fellow proceeded to look over her horn, it neither glowed nor sparkled. Something was just not quite right about the pony on his doorstep. “I’m not interested in buying any Filly Guide cookies if that’s what you’re selling.”

Twilight’s temper began to boil over, “I’m here to speak to Fluttershy!” She announced in a booming Canterlot voice that seemed to shake the home.

Holding on tightly to his shaken mess of a mane, the trouble-making stallion’s goofy grin returned. “Now why didn’t you say so?” He chuckled, turning back into his home. “Fluttershy! There’s someone here to see you.” There was no answer, or rather, a very faint answer. “Oh, she really hasn’t been accepting any visitors, what did you say your name was?”

“Twilight Sparkle.” She huffed, burning up with rage. “And please tell her it’s urgent!”

Spitfire paced in a sort-of-marching motion. What kind of pony would break into her office? As the grounds were guarded, and no pony had even been caught near the fenced, it had to have been a student.

Or a faculty member. She had already had members of the staff scour the office for any evidence, but they came up empty hoofed.

It was all very strange. While she had no evidence to stand on, she knew this was related to the Elements of Harmony.

The fall of Celestia was too recent, the Winter Maiden turned to stone… Spitfire was in-the-know. She was one of Celestia’s trusted confidants. She did not come this far without knowing when something was amiss.

Even in death, Spitfire was loyal to the Princess. She needed to find the pony responsible, and hide the Element of Kindness.

“Oh, it is so lovely to see you.” The soft-spoken pegasus cooed, ducking below the windows of their home as she passed them. “I’m not sure to what I owe the honor…” Fluttershy asked, holding her tea pot in her hooves.

Twilight sat at the dining table, an empty tea cup in front of her. Fluttershy may not have had any intention of accepting guests, but she was a pleasant hostess. “We- I mean, I need to get into the Academy.” Twilight said.

Fluttershy patted her wings, floating just out of sight of the windows. “That is rather… interesting…” she thought for a moment. “I’m not sure how I could help you with that.”

Twilight watched as the mare poured tea from the pot into her cup. “Perhaps you could use your semblance… your talent!”

“Oh, and I don’t mean to be rude, but why don’t you just ask for a meeting with Spitfire.”

Twilight’s face pulled into a twisted attempt at remaining cordial. Spitfire did not know who she was, but Fluttershy… she knew. After all, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash had been class partners for years prior to moving to Canterlot. Celestia knew this well. In accepting Rainbow Dash, it was stood to reason that Spitfire would have invited Fluttershy as well. “Did Spitfire not invite you to the academy after the Fall?” Celestia asked with Twilight’s voice. “We did attempt to meet with her. However, she was not accepting unknown guests at that time.”

Fluttershy gently placed the pot on a crocheted doily. She thought for a moment, taking-in the formal nature of Twilight’s speech, and then processing what she had said. “Why, yes, she did. Only, I never really wanted to be a huntress. That was Rainbow Dash’s dream, I just went along with it for her…” Fluttershy seemed to think, her eyes flashing with a memory that brought her a single tear. “And besides, Rainbow’s got a new partner now. She doesn’t need me anymore.”

Twilight tapped the table, seemingly overlooking Fluttershy’s emotions. “So, if you feign interest in the school, Spitfire might accept us for a meeting. And, then, you can use your talent to help us, I mean me, find the El- I mean… make her listen to me.”

Fluttershy peaked out the window. “I can’t.”

“Why not? The fate of Equestria hangs in the balance!” She blurted.

Fluttershy turned slowly, having believed this to be a real pop friendly meeting of former acquaintances. Her face seemed so familiar to Twilight then, the face of a huntress where the gentle mare once stood. “What do you mean?”

Twilight and Celestia collectively sighed, if they wanted help, they’d need to be transparent. Being vague wasn’t getting through to her. “I need to collect the Elements of Harmony. One of them is inside Spitfire’s school, and we- I mean I- need some pony to get me past the guards. Spitfire doesn’t know who I am, and the school is on crazy lock-down. Rainbow Dash won’t help, and you are the only other pony I know, who Spitfire might trust.”

Fluttershy took in every word slowly. She was quite literally the textbook definition of a hermit, afraid to leave her home. She didn’t enjoy all the attention, but there was something innate within her. A desire to help ponies, to better this world, even if she was afraid… “if, and I wouldn’t get my hopes up about it, if Spitfire accepts my request for a meeting, I will help you.” She said finally, and it was unconditional. Just as a good huntress’s help should always be.

“Captain.” Soarin said, standing at the door. He did not make any advances, not without her explicit permission.

Spitfire tucked the stone between her uniform garb and her chest. Concealing it on herself, though she wasn’t quite in a rush to hide it from him. “Enter.” She replied.

Soarin did as he was instructed. “I have an appointment request.”

Spitfire narrowed her eyes, a look of annoyance washing over her usually expressionless face. “Declined.”

Soarin, contrary to his ordinary obedient nature, did not retreat. “It should be noted:” He began, swallowing his nerves at speaking out of turn. “The request was made by the second-year Fluttershy. Of the Canterlot school.”

At this, the captain turned up her ears. Fluttershy was not fast, she was not ruthless, she was not overly-ambitious. She was not Spitfire’s ordinary choice for a Wonderbolt or a huntress, period.

Though Fluttershy had a particularly sought after talent. Her semblance allowed her to freeze creatures in their tracks. Albeit temporary, she could buy vital time during invasions and attacks. “Fluttershy?”

Soarin nodded, confirming what he had said. “Affirmative.”

“Approved.”