Chapter 1: Waking up to a Nightmare
Fluttershy slowly opened her eyes. She felt tired and weak like she had just finished a long day of taking care of her animals, but she realized this wasn't her cottage she was waking up in. It was far too dark and there were no windows.
"Hello? Anypony there?" Fluttershy asked meekly, but the only response was her own echo.
Fluttershy decided to stand up and look around to try to gain some kind of understanding of where she was. Her eyes were adjusting to the dark and she was beginning to be able to make out some of her surroundings. Stone and rocks were all around her. Stalagmites and stalactites could be seen in most directions, and the sound of dripping water could be heard echoing all around her. She noticed that there was an unlit campfire too in the center of a small clearing. From what she has seen she was able to guess that she was in a cave, and that herself and maybe some other ponies were camping here for the night. Fluttershy didn't understand though she had no memory of leaving her cottage, or even a reason to go camping like this.
Just as she had finished that thought she noticed a glow coming around the corner. She ducked behind a boulder and waited to see just what was coming. The glow brightened until a pony with a torch walked around the corner. It was wearing a black cloak that covered its head and most of its body, so she couldn't make out its race or gender. The pony walked to the campfire and placed its torch into it, bringing the whole pile to life. As soon as the fire was lit it looked over to where Fluttershy had awoken and noticed she was gone.
"Oh! She finally woke up!" A distinctly male voice said. "Are you still here? I hope she didn't get too far."
Fluttershy weighed her options. Should she reveal herself to this pony and hope he was a good pony and not an evil kidnapper? Or should she wait until he leaves and make a run for it once the coast is clear. She thought for a few seconds about how she had no idea where she was, and that it would be unlikely that she could find safety even if she flew around in the air. The stallion turned around and started to walk out, but she crept out from her hiding spot and yelled out to him before he left.
"Wait! Please don't go." She cried out as she leapt forward and landed softly with a few beats of her wings.
She was nearly crying at this point. Fluttershy didn't handle stress well, and waking up all alone, cold, and in a dark cave with no friends around had really started to get to her. The Stallion turned around and walked back to the campfire where Fluttershy had flew up to. He took off his hood and bowed to her, which Fluttershy assumed was a sign of good intentions. She could make out his face now. He was a grey unicorn, he had a short pale blue mane and a pair of matching eyes. He also seemed to be somewhat old. Not quite granny smith age but defiantly older then say, Mayor Mare.
"Good morning young mare, allow me to introduce myself." The unicorn began with a smile on his face. "My name is Aerick Trouder, how are you feeling?"
"Ummm, I'm feeling okay I guess. Just a bit chilly" Fluttershy said quietly. "Oh how rude of me! My name is Fluttershy, I'm guessing you saved me from something? I can't remember anything at all! Did I hit my head really hard?"
Fluttershy was just speculating about being hit on the head. She couldn't remember anything so head trauma was her best guess. Aerick's smile faded to a frown though after she asked that question. He sighed and looked at her with a very serious expression.
"I am not sure what happened to you Fluttershy." He said with a heavy tone. "I have a lot to explain to you so you should probably sit down." Fluttershy nodded and sat in place. "Let me first tell you about myself, it will make everything easier to understand. I come from a very far land, despite me being a pony I was not born or raised here in Equestria. Where I come from we practice many kinds of magic that I have yet to see here in Equestria. I specialize in one of those fields of magic called Necromancy."
"Necromancy?" Fluttershy asked with a worried tone. "What is that?"
"It is not a type of magic many love. In fact most hate and fear it. A Necromancer like myself can conjure apparitions, cast curses, talk to the dead, and even revive the dead from their graves."
"But... that sounds like horrible magic... are you-"
"No I assure you Fluttershy I'm not a bad pony. I do not intend to hurt anypony while I am traveling here in Equestria. I only wish to learn about magic that I haven't seen before."
"Okay" Is all Fluttershy is able to say at this point. She isn't so sure she should be trusting this unicorn, but she knows she doesn't really have much of a choice right now.
"Alright. Now that you know what I am I can tell you what happened to you. You see Fluttershy..." Aerick trailed off for a second. He looked as if he was trying to find the right words to use before continuing. "when I found you, you were already dead."
What? Already dead? I'm not dead I'm sitting right here alive and well! Fluttershy started to think to herself. She wanted to ask aloud, but didn't have the strength to say anything. She just sat there as the unicorn in front of her continued to explain.
"You were in very bad shape. Your head was twisted 270 degrees, several ribs were fractured, internal bleeding was evident, and both of your hind legs were broken in multiple places. It took a lot of effort to repair your body when I found you. Fluttershy there are two ways to bring a creature back from the dead. The first way is to simply raise it with whatever is left on the body, which can go as bear as just the bones. Those minions have no will of their own though, and just mindlessly do as they are told."
Minions? Oh no he was lying wasn't he?! He is a bad pony! He wants to turn me into his minion! Fluttershy's thoughts continued to race. She wanted to just get up and run, but she was still far too scared to do anything.
"The second way is a bit more difficult. If you can find them recently enough after death, and if their body is still in a functional condition, then you can revive them with all their memories and will intact. I prefer to revive creatures the second way so that they may choose their life in undeath or not. Fluttershy I revived you the second way after I found you about a week ago at the base of this mountain."
Aerick had broken eye contact with Fluttershy half way through his speech. It was possible to tell that it pained him to give this explanation to Fluttershy, and he avoided looking directly at her because of it. He finally looked back at her to see how she was handling the news. Fluttershy was trembling and crying. She did not take the news well, and infact she really didn't even believe him.
"I don't believe you! I feel fine." Fluttershy said. She was finally able to open her mouth and say something after he looked her in the eye.
"Yes most of them deny it, but there are ways you can tell you are really dead. Tell me Fluttershy have you been breathing?"
Fluttershy just looked at Aerick with a confused expression on her face. Breathing? Of course I've been breathing... wait no. I was breathing to talk, but was I breathing at all before then?
"You might want to check you pulse too, or well the lack of one."
She complied with his request and held a hoof up to her neck. She has checked the pulses of many other animals and ponies before. She knew just where to place her hoof to feel the pulse of blood flowing through her veins, but she felt nothing when she checked this time.
"You don't have to breath, because you don't use your lungs for respiration anymore, and your heart doesn't beat because your body doesn't need oxygen anymore. You are being kept alive with my magic now."
No breathing no pulse. Could he really be right? Am I dead? Fluttershy fell to the ground and covered her eyes. She tried to hide her crying and started to talk to herself.
"This is all a bad dream. I'm just sleeping in my cottage right now and I'll wake up soon."
"I'm sorry Fluttershy, but this is all too real." Aerick spoke with a comforting tone. "It might take you some time to accept, but the sooner you do the better it will be for you. If you need some time alone to think then I'll be waiting for you outside of the cave when your ready to talk." The Unicorn walked out of site leaving Fluttershy to contemplate what she was just told.
Fluttershy slowly stopped crying and opened her eyes. She was beginning to accept what Aerick had told her, but still had so many questions to ask. I've been holding my breath for at least five minuets now and I feel fine. I don't feel my heart beat either. Is this why I'm cold? Because my body is dead? How is this even possible!? And why did Aerick revive me with my memories instead of making me his minion? I... just want to go home.
Aerick was sitting outside looking up to a cloudy sky. It was sometime in the early morning but the whole sky was grey and dreary from a recent storm that had moved by. He preferred this kind of sky to a blue and sunny one, and he had been spending most of his time outside waiting for Fluttershy to wake up because of the whether. From the cave entrance he could see a large part of the mountains around him. They could be more accurately described as large hills because of how low lying they were.
He had been sitting outside for about half an hour when Fluttershy came walking out to join him. She looked a little sullen, but considering the news he had to give her that was a very good condition for her to be in.
"Feeling any better now?" Aerick asked. "I heard crying can be very therapeutic."
"Ummm... I guess so." Fluttershy said quietly.
"Now I assume you have lots of questions so don't be shy, ill answer them all honestly I promise."
"Well, I just want to know why would you want to bring me back, from being dead."
Aerick smiled, this was just the question he wanted to hear. "You've accepted that your undead already? That was very fast."
"Well I'm still not really sure, but I do feel kind of cold and weak. If my body is dead it would make sense that I feel this way."
"Fair enough, now for your question." Aerick began. "When I journey to a new land I find it convenient to travel with someone who is familiar with the territory I am in. The easiest way for me, as a necromancer, to do this is to revive a local and contract them to guide me through their land." He paused for a second to give Fluttershy a second to think.
"You want me to be your guide?" She aksed inquisitively.
"Yes. I'm not going to force you to help me Fluttershy, but if you don't want to help me then I'm afraid I can not keep you alive."
"What do you mean?" She was worried about him speaking so frankly about her life.
"Imagine if you were to go back to your friends and family in your current undead state? How do you think they would react?"
Fluttershy thought about it for a second. Do my friends even know I'm dead? I still don't know how I died. I guess that doesn't even matter though... I'm a zombie now, and a zombie can't be a normal pony. Do I eat or sleep now?What about using the little fillies room?
Aerick continued. "Also there is the matter of my magic that is keeping you alive. You can't go too far away from me. If you do then my spell will break and you'll just turn back into a... dead body. So the deal is pretty much this, I'll give you more time to live your life if you join me as my companion through your land."
Fluttershy was finally beginning to understand. "So you just wait until you find a dead pony, revive them, give them the choice of remaining dead or joining you in your travels, and then move along? I'm sorry, but that sounds like a horrible thing to do! What about the loved ones of those you revive? How do you think they feel about you disturbing their graves?"
"It's not something I'm proud of. It's all I can do. The living fear me whenever they find out about my magic. Only the dead accept me." Aerick's face was angry for just a few seconds, but he returned to a smile and looked back to Fluttershy. "So how about it my little pegasus? Would you like to join me?"
"I still want to know what happened to me before I died." Fluttershy said with a bit of confidence.
"You don't remember how you died?" Aerick responded a bit confused. "Most of the time when I revive someone they remember how they died."
"No I don't know how, my last memory isn't even anywhere near here. Where are we by the way?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't know the name. I do know where a local town is though. I was planning on heading there next."
"I see. I'll come with you then. Maybe I'll be able to figure out what happened to me there."
"Excellent! There are just a few rules you need to follow."
"Rules?" She asked.
"Yes we have to be careful. Number one, no communicating with friends and family you had during your life. Number two, you are to stay with me at all times unless if I say otherwise. And Number three, If there is ever an oppertunity to learn about magic your country has to offer notify me as soon as you know about it."
"Okay." Fluttershy nodded in agreement.
"Also there is the matter of your identity. You'll need a new name since we want to make it hard for ponies to recognize you. Anything you have in mind?"
"A new name? But I can't name myself, I'm no good at that." Fluttershy was a bit uncomfortable with the idea of naming herself. She always thought names were something given to you by someone else. "Can you think of any good names?"
"Well I'm not really sure. I don't know what a normal name would be for an Equestrian." Aerick held a hoof up to his mouth and started to ponder. He then looked Fluttershy in the eyes and had an idea. "Okay, how about Ashlyn Flyer? It matches you since your a pegasus, and your eye color is grey."
"I love the name mister Aerick, but my eyes aren't grey they are more like a green." Fluttershy said confidently.
"You might want to take a look for yourself then." Aerick said as he pointed to a puddle of water near by.
Fluttershy rushed over and starred into the clear puddle of water. It wasn't an extremely clear image of her face, but she was able to make out her eye color. Sure enough it was no longer the greenish cyan color it had been before, but now it was a dull and miserable looking grey. Her mane and coat had even become a few shades grayer, as if she had been mildly discorded. The effect made her look the way she felt. Cold, weak, and dead.
"I'm sorry Fluttershy, or Ashlyn. There are many different side effects of my resurrection spell. One of them can be skin, hair, or eye color changes which you seem to have suffered from."
"Oh I see." Fluttershy said with a frown on her face. "It's okay, it matches me now, and it will make it harder to tell who I am." She looked up to Aerick and faked a smile.
Aerick returned the smile and turned to head into the cave. "I'm going to pack up my belongings and get ready to leave. It's still early in the day so we should be able to reach the local town here before nightfall."
"Okay. Wait let me help you!" Fluttershy yelled as she ran in after him.
Fluttershy and Aerick both collected the few things that was left around the campfire. Fluttershy noted that Aerick didn't seem to have any kind of food or cooking equipment with him, but didn't bother asking him about it. One pony would've been enough to carry all of Aerick's belongings but Fluttershy insisted that she help carry some of it. They put out the fire and headed out for a town Fluttershy would hopefully recognize when they got there. Fluttershy was feeling hopeful since the first time she woke up that morning.
"So Ashlyn tell me a bit about yourself." Aerick asked as they walked down the first slope. "Let's make this journey a bit less boring and tell us about each other."
"Hmm where should I start?...."
Author's Note
I wrote this just as an experiment since I've never been an author before.
Feel free to give me feedback and Ill keep trying to improve along the way!
Also after 2 months of just sitting here I decided to follow this story through to the end.
Chapter 2: Replacing a Loved One
"So Twilight dear, you know the Princess best. Do you have any idea why she would need us all here like this so soon after the uhhh... tragedy?" Twilight looked up from the book she was reading to stare at Rarity. Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack were all sitting at a grand dining table in Canterlot palace. They had been called there by Princess Celestia a few hours earlier to discuss something she had said was "of great importance".
"I can't say for certain Rarity, but Princess Celestia wouldn't have called us if she believed it was something that could be done without our help." Twilight said in a matter of fact way. "I have full confidence that she knows what she is doing."
"I'm sure it's something real important too!" Rainbow said with a sarcastic tone. "I mean it would explain why the Princess hasn't bothered to show up after an hour of us waiting here right?"
"Rainbow! That's mighty disrespectful of you to be talking about the Princess that way!" Applejack piped up in an offended tone. "She's a very busy pony after all."
It was a well known fact in the group that Rainbow Dash partiality blamed Fluttershy's death on Princess Celestia. The quest that they were sent on that faithful day wasn't to settle a nation threatening conflict or to prevent a looming disaster. It was a simple fetch quest to find an old relic that might help them understand the powers of the Elements of Harmony better. Nothing a single adventurous pony like Daring Doo could have done, but instead Celestia sent Twilight and her friends to retrieve it since using the Elements were their charge.
Rainbow shot Applejack a dirty look. "So we aren't important to her then? Are we just the last thing on her to do list before she sets the sun and goes to bed?"
"No Rainbow y'know that's not what I meant." Applejack said in a more reasonable tone.
"Then what DID you mean?"
"Dashie please stop!" everypony turned their attention to Pinkie Pie. She was welling up with tears and she had a pleading look in her eyes. "Fluttershy wouldn't have wanted us to fight like this."
Rainbow looked down at her hooves. "I... I'm sorry Pinkie. Your right." She looked over to Applejack with a guilty look on her face. "You too Applejack. Sorry, I shouldn't have yelled like that."
"It's alright sugercube. We're still grieving ourselves."
The room fell silent once more for a few minuets. Twilight continued to read her book, Pinkie was idly tracing her fore hoof on the table in front of her, Rainbow looked deep in thought, Rarity was just staring at the door, and Applejack was thinking about home. The Apple family had volunteered to take all of Fluttershy's animals and care for them until they could find a good home. Many had already been adopted by animal lovers far and wide. The news of Fluttershy's death spread quickly and there were many ponies willing to take a pet or two off of Applejack's hooves. Angel however was proving to be unadoptable. Applejack believed he was still holding out for Fluttershy to come back one day. Poor thing.
After another few minuets the door swung open. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna walked through the door and greeted their guests. "Hello my little ponies, I am sorry to have kept you waiting for so long." Celestia said in her ever regal voice.
Everypony but Rainbow bowed quickly and Twilight decided to speak up first. "Princess does this have anything to do with that faint magic burst from the west last week? I've never felt anything like it before!"
"No Twilight, but I will speak to you in private afterwards about just that." Celestia said. Twilight nodded and Celestia looked back to address the whole group. "Everypony I know you are all in a state of grief still. Fluttershy's passing was sudden and unexpected, and something I did not foresee happening in my wildest dreams. That is why I never thought I would have to assign you girls this quest in your lifetime."
Celestia paused for a second and looked over towards one of the stain glass windows depicting the girls defeating Nightmare Moon. "Without the Element of Kindness the powers of the Elements of Harmony are nearly useless, and without the Elements of Harmony to protect Equestria I fear that we could be put in great danger with no way to defend ourselves. Luna and I have been studying the relic you girls brought back from the Unicorn Range, and we have discovered that it is possible to reassign an element to another pony if they meet requirements of that element."
Rarity spoke up. "But... Princess you can't seriously be suggesting that-"
"Yes I am Rarity." Celestia cut her off. "I need you, all of you, to find a pony that is as caring, loving, and kind, as Fluttershy was."
"You have got to be kidding me!" Rainbow yelled in anger. "You can't expect us to just go and replace Fluttershy like that! No, not going to happen!" Everypony else remained quiet, but by looking at them you could tell that their sentiments was with Rainbow Dash.
"That is not what we are asking!" Luna pitched in. "We would never ask you to replace your friend. But as it stands right now, without somepony to wield the Element of Kindness we are far less safe from danger."
"But why us?" Pinkie said.
"All of you knew Fluttershy better then anypony else in Equestria, and so I can think of no pony else to find somepony who matches the Element of Kindness." Celestia said reassuringly.
Twilight looked at all of her friends. Their expressions ranged from determined to horrified at this possible quest. She had her doubts too, but she wasn't about to question Celestia's judgement. She has always done what was best for her and everypony else and she wasn't about to start questioning her now. "Okay Celestia, I trust you. Where do we start!" She said confidently.
Celestia smiled. Twilight's reaction was just what she expected from her faithful student. "Very well then here is the plan." Celestia conjured a scroll right in front of her and unraveled it on the table in front of her. A Map of Equestria lay in front of her and everypony else. It had five markers placed on it, each one was colored to match the coat on one of the Elements of Harmony. "All five of you will split up and go to a city or town in Equestria and scout your location for a pony that is kind. I have selected locations that all of you would be best suited to go to."
"Applejack, you will go to Appleloosa. You have family there and know the south better then anypony else."
"Yes ma'am!" Applejack said with much gusto.
"Rarity, I am sending you to Manehatten. With your career in fashion you are very well suited to adjusting to city life."
"Manehatten! I would be delighted Princess." Rarity said excitedly.
"Pinkie Pie, I would like for you to go to Los Pegasus. A place where everypony is always partying would be best suited for you."
Pinkie just smiled and gave a nod.
"Rainbow Dash, since you are the only Pegasus the obvious choice for you is to go to Cloudsdale. Especially since it is your hometown."
"Yea, whatever." Rainbow Dash said while looking off into the distance.
"And then for you Twilight. I need for you to go to Tall Tale. I know you have never been there before, but the town has a pretty extensive library aswell as a larger then average unicorn population. It will be to your liking."
"I've always wanted to to visit Tall Tale. I just never got the chance!" Twilight was very cheery.
"Now everypony." Celestia took on a much more relaxed tone now. "This isn't just meant to be a quest to do and then go home. All of you have been in so much pain and misery lately, and so I want you to take this opportunity to relax and make some new friends. I want all of you to come back with a smile and the willingness to move on. And hopefully somepony who can bear the Element of Kindness."
After a moment to let it all seep in Luna spoke up again. "Everypony will have two days to go back to Ponyville to pack up and get ready for their trip, All living expenses will be paid for by us for as long as you need to stay. We will also hire ponies to watch and take care of your homes while you are away. Yes that includes a full time farmer Applejack." Applejack, who had a hoof in the air, put it down with a blush and smile on her face.
"Twilight." Celestia had walked over to her faithful student. "I need to talk to you in private now."
"Of course Celestia!"
Twilight and Celestia were standing on a balcony over looking Canterlot. Celestia look muddled and didn't know where to start the conversation. Luckily for her Twilight was going to start it for her.
"Your not sending me to Tall Tale just because of its Library are you?" Twilight said with a smile on her face.
Celestia turned to Twilight and smiled herself. "Was it that obvious?"
"Well yea I mean that magic burst, it came from almost directly that direction. If it had happened while we were still at the Unicorn Range I probably could have pin pointed the exact location."
"That magic." Celestia took a serious tone once again. "Twilight it has been a long time since I have felt that kind of magic. To you it probably just felt like a new and unique kind of spell flux, but for me it brought back horrible memories."
"But why?"
"That magic radiated death. It was powerful too. Whoever cast it could most likely rival even your power." Celestia cast back a serious glance to Twilight.
"If that's true, then why haven't we heard any news about it? If somepony cased a spell that powerful and deadly wouldn't something have happened by now?" Twilight was obviously trying to think of answers as she talked.
"I don't know Twilight. It could have been a Unicorn who found an ancient tomb and decided to experiment with old spells, or it could have been something else just practicing its magic before it uses it seriously. Either way, that magic has been banned since Equestria was first founded and any pony using it needs to be found and punished or at the very least warned."
"Okay then. You want me to find out who cased that spell and bring them to you?"
"Only if that is necessary. If you believe they were just naive then a warning from you would suffice, but I am willing to come out there myself if the problem is more serious." Celestia changed to a smile and craned her neck to rest on Twilight's head. "You have always exceeded my expectations Twilight and you have my confidence that you will find out what happened and take care of it responsibly."
"Thank you Celestia you don't know how much that means to me." Twilight's eyes started welling up. "Sometimes I wonder, if I had just tried a little bit harder, done a little bit more, maybe I could have saved Fluttershy aswell." She sobbed for a second before regaining her composure.
"You blame yourself for Fluttershy's death just like Rainbow Dash does, don't you?" Celestia said.
"I know I shouldn't think like that, but sometimes I just can't help it... but wait doesn't Rainbow blame you?" Twilight looked up to Celestia inquisitively.
"Rainbow Dash is having a conflict in herself. She blames herself for Fluttershy's death, but at the same time she has trouble admitting she was wrong. She told herself that she would never let anything happen to any of her friends, and so when she proves herself wrong by letting Fluttershy die she becomes... troubled. Shes venting the only way she knows how, but I know that one day soon she will realize what you already have, and when she does she will want to apologize."
"How can you be so certain?"
"I have known many pegasi like Rainbow Dash over the years. It becomes easy to spot." Celestia smiled.
"Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy grew up together! Shes had to have taken it harder then anypony else." Twilight said.
"And how is everypony else?"
"Applejack and Rarity are both very mature. They are ready to move on already and I'm not worried about them. Pinkie Pie on the other hand... Shes hasn't even been able to throw a single party since then. I hope shes back to her normal self after a week in Los Pegasus."
"That was my intention in sending her there." Celestia said confidently.
"Are you sure you even need me to tell you how everypony is doing? You already seem to know." Twilight said flatly. Celestia just giggled at that. "Well there was one pony who surprised me." Twilight continued.
"Oh who is that?"
"Applejack told me that when she first told Bic Mac about her death, that he was really distraught. I didn't even think about any stallions that might have had feelings for Fluttershy until I heard about that."
"Everypony is affected when somepony passes away Twilight. Even those you think would be mostly unmoved by it."
"I suppose your right Celestia."
Celestia looked across the sky. The Sun was just about to touch the horizon, and so she prepared to set it with her magic. With a glow of her horn the Sun dipped down past the rolling plains and the moon rose on the other side of the sky in its place. Celestia turned back to Twilight and gave her one last reassuring hug before retiring inside. "Good night Celestia". Twilight decided that it would be best for her to get some rest as well, for tomorrow she would have to spend the whole day back in Ponyville getting ready for her adventure in Tall Tale. Little did she know that the one pony she was trying to get over would happen to be there as well.
Author's Note
Sorry no Fluttershy or Aeirck this chapter! I wanted to focus on world building and foreshadowing. Next Chapter will be just them and I'll focus more on building Aerick as a character.
I will try to do 1 chapter or 3000 words per week. I can't make any promises though.
I want to thank Steelclaw for motivating me to keep writing. I take criticism really bad, but he made me realize that I'm just an amateur so there's no way I'm going to be perfect. That is what practice is for.
