Longing For Harmony

"Stop!!! No!!! Leave me alone!!!" Fluttershy sobbed as she galloped frantically, trying to outrun her tormentors. Her hooves were sore, and her lungs burned as she gasped breathlessly, hot tears streaming across her face.

A malicious, smirking Rainbow Dash caught up to her in mid-flight effortlessly. She chuckled sadistically, "What's the matter, Fluttershy? You didn't know that I meant to knock you out of Cloudsdale? It made me so happy, I thought you were going to fall and get impaled by a tree, or get eaten by some grizzly bear. That's the only reason I could do my Sonic Rainboom, you know. Because I was hoping you would suffer."

She began circling around Fluttershy, never falling behind even as the yellow pegasus continued to run at full speed. Her own surrounding movements grew faster, melting into a blur, as if she were trapping Fluttershy inside of a rainbow cyclone.

"I thought all of Cloudsdale would throw a party once they realized you vanished. Mach, Bullet and I sure had a lot of laughs over it. But you know what? Nopony even noticed you were gone. Ever. Not even today, years and years after it happened. Whenever I visit, I ask everypony else if they remember you, and they just say, 'Fluttershy who'?"

Soon, the rapid spinning generated a forceful enough wind to propel Fluttershy into the air, who was helpless to do anything about it. Startled, she shrieked in alarm, waving her limbs and wings in a futile attempt to stop herself, her fall cut short by a dark, mushy substance. Mud?

'No. Frosting.'

Fluttershy attempted to lift herself back on her hooves, wiping her eyes to discover that she landed on a giant piece of chocolate cake. From further out on the horizon, she slowly pieced together the growing image of a prancing Pinkie Pie approaching closer. She, too, appeared eager to witness Fluttershy in pain and fear.

"We were all so grateful when Gilda humiliated you in broad daylight! She was only doing what everypony else in Ponyville wanted to do! We threw her a party in thanks, and all those pranks were put there with you in mind, but she set them all off first! What a disappointment! You're so timid and uptight, you wouldn't know 'fun' if it punched you in the face!"

Fluttershy clasped her hooves onto her ears, her teary eyes squeezed shut. "You don't mean it! You're just saying that!"

A lasso suddenly ensnared itself around Fluttershy's wings, violently pulling her off of her hooves and ramming her head straight into a solid tree trunk. Spoiled, rotten apples rained onto her, bursting open and soaking into her fur, painfully mixing with the blood trickling from her scalp. As the searing, white-hot sting faded from her vision, her ears rang, and Applejack's silhouette towered over her.

"Come on, now, 'Sugarcube'. Do you honestly believe anypony can put up with your spinelessness? You're as unwelcome in Equestria as a fox in a hen house. Who do you think you are, ordering me around like I don't know how to round up a bunch of vermin? You and your stupid bunny census."

Fluttershy rapidly shook her head, still in denial. "P-please, listen to me! All I ever wanted was to do just a little bit of good in the world! I was only trying to help you all!"

"Help us?!? When you deliberately break promises and hide things?" Rarity's voice echoed from the side.

Fluttershy turned to see the teary-eyed unicorn closing in on her.

Rarity felt betrayed. "How could you, Fluttershy? You told me you were going to hold onto the Panacea Crystal for me so I could have it when I was done working, and what do you do? You keep it for yourself instead and erase my memory of it ever happening. You used it for your own selfish reasons, wanting to look like a good friend to everypony so you could feel better about yourself."

"No, that's not what it's about, I promise! I only wanted to make things better! To make everything alright!"

"But I told you how much this meant to me! You would have helped me if you'd only just let me have it, like you promised!"

A blinding light exploded in Fluttershy's field of vision, engulfing everything around her, color and silhouettes dissipating into nothingness. A high pitched whistle, almost like a bird singing, splintered through the air, causing her to tremble to the bone. She kept trying to crouch away or shield her eyes from the brightness, only to lose her balance. Fluttershy fell back over the edge, a startled yelp escaping her lips as she plunged into the depths below. Her throat was too sore and dry to scream anymore. Suddenly, Fluttershy stopped in place, held still in the middle of the air.

Petrified, she shuddered.

'Wh-what's going on?!?...'

It was then that she noticed her form surrounded by a lavender aura, a faint magical noise hanging within earshot.

A menacing Twilight Sparkle emerged from the shadows, grimacing at the pegasus with such strong spite it looked like she was reacting to an atrocity.

"Fluttershy, you imbecile," she snarled between clenched teeth. "I thought I told you the Panacea Crystal wasn't some trinket you could parade around with, making it bend to your every whim. You're trying to play games with life and time itself when it should be in the hooves of much more careful ponies, with me, or with Princess Celestia. But no, you had to run off and let your petty feelings get the better of you. I should have known I couldn't trust you."

Fluttershy's tears flowed freely, trying to answer, only to find that she was seized by another slowly growing, intense pain. Parts of her were getting stretched out or compounded, to the point that she could have sworn she felt the tips of her rib cage getting dangerously close to her lungs, her flesh ready to rip from bone any moment.

Twilight only paced closer, taking her time. Her gaze remained fixed on Fluttershy's face, unblinking and without hesitation as the telekinetic aura surrounding her horn increased, and with it Fluttershy's pain and unhealth.

Straining in agony to get her vocal chords to cooperate, Fluttershy finally managed to beg to her friend, "Twilight, please! Give me another chance!"

Rainbow Dash zipped into view at Twilight's side. "Time's up, Fluttershy! No more sands!"

"You're not in charge here anymore!" Applejack bellowed.

Pinkie landed next to her. "You can't toy with reality as we know it!"

"Now suffer for everything you've done to us!!!" Rarity shrieked.

Twilight's radiant eyes filled with a blinding light, and Fluttershy began to feel internal ligaments and tendons separating in fiery, wet snaps, the first wave in a barrage of pain that had yet to unfold. She could only shudder helplessly.

'My friends, I'm sorry I hurt you...'

She closed her eyes, a single tear squeezing out between her eyelids. She braced herself for further agony, and --

"Your 'friends' hate you, Fluttershy."

Everything stopped.

That voice. That horrible, horrible voice.

Fluttershy opened her eyes, her vision full of darkness. The only source of light was a dim beacon from somewhere within the deep body of water just below her, the shore of which she was standing on the edge. Alone. Unscathed.

Out the corner of her eye, she noticed the mysterious, dark pony suddenly standing right next to her.

"You've known all along what they really think about you. Mocking you behind your back. Spitefully tolerating your presence. Wishing for you to perish. If you truly want to help them, you'd put yourself out of their misery and stop wasting their time."

Fluttershy's ears lowered, and she hung her head. Her spirit was too broken for her to reply. In a twisted way, he was right. She'd always feared that her friends secretly despised her, that her friendship was unwelcome. Her eyes closed, defeated.

The dark pony placed a foreleg onto the middle of Fluttershy's back, gently pushing down so that she was sitting on her hind legs. It then placed both front hooves onto the back of Fluttershy's head.

"So, let me help you... Don't fight it this time..."

He gradually pushed her face closer and closer to the surface.

"It will only hurt for a little while... This new pain will replace all of your old ones... A simple solution to solve all of your problems forever... Give in, and welcome your nonexistence..."

Fluttershy's eyelids became heavy, lazily twitching a few times before covering her pupils once more. The corners of her mouth slowly pulled into a relaxed, accepting smile.

"Yesss..." she whispered, relieved.

Her eyes closed, and without a second thought, the dark pony quickly dunked Fluttershy's entire head into the water, holding her down, mane and all.

'Please work.'

If she could breathe, she would have laughed out of surprise -- the first thing Fluttershy felt was refreshment from the incoming water coaxing and sliding down her parched throat. She'd remembered every detail of her dying nightmare, recalling the degrees of pain involved in completely drowning, and she was prepared for it all.

Although she wanted to wait until her friends were alright, she really did want to die --

'Not now. Focus. Concentrate.'

She forced her body to keep still, struggling to fight her natural instincts to survive, not wanting to reveal any signs of reluctance. Fluttershy tried the best she could to relax. She had expected the dull aches and growing stings that were weighing down on her skull, but not being in such situations often threw off her mental efforts to a certain point. It was helping that his hooves were touching right against her mane, at least. But she knew she'd only last mere minutes like this.

'Hurry up, before it's too late.'

The volume and pressure behind every heartbeat increased, pounding in her ears. Fluttershy's lungs and esophagus began to fill. She directed all of her adrenaline towards tapping into her innermost reserves of sheer willpower, fortifying the intense mental efforts encumbered by her dangerous headache.

'This is only another nightmare. He can't really hurt you here. You're going to wake up again. Tell yourself anything you need to in order to just get this right.'

She would have rejoiced if she weren't under so much stress and pain. Fluttershy finally triggered the 'emotional bleeding' syndrome she'd sought since she was submerged. Little by little, the effects trickled out, siphoning the mysterious stranger's pain, thoughts, and feelings into Fluttershy's own vessel. Barely remaining still, she listened;

'Soon. Soon, it will be done. She will be gone, and I will be free. Free to give Equestria what it deserves. To redefine the very act of breathing as unfathomable torment in the minds and hearts of everypony, everywhere.'

The revelation shocked Fluttershy into sputtering. A few bubbles of her oxygen rose to the surface and popped, bewildering the dark pony.

'He -- He wants to come to Equestria and destroy everything, kill everypony?!? Hurt all my friends?!? I can't let that happen!!! No!!! NO!!!'

Fluttershy's body finally sprang back to life, firmly planting her hooves back onto the ground and springing up, effectively bucking the stranger off of her with her back, reeling her neck back as she gasped breathlessly. The dark pony released a terrifying screech of rage at this act of defiance, taking a few steps back in disbelief. Fluttershy immediately fell onto her side, profusely coughing up copious volumes of water, the agony blurring her senses, her long, soggy mane in the way of her face.

As she strenuously fought to regain her breath, Fluttershy peered through pink strands of hair in fright at the stranger, more scared of her suspicions than it's appearance or presence.

"It's you, isn't it? You're Skylar, aren't you?"

"What does it matter if I am?"

To Fluttershy's expectant horror, the black flames dissipated, revealing the ash-grey pegasus with a cyan mane and tail -- complete with a barren flank -- confirming her question. The only supernatural features that remained were his awful, piercing red eyes and grating, soul-rending voice.

Fluttershy started to cry, turning her head aside. She struggled to speak between sputtering coughs. "You used... To be... So nice... When you were... Alive... What... What happened to you?"

Skylar appeared insulted. "What happened? What happened?!? I woke up. That's what happened."

Fluttershy tried to stand back up, slipping on the wet ground. "You used to care about people... It was -- it would've been -- your cutie mark..."

Skylar bitterly snickered. "Have I got news for you. Caring doesn't get you very far in life. Caring doesn't make you a lot of money, or win you any special privileges, or make your life any better."

Fluttershy sniffled, almost completely regaining her breath. "Wh-what about Auburn?"

The black flames suddenly rushed back over Skylar, enlarged as they furiously stormed towards Fluttershy. "That harlot left me for somepony else!!!" His maddened screams echoed through the cavernous abyss.

Fluttershy instinctively flinched, scurrying back a couple of feet. "But, she'd always say, 'it's not about you'..."

Skylar snarled. "I know that. She said that a lot of times. But she never meant it. She lied. She never loved me." He paced closer to Fluttershy, each step creating an echo from his solid hooves. "She used me to get what she wanted. Just like everypony else used me. And I cared, and cared, and cared about them the whole time, never standing up to them, never trying to get revenge on them. They would hurt me, lie to me, cheat me, use me, anything bad they could do, they'd do it. And they always got away scot free."

Fluttershy winced, her pupils shrinking. "I'm... I'm sorry..."

"Don't even bother. You're useless, you vociferous peon," Skylar scoffed.

"... Why... Why did she do it?..."

"Why? Because I'm useless, just like you, that's why. No cutie mark, no talents, no meaningful qualities. A lifetime of getting ridiculed and bullied by everypony in town, enslaved by my crippled mother. I couldn't even do the only job I could get right -- the worst weather pony in the history of Equestria. Auburn disappeared one day, and never came back. I waited, and waited, for years and years -- ten years -- and no sign of her. She was the best part of my life -- the only good part -- and she left me like I meant nothing to her. I was getting sick of waiting. Sick of being alone. Alone with people who only hated and hurt me."

His embittered glare rested on Fluttershy. "So, I did what any sensible pony in my circumstances would."

Skylar grunted as he continued to trudge uphill. He was breathless, exhausted, sweat matting his mane and coat, the merciless sun beaming down on him. He looked towards it angrily.

'I don't care anymore. It hurts too much to keep going on. I just want to disappear forever.'

He finally made his way to the edge of the cliff, gazing down at the cool, pristine waterfall below, the raging rapids feeding it's alluring sight. He was almost ready. Skylar winced at the feel of the rope snugly tightened around him, encasing his wings, wrapping around his torso. He rested only long enough to regather enough energy to start pushing the boulder tied to the other end. He felt his heart leap once it started to teeter and roll off the edge, carefully making sure to jump as soon as it began it's plummet, immediately dragged down with it's gargantuan weight.

The boulder made a colossal splash, causing the river to rain onto the surrounding shores, pulling Skylar down with it into a watery abyss. In spite of how fast and intense all of it was, he couldn't remember a time he felt more relaxed once the cold wetness enveloped his entire body. He closed his eyes, contented, not even minding the steadily climbing pains and discomforts fueling his entire being as life ebbed away from him.

'I feel so relieved. So liberated. As if some huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders, or  a tight knot binding me has come undone. No more liars. No more betrayal. It's all over. Freedom. Tranquility. Release. Now.'

As he sank further and further into the unforgiving dark, Skylar stopped breathing. His heartbeat slowed to a stillness. He was gone.

"Ponies haven't opened their hearts to caring since before you and I were even born. But they will open their hearts to other things. Violence, torture, war, discrimination and hatred. Ghosts long forgotten in Equestria's history that ponies are slowly, obliviously coming back to. Ghosts I will swiftly reacquaint them with. If allowed to progress on their own, people will toil and suffer slowly, endlessly, carving a long, new age of torment that will mark their end. I am merely performing a mercy killing by hastening the arrival, sparing them entire generations of pain. In order for Equestria to breathe, everyone must die."

Fluttershy slowly shook her head in refusal. "That's not true... People aren't like that anymore..."

Skylar leaned in closer towards her. "Oh, really? Have you forgotten how Rainbow Dash nearly shattered your friend Applejack's skull? Or how her grandmother was beaten as a child? It cannot be ignored any longer."

Fluttershy's sobs became more audible. "Please, you can't do this! If you give them a chance, they can do better! We can maintain peace, if everypony could just get along and understand each other!"

Skylar started to walk away, stopping and looking back at her. "I thought you could understand being misunderstood, Fluttershy. But, I guess I was wrong. I was only trying to end your suffering. One way or another, regardless if I do anything or not, you and all of your friends will die someday. Whether sooner or later was your choice. This would all have been so much easier if you just sat there and died."

Fluttershy hung her head. "I know you've been really hurt a lot, in your life, and in your... Afterlife... I've been hurting a lot, too, for almost as long as I remember... Something you should already know if you've been watching me for so long... Please... Isn't there anything we can do to change your mind?..."

"Don't try that. It's too late. It's always been too late, from the very second I first became an inkling in my mother's belly. Nopony even missed me when I was gone; they mocked and scolded me, calling me weak, a coward, for only ending my pain. They even said they were glad I was dead, and celebrated. The real question is..." Skylar's dark form rushed right up to Fluttershy's face.

"What are you doing with my genie?!?"

Fluttershy opened her eyes, finding herself in her bed once again. It was still dark outside, at least a few hours before sunrise. Startled by the sudden change in scenery and consciousness, she turned to see that this time Vesper was merely a few feet away from her bed.

"Is it true?!? Are you really his genie?!?"

Vesper lowered his head somberly, refusing to speak. She wasn't sure if he confirmed or denied it.

"If you're really his genie... I... I-I don't feel safe with you here anymore!!! Get out!!! Please, just get out!!!"

"As you wish..." Vesper murmured remorsefully, and he slowly vanished into thin air.

Fluttershy almost immediately sprung out of her bed in alarm. Her consciousness was a haze. Frantic worries raced this way and that; she had no idea what just happened, what was happening, or what was about to happen. She hurriedly paced around her house, glancing at everything in her field of vision to check and make sure that it was normal, and that this wasn't some twisted dream-within-a-dream. With how incredibly believable her lucid experiences felt lately, she almost couldn't separate her nightmares from reality anymore.

It was mere minutes before she returned to her room, reaching to grab the pouch of sands left on her nightstand, shaking in her hoof as she froze time once more.

'Everything in my life's just gone crazy ever since I got this...'

Fluttershy froze. Her heart sank at a sudden realization, her blood turning to ice, her stomach twisting and coiling. She quickly dove onto the floor, lifting up the hanging covers from the side of her bed, reaching into the darkness underneath to pull out her familiar green backpack. She sprang onto her hooves, sitting on the edge of the bed as she opened the backpack, revealing the Panacea Crystal. This seemed to validate her frightening hypothesis.

'I've had this sitting underneath my bed all this time. My nightmares didn't start until I... Left it there. Is this it? Is this the source of all this madness? Is this what's driving me crazy?'

Fluttershy groaned, a hoof meeting her face in a futile attempt to calm her stress-induced headache.

'For all I know, Skylar could be inside of here, haunting me. I... I need to stop spending so much time close to it. It must be making him stronger. I need to get it out of my house. Ohh, but, where would I put it? I can't leave it just anywhere...'

Fluttershy had decided to take the Panacea Crystal back to the same hill and waterfall she'd become so familiar with as of late. Where she spoke with Rainbow Dash, where Skylar visited her in a nightmare, where she first found the artifact in the first place. However, instead of going to the top as she had before, she remained at ground level. It was only just now that she realized this place was at one end of the Everfree Forest.

Fluttershy resorted to burying the artifact next to the first tree of the Everfree Forest that she could find from there. She used a sharp rock to carve "P.C." into the tree to remind herself of it's location, and decided to draw from outside of it a heart with an arrow going through it to trick potential discoverers into mistaking it for a lovers' message, not wanting anypony else to be endangered by it's possible curses. After all, she would have to come back and get it later.

Even with this out of the way, her fears would not rest.

'What if it was Discord that did all of this to me? My friends, in my nightmare, acted the way they had when he corrupted us. They said things that I thought they felt about me, but never really did. And Pinkie talking about him when Vesper changed reality in Sugarcube Corner... This whole Panacea Crystal mess could just be another one of his tricks. Just him trying to drive me crazy somehow.'

Her suspicions drove her to desperately fly to where she, Twilight and the others had last defeated Discord with the Elements Of Harmony and encased him in stone, only to find that he was still there, stuck in the same terrified state. Fluttershy was in disbelief.

'What if it's Princess Luna? What if spending all that time alone on the Moon drove her crazy, and her magic got stronger? Could that be it?'

Fluttershy quickly took to the skies, climbing as high as she could manage, taking after some tricks that she had learned from Rainbow Dash by watching her or training with her. It was extremely strenuous, being something she wasn't used to doing at all. Once she felt she was high enough, she started to dive bomb towards Canterlot, the furious winds whipping past her wings, wincing and grunting at the aches from such physical exertion. It had still taken a great deal of time, but she was shocked that she was able to go so far so quickly. Still, Fluttershy found upon checking the castle that Luna was merely tending to her royal duties, looking contented.

'No! No!!! I don't understand!!!'

Repeating the same, arduous activity she enacted to get there in the first place, Fluttershy took to the skies, beginning to return to Ponyville from Canterlot. By the time she returned, she was doubly exhausted, hurting almost more than when she was closest to drowning in her nightmares. Her wings hurt so much that she didn't dare move them again. She could never understand how Rainbow Dash was able to perform such harrowing feats on a daily basis; she just wasn't cut out for the same kind of laborious tasks.

Through the panic, Fluttershy tried to decipher more of what had been puzzling her. In her startled nature waking from yet another lifelike nightmare, she hadn't given Vesper a chance to explain himself or even answer at her accusations before sending him off. Maybe he really was innocent, and she was wrong about him? She fell to her forelegs, crying from sheer exasperation.

"Vesper, I'm sorry! I made a mistake! Please come back!" she called out, answered only by her own echo.

"Please come back... I need you here to help me... To protect me..." she sobbed, defeated.

Alas, nothing happened. He was gone.

'What if I'm having another nightmare right now? What if I'm in some kind of coma, and all of this has been one giant, fake dream? What if I've truly gone crazy, and imagining all this is the only way I can deal with things anymore? This isn't right -- I'm questioning my own reality, my own sanity. This isn't good for me at all. I have to finish this before I lose everything I have left.'

She looked down at the sands in the pouch around her neck, holding it in her hoof. She'd frozen time all the while she was panicking since she took it off her nightstand after waking.

'I'm going to finish helping my friends. Then I'm going to go back to when I found the Panacea Crystal in the first place again, and just never go near it. Or I'll destroy it. I don't care if they all forget what happened when this is all done and over -- it's worth it to see all of them completely happy together, just once.'

Fluttershy was back at her house, taking a shower. She would have gone to Rarity's house next, but her hooves were caked with dirt from digging earlier, and she knew the pristine unicorn would have a heart attack if her house became soiled. That, and the intense pain Fluttershy was experiencing -- physical, mental, and emotional -- would distract her from focusing on helping Rarity. She'd found that having the water at just the right warm temperature was helping sooth her, already slowly relieving several aches and pains.

'I'm suffering so much in every way... The only other thing beside my friends' happiness keeping me from killing myself is I'm worried that I'd become that... Thing, or whatever it is that Skylar turned into...'

As her discomforts were alleviated, ebbing away, Fluttershy felt her eyelids getting heavy once more, the urge to give in and sleep overcoming her. Just as her world was starting to fade into darkness, her heart rate spiked, her mind screaming in protest.

'No! I can't! I cAn'T fAlL aSlEeP aGaIn, *Or ElSe He CaN hUrT mE!!!'***

Panicked, Fluttershy frantically turned up the hot water faucet, so much that it was almost scalding, steam rising in the air as the scathing heat cascaded on her fur, shocking her into the state of being completely awake. She exclaimed in alarmed pain, simultaneously turning hot down and cold up, the chilling temperature making her extremely uncomfortable, but still keeping her just as awake.

She hurried to finish, drying herself off after as quickly as possible after, trying to keep her movements extremely active to avoid fatigue taking over. Her wings still felt in horrendously sore shape, but her hooves could tolerate some exertion for now. On her way to Rarity's house, Fluttershy made stops at Sugarcube Corner and Ponyville Urgent Care to pick up sugar-high inducing sweets and caffeine pills, respectively, which she left behind enough money to pay for.

'I can't afford to slumber at all until I can be sure that this is all over...'

Upon consuming the last of her newly acquired supplements, Fluttershy halted before her destination. She had woken Rarity early before helping Pinkie Pie, but this was much earlier than last time -- she figured knocking on the front door and waking her wasn't so good of an idea.

'Rarity was really tired. She'll probably want to stay in her bed for a little while.'

Perplexed as to how to approach the situation, she started trotting in circles around Rarity's house, hoping it would give her some form of inspiration. Moments later, she noticed that the window to Rarity's workshop was left open. Fluttershy remembered Rarity had stayed up past midnight to finish up her new line of clothes for Photo Finish, and figured she didn't close it to allow the cold night air to keep her awake. She'd probably only been sleeping for two or three hours, as well.

Fluttershy winced as she prepared herself to enter, reluctantly looking back at her wings, as if she were afraid she'd find some hideous monster there in place. She absolutely knew that it was going to cause her great pain to do this. The pegasus looked back down at the sealed pouch around her neck, and placed it in her mouth with the closed opening facing away, biting down on it in bracing for the inevitable hurt. She hissed softly and squinted her eyes shut for a moment, preparing her hind legs to jump into the air.

'I'd normally never do this...'

As she feared, the painful jolts shot through her the moment she moved her wings. She released a muffled cry as she forced them to cooperate with her in flying through the open window. Each beat surged with another sharp sting. Once she was finally in the room, Fluttershy struggled to avert Rarity's tools and mannequins in mid-fall, clasping her wings back against her coat as she roughly skidded across the floor, her snout smacking straight into the wall. She rolled onto her back, clutching her snout, sore as her scraped stomach and sprained wings, causing her to exclaim and yell against the pouch in her mouth.

Fluttershy waited a few moments for the ache to subside, then got to her hooves, finding herself sniffling with a burning sensation in her nose. A drop of crimson fell towards the floor, and Fluttershy quickly caught it in her hoof -- she was having a nosebleed. Not wanting to dirty Rarity's floor, Fluttershy rushed to the bathroom, rinsing off her hoof and face, and plugged her snout with tissues. She cleaned up the rest of herself the best that she could, and approached Rarity's room, peering into the doorway to see her frozen in sleep. The unicorn looked beyond exhausted; her normally stylized mane and makeup-layered face instead had tangled, clumpy hair and baggy eyelids.

'Poor Rarity... She always works so hard...'

She gingerly stepped in, instinctively trying to be quiet, even though Rarity couldn't hear a thing due to being frozen in time. Fluttershy neared closer and closer to her bed, choosing to sit down in a nearby chair, thinking of how to approach the situation. She noticed a clock on Rarity's wall reading that it was currently three o'clock in the morning. The pegasus gingerly touched the sand pouch, focusing until it read five o'clock, just before sunrise. Glancing at the still-immobilized Rarity, she noticed her trapped in a state of slight consciousness, but still too weak or tired to completely get up. It was here that Fluttershy chose to return to the normal time flow, seeing Rarity shift slightly underneath her covers.

"Um... Rarity?... It's me, Fluttershy..." she whispered softly, hoping not to startle her.

Rarity grumbled a few times obliviously, craning her neck on her pillow. The noise was so gentle that she must have mistaken Fluttershy for her cat, Opalescence. She muttered unintelligibly, trying to peer through her murky, dreary eyelids. The unicorn murmured Fluttershy's name, who couldn't tell if she was just awake enough to recognize her friend, or somehow believed she was dreaming about her. She attempted to smile reassuringly.

"It's okay, Rarity. It's just me, Fluttershy. I can stop time for both of us, so, you can sleep for as long as you like until you take those dresses to Photo Finish. You deserve it. I know you've been working real hard and staying up late. I'll be here for you, alright?"

At this, Rarity's eyelids flickered a few times, and it was soon apparent that she was asleep again, rolling on her side away from Fluttershy and faintly snoring. Fluttershy released a quiet sigh of relief, grateful that the encounter hadn't gone in any worse way. She froze time once more and went downstairs into the kitchen, remembering how Rarity had greatly appreciated what Fluttershy made her during her last visit; green tea with a dash of vanilla chai and chamomile. When she cautiously sprinkled dissipating time sands onto Rarity's kettle, she felt idiotic for not noticing before that the sands would replenish in the pouch after use, so she wouldn't have to worry about running out.

After preparing the beverage and waiting until it was warm enough to drink comfortably, Fluttershy idly wondered if it would stay at that temperature long enough to last when Rarity awoke, prompting her to use the sands once more just in case. She returned to Rarity's room and started to fast forward through time to the point of sunrise. Fluttershy would have waited to stop it until Rarity awoke, but remembered how distressed her friend was when she was nearly late for her tasks. She would reluctantly have to find a way to get her up earlier without startling her too badly. Her first idea was to leave and knock on the front door like she had last time, but she had accidentally unfroze time, causing her to keep still in hopes of quietly resuming before Rarity could stir.

It was too late, though. In spite of the almost complete silence, the still-fresh tea's aroma wafted it's way into Rarity's nostrils, causing her to smile and inhale as she regained consciousness, stretching and yawning.

"Opalescence, you finally learned to cook! That smells delightful --" upon opening her eyes and noticing Fluttershy, Rarity was startled into exclaiming, briefly jerking and flailing in her bed. The motion caused the bed cover to whip up off of the other side, smacking underneath the cup and spilling the tea Fluttershy made all over the clothes inside of a nearby open closet as the cup fell and broke on the floor.

Rarity gasped. "Oh, NO!!!" she quickly scurried out of bed, falling prone onto the floor and hastily crawling to the newfound mess. "I've worked so hard for so long on all of these!!!" she started to sob, soon burying her face in her hooves as she quivered.

Fluttershy felt embarrassed and guilty. She slowly approached her, gently resting a hoof on her shoulder as she rewound time to the point where Rarity had just woken up. Rarity was visibly bewildered in great proportions.

"What just happened? I... You... Clothes... Tea..."

Fluttershy winced. "It's... Really complicated, Rarity. But, right now, just, I can control time, and it's stopped, so, we can talk or whatever you want for as long as you like."

Rarity nodded, still trembling slightly in sheer shock. "... What?"

As Rarity finished getting out of bed, drinking her tea, Fluttershy explained to her how she acquired the time sands and how they worked, continuing as they walked downstairs. She'd left out the parts of the Panacea Crystal that they were held in, and their early dispute over it, although this made her feel guilty. Her friend seemed to take all of this in easier than the others; she chalked this up to Rarity being a unicorn and used to dealing with magic, or at least having some form of awareness of what should and shouldn't be magically possible.

"I'm actually really thankful all of this happened. I'm excited to finally be business partners with Photo Finish and everything, but I didn't even want to get out of bed today. Between finishing this new lineup and the local going-ons, I've been run ragged."

"I don't blame you, Rarity. I think sometimes people don't realize how much all of this means to you, or how hard it is to do this kind of work. That's why I wanted to come talk to you. All of this overwork has been wearing you down. That can't be good for you."

"You're such a dear, Fluttershy. Always looking out for us. But I think you might want to refrain from overworking as well. How did you get that bloody nose again? Too much stress?"

"I ran into a tree..." she murmured timidly. 'Although that other reason wouldn't surprise me...'

Rarity winced. "Well, Rainbow Dash you aren't, but there's nothing wrong with that. Just try to be more careful next time, okay?"

"I-I always do..."

As they seemingly blindly paced through the house, the ponies stumbled upon the lavishly decorated giant cake Pinkie had made for Rarity months ago. She had been preserving it in a tall dome. It was so humongous and intricate that it looked more fit for a royal wedding than a friend's gift; clad in pearly white with frosting ranging from numerous hues of delicate pink and rich violet, strewn in marvelous designs. Rarity paused, quietly releasing a small, heartfelt whimper, her expression glazed with nostalgia over Pinkie's act of kindness. Fluttershy knew her friend had loved the cake, but didn't expect such a strong and gripping reaction on just happening to see it.

"Is everything okay, Rarity?"

"I just... I just love this so much. It was so nice of Pinkie to make this for me, and those other pastries for all of you, and... This one was bigger than all of them, even more than Applejack's full course meal, when I should have gotten the smallest one..."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It's... It's nothing. Just forget about it, please."

Out of the corner of her eye, Fluttershy noticed an unusually large mannequin adorned with an unfinished garment standing alone in the next room. "What's that over there?"

Rarity held back a quiet sniffle as she turned her attention to it. "Oh, this?" They began to walk towards the heavily labored work in progress. "This... Is my masterpiece. Or, at least, it will be, once it's finally done."

The dress took on a varied plethora of shades one could find in the night sky, from the clearest solid blue to unflinchingly dark black. Even in it's unfinished state, Fluttershy was amazed at it's quality, surprised that it wasn't something commissioned by Princess Celestia herself. It was befitting to royalty, with the elegant, streaming design beaming in radiance. Just from examining it, she could tell Rarity had carefully spent a great deal of time making it, at least several months, maybe even a few years.

"It's a gift of mine, to Princess Luna. I haven't told anypony about it. I began the project when she finally appeared in Ponyville post-Nightmare Moon, that one Nightmare Night a few years ago. I saw how hard she was trying to make up for everything that happened, and reconnect with her people, and it just... Broke my heart. Everypony was still scared of her, even when it was plain to see that she didn't mean to cause any harm. Here she is, with her high, royal, powerful status, and a... Venomous reputation... And all of a sudden everypony forgets that she has feelings, just like the rest of us. I thought I could sympathize with her, because I've hurt like that before..."

"Hurt like how?"

At this, Rarity grew silent. She slowly turned her head towards a nearby mirror, and scowled. It was as if she wasn't looking at her messy, morning mane and naked, tired face, but further past that, into her very own soul.

"Am I a liar, Fluttershy?"

"What?"

"I feel so... Fake, all the time... If I'm really the Element Of Generosity, then I can't understand all the different things that I do. Like the circles I spend my time in. Not as in you and our friends, but, the kind of ponies who have generosity as the last thing on their mind. Who pride in pearls over personalities, diamonds over dreams, and appearances over kindness. Predators pretending to be civilized, who hunt with guile and psychology instead of stones and spears."

Rarity closed her eyes. "I know that there's plenty of ponies in high society and the fashion industry who are very nice, good people. I would hope to be among them. But sometimes, I think I spend too much time around the less virtuous ones who happen to have all the money or know 'all the right people', to the point that I worry I'm becoming more like them. I mean, really, fashion? What in Celestia's name is that? Are we really so depleted of individuality that we need somepony else to tell us what we should and shouldn't find beautiful?"

She turned to look back at Fluttershy, stricken with silence once more. She was clearly distressed. After opening her mouth to speak, struggling to get more words to form a few more times, the unicorn uttered a flustered, defeated groan, clearly agitated with herself.

"I'm sorry. These are things I normally think about all to myself. I feel like I should really talk about it, but I just don't think I'm quite ready yet."

Fluttershy nodded softly. "There, there... I think I know something that might help make this easier. How would you like to your favorite spa with me? You know, the one we used to go to every week?"

After a long, soundless moment, she was finally answered. "... I guess it wouldn't hurt to return there for old time's sake, anyways..."

As soon as the two friends stepped outside, Rarity was immediately uncomfortable. Under no other circumstances would she set foot outdoors without makeup, or at least doing her hair. She was still getting used to the idea that nopony would be able to see her, since they were frozen in time. The pegasus did her best to coax her, trying to take her mind off of it by bringing up other topics while they trekked to the spa.

"I think Princess Luna's really going to like that dress you're making for her. It looks fantastic already, and I'm positive it'll be even better when it's done."

"Thank you. No, one of the only reasons it isn't finished yet is I haven't been able to... Put just the right touch on it. Do you remember how Luna used to be upset that nopony was awake to appreciate her beautiful night skies? Well... I would stay up often to admire them. After spending so much of the day working so hard, I'd want to take time to treat myself before just going to sleep, although I'd still make sure I had enough left over to get enough beauty rest. I've been wanting to find some diamonds, gems or crystals that would give it just the right edge in thanking her for all those times I'd just stargaze, lost in the endless mystical bliss of dusk. Something dark, yet rich and distinct, with something that would evoke the graceful glitter of the stars, and not just in the way they'd naturally shine -- the decoration itself, I mean."

Fluttershy's heart sank.

'So, that's why Rarity wanted the Panacea Crystal so badly... I'm so sorry, Rarity... I would give it to you if I could, but... I'm starting to think it's too dangerous for anypony to have...'

"I think... Eventually you'll find something that can do that."

"I'm really hoping so. I've actually heard of legends describing some kind of crystal that has that appearance, but I've had no success in trying to find it, or even find anypony that knows about it. Still, I'll get around to that when I find the time. I wanted to get it done by the celebration in a few weeks. The anniversary of Nightmare Moon's defeat. I'm worried that it bothers Luna. Every time I ask her, she says she's glad that we used the Elements Of Harmony to stop her from doing something she'd regret, but I can always notice traces of guilt and shame in the way she says it. I was hoping my present would help curb her discomfort."

"That's very considerate, Rarity. With that in mind, I'm sure she'll be very appreciative."

As the spa came within their view, coldness swept over Fluttershy, reminding her of dilemmas past. Both this location and Rarity's newfound success with Photo Finish evoked a time when the two friends were nearly torn apart by a big misunderstanding.

"You know, I'm really glad for you. About working with Photo Finish, I mean. I know you idolize her, and wanted to do it for a long time. I still feel kind of bad about the time she made me her model instead of showcasing your dresses..."

"Oh, it's fine, dear. I've long gotten over that. Besides, if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have worried my pretty little head over it. I love her creativity and vision and all that, it's an exciting place to be in, but, she's not so easy to work with. Or, for that matter, as pleasant to work with as I would've hoped. Photo Finish is one of the premiere fashion photographers in Equestria, true, but she's pretty bossy, and closed-minded. And even if she wasn't, I wanted something at the time that I've realized I don't want after all."

"What do you mean?"

"Being popular. It used to be almost all I cared about. Getting recognized, and letting all of Equestria see what I could do. But now I only want it so I have the opportunity to reach out to more ponies, although it does feel nice to have my work appreciated, let alone on such a grand scale. Don't you remember when Twilight sabotaged your fashion show, and it was the first one of yours I saw? Her magic manipulated you into so much embarrassment that the whole crowd was booing, and I felt so bad that I applauded for you so they would stop."

Fluttershy shuddered. "Yes... All that unwanted attention... It was awful..."

"The worst part about it is they only changed their mind about you because I did something. They liked what I wore, for it was considered in style. Instead of thinking and deciding for themselves, they just look after whoever's popular and agree with everything they do. The same thing happened with Twilight's birthday in Canterlot two or three years ago. Everypony was making fun of her dress, until Fancy Pants complimented it, and all of a sudden they all wanted one. It's so pathetic. I used to want to be popular so that I could prove to everypony what I was capable of. Now, I only like it for the chance it gives me to prove I'm not superficial, judgmental, or intolerant. But, with the way that I've been acting, I think it's too late..."

"I don't think you're any of those bad things. You're the most generous pony I know."

"Thank you, Fluttershy. I always try my best to be generous, but, I think sometimes I could do better. The generous thing to do would be to accept what somepony wants to look like if it's what they truly enjoy, where the world of fashion dictates that appearances must be analyzed, criticized, reworked. And being surrounded by work peers who are more entrenched in the latter, I'm often socially pressured and coerced into giving harsher reviews when I'd rather respect one's personalized appearance. Like the time I made dresses for all of you for the Grand Galloping Gala, and the fashion show in Ponyville for Hoity Toity. He and I may not have liked the first revisions, but you and the others absolutely loved them, and that's what mattered."

"Oh, but Rarity, we didn't realize at the time we were taking your generosity for granted. You worked so hard to make those dresses look nice. It was what you liked -- you created it, and any artist should be able to create their work however they like."

"I realize that. I'm not saying that those things that happened were okay. I just mean that I don't think it was fair that your favorite looks were publicly ridiculed. You should be allowed to love it just because you do. And like I said, just because I don't like something doesn't mean that you can't."

The two ponies finally entered the spa, suddenly realizing that they wouldn't be able to get the usual treatment, seeing as how everypony else around who worked there was frozen in time. Remembering how the sands could help operate inanimate objects, Fluttershy took Rarity to a room with some of the spa's latest installments. They were hydro-powered vibromassage capsules, which resembled larger, sleeker variations of the medicinal Iron Lung, except ponies were supposed to lay prone in it as opposed to face up. Rarity had actually always wanted to try them out, although she hadn't gotten the chance to do so until now.

At first, Fluttershy was reluctant to enter, fearing that her still-sore wings and body wouldn't be ready for the automated treatment. She offered to talk to Rarity while she was in the capsule by herself, who insisted that she tag along as thanks for the opportunity to unwind. The pegasus conceded. Their conversation was initially unhindered during the procedure's beginning, thanks to the capsule encasing everything save for their heads. Soon, however, Rarity was forced to use her magic to quell interruptions in the form of muting the capsule's loud, cacophonous whirring, as well as keeping their voices from shaking (much in spite of their humorous amusement) to preserve the focus on the serious nature of their conversation.

The work of the machines proved to be conducive to coaxing both friends. Rarity was looking much more relaxed, the further willingness to talk significantly showing in the change of her voice's tone, while Fluttershy learned that the process was much gentler and more alleviating to her tired vessel than she originally feared.

"I think a lot of it stems from the preconceived notions towards the meaning of one's income, and where they originate. The ponies in Canterlot I've met disdainfully described working class natives of Ponyville like you and I as 'country ruffians', believing that we make less money because we're lazy or unskilled, as if we deserve it somehow. I think the rumor that such ponies are naturally unpleasant comes from the inherent struggles in having to try harder due to differing economical states and one's unique life circumstances. That would make anypony a little rough around the edges. It's so unfair that others who are different can't see that they just don't have much bits left over to spare after feeding their families.

"And yet, on the other hoof, some of the other ponies in this town have viewed the aristocrats in Canterlot as spoiled, greedy tycoons who swindle their employees out of their well earned money and have life handed to them on a silver platter. They can't believe that they can have any worries or problems with a higher salary. It's like being wealthier somehow prevents you from being allowed to express honest suffering. A lot of these ponies are confused by their lifestyle into mistaking financial success for personal success, and their material possessions are outweighed by the void in their personal development and relationships."

Rarity closed her eyes and hung her head. "I just wish everypony could see past those features. It doesn't determine one's worth as a person. Not at all. Suffering hits everypony, regardless of their social status or financial class. It seems like we're drawn to find anything we can use to judge or segregate one another, like we're afraid of understanding and respecting somepony we don't agree with or relate to. Everypony has value, and something to contribute to the world, but sometimes it's just hard to see with so many fabricated dividers in the way."

The unicorn sighed, looking upward. "I remember when nopony knew Zecora yet, and all of Ponyville thought she was a witch just because she was a zebra. It was almost like that Nightmare Night when Luna returned. If somepony accuses you of doing or being something that you're not, or judges you for being born as something different than them, then plenty of people will swiftly come to your defense, because it's obviously wrong. But if somepony labels you as ugly, then you bear that alone. Nopony else will admit it, but they'd silently agree with whoever said it. It's because of this toxic business that labels what's supposed to be attractive and unattractive. A business with so much crushing influence and saturated contributors that it claims me with it, and makes me do and say things that I don't truly mean. Even when I'm by myself, and with ponies I care about, like Applejack, and even my own sister, Sweetie Belle.

"It's a product of a culture that uses nobility not as a description of character, but a title that is bought and inherited. A culture packed to the brim with ponies like Prince Blueblood, who've been warped into trading genuineness for superficiality, attending charitable causes more for the public relations image it bolsters for them rather than really wanting to make the world a better place. I'd like to prove that working in a field pertaining to the appreciation of appealing sights doesn't mean having to sacrifice virtuous qualities, but it seems all my legitimate attempts at sharing this sentiment are drowned out by the more poisonous, 'mainstream' messages. So, I pretend to agree with these 'noble' judges of fashion in their presence, while keeping secret my personal opinions, and my proudness towards the 'ugly' ponies who are courageous enough to express themselves honestly through their appearance. It's because I care about them and their right to freely dress more than false images or business statuses, even though caring doesn't net in much money or privileges."

Rarity became morose, her face and voice filled with lament. "This lifestyle has convinced everypony that beauty is only in what you experience visually. But this couldn't be further from the truth. Beauty is in everything, not just what you see, but also what you hear, smell, taste, feel, think, and believe. Most of all, it's in the intangible, the internal, a pony's personal characteristics. You can't put beauty in a pony with a dress, or makeup, those are just pretty. When something's pretty, it only stays that way until it's ruined. But beauty remains. Somepony can be beautiful even if they're short, or overweight, or what have you, just by having beauty's true terms; goodness, kindness, chivalry. Whenever I would design somepony's clothes, or give them a makeover, I wouldn't make them more beautiful at all. All I did was help the rest of the world see them better."

Fluttershy had listened intently the entire time, allowing Rarity to say whatever she needed to. Soon, they exited the vibromassage capsules, stretching and shaking off whatever tingly, lingering sensations that remained to keep them from readjusting to regularity. Even though the experience was highly refreshing, Rarity was still visibly saddened.

"I would like to think that I make up for whatever insults I might have thrown in their way through my generosity. I'd go out of my way to get favors done for them. Anonymously, of course. I don't think they would ever accept any kind of gift if they knew it was from me, after everything I did and said right in their face. I can only wonder if it ever really made any difference. But, wondering isn't the same as knowing."

Fluttershy shared her melancholy. 'I wish Rarity could just feel better...'

All of a sudden, a familiar sensation swept through the pegasus. She noticed faint traces of a dark purple smoke starting to seep into the room.

"Vesper?!?" she exclaimed, unsure whether to be relieved or afraid.

Indeed, the genie had returned. Rarity, having never seen him before, immediately reacted with shock and fright, backing up against Fluttershy.

Something was strange about him this time. He had that same air of guilt and regret that he'd been carrying the past few days, but it seemed heavier, stronger than before.

'Is he just sorry, or is he doing something for Skylar?'

"Please, don't be afraid, Rarity. I'm Fluttershy's friend. I just want to help you." At this, he gazed back at Fluttershy, who was somehow able to pick up on Vesper's sincerity, probably through the 'emotional bleeding' sensations. She nodded at Rarity, who started to ease back into acceptance, though still somewhat nervous.

The genie slowly lowered closer to the ground, floating towards the ponies. "Rarity... You worry that your attempts at redeeming your professional vices are for naught. I'm here to assure you that this isn't so. Please, allow me to show you..."

Warmth tingled in each of Fluttershy's nerves, and her senses were slightly altered. It was just like when he had shifted her perception of reality in Sugarcube Corner. An enlarged moving picture unfolded from thin air before them all, and Rarity instantly recognized it. It was cycling through her various customers, both regular and seldom.

And she saw how her generosity indeed paid off. With the money saved from buying Rarity's affordable, yet high quality designs, entire families had enough to spare to keep themselves healthy. Ponies who had been saving up to fulfill longtime dreams were able to do so before it was too late. Her kindness and good will had left glowing impacts on them for the rest of the day after encountering her; legitimate compliments and spontaneous favors lingered in their minds, forming sweet memories of the radiant unicorn who had given them unconditional, indiscriminate kindness. They would talk amongst one another, recommending her business to their friends, thanking her daily for what her work had done for them.

Lastly, but most of all, the visions ended with a look inside the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse. The three fillies who had been friends since first meeting -- Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle -- were all huddled around a board game, excitedly sharing their speculations with one another.

"That'd be really awesome, Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.

The young pegasus grinned, and looked at their mutual friend. "What about you, Sweetie Belle? What do you want your cutie mark to be?"

Sweetie Belle didn't hesitate to answer at all. "I want it to be Rarity!"

Scootaloo laughed. "What? You want it to be Rarity? But why?"

"A lot of people don't completely understand my sister. And because of this, they don't always treat her right. Even I do it sometimes, and she does it to me, but we never mean to, and we always find a way to make it right after. Everypony else thinks she's all about dresses and fashion, but really, she's the sweetest mare I've ever heard of! She does her best to help everypony, even if they don't like her -- even if she doesn't like them! -- but she always gives them a fair chance, and does everything she can to make Ponyville a better place to live in. I really like her a lot for that, and I'd like to be that way, too! I want to be just like her!"

At this revelation, Rarity whimpered, covering her mouth as she tried to hold back tears.

Vesper looked at her. "Some of the nicest gifts and compliments you receive are ones that you're never around to witness. Where you have done much covert good for everyone you know in an attempt to assuage your guilt, everyone else likes you and appreciates what you do much more than you thought they do."

Rarity was still choking with emotion. Moments later, she stopped trying to control her crying, and hugged Fluttershy tightly and closely to her. Fluttershy was taken aback but embraced her friend in kind, gently trying to comfort her. To her surprise, she noticed that Vesper was gone.

After taking Rarity back home, Fluttershy had gone back out to search everywhere she could for Vesper, but to no avail. After finding each place that came to mind only to meet no results, she reluctantly headed back to the same waterfall that she had found the Panacea Crystal in the first place.

"Vesper?" she called out, hearing her voice echo through the silent woods.

Fluttershy remained there for what felt like an eternity, waiting for an answer.

As soon as she turned back to start returning to Ponyville, she heard Vesper's voice from inside her head once more, full of panic and concern.

'I can't protect you anymore. Leave the crystal. Forget all of this. It will save your life. I have to go now or he will see me.'

"Vesper?!?"

Again, she remained unanswered.

Fluttershy sighed, looking at the pouch of sands in her hoof. Twilight Sparkle was the last one left to help. But she was also the only one among them who could maybe help her, as well. In her panic, she hadn't thought to visit Celestia in Canterlot -- it would be too late for that now.

She suddenly remembered how quickly Skylar had pulled away from her in her last nightmare. How he had said many things, and yet only told her so little. In spite of touching him with the 'emotional bleed' effect, she'd gotten only enough information to figure out that it was him. Was there more he was hiding? Could she find out somehow? But most importantly, could he be helped, and return to his old self, like Nightmare Moon went back to Luna?

There was no time to ponder these things. With this realization, Fluttershy galloped off to Twilight's house.

"You're perfectly flawed,

You're perfectly incomplete,

Like cracks in the glass,

And faded photographs,

You're perfectly flawed,

You're perfectly incomplete,

A work in progress,

Imperfections make you unique"

• Otep's "Perfectly Flawed"