Harmony's Warriors: Flutterhulk

by Avenging-Hobbits

Chapters

Act I - 01 - And If I Go Insane
Act I - 02 - Koyaanisqatsi
Act I - 03 - The Nightmare's Just Begun
Act II - 04 - God's Lonely Mare
Act II - 05 - The Long and Winding Road
Act II - 06 - Your Guilty Past
Act II - 08 - Lead Me to Your Door
Act II - 09 - We're On Our Way Home
Act II - 10 - In Times of Trouble
Act II - 11 - Your Possible Pasts
Act II - 12 - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Act III - 13 - Speaking Words of Wisdom
Act III - 14 - Movin' Right Along
Act III - 15 - Homeward Bound
Act III - 16 - The Storm Clouds Gather
Act III - 17 - Strike When the Moment is Right
Act III - 18 - Journey's End...
Epilogue - 19 - Happiness...I'm Glad
Prologue - 00 - Suicide is Painless
Act II - 07 - The Secret Side of Me

Act I - 01 - And If I Go Insane

Act One

"Places I Remember"

Chapter One

"And If I Go Insane"

Twenty-Three Years Earlier:

*knock* *knock* *knock* *knock*

“Time to go!”

*knock* *knock* *knock* *knock*

“Fluttershy, dear, time to wake up!” The earth pony knocking on the door said. She had a dark red mane and reddish pink coat. On her flank was a peace symbol.

A squeak came from behind the door.

“Fluttershy, dear, if you don’t get up now you’ll be late for the first day of school.” Tree Flower said her voice kind and motherly as she gently opened the door.

The door opened to reveal a small room with various toy stuffed animals and dolls scattered around the floor. There was a small bookcase with a lamp that was overflowing with various books standing next to a small bed. On the bed was a pile of sheets and covers with a small lump in the center.

“I don’t wanna go to school.” A barely audible voice said from underneath the covers.

Tree Flower sighed. “Fluttershy, I know that school can be scary, but you want to learn right? Don’t you want to make friends?” She walked over and gently sat on the bed.

“Yes…” the voice replied.

“Well if you never come out from under those covers, how are you going to be able to make friends?”

There was a pause as the lump moved and suddenly a small filly popped up, her bright blue eyes peaking out from underneath a light pink mane that was rustled and messy.

“But Momma, I don’t like school. What if the teacher doesn’t like me?” The filly said, sniffing slightly.

Tree Flower sighed. When they had first moved to Ponyville from Manehattan, Fluttershy had frequently been the target of the school bully. However, someone found out and, thank Celestia, the pony was expelled.

But the damage had been done. It had taken several months for Fluttershy to feel confident again, but she had finally gotten back into the swing of things, earned her cutie mark, even made some friends.

However, now it was a new school year and Fluttershy was moving up a grade, and that meant a new teacher, and new students.

And Fluttershy didn’t really like new things.

“Well, Flutters, let’s hope that doesn’t happen. And don’t forget, you do have your friends, like Firefly for instance.”

Fluttershy stopped sniffing and looked up. “Oh…I totally forgot about her.”

Tree Flower brought Fluttershy in for a hug. “Oh that’s okay. It’s okay to be a little worried. It’s a new year, and that means new things. But you know what?”

“What?” Fluttershy asked.

“Sometimes, new things are the best things. Think of this new school as one big Hearth’s Warming Eve present waiting to be opened. Doesn’t that sound fun?”

Fluttershy smiled. “Yeah, yeah it does.” She gently nuzzled her mother. “I guess it’s okay then.”

Tree Flower nuzzled her back. “Good. Now, let’s go have some breakfast okay?” and with that, Tree Flower got up and gently helped Fluttershy out of the slightly oversized bed. They turned and walked out of the room together.

/////////////////////

Dr. Banner Wing, a yellow pegasus with a brown mane sat in the waiting room of Ponyville Mental Hospital. He had organized the magazines by date and publisher at least seven different ways to pass the time. He was now currently reading an issue of Ponyville Gazette, making sure that none of the pages got caught or ripped.

Suddenly a small bell rung. He looked up from his newspaper and over to the reception desk.

“Dr. Wing? You may go in now.” The orderly said, as she sat down and went back to her desk and back to work.

“Thank you.” Dr. Banner Wing said as he got up, and, as neatly as possible, used his wings to fold up the newspaper, which he placed on the table where the magazines sat.

He walked over to the door and it opened to reveal the hospital visiting room. Inside were various ponies, some actual patients and some family members also visiting.

His eyes landed on a bald, thin yellow pegasus, who sat studying the table top intently, muttering various things under his breath.

Banner Wing sighed and motioned towards a familiar minty green earth pony nurse. The nurse smiled and trotted up.

“Hello Dr. Wing.” She said quietly.

“Hello Nurse Kindheart.” Banner Wing replied. “How’s he doing?”

Nurse Kindheart looked over at the pegasus. “Well, honestly we thought he was doing better, since he hadn’t mentioned any voices in awhile.”

“But?”

“That’s when we found him this morning.” Nurse Kindheart let out a heavy sigh. “He had somehow managed to shave off his mane, tail and eyebrows. How he was able to find a blade is beyond any of us. He asked specifically to see you.”

Banner Wing himself let out a long heavy sigh. “I know. May I?”

Nurse Kindheart nodded. “Of course you may, just remember, we’ve got him on several medications okay?”

Banner Wing nodded and quietly walked up to the pony, who seemingly didn’t notice him, instead he continued to stare at the table top, muttering.

Banner Wing sat down directly in front of him. “Hello Cocktail.”

The pony looked up. His pale, sunken in grey eyes staring back. “Oh hey brother.” He looked back down at the table top. “What brings you back?”

“Well, I see you shaved your mane and eyebrows…” Banner Wing said, looking at his brother’s bald head. “really scared everypony.”

“Jack said it was a good idea…” Cocktail muttered. “That way the Night Breathers can’t hear my thoughts.”

Banner Wing let out another heavy sigh. This bald, muttering pony had once been his brother, and now here he was, sitting in a mental hospital, prattling on and on about aliens and a pony only he could see that he insisted was named Jack.

“Jack told you so?” Banner Wing said. “And where’s Jack now?”

Cocktail looked back up from the table and paused, his grey eyes darting around. He motioned for Banner Wing to come closer. Banner Wing sighed and leaned in, wary that at any moment his brother might try something crazy.

“Don’t tell anyone, after I shaved my mane, Jack said he had to go and talk to the Sky Lords. They say that if I help, they’ll make sure the Night Breathers can’t attack us.” He leaned back and nodded rapidly. “So I’ve gotta make sure they don’t know. That’s why I shaved.” He paused. “You should shave too Banner Wing, and Tree Flower and Flutters.”

Banner Wing simply looked at Cocktail. Why didn’t we spot this sooner? Was all Banner Wing could think. He thought back to his father, Sky Cloud, and how the signs had always been there.

Sky Cloud, although he was an excellent weather pony, would always make sure there were exactly twelve clouds of the same size in every storm. If there were thirteen, he would obsessively clump the clouds together until there were twelve again. If there were eleven, he would frequently request an extra cloud from another team, until once again, there were twelve.

Cocktail himself had shown no signs of obsessive behavior though, instead he was always found talking to his imaginary friends. At first, that’s what everyone thought it was, a simple imaginary friend, a simple fillyhood game that would eventually ware off.

But it didn’t ware off.

So here Banner Wing was, sitting across from his brother. “Cocktail you know I can’t do that.”

Cocktail looked visibly shocked. “But why? Don’t you want to protect them from the Night Breathers? I mean they’re your wife and daughter.”

Banner Wing sighed. He really loved his brother, and knew he had a problem, but sometimes, he felt that he had to put his hoof down.

“Cocktail, you know for a fact that there are no ‘Night Breathers’, okay. And there are no ‘Sky Lords’ either. You know this.”

Cocktail’s expression changed from that of confusion to anger. “They got to you didn’t they?”

Banner Wing raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

“The Night Breathers. They got to you with their Hell Sprites. They got to your mind. You’ve been brainwashed.” He waved towards Nurse Kindheart. “Hey! Nurse!” he shouted.

Nurse Kindheart looked up from her paperwork. “Yes Cocktail?”

“My brother has been brainwashed by the Night Breathers. I don’t want to talk to him anymore.” Cocktail said, eyeing Banner Wing with visible distain.

Nurse Kindheart got up and walked over quietly. “Okay then Cocktail. Do you want to go back to your room?” she asked.

Cocktail nodded. “Yes.”

“Okay then.” She motioned towards two earth pony orderlies who walked up.

Cocktail stood up. “Goodbye Banner Wing. I hope Tree Flower and Fluttershy don’t get brainwashed too.” And with that he nodded towards the orderlies and they lead him out of the room.

Banner Wing simply watched as his brother was escorted away. Once they had left, he let out a heavy sigh.

“I’m sorry.” Nurse Kindheart said. “He was doing so well lately.” She put a reassuring hoof on his shoulder.

Banner Wing nodded. “I know, I know.” He stood up. “Well, at least he’s here, where’s he’s relatively safe.” he started to walk towards the door.

“Goodbye Dr. Wing.” Nurse Kindheart said as he made his way towards the door.

“Goodbye Nurse Kindheart, hope you have a good day.”

"If I were alone, I would cry.

And if I were with you, I'd be home and dry.

And if I go insane,

And they lock me away,

Will you still let me join in the game?"

If by Pink Floyd

Act I - 02 - Koyaanisqatsi

Act One

"Places I Remember"

Chapter Two

"Koyaanisqatsi (Life Out of Balance)"

Banner Wing stepped outside the hospital and took a deep cleansing breath. He looked around. It was a beautiful clear day, not a single cloud in the sky to be seen.

He sighed and readied himself for take off. He jumped into the air and began to lazily fly towards the local university.

Ponyville University was by no means a large campus. In fact, it was basically one building with a fountain in the front lawn. Banner Wing had taken a teaching position there when he and his family moved into town, since the local university really didn’t have any physics studies. So now he functioned as the university’s chief reference on all things physics.

Which usually meant that he spend most of the day in his office rearranging his pencils.

He glided down and came in for a landing. He stepped inside the university.

“Hello Keypad.” He greeted a slate grey unicorn pony mare who was hunched over a typewriter.

“Hey Banner Wing. There was a call for you this morning. What kept ya?”

“Well, my brother wanted to talk to me. You know how it is.”

Keypad looked up from her typewriter. “He doin’ better?”

Banner Wing shook his head.

Keypad shook her head as well. “Shame.” She returned back to the typewriter, it’s keys making loud clickety-clacks as she typed away.

“You said I got a call this morning?” Banner Wing said, wanting to change the subject as soon as possible.

“Yup.” Keypad replied. “Something about research.”

This caught Banner Wing’s attention. “Really? Did they leave a number?”

Keypad nodded and levitated a small note with a phone number on it. “There you go.”

Banner Wing took the note from Keypad. “Thanks Keypad. Have a nice day.” He said as he turned towards his office which was down the hall.

///////////////////////

Fluttershy quietly shifted through her locker. Glued on the door were various small pictures of her and her family and the occasional doodle. On the middle shelf sat a small wire cage, where a small white bunny sat, eating the food Fluttershy just gave him.

“That’s a good Angel Bunny…eat it up.” She whispered.

Besides Firefly, Angel Bunny was Fluttershy’s only real friend at the school. Not that she wasn’t liked, actually most of the teachers liked Fluttershy, since she was quiet and didn’t interrupt their lectures.

Of course, this very thing, her natural shyness and quiet nature is what made her a typical target for any student to pick on.

So far, though, things were actually going amazingly well, with no trying to avoid being flushed down a toilet or anything of the sort.

“I’ve been having a great day you know that don’t you Angel?” Fluttershy whispered. Angel Bunny looked up from his food, stared at her for a moment, and then hopped over and gently nuzzled her extended hoof. Fluttershy smiled.

“Oh of course you do Angel. Now go finish your food for Mommy.” She beckoned him back to the food.

“Hey Flutters!” a very loud voice suddenly said.

“EEP!” Fluttershy ducked into her locker, utterly terrified.

“Oh relax Flutters! It’s me, Firefly!”

Fluttershy peaked out from behind her mane. Standing in front of her was a pink pegasus with a blue mane, with three blue lightning bolts as her cutie mark.

“Oh hi Firefly, didn’t see you there.” Fluttershy said, stepping out of her locker.

Firefly shook her head. “That’s okay Flutters. How’s it going with you?”

Fluttershy smiled. “Very good actually, I didn’t get flushed down the toilet or stuffed into a locker or anything today.”

Firefly beamed. “Awesome! Hey guess what.”

“What?” Fluttershy asked as she straightened out her mane and tail.

“I got into flight camp!” Firefly exclaimed, jumping a couple feet into the air in her excitement.

“Really! That’s so cool Firefly.” Fluttershy said, but then her smile started to fade.

Firefly stopped jumping and looked at Fluttershy. “Hey what’s wrong Fluttershy? Isn’t that cool.”

Fluttershy nodded weakly. “Yeah…I guess.” Her voice dropping down to a barely audible level. “It’s just that now you’ll have to move to Cloudsdale right?”

Firefly’s shoulders sagged slightly. “Oh yeah….” She looked at Fluttershy. “But I can still visit during the summer break, right?”

Fluttershy nodded. “Yeah, I guess. It’s just I’ll be without my only friend here, I mean, besides Angel Bunny.” She motioned to the cage.

Firefly thought for a moment. “Well….maybe you can make a new friend.” She looked around at the passing school fillies. “Uh…” she searched the crowd for a potential candidate. “What about that unicorn over there?”

Fluttershy looked up in the direction Firefly was pointing. An alabaster unicorn filly with a purple mane and a triple diamond cutie mark walked by, her noise in the air. She exuded an aura of snootiness that made Fluttershy feel uncomfortable.

“Um…no thank you…she looks kinda stuck up…” Fluttershy quietly murmured.

“Yeah I guess you’re right.” Firefly said, rubbing the back of her neck. She continued to scan the school hallways.

There was a silence between the two for awhile as they both watched their fellow school ponies.

*BRING* *BRING* *BRING* *BRING*

“That’s the school bell.” Fluttershy said, turning around and closing her locker. “We’ve gotta go to class Firefly.”

“Huh? Oh yeah.” Firefly turned, opened her locker and pulled out her backpack. “Look, Flutters, I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to make you sad.” She said, putting a reassuring hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder.

“Oh that’s okay Firefly. I’m truly happy for you. I hope you have fun there.” She suddenly pulled Firefly into a hug. “I’ll miss you so much.”

Firefly hugged her back. “That’s okay, I’ll miss you too Flutters. And hey, we’ve still got the rest of the school day. Right?”

Fluttershy smiled. “Yeah, that’s right. When do you have to leave?” she asked, as they made their way back to glass.

Firefly’s shoulders drooped. “Tomorrow. I’m really sorry Fluttershy, I really am.”

“Oh that’s okay, I don’t want your time there be ruined because you’re thinking about me.” Fluttershy said as they entered class and went to their seats.

///////////////////////

Fluttershy walked home quietly, feeling depressed. Today had started so good. She had had a nice warm breakfast with her mother and hadn’t really been bullied at all today. Then Firefly had told her the news. And none of that mattered anymore. All that mattered was that she would be alone, in a school where she didn’t fit in.

She reached her house and knocked on the door. The knob jiggled and opened to reveal her mother.

“Fluttershy darling, come here.” She pulled her into a gentle hug. “How was school today?”

Fluttershy shook her head and sniffed. “Horrible.”

Tree Flower raised an eyebrow. “Really? How, were you bullied again?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “No.” she sniffed again.

Tree Flower became concerned. She leaned down and looked Fluttershy in the eyes. “Honey, what happened?”

Fluttershy let out a long sad sigh. “Firefly’s leaving.”

“What do you mean?” Tree Flower asked, already having a rough idea as to why.

“S-she g-got into flight camp.” Fluttershy had now fully begun to cry. “a-and she has to leave Ponyville now for Cloudsdale.”

“Oh that’s okay.” Tree Flower pulled the crying filly in for a hug and gently rocking her back and forth. “Don’t cry…it’ll be okay…”

“But it’s my fault. She doesn’t want to be around me, I’m too shy and small.” Fluttershy sobbed.

“No, no, that’s not true. She has to leave because she can’t learn how to fly in Ponyville. Don’t worry, she’ll be back soon and you can both go and play games together.”

Fluttershy stopped crying and looked up at Tree Flower. “R-really?” she sniffed.

“Really.” Tree Flower replied. “Now, you ready for dinner?”

Fluttershy nodded gently. “Yeah, I guess…”

“Okay then, now go say hi to your father.” Tree Flower gently nudged Fluttershy towards her father, who sat at the dinner table.

“Hi daddy.” Fluttershy nuzzled him.

“Hello Fluttershy.” Banner Wing replied, gently scooping up Fluttershy in his wing.

Fluttershy nuzzled him again. “Daddy?”

“Yes?”

“Do you love me?”

Banner Wing paused. He hadn’t quite expected such a question from his daughter. He looked at her.

She was the light of his life, everything he held dear in one small, gentle yellow package. And yet, even though he couldn’t imagine her any other way, he still felt like she was missing something.

He looked her over, observing her cutie mark, three pink butterflies, a symbol for her intense love of animals. His eyes drifted to her gangly legs and her tiny little wings. They were the source of so much suffering for her. To be constantly mocked and picked on because her body shape was something that Banner Wing couldn’t abide.

He took a deep breath and pulled Fluttershy in for a tight hug. “Oh Fluttershy, you know I love you. I’ll love you forever and ever. Don’t you ever doubt that okay?”

Fluttershy hugged him and gently nuzzled his neck. “Okay daddy. I won’t.”

Banner Wing looked at Tree Flower, concern in his eyes. Tree Flower smiled a smile that seemed to say “Don’t worry, everything will be all right.” Before she quietly returned to the kitchen to finish dinner.

But still, deep down in the very bottom of his soul, Banner felt that things might not be all right. He couldn’t bare the idea of Fluttershy being forced to suffer any more pain.

And in that moment, he decided, right then and there that he was going to end Fluttershy’s suffering once and for all. And the phone call he had received was the key.

///////////////////////

Banner Wing sat in his bed, staring at the photo of Fluttershy on the opposite wall. It was taken when she was only one year old. She wore an innocent smile as if she didn’t have a care in the world. His mind ran through the events of the day.

He had received the phone call he had always wanted, a way to better his family’s life.

He had also seen Fluttershy in pain and crying.

He could only imagine the pain and hurt that Fluttershy must have been feeling.

“Darling?” he turned towards Tree Flower, who was quietly reading a book.

“Yes dear?”

“Did you know I got a phone call today?” he asked.

Tree Flower turned to look at him, looking over her reading glasses. “Really dear? What about?”

“About my job.” He said, sitting up slightly.

“Oh really?” Tree Flower said, curiosity in her voice. “What about your job.” Suddenly an expression of fear crossed her face. “Oh, no. you didn’t get fired did you?”

Banner Wing shook his head. “Oh no. Not at all.” He looked back at the wall.

“Well, then what?” Tree Flower asked, closing her book and taking off her reading glasses.

“You know how a couple weeks back I sent out my resume to some universities?”

Tree Flower thought for a moment. “Yes…yes I do. I distinctly remember disagreeing with your decision.” Her voice carried the slightest bit of playful sarcasm.

Banner Wing smiled. “Well, it seems that Canterlot University decided to take me up on a research job there. Something to do with the government.”

Tree Flower let out a sigh and looked Banner Wing in the eyes. “Banner, you know for a fact that you can’t take that job. Fluttershy just lost her best friend to Flight School and now we’re going to have to move all the way to Canterlot and get Fluttershy in a new school. She barely fits in here, how will she be able fit into a school where she doesn’t even know a single soul?”

“Yeah, but I can’t bear to see her like this.” Banner Wing said, looking into his wife’s dark blue eyes. “And I think this new job provides a way for me to put an end to her suffering once and for all.”

Tree Flower simply stared back, her face stern. “And what is that Doctor?”

Banner Wing winced slightly at her use of his professional title. She only ever used that when she was angry with him.

“Well, apparently the government wants me to work on something evolving growth hormones or something.” He said.

Tree Flower raised an eyebrow. “Why in Celestia’s name would the government want you to research something like that? You’re a physicist, not a chemist.”

“They said they needed my knowledge of radiation.” Banner Wing ironed out some invisible wrinkles in the bed sheets.

Tree Flower let out a frustrated sigh. “And how will this help Fluttershy? Don’t tell me you were going to try and use our daughter as some sort of lab rat.”

Banner Wing looked down at the bed and said nothing.

“Damn it Banner, I can’t believe you.” Tree Flower groaned. “This is our daughter’s well being we’re talking about, not another random experiment.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Banner Wing suddenly snapped. “It kills me to see Fluttershy mocked like that at school. Her wings, they’re so small and her legs are too long. That’s why they pick on her. No other reason. All I want to do is see if I can fix that, and nothing else. No radiation or anything. Just some simple growth hormones.”

Tree Flower shook her head tersely. “Doctor Banner Wing, I will not allow you to use our daughter for that.” She then reached out and put a reassuring hoof on Banner Wing’s shoulder. “Don’t you understand,” her voice was now kind and understanding. “The way Fluttershy is, with her legs and wings, that’s how she was meant to be. That’s how she was made. She’ll grow out of it. Let nature take its course and everything will be alright. Don’t think that just because science can do it, means that it should do it. I really don’t think you should tamper in nature’s domain.” She then leaned her head against him.

Banner Wing let out a heavy sigh and leaned against her. “I just want what’s best for her…you know?”

“Yes dear. I know.” There was a long pause between them.

“How soon until you have to leave?” Tree Flower asked, joining Banner Wing in staring at the far wall.

“They said they hoped I’d be there before month’s end.” He said.

Tree Flower let out a heavy sigh. “Well…” her eyes wandered, taking in the bedroom. “Let’s sleep on it. We’ve all had a long day and we’re all tired.” She yawned and reached over and turned off the lamp on her bed stand.

“Good night darling.” She yawned before nodding off.

Banner Wing sat quietly in the darkness, his wife now snoring quietly.

The moonlight poured into the room, bathing it with a bluish glow. His eyes drifted around the room, taking in the wallpaper and the carpet. His eyes eventually rested on the framed picture of his family next to his bed.

Poor Fluttershy. He thought. What do I do?

He suddenly got up, being sure to not wake Tree Flower. He quietly made his way out of the room, and walked down the hallway and stopped in front of Fluttershy’s room. It was open just wide enough for him to gently nudge open.

He looked at Fluttershy, who was sleeping contentedly, a small smile her face, clutching a Smarty Pants doll tightly.

The sight of his beloved daughter content and happy, with nopony mocking her made something click inside Banner Wing.

He had to do it.

It’s the only way.

He had to take the job. He had to work there. He had to find something, anything to finally give Fluttershy true peace.

He would take that job and find a cure for Fluttershy’s problem.

Even if it killed him.

Act I - 03 - The Nightmare's Just Begun

Act One

"Places I Remember"

Chapter Three:

"The Nightmare's Just Begun"

The early morning sunlight poured into Fluttershy’s room through her closed curtains. Her eyes slowly opened and she looked around the room.

In the small cage across the room was Angel Bunny, quietly sleeping. She smiled faintly, the events of the day before still in her mind. She was almost completely alone in the world now, except for the small white bunny in the cage.

She let out a yawning sigh and slowly got out of bed.

After cleaning Angel Bunny’s cage she quietly opened the door and walked down the hall towards the dining room.

She could hear her parents talking about something but she couldn’t quite make it out. The talking steadily grew louder and more clear as she neared the dining room.

“I don’t know why you can't just turn down the job. She’s not going to be able to cope with all this…” her mother’s voice said, laced with worry.

Who are they talking about? Fluttershy wondered, as she stood quietly in the doorway, making sure not to make a sound unless she was discovered.

“Honey, believe me, if there were a way to do this without having to move the entire family I would do it in a heartbeat. You know that.” Her father’s voice replied.

Move the entire family? We’re moving? Fluttershy asked herself. But why?

Her mother let out a sigh. “Are you absolutely one hundred percent sure about this? Because I don’t want to have to force poor Fluttershy to leave the only place she’s known and move to a place that she’s never been all because you want this job.”

“Yes. I’m one hundred percent sure of this. I wish there was another way…but we have to do it.” Her father said, his voice heavy.

Fluttershy finally decided now was as good a time as any to enter the dining room. “Um Daddy, what are you and mom talking about?”

Her father and mother both looked at her. Her mother shot her father an ‘I told you so’ glance as her father let out a heavy sigh.

“Well, Fluttershy…” her father started, leaning down so he could be at eye level with her. “I just got a job in Canterlot…”

Fluttershy instantly knew what that meant. Suddenly the entire conversation she had heard made perfect sense. She shook her head. “No, please Daddy, I don’t want to move to Canterlot…” she said, giving him a tight hug.

“I know, I know darling. I wish there was another way, but this is a very important job. I wish I could stay here and do it but I can’t.” he gently rocked her back and forth. “And don’t worry, we’ll still be together as a family.”

“What about Angel Bunny?” Fluttershy asked.

“You can even take Angel Bunny. We’ll get him a nice, comfortable cage he can sleep in and everything.”

Fluttershy was quiet for a moment. She thought about the fact that, now that Firefly was gone, she didn’t have a single friend in the entire school. All she had was her nice, warm home, and her loving family and her beloved Angel Bunny.

And now, she would lose her home to go live in a place she’d never been before. It scared her.

“Oh Daddy I’m scared…what if the other fillies bully me like here.” Fluttershy said, hugging her father even tighter.

“Don’t worry, dear…I’ll make sure they never do that.” He gently ran his hoof through her mane.

“And Fluttershy,” her mother suddenly said, walking up and hugging the two of them. “Always remember that we’re here to help you with any trouble you might face. We’re a family, that’s what we do.”

The three of them sat there quietly, all hugging.

And Fluttershy, for the first time in a long time, felt that there was some light at the end of the tunnel.

////////////////////////////SIX MONTHS LATER:

Down the hallway, head held high, walked a large dark grey teenage unicorn wearing a black leather jacket. He was Dark Sky, the undisputed ruler of Canterlot Middle School’s hallways.

On his face he wore a smug grin. He eyed the various younger fillies, which all would instantly cower in fear.

And by Celestia did he love that.

“Hey, you.” He called out towards a random yellow pegasus filly with a long pink mane that was walking down the hall.

The filly froze in her tracks and turned around slowly. “Y-yes D-Dark S-Sky?” she stuttered, completely terrified.

Dark Sky walked up to her, using his considerable size advantage to tower over the smaller filly. “You got any lunch money on ya Flutters?”

The younger filly shook her head. “N-no, Dark Sky, I just s-spent it...” she was shaking all over. Dark Sky was silent of a moment, reveling at the look of fear on the much younger pegasus’ face.

Dark Sky clicked his tongue. “Shame Flutters. I kinda needed the funds. Real shame. You know what this means?”

Fluttershy’s pupils shrunk, her eyes darted around, eying the swiftly growing group of fillies and colts that had come to watch.

She looked back at Dark Sky, raising her forehooves in pleading. “No! Not a swirly! Please!”

Dark Sky shrugged, jerking Fluttershy into the air with his magic. “Sorry Flutters, put I just can’t abide with the fact that you never pay up. Can’t have that can I?”

Fluttershy struggled against Dark Sky’s magic in vain. “Please not the Swirly! Please not a Swirly!” she started to sob.

“Oh stop whining Flutters. You’re no fun. Swirly’s are so much more fun.” Dark Sky laughed, dragging the weeping filly into the colts room. “For me that is.”

The door closed behind them and the small crowd that had formed awaited the results with baited breath.

The sound of a toilet flushing greeted their ears. There was another awkward silence before the door suddenly burst open and Fluttershy came stumbling out, her head and mane completely soaked and she ran off sobbing.

Directly behind her came Dark Sky, who, after pausing in the doorway and looking over the small crowd of fillies, stomped his hoof, sending them scattering like a flock of scared birds.

He let out a contented sigh and started to make his way down the hallway again, looking for his next victim.

////////////////////////////

Fluttershy sat in the corner of the classroom, quietly crying as the teacher droned on endlessly about the wonders of fractions.

These past six months had been the worst of her life. She had hoped that what her father said was true, that he would protect her or do something to make them stop bullying her, but alas, his new job seemingly attracted every ounce of his attention.

He wouldn’t even eat dinner without some aspect of his new job infiltrating their eating. He would often sit at the head of the table, with a pile of papers and notes which he would constantly nitpick and mutter over.

And, to top it all off, she was being bullied even worse than before. Every time she went out into the halls, Dark Sky would come looking for her, always equipped with some new way to torture her.

No matter what she did, or how she tried to avoid him, he would find her and torment her.

She let out a quiet sob and wiped her running nose. She looked around the classroom. All her fellow students wore the same bored expression, except for Long Division, the teacher’s pet, who would watch the teacher intently, apparently drinking in every word.

“Pisst”

Fluttershy looked around for the source of the voice.

“Pisst, behind you.” The voice whispered.

Fluttershy slowly turned around to see a small, orange colt with glasses.

“Um….hello….” Fluttershy whispered, making sure the teacher couldn’t hear them. “What do you want?”

“Well,” the colt said in a somewhat nasally whisper. “I kinda just want to say I feel sorry for ya, here” he leaned down and dug through his backpack for a moment, which was packed with dozens of comic books and doodles.

“Where is it…” he muttered, quickly glancing at the teacher to make sure she hadn’t seen him. “Ah, here we go.” His whispered as a small smile spread across his face and he pulled out a small card.

“What is that?” Fluttershy whispered back, casting a fearful glance over her shoulder.

“I think you’re problem is that you’re not assertive enough,” the colt whispered. “Here, take this card.” He held the card out.

Fluttershy once again looked around the classroom. The teacher, Miss Calculus, apparently hadn’t noticed their clandestine meeting and was still droning on as the rest of the class was nearly asleep with boredom.

Fluttershy quietly reached out and grabbed the card. “W-what’s the card for?” she asked, her voice barely audible.

“It’s for a special thing their holding in the gym after school…assertiveness.” The colt whispered.

“Assertiveness?” Fluttershy asked, once more looking over her shoulder at the teacher.

“Because, I think that nopony should be bullied like that. I think you should try and stand up to Dark Sky. Just try it.”

“Excuse me but what is so interesting as to distract you from my class?” the thin reedy voice of Miss Calculus suddenly spoke, causing both Fluttershy and the colt to freeze.

“Um, well, I, uh…” the colt stammered, as Miss Calculus stared intently at him, her face drawn so tight that it looked like it might suddenly rip off.

“Excelsior, I will not have any of your daydreaming fantasy’s in my class. And Fluttershy…” she turned her withering gaze to Fluttershy. “You know better than to fraternize with such….” She cast a derisive glance towards the colt. “….plebeians.”

Fluttershy simply nodded her head and turned back to look at her desk.

“And Fluttershy….” Miss Calculus said, “what is that in your hooves?”

Fluttershy didn’t say anything, but simply shot out her hoof, Excelsior’s card on the end. Miss Calculus levitated the card in front of her face and squinted through her thick glasses.

She read the card aloud. “Strong Will’s Assertiveness Class. Go from pushover to awesome in one week, guaranteed.” She looked down at Fluttershy, who was now quivering in fear.

“My dear Fluttershy, for once I agree with Excelsior. You need this desperately. You’re rather pathetic you know…” she dropped the card down on Fluttershy’s desk and returned to the blackboard, and continued her lecture.

Fluttershy looked at the card. Miss Calculus was right. She was pathetic. Here she was, sitting in class, quivering and shaking like a leaf in the wind. And right there, in front of her, was a way out of it.

////////////////////////////

“Good afternoon, I’m Strong Will and I’ll be your assertiveness teacher today.” The titanic mare said. Her red hair was pulled back into a tight bum and her tail was clipped short.

Fluttershy sat in a row of ponies, all of whom looked rather meek. Just like her.

“Now,” Strong Will announced as she scanned the group. “I will be choosing one random participant to demonstrate my methods. Starting with….” She lifted a hoof to point and moved it around, as if running through a list of potential candidates.

“You. The filly with the pink mane.” Strong Will pointed a large hoof at Fluttershy. Fluttershy shied away, hoping that maybe there was another filly with a pink mane.

“Filly with the pink mane, I’m talking to you.” Strong Will once more spoke, this time emphasizing her words with a sharp slap of her hoof against the floor.

Fluttershy hid behind her mane and hesitantly walked up to Strong Will, trembling.

“State your name please to the rest of the class.”

“I’m Fluttershy” Fluttershy whispered, her voice nearly completely inaudible.

Strong Will simply stared down at Fluttershy. “What was that? I can’t hear you.” She then looked at the rest of the class. “First lesson in assertiveness. Always say your name clearly, and loudly enough so that ponies can understand you.” She nudged Fluttershy.

“Now come filly, state your name so we can hear you.”

Fluttershy looked up at Strong Will and then at the other members of the class.

“Come on. We’re waiting.” Strong Will insisted, once more nudging Fluttershy.

Fluttershy gulped, took a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak.

“Um….h-hello e-everypony…” her knees started to shake. “I-I’m F-Fluttershy….”

The rest of the ponies all nodded and various quiet and meek greetings came from the group.

“And why are you participating in this class today Fluttershy?” Strong Will asked, once more looking down at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy hid behind her mane. “Because I’m bullied at school…”

“Excuse me? I couldn’t quite make that out. Remember, speak so that ponies can hear you.” Strong Will said.

“Because I’m bullied at school.” Fluttershy whispered again, utterly terrified.

Strong Will raised an eyebrow. “Bullied at school eh?” she turned to the audience. “See this poor filly?” she pointed a seemingly gargantuan hoof at Fluttershy. “This filly is the perfect example of why assertiveness is important.” She gave Fluttershy a sympathetic smile and then turned back to the audience.

“You see, if this poor filly had some assertiveness, she would be able to stand up to those horrible creatures that bully and torment her.” She suddenly grabbed Fluttershy and pulled her close. “And I, Strong Will, will now show this filly how to be assertive and stand up to them.”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened. “P-please….I’m s-scared….” She whimpered to Strong Will. Strong Will looked down and a small smile made itself evident on her face. She leaned down.

“Its okay sport, I won’t be hard on ya. Everypony is a little scared the first time. But don’t worry. We’ll deal with that in a moment.” She whispered in Fluttershy’s ear before standing back up.

“Now, Fluttershy,” she raised her voice so that everypony could hear her. “I’m going to pretend to be a bully and I want you be assertive. Understand?”

Fluttershy weakly nodded her head.

“Good.” Strong Will cleared her throat. “Hey. You!” she suddenly shouted at Fluttershy in accusatory tone.

Fluttershy instantly cowered in fear, covering her eyes. She could hear Strong Will’s hoof steps.

“Fluttershy that is not how you stand up to a bully.” She said, her voice loosing it’s accusatory tone but still stern. “Now, we’re going to try this again and I want you to stand up to me. Don’t let me push you around understand?”

Fluttershy nodded, standing up, her knees shaking. Strong Will smiled and then walked to the opposite side of the stage.

“HEY YOU!” she shouted in the same tone as before.

This time, Fluttershy didn’t instantly cower in fear, but rather started to shake violently and looked over at Strong Will.

“Y-yes?” she peeped, her voice shallow.

Strong Will suddenly started to walk forward. “I want your lunch money pony. Give it over.”

Fluttershy continued to shiver. She faintly shook her head, remembering what Strong Will told her.

Strong Will raised an eyebrow, still in pretending to be the bully. “Did you just tell me no?”

Fluttershy shakily looked up and nodded.

She caught a glimpse of a small, barely visible smile tugged at the end of Strong Will’s mouth.

Fluttershy took this as a good thing and straightened out and did her best to stop her knees from shaking.

“Fluttershy, in order to be assertive you must verbalize.” Strong Will ordered. “Now, instead of just nodding, I want you to tell me that you said no. Let me hear you say it.”

Fluttershy hid behind her mane again and spoke softly. “Y-yes…I d-don’t w-want y-you t-to h-have m-my lunch m-money…”

“Can’t hear you!” Strong Will cupped a hoof to her ear.

Fluttershy gulped and spoke again, this time louder. “I d-don’t want t-to g-give y-you m-my lunch m-money.” As soon as the sentence left her mouth she shied away.

Instead of a verbal threat or a smack of a hoof, as Fluttershy expected, instead she felt as if she was getting hoisted into the air.

She opened her eyes, and saw that Strong Will had lifted her onto her shoulder and was smiling.

“You see! If this little filly,” she pointed at Fluttershy. “Can stand up to me like that, after a mere one try, you can too!”

There was a rush of applause and exclamations.

Fluttershy smiled, a feeling of confidence washing over her. She had been assertive for the first time in her life and, honestly, it felt amazing.

////////////////////////////

Fluttershy and Tree Flower sat at the small round dinner table. The sound of cooking emanated from the kitchen.

“Honey, what’s taking the food so long? Are you sure you don’t need my help?” Tree Flower called out.

“No thank you honey, I’m almost done!” Banner Wing called out from the kitchen. He leaned over the boiling pot of soup.

“There we go…nice and ready.” He whispered as he dipped in the ladle and took a sip. It was a good tasting soup, full of flavor. It had been awhile since he had cooking anything really, but he had always had a fondness for his mother’s soup.

Thank Celestia I kept Mom’s cookbook. He thought as he stirred the soup, making sure not to let it boil over.

“Honey, please we’re all a rather bit hungry, is the soup ready yet or not?” Tree Flower called out again, sounding slightly impatient.

Banner Wing shouted towards the dining room. “Yes, it’s almost ready, I’m going to just add some spices to spruce it up okay?” as he said this, he poured three bowls, and, in the smallest bowl, he poured a small vial full of green liquid.

The green liquid was his masterpiece. A special growth hormone he had developed for the government program he had been called to work on. The government hadn’t exactly been clear as to the exact purpose of the work they needed done, but they had provided him with the means to create a way to better Fluttershy’s existence.

He quickly stirred in the serum until it was mixed in.

“Dear…” Tree Flower once more called from the dining room.

Banner Wing gently placed the soup bowls on a platter and picked it up with his mouth and walked into the dining room. He set the platter on the table and took his place.

“Sorry it took so long; it’s just that I haven’t cooked in a while. Hopefully you like it.” He said, taking a sip of his soup.

His wife smiled. “Oh that’s okay honey. I’m quite sure it’s lovely.” She took a sip. “Oh wow it is good. What kind of soup is this?”

“Carrot Soup. My mom’s recipe.” Banner Wing replied, as he watched Fluttershy take a sip herself.

“Wow Daddy this good.”

There was an awkward pause as they all quietly ate their soup. Suddenly Fluttershy raised a hoof.

“Um…if it’s okay with you…I’d like to tell you what happened at school today…” She said.

Both Banner Wing and Tree Flower looked at Fluttershy with interest.

“Really? What?” Banner Wing asked, hoping that for once, she had had an actual good day at school.

“Well…um, today this nice colt in class gave me this…” she quietly pulled a small card out from under her wing.

“Really? What is that?” Banner Wing reached out and took the card, reading it. “Assertiveness class? Why would you need an assertiveness class?” he looked at Fluttershy, eyebrow raised.

“Because I don’t want to get bullied anymore daddy…” Fluttershy said, looking down at her soup.

Tree Flower smiled. “Well I think that that is an excellent idea. How did it go?”

Fluttershy smiled. “It actually went really great. Everypony clapped and cheered for me and everything.”

Banner Wing said nothing, a small smile crossing his face. The sight of his beloved daughter finally happy and not bemoaning over another horrible day was the single most beautiful sight in the universe.

“Well then dear,” he said, gently pulling her in for a hug. “That’s all we need to know.”

////////////////////////////A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER:

“There you go Angel, eat it up.” Fluttershy whispered, a small smile forming on her face.

Fluttershy quietly stood in front of her locker, feeding Angel Bunny. She had had a growth spurt in the last few weeks and her wings and legs had evened out a little.

However, none of that was on her mind, as the universe had decided to crank its torture of her up to an eleven.

////////////////////////////

Dark Sky loomed over Fluttershy.

“What did you just say?” he growled.

“I-I s-said t-that y-you s-should l-leave m-me alone.” Fluttershy said, her voice frail and trembling, doing her best to hold her ground.

“Oh really? And who’s going to make me?” Dark Sky sneered.

Fluttershy tried her best to stand up straight. “M-Me. I've b-been t-taking a-assert-tiveness c-classes, a-and I w-want y-you t-to l-leave me alone.” She stomped her foot on the ground, but her own shaking prevented it from making much impact.

Dark Sky was quiet for a moment. His face was cold. Suddenly, without warning, he grabbed her tail in his magic and started to drag her along the floor towards the school’s gymnasium.

Fluttershy desperately clawed at the floor in a vain attempt to gain some traction and escape. But her hooves only managed to slip and slide along the floor.

The door separating the gymnasium from the rest of the school burst opened as Dark Sky stormed through.

Suddenly, Fluttershy felt herself flying through the air. She tried to flap her wings, but it was a futile attempt. Her body impacted the water and she felt water begin to pour into her nose and throat. She burst to the surface, gasping and panting for air.

“Listen here Flutters!” Dark Sky’s voice echoed through the gymnasium. “You will never attempt to defy me ever again. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!”

Fluttershy clawed her way out of the pool. She gasped and choked. “Y-yes D-Dark Sky…”

Dark Sky smiled. “Good.” As he turned away, he gave her soaking wet form a sharp kick and she tumbled back into the pool.

////////////////////////////

So now here she was, trying her best not to totally break down into a quivering pile of tears.

Her wet mane clung her head like a slug. Her own tears were lost in the wetness of her fur.

“At least you’re still here Angel.” She whispered, gently petting the bunny through the bars of the cage and sniffing slightly.

“HEY! YOU!”

Fluttershy let out a squeak before freezing solid. She knew that voice. Everypony in school knew that voice. She hoped against hope that maybe she wasn’t the one being addressed.

“Didn’t you hear me?! I said, ‘HEY YOU!’” the voice shouted again. Fluttershy slowly turned around to look in the direction of the voice.

And there he was the bane of her existence, Dark Sky. And he was looking right at her.

“I’m talking to you Flutters!” he shouted, walking slowly towards her, the crowd of fillies scattering away in fear.

“Hey Flutters. Whatcha doing?” He sneered, towering over her.

Fluttershy began to shiver. “Um….n-nothing D-Dark Sky, nothing at all. P-please…what do you want now?”

Dark Sky looked into Fluttershy’s locker. “Oh, nothing much…” he eyed the various pictures and doodles and the bunny cage. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of the bunny cage.

“Well would you look at that.” He said, faking surprise at the sight of Angel Bunny. “How long have you had this little friend Flutters?” he said, looking down at the quivering pegasus.

“P-please Dark Sky, w-what do you want?” Fluttershy whimpered. “Y-you a-already d-dumbed m-me into the pool…a-aren’t y-you s-satisfied?”

“Well….” Dark Sky put a hoof on his chin. “I guess…maybe…” his eyes drifted between Fluttershy and Angel. “But, hay, I just think you’re too much fun to pass up, Flutters.”

And with that, he suddenly bobbed Fluttershy on the nose. Fluttershy clutched her nose, letting out a whimper.

“Wow Flutters. You’re like a toy. You make funny noises.” Dark Sky chuckled, once more bopping Fluttershy’s nose.

Fluttershy stumbled forward and hit the floor. “P-please…” she begged, looking at the much large unicorn. “L-leave me alone…” tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’ll do anything, just please leave me alone.”

Dark Sky looked down at Fluttershy, a wicked grin slowly spreading across his face. “Anything?” he asked. His dark blue eyes drifted over the small cage that held Angel Bunny. His horn glowed and a small tendril of magic drifted over and started to tinker with the lock.

“Mind if I play with your little friend here?” he looked back down at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy’s eyes widened. “No…no…not Angel Bunny, he’s all I’ve got…” she cried, grabbing onto Dark Sky’s leg. Dark Sky simply kicked his leg outward and Fluttershy lost her grip.

“Oh Celestia I enjoy myself way too much.” He laughed as the lock popped open and he sent the tendril of magic after Angel Bunny, who had run to the other side of the small cage.

“Come on you stupid bunny, I just want to have a little bit of fun with Flutters.” Dark Sky growled his magic wrapping around Angel Bunny’s leg like a snake. Angel Bunny kicked and struggled as the magic pulled him out of the cage and hung him in the air. Dark Sky’s magic aura quickly enveloped the struggling rabbit.

“Well, well, looky here.” Dark Sky laughed, looking down at Fluttershy, who was now weeping uncontrollably. “Powr wittle Fwutters wanna pway wit her bunny?” He mockingly said in a baby voice, lowering Angel directly in front of Fluttershy’s face.

Fluttershy desperately reached out towards Angel Bunny, only to have Dark Sky suddenly yank the bunny out of her grasp.

“Please!” Fluttershy sobbed. “Leave him alone.”

Dark Sky shot Fluttershy a death glare.

“Now listen here Flutters.” His voice taking on an almost demonic tone. “I want to play with your rabbit here and what Dark Sky wants,” he paused, levitating a small cigarette and a lighter out of his leather jacket. “Dark Sky gets.”

Fluttershy could only watch as Dark Sky light the cigarette and slowly edged it towards Angel Bunny’s tail.

“No! Please no!” Fluttershy sobbed, unable to hold back her tears.

Dark Sky simply cast a dismissive glance at her before focusing his attention back to the bunny he was torturing.

“And here we go.” He chuckled as the cigarette made contact with Angel Bunny’s tail. Angel Bunny let out a tortured squeal and writhed in pain in a vain attempt to escape.

The sight of her bunny being tormented in such a deviant way was simply too much for Fluttershy. Somewhere, deep inside Fluttershy’s soul snapped. Her fear and panic suddenly transformed into a seething ball of anger and rage and everything went red.

“I said LEAVE HIM ALONE!” Fluttershy shrieked and lunged towards Dark Sky, her hooves ready to beat him to a pulp.

Dark Sky turned around at the sound of Fluttershy’s shriek and was greeted by her forehooves impacting his nose. He was sent stumbling and his magic faltered long enough for Angel Bunny to drop the floor and scamper away to hide.

Fluttershy meanwhile, didn’t stop and continued to punch Dark Sky violently in the face.

“DON’T YOU EVER HURT MY ANGEL YOU MONSTER!” she shrieked, grabbing Dark Sky’s head and slamming it into a nearby locker. She then proceeded to violent kick and buck at Dark Sky as if he was a rag doll.

“LEAVE HIM ALONE!” Fluttershy roared, landing a kick on Dark Sky’s skull once again. “LEAVE ME ALONE!”

A small crowd had formed at the disturbing sight of the notoriously meek and shy Pegasus violently beating the much larger and stronger unicorn, whose body was now covered in bruises and completely limp.

Fluttershy suddenly stopped kicking Dark Sky and took a step back. His body was no longer dark grey but now a hideous mix of dark green, black and blue.

What have I done? She thought as her mind slowly cleared and everything came back into focus. She shook her head to clear away the last of the anger and looked down at her forehooves.

They were coated in a thin layer of red liquid. Was that blood? Fluttershy thought as she brought her forehoof up to her face, her anger and rage fading to be replaced by that of panic.

She suddenly started to hyperventilate as the full gravity of her actions suddenly dawned on her. She looked around at the small crowd that had formed. Their faces were all the same. They were afraid of her. Fluttershy suddenly felt very light headed and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

As soon as her body hit the ground the crowd all moved back in unison. Suddenly a door opened down the hallway and an older unicorn with a pair of glasses perched on his nose walked up. It was the school principal, Notebook.

“What is going on out here?” he said in a deep, rumbling voice. The school fillies all pointed at Fluttershy and Dark Sky’s unconscious bodies.

“Dear Celestia…” Principle Notebook whispered. “Somepony get the nurse.” He ordered and a filly darted off towards the nurses’ office.

////////////////////////////

Tree Flower quietly worked in her kitchen, washing dishes when the phone rang. She let out a sigh, pulled off her gloves and picked up the phone.

“Hello, this Tree Flower, to whom am I speaking?” there was a pause as the voice on the other end spoke. “Ah, Principal Notebook, what’s wrong? Has Fluttershy done something wrong?”

There was another pause as Principal Notebook continued to speak. The smile on Tree Flower’s face faded as she heard the principal's words.

“I’ll be there immediately.”

////////////////////////////

“Dr. Banner Wing Wing, I believe your daughter has some serious anger issues.” Principal Notebook said, taking off his reading glasses. In front of him sat Dr. Banner Wing and Tree Flower, having come to the school as soon as they heard the news.

“What makes you say that?” Banner Wing said, holding Tree Flower’s hoof.

Principle Notebook sighed. “Well, I believe you know that your daughter has been the subject of bullying, am I correct?”

Banner Wing nodded. “Yes, sadly, but I’ve never been able to find out who’s responsible.”

Principle Notebook nodded his head. “Well, I’m sorry to say, but today she managed to put a pony in the hospital.”

Tree Flower gasped. “That’s impossible! She’s so gentle and kind.”

“Are you sure it’s was Fluttershy who did this?” Banner Wing said, doing his best to calm Tree Flower down. “I mean she’s just 90 pounds.”

“Well,” Notebook started shifting though the papers on his desk. “According to some eyewitness, this pony was bullying her and then, something just snapped and it seems she attacked them.”

Banner Wing shook his head. “Impossible. As we said before, she’s just too kind and gentle to be capable of this.”

Notebook pulled out another piece of paper. “Dr. Wing, I’m pretty sure as to her gentleness, but right here I have the medical report. Dark Sky, a unicorn, he got his head slammed into a locker, broke his horn, kicked violently and is now in a coma with six broken ribs and a broken jaw.”

He put the papers down. “Dr. Wing, these injuries were all caused by your daughter. Now I don’t believe one bit that she is a monster. In fact, she apparently fainted immediately after she beat up Dark Sky, but that being said, it’s no excuse for her to snap like that and put him in a coma. Are you absolutely sure she’s alright? Any fights at home or a pet’s death or something to make her prone to such outbursts?”

Banner Wing shook his head. “No, sir, as I said before, she’s the most gentle and kind filly you’ll ever meet, and I assure you that she has never in her entire life shown signs of being violent like this.”

Notebook let out a sigh. “Then I don’t know what to tell you Banner. This behavior isn’t normal. Now, since the circumstances are rather unique in this case, I’m not going to expel Fluttershy or anything. But I am going to recommend she see the school psychologist. Are you okay with this?”

Banner Wing nodded. “Of course.” And with that, him and Tree Flower quietly got up and walked out of the principal’s office.

////////////////////////////

It was late that night when Banner Wing awoke to the faint sound of running water.

Why is there water running at 2 AM? He thought as he climbed out of bed, making sure not to wake Tree Flower.

He slipped on a robe and quietly walked towards where the sound of running water was coming from.

He found the bathroom door slightly ajar, with the light on inside. He could tell that the shower was the source of the noise. Just as he was about to open the door to turn the water off, his ears caught the faint whispering of somepony.

"Oh please go away, go away, please..." the voice pleaded.

Banner Wing instantly recognized the voice.

It was Fluttershy.

"Fluttershy? Fluttershy are you okay?" he said. The whispering suddenly stopped cold, leaving only the sound of the shower running.

"D-daddy is that you?" Fluttershy's soft voice replied, it sounded like she had been crying.

"Yes Fluttershy, it's Daddy. What's wrong honey?" he asked, concern in his voice.

"It's the blood Daddy...it won't go away."

Banner Wing panicked, and instantly opened the bathroom door, fearing the worst.

The door swung open to reveal the small yellow figure of Fluttershy curled into a ball in the corner of the shower, water washing over her body as she constantly rubbed and wrung her forehooves together, crying.

The first thing Banner Wing noticed about Fluttershy however, was the complete and total absence of injury or blood of any sort.

"Fluttershy what blood?" Banner Wing gently stepped forward, looking her over. "I can't see any blood."

"No Daddy, don't you see? It's all over my hooves." she reached her perfectly clean forehooves towards Banner Wing, who inspected them.

"And..." Fluttershy was sobbing now. "No matter how much I clean them it won't go away." she let out another heaving sob, obviously immensely distressed.

Banner Wing gently took hold of Fluttershy's hoof and sat next to her, ignoring the fact that the shower was still running. He reached a wing around her shaking body and pulled her close.

"Oh Daddy...that pony's probably dead because of me..." Fluttershy sobbed, burying her face in Banner Wing's chest.

"What pony, Fluttershy?" Banner Wing asked, beginning to gently rock Fluttershy back and forth.

"Dark Sky..." Fluttershy whimpered.

Banner Wing was silent for a moment. To be honest, a part of him felt glad that that monster was in the hospital. However, the sight and sound of his daughter's distress at the thought of her harming somepony was impossible to ignore.

"Oh Fluttershy..." he gently ran a hoof through her hair to comfort her. "It's okay, look," he gently began to rub Fluttershy's hooves as if he were washing them with soap. "Daddy's going to make all the blood go away, okay?"

He gently ran his hooves over hers, and began to sing quietly to her.

"Hush now, quiet now, time to go to bed. Hush now quiet now, now lay your sleepy head..."

"Oh Daddy," Fluttershy whispered. "I don't want to hurt another pony ever again..."

"That's okay Fluttershy, you never will." he consoled her, returning to rocking her back and forth gently.

"I'm so scared Daddy..."

Banner Wing looked down at Fluttershy, who still had her head buried in his chest. "Scared of what?"

"Scared of being angry...I never want to be angry again..." she whispered.

"Oh don't be like that. You'll never hurt another pony again, I promise." he whispered in her ear.

"Never again."

"The nightmare's just begun

I must confess that I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster"

Monster by Skillet

Act II - 04 - God's Lonely Mare

Act Two:

"You Better Run"

Chapter Four:

"God's Lonely Man"

Twenty Years Later:
Days Without Incident: 230

Fluttershy quietly organized the shelves in the local supermarket in the border town of Greifstadt. Being on the South Griffinhiem side of the border, the town’s population consisted mostly of griffins and ponies that, more often than not, were not welcome in Equestria.

Fluttershy herself was one of those unwelcome ponies. She had spent the last ten years on the run from the Equestrian government, hunted like a wild animal.

All because of New Fluttershy. New Fluttershy had appeared in Fluttershy’s life, and with her appearance, everything Fluttershy held dear was completely and utterly destroyed. But, finally, she had managed to scrape out a simple existence, and had settled down in the small border towns, hoping from town to town as necessary, usually every three months or so. Better to move constantly then to risk being found out again.

Of course, being in such close proximity to Equestria still meant she used a pseudonym. Currently, she had settled on the name Swift Breeze, which she had picked out at random from a crossword puzzle.

Her current job mostly consisted of organizing the shelves, cleaning the floors and bagging groceries. It wasn’t exactly the highest paying job, but the manager of the story didn’t ask any questions and it at least was enough to feed her every night.

Suddenly the voice of the store manager crackled over the PA system.

“Swift Breeze wanted in manager’s office, Swift Breeze wanted in manager’s office.”

Fluttershy’s heart stopped. What could she want with me? She thought. What if she found out about…Her? Various other paranoid thoughts raced through her mind as she stopped what she was doing and shakily started to walk towards the manager’s office.

The manager’s office had the name of the manger stamped on, “Penny Pincher, Manager”

Fluttershy took a deep breath, doing her best to calm down. Calm down Fluttershy, she hopefully hasn’t found out about Her Fluttershy mentally cringed at the next thought …and we don’t want to let Her out either…

She raised a hoof and gently knocked on the plate glass window of the door.

“Who is it?” the muffled voice of Penny Pincher asked from behind the door.

“Um, uh…it’s m-me Fl-Swift Breeze.” She quickly caught herself from revealing her real name. Get it together Fluttershy…

There was a pause. “Oh, yes, come in Swift Breeze, it’s unlocked.”

Fluttershy looked down at the door knob and gently pushed the door open, revealing Penny Pincher’s office.

Fluttershy had rarely, if ever, been in Penny Pincher’s office, so she was rather surprised by the look of the room. It didn’t really look like the office of a store manager at all, but more like that of a teenager’s room. The walls were adorned with various old pictures and posters of some old rock band, along with a plaque declaring Penny Pincher’s status as Primary Store Manger, five years running.

A small CD player sat tucked in the corner, with music playing rather quietly from its speakers. Penny Pincher herself sat at her desk, arms crossed.

“Ah, Swift Breeze, here, have a seat.” Penny Pincher motioned towards the front of her desk.

Fluttershy nodded and quietly sat down, being sure to hide behind her mane as much as possible.

“Care for a cigar Swift Breeze?” Penny Pincher asked, pulling out a rather large cigar and holding it out towards her.

Fluttershy shook her head. “N-no thank you. I d-don’t smoke.”

Penny Pincher shrugged. “Eh, suit yourself.” She lit the cigar and puffed.

There was a long silence between the two as the griffin smoked her cigar and Fluttershy simply sat there awkwardly, hiding behind her mane.

“Now, Swift Breeze,” Penny Pincher said around the cigar. “You’re probably wondering why I’ve called you into my office today...”

Fluttershy nodded. “Um, y-yes...I am…”

“Well, as much as it pains me to tell you this…” Penny Pincher paused, taking another puff from her cigar. “It seems that we’ve been forced to make some cuts around here, and well…” another puff. “It seems your name came up.”

Fluttershy felt her heart plummet like a stone at the griffin’s words.

“W-wait, you mean y-you’re firing me?”

Penny Pincher nodded. “Yup. Sorry, Swift Breeze, but it’s just how the ball rolls. I apologize with all my heart, but we just have to let you go.” She emphasized the last words with a flick of her talons.

“B-but what a-about my p-pay? How am I supposed to pay for my motel room, this job is all I have.” Fluttershy said, her emotions starting to get the better of her in the form of tears welling up in her eyes.

Penny Pincher gave Fluttershy a good long once over.

“Well….” She sighed, “I guess you can take home one last check, something to hold over until you can get a new one.” She put the now much smaller cigar out.

Fluttershy slumped her shoulders and sniffed. “Oh…okay then.” She got up and quietly walked out of the room, the now somber music oddly matching her gait.

“Once again, I’m very sorry.” Penny Pincher said as Fluttershy closed the door of the office as quietly as possible.

Once the door was shut, Fluttershy started to cry quietly, her tears forming a small pool on the ground.

However, her sadness slowly began to transform into another emotion.

That of anger and frustration; anger at the world for bullying up on her so much, and that every time something was starting to look up, the universe would drag her down again.

Stupid griffin. She thought. Why did they have to fire me? I’ve worked hard, obeyed the rules and yet they still fired me. Why? What did I do? Why I should... She suddenly stopped herself. She could feel it coming on.

One of her turns.

The distinct feeling of losing control began to cloud her mind. Panicking she looked in a window.

Oh no.

Her eyes were starting to turn a strange bright shade of green.

She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths.

Calm down Fluttershy...don’t get angry…being angry will only make things worse. Just breath in, breath out… She silently coached herself down from her angry wave. She opened her eyes again and checked her reflection. Her eyes were once more their normal beautiful shade of blue.

Letting out a breath she didn’t even know she was holding, she headed off to collect her paycheck, hoping it would be enough.

After all, things could be much worse.

//////////////////////////

“No please, you can’t!” Fluttershy begged as the motel manager forcefully pushed her out of the small motel.

“Um, yes, yes I can.” The griffin said, slamming the door in Fluttershy’s face. “If you don’t pay, you don’t stay.” His voice muffled by the glass door.

“But please, you don’t understand! I have nowhere else to go!” Fluttershy sobbed, pounding against the glass.

The griffin shrugged. “That sucks. But you were three months behind on your rent. Sorry pony.” He turned away and shuffled behind the front desk, pulling out a rather tattered old backpack, a hoodie and a small bracelet heart monitor and threw them out to Fluttershy.

“That’s yours right? Ain’t nothing else in your room I need to know about?” the griffin asked, crossing his arms, an impatient look on his face.

“N-no, that’s everything…” Fluttershy sniffed. “But p-please, I just g-got paid today, please take it.” She shuffled through her backpack, and pulled out a few bits, holding them out to the manager.

The manger’s eyes lit up at the sight of the money and he greedily snatched the money from her hoof. He counted it, muttering calculations.

“Well…” he continued to count the money, with Fluttershy watching and praying it would cover her bill.

“Nope. Still not enough.” The griffin sighed, pocketing the money.

“But please!” Fluttershy feel to her knees. “Please don’t throw me out…where will I stay?”

The griffin shrugged. “None of my business. Sure sucks to be you.” And with that, he turned around, and slammed the door of the motel behind him, leaving Fluttershy crying out in front.

///////////////////////////

Fluttershy pulled her hoodie tighter over her shivering body. It was a cold, cold night. Her breaths formed small clouds of mist in front her.

She had wandered for hours, hoping to find somewhere, anywhere were she could stay the night or until she had another job. But everywhere she went she was turned away. So, now, with nowhere else to go, she had been reduced to hunker down under an old deserted bridge on the edge of town.

She was completely and utterly alone in the world. She let out a quiet sob as she considered the state of her life.

Suddenly four shadows fell across Fluttershy’s body, distracting her from her dark revere.

“Well, well, well. Would you look at that?” Fluttershy looked up to see a young looking earth pony stallion with a bowler hat and dressed in a white suit. Tucked under his foreleg was a black cane.

To his left stood a large griffin, and a pegasus. To his right stood a unicorn. They were all wearing the same bowler hats and white suits. They all wore the same expression, one of malicious bemusement.

Fluttershy turned pale.

“W-w-what do y-you want with m-me?” she peeped, barely able to speak.

The earth pony laughed. “Well, my little darlin’, we figure that you might have some money to spare, eh?”

Fluttershy couldn’t quite get her head around what the pony was saying, but deep in the depths of her soul she knew it wasn’t good.

“I’m s-sorry, b-but I d-don’t t-think I have a-any m-money.” She panted.

The earth raised an eyebrow. “Oh ya sure?” He leaned in close to Fluttershy. He had a wicked smile on his face, and his eyes glinted with malevolence.

“Y-yes, q-quite sure.” Fluttershy whispered.

Suddenly the pegasus spoke up. “I don’t think the mare has any money Alex.”

The earth pony shot the Pegasus an angry look. “Shut your rot.” He spat and turned back to Fluttershy.

“Well,” he sighed. “It seems this mare don’t have any money, my friends.” He stood back up. He looked at his fellow goons. “What do you guys think? Should we have a little fun with this little mare?” he cast another wicked smile in her direction. “Oh!” his eyes instantly widened as they fell on her backpack.

“Oh well, well, well!” the earth pony reached down and picked up Fluttershy’s backpack in his teeth and chucked it in front of his companions.

“Would you look at that my droogies?” he chuckled. “It seems the mare was hiding something.” He turned towards the griffin. “Dim, check that will you?”

The griffin nodded, and picked the backpack up and rummaged for a few seconds. “Nothin’ here.” He spilled the contents of the backpack on the floor. “Just a bunch of pills.”

The earth pony cast a quick glance at the pile of bottles now laying on the ground.

“Hmm…” he huffed. “That won’t do now will my friends?”

The others all nodded and muttered their agreement.

“Well then. It seems we’ve got a bum on our hands, do we?” His voice taking an even disturbing tone if that was possible. The others chuckled, sounding like a group of lecherous dogs.

“P-please,” Fluttershy begged. “D-don’t h-hurt me, p-please.” Her mind quickly becoming overwhelmed with fear.

The earth pony simply laughed louder. “HA! Don’t worry darlin’, we’re only gonna teach ya a little lesson in generosity eh?” He pulled out the cane from under his foreleg, with a twisted grin on his face. “Ready boys?”

And with that he brought the cane down hard onto Fluttershy’s side.

Before Fluttershy even had a chance to respond the three others let loose with their respective weapons, sending sharp bursts of pain through Fluttershy’s body. She felt herself beginning to lose control as the sound of her heart rate monitor mixed with the sound of various weapons impacting her body.

Her vision suddenly went a strange shade of bright green.

Oh no. Was Fluttershy’s only thought as she felt her fear and pain transform into another, much more deadly feeling.

The feeling of pure unbridled rage.

Then everything went black.

///////////////////////////

Flutterhulk felt countless pinpricks of pain. Instantly Flutterhulk shot a hoof out in the general direction of the pain.

A shriek cut through the air as the unicorn thug went flying and slammed into the wall across the way.

Flutterhulk then grabbed the griffin by the tail and slammed him into the wall, his body going completely limp in Flutterhulk’s hooves.

The pegasus tried to flee only to be slammed by a swipe of Flutterhulk’s hooves. He went flying into the bridge above, his body falling to the ground like a rag doll.

This left the earth pony that had already begun to run as fast as his legs could carry him. He didn’t get far before Flutterhulk turned and thundered after him.

Flutterhulk slammed a hoof down on the fleeing pony’s leg, completely crushing it.

He screamed in pain and turned his face now completely pale.

“NO! Please!” he begged.

“FLUTTERHULK SMASH PUNY EARTH PONY!!!!” Flutterhulk roared, and brought it’s forehooves down directly on top of the trembling pony, crushing him like a bug.

Again and again, Flutterhulk slammed it’s hooves down onto the pavement until the pony below was nothing more than a bloody pulp.

Flutterhulk then let out a defiant roar, and, with that, galloped away.

Days Without Incident: 0
///////////////////////////

A rather small slate grey unicorn mare with a slightly messy dark red mane stood in stood in the general’s office.

She wore a rather well worn black windbreaker with the Equestrian Marshall’s logo on the back. Tucked in the front pocket of her windbreaker where a pair of aviator sunglasses and her badge.

On her flank was a pair of closed hoofcuffs.

She was Equestria’s finest fugitive hunter and expert on all things related to her job. Never in her entire ten year career had a fugitive escaped her grasp.

She was Hoofcuff, and she was bored out of her mind.

She had been called to the office of the general for reasons that were unknown to her. She had spent the better part of an hour scanning along the walls where various decorations, paintings and old photos, all showing off the military exploits of past generals. One painting in particular was now the center of Hoofcuff’s attention.

It was a rather nice oil painting that showed an orange earth pony mare in what honestly looked like an outfit from a comic book leading her platoon into battle.

On the bottom was a label which read, “Captain Equestria in combat, 1944” and the name of the artist, one Clean Canvas.

Huh, Hoofcuff thought. Interesting….

“Mighty proud of that painting there. It’s an original.” The low voice of the general caught Hoofcuff’s attention. She spun around and was met with a tall Minotaur with the build of a hoof ball linebacker.

“Oh, hello General Iron Will, nice to meet you.” She reached a slate grey hoof out in greeting. General Iron Will nodded, and shook her hoof.

“Welcome, Marshall Hoofcuff, please. Sit down.” His voice was welcoming as he motioned to in front of his lavish desk.

“Don’t mind if I do.” Hoofcuff sat down and started to make herself comfortable, while the general himself sat in a opulent leather chair. Scattered along his oak desk were several dozen manila folders that looked like they were about to explode, several small pictures showing him with various important political figures, boxes of pens and pencils and a jar of Sugarcube Corner’s Finest Caramel’s.

“Now, Miss Hoofcuff-” Iron Will began, picking up one of the manila folders.

“Please, call me Marshall Hoofcuff.” Hoofcuff said, her expression hardening slightly. She had spent a good ten years working to be an equal with stallions, and as such, she had developed an intense dislike of the term ‘Miss’.

Iron Will smiled. “Okay then Marshall,” he opened the folder he held in his hands. “You’re probably wondering why I’ve called you into my office today.” He started laying the various papers out on the desk.

“Yes, yes I am.” Hoofcuff replied as she eyed the papers. All the papers were covered in a red stamp that said ‘Top Secret’. This caught Hoofcuff’s attention.

“Do you need me to find somebody, because if so, then I’m the mare for the job.”

Iron Will nodded, not looking up from the papers. “Yes, as a matter of fact we do. We need you to find this mare right here. She is the single most dangerous mare in Equestria, and is responsible for the deaths of at least twenty ponies.” He pulled out a paper and handed it to Hoofcuff, who took it up in her magic.

On the paper was a rather old looking color photo of a yellow pegasus with a long, flowing pink mane.

Hoofcuff raised an eyebrow. “Fluttershy Braveheart?” she thought aloud as she read the name of the pegasus. She had learned from her years of experience that it was often the quiet ones that where the most dangerous. But this mare? Never in her life had Hoofcuff seen such an innocent face on such a killer. In fact, innocent might not have been the right word for it, but fearful. The pony in the picture looked almost as if the very idea of being photographed frightened her.

Hoofcuff paged through the folder, carefully taking in every detail about this mare.

Apparently, five years ago, this mare had stolen some government secrets, and, during her escape, had somehow managed to kill an entire squad of guards. Then, she seemingly dropped off the face of the planet entirely, popping up rarely, leaving a trail of dead in her wake.

As strange as this all seemed, this pony was obviously a grave threat to Equestria and needed to be dealt with swiftly and efficiently.

“Well, are you up for it?” the general asked.

“General…” Hoofcuff said, finally closing the folder. “It seems to me that this just might be the catch of my career. Are you sure this is all the information you have on her?” She set the folder down on the desk.

“Yes. This is all.” Iron Will said, his face determined. “So…are you up for it.”

Hoofcuff got up and saluted. “Of course. Me and my boys will find her, wherever she is, and make sure she is brought the justice she deserves.”

Iron Will smiled. It looked like a confident smile, but something about it made Hoofcuff suddenly feel uneasy.

“Excellent Hoofcuff. I do have one important thing to tell you.”

“Really? What?”

“The Equestrian government is obviously greatly concerned and expects that this mission will be a success, so, in order to make sure that you are able to properly complete your mission, me and a special commando unit will be aiding you in this mission.”

Hoofcuff nearly did a spit take at the general’s words. “What?! Why? Me and my boys are perfectly able to catch this pegasus.”

Iron Will shook his head. “Unless you forgot, this mare single handedly killed more than twenty ponies in the space of an hour. You’ll need all the help you can get on this mission.”

Hoofcuff groaned. “But I work best when me and my boys are uninhibited. I don’t need any special ops unit.”

Iron Will stood up straight, his tall bipedal frame suddenly towering over Hoofcuff.

“Marshall Hoofcuff, you will rendezvous with my unit at Canterlot Airfield at exactly 06:00 tomorrow. Or do you want this murderer to escape?” His voice was low and cold, bearing no semblance to the welcoming voice from before.

There was a pause between the two, neither saying a word. “No sir I do not.” Hoofcuff finally said, taking a step back.

“Good.” Iron Will said, picking up the folder from the desk and walking towards the door. “See you tomorrow.”

“Yes sir.” Hoofcuff replied as she followed him out of the office.

///////////////////////////

Hoofcuff stood near the entrance of the hanger. Canterlot Airfield stretched out before her, covered in a thin veil of morning mist. Despite the early hour, the airfield cluttered with various pegasi and hot air balloons that were either landing or descending. A tremendous zeppelin loomed behind her, ready to be taxied out to the airfield.

Stupid general…. She thought. This is *exactly** why I like to work alone…always late…*

Next to her stood a rather tall and thin unicorn pony with a salt and pepper mane and an off white coat. He wore a brand new pair of aviator sunglasses and windbreaker that matched Hoofcuff’s and chewed a piece of gum. On his flank were a flashlight and a starburst pattern.

“Starlight, where the hay is the general? He said he’d be here.” Hoofcuff grumbled taking a glance at her watch.

The unicorn shook his head. “Don’t know Boss.” He scanned the airfield. “Wait, is that him?” He pointed a hoof towards a small closed in chariot being pulled by a pair of pegasi in military uniforms.

Hoofcuff took a long look. “Yeah…that’s him alright.”

The chariot landed in front of them, the two pegasi looking rather exhausted. The chariot doors opened to reveal General Iron Will, in fatigues and a hat. Behind him stepped out a well toned snow white pegasus with a blonde mane cut in the standard military mane cut.

“Ah, Hoofcuff, nice to see you came.” Iron Will said, extending a hand in greeting. Hoofcuff shook it rather tersely.

“General, you said that I should be rendezvous with your unit no later than 06:00 and its 06:30. What took you?”

The General scoffed. “Oh don’t be such a bitch Hoofcuff.”

Hoofcuff tensed up at the remark. She hated being called that.

“I needed to pick up my most crucial team member.” The General motioned towards the white pegasus, who simply stared at Hoofcuff, his eyes covered by his own pair of sunglasses.

“And this is?” Hoofcuff asked, giving the mysterious pegasus a once over. Iron Will turned and looked at the pegasus. Something about him made Hoofcuff feel uneasy, almost as if he was wound far too tight and he might suddenly explode at any moment.

“Oh, right. Hoofcuff, I’d like you to meet Snowflake, former Black Ops.” The General said.

At this, the white pegasus nodded and extended a hoof mechanically. “Pleasure to meet you ma’am.” He said in a vaguely Scoltish accent. Hoofcuff shook his hoof.

“Same here.” She turned to Iron Will. “So you were saying?”

Iron Will handed her a portfolio. “In there are his credentials. You will see that he is one of the most decorated ponies in the force right now, and he has agreed to aid us in our search for the target.”

Hoofcuff was silent as she paged through the portfolio. Iron Will was right. It seemed that this Snowflake here had single handedly managed to acquire almost every possible military honor. He had been in almost every military operation in the past ten years and in each one seemingly went out of his way to be noticed.

Maybe he’s making up for something. Hoofcuff mentally snickered at the thought.

“Impressive.” She finally said, levitating the portfolio back to Iron Will. “So, General, when are we setting out?”

“Today. We’ve just received some crucial information regarding the whereabouts of our fugitive.”

Haoofcuff raised an eyebrow. Finally, something that was relevant to her interests. “Really? What?”

General Iron Will motioned towards the zeppelin behind Hoofcuff. “Come aboard and you’ll find out.”

Hoofcuff nodded and motioned towards Starlight, who followed behind her. The three ponies and minotaur entered the zeppelin and the ramp retracted and the door sealed behind them. Their way down the halls and into what looked like a small conference room.

“Sit down.” Iron Will motioned to the table in the office. The three ponies sat down. The lights in the room went out and a projector showed a simple slide show on the screen across the room.

Iron Will cleared his throat. “Okay then. Two days ago, we received some reports of a mare matching the description of our particular little filly coming from the border town of Greifstadt.” The sound of the slide projector changing slides was accompanied by what looked like crime scene photos.

Hoofcuff nearly jumped up at the sight.

In one of the pictures, several police officers, a mix of pony and griffin, stood at the edge of the photo. In the center of the photo was a pummeled pile of pulp that looked disturbingly like a body of a pony.

“What in Celestia’s name caused that?!” Starlight’s voice came from behind Hoofcuff.

“That, Marshall Starlight, was caused by our fugitive.” Iron Will’s words were accompanied by the same photo of Fluttershy that Hoofcuff had seen in the portfolio from the day before.

“Seriously?” Starlight said, his voice betraying his skepticism. “She’s the one?”

“Do not be deceived by her apparent innocence. This pony, as you’ve seen, is capable of incredibly sadistic acts of violence.” Once again, Iron Will’s words were followed by a new slide, this time showing a griffin in a body cast.

“I take it she caused that as well?” Snowflake’s voice came from the left of Hoofcuff.

“Yes. Yes she did.” Iron Will responded.

The muffled voice of Starlight saying “Holy crap” greeted Hoofcuff’s ears.

Hoofcuff said nothing; instead, she intensely studied each and every slide. She had hunted her fare share of psychopaths and sadists over the course of her career, but the one thing they all had in common, besides their blatant disregard for pony life, was patterns.

Every killer had a pattern, a modus operandi. And, no matter how many slides Hoofcuff saw, that was the one thing lacking from Fluttershy’s killing sprees.

It seemed that whenever this pony killed somepony, they would do it in the most violent and out of control way as possible. Almost as if they had no control of their actions.

The only thing that linked said deaths together was one thing. All their injuries were almost always in the form of massive blunt force trauma, like that of a baseball bat or a punch. Except on a scale never before seen by Hoofcuff.

One victim, a griffin, had apparently his entire beak shattered and his legs completely shattered as well.

Iron Will all the while continued to talk, narrating each slide in detail.

“Excuse me General.” Hoofcuff raised a hoof.

“Yes?” Iron Will paused.

“Would you happen to have any information regarding this fugitive’s life before she was hunted? Something like family members or an old home address?” she turned to face Iron Will, holding a hoof up to block the light of the projector from hitting her square in the face.

Iron Will was quiet for a moment. “You don’t need to know anything about that. Haven’t you seen enough? This mare is obviously a threat to the entire nation of Equestria. Now your job is to find her, wherever she is, and capture her, ALIVE and bring her back to Canterlot where we can then decide for a proper punishment for her crimes. Understand?” He snapped.

Hoofcuff nodded, taken somewhat aback by the General’s sudden showing of aggression. “Yes sir, I just like to have all the information I can get on a target before I set out for them. That way I can more accurately predict their next move.”

Iron Will scoffed. “You don’t need any of that for her. As I said, she is a sadistic killer and that is all.”

Suddenly the screen went blank and the light turned back on, causing all the ponies’ eyes to blink rapidly as they adjusted to the sudden presence of light. Iron Will rolled up the screen and turned to Hoofcuff, Starlight and Snowflake.

“Now, this zeppelin is taking us to Greifstadt where you will be filled in on all other details. You are dismissed.” He waved his hand and the three ponies got up and exited the room, leaving Iron Will alone.

He looked down at a large portfolio that sat on the table. He opened it, revealing its contents. Various photos of Fluttershy, taken over the course of the ten year hunt. One in particular was at center of his attention.

It showed Fluttershy, wearing a baseball cap and hoodie, looking over her shoulder, almost as if to make sure nopony was following her. A look of fear and unease was on her face.

“Soon I’ll find you…and when I do…” Iron Will picked up the photo. “Equestria will be safe from you. Forever…”

"Loneliness has followed me my whole life, everywhere. In bars, in cars, sidewalks, stores, everywhere. There's no escape. I'm God's lonely man."

Taxi Driver

Act II - 05 - The Long and Winding Road

Act Two:

“You Better Run”

Chapter Five:

“The Long and Winding Road”

Hoofcuff quietly surveyed the crime scene in Greifstadt. Suddenly a loud voice called out from behind her.

“Hey babe! You ever been with a REAL male?”

Hoofcuff turned at the sound of the voice. She was greeted by a couple of teenage griffins males, all eyeing her rather lustfully. Her horn flared and a bolt of magic went flying in their direction, sending them scattering with them shouting expletives as they flew off.

Stupid punks, she thought. Looking around, she saw the various military troops from Iron Will’s unit mulling about, idly chatting or standing guard.

She trotted over towards one of them.

“Excuse me, but can we put a tarp up or something, we seem to have become quite the spectacle.” She pointed over towards the covered carcass and the growing crowd of curious onlookers.

The soldier nodded, barking some orders to a pair of unicorn troops who nodded and lit their horns, encasing the crime scene in a special magical dome that allowed the ponies on the inside to see out, but those on the outside couldn’t see in.

Almost as if they’ve never seen police before. She thought.

Hoofcuff let out a contented sigh as she watched the group quickly disperse, having quickly lost their enthusiasm, now that the dome was in place. Hoofcuff hated being watched, made her feel like she was under a microscope or something.

She turned towards the crime scene. She once more took in the scene, content that she wasn’t being distracted by any unwanted noises.

The body under the tarp honestly didn’t even look like that of a pony. It pummeled and bludgeoned beyond recognition, and the only thing even hinting that this might once have been alive was the scraps of white clothing that poked out here and there.

Starlight walked up, still chewing his gum. “Geez Boss, that’s the single most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Looks like a big bowl of gumbo or something.”

Hoofcuff gave Starlight a frustrated look. “Starlight, if you just want to randomly point out the corpse, please, I had at least thirty griffin’s doing that about thirty seconds ago.” She pointed towards the dome, where a couple of the griffins remained, idly watching the dome and tossing small rocks at it every so often, causing it to ripple like a pool of water.

There was an awkward silence between the two as they both looked at the corpse.

“Starlight,” Hoofcuff finally said, “Did you happen to get around to those interviews I asked for? The ones with the survivors of the attack?”

Starlight nodded. “Yeah Boss I did.”

“And?”

Starlight pulled out a small notebook with his magic that was covered in random doodles.

“Well boss, the griffin survivor said that our friend who caused all this turned green or something. He has trouble remembering.”

Hoofcuff raised an eyebrow. “Turned green? Are you serious?”

Starlight nodded. “Yeah, the other guy said so as well. Said he was tossed from there…” he pointed to a couple dozen feet away where a tattered old backpack lay. “…to over there.” He brought his hoof around so it pointed at the opposite wall, where, as if to confirm it, there was a small indent.

Hoofcuff said nothing as she trotted over to the backpack. It was a rather normal looking bag, with its contents spilled on the floor. Its contents consisted almost entirely of bottles of various sizes, all containing various forms of pain killers.

“Well, well…” Hoofcuff muttered as she levitated an evidence bag over and placed several of the bottles inside it, sealing it with a spell so it couldn’t be tampered with. She then motioned towards Starlight who trotted over.

“Get this,” she levitated him the bag. “Over to the evidence ponies, tell them to check it for hoof prints and such. And take the bag too.”

Starlight nodded and took both bags in his magic and trotted over to a soldier, who nodded and proceeded to take the bags to a tent where the evidence was being studied.

Hoofcuff turned back to the crime scene. Weird, she thought, suddenly noticing two large, circular shaped indentations in the ground to her left. What’s this?

The weird shapes in the ground reminded Hoofcuff of hoof prints, but they seemed too much too large to be that of any pony she knew about.

She put her own hoof inside one of the holes. Whatever caused these marks had hooves at least six times the size of mine. She thought. What on earth could cause that?

She then trotted over to the opposite wall, where the imprint of the unicorn was still in the wall. She looked back towards the opposite end. Running some calculations in her head, she motioned towards Starlight.

“Starlight, how far would you make it between each of these walls?”

Starlight looked between the walls, and Hoofcuff could tell he was running some calculations of his own.

“Um….I’d say about…twenty-five feet or something. Why?” he gave her a quizzical look.

Hoofcuff then trotted over. “Well, Starlight, if what the victims are saying is true, then that means our friend managed to toss a two hundred pound unicorn twenty-five feet without so much as a second thought. What kind of pony is capable of that?”

Starlight looked at Handcuff and then at the crime scene. “Well, maybe she got a unicorn to jack her up, like with that crazy Trottingham bat nut.”

Hoofcuff nodded. “I guess…” she scanned the bridge. Something wasn’t adding up. For one thing, how could a pony the size of Fluttershy be capable of such destruction? Also, if it was her, why were there those strange hoofprint like holes in the ground.

“Starlight, did you notice that.” She pointed towards one of the holes in the ground.

Starlight nodded. “Yeah, I was wondering about that too. Guy had big hooves, that’s for sure.”

“That’s if it is a pony…honestly things are looking awful suspicious…” Hoofcuff said, warily eyeing one of the guards, who simply waved back.

“What do you mean boss? I mean, everything so far is checking out with that Iron Will told us, a bunch of random blunt force trauma and dead ponies. What’s suspicious?”

Hoofcuff huffed. “Starlight, I’m not one to go around piping wild conspiracy theories, you know this, but look at the evidence. We’ve got a small pegasus pony that apparently was able to kill two ponies with her bare hooves, crushing one to a pulp and slamming the other into the roof above…” she pointed at the hole above. “And throw a four hundred pound griffin like a rag doll. They’re hiding something. I can feel it.”

Starlight cave Hoofcuff a long look. “So what would they be hiding, if they’re hiding anything?”

“I don’t know…but something, maybe she is being jacked up by spells I don’t know. I’ll ask Snowflake about it, hopefully he’ll be straight with me. Maybe they told him something because he’s military.” Hoofcuff turned and trotted over to Snowflake, whom, the entire time, had been intensely studying the crime scene.

“Snowflake, can I ask you something?”

Snowflake spun around and snapped to attention. “Yes, what do you want?”

Hoofcuff leaned in. “Snowflake, did the General tell you any more information about Fluttershy besides what he told all of us?”

Snowflake paused and tensed up slightly. “Um, no ma’am he did not.” Hoofcuff noticed he seemed to be hiding something.

“Okay then…” Hoofcuff finally said, making sure to mask her suspiciousness with a laid back tone. “Just remember, don’t call me ‘ma’am’. I really do prefer Marshall Hoofcuff, okay?”

“Affirmative, Marshall Hoofcuff.” With that, Snowflake returned to studying the crime scene.

Oh he’s definitely hiding something. Hoofcuff thought as she herself returned to her part of the crime scene.

Don’t know what exactly, but it’s something….

//////////////////////
Days Without Incident: 1

The moon rose over the distant mountains as Fluttershy plowed onward. She hadn’t stopped walking since she came to, knowing that since New Fluttershy got out, the government would probably be right on her tail.

Her body groaned and ached in protest as it always did after an incident. She hoped that somewhere there would be a place where she could stay the night and not attract attention.

It was freezing cold, and her breath made small clouds in front of her. But Fluttershy had lost her hoodie, so she had had to bare the full brunt of the frigid South Griffinhiem nights.

And that’s when she caught sight of something.

It looked somewhat like a house, Fluttershy honestly couldn’t tell in the darkness. There was a small lamp next to the building that lit up the front porch.

I really should keep going. She thought. Can’t stay in one place too long...they’ll find me for sure that way.

The building steadily grew in size until she was standing right in front of it. She paused. Her body once more groaned and sent sharp pains through her legs. She looked at the road ahead. It stretched on for what seemed like forever with absolutely no signs of civilization. She looked back at the building. It was a small home with a mailbox in the front. It reminded Fluttershy of her home in Ponyville.

At least…when I had a home.

She let out a sigh and tried to continue walking, but her body continued to protest her every movement.

Suddenly a voice called out to her. She tensed up and turned to look in the direction of the source of the voice.

It was a rather short looking griffin who stood on the front porch, babbling on in what sounded like Griffin or Old Scoltish, she couldn’t tell. He beckoned towards her.

Fluttershy looked around. The road was totally and utterly deserted aside from herself. Against her better judgment she turned and walked towards the griffin, who seemed quite ecstatic.

“Lassie!” he suddenly said in Equestrian and a very thick Scoltish accent.

Fluttershy smiled slightly, No use being rude, she thought.

“Um…hello…” she replied.

The griffin smiled and walked up to her. “Hello lassie, what possessed ye to be out here on this frigid night aye?” he extended a talon in greeting.

“I um….” Fluttershy searched her mind for an excuse. “I think I got lost.”

“Really? ‘tis a shame lassie. Come inside, the fire’s warm and I have some soup a brewin’.” He motioned towards his home.

“Um…that would be really nice, but I really must keep going.” Fluttershy insisted, and tried to walk away.

“Nonsense lassie! It’s only fifteen degrees outside tonight! I insist, deary, before ye catch a cold or worse.” He put an arm around her and began to escort her to the house. Fluttershy reluctantly went along with it, deep down being glad with the prospect of being out of the cold.

They entered the house and the griffin closed the door behind him.

“Here’s me humble abode lassie.” The griffin motioned towards the living room. It consisted almost entirely of a table and a few chairs, a small fireplace where a kettle was brewing, and two beds. There was a door on the left that Fluttershy assumed was the bathroom, and another door that lead to a small bedroom.

“Um…wow…this is rather nice…” Fluttershy said, savoring the warmth that the fire provided.

“Aye, that it is. Not a mansion, but good enough for me and my Gladys.”

As if on cue, a loud female voice shouted from inside the bedroom. “HAMISH! What ‘ave ya managed to bring home now ya crazy wanker!”

Fluttershy darted behind the table at the sudden noise. The boy griffin simply laughed. “Oh don’t be scared lassie, that’s Gladys.” He then walked over to the bedroom and leaned in, his head disappearing into the room.

“Gladys honey, don’t be so vulgar. We ‘ave a guest.” His voice came from inside the bedroom.

“What guests come over at 3 AM Hamish!” the rather abrasive voice of Gladys screeched.

“Honey, if’in you just come out of yer cocoon and say hello…” Hamish replied, his voice sounding like he’d had this conversation many times in the past.

There was an indistinct groan and suddenly the male griffin, who was apparently named Hamish, appeared again.

“Lassie, I’d like ya ta meet me beloved wife of thirty years, Gladys.” He made a theatrical wave of his talons and a girl griffin, done up in curlers, appeared.

She eyed Fluttershy rather aggressively.

“Hamish,” she squawked. “This is a pony. What’s a pony doin’ in me house at this hour?” she crossed her arms and gave Hamish a dirty look. Hamish simply smiled.

“Now, now Gladys, this here wee lassie was a-wanderin’ outside alone. Are ya seriously going to throw this poor filly out in the cold night air?” he put a talon on Fluttershy’s shoulder.

Fluttershy hid behind her mane again. “Y-you know…I could just leave….if t-that’s okay with you.”

Hamish looked down at Fluttershy. “Nonsense lassie! As I said, it’s too cold out fer ya. How’s about ya stay the night eh?” he smiled a warm smile at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy blushed slightly, and thought about his offer.

Here was a nice, kind hearted fellow who was totally willing to let a complete and total stranger stay at his house for the night.

Gladys, however, only glowered at them. “Hamish, are ya seriously lettin’ a total stranger stay at the house?”

Hamish simply laughed and walked over to Gladys. “Gladys, deary, where’s the beautiful, kind hearted girl I married all them years ago? She would never let a lass like that stay out on a cold night like this would she?”

Gladys rolled her eyes. “She went ta bed ‘bout two hours ago.”

“Well wake her again, ‘cause this here mare is in need of lodging.” He gave her a playful nudge.

Fluttershy didn’t say a word as she watched the two. She was quite exhausted and simply wanted some rest.

Gladys let out a sigh, rolled her eyes, and gave Hamish a gentle hug. “Okay then…” her voice contained none of the venom from before, but rather a tone like that of a rather tried, but patient housewife. “She can stay the night.” She then looked at Fluttershy, her expression softening. “And goodness knows the lass is rather pitiful lookin’. Awful thin too. ‘ave ya eaten anythin’ lass?”

Fluttershy slowly shook her head.

“Oh righty then, I guess we can spare some soup then.” Gladys shrugged and walked over to the fireplace. “Do ya happen to ‘ave a name lassie?” she asked as she knelt down and poured out a bowl of soup.

Fluttershy let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding and smiled. “Um, uh, yes…it’s…” she paused, mentally going down her checklist of crossword puzzle names. “You can call me Golden Feathers.”

“That’s a fine name.” Hamish chuckled as he sat down at the table. Gladys poured two more bowls and the three them all sat down and went about eating their soup.

Fluttershy quietly ate her soup, a wistful smile on her face. She thought back to the dinners she would have with her family. All of that was gone now of course, but at least right now, in this moment, she felt as if she was home.

Wow, she thought. Maybe things will start looking up for a change.

//////////////////////

The next day, Fluttershy bid the old couple goodbye.

They had insisted that she stay, but, after breakfast, Fluttershy decided to leave, instead of risking her hurting them somehow.

They had been incredibly kind to her, having provided her with a new backpack, a coat, and enough money they said to get her to the next town. She had asked if they had anything for her aches, and Hamish had been kind enough to lend her some pills without a second thought.

However, within a few hours of walking, all the happiness in Fluttershy had had been drained dry by the desert air. Night had fallen once again, and with it, the temperatures too. She pulled her coat a little tighter.

Her stomach rumbled as she continued onward, her aches once more making their presence known. She hadn’t eaten since that morning, and now she was regretting not asking for some food as well.

Her eyes however, caught sight of a small diner.

Her lost energy came back at the thought of food; she shifted from a walk to a canter.

She arrived at the diner after a few minutes, and finally got a chance to see a name for the establishment.

A large neon sign blinked on and off with the words “Welcome to Gus’ Gourmet Greasy Spoon, home of the finest fried food this side of the Griffin Pass.”

Fluttershy smiled slightly, the thought of anything warm filling her stomach being a welcome thought.

She took a deep breath and opened the door. A small bell tinkled as the door swung open and she walked in.

The diner was completely bare, with the exception of a single apparently middle aged griffin who was wiping the counter. At the sound of the bell he looked up from his work and smiled.

“Hello, I’m Gus.” He said in Equestrian, if with a noticeable Scoltish accent.

Fluttershy nodded. “Hello.” She answered quietly as she quietly walked up to the counter and sat down.

“Well, you seem to be a pony. Don’t see many of those around here.” Gus said as he started to wipe the counter again. “Do you want something to eat?”

Fluttershy nodded. She figured that if she remained quiet she could simply eat and maybe ask for directions to the nearest motel.

“Well, I don’t normally serve ponies here, but I’ll see what I have, aye?” Gus said as he pulled out a small menu and slid it over to Fluttershy. “Take a look, see if there’s anything you like.”

“Thank you.” Fluttershy said as she opened the menu. She looked over the contents. Most of it was various forms of meat and most of it was completely covered in some form of fried crust or gravy.

Wow, is there anything on this menu that isn’t swimming in gravy? Fluttershy thought to herself as she paged through the menu. Her eyes eventually settled on some hay fries.

“Well? Anything?” Gus asked, leaning on the counter.

"Um, yeah, I think I'll have some hay fries and some water...if that’s okay with you." Fluttershy said.

The griffin nodded. "Sure thing lassie." he turned towards the kitchen window. "Oi! Klaus!" he shouted into the kitchen.

A large burly diamond dog wearing a chef hat appeared in the window.

"Vat?" he grumbled in an incredibly think South Griffinheim accent.

"Klaus, give this here fair lassie a spot of hay fries and water aye?" Gus said.

The diamond dog shot Fluttershy a quick glance. "Jawhol." he grumbled.

With that he turned and disappeared into the kitchen.

Gus returned to wipe down the counter. "Well, lassie, they oughta be 'round in a minute, okay?" Fluttershy nodded.

They sat there for a moment, neither speaking as Gus wiped the counter and Fluttershy simply sat there, looking at her reflected image.

Gus suddenly stopped wiping the counter and looked at Fluttershy. "You know lassie, I never got yer name." he said, smiling again.

Fluttershy's head snapped up from the counter. She had been worrying about this. Maybe, she thought, just maybe he won't know who I am, like the others...

"Um, you can call me Golden Feathers." she said, remembering another one of her crossword puzzle names, as she quickly hid behind her mane, mentally kicking herself for using the same name twice.

"Ah, Golden Feathers, eh? Fine name lassie. Had a girlfriend named that once," Gus said, resting his elbow on the counter. "Funny thing was that she was totally bald, so no idea how the lass got that name." he chuckled to himself.

Suddenly the bell at the door rung again, sending the hairs on the back of Fluttershy's neck on end. She shot a quick glance over her shoulder to see a gang of five boy griffins, all wearing black leather jackets, strode in. She quickly looked back down at the counter and tried to look as small as possible. She could feel her heart rate jump slightly.

"Hello, what can I get ya lads?" Gus said, approaching the apparent leader of the quartet.

The other griffin nodded. "Yeah, you can get me and my clutch here some cider. But the good, hard stuff, not that watered down shit."

Gus nodded. "Sure thing. Anything else?"

The other griffin shrugged. "Nah." he waved his claw dismissively and walked over to one of the tables and sat down, motioning to his friends.

Gus nodded and turned to the fountain when a small bell rung, causing him to turn towards the kitchen.

"Nahrung für das Pony." Klaus grumbled, sliding out a plate of piping hot hay fries. Gus nodded.

"Thank you Klaus." Gus said, taking the plate from the window and setting down in front of Fluttershy.

"Now careful there lass, that’s hot aye?" Klaus said, turning to fill a small glass of water for her and setting it next to the plate.

Fluttershy smiled, the thought of fresh food making her forget her aching bones and tired body. She reached into her bag and fished out her bottle of painkillers, which she opened and popped out two small bright orange pills.

She popped them into her mouth and swallowed them, taking a snip of her water. She put the bottle of pills back into her backpack, zipping it shut.

Meanwhile, one of the griffins took it upon himself and walked over to a jukebox in the corner and clicked through the selection. He eventually settled on an oldie and clicked play.

A deafeningly loud series of guitar chords began to burst from the jukebox speakers and the griffin started to move to the rather brutal music and sat down with his peers.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy did her best to avoid attracting attention and quietly ate her hay fries, hoping that the griffins wouldn’t take notice of her.

Gus emerged from behind the counter with four large cider mugs in his claws, overflowing with cider. He walked over to the table where the other griffins sat and set the glasses on the table.

“Will there be anything else lads?” Gus asked.

The leader of the griffin shot him a dirty look. “Nothin’. Piss off.”

Gus simply shrugged and walked back behind the counter, seemingly not taking any offense to the other griffin. He picked up a glass and started to wipe it.

Fluttershy finished her hay fries and gently pushed the plate forward.

“Ah, done already lassie? Didja like ‘em?” Gus asked, still wiping the glass.

Fluttershy nodded. “Thank you. I hope this covers it.” She quietly pulled some bits out of her hoodie’s pocket and plopped them on the counter.

Before Gus had a chance to take the money, the doorbell rung, and a rather grizzled looking girl griffin walked in, wearing a black leather jacket with yellow stripes.

Gus set the glass he was cleaning down and waved at the girl griffin, who now sat at the counter a couple of chairs away from Fluttershy.

Fluttershy pulled her hoodie’s hood up and did her best to remain unnoticed. She could feel her heart rate go up slightly at the sight of the gruff looking griffin. The griffin apparently noticed her as she turned to look at her.

“Hey, wadda you lookin at, huh?” She grumbled.

Fluttershy shook her head, looking back at her reflection. “N-nothing, n-nothing at all.”

The griffin then turned back to the counter. “Fine. Keep it that way.”

Gus walked up to the griffin. “Well, lassie? What’ll it be?”

The griffin looked at Gus. “Coffee. Black. No sugar. Now.” She grumbled.

Gus nodded. “Sure thing.” He turned and set the coffee to brew.

“Here ya go lassie.” Gus said as he slid the fresh coffee in front of the mysterious griffin.

“Don’t call me that, got it?” She spat.

Gus shrugged. “Fine.”

//////////////////////

Meanwhile, at the table of the diner, one of the griffins finally noticed Fluttershy. He was a rather thin fellow, his jacket didn’t quite fit and he constantly fidgeted.

He leaned next to the leader. “Hey, Rog, Lookie there.” He tapped the larger griffin. The leader, Roger, looked up from his cider.

“What is it Syd?” he grumbled turning to look at Syd.

“Um, well, there’s a pegasus over there.” Syd said, pointing a claw at the pegasus in the hoodie across the diner. Roger looked at the pegasus for a moment before turning back to Syd.

“And? What about it?”

Syd shrugged. “I donna know, I figured that since it’s a pony, we could maybe have a little fun? You know, rough her up or something.” He quietly took a sip of his cider, looking at another griffin. “Wadda do you think Dave?”

Another griffin, larger than Syd but smaller than Roger shrugged. “I don't know, Syd, what about that other griffin.” He pointed at the other griffin who was pouring what seemed to be alcohol into her coffee.

Syd and Roger turned to look at the other griffin. She looked rather grizzled and downing coffee and alcohol like no one’s business.

Syd’s eyes widened. “Um, wow. Didn’t think about her.”

Roger sighed, looking at Syd. “Of course you didn’t Syd.” He jabbed a claw into Syd’s forehead, making Syd yelp in pain. “You never think things through. Seriously dude, where’s your mind at?”

Syd simply shrugged, rubbing the sore spot on his forehead. “Sorry Rog, just figured we could have some fun. You know, been awhile since we had any real fun you know.”

Roger rolled his eyes returned to his cider. There was a long pause between the five griffins as they each drank their cider at their own pace.

The song ended and another record popped onto the turnstile another loud guitar chord blared from the jukebox.

“Jeez, Rick, couldn’t ya have picked some other playlist?” Roger grumbled and looked at another griffin who was sitting next to Dave.

Rick shrugged. “What can I say, I like the classics dude.”

“Yeah man. Respect them dude.” Another griffin sitting between Rick and Dave piped up.

Roger rolled his eyes. “Nobody asked you Nick, okay?”

Nick shrugged. “Well I still think you should respect them.”

Roger sighed, once again taking a shot from his cider as he scanned the diner, looking for anything to add some spice to what had been an incredibly dull evening.

His eyes eventually landed on the little Pegasus in the hoodie that Syd had mentioned.

Something about her seemed off. Roger couldn’t quite peg it, but she seemed to shaking or something, almost as if she was scared that the griffin sitting across from her would suddenly jump up and try to rip her head off or something.

Perfect for a good roughing up, some fun for the boys. Roger thought. Maybe Syd isn’t really such a space cadet.

The gears in his head started to turn as he looked at the girl griffin, who was now quite obviously drunk off whatever she was drinking. An idea started to form in his head.

Yeah….we’re going to have fun tonight. He thought, a barely noticeable smile tugging at the end of his beak.

“Um, Syd.” Roger said, tapping Syd on the shoulder.

“What?” Syd asked, looking up from his cider glass.

“That pegasus, there” Roger pointed to the hoodie wearing Pegasus. “That’s the pegasus you were talking about right?”

Syd turned to look and nodded. “Yeah huh. That’s the one. Why? I thought you said we’re weren’t going to rough her up.”

Dave, Rick and Nick nodded in agreement.

“Yeah Roger? What’s the give?” Nick asked, a quizzical look on his face.

Roger gave Nick a bemused look. “Boys, I never said that we wouldn’t rough her up. As Dave here pointed out,” he motioned to Dave. “There is that other griffin we have to take into account.” He waved his claw in the general direction of the girl griffin.

Dave nodded. “Yeah, but Roger, she looks pretty tough.” He pointed out, a rather concerned look on his face.

Roger nodded. “Yes, yes she does. But did you also notice my friends, that our griffin friend over there is also completely and totally wasted?”

The four other griffins looked as discreetly as possible at the girl griffin.

She sat at the bar, sloppily trying to pour her small bottle of alcohol into what seemed to be her tenth mug of coffee, all the while drunkenly singing some little ditty. Her flask however, slipped from her drunken grip and dropped straight into the coffee, causing the griffin to slur an incredibly vulgar curse word and try to fish it out.

The four griffins all turned back to Roger. “You’re absolutely sure you wanna do this?” Rick asked, raising an eyebrow.

Roger nodded. “Yes. If anything it’ll kill this awful boredom.”

The other four griffins looked at each other and shrugged. They too had been feeling terribly bored and wanted desperately to do anything to spice things up. If roughing up a pegasus in a hoodie was the only method, it seemed fine by them.

“So, you game?” Roger asked, already getting up from his chair. The others nodded and all stood up.

“Right. Let’s do this.” Roger said, turning and walking over to the pegasus.

//////////////////////

Meanwhile, Fluttershy had finally begun to relax, her painkillers kicking in as the dull ache that emanated from her body faded.

The griffin next to her continued to sing whatever song it was she was singing, though, to be honest, Fluttershy couldn’t make it out, the griffin was so drunk.

“Hey.” Suddenly a male voice came from directly behind her. Fluttershy tensed up.

“Um….yes?” she whispered, feeling her heart rate begin to accelerate again. This couldn’t end well.

“Well,” suddenly a rather large griffin appeared from behind her and leaned on the bar. “Me and my clutch saw ya over here and, well, we were wondering if you could, I don’t know, give us some spare bits you might have?” he was idly running his claw along the countertop.

Fluttershy began to sweat. She had just spent all her money on the hay fries, so she knew that there was no money left in her backpack.

“Um, well, I’m s-sorry t-to t-tell you, b-but I d-don’t think I h-have a-any m-money left…if that’s okay with you…” She whimpered as she noticed four more griffins step into her line of vision.

The first griffin nodded. “Oh….well…that really does suck…” he continued to run his claw along the countertop. “Really does. If more for you then for us that is.”

With those words he grabbed Fluttershy by the shoulder and flung her to the floor, laughing.

Fluttershy lifted her head from the floor to see one of the griffin, a thin fidgety fellow, rummaging through her backpack.

“Hey Rog,” he said, turning to look at the first griffin, a rather disappointed look on her face. “There’s nothing in here. Just a bunch of pills.”

The large sighed and stuck his claws in his jacket pocket. “For shame.” He clicked his tongue. “And we were hoping for a few bits at least. Well, guess we just gotta persuade you now don’t we?” he said, looking down at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy’s pupils shrunk to pin points as she started to hyperventilate, her heart rate climbing even higher with each second.

The other griffins started to surround her, all with the same smug grin on their faces. Suddenly the girl griffin spoke up.

“Hey, guys, leave the dork alone huh? Pick on someone your own size.” she grumbled, her voice slurred by the amount of alcohol she must have consumed.

“Shut your trap drunkie.” The leader said, as he clicked his knuckles.

The girl griffin suddenly sat up, her face suddenly very serious. “What didja call me?” she said, standing up from her chair, nearly falling over however in her drunken state.

“You heard me.” The leader griffin replied.

The girl griffin cracked her neck. “Nobody calls me ‘drunkie’. Got that?”

The boy griffin turned to face her. “Look drunkie, I don’t give a damn what you think, kay? Me and my boys are going to have some fun with the pegasus here. And there ain’t nothing you can do to stop it. You get me?”

The girl griffin smiled. Fluttershy noticed that the smiled was anything but nice. “Yeah. I get ya.”

With that she let out a shriek and leapt towards the boy griffin, pinning him to the floor.

Fluttershy instantly took this as a chance to escape. She grabbed her backpack and made a flying leapt behind the counter and curled into a ball, Relax, she thought as she started taking deep breaths as her heart rate went sky high. Just try and relax....

She looked to her right to see Gus the Griffin had already hit the floor and was now muttering something about repairs and this being the third time that week.

She could also hear the sounds of the fight coming from beyond the counter, with various vicious expletives coming from all involved.

Fluttershy continued to breathe in and out rapidly.

Oh no, she thought, as her hooves started to turn a shade of green around the edges. She heard an odd 'snikt' sound and the voice of the girl griffin cursing somepony out followed by a yell and cutting sounds.

Fluttershy suddenly remembered something.

"My pills!" she whispered as she reached into her backpack and pulled out a small bottle with pills in it. She fumbled with the safety lid, trying her best to keep calm in spite of the circumstances.

Finally the lid popped off and several pills spilled out onto the floor in front of her. She desperately grabbed a few and popped them into her mouth. Instantly she felt her heart rate go down and watched as her hooves returned to their normal light yellow color. She leaned back and let out a sigh of relief.

She then noticed that the sounds of fighting had stopped, the strange silence broken only by the sound of ragged breathing.

She peeked over the counter and saw that the diner was completely destroyed. Standing in the center of the diner was the girl griffin. From each claw came what looked like three long knives. The claws suddenly retracted into the griffins knuckles.

The griffin let out a long sigh, obviously exhausted. Around her where the battered and bloodied bodies of the punks from before, only now their bodies were littered with various cuts and gashes. The girl griffin then staggered over to the counter and poured herself another cup of coffee and cider. Fluttershy simply stared at the griffin.

"Th-thank you." Fluttershy said her voice barely above a whisper. The griffin gave her a funny look and shrugged. "Yeah, sure. Whatever." she took a gulp of her coffee and turned and walked out of the diner.

“Wait.” Fluttershy said, raising a hoof. The griffin stopped in the doorway.

“What?”

Fluttershy swallowed, doing her best to build up some confidence. “Well, I’m wondering why you stood up for me like that.” She hid behind her mane again.

The griffin gave her quizzical look. “Would you prefer I did nothing?”

Fluttershy shook her head rapidly. “No, no, no. But I was just wondering why, that’s all. You don’t seem to care about anything else.”

The griffin sighed. “Well, I felt bad for ya, that’s all. Didn’t want them to just go around bullying ya for no good reason.”

“Well, t-thank you.” Fluttershy peeped.

The griffin shrugged. “Yeah sure whatever.” and with that she stepped out of the diner and flew away into the night sky, leaving Fluttershy alone in the destroyed diner.

"But still they lead me back

To the long winding road

You left me standing here

A long, long time ago"

The Long and Winding Road by The Beatles

Act II - 06 - Your Guilty Past

Act Two:

"You Better Run"

Chapter Six:

"Your Guilty Past"

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS EARLIER

“YOU!” the sudden shrill voice of his father caused the young colt to freeze.

“Um, yes father?” the small, thin snow white pegasus said, his voice meek and quiet.

“Laddie, you failed.” The burley griffin spat, his body towering over the young colt. “Those boys over there,” he pointed a talon in the direction of a small clutch of griffins who were rough housing. “You let them beat you.” He emphasized his words with a sharp poke.

The young colt nodded and hung his head in shame. It was true. He had joined in the game in hopes that they would accept him as one of their own. But, no such luck. They merely mocked him and beat him up, giving him several nasty bruises and a black eye.

“B-but daddy, I tried to fight back…but they’re so much bigger than me…and stronger….” He started to cry a little.

“I’ll have none of that laddie!” the griffin suddenly barked. The colt shied away at the sudden verbal assault.

“You lost because you were weak! I’ll have no weak children in my family understand?” the griffin stomped a talon on the ground. “Quite the opposite, I only raise STRONG sons. Sons that are the BEST at EVERYTHING. Do you want to be a failure?” he raised an eyebrow.

The young colt nodded. “No father…I don’t want to be a failure…”

The griffin scoffed. “No need to worry about that laddie, you already are one.”

The colt hung his head and simply nodded. His father was right. He was a total failure. He wasn’t even a griffin, but a pony. A mere pony. He had no claws, no talons, no sharp teeth and no sharp beak. Just a measly pair of wings that were too small for his body. He was small and tiny, the runt of the family, and the laughing stock of the school. Even his name was a failure: Snowflake. It sounded like a girl’s name.

“That’s why,” his father suddenly spoke, a strangely warm smile crossing his beak, considering his typically stern and strict personality. “I’m going to whip you into shape. Make you the best. Because I will not withstand anything less than the best. Understand that laddie?” The griffin then leaned down and looked the colt in the eyes.

“Laddie, you must learn one thing, and one thing only about life.”

Snowflake looked into his father’s golden eyes. “What father?”

“It’s that nobody likes a failure. Or a whiner. So no more crying or weeping. Opposite. You’re going to pull yourself up by your…” he paused, eyeing Snowflake’s hooves with apprehension, as if he forgot something. “…hooves and make yourself better than them. Nobody here is going to respect you if you always play the victim. You must be the better griffin. Make something of yourself so that you will never, ever have to face this kind of treatment again, understand laddie?”

The colt nodded. “Yes father…”

The griffin patted him on the head and stood back up. “Good then laddie. And that way, you can stand up for yourself, and not be just another punching bag.” He turned and started to walk away, leaving the colt alone, crying softly.

“I’ll be the best…the best at everything daddy…I promise.”

/////////////////////

Snowflake stood in his cabin’s bathroom aboard the zeppelin, which was now on its way back to Equestria.

Intensely staring into the mirror, he repeated his mantra over and over again.

“You are the best, Snowflake. You are the best at everything.”

It was part of his morning routine since he was twelve years old and he wasn’t about to stop it now. He had clawed his way up from being a laughing stock to making something of himself. He was the single most decorated member of the South Griffinhiem army, and a pony to boot, and was on his way to becoming the most decorated member Equestria’s military.

Whatever it takes…whatever it takes to be the best. He thought.

He thought back to the Griefstadt crime scene. That civilian mare had made a point. Something was off about it. How could a pony so meek and fail looking as this ‘Fluttershy’, be possibly capable of such extreme acts of violence?

No, it had to be somepony else, he thought as he turned around and sat on his bed, laying back to look at the ceiling.

Or something* else…*

...something with power.

/////////////////////

Fluttershy stood in the diner, staring towards the door, still trying to piece together what had happened.

Someone she’d never met before and hadn’t even said a word to in greeting, had, for some reason, found it a good idea to fight for her.

She looked down at the floor of the diner. The five griffins still lay there, looking almost as if they had been through a slicing machine of some kind. That’s when it hit her.

She had *claws*. Fluttershy had been around Griffins long enough for her to know that, by no means, was having three giant knives shooting out of the mysterious griffin’s knuckles was in any way normal. She looked down at the gang sprawled along the floor. The sheer amount of blood on the floor confirmed her suspicions. They were probably all dead.

Fluttershy suddenly felt as if she was going to throw up at the grisly sight. Unable to bear the sight of another set of bloodied bodies, she bolted out the door, grabbing her backpack and running as fast as she could, tears in her eyes.

Gus himself merely watched the strange Pegasus run out of the diner, unable to quite fathom what caused the pony to suddenly run out sobbing. He then looked down at the floor and turned a shade of green at the rather gruesome sight before him.

“Oh my goodness…that’s going to take quite a bit of cleanin’.”

/////////////////////

Fluttershy just kept running and running for what seemed like hours, finally coming to a stop near an old beat up street lamp. She looked around. The diner was now a mere tiny spot of light in the distance, and ahead, the road stretched out endlessly into the darkness.

She was totally alone again. Her body once more ached and groaned in pain. What was she to do? It seemed that death followed her everywhere she went, regardless of her own actions.

“Oh why oh why oh why…” she sobbed, falling against the light pole, collapsing to the ground. She continued to cry, occasionally looking up at the sky as if she was looking to some higher power. After what seemed like hours, she finally succumbed to the feeling of exhaustion that washed over her, her emotions now completely spent. She closed her eyes, still wet and puffy from her crying, and fell asleep.

/////////////////////

Fluttershy opened her eyes and looked around. She was in a beautiful, seemingly endless field of red poppies. She looked up. The sky was a beautiful bright blue, with not a single cloud in the sky.

“Fluttershy…” a voice called out. She looked around for the source of the voice. Strangely, there seemed to be nobody else in the field but her.

“Um…hello? Is there anypony out there?” she called out, hoping that it was maybe just the wind playing tricks on her ears.

“Fluttershy…over here.” The voice called out once more. She turned to look in the direction the voice seemed to be coming from. Her eyes were greeted by a strangely familiar building that hadn’t been there before. It was the house that her family had lived in back in Ponyville.

“Fluttershy…please come here.” The voice called out again, seeming somewhat stressed. Fluttershy got up and started to walk towards the house concerned that maybe the source of the voice needed help of some kind.

As the house came closer and closer, she noticed something seemed off about it. It’s light powder blue paint scheme seemed to have faded, and attained an almost reddish tone on top of it.

“Um, hello? Is there anypony in there?” she called out, standing by the front gate, which had seemingly sprouted out of the ground as she got closer.

“Fluttershy please…I need your help…please…” the voice called out, now seemingly in some kind of pain. Fluttershy looked around, taking notice that the sky had suddenly become cloudy and dark, with large storm clouds looming overhead.

“Okay, I’m coming!” Fluttershy called out, walking up to the door and fiddling with the doorknob. It was, strangely, unlocked, and the door clicked open with a strange moaning groan coming from its hinges.

A feeling of unease crept into Fluttershy’s mind. Something seemed off. The house felt strangely vacant. It looked just like it did back when they had moved out.

Suddenly Fluttershy heard the voice again.

“Fluttershy please….I need you…” it cried, once more sounding like it was in pain. Fluttershy turned towards the sound of the voice, which was coming from up the staircase.

Funny… Fluttershy thought. We didn’t have a staircase in the old house.

The voice called out again, except this time it was a strange inarticulate moan. Fluttershy started up the staircase, her concern for the source of the voice, whomever it was, growing by the second.

She reached the top of the staircase to find herself in their Canterlot apartment. The various bad memories involving the place made themselves evident by a sudden rolling thunder from outside.

“Hello! Is any pony there?!” Fluttershy called out, concern in her voice. “I’m here! Where are you!”

The strange voice groaned again. It was coming from the kitchen.

Fluttershy ran towards the sound, entering the kitchen to find a horrifyingly familiar sight.

It was the day the last vestiges of her childhood died.

Her father lay on the floor, battered and bleeding, while her mother cowered in the corner, sobbing. In the center of the room stood a young Pegasus filly that looked exactly like Fluttershy did at that age. Her coat was a strange shade of bright green and her mane was a wild red mess. She suddenly turned towards Fluttershy with a murderous look in her eyes. She let out a demonic shriek and leapt towards Fluttershy.

Fluttershy’s mind told her to turn and run, but her body remained locked down in fear. The demonic filly impacted Fluttershy and sent them both tumbling. Fluttershy kicked desperately to get the filly off of her.

The monstrous creature let out another shriek as they tumbled out of the kitchen and into the living room.

Fluttershy finally managed to kick the monster nice and hard, sending it flying into a nearby wall, where it exploded in a puff of smoke. Shaking herself off, Fluttershy immediately ran over to her parents.

“Mother! Mother!” Fluttershy grabbed her mother. “Mother are you okay?”

“Oh Celestia why, why, why, why, why…” was all her mother was able to choke out between sobs. “Why did this happen…”

“Why did what happen?” Fluttershy asked as she checked her mother for injuries. As it turned out, her mother was perfectly fine, with the exception of a black eye.

Her mother looked into Fluttershy’s eyes.

“Why did you have to kill him?” Tree Flower sobbed.

Fluttershy’s widened and she turned to the bloody body of her father. “Daddy! Daddy are you okay!” she sobbed, tears forming in her eyes.

He turned his head limply towards her. The entire left side of his face was caked in dried blood. “I’m…I’m so sorry…” he whispered before he fell unconscious.

Suddenly, everything seemed to fade into a reddish sepia tone and everything went quiet. Fluttershy looked around.

She was once more in the field, except now, instead of just red poppies, the entire field was blood red. She looked up at the sky. The clouds were blood red as well.

“What’s going on?” Fluttershy thought aloud now frightened as to what might happen next.

Suddenly, as if to answer her question, small droplets of red liquid began to fall from the sky.

Is this…blood?! She thought as she tentatively tasted one drop that had landed on her hoof. Her tongue found the instantly recognizable metallic taste of blood in her mouth.

Now utterly terrified, she turned to run, desperately searching for some form of shelter. Suddenly the ground from beneath her hooves began to shake violently.

A monstrous bipedal bull headed demon burst forth from the ground and looked down at Fluttershy.

“YOU MUST PAY!” it roared before it lunged down at her, transforming mid leap into a demonic version of herself, complete with blood red hair and green coat.

Fluttershy let out a blood curdling scream and everything went black.

/////////////////////

“NO!” Fluttershy awoke in a cold sweat. She looked around. The first thing that caught her attention was the fact that she was no longer in the middle of the desert, but rather in a rather modest motel room.

What am I doing here? She thought as she spotted her backpack and hoodie on the floor across from her bed.

She looked over next to her to the digital alarm clock on the nightstand. It read 12:30 PM on April 22nd.

How long was I out? She wondered as she quietly got out of bed, put on her hoodie out of habit and opened her room’s door, peeking out into the empty hallway.

“Um…hello? Anypony there?” she quietly called out.

Maybe I’m still dreaming...

She started to quietly walk down the hallway, towards what she assumed was the front desk.

Music came from the direction she was heading, along with barely audible whistling.

She entered what looked like the lobby, a rather modest affair, consisting of a small desk and a couple of chairs and a key rack.

At the desk there was a small griffin that Fluttershy discovered was the source of the whistling, and a small stereo where the music came from. The griffin was rather enraptured in drawing. Along the walls of the lobby were pinned up various doodles of various things ranging from rather garish political cartoons to just random shapes.

“Um, excuse me…” Fluttershy asked, walking up the griffin.

The griffin looked up from his doodles. “Oh, hello there, how you feeling?”

Fluttershy hid behind her mane again. “Um, fine…just fine...thank you for letting me stay.”

The griffin shrugged. “The least I could do. Say, I didn’t get to catch your name?”

Fluttershy paused. She hadn’t even expected to be here right now, so she was broke for a name. She looked around the room, searching for something to base a name off of.

Her eyes fell on a rather disturbing drawing of a dove exploding into a monstrous mechanical eagle.

“Um….” She continued to search the walls, finally catching sight of something that might work.

“I’m Bright Sky.” She smiled, hoping that the griffin hadn't noticed her stalling.

"Really? Nice name. My name is Gerald." He reached a talon out in greeting.

Fluttershy shook his talon, casting a glance down at the drawing he was currently working on.

It was a strange, disturbing image of a face seemingly screaming for help or in pain, but the face was emerging from what looking like a white brick wall. It chilled her to the bone. She looked back up at the wall, realizing that it was covered with drawings of a similar nature, all very dark and disturbing.

One depicted what looking like a sea of blood morphing into a sea of paws all surrounding a giant white monolith. Another was what looked like a giant mechanical crab-like machine.

None of this seemed to match the personality of the seemingly very kind hearted griffin.

"Um...I see that you draw..."

The griffin turned and glanced at the wall behind him. "What? You mean those? Oh those are just doodles, nothing more."

There was another pause between the two, neither quite sure what to say next. The music continued to play elegantly from the radio.

"Um..." Gerald started to say, looking around the room. "Would you like to sit down or something? I know there isn't much." he motioned to one of the chairs.

Fluttershy looked at the chair. "Um, no thank you, but I'd love to know if you might have any newspapers available?"

The griffin nodded. "Yeah, sure, they're right over there, the paperboy just left." he pointed towards a small pile of fresh newspapers.

"Thank you very much." Fluttershy said, quietly walking over and picking up a copy and tucking it under her wing.

"Um, do I have to pay?" she asked.

The griffin shook his head. "Nope. Its on the house and so is your room, since you seemed pretty destitute."

Fluttershy smiled. She didn't have to pay? It seemed almost too good to be true. To finally have a nice warm place to sleep and not have to worry about being kicked out.

"Thank you so very much." she beamed, turning to go back to her room. For as nice as the lobby was, the strange drawings made her feel uneasy.

"You're welcome, least I could do for you." The griffin replied, turning back to his drawings.

Fluttershy nodded and left the lobby, as the music ended and the DJ spoke.

"That was Marezart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major K467, second movement. You're listening to 82.5 KLAS FM, your source for the finest classical music Equestria has to offer. And now for the news..."

Fluttershy continued down the hallway, just happy to be somewhere warm and safe for the day, instead of some empty wasteland. She entered her room, and flopped down on the bed, relishing in the nice clean sheets and comforters. She quickly fell asleep, a contented smile on her face.

/////////////////////

Meanwhile, Gerald continued his doodling, not really paying much attention to the news reports ramblings.

Nice mare, he thought. Seemed a tad skittish though, wonder why…

As if the radio was reading his mind, the news reporter moved on from local affairs onto the next subject, which instantly caught Gerald’s attention.

"Equestrian authorities have uncovered some new evidence in the hunt for Fluttershy Braveheart, well known escaped terrorist..."

Gerald’s ears instinctively perked up. He had been keeping tabs on this story, more out of curiosity than anything else.

"...authorities say that she was most likely involved in the violent deaths of several gang members in the North Griffinheim town of Griefstadt. Authorities say to be on the lookout for a yellow pegasus a light pink mane, blue eyes and a triple butterfly cutie mark. If you have any information regarding her whereabouts, please contact the local authorities."

“Wait what?” Gerald said, turning towards the radio. His mind suddenly flashed the image of the skittish mare from just a few moments ago. She perfectly matched the description that the news reporter had given. Gerald’s eyes widened and he dropped his pen, ignoring his drawings.

Grabbing the phone, he fumbled with it for a few seconds before dialing the number for the local police.

“Um, hello, yes I’d like to report a sighting of Fluttershy. Yes, I believe she’s at my motel…”

The voice on the other end seemed mildly surprised. “Seriously? Right there?”

“As serious as all get out officer.” Gerald replied.

“Okay then, we’ll come and get her, remember, whatever you do, don’t try and do anything. She’s incredibly dangerous.”

Gerald nodded. “Of course. Goodbye.” With that, he hung up the phone and leaned back.

“Well….let’s hope they get here soon…”

/////////////////////

Hoofcuff let out a sigh as she and Starlight busied themselves with a game of chess.

“Checkmate boss. That’s the fifth game I’ve won today.” Starlight said, emphasizing his words by magically nudging his rook into her king.

“Damn it.” Hoofcuff facehoofed. “This is exactly why I prefer poker to chess.”

Starlight simply shrugged, a cocky grin on his face. “Told ya, I’m the chess master. Nopony can beat me.”

Hoofcuff gave him an unimpressed look and laughed. “Well, Hoofcuff, one day you’re going to meet somepony who’s going to wipe the floor with you.”

She then got up from the table they were sitting in and, walking over to the coffee machine, poured herself a cup of coffee.

It had been three days since they left Griefstadt, and it had been the single most incredibly boring three day period in Hoofcuff’s entire career.

They hadn’t been able to find anything belonging to Fluttershy asides from the backpack, several dozen bottles of painkillers and a ripped up old hoodie in a nearby river.

So, with no real reason to continue, the zeppelin had set a course back into Equestria, where Hoofcuff would probably end up being forced to write a report on the hunt and what a waste of her time and effort it was.

And that’s what drove Hoofcuff up the wall. She had been given what seemed an incredibly interesting case, but ended up being simply a dead end.

So the group had spent most of their time in their rooms, going over aspects of the case, hoping that they would have a reason to continue.

Hoofcuff hated the idea of being dragged to some third world country, looking over a crime scene, then being shunted back into a large flying cigar back to Equestria.

But, it seemed the General was determined to continue. But a quick call from Canterlot had seemingly forced him to comply and drag them all back. Not that she hadn’t heard his protests, in some of the most colorful language she had heard in a long, long time.

But, either way, here she was, moping around, and losing chess game after chess game to Starlight.

Just as she was about to return to the table to lose another game, however, a thin unicorn in a military uniform burst in.

“The General wants to see the both of you right this moment!” he said.

Hoofcuff raised an eyebrow. “Why? Is it about the case?”

“Yeah! Somepony just phoned in saying they saw her.” The pony replied, a smile on his face. “Do you know where Snowflake is? The General asked for him as well.”

“In his cabin, he’s been locked in there since we got the news we had to go back.” Starlight replied.

“Okay then! Thanks!” And with that, the pony darted off.

/////////////////////

Fluttershy was awakened by a low droning noise.

What in Equestria is that? She groggily wondered as she dragged herself out of bed, rubbing her eyes. She glanced over at the clock. It was about noon. The date on the clock read the 25th.

I’ve been asleep that long? She wondered, surprised by the fact that she’d been asleep for almost two days straight.

That’s when she heard it. A voice shouting orders over a megaphone. She peeked out the window of her room. Her eyes were greeted by the sight of dozens of ponies milling about outside.

Oh no! He must have reported me!

Panicking, she made her way straight for the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

The bathroom was an awfully tiny affair, consisting of a small cabinet, a sink, a toilet and a small shower.

She stepped into the shower, and turned on the water, washing away at least three days worth of grime and desert dirt.

Come on Fluttershy...pull yourself together...maybe they’re looking for another fugitive…oh who am I kidding? They found me!

Fluttershy stepped out of the shower and opened the small cabinet. Inside was some old shaving cream, a straight razor and some deodorant.

She closed the cabinet and looked into the mirror build into the door.

What do I do? She thought, running her hooves through her mane. Suddenly it dawned on her.

I can cut my hair!

She flung the door open and grabbed the razor, making sure it was nice and wet. Tying it around her hoof, she started to cut off the various strands of her wet mane.

However, due to her lack of experience in the area of hair cutting, her mane only ended up looking like it had gone through a shredder. And it was still pink as ever.

I need some kind of hair dye or something… she thought, leaving the bathroom and searching for some kind of dye or paint she could use to change her hair color. Finding nothing she started to pace the floor, trying to calm herself down and think of a way she could avoid being noticed.

She looked back into the bathroom. There was a small window facing towards the street. Peeking out, Fluttershy looked around.

There was a small corner store just across the street from the motel, and thankfully, there was nopony in military uniforms running around outside of it. As a matter of fact, from what she could tell from her window, most of the ponies were rather preoccupied with the front of the motel.

She paused, thinking what to do next. The corner store probably has some kind of hair dye or something… she thought.

She quietly grabbed her backpack, opened the window and sunk across the street, pulling her hoodie over her face so that she couldn’t be recognized.

I’ve gotta get out of here…maybe if I move quickly they won’t notice me… she thought as she trotted across the street.

After what seemed like an eternity, she entered the corner store, making a beeline for the hair product section, not saying a word to the pony behind the counter.

She grabbed the first bottle of hair dye she saw and slipped into the bathroom.

The radio played a little louder, except instead of music, it was tuned into a news station.

“And in other news, well known former fashion designer Rarity Belle has shocked everyone with her admission that she is the mysterious figure known as Iron Mare, authorities have long expected her involvement…” and the rest of the report was drowned out by the sound of the faucet as Fluttershy wet her hair again and started to run the dye through it.

After a few minutes, her mane had gone from light pink to dark brown, and she moved on to her tail, leaving puddles of hair dye on the floor of the bathroom.

Once finished, she stepped out of the bathroom, making sure not to attract the attention of the pony behind the counter.

She looked out through the store window and froze.

Outside the back of the motel she had been in mere moments earlier, there was now a veritable army of ponies, all in the dark green military colors of Equestria.

Oh no...how did they even get here so fast?! She thought. As if to answer her question, she caught sight of a large zeppelin hovering in the sky above.

She had to get out of town, before they noticed her. She looked around, hoping that there was some form of escape. Her salvation came in the form of the sight of a small train station, where passengers were waiting for the next train.

Oh thank Celestia! Just get on the train, and you’ll be scot-free.

She quietly stepped out of the store and started down the street and towards the small train station.

It was only as she neared it did she notice that the various military ponies were directly in her path. She would have to cross directly through them in order to get to the train station.

Taking a deep breath, she plunged through the crowd, hoping they might not recognize her. She kept her head downward; making sure that nopony could get a good look at her face.

She accidentally bumped into a rather short slate grey mare with a dark red mane, wearing a windbreaker with the Equestrian Marshall’s logo.

“Oh I’m so sorry…” she whispered out of habit, hoping that the mare hadn’t gotten a good look at her. The mare simply gave her a quick glance before turning back towards the motel.

Fluttershy decided now was a chance to pick up the pace, and she shifted into a canter. She finally reached the train station and tried to blend into the crowd.

She ended up standing next to a small group of pegasi Fluttershy cast a quick glance and nearly fainted at the sight of one of the pegasi standing next to her.

It was Firefly. She looked much older now, but her mane was still cut in the same tomboyish mane cut. Fluttershy started to panic again.

Oh no, why did this have to happen, of all the mares in the world I could have chosen to stand next too it had to be her! I don’t want her to get hurt!

“Hey don’t I know you?” Firefly’s familiar voice suddenly asked. Fluttershy cast nervous glance in her direction.

“E-excuse me? I don’t k-know who you’re t-talking a-about…” She stuttered in response, pulling her hoodie over her face, hoping that Firefly hadn’t gotten a good look.

“Seriously? I feel like I know you. I’m Firefly, from Ponyville? Maybe we bumped into each other there once?” Firefly said, raising an eyebrow.

Fluttershy shook her head. “No I have no idea who you are. I’m from Tree Branch. Never been to Ponyville in my life.”

Firefly looked somewhat confused, before her expression changed to that of embarrassment. “Oh really? Wow, my mistake.” She began to run her hoof through her mane. “Geez that was awkward,” she laughed. “I mean you look almost exactly like a friend I used to have.”

Fluttershy gave an uneasy smile. “You’re right…that is awkward. Sorry for confusing you.”

Firefly smiled and shrugged. “Eh, no biggie. Happens to the best of us.” She then turned away, scanning the train station, apparently looking for someone.

“Oh well, better find Cloud Burst...Celestia knows that he’s probably still harassing the ticket guy for a lower price. Heaven knows my little Scoots is dying to see us again.”

“Oh really? Who’s Scoots?” Fluttershy asked, her own curiosity for her long lost friends’ present life getting the better of her.

“Oh she’s our daughter. Light of our lives.” Firefly smiled. “Cloud Burst was asked to check out the local weather team here, and well, I had to come, so we left her with my sister. We’re finally going home now…” she paused, her smile fading slightly. “If Cloud Burst can stop haggling the ticket ponies at every train station we go to.” She looked back at Fluttershy. “Say, I didn’t catch your name, might as well right? No use being rude.”

“Um…I’m Bright Sky…” Fluttershy quietly answered; using the name she had used the motel owner.

“Well, Bright Sky, it was nice meeting you.” Firefly extended a hoof. Fluttershy weakly shook it.

“Yeah…nice meeting you.”

Firefly nodded and turned towards the ticket booth, where a dark orange pegasus with a blue mane was busy haggling with the ticket booth operator.

Firefly’s a mom now? A sad smile crossed Fluttershy’s face. She relaxed slightly, the thought of her old friend with a husband and a filly of her own touching her heart, and also highlighting Fluttershy’s own plight. She would never be able to have a family of her own. Not as long she remained on the run.

Suddenly however, a loud voice snapped Fluttershy out of her wistful thoughts.

“THERE SHE IS!”

Fluttershy cast a fearful glance over her shoulder. The mare she had bumped into earlier was leading a squad of troops and they were heading directly towards her.

Fluttershy bolted away, running as fast as her legs could carry her.

/////////////////////

Hoofcuff stood in front of the motel. She still wasn’t quite sure as to why they need an entire military unit for just one fugitive, but at least they had a lead.

As it turned out, Fluttershy had disappeared, having slipped away mere moments before they arrived.

Now quite frustrated, Hoofcuff wandered through the crowd, wondering where on earth the pony had disappeared to.

If I were Fluttershy, where would I go…

Suddenly she was roughly bumped by a pony wearing a purple hoodie.

“Oh I’m so sorry…” the mare whispered, her voice shaky.

Hoofcuff simply shot the mare a quick glance.

She had a long flowing dark brown tale, and a mane that had been cut sloppily. On her flank was a trio of butterflies.

Something caught Hoofcuff’s eye. At the base of her tail was a clump of pink hairs. Instantly the gears in Hoofcuff’s mind began to turn.

Why is the base of that mare’s tail… before her thought had even had a chance to finish, she noticed the trio of butterflies on the yellow pony’s flank.

“It’s her!” she almost shouted, trying to turn and follow the pony. She lost her in the crowd of soldiers and onlookers, however, and Hoofcuff once more began to curse the so-called ‘aid’ they had been given.

If it was just me and Starlight I would have her already!

She hopped up and down in the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of the purple hoodie that Fluttershy was wearing.

Her prayers were answered as she caught sight of her target, standing next to a pink pegasus with a blue mane. As the pink pegasus turned towards the ticket booth, Hoofcuff seized her chance.

“THERE SHE IS!” she practically screamed, pointing towards Fluttershy, who turned at the sound and instantly bolted.

Within seconds, the crowd all turned as one in the direction Hoofcuff was pointing and suddenly Snowflake leapt into the air into the air and soared in the direction Hoofcuff was pointing. Hoofcuff motioned towards Starlight and the two of them galloped as fast as possible after the surprisingly fast pegasus, followed by a gaggle of military troops.

Their target disappeared behind a corner. As the group came around the corner, they were greeted by a totally empty street.

Hoofcuff looked skyward, only to see Snowflake, circling like a vulture. Suddenly he pointed a hoof towards the ground.

“She went into the sewers!”

Hoofcuff looked back at the street to see an open manhole cover.

“Starlight, let’s go. We’ve gotta gopher.” She ordered as she clambered down the hole. Starlight groaned.

“Dang it boss, these are brand new horseshoes….”

Hoofcuff simply gave him a disgruntled look. “Starlight. Their horseshoes. Their SUPPOSED to get dirty.” With that, she jumped into the sewer, followed by the still grumbling Starlight.

The two unicorns eyed the sewer ahead of them as a couple more ponies joined them in the pipe.

“Okay, I want you two,” she pointed at two military unicorns. “To go down there.” She pointed down the pipe behind them. “And me and Starlight will take this direction. Got it?”

The two unicorns nodded and started down the pipe in the direction Hoofcuff indicated. Meanwhile, Starlight and Hoofcuff started down the pipe in front of them.

/////////////////////

Hoofcuff stalked through the sewer, her gun levitated in her magic, ready for any treat. She and Starlight had made their way down the pipe for a while before hitting a fork. Deciding it would be best to split up, the two had gone down their separate pipes.

She listened carefully for any noises that sounded out of place, like hoof steps or panting. All she could hear was the sound of water flowing and dripping, the occasional rat squeak as they ran by her hooves and the dull roar of where the sewer emptied out.

Suddenly a loud banging noise came from a pipe opening directly to her right. She spun around and cast an illumination spell.

A beam of light shot from her horn and into the pipe as she scanned it for the source of the sound. Along the wall of the pipe ran a line of cables, probably telephone ones. The pipe sloped downward, allowing the water to drain off into more sewers. Suddenly something caught her eye. It was a very familiar dark purple hoodie that had apparently gotten caught on some metal.

Hoofcuff grinned as she started to make her way into the pipe. She stretched a hoof out to grab onto the telephone cable so that she wouldn’t slip and fall. She grabbed on and started to steadily make her way down.

Suddenly her hoof slipped on something slimy and sent her tumbling down the pipe and into the water below. After a brief moment of sputtering and choking on sewer water, Hoofcuff emerged and lit her horn and looked around. She instantly noticed that her gun was missing. She dived back down into the water searching wildly for her weapon.

“Where is it? Where is it?!” she whispered to herself. Suddenly she froze. The distinct feeling of having a gun pointed at her back caught her attention. She stopped searching and slowly stood back up.

“Okay, you got me fair and square.” She said as she turned and was greeted by the absolute last pony in the world she expected to see.

Fluttershy stood in front of her, completely soaked, gun in hoof with her mane hanging around her head like a dead animal, dripping off what looked like gallons of brown hair dye.

“P-please…” she begged. “L-leave m-me a-alone, I-I d-don’t w-want t-to h-hurt y-you.”

Hoofcuff simply blinked.

“P-please, I-I’m n-not a m-monster…” Fluttershy whimpered.

“I don’t care!” Hoofcuff said, holding her fore hooves up.

Fluttershy started to back away. “T-then leave me a-alone, p-please.” And with that she unexpectedly dropped the gun into the water and turn to run away into the sewers.

Hoofcuff waited for a second before pulling out her backup gun and fishing her original gun out of the water and putting it back in the hostler. She started to gallop after Fluttershy.

The dull echo of hoof falls steadily grew louder and louder as the pipe steadily became brighter she approached the end of the tunnel. She rounded a bend in the pipe and was greeted by Fluttershy, this time clambering up a ladder up the surface.

“Fluttershy!” Hoofcuff shouted. Fluttershy froze and turned around, a terrified look on her face.

“N-no, please, leave me alone.” Fluttershy begged.

“I’ll leave you alone when you turn yourself in.” Hoofcuff replied.

Fluttershy stepped up another ladder rung.

“Fluttershy stop moving right now!” Hoofcuff shouted, aiming her gun directly at Fluttershy’s head. “Fluttershy if you do not stop moving I will shoot you and I will not miss!”

Fluttershy stopped. “B-but New F-fluttershy won’t like that!”

Hoofcuff scoffed. “Look Fluttershy, I don’t know who the hay this ‘New Fluttershy’ is nor do I care. Now, I want you to start down the ladder and don’t try anything.”

Fluttershy nodded meekly and did as she was told. Hoofcuff started to walk towards her, keeping her gun pointing at her in case Fluttershy tried to make a break for it. “And don’t you even think about flying away.” She shouted at Fluttershy as she stepped closer.

Fluttershy nodded and stepped onto the floor of the pipe, falling down on her knees. Hoofcuff levitated a pair of hoof cuffs and slapped them on the pegasus, who was now crying.

“Oh stop whining. You’ve given us enough trouble as it is.” Hoofcuff grumbled, as she forced Fluttershy to her hooves and escorted her out of the pipe.

/////////////////////

General Iron Will smiled grimly at the sight before him.

His main target, the very thing he had been doggedly searching for more than ten years for, was finally in his hands.

The yellow pegasus lay on the floor of the padded interrogation chamber, quiet as a mouse, looking as if she’d just been run over by a train. Her mane was now matted and damp, and her coat was filthy. She looked like the single most pitiful creature in the entire universe.

Iron Will let out a contented sigh and opened the door to the chamber.

“Well, well, well…hello there my little pony…” he chuckled as he pulled up a small chair and sat down in front of her.

“You’ve caused quite a bit of trouble you know.” He pulled out a portfolio and slammed it down on the table in front of the pegasus, who flinched as if a bomb had gone off.

“P-please….I d-don’t w-want to h-hurt y-you…” she whimpered, her voice somewhat slurred.

Iron Will scoffed. “Oh please. I know for a fact that you can’t hurt me right now. You know why?”

Fluttershy shook her head sluggishly.

Iron Will smiled. “Well my little friend, that’s because we’ve got you doped up on enough tranquilizers to put half of Canterlot into a coma.” He leaned down and roughly patted her on the head like a dog.

“Now, since you’re finally here, our little nerds in science are going to have an awfully fun time with you.”

Fluttershy weakly looked towards him. “What are they going to do to me?” she whimpered, tears in her eyes.

Iron Will shrugged. “Oh I don’t know. Probably cut you open, take organ samples, fill you with needles and IV’s, I don’t care. All I care is that, I finally got you.”

He stood up and walked towards the door. “Good night…freak.” He flicked the light off, leaving the pony alone, weeping.

/////////////////////Super Max Prison Report:

Case #11095

INMATE NAME: Fluttershy Braveheart

SPECIES: Pegasus Pony

HAIR: Pink

COAT: Light Yellow

EYES: Cyan

CUTIE MARK: Three pink butterflies

VIOLATION: Crimes against Equestria

NOTES: Suspect shows signs of extreme paranoia, refusing to give name or hoof-prints. Consistent mentioning of a certain other mare by the name of “New Fluttershy”. When inquired upon refuses to give any more information on said pony.

/////////////////////

Officer Thoroughbred walked into the prisoner’s cell, bored as ever.

Apparently, the dose of tranquilizers had worn off, and it was his job to administer another dose.

The sight of the prisoner however, never seemed to match the hype she had been given. She didn’t look like a threat at all. Opposite, she looked like the least dangerous, most pitiful and easily dealt with prisoner he’d ever seen.

Ever since they had brought her here, she hadn’t said anything to anypony, instead sitting in the corner of the room, rocking herself back and forth, murmuring and muttering something about “The Other Mare” and “New Fluttershy” like a mental patient.

“Well, um, Miss…” Thoroughbred looked down at the notepad, his mind suddenly drawn a blank as to her name. “…Fluttershy…it’s time for your meds.”

The yellow pegasus looked up at him with fear. “No…p-please…n-not that…”

Thoroughbred shrugged. “Sorry babe, but it’s my job.” He levitated an incredibly large syringe loaded with tranquilizers. Thoroughbred never asked why this nut job needed the tranquilizers, but he wasn’t the kind to go against orders. And with her behavior, he personally thought that she should be in a straight jacket.

“P-please, I really d-don’t think it’s s-safe for you to k-keep me here…” The yellow pegasus whimpered, backing away against the padded wall, her body tight with fear.

Thoroughbred rolled his eyes. “Sorry, but we’ve gotta keep you here until further notice. Now stop all this and let’s get this over with.”

“But…but New Fluttershy won’t like that…” she cried, shaking her head rapidly.

Thoroughbred huffed. “Look, ma’am I don’t know about this ‘New Fluttershy’ you keep mentioning is, but you’re gonna stay here until the boys at the top say you can go.”

“But…but…” the mare stuttered, hyperventilating. Thoroughbred noticed her eyes had turned a strange shade of bright green.

Then everything went black.

"Feel the bile rising from your guilty past.

With your nerves in tatters

As the cockleshell shatters

And the hammers batter

Down the door.

You'd better run."

Run Like Hell - Pink Floyd

Act II - 08 - Lead Me to Your Door

Act III - 08 - Lead Me to Your Door

Act III:

"Naqoyqatsi (Life as War)"

Chapter Eight:

"Lead Me to Your Door"

Hoofcuff stalked through the temporary camp, scanning the various cots for Starlight. After the revelation of that giant…thing, she had made a beeline for the temporary medical tents that now littered the remains of the prison.

Hoofcuff was still in a state of quasi-shock over what she had just witnessed.

Where the hell did that thing come from? She thought. She ran through the proceeding events in her mind.

I heard the announcement, came down the hall, enter the room and then a giant green monster is storming around…what the hell?!

No matter how many times she ran through the situation, it only managed to make less, and less sense. How could that thing in anyway be related to Fluttershy? Sure it kind of looking like her, except…it was gigantic…and green…and could smash tanks together like little toy cars. It was disturbing.

She shook her head to clear away the thoughts, muttering to herself. “Get yourself together Hoofcuff…this isn’t your first rodeo, you’ve seen stuff that’s way weirder…right? I mean you’ve hunted down serial killers and mass murders and what’s got you in a bunch? A giant green monster that turned two tanks into a scrap heap and tore through a maximum security prison wall like it was paper…”

She finally caught sight of Starlight lying down on a cot, having a spirited disagreement with a nurse who was trying to move his injured leg.

“Damn it lady! That hurts! Stop moving it! Ow!”

The nurse, who obviously had been putting up with his protests for quite awhile, ignored him and set the injured leg up on a pillow. Hoofcuff finally reached the two.

“Hey Starlight, how you doing?” she asked, trying to sound confident, but the sight of dozens of injured ponies certainly didn’t help it. Starlight shrugged.

“Well, pretty well. They say my leg should be better soon.” He motioned towards the plaster encased leg. “If this nurse won’t stop messing with it.”

The nurse rolled her eyes and turned to look at Hoofcuff. “Excuse me Marshall, I have to go treat some more patients. Make sure he doesn’t try to do anything with that leg.”

Hoofcuff nodded. “Sure thing.” She waved as the nurse walked away, before turning back to Starlight. “Starlight, did you see what happened?” Hoofcuff’s voice dropped to a low whisper.

Starlight nodded. “Yeah. What the hell was that thing? I mean it was huge. That’s why I’m here right now. I fell off a walkway or something…”

There was a pause between the two, with Hoofcuff running through the proceeding events trying to piece together something that made sense. Suddenly her face lit up.

“Starlight…remember when the PA system announced that a prisoner had escaped, right before that…hulk thing came around?”

Starlight nodded. “Yeah, they said it was Prisoner 101296…but why? That’s Fluttershy’s number…” he paused, before turning to look up at Hoofcuff. “Surely you can’t be serious…I mean…really?! Fluttershy is that monster? That makes no sense.”

“Well Starlight, think about it. We go to Greifstadt, right? There we find several giant hoof prints, a backpack covered in Fluttershy’s hoof prints and bits of her hair at the scene, right?”

Starlight nodded. “Um, yeah…but who’s to say she simply passed through the area, and forgot her stuff, maybe bolted when the monster came around.”

Hoofcuff’s expression suddenly changed from that of excitement to disappointment. “Oh…right. But still…it just seems too coincidental I mean, when we came up here, do either of us see a sign that said ‘Giant Monster Storage’?”

Starlight rolled his eyes and shook his head. “No, boss, no we didn’t.”

There was another pause between the two as Hoofcuff shook her head, a bewildered expression on her face.

“Um, boss…you know who might have an answer for you?” Starlight suddenly piped up. Hoofcuff groaned.

“Who Starlight? Celestia?”

“Um, no, I was thinking the General. He’s in that tent right over there, and that Snowball guy seemingly also wants to talk to him look.” He pointed towards the snow white pegasus who was trotting over to the General’s tent, a grim and determined look on his face.

“It’s Snowflake, Starlight. And what makes you think he would know anything about that monster? He seemed just as shocked to see it as we did.”

Starlight shrugged. “I don't know boss. You said a few days ago that you felt he was hiding something…and well…”

Hoofcuff looked at the tent across the way, the gears in her head turning again. She ran down a mental checklist of the General’s behavior before, especially back to their first proper debriefing.

She nodded, taken somewhat aback by the General’s sudden showing of aggression. “Yes sir, I just like to have all the information I can get on a target before I set out for them. That way I can more accurately predict their next move.”

Iron Will scoffed. “You don’t need any of that for her. As I said, she is a sadistic killer and that is all.”

Hoofcuff suddenly stood up. “Oh yeah he’s hiding something…” she muttered before starting towards the tent across the way, leaving a somewhat confused Starlight calling after her.

“Hey boss! Where ya going?!”

“Going to talk to the General…be back soon!” Hoofcuff shouted over her shoulder.

////////////////////////

Snowflake sat on a small cot, a unicorn nurse helping with the sprain in his wing.

“You know…you’re really lucky there Mr. Snowflake. A lesser pony probably would have broken their wing instead of just spraining it.”

Snowflake simply cast a dismissive glance at his wing, before returning to stare at the floor below. He had only one set of thoughts on his mind.

What the hell was that thing?

He ruminated over the thought, trying to come up with a logical explanation of some kind, but no matter how many times he ran it through his mind, it was always the same basic thought.

It was huge…

He thought back to the two tanks, and how they looked after the monster was through with them.

They were like toys…tiny little toys…it just threw them together like toys...what kind of power does that thing have?

His mind went over the scene. The monster had shown the most tremendous display of power and strength he had ever seen. It threw him, the most able bodied soldier in the entire Equestrian Military, against that wall like he was a rag doll. It had taken a missile impact without as much as a second thought. It took a .50 caliber round to the face and didn’t even blink. Snowflake simply couldn’t wrap his head around the sheer amount of power it had shown. It was like some angry god, attacking the ponies below as if they were insects.

But the one thing that did make sense to Snowflake was this: He wanted that power. He wanted it desperately. He had tasted it, and now he lusted after it. He wanted to be able to best this…creature with its own power. He was the best after all, the strongest, the fastest, the smartest. Then why, why did the universe see fit to give that wild animal that much power? Where was the justice in that? He had scraped his way from nothing to the absolute peak, and yet, there was always someone or something that would be ahead of him.

Not anymore.

He suddenly hopped off his cot and started for the General’s tent, which had been set up a couple of tents away. That mare was right. The General had been hiding something, the key to unlimited power, and Snowflake wasn’t about to let that slip through his hooves.

////////////////////////

Iron Will sat in his makeshift office, quietly smoking a cigar. From the outside, one would have thought he was taking the destruction of an entire military grade prison and the loss of his target pretty well, as he showed veritably no real emotion.

However, if one were to look inside, they would find that he was in a seething caldron of rage and frustration. That damned mare had escaped again. And this time, she had managed to take out two tanks, and three entire units worth of troops. That monster had managed to make the prison building nothing more than a pile of rubble.

Suddenly, a snow white Pegasus barged into his tent. “General Iron Will, I don’t believe you’ve exactly been honest with me.”

Iron Will looked up and leaned back in his seat. “Agent Snowflake, what are you talking about?”

Snowflake shook his head. “You know exactly what I’m talking about sir. That thing.”

Before Iron Will had a chance to respond to the irate pegasus, a familiar slate grey unicorn mare with dark brown hair barged in as well, her face just as grim as the pegasus.

“General, I believe that you have some answers about all this.”

Iron Will held up a hand. “Calm yourselves. Whatever do you mean?”

The two ponies simply stared back at him, before sharing a confused look. The mare was the first to speak.

“General, what the buck do you think we’re talking about? That monster that appeared when Fluttershy escaped.”

“Oh you mean Fluttershy?”

The two ponies’ mouths dropped open. “What are you talking about?” the mare asked, her face now changing from angry to very, very confused.

Iron Will rolled his eyes. “Marshall Hoofcuff, I apologize for the lack of clarity, but certain things are better kept under wraps. Simply put, Fluttershy and Flutterhulk are one and the same.”

Hoofcuff simply blinked, as Snowflake took a step forward. “General, I don’t believe either of us understand what you’re saying. I saw Fluttershy, there’s no way in Equestria that she can be that…‘Flutterhulk’ as you called it. I mean, she’s one tenth the size.”

Iron Will smiled. “Would you like me to explain?”

“Yes we’d like you to bucking explain!” Hoofcuff shouted.

Iron Will stood up. “Well, Marshall Hoofcuff, about twenty-five years ago, Equestria’s Government was attempting to recreate the serum that created Captain Equestria. Surely you know who that is?”

Hoofcuff nodded. “Yeah, that mare from the painting in your office. Why, what does that have to do with Fluttershy?”

Iron Will held up a figure. “I was getting to that. Among the many scientists the government employed during that time, was one Dr. Banner Wing. He hadn’t been told about the exact nature of the program, but he knew not to ask questions. He was able to craft a serum that enhanced strength, and he tested it out on his daughter…”

“Fluttershy?” Snowflake asked, seemingly connecting the dots. Iron Will nodded.

“Exactly. Now that’s when the details get a little sketchy, you see, apparently, Banner Wing had some kind of accident and Fluttershy disappeared for a few years. She finally resurfaced as a student at Manehattan University, where something happened, we’re not sure what, and now here we are.”

Hoofcuff shook her head, and turned out of the tent, muttering something about this being completely insane. Snowflake on the other hand, seemed intrigued.

“Um, General…do you still happen to have some left over bits of that serum Dr. Wing created?”

Iron Will smiled. “Why of course, we confiscated it upon his most unfortunate death. Why do you ask?”

Snowflake shifted on his hooves. “Because, well…it enhances strength right?”

Iron Will nodded. “Yes…yes it does.” He could sense that Snowflake wanted something. “Why do you ask?”

Snowflake shifted again. “Um, well sir, it just seems that…how do I put this…it’s just that…that thing, it had so much power…” Iron Will could see that Snowflake’s took on a strange obsessive look, almost as if he were looking at solid gold.

“Yes…yes it did.” Iron Will said, walking over towards Snowflake. “Don’t you wish we could harness that power? Use it for the good of Equestria?”

Snowflake nodded. “Yes sir I do. I mean…it was amazing…to see those tanks…”

Iron Will put a hand on Snowflake’s shoulder. “My friend, I have that power. And it can be yours…for a price.”

Snowflake looked at Iron Will. “What price?”

“All you need to do is promise to help us find her again, and this time, take no prisoners. What do you say?”

Snowflake visibly hesitated. Iron Will leaned in close. “You don’t want to fail your country do you?” he whispered, knowing that those words would get the exact reaction he wanted out of the Pegasus.

“No. No sir I do not.” Snowflake finally said, tightening his jaw.

“Good. Then let’s get that for you why don’t we?”

And with that, the two walked out of the tent.

////////////////////////

Fluttershy sat inside the mysterious zebra’s forest home. The zebra busied herself over a large, boiling pot, where various strange smells and vapors emanated from.

The zebra suddenly turned, balancing a bowl in her teeth. She set it down next to Fluttershy’s injured leg.

“Now my young, little friend, this concoction shall make your pain end.” The zebra said as she rubbed some dark green balm over the wound, causing a vague icy feeling to course through Fluttershy’s leg. The icy feeling faded and was replaced by a pleasant warm sensation as the zebra then applied a large bandage to the area.

“Slight discomfort is what you feel, but with this brew your leg with heal.” The zebra said, smiling.

Fluttershy tentatively moved the injured leg. Sure enough, there was no more pain in the area, almost as if there was never a bite there in the first place.

“Thank you so very much,” Fluttershy said quietly. “I really think I should go now though.” She tried to get up, but her bandaged leg suddenly gave way. The zebra caught her, and helped her sit back down.

“The balm may have stopped the pain, that is fact, but it still requires time to act. To fully heal that bite from the beast, you shouldn’t walk on that leg for a few days at least.”

Fluttershy let out a heavy sigh, her eyes drifting towards the door. She didn’t want to be here. It was a strange place, with creepy masks adorning the walls and dozens of vials and bottles filled with liquids that Fluttershy couldn’t recognize.

The whole place reminded her of a witch’s cottage or something from a fairy tale. She half expected that the bubbling cauldron over the fire might have been used to roast fillies or some other horrible deed.

She looked back at the zebra, who was now sitting across from her, smiling kindly. Suddenly she spoke.

“Oh, such poor manners on my part. Let me our introductions restart. From Zebrica, Zecora is my name and it is a title I am proud to proclaim.” She extended a hoof once more in greeting. Fluttershy shook the hoof slowly.

“Okay…” she hid behind her mane as a reflex.

There was a long pause between the two as Fluttershy twiddled her hooves. Just play it cool Fluttershy, she thought, Most likely this zebra has absolutely no idea who you are and what you’ve done so you really shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

The zebra unexpectedly broke the silence.

“Something is troubling you, of that I am sure. What troubles have you been forced to endure?”

Fluttershy looked up. “Huh?” she finally got a chance to get a good look at the zebra’s face. She seemed about middle aged, maybe forty. Her eyes were a dark green and seemed to show wisdom beyond her years, as if they had seen everything the world had to offer.

“Um…well….it’s nothing really…” Fluttershy finally replied, looking back down at the floor.

The zebra shook her head. “Something is deep inside you. It is why you are feeling blue. Something you claim to be evil. Something that causes your life upheaval.”

Fluttershy bit her lip. Busted.

“Um…no I’m not hiding anything…” Fluttershy said, hoping to end the zebra’s sudden interrogation.

“What you say not true, yet I sense great fear in you.”

Fluttershy didn’t say anything, only hiding behind her mane again. Did this zebra have some kind of psychic powers or something? How was she able to know this?

“No I’m not…” Fluttershy replied, hoping that the zebra’s strange powers didn’t somehow encompass spotting a liar.

“Lies to me are your attempts to persuade. Why are you so afraid? Is it because of a wrong you have committed? The horrors you allowed to become permitted?”

Fluttershy turned to look at the zebra, tears starting to well up in her eyes.

“Why should I tell you? How do I know you’re not just going to call the police like everypony else has?”

The zebra leaned back. “Ah, so you have done something wrong. Take heart, my little friend. I could see your goodness all along. Your plea is something that I comprehend."

Fluttershy sighed heavily and stared at the floor. All the various aches and pains she had been ignoring suddenly decided to make themselves known again, reminding her of her battered and bedraggled state. She was exhausted with all this lying and running. Every lie she told just amounted to another heavy burden she would have to carry. She just wanted peace.

“Promise not tell anypony?”

The zebra nodded. “Be not afraid, gentle one. Your time spent here shall be known to none.”

Fluttershy took a deep breath, and took the plunge. “When…when I get angry I hurt ponies. And I don’t want to hurt ponies, but it always happens, no matter what I do to try and stop it.” Tears started to make their way down her cheeks.

The zebra leaned forward and gently put a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “You seem to mistrust the path of ire, that it is something you do not desire”

Fluttershy looked up. “What do you mean? Isn’t it bad?”

The zebra shook her head. “Anger can be something a pony can admire. Don’t believe me, take a look at the fire..” She pointed towards the fireplace. “Leaving anger bottled, and it will explode. It will cause all things around it to slowly erode.” She demonstrated her words by dropping a piece of cloth into the fire.

“But if the flames are under restrain, then warmth and beauty shall one attain.”

Fluttershy looked at the fire. “But you have no idea what it’s like…to be alone like I am…without anypony to talk to…” she started to sob.

“That statement is untrue. A lot in common I have with you.” The zebra suddenly spoke. Fluttershy stopped mid sob and turned to look at the zebra, her eyes now puffy from her tears.

“What?”

The zebra nodded. “I do know how it is to be alone. My family and friends, out of my home I was thrown.” The zebra turned and looked out the window, a distant look in her eyes. “Cast out of my homeland. I know loneliness firsthoof.” She let out a sigh and turned back towards Fluttershy. “But my time here has been well spent. Bettering myself here, I am content.”

There was a long silence between the two as Fluttershy thought about what the zebra had said. Her curiosity got the better of her and she spoke up, her voice quiet.

“Um, what happened?” she asked, hoping that this wouldn't offend the zebra. The zebra sighed once more.

“I acted foolish and rash. It caused me and my people to clash. I was banished destined to roam, until I found a new place to call my home.” There was another pause between the two, which was interrupted by a rumbling in Fluttershy's belly.

“I see that hunger has found you tonight,” the zebra chuckled, standing up and walking over to a pot that was bubbling over a small makeshift stove. She grabbed a ladle in her mouth and poured two small bowls of something that Fluttershy hoped was soup. She then put the bowls on a small makeshift table and motioned for Fluttershy to sit.

“Come my friend, and have a quick bite.”

Fluttershy hesitated. Her stomach once more sounded its protests. She hadn't had a full meal in at least two days and her body knew it.

No use saying no...she hasn't sold you out yet, so why say no? Better than starving to death right? She thought.

“Um...okay then.” She finally said, quietly sitting at the table. “Thank you.”

The zebra nodded. “Your thanks is well received. I hope the food becomes just what you need.”

Fluttershy smiled and finally relaxed, inhaling the rich aroma of the soup. Warm memories of the dinners her mother would cook came flooding back, bringing a tear to her eyes. She picked up the spoon that Zecora had provided and began to eat, deeply savoring the rich flavors and taste.

After awhile, they each had finished their bowls and night had fallen. Zecora motioned towards a large cushion with some pillows and a simple cover.

“I insist you not sleep on the floor. Take my bed tonight, so your leg will not be sore.” Zecora said.

“Oh no, you really shouldn't. I'll be fine sleeping anywhere really. I wouldn't want to take yours...” Fluttershy replied, shaking her head.

“My dear friend, take heart. You’ll need your rest to make a fresh start. I insist take my bed. It is no trouble so go right ahead.” She turned towards a large pile of stuff and rummaged through it, pulling out what Fluttershy assumed was a rather weathered old hammock. Zecora then proceeded to hang the hammock from the roof of the hollowed out tree and plopped inside, letting a long yawn.

“I wish you a pleasant rest. And may the road ahead be equally blessed.” and with that, the zebra fell asleep.

Fluttershy sighed. “Goodnight...” she whispered back, more out of habit than anything else, as she settled on the makeshift bed, watching as the embers of the fire died away, leaving her in the dark.

Her eyelids grew heavy and she finally surrendered to exhaustion, worn out after the long day, entering the dark labyrinth of her memories and dreams.

"The long and winding road

That leads to your door

Will never disappear

I've seen that road before

It always leads me here

Lead me to your door."

The Long and Winding Road by The Beatles

Act II - 09 - We're On Our Way Home

Act III - 09 - We're On Our Way Home

Act Two:

"Naqoyqatsi (Life as War)"

Chapter Nine:

"We're On Our Way Home"

The final bell rung and a young Fluttershy quietly walked down the halls of Canterlot Middle School, doing her best not attract any unwanted attention. Ever since her fight with Dark Sky, not a single pony dared to approach her. At whichever table she sat in the cafeteria, the other fillies and colts would instantly shy away and move to another table. Every time that happened, it felt like a part of Fluttershy's soul was dying.

More often than not, she would catch the snippets of their gossip when she walked by, with words like “freak”, “weirdo” or the worst of them all, “monster” being said along with her name.

She stopped in front of her locker and stared at the dented metal, which served as a constant reminder of her horrible actions.

”I did that.. “ She thought, tears coming to her eyes. “Everypony treats me like I'm some kind of monster...but I'm not...right?”

She wiped her eyes and opened her locker. Inside was Angel Bunny, quietly sleeping in his cage, seemingly perfectly at peace. Fluttershy quietly opened the cage and gently coaxed the bunny awake.

“Angel Bunny, its Mommy. Time to go home...” she whispered. The bunny groggily hopped up her arm and nuzzled himself into her mane. Fluttershy smiled wistfully and fished out her backpack and the cage, tucking the collapsible cage into her bag and slinging it onto her back.

She then closed her locker and started down the hall towards the exit. She unexpectedly bumped into a random colt.

“Hey watch where you’re going you stupid…” the colt turned around, quite irate. However, as soon as he saw who he was shouting at, he took a step back, eyes filled with fear.

“Oh, um, sorry I didn’t know…I, um…uh…” he tripped over his own legs and sprawled on the floor, holding up his hooves as if begging for mercy. “Just please don’t hurt me! I didn’t mean to bump into you…”

Fluttershy shied behind her mane. She felt a sharp pain go through her soul at the sight of the cowering pony. He acted as if she were about to rip his head off right then and there. He was acting as if she were some sort of monster. She bit her lip as tears started to well up in her eyes. The next thing she knew she was running down the halls crying, unable to hold back weeks of pent up sadness.

//////////////////////////

“What?! You seriously can’t be telling me this...” Tree Flower’s abnormally angry tone caught Fluttershy’s attention as she walked down the hallway towards the kitchen.

“Honey, don’t you understand? It’s for the best. I wouldn’t dare do anything to hurt her…” her father’s voice said, sounding like he was trying to calm Tree Flower down.

“Banner, I explicitly told you that you shouldn’t be testing things on your own daughter like she’s some sort of science experiment!” Tree Flower shouted back. “Did you have any idea of the side effects this stuff might cause?! She could have died.”

“Of course I knew about the side effects! Don’t you think I thought this through?! Of course I tested it. Nothing happened!” Banner Wing snapped back.

Fluttershy could hear her father trying to get a word in edgewise, only to be continually cut off by Tree Flower.

“And don’t give any of that ‘It’s the only way’ crap Banner Wing. You KNOW there were at least ninety other ways to help your daughter! What possessed you to try and inject this!?”

Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. “What are they talking about? What tests?”

Fluttershy peaked behind the corner and saw her mother holding a vial holding a dark green fluid inside of it in front of her father, who simply sat at the kitchen table, biting his lip and avoiding his wife’s withering gaze.

“Mommy? What’s going on? Why are you two fighting? Fluttershy asked as she stepped out into the kitchen.

Her mother and father looked at her, shock on her faces. Tree Flower turned to look at Banner Wing. Banner Wing bit his lip and leaned down, smiling. “It was nothing honey. Just a simple disagreement.”

Fluttershy looked over her father’s shoulder and towards the green vial her mother had now set on the table top.

“But daddy, mommy said something about tests on me…”

Banner Wing’s eyes grew wide in realization. “Um…well…honey…I…um…” he faltered, as if trying to find the right words to say.

Fluttershy’s concern grew. Why was her daddy suddenly so worried? He didn’t have anything to hide, right?

“Mommy? Are you and Daddy okay?” Fluttershy looked towards her mother expectantly, only to be greeted by her mother starting to cry, turning away from her.

Suddenly her dad spoke. “Fluttershy…” she turned to look at him.

“Yes daddy?”

He hesitated. “Fluttershy my dear, I have a confession…” Fluttershy became worried.

“About what, daddy?” she asked.

“Um…well…as it turns out, that little vial over there contains a special serum I made, and…” he hesitated again. “Well…I’ve…”

“Oh please just tell her the truth and be done with it!” Tree Flower suddenly interjected, her voice more of a sob then a command as tears welled up in her eyes.

Fluttershy could sense that whatever it was her father was about to tell her, it probably wasn’t all that good. Her father looked at her mother, took another deep breath and continued.

“I’ve been testing it on you.”

Those six words completely shattered Fluttershy’s world. She felt her heart drop like a stone to the bottom of her chest.

Fluttershy shook her head in disbelief. “No this has to be some kind of big joke,” she thought. “Daddy would never do that…right?”

She gazed into her father’s dark blue eyes. They were serious. This was no joke. Fluttershy suddenly felt very confused. One part of her wanted to scream out in anger, unable to fathom how her father could treat her that way. Another part of her just wanted to run away and never come back, since the only pony who seemed to love her as she was seemingly had betrayed her trust.

“D-daddy…please tell me that’s not true…” she sobbed.

Her father simply shook his head, his eyes heavy with sadness. “Oh my dear,” he pulled her into a hug. “I just wanted to make you all better…”

Her father’s words failed to comfort the distraught filly. Make you all better? Why was she sick? Was there something wrong with her? What?!

Her father continued. “You just so small…I just wanted to make you bigger and stronger…nothing else…”

Fluttershy shook her head. She could feel her entire world disintegrating around her. The idea of her father being somehow dissatisfied in her only managed to ignite an inexplicable feeling of rage within her. She shoved herself out of her father’s hug.

“WHY?!” She shouted, seething in rage. “Why did you do this to me?!” tears poured down her cheeks.

Banner Wing took a step back. “Fluttershy, calm down…”

“NO! I won’t calm down!” She shouted back as she felt her mind begin to be clouded over by her rage. “You said you’d never let anybody hurt me and ever since we’ve been here, all I’ve ever been is hurt and mocked and picked on like I’m a freak and some kind of failure…” she started to hyperventilate. “And now you even think I’m a failure?!”

Banner Wing slammed a hoof into the ground. “Fluttershy stop this immediately. I NEVER said that. I love you Fluttershy. I don’t think you’re a failure at all!”

Fluttershy shook her head. “You’re lying! Just like everypony else!” she shrieked as she felt her anger boiling over. The last thing she remembered before blacking out was the look on her parent’s faces. They were frightened.

//////////////////////////

Fluttershy bolted upright, dripping in a cold sweat. She looked around, her eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness. She was still in Zecora’s hut. She shook her head to clear away the bad memories that clung like cobwebs in her mind. She slowly stepped out of the bed, hoping that Zecora was still asleep. She gently put weight on her bandaged leg. A dull pain ebbed from it, but she was able to support herself on it.

Boy, that stuff works fast… she thought, smiling. The pale blue glow of dawn had started to make its way into the hut, revealing the still sleeping zebra hanging in her hammock, snoring.

Fluttershy smiled warmly. She really was nice…but I really should leave. Don’t want to be a burden.

She started to quietly walk towards the door, limping slightly due to her leg injury. A voice behind her however caught her attention. She froze.

“So your journey must begin anew? Where is it you will be off to?”

Fluttershy turned to see Zecora clambering out of her hammock.

“Um, well…” Fluttershy shuttered, hiding behind her mane. “I, um…I really don’t want to be a burden to you, and…um…I just feel that I should keep going.”

Zecora smiled and shook her head. “What made you think you were a burden to me? You were as good a guest as a guest can be.”

Fluttershy looked down at the ground embarrassed. “N-nothing…”

Zecora walked up and put a hoof on her shoulder. “Swift Breeze, what plagues you now? Is there a way I can help somehow?”

Fluttershy bit her lip. “Well…I just want to keep moving…I just do.”

Zecora’s expression changed from that of concern to that that Fluttershy assumed was calm acceptance. “No need to explain, no need to fret. This is a meeting I won’t surely forget. Before continuing on your mission, take this item as a worthy addition.” She turned and started to rummage through some shelves in the corner. She pulled out a small sack and continued to rummage through the shelves, putting in various containers inside.

“For your long journey, you will need supplies. I shall give you some for the needs that arise.” She said, handing Fluttershy the sack. Fluttershy regarded it with caution.

“Um…what’s inside?” Fluttershy asked, hoping that the containers didn't contain anything dangerous.

Zecora smiled, "Bits, and balm and plenty of food. Those are the things your bag should include." she motioned towards Fluttershy's leg.

Fluttershy smiled and took the sack from Zecora. "Thank you," she started back towards the door. "But I really feel it's time for me to go."

"My friend, don't leave yet. One last thing before I forget." Zecora called out. Fluttershy stopped.

What now? she thought, biting her lip again reflexively.

"My friend, allow me to escort you from this place. Least you be locked in dangers embrace." the zebra grabbed her staff, which had been resting in the corner, and walked up to Fluttershy. "With staff in hoof I promise to defend from dangers that you cannot possibly comprehend."

Fluttershy hesitated. "Like what?"

"Within this forests are many creatures of mystery, many who tried to face them are now lost to history." Zecora stepped ahead of Fluttershy and opened the door. The forest stretched ahead, thick with foliage. Some beams of sunlight shot through gaps in the branches, but overall the forest carried with it a dark and foreboding air.

Fluttershy shied away at the forest in front of her. She hadn't taken into account that she honestly had no idea where she was or what lurked in the dark shadows. "Um...okay then, you can lead the way...if that's okay with you."

Zecora nodded. "Of course my yellow friend, now, to the path ahead, we must attend." she beckoned to Fluttershy. "Now come, we should go before mornings end."

Fluttershy gulped and swung the sack over her back and started after Zecora, still limping slightly.

The two barely spoke to each other as they walked through the thick underbrush, Fluttershy spending most of the time observing the various exotic plants and the occasional animal that would dart in and out of the underbrush or along the various low hanging branches. Her leg still carried with it a dull pain that prevented her from putting her full weight on it, but with each passing hour the pain slowly diminished.

Wow, I wonder what she put in that balm… she thought. She glanced at Zecora, who strode ahead, confidentially, keeping a watchful eye on the underbrush.

“Um, Zecora…” Fluttershy asked.

“Yes?” Zecora replied, still keeping a watchful eye on the forest.

“I was, um, wondering if you could tell me what you put in the balm.”

“To make my special brew, mixing various herbs is what you must do.” Zecora replied, before stopping suddenly, nearly causing Fluttershy to bump into her.

“What is it?” Fluttershy whispered, various terrifying thoughts jumping to the forefront of her mind, all of which involved her being eaten alive by some horrible monster.

Maybe it’s a matacore? Or another timberwolf! Or a maybe it’s a cockatrice…or maybe it’s… she peered over Zecora’s shoulder and instantly felt a massive sense of relief.

In front of them was a thick patch of bright blue flowers that resembled lilies. Fluttershy gave Zecora a quizzical look.

“Um, Zecora, those are flowers. Why’d we stop?”

Zecora looked over her shoulder. “My friend, this flower, as innocent as it may seem, is the source of many a bad scene. It is Poison Joke.”

Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. “Poison joke?” the name sounded somewhat familiar to her. “Um, if I’m correct, doesn’t that only grow in the Everfree Forest?”

Zecora nodded. “That is correct, and this is also the place in which we trek.”

Fluttershy looked around, the forest taking on a darker feeling. She had heard stories about the dangers of the forest when she was a little filly living in Ponyville, and now, here she was. It also, however, served almost as a source of relief, since she hoped that the government wouldn’t dare follow her into such a notoriously wild and dangerous part of Equestria.

“Come, let us walk around this patch, less the plant’s poison we catch.” Zecora motioned towards some bushes, and they started to clamber through the thick plant life. The shrub turned out to be a bramble bush, which clawed at their coats and Fluttershy’s bandages.

They plowed their way through, neither of them saying anything much to each other besides the occasional warning against any potential pitfalls that were in their path. As the day went on, clouds of insects hovered around their faces, and sweat lathered on their bodies as the temperature and humidity climbed. After seemingly hours of hiking through the bush, they cleared the surprisingly large patch of poisonous flowers and returned to the main path.

Fluttershy wiped the sweat from her brow and let out a tired pant. “Z-zecora,” she panted, “Are we almost out?”

Zecora herself wiped away her ample amounts of sweat and nodded tiredly. “Be patient my little friend, your journey is near it’s end.” She pushed some thick vines out of the way to reveal the edge of a large clearing ahead. “Behold, the end of our quest. And with little trouble, for our hoofsteps were blessed.”

Fluttershy peaked out into the clearing. The forest opened up to reveal a nice open plot of surprisingly well-kept grass. From where they were standing she could see various buildings in the distance. A unsettlingly familiar feeling came over Fluttershy, as if she’d seen these buildings before.

“Um…where are we?” she asked, turning towards Zecora with a confused expression on her face.

“Ponyville is the name of this town, for kindness and honesty it is world renown.”

Ponyville?! Fluttershy thought. She hadn’t heard that name is years. A massive flood of memories of days spent running around on the playground with Firefly, making daisy chains with mother and general fillyhood games in her innocence flashed through her mind. Those, of course, were quickly overshadowed by an even larger flood of much darker memories.

Memories of being the subject of scorn from older fillies and utter humiliation. Memories of nights spent sobbing in bed plagued by nightmares of monsters and seemingly invincible bullies who would crush her underhoof.

“Oh…oh no…not here…” Fluttershy whimpered, backing away. “Anywhere but here…”

Zecora raised an eyebrow. “Whatever is the matter Swift Breeze? Why are you so ill at ease?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “I don’t want to go here, take my someplace else…I don’t like this place.” She started to stumble back into the briar, tripping over her own injured leg and falling in a heap.

Zecora rushed over and helped her back to her feet, brushing away any thorns or briars that had caught in Fluttershy’s coat, mane and tail.

“My friend, what about this place gives you such fear? Why is it that you want to leave here?”

Fluttershy hung her head. “I grew up there. It’s a lot of bad memories. Please, tell me we can visit some other town?”

Zecora shook her head. “I’m sorry to say, but here you must stay. For your leg is injured, and you body weak, and I cannot provide enough to make that cease. Whatever pain you have experienced, you must know this: It is in the past, and that means it is no longer a risk.”

Fluttershy a stray tear from her eye. “But why here? Isn’t there any other town nearby?”

“No I’m sorry, there is not.” Zecora replied, her voice becoming calm and understanding. “For most ponies avoid this place, for it a fright to their race.” Zecora replied, motioning to the forest around them. “In fact, they have an aversion to me, for a witch they believe me to be. But to you I believe they will be kind. You are a pony and therefore one of their kind.”

Fluttershy looked back towards the town. “But…it’s been so long…”

“What is it that troubles you so? What is it that fills you with dread?” Zecora asked rather sternly. “To overcome fear, one cannot focus on long time ago. She must look forward and see what’s ahead.”

Fluttershy gulped. “Um...okay.” she pulled herself back up and started to limp towards the clearing, her leg now once more burning in pain. She glanced down at the injured limb. The bandage Zecora had applied was now tattered and torn, with various bits of plants stuck to it where some of the balm oozed out.

“My friend, remember this: If you are ever in need of a friend, come to my home and I will amend.” Zecora spoke, picking up her staff in her mouth and turning to walk back into the forest.

Fluttershy stopped in her tracks. Friend. Zecora considered her a friend. The relief of knowing that somepony actually cared for her, and wasn’t seeking to harm her lifted the heavy feeling off Fluttershy’s soul. She felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time: confidence. Confidence in the fact, that, at least she had one friend in the world. A shoulder to lean on, a shelter from the world and its woes. Someone who was an outcast as well, who knew how she felt and what she had gone through.

“Zecora…” Fluttershy called out towards the zebra, who was about to step into the underbrush.

“Yes Swift Breeze?”

“I’d just like to say thank you, for being so nice to me.” Fluttershy said, smiling faintly. Zecora smiled and nodded, and, not saying a word, disappeared into the forest, leaving Fluttershy to finish the walk into town alone.

//////////////////////////

Hoofcuff stomped into the tent she was staying in and started to levitate her things into her saddle bags, muttering a very colorful and vulgar stream of insults under her breath, all directed towards General Iron Will.

“Stupid bucking idiot! Gets me roped into this idiotic goose chase for what I’m told is a just a normal criminal and instead turns out to be a giant monster that smashes tanks! Great! Perfect! Just what I needed!”

She violently folded up her clothes and stuffed them inside the saddle bags, continuing her rant.

“I mean seriously Hoofcuff, why didn’t you guess that earlier?! I mean all this time you’ve been wondering how she could throw a four hundred pound griffin into a brick wall like he was a puppet?!” she angrily stuffed spare cases of ammunition into the saddle bag and violently tugged the flap closed, pinning it shut.

“And on top of that…” her rant was cut off by the distinct feeling of being watched. She spun around, horn charged and ready to strike down anybody who had snuck up on her. She was greeted by Snowflake, who, with an oddly smug grin on his otherwise grim face and eyebrow raised, was staring at her.

“What the buck do you want?” Hoofcuff spat, slowly coming down from her angry high. Snowflake stepped forward.

“I take it your leaving?” he asked, stepping into the tent and standing in the corner, his chest puffing out slightly.

Hoofcuff felt her anger return at the stupid question. Wasn’t it obvious she was leaving? Why would anybody stay on a mission sent to find what was basically a living atomic bomb?!

“Yes! Of course I’m leaving!” she hissed, swinging the saddlebag over her back violently and stamping towards the exit of the tent. Snowflake stepped in front of her.

Hoofcuff let out an inarticulate snarl. “Snowflake, so help me get out of my way before I blast your brains in.”

Snowflake shook his head. “The General asked that you stay here.”

Hoofcuff pushed her way past the pegasus and shifted into a fuming canter. “Tell him to buck off because I’m out of here. I’m not military anyways, so he can’t boss me around.”

“Why?” Snowflake asked, flapping into the air behind her.

“Because I’m not keen on getting squished by a bug next time we run into that thing,” She spat back, “I’m going home. I’m tired, frustrated and honestly, I can think of three other cases I could be investigating. So leave me be.”

She heard Snowflake scoff. “Fine, be a bitch. I don’t care.”

Hoofcuff’s eye twitched involuntarily at the insult but she kept going. She wasn’t about to let some stupid jock solider get on her nerves. She had enough of those for these past few weeks.

“I guess that means that I capture it, though, I’ll take all the credit.” Snowflake sneered from above. “After all, I’m always the best.”

“Piss off!” Hoofcuff spat back, shooting off a bolt of magic towards the proud pegasus, who simply dodged it, and flapped off, a self-satisfied grin on his face.

Once he disappeared, Hoofcuff returned to her fuming.

“Stupid general bucking lied to me. Could have gotten Starlight or me KILLED just so he can catch a giant green freak pony! Stupid, stupid, stupid…”

She made her way out of the camp, ignoring the various funny looks other ponies where giving her as she continued to mutter and grumble to herself.

The number one thing that stuck in her craw was just the sheer deceptive nature of this whole mission had had from the beginning. If Iron Will had just been honest and told her what exactly they were after, she probably would not have been so angry.

And if there was anything in the whole world that got Hoofcuff angry faster then anything else, it was dishonest authority of any kind. Her father had been the only honest cop in Trottingham it seemed and it had certainly rubbed off on his daughter, giving her a strong distaste for dishonesty.

She reached the edge of the destroyed compound, looking for someway to get back to Canterlot and sane, logical ponies. She caught sight of a small airship readying itself for take off. She cantered over and called for the captain.

“Hey! Cap!” the captain of the airship, a grizzled unicorn with an eye patch and pet parrot perched on his shoulder turned towards her.

“Yes ma’am?”

“I’d like to know where this airship is heading.” Hoofcuff asked, motioning towards the airship behind them.

“We be headin’ fer Canterlot me bonnie lass. What business is it of yers?”

Hoofcuff rolled her eyes at the eccentric pony. “I want to hitch a ride. I’m an Equestrian Marshall.” She flashed him her badge.

The captain eyed the badge with his good eye. “Aye that ye be. Seems legit.” He turned towards his parrot. “What do ya think Jimmy?”

The parot leaned in towards the badge and then eyed Hoofcuff suspiciously.

“BRAW! Jimmy okay with this!”

The captain smiled and laughed heartily. “Aye my friend!” he turned back towards Hoofcuff, who was feeling rather foolish by putting up with this weird pirate-like pony.

“Does this mean I can come or not?” she asked, her patience wearing thin.

The captain nodded. “Aye that be the living breathin’ truth missy! Come aboard The Minnow.”

“Yeah thanks whatever.” Hoofcuff grumbled, stepping past the captain and walking up the gangplank.

The captain followed afterwards, barking orders to his crew who darted across the deck and up the masts, busy at work.

The airship lifted gracefully into the air and its engine started up, sending it forward towards Canterlot.

//////////////////////////

Fluttershy quietly walked into town, her limp fading in and out as she walked. To be in an open, neatly cut field felt strange to her. She had spent most of her life running back and forth, always with the constant fear of being caught following her everywhere.

But, for the first in a while, she felt strangely at peace. The sun was up, the sky was a tremendously beautiful shade of blue without a single cloud to be seen, and, since she had left the Everfree behind her, the humidity from before had been replaced by a crisp, clear feeling in the air. The cloud of insects hadn’t followed her either, instead being replaced by an occasional butterfly, which would flitter past Fluttershy.

As she neared the town, the grass was steadily replaced by a relatively simple road, on which various ponies walked about, chattering amongst themselves. Fluttershy paused when she caught sight of a well-weathered signpost.

“Welcome to Ponyville

Home of Sweet Apple Acers

Population 20,000”

Fluttershy smiled wistfully. The town hadn’t really changed since she saw it last, which was more then twenty years ago. She scanned the town, her feelings of fear slowly being replaced with the distinct feeling of being someplace safe.

The various buildings from she remembered her childhood still stood around town. There was the candy colored Sugarcube Corner, where she remembered having milkshakes and soda back in the day.

As she walked through town, she decided to keep a low profile, just in case. Even though she wasn’t feeling particularly paranoid right now, her mind still told her to keep a sharp eye out for any suspicious behavior.

She felt a shot of fear go through her however, when she caught sight of a small poster stapled to a light post.

“WANTED:

Fluttershy Braveheart, for various crimes

Against Equestria including, but not limited to:

Acts of Terror; Destruction of Government Property; and at least 15 counts of Murder”

Fluttershy felt the smothering feeling of depression come over her soul. Even here, a seemingly innocent and placid town, her monstrous other managed to make itself known. The thing about the poster that hurt her the most however, was the number. Fifteen.

Fifteen ponies who would never see their families or loved ones again.

Fifteen families who had to go on without them.

Fifteen innocent lives, that probably hadn’t done a single wrong, where now snuffed out, cut off and terminated.

Fluttershy felt a tear run down her cheek. She felt frightened. Frightened that no matter where she went, she would cause somebody’s life to end in a horrible, violent manner.

She barely even noticed that her own picture was on the poster, in full glory, for everyone in town to see and be able to identify her. She looked around, an immense feeling of paranoia and fear sweeping over her. Strangely however, nobody seemed to notice her. They all went about their day, some in a hurry and some not.

Taking a deep breath, Fluttershy held back the oncoming panic attack.

“Relax Fluttershy, relax…calm down…just don’t do anything to attract attention to yourself…” she whispered to herself, eying the poster. Taking another breath, she tried her best to calm down. She quietly reached out for the poster and yanked it off the light pole, hoping that nobody had seen her do it. She quickly stuffed the paper into the saddle bag Zecora had given to her and started walking.

“Just keep moving Fluttershy. Find a motel, use a fake name, same as before…” she scanned the town, now searching for a place to stay overnight that would hopefully not ask too many questions. She walked by the flower shop, making sure to keep her head down and mane in front of her face, so that nobody would recognize her.

However, she lost track of where she was going, and bumped into a pastel red earth pony with a dark brown mane.

“Oh, I’m sorry…” Fluttershy instantly apologized, her own good manners getting the better of her paranoia.

“Oh, no I’m sorry!” the mare said, in a frighteningly familiar voice. Fluttershy’s ears came to attention at the sound of the voice.

The voice carried a strangely familiar tone, as if Fluttershy had heard it before, but she couldn’t remember where.

The mare turned and properly faced Fluttershy. At the sight of the mare’s face, however, Fluttershy’s eyes shrank to pinpricks.

“M-mother?!” she sputtered, instantly slamming her hoof over her mouth and turning away.

The mare’s own expression changed from apologetic to shock.

“F-Fluttershy?” the mare herself sputtered, tears welling up in her blue eyes. “Y-you’re alive?!”

At these words, Fluttershy promptly fainted straight away.

"Two of us wearing raincoats

Standing solo

In the sun

You and me chasing paper

Getting nowhere

On our way back home

We're on our way home

We're going home"

Two of Us by The Beatles

Act II - 10 - In Times of Trouble

Act III - 10 - In Times of Trouble

Act III:

"Naqoyqatsi (Life as War)"

Chapter Ten:

"In Times of Trouble"

Snowflake sat in the waiting room, just outside a lab in the MagiTech headquarters in Canterlot. Having spent the last three months abroad, he was glad to be back in Equestria; a place where everypony spoke the same language and all the food was edible. After Hoofcuff’s unexpected departure, the General had taken Snowflake to Canterlot, where he would finally receive the thing he so deeply desired:

Pure, unbridled power and superiority.

His thoughts drifted from subject to subject as he waited, tapping his hoof impatiently. At the thought of how that grey mare had gotten all riled when she found out about Flutterhulk, he snickered.

Figures that mare couldn’t handle it. He thought. After all, this is a stallion’s world.

He let out a smug sigh and continued to scan the room, his impatience growing.

The door suddenly opened and a rather bookish mare leaned out the door and motioned towards Snowflake, “The doctor will see you now.”

Snowflake smiled and entered the lab, taking it in. It held an unexpectedly high amount of advanced technology, for such a relatively small room. They all hummed and beeped and went about pouring various liquids of colors into vials and moving the vials along, attaching labels to them and putting them in secure containers. The containers were then sealed shut and put into a neat stack on the counter.

A young looking unicorn stallion motioned towards Snowflake. He had a dark green coat, an auburn mane and tail that were both cut short. He was wearing a white lab coat and a pair of goggles rested on his forehead.

“Hello, hello,” he said in a nasally voice, beckoning for Snowflake to come over.

“Hello, I’m here for the injection,” Snowflake replied, motioning towards one of the half-dozen vials in one of the open containers.

The unicorn smiled ecstatically, giggling like a school girl. “Oh goody! Let us proceed!” he whipped out a syringe and filled it with a dark green liquid. “Here we go now!” he giggled as he lifted the syringe like a dagger and moved to inject Snowflake.

The next thing Snowflake felt was a sharp pain in his upper foreleg, then a strange tingling sensation. He turned to see the strange dark green liquid being injected into his foreleg.

“DONE!” the unicorn chimed, yanking the syringe out of Snowflake’s arm and dumping it into a biohazard box, all while whistling some kindergarten tune. Snowflake rubbed the spot where the needle had pierced his skin.

“That’s it?” he asked, slightly confused at the sheer simplicity of it all. He honestly had thought they’d strap him down to a table or something and run a bunch of electricity or magic through him while a bunch of mad scientists cackled maniacally.

The unicorn nodded. “Of course, it’s a very minor procedure. It should take at least two days for you to start to feel the effects, but I assure you, they will be noticeable,” he patted Snowflake on the back. “You can go now.”

Snowflake nodded and trotted out of the doctor’s lab, a distinct feeling of being ripped off lurking in his mind.

“This had better be worth it…” he muttered under his breath.

///////////////////////

Fluttershy slowly opened her eyes. The last thing she remembered was bumping into her mother at the Ponyville market and then fainting. The first thing she noticed was that she was in someone’s house, bundled up rather nicely in a warm comforter.

What in Equestria happened? What am I doing here?

She slowly looked around the room. She was lying on someone’s couch, in what was apparently the living room. All along the light pink walls ran various rather simple, yet elegant paintings of flowers and plants. The warm smell of something that had obviously just finished baking and the sound of soothing classical music playing gave Fluttershy a strange feeling of being at home here, wherever it was. Almost as if she’d been here before.

She slowly sat herself up and gently climbed off the couch, walking around the room, familiarizing herself with it. In the corner sat a rather modest television, perched on a small desk. There were several bookcases filled with books of various sizes, all neatly lined up. There was also a small upright piano tucked into a corner opposite from the television, and it looked rather well used. Perched on the piano was a rather old looking, but well preserved radio; the source of the soothing classical music she had heard. Sunlight poured in through the windows, which overlooked a small, modest looking backyard with a tree in the middle, where Fluttershy could see various birds and squirrels scampering about.

“Um…hello?” she quietly called out, walking as quietly as possible out of the living room and into the kitchen, towards the smell of whatever it was that had been baked. She tilted her head slightly in confusion at the sight that greeted her once she entered the kitchen. The kitchen was an equally humble affair, consisting of a small table, upon which was a small platter, were several dozen chocolate chip cookies sat, apparently fresh out of the oven. There was a small stove top oven tucked in a corner, and in the other corner, was a washing machine, which was quietly running. The refrigerator sat tucked next to the dishwasher.

Fluttershy’s eyes drifted to the kitchen table and the cookies that sat on it, she noticed that alongside the cookies, sat a small note. She quietly walked over picked up the note to read it.

“Dearest Fluttershy,

I hope you sleep well and are properly rested.

I baked these cookies for you. I know they’re your favorite. Help yourself.

If you wish to speak with me, I’ll be

in the garden painting the flowers.

Your loving mother, Tree Flower.”

Fluttershy smiled, a warm feeling filling her heart. She slowly reached over and picked up one of the cookies. She took a small bite, savoring the wonderfully sweet and warm taste. The flavor of the cookies brought back a flood of memories to her. Memories of her mother gently comforting her after another torturous day of school, always with gentle loving hugs and these wonderful cookies.

Of course, those memories soon darkened with the cloud of the other side of her personality. Especially that black day in October. How could her mother possibly forgive her after what she done? New Fluttershy had taken away the pony most important to her mother, and had left her alone, weeping over his battered body.

An overwhelming feeling of guilt overcame Fluttershy, and she started to hyperventilate.

What if she secretly still hates me? What if she’s towards the door right now and this is all a trick? She turned pale and darted out of the kitchen, paranoia gripping her mind, I’ve gotta get out of here…

She quickly scampered towards the front door, hoping that her mother hadn’t heard her.

Her paranoid train of thought was interrupted by her mother’s melodic voice calling from behind her.

“Fluttershy? Where are you going?”

Fluttershy froze, hoof on the door knob. “Um…” she stuttered. “I-I just feel t-that I s-should go.”

“But why? You’re my daughter, why would you want to leave?” her mother asked, a strange sadness evident in her voice.

Fluttershy swallowed. “I’m sorry mother, I just can’t stay here…I don’t want her to hurt you.”

“Whatever are you talking about?” her mother said, slowly walking towards her.

Fluttershy sobbed. “Mother, you know exactly what I’m talking about. She’s dangerous, all she does is cause destruction and pain….and I don’t want any more of that to happen to you.”

Tree Flower put a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “Dear…is this about your father?”

Fluttershy moved away, the mention of her father making her bristle. One half of her still felt betrayed by the one pony she had trusted and loved so dearly, who had always told her that she was his little angel. But then she found out the truth. That she wasn’t good enough. But, the other half of her felt a totally different emotion: Sorrow.

Sorrow that, in her own selfishness, she had let out some horrible monstrous side of her explode into the world and utterly destroy everything she had held dear. The gruesome memory of her father’s battered and bloodied body laying on the floor, with her mother clutching it, mourning him flashed through her mind. Her emotions overwhelmed her and she fell to her knees, sobbing. “Mother I’m so sorry…” she wept, pulling Tree Flower into a tight hug. “I-I’m so sorry! Sorry for everything...” she continued to weep, more than twenty years of held back pain and suffering exploding forth in one extreme wave of emotion.

Tree Flower gently rocked her back and forth, shushing her. “It’s okay…it’s okay…it wasn’t your fault.”

“But it was!” Fluttershy cried out, “If I hadn’t let New Fluttershy out, none of that would have happened!” She tightened her hug around her mother, burying herself into the other pony’s chest.

Tree Flower gently pulled out of the hug, and put a hoof on Fluttershy’s chin, making Fluttershy look her in the eyes. “Fluttershy,” she said, her voice placid and calm. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t do it on purpose. It was purely an accident, nothing more. Your father loved you, and I still love you. Nothing you could ever do would stop me from loving you with all my heart. You’re my daughter,” She wiped a stray tear from Fluttershy’s face.

“B-but f-father said I w-was a failure…t-that I n-needed to be fixed, like I was broken or something…” Fluttershy sniffed, tears streaming down her face.

Tree Flower let out a heavy sigh, “Fluttershy, listen,” she paused, seemingly gathering her thoughts. “When your father said that, he was angry and frustrated at himself. Do you know why he said those things?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “N-no…”

Tree Flower unexpectedly stood up. “Follow me and I’ll show you,” she beckoned towards the living room. Fluttershy, still crying, stood up and followed her mother into the living room. They both sat on the couch, as her mother tinkered with the television.

“You’re father left you this, he made it right before he died…” her mother said as she put a rather old looking video tape into the rather battered and bedraggled looking tape player.

She then switched the television on and it revealed a very pale and sickly looking Banner Wing sitting in a hospital bed, with dozens of IVs and life-support systems wired into him, his body aglow with healing magic, his breath wheezed, and breathing obviously taking its toll on his body.

“Hello Fluttershy,” he said, taking a shallow breath. “I hope that when you see this, things are going better than they are now.”

He chuckled slightly, his laughter descending into a coughing fit, his whole body heaving and shaking with each cough. Fluttershy felt a stab of guilt go through her heart at the sight. It was her fault he was like this. Eventually, however, his coughing subsided and he looked back into the camera.

“Sorry about that. Anyways, I’m making this message in case I don’t make it. I just wanted to say I’m sorry. Sorry that I didn’t tell you about my tests, I really should have. That was foolish of me. I’m so sorry,” He coughed again.

“Even though it might not look that way, I did this because I love you. I couldn’t live to see you bullied and mocked at school, other fillies and colts poking fun at your tiny wings, or your gimpy legs. Sadly, I started to think that those where defects too. What I didn’t realize, however, is that those aren’t defects, they’re gifts. They make you what you are,” tears started flowing from his eyes. “I regret that I acted so rash and foolishly. But, even with those mistakes, and there are many, you must remember that I will still love you, no matter what happens. Nothing you do will ever make me stop loving you. Just remember that. I love you.”

And, with those words, the tape went blank. Fluttershy stared at the screen, her own emotions now confused and clashing.

“See?” her mother said, sitting next to her. “That was his last message to you. He loved you, Fluttershy, and he always hoped that one day, one day you’d return and we’d be together again…as a family…” she paused, tears welling up in her eyes. “And now you’re home…” she unexpectedly pulled Fluttershy into an incredibly tight hug, and started to cry into Fluttershy’s shoulder. “And we’re a family again…”

Fluttershy herself returned the hug, and the two mares sat together, quietly crying, healing the wounds those twenty years of separation had made between the two.

And, deep in Fluttershy’s soul, she felt at home and, most importantly, she felt at peace.

///////////////////////

Hoofcuff walked down the gangplank, a grim look on her face. The airship ride to Canterlot had been detoured due to a need for repairs. Apparently, making sure his airship was in proper working condition had completely slipped the captain's mind, and the engine had given out, forcing them to dock in this backwater town for repairs.

Hoofcuff had already made her frustration known to the captain, in a rather long and quite colorful rant. She was THIS close to getting home and being amongst logical ponies, and go back to chasing proper fugitives, ponies like bank robbers and murderers, not some shy pegasus that apparently could turn into some giant green rage monster at a moment’s notice. No thanks, she thought, I'll take any serial killer over a monster that'll squash me like a bug any day of the week.

She reached the bottom of the gangplank and looked around, taking in the humble town. A small sign identified the town as ‘Ponyville’.

Hoofcuff grumbled and made her way towards the center of town, at least taking a chance to stretch her legs for a bit. Her stormy disposition faded, however, as she quickly began to appreciate the quietness of the town. It was such an extreme contrast to how big cities like Manehatten or Canterlot felt, what with at least a dozen ponies constantly harassing you at any given moment. Here, everybody went about their business happily, chattering with each other and even going out of their way to wish Hoofcuff a good morning as she passed by.

Hoofcuff eventually settled down at a local café, sitting down to sort through the past few weeks and where she should go from here. She lazily scanned the area around the café when her eyes caught sight of a very, very familiar face on a wanted poster stuck to a light pole across from her.

It was Fluttershy.

Any semblance of a good mood Hoofcuff might have developed was quickly washed away by the image of the pegasus’ face. It seemed as if the entire universe was rubbing Fluttershy in Hoofcuff's face, constantly reminding her of the one pony she had been tasked to track down that had gotten away. And not only that, but it also served as a reminder of the fact Hoofcuff didn't even have the gumption to go after the accursed mare and properly bring her in.

Nope, just the opposite. What had Hoofcuff done? She ran the other way, away from her target. It stuck in her craw. She had faced much worse hadn't she? She had gone up against and captured the absolute worst monsters, freaks and weirdos that Equestria had to offer, and what had gotten her to turn tail and run? A little wimpy pegasus. It drove Hoofcuff insane. A part of her berated her for not finishing the job, being a mature adult and get over herself. She'd been scared before, why was this one different? Why did it have to be THIS mission where she finally lost her nerve?

She let out a frustrated groan and pounded her head on the table in frustration.

“Hey you okay there?” a female voice asked.

Hoofcuff looked up the source of the voice, which was a mint green unicorn with a quizzical look on her face. Hoofcuff's eyes narrowed.

“Bug off will you?” she grumbled, giving the unicorn a dirty look.

The unicorn shrugged. “Fine suit yourself,” and with that the unicorn trotted away, humming to herself.

Hoofcuff's thoughts returned to Fluttershy and her own failure. Is it because I'm getting older? She thought. She quickly shook her head. Nonsense Hoofcuff, you're only thirty-five. That's not old. Not at all.

She let out another frustrated groan. Then why do I feel like a total plothole? She wondered, rubbing her temples in frustration. Ugh, my life SUCKS. She thought. Her eyes once more started drifting around, searching for something to distract her from her moral quandary. She caught sight of a sign advertising the café’s various flavors of coffee. That’s it, I need some coffee.

She pulled her head up from the table and motioned towards a nearby waiter. “Waiter, waiter!” the waiter, a rather snooty looking earth pony with a slicked back mane and mustache, trotted over.

“Yes, ma'am?” the waiter asked. “What is it I may do for you?”

“Can I have some coffee? Black, no sugar,” Hoofcuff asked, looking back out at the town passing by.

“Oui madame,” the waiter replied, turning away and trotting into the cafe. Hoofcuff waited, twiddling her hooves out of boredom.

She jumped slightly when she heard the sound of her cell phone ringing. “Wait, what?” she muttered as she fished through her ever present windbreaker for the phone. She found it, tucked in her pocket. She answered it.

“Hoofcuff, Equestrian Marshall. Speaking?” she asked.

“Why hello Marshall,” the familiar voice of the General replied from the other side. “I have some news you might find interesting.”

Hoofcuff rolled her eyes, and rubbed her forehead in frustration. “How the hay did you get this number?”

“Well I make a point of finding out ways to contact anypony I might be working with in case I need to contact them with important information. Such as now.”

“And what would that be?” Hoofcuff grumbled.

“Well, for one thing, I completely sympathize with the reasons for your departure from the mission. After all, you certainly weren’t expecting such a…stunning sight now where you?”

“No…no I wasn’t.” Hoofcuff grumbled in response. “And I wouldn’t exactly call that ‘stunning’. ‘Weapon of mass destruction’ might be a better term.”

“Yes, yes it would be. Which is exactly why I believe that you probably feel quite guilty that you’ve abandoned your post…as it were…”

Hoofcuff’s eyes nearly exploded out her skull at the general’s words. How dare that stuck up jarhead accuse her of such a thing? She left for moral reasons, NOT cowardice.

“Listen here you,” Hoofcuff spat into the phone. “Lets get one very important fact straight right now: I'm no coward. Okay? Got that? I left because I personally feel that you were dishonest with me and put me and my assistant's lives at risk without properly filling me in on, what I would assume, are some pretty important pieces of information! If you had just been honest with me from the very beginning of this 'mission' I probably wouldn't reacted as I did. Got it?!”

She paused, ignoring the fact that the waiter had brought her her coffee, instead awaiting the response from the general on the other side. The response came in the form of a dark chuckle.

“Agent Hoofcuff, you know exactly why I couldn't just tell you that...information right at the beginning. You simply wouldn't have believed me.”

Hoofcuff gritted her teeth together in anger. “Well you could have at least given it a shot!” she spat back. She could hear the general sigh on the other side, almost as if he were tired of her.

“Agent Hoofcuff, are you quite finished? Because if you are, I have a proposition for you,” he spoke, seeming very calm and collected, in spite of the browbeating he had just received from the grey mare.

Probably wants me to find the lost city of the Seaponies or something... She thought, but didn't voice her thoughts, instead opting to hear what the general had to say, mainly so she could come up with a well worded way for her to tell him to buck off.

“Ugh, what?” she finally grumbled, rubbing her forehead. All this frustration and gripping had given her a headache.

“Agent Hoofcuff, my request is this: come back, and finish the job. You know what you're up against and the full scope of what’s at stake. Are you seriously telling me that you will willingly let a pony that is best described as a living weapon of mass destruction simply walk away, free to do whatever she pleases, even if that means the destruction of the country we both hold so dear to our hearts? All for something as frivolous and subjective as 'honesty'?” she could hear the sound of him shifting in his chair. “Because, from my point of view, I believe I was rather honest. What I said was true...from a certain point of view.”

Hoofcuff's first impulse was to scream into the phone a very, VERY colorful line of expletives and ream him on the nature of honesty. However, before she had a chance to come up with any such insults, she was cut off by the general.

“And before you think of making a witty retort, Agent Hoofcuff, I must inform you that if you say no to this proposition, I will make one phone call to your superiors, and inform them that you abandoned a mission, and therefore the search for one of Equestria's Most Wanted, all for what would appear to be quite selfish reasons.”

That stopped Hoofcuff cold. She held herself back for a moment, processing what the General had just said. If she said no, not only would he tell her superiors, but would most certainly make sure that she got fired, most likely in the most humiliating way possible. Hoofcuff felt all her bravado and ego drain away from her.

“However, if you say yes, and come back and help us complete this endeavor, I’ll make sure that none of this sees the light of day, and I’ll put a good word in for you. Take your pick.”

Suddenly the prospect of returning to the job and capturing Fluttershy seemed a very wonderful and charming thing. Hoofcuff looked across the café and back at the wanted poster, her eyes narrowing in determination. A part of her screamed that this wasn’t just and would only end badly for all involved, but another, much more persuasive part of her was telling her to accept the challenge. It was her ego.

“Ugh…fine. I’ll go along with your little wild goose chase. As soon as you get back your little pink maned freak, I’m out okay? No more of this running around, looking over and under hill for her,” she responded, doing her best to remain a calm and collected veneer. “Do we have an agreement?”

There was a pause on the other end, before the General spoke again.

“Yes…of course we do.”

"When I find myself in times of trouble,

Mother Mary comes to me,

Speaking words of wisdom,

Let it be."

Let It Be by The Beatles

Act II - 11 - Your Possible Pasts

Act III - 11 - Your Possible Pasts

Act III:

"Naqoyqatsi (Life as War)"

Chapter Eleven:

"Your Possible Pasts"

Snowflake wandered in what seemed to be a seemingly endless maze, its walls, roof and floor lined with hundreds of mirrors. The strangest thing about these mirrors though, is that each one reflected a different image. Each image was distorted and warped, like that of a funhouse.

Some images made Snowflake look more like a giraffe then a pony. Another one made him look like a cyclops. It was all very strange to Snowflake. A thick, almost impenetrable mist hung low around his hooves, only clearing occasionally, always to reveal another warped and distorted image of Snowflake.

“Um…hello?” he called out, his voice echoing strangely. With each echo it became more and more distorted, and strange ghostly laughter echoed back from some point deep within the maze.

“Um…hello? Anypony?” he called out again, his voice once more echoing strangely and eerily. With each of his hoofsteps, the room echoed, the sounds bouncing off the mirrors and walls and fading into nothingness.

Okay… Snowflake thought. This is getting weird.

He rounded another corner and was suddenly caught in a dead end. He nearly screamed at the sight that greeted him in the massive mirror that took up the entire surface.

It was a horrendous creature, at least twelve feet tall, with a coat of pure white. Its eyes blazed with an almost demonic shade of red and its muscles were oversized and spikes came out of its back, like that of a dragon. In its mouth were hundreds of teeth, all sharp like steak knives.

The beast in the mirror mimicked Snowflakes movements, following him perfectly.

“What the hay?” Snowflake thought aloud. The beast copied him, except in a deep, demonic growl. Then, the most unexpected thing happened.

It laughed. And Snowflake wasn’t laughing.

Its laugh was best described as a guttural rumble that shook the walls, causing all the reflected images of Snowflake to vibrate so much that they all shattered, sending a rain of glass falling down around him.

Snowflake tried to run, but his hooves refused to respond. It was if he was glued to the floor. The monster the mirror reared on its hind legs and fell forward, smashing the mirror with its hooves. Instead of shattering with the glass, however, the monster shook off any remaining shards of glass and leaned down to look the now trembling Snowflake.

“You better run little filly,” the monster growled, a demented smile on his face.

The monster’s words snapped Snowflake out of his dreamlike state and he bolted in the opposite direction, running as fast as his legs could carry him. He tried to spread his wings and fly, but they simply wouldn’t open. It was if they were glued to his sides.

The monster’s laughter echoed behind him, and thunderous footfalls followed after it, causing the floor beneath Snowflake to shake and rumble violently like an earthquake. He tripped over his own hooves and fell forward, slamming into the mirrored floor below, causing the glass to crack, splintering into a thousand shards. A searing pain shot through Snowflake’s muzzle. He looked down to see a small pool of blood on the floor below.

The booming hoof steps from behind him however, snapped him back into the real world again, and he dragged himself to his hooves, and stumbled forward, once more running as fast as his legs could carry him. His hooves crushed hundreds of shards of glass, sending tremendous pain through his legs and leaving a trail of blood behind him. The behemoth, meanwhile, had been gaining on him the entire time and was now breathing down his neck, its hooves sending shockwaves so strong that they sent Snowflake tumbling forward again, and he rolled over himself, his coat being shredded against the broken glass.

He looked up towards his doppelgänger who now loomed over him, smiling demonically.

“W-what are you?” Snowflake whimpered, now feeling like a lost child instead of a mighty soldier.

The monster simply lifted its titanic hoof, and with a look of almost satanic glee, answered the question.

“I’m you.”

And then its hoof came crashing down on Snowflake and everything went black.

//////////////////////

Snowflake bolted upright and looked around the room. The room was pitch-black except for the light from a small digital clock on the wall. The time read 02:35. Snowflake wiped away the cold sweat that coated his forehead, his breath shallow and ragged.

“What the hay was that about?” he whispered, trying to make sense of the nightmare. He lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

Ever since he had taken that injection, his dreams had become stranger and more disturbing each night. One nightmare involved his skin falling off, only to have a demonic doppelgänger of himself explode out of him and eat him. Another side effect, he quickly found, was a constant dull pain throughout his entire body. The only good things to come out of it so far was an increase in his energy and senses. The colors seemed brighter, the sounds more defined and, above all, an increase in power.

And that was all he had wanted. More power and more stamina. And it was working. So what he had a couple of weird dreams or aches? He was Snowflake, best the griffin military had to offer. He could take it.

Letting out a tired sigh and rubbed his eyes and dragged himself out of the bed and sleepily trotted over to the nearby bathroom. He flicked on the light, wincing slightly at the sudden burst of light.

He looked in the mirror. The first thing he noticed was his coat color. The once bright white color had now faded into a dull grayish-white. The bones in his back also looked much more prevalent, poking against the skin of his back.

A thought drifted through his mind.

Why’d you run like a coward Snow? Huh? Why? He mentally reprimanded himself, mentally picturing his stepfather looming over him, disapproval in the griffin’s eyes.

You weren’t scared when you went up against that green thing! Opposite! You went and shot that thing like a real stallion! But what happens now? You see this one and you chicken out. Like a coward. That’s what you were in there you know.

A coward. Nothing more nothing less. I’ve seen baby chicks with more bravery than you showed back there. Running off like that. Pfft. No son of MINE is going to be a coward.

The mental image of his stepfather crossing his talons, looking down at Snowflake, eyebrow raised.

Do you know what we do with cowards son? Do ya? We make ‘em get up by their bootstraps and get over themselves! That’s what!

There was a pause, as if the specter of his father were thinking of what to say next.

NOW! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?! The specter shouted, stomping a claw on the ground.

Snowflake shook his head, the memory of his step father fading, slowly being replaced by grim determination.

“I’m going to get over myself, Daddy, that’s what. No son of yours is going to be branded a coward. No matter what,” he whispered, staring intently into the mirror, meditating on his reflection in the dream. Another thought, however, made itself known.

What if this was all a terribly bad idea?

He quickly shook his head, the mental image of his father slapping him upside the head. Nonsense Snowflake! He told you there would be side effects. This is normal. Anyways…you’ve got your power right? And that’s worth any price.

Once more tightening his jaw, Snowflake looking in the mirror one last time. His eyes burning with a frightening determination.

“You are the best Snowflake. You are the best at everything.”

And that mare? That little whimpering, shivering pegasus? She was nothing.

//////////////////////

“Ouch!” Fluttershy winced as a sharp pain shot up her leg.

She sat at the kitchen table, while Tree Flower quietly went about changing the old beat up bandage on Fluttershy’s injured leg.

“Dear Celestia, Fluttershy, what happened to you?” her mother asked, tossing the old gooey bandage in a plastic garbage bag. “You look like something bit you or something.”

Fluttershy bit her lip, still unsure if she should tell her mother about the Timberwolf attack. “Um…well…I…um…fell while running,” she lied, hoping her mother would buy it. “Into some thorns.”

“Thorns? Where?” Tree Flower asked, looking up at Fluttershy, worry in her eyes. “I need to know just in case it gets infected.”

Fluttershy hid behind her mane compulsively. “It’s okay, mother, really. I had someone already look at it, I’ll be fine.”

Tree Flower looked somewhat unconvinced. “That would explain this,” she motioned towards the remains of the bandage and the leftover blobs of goo that Zecora had swathed on Fluttershy’s leg. “But I still want to know…” she paused, looking up and into Fluttershy’s eyes.

Fluttershy was silent for a moment. Ever since she saw the old tape her father had made that morning, she had spent her time quietly thinking and talking with her mother, the conversation usually concerning what had happened in Ponyville in the intervening twenty years, with Tree Flower occasionally asking where Fluttershy had been.

Fluttershy was vague when asked exactly what happened during her time away, usually resorting to an answer along the lines of, “I’d rather not talk about it,” or, “I don’t remember”. Usually, whenever Fluttershy would say that, her mother would nod and quietly move onto a less sensitive topic, usually back to daily life in Ponyville.

But this time, there was a determination in Tree Flower’s eyes. Her dark green eyes looked as if they were staring into Fluttershy’s soul. However, mixed in with the determination was another emotion. Sadness. This mare had spent twenty years convinced that her daughter was dead, and now, here she was, sitting at her kitchen table with an injured leg.

Fluttershy bit her lip, her eyes quickly looking away as her own guilty feelings overtook her.

Come on Fluttershy. She thought. You could have at least sent her a letter saying you were alright. But what did you do? Nothing. She glanced back at Tree Flower, who was still looking up at her with the same expression. Fluttershy’s conscious continued to berate her.

And now here she is, having totally forgiven you and you still want to lie to her. You were honest with Zecora. You didn’t even know that zebra, and yet you were still more honest then you are with your own mother. Just come clean.

Fluttershy hesitated. But what about New Fluttershy? She thought, as if her conscious were another pony she was having a conversation with.

Tell her about that too. No use hiding it. Better that she know now then wait until New Fluttershy comes out to play. Her conscious replied.

As Fluttershy continued her internal debate, Tree Flower let out a long sigh and returned to treating Fluttershy’s leg, “I understand dear that you don’t want to talk about it. It must have been a painful experience,” Her voice sounded sad and heavy, but also carried no trace of anger or resentment. Just painfully sad disappointment.

The pain evident in her mother’s voice was the final nail in the coffin for Fluttershy. She couldn’t take it anymore, to see her mother sad and in pain. Taking a deep breath, she finally spoke up, “M-mother…I haven’t completely honest with you…”

Tree Flower looked up from the wound, concern in her eyes, “How so dear?”

“Um…well…remember how you asked me how I got the injury?” Fluttershy asked, mentally trying to picture her mother’s reaction once she told the full truth.

“Yes,” Tree Flower nodded, curious.

Fluttershy shifted slightly in her seat, “And I said that I got caught in some thorns?”

Tree Flower simply nodded, saying nothing.

“Well, that’s not entirely true,” Fluttershy said, as took one last breath, bracing herself. Now or never.

Tree Flower put a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder and leaned in close, looking Fluttershy in the eyes.

“Fluttershy, you don’t need to be scared. You can tell me the truth.”

Fluttershy smiled a little, taking comfort in her mother’s confidence in her.

“Do you want to know all of it?” Fluttershy asked, peering out from under her mane at her mother.

Her mother smiled gently, “I would like to, yes. But it’s your choice.”

Fluttershy nodded, “Okay then…here I go…”

And with that, she began.

//////////////////////

Fluttershy had no memory of what had happened during her blackout. The only memories she had was the feeling pure rage that she felt immediately before and the horrible sight that greeted her once her rage faded.

Her mother was in the corner of the kitchen, rocking her husband’s battered and bloodied body back and forth, her cries of anguish filling the room.

Fluttershy felt an overwhelming feeling of guilt. It didn't take more than a few seconds to figure out what had happened. It was quite simple.

She had lost control again. The horrifying memory of Dark Sky's bloody body and her blood stained hooves flashed through her mind. She slowly looked down at her hooves.

They were caked in blood.

The next thing Fluttershy knew, she had let out a scream and was running as fast as possible. She could hear her mother calling for her to come back, but she ignored the cries.

She was nothing more than a monster.

//////////////////////

Fluttershy kept running. She ran for what felt like an eternity until her legs gave out, her energy utterly spent.

She ended up in Canterlot Park, shivering in the chilly autumn breeze and huddled under a random park bench.

She didn’t know where else to go. She was a monster. Her father was probably dead, and by her own hooves no less. She looked down at her hooves.

The blood on her hooves was now smeared and dry, a disgusting shade of brown. Bits of wood, pebbles and garbage clung to her hooves. She started to rub them together vigorously, desperately attempting to rub away the coating.

It slowly dawned on her that the blood wasn’t going way. If anything, the still drying coat was actually smearing all over her hooves, coating them even more. With this realization, the dam broke and she started to sob uncontrollably. As she cried, she started to gently rock herself back and forth, pulling her blood stained arms around herself in an attempt to comfort herself.

“Excuse dear, but are you alright?”

Fluttershy froze, looking for the source of the gentle voice. Her eyes landed on a gentle looking yellow earth pony with a light pink mane. The pony looked almost exactly like Fluttershy, except she seemed to be about the age of her mother.

“G-get a-away from me,” Fluttershy whimpered, attempting to scoot away from the Earth Pony. The earth pony gave her a quizzical look.

“Why what’s wrong filly? You lost?” the pony leaned down to her knees, peering under the bench.

“I’m a monster…get away from me!” Fluttershy sobbed, backing away a little more, her forehooves waving the pony away.

The pony’s eyes instantly focused on Fluttershy’s blood covered hooves.

“Oh dear Celestia you’re hurt!” she reached towards Fluttershy, worry in her voice.

Fluttershy tried to back away again, but the mare beckoned towards her.

“Look, I know you’re scared, but I promise not to hurt you. Please, let me help you,” She said, her voice kind and gentle.

Fluttershy looked into the mare’s eyes. They were an almost identical shade of blue as hers. They showed a kindness Fluttershy had only ever seen in her parents. Why was this pony trying to help her? Couldn’t she see the blood? Couldn’t she realize she was a monster?

“Please….let me help you…” the pony said, gently touching Fluttershy’s right fore hoof.

Fluttershy looked down at the hoof, and then at the pony attached to the hoof. She exuded a kind and gentle aura. This total stranger had taken it upon herself to talk to her, to actually care what was happening to her. She was the first pony asides from Fluttershy’s mother and father who had shown any kindness to her since Firefly. Fluttershy finally relented and gripped the yellow pony’s hoof, and allowed her to gently lead out from under the bench.

The pony looked over Fluttershy’s forelegs, whispering words of comfort to her.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be okay,” she turned and fished a handkerchief out of her saddle bags and began to wipe the blood off as best she could. “What happened? Did you fall?”

Fluttershy simply sniffled, her tears slowly and steadily running dry.

The pony looked up from Fluttershy’s forelegs and looked at Fluttershy, “What’s your name?”

“F-fluttershy.” Fluttershy whispered.

“That’s a beautiful name,” the mare said, as she continued to wipe away the dried blood, occasionally using a water bottle from her saddlebag to help wash it away. “My name is Posey. Do you have a home Fluttershy?” the pony known as Posey asked.

Fluttershy didn’t answer at first. How could she go back home? She couldn’t. Her mother would never take her back after what she had done. She slowly shook her head.

“N-no, no I don’t.”

Posey suddenly stopped wiping Fluttershy’s hooves and looked at Fluttershy again, “You don’t have a home?”

Fluttershy shook her head again, “No.”

Posey unexpectedly pulled Fluttershy into a hug, “That’s terrible.” She pulled back and gave Fluttershy a questioning look, “Do you want to stay with me?”

Fluttershy was taken aback by Posey’s sudden request. This mare suddenly wanted her to live with her? Fluttershy was suddenly greeted by the horrible mental image of this seemingly saintly pony getting hurt or worse if Fluttershy ever lost control again. Just like her father. She couldn't take that risk. She backed away a little.

"Th-thank you, b-but I can't. You'd b-be in danger if you t-took me in," Fluttershy stuttered fearfully.

"Oh, nonsense. I couldn't believe that a little filly like you would have it in you to hurt anypony," Posey countered, seemingly slightly amused at the filly's concern.

"B-but, I would," Fluttershy said, trying to make herself clear. "I wouldn't want to, b-but I-I might lose control. I al-already hurt somepony," she said indicating her blood stained hooves.

Posey’s eyes widened in sudden realization. "Oh dear," she whispered, putting a hoof to her mouth. Fluttershy expected Posey to suddenly turn tail and run, screaming for help. However, instead, the older mare sat in thought for a moment before speaking again. "I can't promise anything permanent, but if you'd like I can offer you shelter until you figure out what you want to do next,” she offered, genuine kindness in her eyes.

Fluttershy looked into the mare’s eyes. Even after being warned of the danger this stranger still wanted to offer her a place to sleep. Even if it was only temporary. Fluttershy felt a strange mix of emotions.

She felt fear, that maybe this mare was just a really good liar and secretly had evil intent for her.

She felt confusion. This mare didn’t even know her. Why was she being so nice?

She felt afraid. She felt afraid of everything. Afraid of the city around her, and the mean ponies that probably were waiting for an easy target such as her. Afraid of herself, that she might suddenly explode like a bomb and hurt this pony.

But most importantly, she felt alone. Alone in this cold, dark world. And here was a chance, no matter how temporary it might be, to have company. Her yearning for companionship won her over and she slowly nodded.

"O-okay," she whispered, causing Posey to smile softly. "B-but you have to p-promise that you'll r-run if I ever start to get angry," Fluttershy said solemnly. “You won’t like me when I’m angry.”

She then felt Posey take her by hoof. The earth pony was smiling, “Deal. Now let's get you inside.” And with that, Fluttershy willingly let herself be lead out of the park.

//////////////////////

Several years passed. What had originally been just a temporary place to stay had quickly become a home to Fluttershy.

As it turned out, Posey’s husband had recently died, leaving her alone in the world as well. She apparently never had children of her own, simply saying that, “I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

They lived a quiet life in Canterlot for most of those years, eventually moving to the town of Manehattan, where Posey worked as a volunteer at a local foster home. Instead of normal school, Fluttershy was educated at home, with Posey being her teacher. Slowly, Fluttershy gained confidence, slowly and steadily coming out of her shell. She was still naturally shy, but no longer the quivering fearful mare from before.

At least that’s how it looked on the outside. On the inside, Fluttershy was the exact opposite.

She was angry.

Over the years, the memories of her father’s mistake only managed to make Fluttershy angrier and angrier. He had abandoned her in her hour of need. Left her utterly alone in the world to fend for herself. If it hadn’t been for Posey, Fluttershy might have ended up dead behind some dumpster or worse. She kept it bottled inside, where it festered, mixing in with another emotion.

Fear. She feared that at any moment, she would lose her self-control and hurt an innocent pony. Be it Posey or any other pony.

So the two emotions fought for dominance, with neither winning a decisive victory until one fateful day.

//////////////////////

The Day had been just like any other, with Fluttershy quietly walking down the halls of Manehattan University. She made her way out of the classroom. Professor Do’s archeology class was the last class of the day, and Fluttershy honestly couldn’t wait until she got home. It had been a long and exhausting day. Most of it spent avoiding attention as much as possible.

All of a sudden, a brown hoof appeared on her shoulder.

“Gah!” Fluttershy squeaked, jumping in the air and turning to see where her assailant might be. As it turned out, the hoof was attached to a familiar face.

“Fluttershy, you forgot this,” a brown pegasus with a monochrome mane said, handing her a saddlebag.

Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief, taking the saddle bag from the pegasus, “Th-thank you Professor Do.”

Professor Do nodded, a small smile on her face, “Sure thing Fluttershy. Least I could do.” And with that, the brown pegasus turned and headed back to the class room behind her as Fluttershy left.

She trotted across the campus, making a point of avoiding the various clutches and cliques that populated the grounds. The sun was finally setting and the sky was now a brilliant orange. She made her way to the exit, saying goodbye to the guard and started down the street.

The path she usually took home would always lead her pass Manehattan Park, where she would often stop and take pause, quietly observing the animals and enjoying the peaceful nature the park took on at dusk. She knew not to stay there long though. The park was notoriously dangerous at night, with criminals lurking in the shadows ready to pounce upon any innocent ponies they might find inside.

She took a deep breath, shuddering at the prospect of being mugged...or worse. She blinked rapidly in order to clear her mind.

Calm down Fluttershy...just keep walking and everything will be okay. Nopony's going to mug you. She thought, quickening her pace to distance herself from the park.

Eventually, she had entered the neighborhood where she and Posey lived.

It wasn't exactly the poorest neighborhood in Manehattan by any means, but it wasn't exactly the most well to do either. Neither of them complained, quite content to live here. It was an average looking neighborhood, with brownstone apartments. There was a cold October breeze in the air, scattering the leaves across the streets. Oddly, the streets were mostly devoid of activity, giving the neighborhood a strangely desolate air.

It made Fluttershy feel all the more uneasy. Something felt wrong. She couldn't quite peg what it was, though. She quickened her hoofsteps again, worry overtaking her.

There was a sudden loud noise and she froze. Panicked, Fluttershy looked for the source of the noise. A skinny dog scampered by, having knocked over a nearby garbage can.

Fluttershy relaxed a little at the sight. Loosening up, she finally reached the street where her apartment was, and she started to quietly whistle to herself, if only to distract herself from the unsettling air.

She was about to unlock the apartment door when a barely audible sound caught her ear. It sounded like a dog whimpering. She paused, not sure if it was just a trick of the ear or the wind. She heard the whimpering sound again, this time mixed in with another sound.

Laughter.

Against her own better judgment, Fluttershy found herself following the sound, walking around her apartment and through the dirty alleyway. The sounds grew louder and louder until Fluttershy ended up behind her apartment.

Her eyes widened in horror at the sight before her.

Backed up against a wall, and surrounded by three thuggish earth ponies, was a small three legged dog that Fluttershy had seen around the neighborhood. The ponies were all abusing the poor animals in various ways, either by kicking it or hitting it with their hooves. They all laughed maliciously with each successive kick.

Fluttershy felt an incredible rage start to build up inside her. The idea that those three savages would dare attack a help creature like that was the single most revolting sight in the universe.

“What are you doing to that poor animal!” Fluttershy found herself shouting, her voice unexpectedly enraged. One of the colts turned to look at her as if she had offended him in someway.

“What the buck do you want filly?” he spat, raising an eyebrow.

Fluttershy instantly cowered, taking a step back and hiding her mane. The dog whimpered again, attempting to make an escape. However, one of the colts pinned him down with its forehoof, causing the animal to cry out in pain.

“I-I said, 'what are you doing to that poor dog?'” Fluttershy said, building up what little confidence she had. Something inside her felt compelled to help the poor creature, since it seemed nopony else would.

The colt snorted, “Filly get outta here. Its none of your business. Now go home to your mommy.” He then turned back to the stray and once more kicked it, a sadistic grin on his face.

The next thing Fluttershy knew, she was galloping to the animal's side, forgetting the fact that the three colts were present. She took the injured animal's head in her hooves and gently petted it. “Its okay, it'll be okay...” she whispered to it, gently rocking it back and forth.

All of a sudden, a hoof grabbed her shoulder and flung her to the ground.

“Stupid mare! Get outta here while we're still in a good mood.”

“Good mood? How can hurting an innocent, helpless animal put you in a good mood you monster?!” Fluttershy shouted back, years of pent up anger suddenly welling up, herself unable to fathom such a barbarous and sadistic action.

The colt simply shoved her way roughly, causing her to hit a nearby wall and he turned back to the dog, ready to abuse it some more.

Something inside Fluttershy snapped, and ten years of pent up rage and anger exploded forth, her eyes turning a bright shade of green. Letting out a monstrous roar, she lunged forward, her coat morphing to a dark shade of green as she impacted into the three colts, sending them sprawling.

“FLUTTERHULK SMASH MEAN PONIES!!!” She roared, now at least five times her original size. She began to bludgeon the three colts viciously with her forehooves, causing the street below them to buckle and crack. As her rage exploded forth, everything nearby became a target.

Her hoof slammed into the nearby apartment wall, causing some of it to collapse down on her. The sudden feeling of concrete and brick impacting her body only managed to make her even angrier. She attacked the building, bucking the building violently.

Letting out a monstrous and deafening roar, Flutterhulk slammed into the ground one last time and galloped out of the alleyway.

//////////////////////

“…and since then I’ve been moving from place to place, just trying to avoid attention.” Fluttershy sighed sadly, finishing her story. She looked down at her hooves, her years of wandering had made them chipped and worn. Her hooves had taken so many lives, caused so much pain. She knew her mother had said she was forgiven, but a part deep inside of her still doubted whether the forgiveness was genuine. Now that her mother knew all this information, about Posey and such, could she still treat her as a daughter, even though Fluttershy had abandoned her in her hour of need?

“Did Posey ever know?” Tree Flower suddenly spoke, not looking at Fluttershy, her focus instead directed to the table top.

“Did Posey ever know what?” Fluttershy asked, confused at her mother’s question.

Tree Flower sighed, idly tinkering with the table cloth, “Did she ever know what happened to you after you…left?”

Fluttershy slowly shook her head, guilt welling up inside her again. “I never contacted her after that. I just woke up in the middle of a field, no memories of the night before,” Fluttershy sniffed. “Only found out about it through newspapers.” She wiped a stray tear from her cheeks.

Tree Flower continued to tinker with the table cloth. “That’s how I found out too,” She finally spoke after a long pause.

“Wh-what do you mean that you knew? You knew about…about New Fluttershy?” Fluttershy asked in shock.

Tree Flower nodded. “Yeah. It came on the news one day, ‘giant monster destroys city street.’ I just didn’t know it was you this whole time. I always thought it was some kind of dragon or something…” she chuckled slightly. “In hindsight, I should have known it was you.” Tree Flower wiped away some of her tears, which had been streaming down her face. “And you know what’s strange?”

Fluttershy shook her head slowly, “No, no I don’t, Mother…”

Tree Flower, looked into Fluttershy’s eyes, “I don’t hate you for it. Not at all. Quite the opposite, I feel sorry for you.”

Fluttershy shifted in her seat again, mixed in with her own feelings of sadness, she felt strangely relieved. Her mother still accepted her, even knowing every horrible detail about what she had done and who she had harmed. Even when she had told Zecora about her anger issues, she still felt that strange burdensome feeling.

“You feel sorry for me?” Fluttershy asked, looking her mother in the eye for the first time.

Tree Flower nodded slowly, “To have all that anger...and pain. To be unable to express it without hurting somepony. How do you cope?” She looked back at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy shrugged weakly. She wasn't quite sure herself. She had tried everything at one time or another. She had tried meditation, medication, and in a particularly dark point in her life, a gun to her own head. Each time, they didn’t change a thing.

“I-I don't know, Mother...” she whispered in response.

There was another long pause between the two, broken only by the sound of the ticking clock on the wall. Fluttershy shot a quick glance down at her injured leg. Whatever herbs were in that goo Zecora applied must have worked, because the only evidence of the timberwolf bite was a rather nasty looking patch of raw skin. She looked back to her mother, who seemed as if she was pondering something intently. Tree Flower's forehead was furrowed in thought and her eyes focused somewhere else.

Tree Flower all of a sudden, stood up and trotted over to the phone which was attached to the wall of the kitchen, leaving Fluttershy's leg unattended.

“Mother who are you calling?” Fluttershy asked, raising an eyebrow. A brief fear that her mother might have changed her mind and betrayed her was quickly banished by Fluttershy's own logic. Her mother had expressed her forgiveness more than three times over the course of the past few hours and each time it was from the bottom of her heart. There was absolutely no chance Tree Flower would do such a thing.

Her mother quickly dialed a number and spoke with the pony on the other side. “Hello, Ponyville Train Station? I'd like to purchase a pair of tickets to Manehattan if possible... Yes, that'll be one way... Thank you,” she set the phone back on the hook and turned to Fluttershy, smiling.

“Fluttershy, we are going to Manehattan. I have a friend there. He might be able to help you,” she said, apparently quite happy all of a sudden.

“Why? What does this friend of yours know?” Fluttershy asked, the prospect of any kind of help being a welcome light at the tunnel.

Tree Flower sat back down next to Fluttershy. “Well, he's a psychiatrist. And I thought maybe he can help you somehow,” she said, gently placing a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. “I’m not a hundred percent sure how exactly, but at least it’s worth a shot right? Certainly better than ignoring it.”

Fluttershy didn’t answer at first. Her mother had a point. She had spent too long running from place to place, as if running would solve her problems. And what good had all that running done? Nothing. It didn’t change a thing. Maybe her mother was right, that talking to someone about it, being honest and straightforward, with no more deception would be a better way to deal with it. She remembered how she felt when she finished her story. She felt relieved. Relieved that someone else knew the full truth, with no lies or missing details. It was like a weight was lifted off her shoulders. She felt a little more free, as if there were a light at the end of the tunnel.

She longed for that feeling, to be free of secrets and lies and pain and anger. And if going to Manehattan to see this friend her mother mentioned was the way, well, then she’d take it. No questions asked. She leaned against her mother, who hadn’t moved.

“Mother…I would like that very much.”

"They flutter behind you your possible pasts,

Some bright-eyed and crazy, some frightened and lost.

A warning to anyone still in command

Of their possible future, to take care.

In derelict sidings the poppies entwine

With cattle trucks lying in wait for the next time."

Your Possible Pasts by Pink Floyd

Act II - 12 - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Act III - 12 - Movin' Right Along

Act III:

"Naqoyqatsi (Life as War)"

Chapter Twelve:

"Movin' Right Along"

As soon as her conversation with Iron Will was complete, Hoofcuff had once more made a beeline for the airship. Her hopes of a swift return to Canterlot were dashed within moments.

Upon questioning, the captain of the airship had stated that the damage to the engine was such that a crucial part was in fact damaged beyond repair and they'd have to wait for the replacement part directly from San Franciscolt.

Upon hearing that news, Hoofcuff had released a very long and exhaustive list of names and offensives, to which the captain simply replied with, “Arg, ye be a real fanged siren with a bitch up her tail.”

Hoofcuff had no response to that.

So, she had been forced to hunker in a tiny motel perched over a bar of all places. The motel wasn't an awful place, but the fact that it was built over what was apparently the only bar in town certainly didn't help her personality. Even though a part of her felt like finishing the mission she had been given was the best decision (namely her now bruised ego), another part felt that she should at least attempt to report Iron Will, tell one of his superiors that he was blackmailing her. Then, they could release her from her contract and she could finally get out of this backwater town without fear of her until-now spotless arrest record being tarnished.

Of course, through some mysterious means, Iron Will had somehow found out about her misfortune, and, instead of sending an extraction team to remove her and get her back on the job like a proper military superior, he had instead sent her, via magic, more than a half dozen portfolios filled to bursting. On the top of the pile was a small card which said:

Sorry about not picking you up. But I need you to do some snooping around first. Enjoy.

So, with nothing else to do besides hang around the bar like a vulture, she went about reading the portfolios. Shockingly, the portfolios had actually contained information that Hoofcuff found to be interesting. For one thing, they had seemingly nothing to do with Fluttershy. Instead, it was a disturbingly well researched series of documents concerning a certain earth pony named Tree Flower.

As it turned out, this Tree Flower mare had been living in Ponyville for the past twenty or so years, having moved there after a family tragedy. Apparently, she had lost both her husband and only child in an event that was simply deemed as “Incident 2”. Since then, she'd mostly worked as a teacher at the local school and her life was an especially boring one.

Hoofcuff wondered what had possessed Iron Will, who Hoofcuff had seen was almost fanatical in his dedication to capturing Fluttershy, to amass such an incredibly large amount of information on what was supposedly a totally pointless pony.

She continued to read though, her curiosity piqued. Something was off here, but she couldn't quite place it. She grazed through the dozens photos taken of her over the years. Most were the standard surveillance faire; always taken from an awkward angle and most of the time, a little fuzzy. Under each photo was a label that gave the date, time of day and the special codename assigned to Tree Flower, “Den Mother”. She continued to page through the portfolio, growing more frustrated by the minute.

There was nothing to look at. Just grainy black and white photo after grainy black and white photo.

“Agh, this is pointless!” she groaned, throwing the folder away in frustration, causing it to smash into several other piled up folding which only managed to create a pile of papers on the floor.

Figures that bastard would waste my time on something so pointless, she thought, standing up from her sitting position. Once she did so however, her eyes caught sight of a random paper with bold lettering along the top that read:

Potential connection between Tree Flower, codename ‘Den Mother’ and Fluttershy Braveheart, codename ‘White Whale’

"Well what have we here?" Hoofcuff muttered, pulling the sheet of paper out from underneath the pile it was under.

It was a small memo, where, in typeface, was the following text:

Research has demonstrated a potential connection between Subject Den Mother and Subject White Whale.

Blood sample tests show a strong likelihood of blood relation, showing a 96-98% DNA match between Subject Den Mother and Subject White Whale. It is this researcher's opinion that all available personnel should be tasked with the observation and surveillance of Subject Den Mother.

Hoofcuff’s eyes widened upon reading the words. She was in the same exact town as Fluttershy’s mother?! A plan instantly started to form in her mind. She had to find this Tree Flower. If her hunch was correct, and if she could find Tree Flower, she could maybe use her as a way to find Fluttershy. With that piece of information, she bolted out of her hotel room, running down the stairs as fast as her legs could carry her.

Her train of thought was interrupted, however, when she tripped over her own hooves and was sent tumbling down the stairs. She landed hard on her face, grabbing the attention of the patrons of the bar below.

“Oh goodness gracious, Marshall! Are you alright?!” a purple mare who Hoofcuff knew as the bartender gasped, running over to help her up.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” Hoofcuff grumbled, wiping some blood from her nose. “Do you happen to know where I can find a list of addresses or something?”

The purple pony thought for a moment, “Um…let me think…” she tapped her chin for a moment before speaking again, “That’d be Town Hall in the center of town.”

Hoofcuff smiled grimly, “Thank you very much.” She started towards the door, leaving the purple bartender with a somewhat confused expression.

/////////////////////

Hoofcuff doggedly searched through the address book, making a beeline for the ‘F’. Unlike Canterlot or any other large self-respecting city, Ponyville’s address system consisted of an impractically large book which Hoofcuff had to use all her might to open. She magically leafed through the pages, scanning for Tree Flower’s name.

“Let’s see, ‘Flower’, ‘Flower’, where is the name Flower…” she muttered, getting more and more frustrated. After what seemed like an endless stream of name after name after name, she finally found the name she was looking for.

“Ah ha! Flower, Tree! Lives at 11261 Tree Branch Lane!” Hoofcuff smiled. There you go girl! You’re back in the game now! She thought as she jotted the address down and left the book behind her.

As she trotted out of town hall and paused to scan the town center. Her eyes narrowed as she searched for any signs that might lead to the address written down in the book. She trotted quickly through the town center, following the signs, searching carefully for the correct house. She had to be quick. Couldn’t risk the possibility of Tree Flower possibly discovering that she was being watched. She could hear her phone ringing, and she levitated it out of her ever-present wind breaker’s pocket to see who it was.

It was Iron Will.

Ugh, stupid idiot, leave me alone! She thought, stuffing the phone back in her pocket and switching to silent. Her own trot quickly shifted into a canter. She dodged around random ponies, including that same green unicorn from the day before, who this time was talking with a powder white mare with a blue and pink mane. Hoofcuff ignored their protests after she nearly slammed into them, with the green one shouting, “JERK!” at the top of her lungs.

That didn’t even register to Hoofcuff. She was in full-blown hunting mode. Nothing could faze her. She bounded past various stalls and carts, searching for the correct address the entire time.

However, as she ran, her eyes caught sight of a familiar blur of color. She stopped dead in her tracks and turned to look in the direction of the color. Her jaw dropped at the sight.

There, walking right across the town center was Tree Flower, and next to her, the last pony in the universe Hoofcuff thought would be there.

Fluttershy.

The two seemed to be quietly discussing something, and for the first time, Hoofcuff noticed something about Fluttershy.

She was smiling. Every other time Hoofcuff had seen Fluttershy, the pegasus’ expression was locked in a state of either panic or fear. This time, Fluttershy looked positively happy, a gentle smile on her face as she talked with Tree Flower. Not wanting to ruin an incredibly lucky turn of events, Hoofcuff dodged behind a nearby stall and started discreetly following the two mares, being sure to stay out of their line of sight. She crept behind the various stalls, causing an occasional dirty look from the proprietors. Her phone continued to vibrate in her pocket, but she ignored it. It was probably Iron Will, here to bug her about some stupid thing Hoofcuff couldn’t care less about.

She unexpectedly bumped into a massive earth pony with a bright red coat and a half green apple cutie mark who was working a booth selling apples.

“Excuse me,” she quickly muttered, walking around him, making sure not to lose her targets. The earth pony simply shrugged, seemingly unfazed.

“Eeyup,” he replied in his incredibly deep southern drawl, returning to his booth with a shrug, seemingly unfazed by what must have looked like a rather crazed unicorn.

Hoofcuff continued forward, this time making sure to distance herself from the booths, instead switching to mingling with the various groups of ponies that wandered through the town square. However, she quickly lost sight of her targets, as they disappeared into a particularly large group that was cluttered around what Hoofcuff assumed was the local train station.

Oh no, Hoofcuff thought as her eyes went wide again as she put two and two together. They’re going to the train station!

Her fears were confirmed when Tree Flower and Fluttershy appeared in her view again, this time walking up to what looked like the ticket window, where Tree Flower stopped and said something to the pony working the booth.

Seizing her chance, Hoofcuff bolted towards the train station, panting hard as she ran as fast she could. In the back of her mind, she considered the idea of responding to the continually vibrating phone in her pocket and telling Iron Will about her discovery, but most likely he would just order her to stay put and wait for ‘backup’. She pushed the idea out of her mind.

However, before she had a chance to reach the ticket booth and apprehend them, a new train arrived at the station and the doors opened, unleashing a titanic flood of ponies of all shapes, sizes and species. Hoofcuff halted as she felt her heart sink. Tree Flower and Fluttershy completely disappeared into the massive sea of colors and faces.

Hoofcuff let out a frustrated groan and stamped her hoof.

DAMN IT! she thought, scrambling around the sea of ponies as best she could, searching desperately for the yellow pegasus. She hopped up in the air, hoping that if she could see over the sea of faces.

The crowd eventually dissipated, some ponies giving Hoofcuff odd looks as they passed her by. She groaned as she watched as the train started to move, now filled with a new set of passengers. Celestia seemed fit to mock her today, as one of the passengers was Fluttershy, who was still talking quite adamantly with Tree Flower. Hoofcuff let a frustrated growl and bolted after the train.

Of course, as fast as Hoofcuff was, she was no match for the train, which accelerated away, leaving Hoofcuff panting in the dust.

She let out a frustrated groan as flopped down on her flanks. She had failed. Again. She sulked on the train tracks for a few minutes before the familiar buzz and ringing of her phone distracted her from her ruminations.

“Ugh, hello?” she growled into the phone, not really caring who was on the other side.

“Oh hello Hoofcuff. I trust that you got my package?”

Iron Will’s voice was like sandpaper to Hoofcuff, and she groaned again. “What the hell do you want? Because if it was Tree Flower I already lost her.”

“What?! How?!” Iron Will roared, causing Hoofcuff to wince slightly.

“She boarded a train. And do you know who was with her?”

“Fluttershy,” Iron Will growled, as if the very name provoked a rage within him.

“What?! You knew that the whole time?!” Hoofcuff shouted into the phone, once more attracting an awkward stare from the ticket pony. Iron Will simply chuckled.

“Well, think about it Hoofcuff. Tree Flower is Fluttershy’s mother, it’s obvious that’d we’d keep a close eye on her,” Iron Will responded, his voice now very clinical.

Hoofcuff blinked in shock, “But that still doesn’t explain how you knew Fluttershy was here.”

“Simple,” Iron Will responded, “We tapped Tree Flower’s phone months ago. In fact, we already knew that they would be heading for the train station. I tried to contact you, but you didn’t pick up.”

Hoofcuff face hoofed at that. Real smooth, Hoofcuff. She thought. She mustered some decency and sat down on a bench. “Okay then. Care to tell me where the two happen to be going? Or is that too much to ask?”

“Manehattan. Apparently they’re seeking a friend there,” Iron Will informed her, “I will be heading there myself to apprehend her. If you care for it, I can pick you up on the way there.”

Hoofcuff glanced around the train station. It was now completely and utterly deserted, except for the pony manning the ticket booth. The prospect of her having to wait around again like an idiot certainly wasn’t attractive, “Ugh, fine. Promise me one thing though,” Hoofcuff asked, “That once this is over, you bury this all under the carpet. I don’t want to go back to Canterlot only to find out that you told my bosses about this farce okay?”

“Of course, Hoofcuff. I’m a minotaur of my word. I assure you that your superiors will never find out about this unfortunate turn of events,” Iron Will replied, his smile evident even through the phone.

“Alright then. How long until you get here?” Hoofcuff asked, glancing down at her watch.

“Oh we’ll be there soon. Probably before tomorrow night. I suggest you go back to that motel my friend, have a nice drink and get some rest,” Iron Will replied in a condescending tone, as if he were some wise pony giving her sacred information.

“Ugh fine. Goodbye,” Hoofcuff grumbled, handing up on Iron Will and dragging herself away from the train station and started back in the general direction of the motel.

/////////////////////

Fluttershy shifted in her seat slightly. The conversation with her mother had died in the time since leaving the train station, with Fluttershy now quietly looking out the window, focusing at her reflected image. The sun had begun to set, filling the train car with a golden glow.

The first thing that struck her was how incredibly tired she looked. She had several dozen heavy bags under eyes, making her look like a raccoon. Her mane was full of split ends; in spite of the long shower (her first in months), she had taken. Her coat’s normal bright yellow color scheme was now faded, and covered with scrapes. She could spot some bruises along her legs. She had never really had a chance to see how pitiful she looked. She looked like some sort of homeless bum who hadn’t had a full meal in weeks. She sighed sadly, her eyes now shifting focus to watch the horizon.

“Fluttershy?” her mother all of a sudden said, snapping Fluttershy out of her thoughts.

Fluttershy looked back towards her mother, who was looking at her with a gentle smile on her face, “Yes Mother?”

“Fluttershy, if you’re worrying about how you look, I think you look just fine,” Her mother said, looking at her own reflection in the window.

“Really?” Fluttershy asked, raising an eyebrow, “I look like a homeless pony.”

Tree Flower chuckled, “Well, don’t worry. When we get to Manehattan we can maybe visit a spa.”

Fluttershy smiled slightly. Even with her daughter looking utterly reprehensible, her mother still managed to find a positive aspect in all this. Her mind started to wander, moving from topic to topic randomly. Eventually, her thoughts settled onto the main subject they had been discussing since they left house. Ponyville.

A brief memory of when she bumped into Firefly passed through her mind. I wonder how’s she’s doing… she thought. A brief paranoid thought that Firefly might have been injured or something on board the train was quickly banished from her mind by the forces of logic.

Nonsense Fluttershy, she thought. She’s probably in Ponyville now…you’ve gotta relax.

Just then, her mother pointed a hoof out the window, “Oh look, there’s Manehattan!” Fluttershy raised an eyebrow.

“Really? Where?” she asked, scanning for the skyline of the city. She quickly found it, sitting to the east and facing the ocean. The setting sun glinted and reflected off the glass skyscrapers as if they were giant mirrors. It looked as if the entire city were carved of crystal.

“Wow…that’s beautiful…” Fluttershy whispered, her eyes widening at the sight. She hadn’t seen Manehattan in more than ten years, and it had certainly changed. There were at least a dozen new buildings that climbed towards the sky, mixing in with the older buildings that Fluttershy recognized.

Memories of her time spent with Posey flew across her mind. Of course, all those memories ended the same way. The Other Mare released. She closed her eyes tightly and shook her head to banish the horrid memory from her mind.

“Well,” her mother said, gazing at the city with wonder. “We’ll be arriving at the train station soon, so be prepared, okay dear?”

Fluttershy nodded, doing her best to not look troubled. She wondered if maybe someone might recognize her. And then what would happen? Would that pony call the authorities? What would happen to her mother? Would she lose control? These and at least another one thousand paranoid thoughts attacked her mind and Fluttershy could feel herself start to panic.

Her mother’s hoof appeared on her shoulder. Fluttershy’s head whipped around to face Tree Flower.

“Fluttershy….” her mother said her voice warm and her eyes kind, “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. We’re going to go to Dr. Fili and everything will be fine.”

Fluttershy nodded, “O-okay…I’ll try.”

Tree Flower smiled, gently tapping Fluttershy’s shoulder, “That’s my girl.” By then, the train had finally entered the city. The train steadily slowed down, it’s brakes squeaking and shrieking as it pulled into the train station. The doors opened, flooding the train with a thousand new sounds and smells.

Tree Flower grabbed their saddlebags from the overhead compartment and beckoned for Fluttershy to stand up and they exited the train. Fluttershy clung to Tree Flower tightly as they maneuvered through the mob of ponies, diamond dogs and griffins. Fluttershy made sure to hide behind her mane as much as possible, just in case someone recognized her.

“It’s okay dear, keep calm. We’re almost out,” Tree Flower called back towards Fluttershy, leading her out of the mob and into the main central area of the station. The mob thinned and Tree Flower led them to the front door, which opened up to reveal Central Manehattan.

Fluttershy whimpered slightly at the sight of the city before her. She hadn’t seen so many ponies in her entire life. It seemingly stretched forever, with the skyscrapers forming canyons that were filled with thousands upon thousands of ponies. Dozens upon dozens of bright yellow taxi carts darted back and forth, picking up and dropping off their passengers. On either end of the staircase leading down the street were doorways heading downwards into darkness. Fluttershy assumed that those lead to the subway. Fluttershy looked up at the sight of several large zeppelins flying gracefully through the sky, looking like beautiful silver whales. Tiny brightly colored dots fluttered about, which Fluttershy assumed were pegasi.

“Well, which do you want to take?” her mother asked, looking at Fluttershy expectantly. Fluttershy snapped out of her distracted state and shrugged.

“Um…I don’t Mother…which would you prefer?” she asked.

Tree Flower thought for a moment, putting a hoof to her chin, “Well, the subway is faster…”

Fluttershy thought about that option for a second. The thought of being crammed into a tight metal container underground and surrounded by dozens of grumpy ponies was a scary one.

“Um…how about a taxi?” Fluttershy finally said, pointing towards one of the dozens of taxi cabs darting about. Tree Flower raised an eyebrow.

“Are you sure Fluttershy? That might take awhile,” she said, sounding rather reluctant.

Fluttershy nodded her head, “Well, I’m not sure I’d like to be around too many ponies…” she lowered her voice, “Just in case…New Fluttershy, you know?”

Tree Flower’s expression changed from one of confusion to understanding, “Oh…you’re right…a cab might be safer.” As she said this, her eyes started scanning the dozens of taxicabs that darted about., “Umm….” she paused, apparently trying to narrow down a potential ride. “How about that one?” she pointed to a rather new looking one that had just pulled up with the number 1646. Its paint job glinted in the sunlight and its driver looked like a reasonable fellow. Tree Flower gently lead Fluttershy down the steps and the two of them trotted towards the taxi driver.

“Excuse me! Taxi!” Tree Flower called out, catching the dark brown pony’s attention. The colt looked towards them and nodded.

“Yes ma’am?” he asked as they trotted up to him. Tree Flower smiled graciously while Fluttershy hid behind her mane.

“Hello there, we’d like to take go to…” Tree Flower paused, seemingly at a lost. The taxi driver raised an eyebrow.

“Go to….?” he asked, seemingly impatient. Tree Flower gave him a quick glare as if to say ‘hold a second’ as she tapped her chin. Fluttershy meanwhile, bit her lip, unsure of what to do. She didn’t know the address of the psychologist. All she knew was that it was somewhere in Manehattan. So, she decided to simply stand by. After a few more moments of thinking, Tree Flower nodded.

“Now I remember,” she chuckled, “Its 1973 SW 103rd Street, sorry for the inconvenience.“ She then fished out some spare change from her saddle bags and handed it to the driver.

The taxi driver simply shrugged, taking her money in hoof, “Whatever ma’am,” he said, as he unlinked himself from the cart and opened the door for them. Tree Flower thanked him and the two pegasi stepped inside. Fluttershy assaulted by the sudden burst of putrid odors and the sheer filthiness of the inside of the cab. The seats were coated with a disgusting film of dirt, crumb and stains unknown origin. The floor was almost buried in its own distinctive array of stains, bits of moldy food and the like. Herds of dust bunnies hovered around the seat belts, and the windows could only be described as utterly and hopelessly filthy.

Fluttershy looked at Tree Flower weakly, “Um…I changed my mind, I wanna take the train.” Tree Flower looked at her sympathetically. She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off when the taxi driver suddenly glared at them.

"Oh no ya don't! Ya paid for a ride in my cab, so you're gonna ride in it. No take backs," he said, pointing towards the meter. Fluttershy's shoulders sagged.

She felt Tree Flower's hoof on her shoulder. "Do you want to go? We can still take the train," her mother said, her voice gentle. She then eyed the cab driver with disdain. "Because Celestia knows that a stallion should properly respect a mare." The cab driver simply scoffed in response.

Fluttershy paused. She once more considered the subway. It was tight and cramped, but if her memory served her right (and it had been quite awhile since she was last on one), any subway was better than this. She turned towards Tree Flower.

"Alright then," she said, stepping out of the cab, closely followed by her mother. Tree Flower gave the cab driver a dirty look as he hooked himself back up the rains, all the while muttering under his breath.

"You're lucky I don't report you," Tree Flower said, turning away. The cab driver simply cursed under his breath in response several incredibly vulgar words as the two mares departed.

Fluttershy simply hung her head low. She'd messed up again. And it had cost her mother at least 20 bits. A total waste. She sighed sadly. Of course things would go wrong, that's all that ever happened when she was around ponies.

"Mother...I'm sorry I made you waste your money like that..." she quietly said, all the while keeping her eyes fixed on the ground.

Tree Flower simply shrugged. "That's okay, dear. I've seen worse drivers. It wasn't your fault. He was a jerk, it couldn't be helped."

They quietly weaved their way through the crowd, with Fluttershy still hiding behind her mane. They reached the subway entrance and descended into the bowels of the subway station.

/////////////////////

Once aboard the subway, however, Fluttershy regretted making that decision. It was worse than crowded, it was packed. Ponies were crammed into every available inch of space, forced to stand as the subway car rocked back and forth slightly as it rushed along the rails of Manehattan's complex underground railway.

Fluttershy bit her lip reflexively and tried to read the newspaper she had found as a particular sweaty stallion to her right bumped into her as the car shook slightly as the train briefly came to a halt at one of the many stops along the way. As if on queue, a garbled voice came over the speakers announcing the stop and some of the ponies started to move, some scooting to allow room for new ponies, and others disembarking from the train. The sweaty stallion muttered an apology absentmindedly and stood up from where he was sitting to disembark. In his place, a new pony came to sit down next to Fluttershy, with Fluttershy reflexively scooting over to allow her some room. It was a young filly. She had a dark brown coat with a reddish orange mane that had a bright white streak in it for some reason. Her mane was cut so that a bang hung over her left eye, which she would blow out of her line of sight so often.

The thing that really made this pony stand out from the rest however, was her strange attire. She wore a dark green leather jacket with yellow stripes. On all four of her hooves, she wore black boots. Most bizarrely, she wore a pair of long black socks on her hind legs. She looked rather sullen and hunched in the corner next to Fluttershy, making sure to keep as far away as possible from the other ponies in the car.

She all of a sudden shot Fluttershy a dirty look, "Whadda youse lookin' at huh?" she asked in an incredibly thick Bronclyin accent. Fluttershy gulped and looked away, realizing that she had been staring at the filly the entire time.

"S-sorry, d-didn't m-mean to s-stare..." she whispered in response, hiding behind her mane again. “That's a nice jacket though..." she added, hoping to at least make the filly stop glaring at her so viciously.

The filly's stare lessened and she visibly relaxed a little. "Thanks," she said, shifting to look out the subway window.

Fluttershy herself shifted in her seat slightly and decided to focus on other things. For instance, there was a very interesting message scrawled with spray paint on one of the windows. Fluttershy tried her best to figure out what the message said, but couldn't make it out. She tilted her head slightly and squinted, reading the message under her breath. Her eyes widened however and she could feel herself blushing once it dawned on her exactly what the message was saying.

"Oh my..." she whispered. Fluttershy quickly returned to her newspaper with renewed vigor.

She did her best to read her own choice of papers, as the rocking of the train and the constant on and off flickering of the lights only managed to enhance her constant feeling of exhaustion. The pages she had chosen consisted mostly of economic articles discussing quote: ‘The wide spreading ramifications of fashion icon Rarity Belle’s shocking announcement of her identity as Iron Mare.’

It was the single most mind numbingly pedantic article she’d ever read. Never in her life had she read something so out of her interest zone. She glanced over the paper towards her mom, who was sleeping peacefully. Her mother apparently had fallen asleep since they boarded, and the headlines of the newspaper she had been reading lay spread open in front of her. Fluttershy quietly reached over and gently pulled the paper out so that she could read it.

She flicked the paper open and was about set about reading the headlines when the subway jerked to a halt once more, sending everyone in the subway lurching towards the left. Fluttershy could immediately tell which ponies were natives by their ambivalence towards the subways sudden stop. The doors opened and another series of ponies (including the filly in the green jacket) made their way out of their seats.

Of course, since this was a subway, there wasn’t much empty space for long, as another mob of ponies entered the subway, causing the unicorn mare with a dark grey coat and a darker brown mane who had been sitting next to the doorway the entire time to stand up. She wore a dark grey overcoat that covered her flank. She tucked herself into a corner and settled down. She then set about reading a magazine she had brought with her.

Fluttershy couldn’t quite place it, but something felt…off about the mare. Something was strangely familiar about her. She could have sworn that she saw her someplace before and also thought she caught the mysterious mare glancing towards her every so often. However, she shrugged it off.

Just you being paranoid again, Fluttershy; that mare isn’t watching you, you’re just being really paranoid. Just relax, and everything will be fine. Probably just a coincidence.

She glanced up at the map above the doorway. They were on the “R” line heading towards the Upper East Side of Manehattan. Fluttershy hoped the next stop would be theirs, since the idea of missing the stop and being forced to find another way to get to this Dr. Fili her mother had spoken of was certainly unattractive.

She let out an absent minded sigh as she returned to reading articles. Most of them, unsurprisingly, concerned the much lauded Rarity Belle and her announcement. Fluttershy now felt a slight sense of relief however at the massive media blitz directed towards the unicorn. At least this meant that most ponies would be too distracted to notice her presence.

And besides, it’s not like the government knows I’m here…

/////////////////////

Marshall Hoofcuff of the Equestrian Marshalls squeezed as best she could into the tightly packed subway, her heavy overcoat feeling oppressive in the stuffy subway. Once she had been picked up by Iron Will’s posse, she had inquired about Starlight. As it turned out, his leg injury was just as bad as it looked, and he had been forced to stay in Canterlot to recover.

So, it once more fell to her to be the main pony on the ground. Not that she didn’t like being active and in the field herself, but by this point, Hoofcuff had developed the sneaking suspicion that Iron Will was choosing her specifically for going after Fluttershy, almost as if there were nobody else to turn to.

Hoofcuff had attempted to ask Iron Will why he had once more chosen her, and he responded with, “You say you’re the best aren’t you? Then prove it.”

So, not one to take an insult like that lying down, Hoofcuff had agreed to personally tail the yellow pegasus. Luckily enough, at least Iron Will had the place of mind to first find out exactly which station the train from Ponyville was headed for, dispatching Hoofcuff there. This finally gave Hoofcuff a chance to observe Fluttershy subtly. This was the first time she had actually seen Fluttershy in a situation other than chasing her like a wanted criminal.

She quietly huddled herself in the corner, pretending to read the rather dull magazine she had chosen at random. Along with her overcoat and a rather simple disguising spell, she observed her target.

The first thing she noticed was how strangely relaxed and accepting Fluttershy looked. Yes she would still occasionally shy away from other ponies and made sure to hide behind her mane, but overall, she seemed much more relaxed than the last time Hoofcuff had seen her in person.

Next to her sat the same brown mare from earlier, which Hoofcuff recognized as Fluttershy's mother, Tree Flower. Apparently, the older mare had fallen asleep. Hoofcuff couldn't help but chuckle slightly at the strangely gift-card like image of the two ponies, with the earth pony leaning slightly against the yellow pegasus.

Huh, she thought, It's kinda sweet actually. She watched quietly as Fluttershy reached over and gently tapped the older mare, causing the earth pony to wake up. Fluttershy then leaned over towards Tree Flower and whispered something that Hoofcuff couldn't make out over the clickity-clack of the subway car. The pegasus then pointed towards the map above the doorway, once more whispering in the other pony's ear with a worried expression on her face.

The earth pony looked towards the map, blinking away the last bits of sleep and rubbing her eyes slightly, before nodding and whispering back to the pegasus, a kind and gentle smile on her face.

In fact, Hoofcuff noticed that the older mare exuded a gentleness that showed a patience and kindness that only a mother could show. Hoofcuff felt an unfamiliar feeling come over her.

The more she thought about it and the more she watched the other two, the more pointless this whole trip seemed. She even started to feel somewhat guilty, since right now, both Fluttershy and Tree Flower looked as if they didn't have a care in the world. All the sight of the two ponies enjoying each other's company managed to do was remind Hoofcuff of her own rather lonely existence. She didn't have any friends of her own. All she had was Starlight, who even then was more the chipper assistant then an actual friend. Most of the ponies back at HQ tended to avoid her and it wasn't like her own rather prickly personality helped to smooth things over.

Hoofcuff all of a sudden shook her head brusquely. Stop it Hoofcuff. You're getting sappy, she chided herself. You've got a good thing going. You help Equestria. You help them find and capture the worst of the worst. That's all that’s important, her train of thought paused.

As true as those words were, something still felt missing. She couldn't quite nail what it was, but she knew something was missing. Her train of thought started again, Yeah...that's all...but then what? After you catch them, what do you get? A pat on the back and a trip back home to your ratty apartment to dine on take out. Excellent.

She found herself letting out a frustrated groan and shifting of her feet again, causing one of the ponies standing next to her to give her a funny look. She merely glared back at him, eyes narrowed, "What?" she spat, venomously staring at the colt.

The colt, taking the hint, focused his attention elsewhere, muttering a half-hearted apology under his breath. Hoofcuff herself turned back towards her magazine, now reading the article on global erosion with rapt contemplation. She also continued to keep a close eye on Fluttershy and Tree Flower, both of whom were now having a quiet conversation.

The subway continued onward for what seemed like an eternity, with the herky-jerky movements of the car causing Hoofcuff to bump more than once into the other ponies standing next to her. It didn't help that she was also wearing that heavy overcoat, which, while keeping her warm in the autumn air outside, only managed to make her sweat like she was in a sauna.

All of a sudden, the train's PA system announced the next stop and the train gradually came to a halt at the station. Hoofcuff watched intently as Fluttershy and Tree Flower stood up along with another twelve ponies and made their way off the train.

Hoofcuff followed close behind, happy to finally be off the cramped car. She discreetly as possible, grabbed her phone with her magic and dialed a number.

"This is Agent Hoofcuff calling General Iron Will," she glanced up at the sign identifying the station they had disembarked at. "I'm at the 10th Street Station in the Upper East Side. Subject has left the subway and is now heading towards the surface."

The minotaur at the other end replied with a simple, "Affirmative," and then hung up. Hoofcuff continued to follow the two ponies as best she could, following them up the stairs and to the streets above.

She let out a slight sigh of relief to see that the street they ended up on wasn't packed with ponies. Instead, it was rather empty, with only a few pairs of ponies here or there. Of course, with the recent influx of ponies from the subway coming up from below, Hoofcuff knew she had to move quickly or else risk losing the two again.

The two ponies paused at a street corner, with the older mare briefly consulting a street map and then pointing towards the row of neat brownstone homes that lined the street opposite from them. The two then crossed the street and headed into the upper class neighborhood, with Hoofcuff close behind.

"Movin' right along.

Footloose and fancy-free.

Getting there is half the fun;

Come share it with me."

Movin' Right Along by The Muppets

Act III - 13 - Speaking Words of Wisdom