And Suddenly, I'm Fluttershy

Intermission

Bartholomew

I quickly got lost within the maze-like corridors of the castle. It was several minutes before I stumbled into the blinding sunlight outside. I observed that I was in a garden, complete with various stone statues.

The statues were masterful pieces of work, each one was carved so intricately and so flawlessly. I marveled at them as I wandered through the garden, right up until I saw perhaps the worst sight in my brief time here.

It was a statue of Discord. A perfect statue. Too perfect.

I recalled Lyra's words about sealing him in stone. But that meant the other statues...

My mind was interrupted from its horrifying train of thought by the sound of hooves on grass slowly approaching me.

I spun around to greet the approaching pony. Before me stood the majestic Princess Celestia. The urge to bow hit me like a hammer.

"Hello, Bartholomew," she said with her trademark grace.

"Princess," I said.

"Why are you out here?" she asked me.

"I don't want to talk about it," I said, averting her gaze, partly from guilt, partly from the whole soul-gazing thing.

"Problems cannot be solved if you don't ask for help."

"So I've heard. Although, I prefer to think that problems can't be solved without work rather than cooperation."

"Bartholomew," she said, almost sighing.

It was then that I realized what she was doing. She was acting like a mix of psychiatrist and mother. She wanted to know my problems and she wanted to solve them.

No wonder she stayed in power this long.

Every time there was a problem she'd solve it to the best of her ability. She was good at fixing things, at making things right. She has kept the throne because she solves the problems of her subjects.

It's amazing what a crazy psychologist can do sometimes.

I refrained from answering for about seven seconds.

"Alright, it was me," I said.

"What was you?" she asked quizzically.

"I caused Luna to have a bit of a breakdown."

"Wha- Oh... Oh."

"Yeah."

"She and Fluttershy..?"

"Yeah."

She was utterly stunned.

"You expected this, didn't you?"

That broke her from her thoughts.

"I had my suspicions, but..." she paused. "Oh, Luna," she said sorrowfully.

She began to take off.

"Wait!" I called.

"What is it?" she asked turning back to me.

"Why did you call us to Canterlot?"

"Twilight will tell you."

She turned to go again.

"Where is Twilight?"

"Two rights, a left, and keep going."

With that, she took off.