Derpy's heart sang as she saw land and spotted the filly on the shore. In an instant she forgot everything else and set off, rushing towards land. “Dinky!” she called with joy, but as she neared the shore her heart sank back in her chest. She landed next to Dinky and fell down on her haunches in the sand. The unicorn did not move or open her eyes. “Dinky!” she called again and reached out to touch her. “S-she's burning!” she said and looked through tears at Fluttershy who had rushed to her side. “W-what's wrong with her? W-why won't she wake up?”

Fluttershy leaned down low to listen at the filly's mouth. “She's still breathing. Thank goodness, she's still breathing,” she said, too lost in concern for Dinky to react to Derpy's arrival. “We need to get her to the castle,” she said as she lifted the little filly carefully. “Help me carry her, please.”

Derpy lay down so Fluttershy could help Dinky onto her back. Once the filly had been secured, Fluttershy turned and hurried across the beach towards the fields with Derpy carrying Dinky close behind.

Ponies were trickling in from the ship now, settling on the beach behind them. Some were kissing the ground, others dancing or singing in joy. A few other ponies were gathering from the surrounding fields to greet the newcomers.

Rose jumped off an old dingy lifeboat and trotted up the beach, watching the two pegasi rush off with Dinky. When they finally disappeared out of sight she looked down and sighed blissfully at the feeling of sand under her hooves.

“I'm really, really sorry,” Derpy said after the initial panic had worn off a little and she had had time to realize who she was flying with. They had left the beach and were now following the outline of a wide road below. Derpy had simply followed Fluttershy, trusting the other pegasus to know where they were going. “I really am.”

Fluttershy backed up a little so that she was flying next to Derpy. She checked on Dinky before giving the gray pegasus a sad look. “It's me who should be sorry, Derpy. I should have paid more attention to you. I shouldn't have ignored you like that. I-I didn't realize how you felt,” she said, looking down as the ground rushed past below. “You were always a great friend, I really like you too, Derpy.” She looked back up and reached out a hoof to Derpy. After a moment's hesitation she pulled it back. “Maybe we could have gotten to know each other better. Maybe … maybe we could have been closer, but now … Oh Derpy, now I just don't know how we can be together.”

Derpy reached out as Fluttershy pulled her hoof back. “Come with me, Fluttershy. Come back to Ponyville with me.”

Fluttershy looked away. “Derpy, I'm … You know I'm dead, Derpy. I-if the dead could just return as they pleased no pony would ever stay dead, would they? Some things you can't simply change, Derpy.”

They flew in silence for a while. Finally Derpy said, “I could stay here with you.”

A copper-coated stallion greeted them as they landed on the grand stairs of the castle. “My Lady, you have returned,” he said and looked at Derpy and Dinky with some surprise. “Who is this you have brought with you?”

“We need to see prince Terra, mister Edict,” Fluttershy said with urgency in her voice.

Edict looked a little uncertain, clearly not used to such a rush. “The master is in his study, My Lady.”

“Please get him down here,” Fluttershy persisted as she led Derpy inside the grand hall and helped Dinky off her back. “And please have somepony bring some water and blankets.”

The stallion looked at the young filly and gave a quick bow. “Of course, My Lady.” His hooves echoed against the floor as he hurried off. Barely had he left before a pair of servants came galloping with fresh water and blankets. Fluttershy laid Dinky on the blankets and bathed her head with the water.

Derpy looked on helplessly. “W-will she be alright?” she asked hopefully, knowing that Fluttershy often took care of little critters. Maybe a little pony was not so different.

“I … I don't know, Derpy,” Fluttershy admitted. “I don't know what's wrong with her.”

Derpy sat down heavily and stroked the filly's mane. Her eyes settled for the first time on the lighthouse emblazoned on her flank. Three stars circled the top of the tower. “She got her cutie mark,” she said with sudden excitement, failing to hold back tears. She felt her heart swell with both pride and sorrow. “My little guiding star …”

Echoing hoof steps sounded down the hall. They looked up to see Terra as he approached, looking between Derpy and Dinky. Derpy blinked at the great stallion. “Y-you?!”

Terra stopped and gave Derpy a little nod. “I am sorry that our last meeting had to be the way it was, miss Derpy. My name is Terra,” he said and looked down at the unconscious filly on the floor before him. “And this is your youngest daughter?”

“He was the one who told me about the flower back at the Gala,” said Derpy, feeling the rage boiling within her.

“I did,” Terra said, a hint of sorrow in his voice. “And I do feel I owe you an apology and some explanation. But first …” Terra knelt down and reached out to place a hoof on Dinky's forehead.

Derpy stepped in and batted his hoof away, glaring at him. “Don't you dare touch my daughter, how do I know you won't kill her too?”

Fluttershy gasped a little and reached out for Derpy. “D-Derpy, Terra would never do such a thing!” Fluttershy said, trying to get Derpy to sit down. “If … if you won't trust him, then trust me. For Dinky's sake.”

The prince sighed, clearly pained by the accusation. “I am afraid I have not made myself deserving of your trust in the past, but for what it is worth I hope to change that.”

Derpy huffed and reluctantly backed away, but she kept her eyes firmly on Terra as he knelt back down and examined the young filly on the floor.

“What is wrong with her, w-will she be alright?” asked Fluttershy nervously.

“She is in shock right now,” the prince said as he rose back up. “I saw the light from my study, very impressive, but it is a dangerous thing for a unicorn to exert herself to such a degree when her body is weakened. She has not had much to eat or drink in a long time, it is a great fortune that she has not suffered worse.” He looked down at the unicorn again. “I do not think there will be any lasting harm to her, but I can not say how long until she regains consciousness. For now the best cure is calm and rest.” He turned to a servant. “Give her a room in a quiet part of the castle, make sure it is dark. Have a nurse see to her.”

The servant bowed and picked up Dinky. Fluttershy rubbed Derpy's back reassuringly. “It'll be fine.” Derpy looked far from sure as they watched the servant hurry off with Dinky.

Once the servants had been ushered off, Terra turned back to the two pegasi. “When I warned you about those flowers, Derpy, I did so knowing full well that you were likely to forget my words.” He took a long breath. “I knew what would happen.”

“Y-you … knew?” Fluttershy gasped. Derpy wrapped her wing around Fluttershy, glaring at Terra.

Terra nodded sadly. “I couldn't be absolutely certain, could be she heeded my warning, but I knew that was unlikely. And it was a chance I had to take.”

The words hit Fluttershy hard. She wasn't sure how to handle this and felt tears press at the corners of her eyes. “W-why?” She wanted it to make sense, to have meaning.

“It was a kindness,” he said, a hurt look on his face. “The moment I saw you at the Gala, I saw your future as well. You would eventually have wandered off from the castle, enrapt in the splendors of the forest. Derpy would have followed, and you would have come upon a lake. I will … not go into detail,” he said. “But you would have ended your days at the bottom of that lake, your body the plaything of a monster. Derpy would have been gravely wounded trying to save you, and only narrowly escaped with her life. Her daughter would have found her in the forest.”

Terra closed his eyes, clearly pained to think of the vision he had just described. “When I saw you, Fluttershy, I recognized the beauty and kindness of your heart. I could not bear to see this fate come to pass. But I am a shepherd, I guide my subjects, I can not simply stop Fate. I can not give life, but like any conscious creature it is within my power to take life.”

“Yes,” Terra admitted. “It was the best I could do, and it might not have worked. But it did.” He lowered his head at them. “I am sorry that I had to do this, that I caused you both this pain, but it would have been a greater pain had I not. All I hope is that you will see the mercy of my choice and not hold it against me.”

The prince shook his head. “The consequences of tampering with Fate can be dire. At best you would have died anyway, in some equal fashion. At worst it would cause chaos and … Discord,” he said grimly. “To know when ponies die and having little power to act upon that knowledge, that is my burden, and it is a burden and knowledge I can not share. I could not even tell my own sister at the time, for fear of what her knowing might do.”

They were silent for a time. Derpy and Fluttershy looked at each other. The anger and frustration was subsiding as the prince's words settled. A sadness replaced it. “I guess … I guess I understand,” Fluttershy said at last. “I can't blame you for what you did, I just … wish it didn't have to be that way.”

Terra looked to Derpy. The gray pegasus looked down and nodded a little before looking up again at the prince. “I want Fluttershy to come back with me.”

“It is not that simple,” Terra said with a shake of his head. “I can't simply let the dead walk back into the world of the living. It would upset the whole balance of the world and cause unimaginable chaos.”

Terra reached out and took her hoof in his. “Look at me, Fluttershy. I have all the time in the world to wait for you, what is a lifetime to me? If I could give you life I would do so in a heartbeat.”

Fluttershy looked at Derpy, then at Terra's hoof in hers before looking up at the prince. “Even if it meant me choosing Derpy instead of you?”

Terra looked down for a moment. “Would you?” He looked back at Fluttershy. “Can you say that you love her truly?”

Fluttershy looked at Derpy. The gray pegasus looked back. The hope in her eyes made Fluttershy want to cry. She looked down. “I …” the hesitation in her voice spoke clearly. “I don't know.” She could practically hear Derpy's heart break.

“Are you willing to find out?” Terra said, letting go of her. “There may be a way,” he said reluctantly, “for you to return together, but only if your love is true.”

Fluttershy tried to stay strong. She cared for Derpy, she might even say she loved the poor pegasus. It was just so sudden, and when she thought of Terra and his kingdom under the earth suddenly she wasn't sure what she felt. “What must I do?” she said after a moment.

Terra lifted his head. His horn began to glow and the magic enveloped the three ponies. Fluttershy felt the world shift and snap back into place. She found herself standing in the middle of great rolling fields. All around her the souls of long dead ponies were working. They didn't seem to notice her and Terra. She looked around for Derpy but couldn't see her. “W-where are we? Where's Derpy?”

Even as she spoke, Terra's magic rolled across the land like a silvery wave. Fluttershy gasped and held up a hoof to her mouth as she watched the ponies change, one by one. A flutter of black wings turned into a storm as dark clouds of birds rose all at once. Millions of feathered souls. Fluttershy stared at what had been ponies a second ago.

Terra turned to her. “Your friend is out there, one among them all. If your love for her is true your heart will show you the way to her.” A large, ornate hourglass appeared in his hoof. “You have until the last sand has run out. If you have not found her by then, she will return home with her daughter.”

“I will offer you a way back with her. You may not like it, but it is all I can offer, and for you and Derpy alone to decide. If you truly love each other I think you will know what is right.” He looked at her sadly. “Listen to your heart.” With that he disappeared, leaving Fluttershy alone in the middle of the great field. The hourglass hung in the air, and turned over. A single grain of sand dropped into the bottom.

“Um, excuse me?” Fluttershy approached a pair of ravens. “Excuse me?” They looked up at her without much interest. Fluttershy wondered if Derpy would even recognize her. “Um, is one of you Derpy?” She felt so terribly stupid for asking. The two black birds looked at her unhelpfully. Maybe they weren't Derpy after all.

“Um,” she said, hurrying to catch up with another bird passing by. “Excuse me? Are you, um, are you Derpy?” The bird shook its head and carried on.

Fluttershy looked out over the fields and skies, blackened by birds as far as the eye could see. Her heart sank. How could she hope to ask them all? Even without the pressure of the sand trickling away it seemed like a hopeless task.

She steered towards a large group of ravens. “E-excuse me, have any of you seen my friend Derpy?” None of them appeared to answer. “Only, it's really important,” she pleaded. “I have to find her so I can return to Ponyville.” This seemed to gain their attention. Fluttershy smiled hopefully. “You understand, don't you? I helped you all, remember? When you were tired or sick?” She had met many souls in her short time here. They all seemed to have something they needed help with, and Fluttershy had been happy to offer them her kindness. “Perhaps, um, perhaps you could help me find my friend?”

She had helped them and shown them kindness, but a raven's heart is filled with envy. They had it all figured out. If she returned to the land of the living they would not enjoy her kindness again. The birds gave each other calculating looks and set off in every direction, screeching in dire warning to their fellows.

Fluttershy squeaked in startled surprise. “Wait, please! What are you …” But the ravens were gone, their warning cries echoing back from far and wide. They were quickly joined by many more. In an instant the whole of the land was a cacophony of voices. And then it fell quiet.

A raven approached her and pecked her hoof fondly. Fluttershy looked down. “Um, is that … is that you, Derpy?” The raven cooed. Fluttershy lit up and reached down to pick up the raven when something pulled gently at her tail. She turned around and saw another bird looking up at her. “Um …”

A third raven approached her. Fluttershy looked between them. “Y-you can't all be Derpy,” she said. “Please, you have to help me.” Two more ravens landed on her back and rubbed their heads against her in affection. “No, please … y-you're not helping,” she cried.

Derpy sat in a field, feeling all alone since Terra had left her there. She preened a wing and chirped sadly. A sudden commotion of screeching made her jump and look up as a swarm of ravens passed overhead before disappearing on the horizon. Derpy looked in the direction they had come from. After a moment to consider she hopped a few feet, set off and flew clumsily in that direction.

Fluttershy was about ready to cry, or scream, or maybe kick something. All the ravens seemed to have gotten it into their heads that they were Derpy. Maybe … maybe she would know Derpy when she saw her, maybe if she looked her in the eyes she would know … if only she could look all the ravens in the eyes, but there were so many. She rushed from raven to raven, but they all had little beady black eyes that looked back with deceptive friendliness.

She was so frustrated she could just possibly kick and scream and cry at the same time.

A raven landed on her head. She looked up, daring to hope, just possibly hope. The raven flapped its wings at the movement and let out a little series of chirps. Fluttershy paused and held out a hoof. The bird landed and chirped again, a happy little melody, a merry little tune that somehow reminded Fluttershy of the sea and Pinkie Pie's parties.

My wings aching, sky breaking, hail on the deck

The bird bobbed up and down and shifted from leg to leg as it turned around on her hoof in a little jig. It chirruped again, mimicking her melody. Fluttershy smiled and leaned in to whisper, “thank you, you merry little bird! Thank you!”

Fluttershy rose up over the fields and sang as she flew, scanning the skies and fields while listening for a reply. The merry raven followed behind, happily chirping the same fragment of a melody over and over, the first line of each verse.

The storm's flashing, ship's dashing, gasbag's alight

Clouds kicking, hooves slipping, wind in our manes

The storm's smashing, ship's crashing, falls from the sky,

The rain's lashing, sky's thrashing, screaming like Hell

My wings aching, sky breaking, hail on the deck

Some birds joined in uncertainly, others stayed silent in confusion. A few enterprising ones tried making up their own melodies. Fluttershy prayed only one would know the right continuation, a pony who had once sung this very song with her in the Sugarcube Corner.

Derpy alternately flew and jumped along in a rough direction she hoped would take her closer to Fluttershy. An old bird seemed to have decided to tag along for the ride, flying behind her as she made her way across the fields. Occasionally it chirped encouragingly at her.

She remembered vaguely what Terra had told her, about finding Fluttershy and listening to her heart. She wasn't sure how long it had been, and she was starting to get worried. She could see many other birds, everywhere she looked they sat or flew about, but no sight of Fluttershy or anypony else.

She was feeling increasingly sad when a voice reached her from far away. She stopped and listened before turning in the direction of the sound. The voice grew louder and there were a lot of other birds now, all gathering together. Derpy struggled to get through. When she failed she stopped to listen. She recognized the melody, and there were words too, but she couldn't remember them. Many other birds were screeching along too, making it hard for Derpy to hear.

There was a flutter next to her as the old bird that had followed her landed next to her. It gave her a little nudge and whistled the tune on the air encouragingly. Derpy struggled but slowly began to understand. She whistled the first bit of the melody and stopped … she tried to remember what came next, but her memory came up blank. She hung her head sadly.

And the airship's one squall away from ending a wreck

Derpy brightened up and puffed up her chest, squawking out the next line of the melody. It wasn't very beautiful, but it was loud and full of longing.

Fluttershy heard the reply above the chaos of screeches, standing out like a single tone of harmony. She spun around and hurried through the swarms of birds towards the sound, trying hard to hear it over the noise. She was so close …

And then another voice joined in, and a third, suddenly all the birds were singing the same two lines. Fluttershy stopped, feeling her hope dashed.

A third line was added somewhere. Fluttershy hurried towards the sound, but almost instantly the whole flock joined in again as they caught on to the scheme. She was crying as the fourth line joined the choir.

She felt herself losing it, tearing up. “W-why are you doing this to me?” she cried loudly. She had wandered these fields, helping all the souls of the dead she came across, offering them a kind hoof wherever she could. And this was her payment? “Was I not a friend to you a-all? Why do you repay me l-like th-this?!” She stared at the ravens around her with eyes full of a steely anger despite the tears rolling down her cheeks. “Y-you should be ashamed of yours-selves! You're nothing b-but mean, cold-hearted little b-birds!” she howled.

The birds around her hung their heads at the sight of Fluttershy's tearful eyes and sound of her scolding words. Silent shame spread through the clouds of feathered souls, and one by one the birds spread their wings and set off, soon disappearing on the wind.

Fluttershy sniffed and looked down as something pecked at her hoof gently. She looked at the empty fields around her, then down at the bird in front of her. She didn't have to ask, only one bird could look so pitiable and yet so lovable. Fluttershy picked it up and wiped her eyes, smiling. “Derpy, you found me …” she whispered and kissed the bird on its beak.

A warm glow surrounded the bird and lifted it into the air. Fluttershy backed away and held up a hoof to her eyes as the bird disappeared in a flash of light.

Derpy sat down and studied her hooves and wings as if seeing them for the first time, then looked up at Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus rushed forwards and wrapped her hooves around Derpy.

Neither of them noticed Terra, standing a bit away with his gaze on the fields. His eyes betrayed a deep sorrow as he waited in silence for them. When they eventually looked up and noticed him, he turned towards them. “I promised you a way back, and since you have proven that your love is true I have no qualms about offering you this option … even if it means losing you, Fluttershy,” he looked away as he spoke.

They looked at him uncertainly. After a time he sighed and returned his eyes to them. “I stand by my word, but I can not grant life. Only the living have life to give. I can return you to the lands of the living, Fluttershy, but it means a sacrifice from the one you love. A measure of her own life.”

Derpy and Fluttershy looked at each other. “You mean …?” Fluttershy said uncertainly.

Terra gave a solemn nod. “Also know that should you return, the Lady of the Lake may seek to claim the life I stole from her. I will leave you alone to consider my offer. It is, sadly, the best I can do.” He turned around and walked towards the castle with heavy hooves.

Fluttershy looked out over the fields where ponies, all looking shameful, were slowly getting back to work.

Derpy looked at her. Fluttershy could see she knew what was coming. It hurt, but anything else would only hurt more.

“Derpy, I can't go back with you,” she said finally. “Not if it means … what it means.”

The other mare looked up at her pleadingly. “I don't want to live long alone.”

Fluttershy took Derpy's hoof. “Derpy, think of your daughters, and your friends and family.” She looked Derpy deep into her eyes. “Derpy, I love you too. I wasn't sure, but now I am. I wish I could have known earlier, and that we could have been together even for a short time. But I can't ask you to give of your own life for my sake, and I … I can't put my love for you above my love for everypony. There are ponies here who need me, who … who need a kind and loving princess. And there are ponies up there who need you, too, ponies who love you very much and would gladly spend their lives with you.”

Derpy was crying as she tackled Fluttershy in a tight hug. “I love you, Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy squeaked a little at the hug before returning the gesture. She was crying now too. “I love you, too. And I'm glad I got to tell you … at least.”

Dinky turned over in the cool bed and opened her eyes to look up at Derpy. Her mother was sitting next to the bed, looking down at her sadly. “M-mother? What happened?”

“It … it's a long story,” said Derpy. She stroked Dinky's mane quietly for a time then lay her head down next to her and closed her eyes.

Rose smiled at Derpy and reached out to hug her gently. Behind her the crew of the Queen of Roses looked on with respectfully bowed heads. “It is better to live and love, my dear,” said the old unicorn and rubbed Derpy's shoulder. “I want you to know that I am very proud of you, and that old Derpy Jones would be too. I know you will go far and see much, and find love even if right now you think you have lost it.” She smiled and wiped a tear from her eye as she looked Derpy over, as if trying to save the image in her memory for all time.

Derpy tried to stammer a reply, but Rose stopped her. “You don't have to say anything, dear.” She turned her head to look at her crew. “Oh yes, we have a little gift for you,” she said as Big Crabbe approached holding a large scroll seemingly made from pieces of old sails. Rose levitated it out of the quartermaster's mouth and held it up to Derpy with a wink. “Following your heart is fine and good, but sometimes you need a proper map to find the sunken treasure. I think you know where this one leads. We all wrote you a little greeting on the back too.”

Derpy took the scroll gingerly and hesitated for a moment, then wrapped the old mare in a tight hug.

“Easy now, dear,” she chuckled. “I'm a frail old lady.” As Derpy finally let go of her she turned to look at Dinky with a warm smile. “I am sure I don't need to tell you to look after you mother, young lady?”

“No, ma'am,” said Dinky snappily. The depressing mood of the farewells had not entirely drained away her joy of having found her cutie mark. She was practically beaming still.

Rose gave the young pony a hug too. “That's what I like to hear.” She let go and looked at Derpy. “What are you waiting for then, dear? Don't let us keep your love waiting.”

Derpy hesitated, then gave Rose a final hug and turned around. Dinky smiled and waved at the crew before following her mother.

Fluttershy and Terra were waiting nearby, standing with their backs to the great open sea and the rolling waves. Fluttershy's mane was blowing in the gentle wind as she approached them and wrapped Derpy in a tight embrace. Derpy could feel the other mare's heart close to hers, beating in sync.

Derpy looked back and saw the last flicker of yellow and pink disappearing against the light of the setting sun. It cast its dying glow on the dark waters as the sea rushed past beneath her wings, and then the great celestial sphere dipped below the horizon and gave way to the gentle glow of the moon. Vast forests and fields replaced the sea and everything seemed like just a memory.

Terra guided them down near the edge of the forest and turned to look at them. “You have returned home safely, as I promised. I must return, for there is much I must see to when I officially join my sisters on the throne of Equestria. I hope you bear me no ill will,” he said.

Derpy shook her head a little as Dinky crawled off her back. Terra nodded, then bowed and turned to spread his wings. Derpy watched him set off and disappear against the dark sky. Once she could no longer see him she turned towards the lights of Ponyville.

She stopped and tensed. Two ponies were coming up the road towards them. She recognized them immediately …

“Please don't be frightened, Derpy,” Twilight said as she emerged into the light of the moon. The purple unicorn looked like she had been crying a lot lately. As did the rainbow-maned pegasus by her side. “Princess Luna told us what really happened,” Twilight said to hurriedly deflect the tension.

“Yeah, we know it wasn't your fault,” Rainbow Dash added. “I'm … sorry I blamed you. Fluttershy was my best friend, I just didn't know how to … to handle it all.”

“You're a fool, Derpy,” Rainbow Dash said and got a hoof in the side from Twilight. “But you're our foolish friend,” she continued and gave Derpy a sad hug.

“We know how much she meant to you, too,” Twilight added. “And we … we knew you would want to be there for the funeral.” She gestured towards the town where flickering lights were being lit now. “All her friends are there to see her away. When Luna told us you were coming we wanted to make sure you and Dinky were there too. She would have wanted that.”

Derpy lay the rose down on the grave and stood up, looking at the newly planted tree in the soft light of the candles and stars.

Sometimes it is kinder to end things than to prolong what should not be, and to remember that there is always more than one pony in your life and in the world. Our love for one should never come at the cost of all those whom our lives touch—our friends and families and all those who depend upon us. When a whole world depends on you it is even more important to remember that you can never put yourself or any one pony above the rest. But I know this is a lesson you must have learned long ago, and better than anypony.

Better than your brother, too, but I think he is starting to learn. Terra is very charming and so courteous, he always makes me blush. I think he is going to propose to me soon, but I'm still not sure. I guess I'm a little shy, and I still think of Derpy. I hope she finds love in her life too, and that when the day finally comes and we meet again she will tell me all about it.

Roots of a Heart

by adcoon

Chapter 4