//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Shifting Morals // by Leafdoggy //------------------------------// “So has anything like that happened with Fluttershy before?” The roads are quiet as we walk. It’s closing in on midday now, so ponies are up and about, but they’re busy with work or chores. I figure I should take this time to gather more information. If Fluttershy has been a problem before, I can copy what happened, and make it harder to believe it wasn’t her. Eroding trust where it’s already weakened. Pinkie scrunches her face in thought. “Hmm.. Kinda sorta? She’s gotten panicky and clumsy before. But she usually doesn’t make too much of a mess. Today was like, a Pinkie sized mess, not a Fluttersized one.” She gasps. “Oh no, what if she’s trying to get better than me at making messes? I gotta step up my game. It takes more than that to outmess ol’ Pinkie Pie. Maybe I should-” I cut her off. “What would Fluttershy have to be scared of? It’s so peaceful here. I haven’t seen so much as a frown.” “Oh, she’s scared of everything. Loud noises, fast winds, scary stories, not-scary stories. It’s not a big deal, we usually just help her calm down and it’s fine. She has gotten a few big scares though. Like from Nightmare Moon and stuff.” “What’s a Nightmare Moon?” “Oh, yeah, you don’t remember. Whoops. Princess Luna used to be a bad guy called Nightmare Moon. She was super scary. Took over, made everything dark. She got better though. Oh, uh, Princess Luna is a Princess. She and Celestia live in Canterlot." “Huh,” I say. This is good. I can feel the gears turning already, forming plots. Pinkie keeps rambling on, but I just tune her out and make some plans. Eventually Pinkie stops walking and announces “We’re here!”. It takes me a moment to realize what I’m looking at. From a distance I had just assumed it was a big tree, maybe a town center or park, but now I can see the door and windows and other fixtures tacked onto it. I guess this is what passes for a house around here. I don’t hate it, at least not as much as most houses, but I’m still not excited about meeting whoever would live here. “Ding-Dong!” Pinkie blurts out as we walk in. It makes me flinch, and in another room I hear something fall on the floor, followed by muffled curse. Pinkie grins at me and doesn’t go further in, so I take in the room. Thousands of books line the walls, packed floor to ceiling. Every empty space, every available wall, has been turned into bookshelves. Through open doors, I can see more rooms equally filled with books. It’s almost overwhelming. I can’t imagine trying to find anything in here. We end up waiting a couple minutes out here, I guess so this new pony can clean up whatever fell. Pinkie is bouncing back and forth on her hooves, trying to balance on them one at a time. It amazes me how a pony who seems to need such constant entertainment never gets bored. It’s impressive, really. It must have taken a long time to learn how to be her own company like that. Just as Pinkie finds her balance on a front hoof, a disheveled purple pony walks out of a side room. Pinkie spots her and falls forward, flipping onto her back. “Oh, hello Pinkie” the new pony says in a tired voice as she walks over to us. “What’s up?” She looks pretty rough, baggy eyes and a messy mane, but she’s smiling sweetly, and her tired eyes shine bright. “Rarity told us to bug you!” Pinkie says, gesticulating wildly from down on the floor. “This is Strawberry Tart. I’m goin around introducing them to all my friends.” Twilight looks me over. “Well, hello Strawberry Tart, my name is Twilight Sparkle.” She flashes me a bright, toothy grin. She definitely wears her heart on her sleeve. “Hello Twilight,” I reply. “It’s very nice to meet you. What was that noise as we came in? Are you okay?” “Oh, that.” Twilight winces. “I just dropped some books I was carrying. You caught me in the middle of some rearranging. See, I found out yesterday that the books in the west wing are actually a lot more enjoyable to read in the morning sunlight, which comes in through the eastern windows. So now I have to swap all the books in the two wings. It’s a lot of work, especially with Spike in Canterlot.” Twilight leads us over to a small table and we take a seat around it. Pinkie is still on the floor, so she just rolls along. The table is a bit cramped; if two of us leaned forward at the same time we’d headbutt each other. “I guess I could use a break, actually,” Twilight says. She leans hard against the table, like she could pass out at any moment. “You two have great timing. How are the introductions going?” “Oh, they’re great!” Pinkie pipes up. “We saw Fluttershy yesterday and she was only, like, sixty percent scared. Maybe sixty five. Okay, seventy. Then this morning we went to Rarity’s, which was a lotta fun.” Pinkie leans towards twilight and hushes her voice, acting secretive, but still talking loud enough that I can clearly hear her. “I think Rarity thinks they’re cute.” I about fall out of my chair. Cute? There's no way. I mean, I hadn’t picked up on that at all. Hmm.. If Pinkie’s right, though, that could be useful. It might impair her judgement. I’ll have to keep it in mind for the future. Pinkie catches reaction before I can stifle it and chuckles. “Well someone was bound to, silly,” she says, prodding me in the shoulder playfully. "There's no way you were gettin through Ponyville without somepony falling for you." I can feel myself start to blush. I’m not used to being… teased. Twilight laughs. “Don’t worry about it, Strawberry. Pinkie's just messing with you. Rarity finds the cuteness in anypony.” Her smile is kind, but still has an undertone of playfulness. “What about you, though?  Feel a spark of friendship talking to Rarity?” I’m flustered, having a difficult time to find the right thing to say. “I, uh.. Yeah, I mean, she was nice. It was nice having someone calm to talk to I guess. She seems very, um, friendly.” My cheeks still feel hot. Why is this affecting me? I’m just saying what I need to to earn their trust. Trying to operate under constant scrutiny must be taking more of a toll than I thought. I need to learn to steel myself against it. I take a moment to compose myself, exhaling hard, and find my wits again. Slowly, I cool down, and my senses come back to me. Then I look towards Twilight. “Oh, Fluttershy seemed kind of weird, though.” I say. “I’m a little worried that Rarity might be mad at her.” Twilight’s eyes widen. “Why would Rarity ever get mad at Fluttershy?” “Oh, she made a huuuuge mess in Rarity’s supply closet” Pinkie says, waving her hooves around to emphasize. “Broke a window and everything. I’m a little jealous, I’ve always wanted to jump through a window. Maybe I should go back before it gets fixed...” “Oh no, I hope she’s okay.” Twilight’s face drops with concern. “I can’t imagine what could’ve made her do that. I should go check on her later. Don’t worry though, Strawberry, Rarity’s very understanding. She would never get mad over something like that.” I nod silently. I hope she’s not right. I really thought these ponies were pretty vulnerable. I’m not too worried, though. I’m more than willing to play the long game. Twilight picks up on the lull in conversation and changes the subject. “So, what brings you to Ponyville, Strawberry?” “I’m not actually sure,” I reply. “I can’t remember anything before waking up in the woods. Pinkie’s helping me until I figure things out.” “Amnesia?” Twilight looks sympathetic. “That’s awful. Let me know if you need anything. Actually..” She closes her eyes in thought for a moment. I almost think she fell asleep, but then she pops back. “I think I remember reading something about amnesia recently.” She jumps up and starts looking through books. “Pinkie, can you help me find it? Just grab anything that looks like it might be close.” Pinkie bounces over to a bookshelf and starts looking. I’m not sure if she’s actually using discretion, or just tossing random books over her shoulder. Twilight is being more meticulous, flipping through books and picking out a few here and there. Slowly, a pile of books grows on the table in front of me. Twilight’s search takes her into another room, and I sense an opportunity. I glance at Pinkie Pie, but she’s completely oblivious, lost in her own little world. Quietly, I sneak to the front door and slip outside. Outside, I look around quickly for any witnesses, and then change again. I’m more accustomed to being the yellow pony now. I can go harder, match her character. Cause some real, believable chaos. I go over the plan in my head again, line myself up, and charge full speed towards the door. I burst through and fly past Pinkie, slamming hard into a bookshelf. Books pour down onto the floor around me. A vase shatters on the ground. Scrambling to my feet, I look around frantically. I need to focus on Twilight. When I spot her coming, I leap forward and grab her. “Twilight!” I whimper. “Twilight, N-N-.. N-Nightmare..” I close my eyes and well up some tears. Twilight holds me gently. “Whoa, Fluttershy, what’s wrong?” She speaks softly, lovingly. “What’s this about a nightmare? I’ve never seen a dream scare you this much.” I shake my head frantically. “N-no, it’s.. It’s Nightmare Moon! She’s back, she took over Canterlot! Please, Twilight, you have to help!” Twilight recoils. “What!? But.. how? Fluttershy, that’s impossible. Are you absolutely certain?” I nod vigorously. “I’m positive, Twilight! She’s in Canterlot, you have to go help!” I make myself start crying. Twilight nods and focuses, her exhaustion pushed aside by determination. She charges out the door at an incredible speed, running in the direction I assume Canterlot is in. Pinkie just watches, dumbfounded, as I fly after her. Once I’m out of sight, I land and change back to my regular look. Smiling, I watch as Twilight slowly vanishes over the horizon. I wonder how far away Canterlot is.