//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Fluttershy’s Heart // Story: Friendship is Magic; Damnation is Alchemy // by AnonymousCardCaptor //------------------------------// Friendship is Magic; Damnation is Alchemy By Anonymous Card Captor My Little Pony-Friendship is Magic is owned by Hasbro Studios and created by Lauren Faust. Fullmetal Alchemist is created by Hiromu Arakawa. All other characters are the creation of the author. All thoughts or written dialogue will be in italics. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chapter 7: Fluttershy’s Heart The cottage interior was a sight to behold. All over the house were staircases too small for the horse chimeras to use. One led to the entrance of a bird cage; another one ran up to a hole cut out of the ceiling; and a third circled the fireplace. Sinclair didn’t know what to think. Then, he saw a chipmunk coming down one of the stairways before catching sight of the stranger and running back upstairs. Is Fluttershy researching animal behavior? Sinclair shook his head. That’s silly! She’s obviously some sort of animal lover. Hopefully, she’ll never find out about my biological experiments. It was amazing how well clean the cottage was even though non-domesticated animals had unfettered access. There wasn’t the slightest hint of animal waste. The memory of exploring abandoned buildings as a teenager resurfaced, and the stench of feces mixed with wet animal fur was just as vivid as those days over a decade ago. Fluttershy didn’t seem like one of those crazy animal hoarders that Sinclair heard about. Besides, he didn’t wish to speak ill of the woman letting him stay at her home. Sinclair killed time watching the woodland creatures watching him. It was either that or snoop around, which was impolite to do. Fluttershy’s pets were the timid type. They wouldn’t leave the safety of their homes, but rather, peered through their doorway waiting for the stranger to leave. This went on for about an hour. As the minutes ticked away, boredom and curiosity were getting the better of the alchemist, and the room upstairs beckoned to him. A little peep wouldn’t hurt, I guess. Sinclair glanced out a window at the trail leading to the cottage doorstep. There was no sign of Fluttershy. Sinclair mustered up enough nerve and ascended the flight of stairs to the upper room. When Sinclair opened the door, he heard the flapping of wings and scuttling of tiny feet. All that he could see was some feathers floating down. For the most part, it wasn’t all that different from the ground floor. The second story was a bedroom that, like the room downstairs, had a fireplace and housed various small animals. But it did have a little something extra-books…beautiful, gorgeous books. Fluttershy didn’t seem to be particularly learned. Scientific literature was out of the question, but it beats staring at domesticated vermin all day. Sinclair rushed over to the bookcase only to have a white rabbit zip from under the bed and stop in front of him. Momentarily startled by the rabbit, Sinclair jumped back and yelped. “Damn rodent,” Sinclair mumbled, “coming out of nowhere like that.” Sinclair stepped to the right, but the rabbit got back in his way again. He then veered to the left, but the rabbit also got in his way again. Sinclair nudged the rabbit to the side. “Shoo,” said Sinclair. But rather than run off, the rabbit bit Sinclair on the foreleg. The alchemist-turned-pony yelped in pain as the oversize rabbit incisors drove deep into his skin. The leg’s reflex action catapulted the rabbit across the room. He only came to a stop after colliding with the wall. It comically rubbed its head, probably a bump on the noggin. Sinclair sucked on the bite mark while hoping the creature wasn’t rabid. After the pain subsided, he looked at the books on the shelves. Much to Sinclair’s surprise, Fluttershy had quite the collection of zoology literature. Perhaps he was too quick to judge her. He should have known someone so fond of animals would have collected some reading material on them, but the book that caught his attention wasn’t a science book. One of the books had the words Precious Memories on the spine. This book could be useful. If I find out some of the impostor’s life history, I could pretend to be making progress in recovering my ‘lost’ memories. Sinclair bit into the book spine and laid it on the side of the fireplace. Part of the stone base was transmuted into a pair of hands that turned the pages for Sinclair. The odd site startled the rabbit causing him to flee in terror. “Good riddance,” said Sinclair who then turned his attentions back to the book. What he found amazed him. The book was a picture album, but it was all in vivid color, not the sepia hue that was commonplace of human photography. Impressive, whatever alchemist created these chimeras also developed colored photography. I’d love to meet him, assuming he’s still around. Sinclair, pay attention! You didn’t snoop around to admire the technical expertise. Sinclair clapped his hooves again and transmuted the hands into turning the pages for him. The first set of pictures was of Fluttershy and some other chimeras in what looked like snow. Fluttershy appeared much younger in the pictures and rather bashful, at least in the photos she took alone. Fluttershy always turned to the side as though the camera was about to attack her. The male and female chimeras in the picture were fully mature. The female had a yellow coat and blonde mane. She also had a butterfly pattern on her flank, just like Fluttershy, but there was also a butterfly painted or tattooed on her forehead. The male chimera had a white coat and a blue mane and tail; the tail was shorter than the ones on the other chimeras. He had a red hose and a ladder on his flank. Fluttershy perked up in the photos that she took with the older chimeras. It then occurred to Sinclair that the pictures weren’t taken in some snow-covered landscape. These were taken in the clouds. Sinclair remembered that the Impostor’s parents made the claim that they lived on clouds. He wouldn’t have believed it except for witnessing a winged horse chimera laying on one. The photos took on a disconcerting, surreal dimension. He turned the pages to Fluttershy smiling and posing with her pets. She was older in the previous pictures. The white rabbit that bit Sinclair stood in front of Fluttershy. This one was also rather disturbing as well. Animal behavioral training only went so far and getting all of these animals to sit still for a photograph shouldn’t be possible. He flipped the pages until he saw pictures of Fluttershy with the Impostor. At first, Fluttershy was smiling as she was before in the photos with her pets. But as Sinclair progress through the pages, Fluttershy’s mannerism grew more somber; the cheer faded away. Those sorrowful eyes screamed out the truth that the fake smiles tried to conceal. The Impostor’s arrogant smirk remained constant. The feeling of apprehension that Sinclair felt for Fluttershy faded and was replaced by remorse and pity. Fluttershy wasn’t some animal-hording bedlam that Sinclair thought in the back of his mind. She was just a quite, sweet girl who was too kind for her good. That bastard should be grateful that he had a relative that was willing to put up with him for as long as she did. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ It was long after sunset when Fluttershy came back with the saddle bag full of books. “Welcome back,” said Sinclair. “You were gone for awhile.” Fluttershy tensed up. “I...I...I...I’m sorry I took so long getting back.” Fluttershy raised a foreleg defensively. “Rarity’s pet cat ran away, and we spend all evening looking for her. Please don’t be mad.” Sinclair was taken aback. “No, I didn’t mean it like that. I was a little concerned about you walking around the woods so late, but I wasn’t mad over it.” Sinclair shook his head. “Oh wait! You can fly. What was I thinking?” Sinclair then noticed Fluttershy smiling. “That’s sweet of you,” Fluttershy said bashfully. Sinclair wondered why Fluttershy was afraid of displeasing him. Was she so touchy about offending houseguests, even charity cases like him? Fluttershy turned her flank towards Sinclair. “I checked out the geography and history books like you asked and I bought you a diar...journal,” Fluttershy corrected herself. “Thank you,” Sinclair said enthusiastically, “you can’t imagine how much this means to me.” Sinclair bit into the geography book and laid it on the table and did the same for the history book and the journal. Unfortunately, the ‘journal’ wasn’t to his liking. Sinclair frowned at the flower pattern on the cover before forcing himself to smile. Beggars can’t be choosy, after all. Fluttershy raced across the room to Sinclair’s side and examine the bite mark. “Oh my, what happened to your leg?” Sinclair looked at it. “Oh this? Some rabbit bit me.” Fluttershy gasped. “Angel!” She yelled. “You come here right this instant!” The white rabbit came down the stairs and stopped in front of Fluttershy. “Did you bite Wind Racer?” Then the strangest thing happened. The rabbit was making hand gestures and moving as though it was a mime performing an act. “Wind Racer was reading,” said Fluttershy. The rabbit nodded. “Wind Racer was reading about shapes.” The rabbit shook his head and made the same gestures. “Wind Racer was reading my photo album.” The rabbit enthusiastically nodded. “I don’t mind if Wind Racer looks at it. It’s his photo album too, but, “said Fluttershy said sternly, “I do mind you biting...a lot.” Fluttershy marched towards the rabbit while he was backing away. “And if you bite anypony again, and especially if you bite Wind Racer,” Fluttershy gave Angel something he never gotten from her-the infamous Stare, “you’re going to really get it, mister.” The rabbit quaked in fear and hid under a blanket lying on a basket next to one of the small animal stairs. Sinclair didn’t see the Stare since he was behind Fluttershy, but he inched away after seeing Angel running away. Then Fluttershy’s mood did a 180. She ran over to her bathroom and came out with some medical supplies. “I am so sorry Angel bit you. Please forgive me,” Fluttershy begged as she poured antiseptic on the bite mark even though it barely broke the skin. “I’ll make sure Angel behaves, I promise.” “It’s okay, Fluttershy, I’ll live.” “What if it gets infected,” Fluttershy protested. “I said I’m fine,” Sinclair pulled his leg away, and Fluttershy flinched and quaked in fear. “I’m not going to hurt you,” said Sinclair who was shocked at the dread Fluttershy was showing towards him. “And your pet Angel didn’t hurt me, either. It’s nothing that won’t heal on its own.” Sinclair could still see the dread in Fluttershy’s eyes. “I need you to answer a question, and you must be truthful.” “Um...ok,” Fluttershy nodded. “Did I ever...hit you?” “No! Not once!” “Fluttershy, please be honest with me.” “But you didn’t.” Sinclair looked skeptically at Fluttershy. “Then why are acting so scared of me?” “I’m um...just nervous.” “But why if I never hurt you?” “I was afraid you would scold me.” “You’re afraid of being scolded?” “You’d yell at me for doing something stupid or embarrassing you in front of your friends or if I paid too much attention to my pets or if I stay out too late or if I don’t properly fix your meals.” “Fluttershy, those days are over. I won’t act overbearing towards you ever again. I promise.” Sinclair started to lay his foreleg around Fluttershy to comfort her but stopped halfway. He fought the urge to console her, though it took all of his willpower to keep from doing so as he stared into Fluttershy’s teary blue eyes. It would be inappropriate for him to be so ‘touchy-feely’ with a strange woman, especially considering the fact he was concealing his true identity from her. Still, he wanted to comfort her. Mustering the most gentle, soothing voice that he could, Sinclair said, “I don’t want to ever see you hurt or feeling that you’re less of a perso...pony because of some little mistake that you made. And this may not sound like much coming from an amnesiac, but you’re the kindest souls I’ve ever met, and I’m sorry for ever making you feel bad about yourself.” Fluttershy then started crying. Oh nice job, Doug, you made things even worse. You should have kept your big chimera mouth closed. Then, Fluttershy ran to Sinclair’s side and nuzzled him. “I knew you cared about me; deep down inside I knew you cared” she cried. If it wasn’t for his green coat, Sinclair’s face would be five shades redder. The pony alchemist was feeling a bit bashful. He quickly thought of an excuse to break away from the embrace before he had some sort of sexual thoughts about the Impostor’s blood relative. “L...l...let me get you something to dry your eyes.” Sinclair looked around the room for a handkerchief. “It’s okay Wind Racer,” Fluttershy said as she wiped away the tears and sniffed her nose a bit. “Will you be okay?” Sinclair asked. Fluttershy nodded. She then noticed the hands on the clock. “It’s getting late. Are you going to bed soon?” Fluttershy asked. “Actually, I was planning on doing a little browsing first.” “When you’re ready, just come upstairs to my bed…” “Nonsense, you’ve done more than enough for me already. I’m not taking your bed from you. I’ll just sleep on the couch.” “Bu...bu...but you’re not kicking me out of bed.” “I would be if I slept in your bed.” “No, you don’t understand, there’s enough room for…” Sinclair shook his head and interjected before Fluttershy could finish her sentence. “The thought of keeping my host from lying down on her own bed would keep me up all night.” Sinclair smiled gently at Fluttershy and pointed upstairs. “Now you go to sleep and don’t worry about me. According to every...pony, I’ve been living in the wilderness for three years, and a couch is a big step up from bare ground.” “I guess so,” Fluttershy looked down and huffed. “Well, good night, Wind Racer.” “Good night Fluttershy.” The yellow pegasus shuffled up the flight of stairs and crawled into bed. She hugged a spare pillow and nuzzled up against it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sinclair found it to be an arduous task to flip pages. If he was alone, he could use alchemy and create a pair of hands to flip through the book, but Fluttershy was asleep upstairs. The flash of light and the sound electricity arcing that accompanied a transmutation would wake her. The first book he haphazardly opened was as thick as a dictionary and had a unicorn profile on its brown cover. Opening the cover was the easy part. It stuck out a bit past the pages. When Sinclair tried turning to the next page, he skipped ahead by about fifty pages. There, he saw a picture of two horse chimeras-one had a light pink coat and a brighter pink mane and the other had a dark purple coat and a cyan mane. What caught his attention were the wings and horn that both horse chimeras sported. Are these some sort of hybrid? Sinclair wondered. The words appeared to be printed in old style Global Tongue. It was a language whose origins are unknown to Amestrian scholars. They were only able to trace its history as far back as 9th century Xing. It spread across the civilized world by Xing merchants on the trade routes. A century ago, Amestris made the Global Tongue its official language and banned the tribal languages of the nations annexed by the military in an attempt to absorb their culture into Amestris and to unite the country. Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn. The younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects: all the different types of ponies. Did Fluttershy pick up a children’s story book by mistake? Sinclair scratched his mane. He flipped through the book, but once again, was foiled by his own hooves. “This is maddening.” Sinclair gnashed his teeth. “How the hell do these things manage to do anything with these damn hooves?” Sinclair stuck out his tongue and lowered his head a bit and then retracted it. No, that’s too unsanitary not to mention disgusting. Sinclair stared at his hoof for a second. He wiped his hoof off and hesitantly licked it and carefully ran the moist spot across the page. He finally was able to turn one page at a time. Sinclair glossed through the book until he came across a passage that caused him to chuckle. He couldn’t believe anyone could be so gullible. The passage claimed Princess Celestia was the princess in the previous pages who raised the sun, and that her younger sister, who was called Luna, raised the moon. Sinclair pressed his front hoof against his muzzle trying to keep his laughter under control. Oh, this is just too much to swallow! Are these chimeras that primitive and backwards? They’re nothing but superstitious pagans. Even humans in olden days who believed the sun went around the earth knew better than to claim dimwitted beasts could control the celestial bodies. This is what horse chimeras actually believe! I bet they practice horse chimera sacrifice for their princesses. They probably toss their first born child in an alligator pit while the princesses watch. It was just too silly for the scientifically-minded alchemist to accept. Sinclair closed the pages of that insipid rambling and opened a book he considered to be his first step out of Rodinia, though given the credibility of that so-called history book, this could possibly be a dud as well. After a quick skim, Sinclair ran across a page with a map of the continent. He studied it for a moment and then stopped. Sinclair raised an eyebrow and shook his head. No, this can’t be right. I can’t be that deep into Rodinia. The map was an accurate depiction of the continent. Though no sailors could make landfall, they accurately charted the shoreline, and the map in this book was a match. From his travels with Lord Arakaki, Sinclair was certain they landed on Rodinia’s northernmost peninsula. By his calculations, he traveled about a thousand miles inland before succumbing to influenza. This map can’t be right. Sinclair frantically flipped through the pages until he found a map of the area surrounding Ponyville. He recognized the local land features during his walk with Fluttershy to her home. Sinclair’s blood ran cold. I can’t be this far inland! It’s not possible! The environment is all wrong! Sinclair was well within the south polar circle. From his rough estimate, he left Nipan at the beginning of summer, so the time of year should be well within the latter half of summer near the autumnal equinox for the northern hemisphere. But this is the southern hemisphere. Not only should this be winter, but there shouldn’t be a sun in the sky at all inside the south polar circle during winter. Going by the landscape, this was early spring. Hell, this place should be a frozen tundra; a wasteland like Drachma. Why was there was a normal 24 hour day-night cycle in a place where the tilt of the earth’s axis should result in a year long day-night cycle? What if this Princess Celestia can control the sun or at least what appears to be the sun in the sky over Rodinia? Sinclair cracked open the book he was so dismissive of before and picked up where he left off. But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One faithful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one’s heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon. She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom...the Elements of Harmony. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Flashback “I’m sorry you lost your religion, but...” “You misunderstand. I’ve never believed in the legends. There is a scientific explanation for this thing.” Lady Masago gestured at the skull. “It is my father that I’m worried about. Since he was a child, he devoted himself, body and soul, to the dragons. He has traveled throughout the Iapetus Ocean seeking the gemstones the dragons supposedly desire. It is *his* belief that you alchemists destroyed.” She turned her sullen face away from Sinclair. “It was his faith in the dragons that sustained him in his advanced age, but since it was lost, his health has deteriorated.” “What do you want me to do about it?” “Our legends also speak of the Great White Mare exceeding in wisdom that could speak the human tongue and taught the clans of Nipan about the six elements of harmony.” “Your great white mare doesn’t sound too wise to me. There are ninety-two elements. She’s off by eighty-six.” “I didn’t bring you here for alchemy lessons. You’re here to pose as a Child of the Great White Mare and reassure my father his faith was not in vain.” End of Flashback ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is getting too weird. First, finding out that I’m in a virtual paradise where there should be a frozen tundra and now Lady Masago’s story about elements of harmony that matches a book that was probably written by chimeras. It was then Sinclair hit himself in the head. He didn’t pay it any mind, but he should have. Those two chimeras... no, not chimeras...ponies; those two ponies that called Wind Racer their son shouldn’t be able to make that claim, not in the biological sense. Chimeras are unable to reproduce. Even natural hybrids like mules or ligers are unable to reproduce. No, these creatures are not chimeras. And this land isn’t natural. There must be some truth to this notion that the ponies’ princess has the power to control the sun *and* have traveled to the human world. Dear God, what sort of world did I stumble into? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sinclair laid on the couch with on the moon light pouring through the windows as his only illumination. Humanity has been sharing this world with another sentient species, and we were never the wiser. No, we once were, but for whatever reason, they isolated themselves from the rest of the world. Not only that, but this world is so unnatural. The laws of nature are meaningless here. Is this how Lord Arakaki felt when he was told dragons were really artificial animals created by alchemists-the feeling that everything you believed in was false, a lie? If there’s an afterlife, that old coot’s laughing at me right now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ One month later “But you can’t get a job,” Fluttershy protested, “you’re still in recovery.” “A recovery period isn’t much of help to me if I stay cooped up all day.” Sinclair flexed his foreleg. “I have to work out my muscles. Dr. Stables said I should do some physical activities once I feel up to it.” “But a job?!?” “It’s not fair to take your food and living space and offer nothing in return. It’s against the law of equivalent exchange.” “Eqiva...what?” “Equivalent exchange; it’s never right to take something without offering something of equal value in return.” “Bu...bu...but I don’t mind...” “Look, if it makes you feel better, I’ll wait a few more days just to be sure.” Fluttershy looked away. “Okay I guess.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Twilight Sparkle was at her librarian desk jotting down some figures on paper with her telekinesis for an earth pony with dark blue and pink hair and a platinum blonde coat. “That late fine will be four bits, Bon-Bon,” Twilight Sparkle said. Bon-Bon rummaged through her saddlebag for four gold coins that she laid on the desk before trotting off. “Thank you and come again.” The last pony in line behind Bon-Bon was Fluttershy. “Twilight, can I talk to you alone?” Twilight looked around the room. “I don’t see anypony else, but you have to make it quick. I’m still on the clock.” The two went to the far end of the hollow-out tree. “So, what did you want to ask?” “It’s about Wind Racer.” “You want to know more about retrograde amnesia?” Fluttershy shook her head. “No, that’s not it, Twilight. I’m afraid Wind Racer doesn’t need me.” The purple unicorn raised an eyebrow. “‘Doesn’t need you’? I don’t understand what you’re getting at.” “He acts like he doesn’t want me to take care of him, and he says he wants a job.” Fluttershy hung her head down. “Why is that a bad thing?” “I’m afraid he doesn’t want to be with me. Is there anyway I can stop Wind Racer from leaving?” “I’m the last pony to give relationship advice.” “But why not? You’re so smart, and you read all the time.” “Not about romance I don’t.” “But couldn’t you ask Princess Celestia for me? You write to her all the time.” “I can’t ask the Princess *that*.” Fluttershy looked at Twilight Sparkle with big round puppy dog eyes. “Do this for your BFF, please.” Twilight sighed. “Well, she did say to keep her informed on Wind Racer and his condition. I could include your question in my report.” “Just don’t tell her I asked.” “Ugh,” Twilight grunted. “Spike! Wake up!” The purple dragon peeped from underneath a blanket. “You called, Twilight,” he yawned. “Take a note Spike.” Twilight passed quill, ink, and paper to Spike. “Write this down: ‘Dear Princess Celestia,’...Fluttershy, how is Wind Racer doing?” Fluttershy said in an uncharacteristically stern and authoritative voice, “he’s still haven’t recovered enough to strike out on his own and not stay with me.” “Heh heh heh,” Twilight laughed nervously. “Write this down too-‘Wind Racer is still in recovery from his illness’...What about his amnesia.” “He still doesn’t remember anything.” “...‘and he is still suffering from retrograde amnesia. Also, I couldn’t help but to notice that my friend Fluttershy was worried about him. When I asked Fluttershy, she said she was engaged to be married with Wind Racer before he left’...” “No, Twilight, the engagement is informal. He gets mad if you say the engagement’s official.” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure he wants to marry you?” “Just say it’s unofficial.” “Okay! Okay! Spike, write down that the engagement isn’t official.” “Already taken care of,” said Spike. He showed Twilight the correction. “...’and I would like to know if Fluttershy’s relationship with Wind Racer is in danger and what I can do to help them stay together’. You got that all down, Spike?” “Yep,” Spike said as he burned the enchanted parchment. The ashes floated away, and a few seconds later, Spike burped up the reply. Twilight levitated the letter between her and Fluttershy for them to read together. Twilight, my faithful student, it is my hope that the young pegasus pony will make a full recovery and regain his lost memories. As for Fluttershy, I would like to offer her a bit of advice. It is said that a pet does not truly belong to its master until the pet is allowed to wander off on its own and comes back home. Tell Fluttershy to mediate on my counsel. Signed, Princess Celestia “I hope that this was a help to you Flutt…” “No!” Fluttershy interrupted Twilight Sparkle. “I can’t do that!” “But the Princess said...” “She’s wrong! She’s wrong this time!” “You’re talking about the oldest, wisest pony,” Twilight said in an indignant tone. “She can’t be wr...Hey! Where are you going?” Fluttershy ran out of the library. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fluttershy’s POV (and since it is her point of view, Sinclair will be referred to as Wind Racer for this segment of the story) Fluttershy landed in front of her doorstep. Time slowed to a snail’s pace for the young pegasus who contemplated on what to do next. On the other side of that door was the only male pony who had ever showed interest in her barring the mobs of fans from back during her short modeling career that only cared about her looks. Should she be assertive? No, that wasn’t possible with Wind Racer. He could always make her cave in to him. There was one other thing she could do. Fluttershy knew it was wrong. No! It wasn’t wrong. This was for love. She opened the door and caught a glimpse what looked like a shape engulfed in a flash of light for a brief moment. Wind Racer, who was just a second ago sitting between her and the shape, suddenly turned around. “Hey Fluttershy,” Wind Racer said as though he was the proverbial colt caught with his head in the cookie jar, “how was your day?” Fluttershy wondered what was it she saw before shoving it in the back of her mind. She had more important things to deal with than what was probably just the light from the morning sun that bounced off a reflected surface at an odd angle. “Just the usual; and what did you do today?” Fluttershy asked. Wind Racer pointed to the book behind him. “I was finishing up the geography book. I have about a hundred pages left. I’m already done with the other book.” “Well then,” said Fluttershy who was keeping her eyes averted from Wind Racer’s, “I’d better get you a lot more library books so you’ll have something to do while I’m gone. I ran into Dr. Stables while I was in Ponyville, and he said you should get as much rest as possible. When I told him you wanted to work, he said it was out of the question.” Wind Racer frowned. “But he was the one who told me to do physical activities as part of my recovery.” “Dr. Stables said your condition was worse than he thought and that he changed his mind.” “I don’t know if I can handle being cooped up inside all day.” “I guess the only choice you have is to let me take care of you.” “Fluttershy, let me do *something* useful. The least I could do is to help you take care of your animals.” “You want to help me with my animal friends?” “Look, allow me to work alongside you at your job. That way, I’m pulling my weight, and you can keep an eye on me just in case I become sick again. Fluttershy pondered on Wind Racer’s offer. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to tell Wind Racer to do the opposite of the doctor’s actual instructions. And she would love to have Wind Racer by her side as much as possible. “Well, the Mayor talked about hiring another pony to tend to the forest animals from time to time.” “Is that what you do for a living? You’re like a park ranger, right?” “‘A park ranger’?!?” Fluttershy said in a perplexed voice. “I’m sorry,” said Wind Racer sheepishly, “I forgot the actual word for it. I was saying you tend to forest animals as your job.” Fluttershy nodded. “Oh yes, I love taking care of all of the forest creatures.” “You think they’ll hire me?” “I don’t see why not? I have to warn you, except for a teeny tiny allowance and a few bits for taking care of other pony’s sick pets, they don’t really pay me with money. I get a stipend for food and repairs on my cottage when needed. Most of what I own was given to me by my parents.” “That’ll be fine by me, so long as I’m being useful.” Wind Racer smiled. Fluttershy smiled back. Wind Racer really was serious about helping her. It was reassuring to know he cared so much. They were all wrong about Wind Racer-her parents, Twilight Sparkle, even Celestia. She did change Wind Racer. He has stopped yelling at her and calling her cruel names. Love finally conquered all. Wind Racer was becoming the stallion she always wanted to spend the rest of her life with. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ “That doesn’t sound like the Fluttershy I know,” Rarity said as she was putting the finishing touches on a dress. Twilight and Spike were standing behind her while she worked. “Tell me about it. I can’t believe Fluttershy would say the princess was wrong,” Twilight pouted. “That’s not what I meant. I mean Fluttershy being a manic, colt-obsessed mare. Being a fashionista, I know how love makes ponies of both genders crazy. They all come to me asking ‘does this dress make my flank look big’, ‘what does stallions find sexier, rubies or sapphires’, ‘does she like fetlocks shorn or unshorn’. If some pony wants to impress another pony, they come to me for answers on how to attract the object of their affections. I’m just surprised that Fluttershy was the first one out of our circle to be in a serious relationship, especially an engagement.” Twilight asked, “But what about Fluttershy being upset over Wind Racer working? I wouldn’t want some deadbeat mooching off me, but Fluttershy seems to encourage it.” “Oh dear,” Rarity dreaded, “she really has it bad.” “How did you come to that conclusion?” “It should be obvious. She wants Wind Racer dependent on her. It’s her way of keeping him from leaving.” “But that’s crazy, and it doesn’t sound like love to me.” “That’s because you’ve never been in love before. It can make a pony think crazy things,” Rarity placed a reassuring hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “Let me go to Fluttershy’s place and see this Wind Racer fellow for myself.” “I don’t know? She got upset at Princess Celestia of all people-Princess Celestia, just because she tried to give her some advice.” “I’ll tell her I came over to give Wind Racer a manecut. He probably needs it after living in the Everfree Forest for three years-all those split ends and heaven knows how dirty that mane has gotten. It probably looks like a rat’s nest by now.” “Rarity!” Twilight yelled. “Oh sorry,” Rarity apologized. “I got lost in the moment.” “Just don’t mention any of that within earshot of Fluttershy. She might give you The Stare.” The mention of the Stare made Rarity shiver. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fluttershy answered a knock on the door. “Rarity,” she said, “I didn’t expect to see you here. Is it already time for our weekly visit to the spa?” The white unicorn wore a saddlebag stuffed with combs, bruises, clippers, and other mane grooming implements. “Oh no darling, I came over to see Wind Racer.” Fluttershy tensed up. “W...w...why would you want to see Wind Racer?” “I heard what happened to the poor thing, and I came over to do what little I could to help. He’s probably in dire need of a proper grooming.” “Um…I could do that for him...somehow,” Fluttershy said bashfully as she looked down at her hooves.” Rarity decided to take the opportunity to reassure Fluttershy in her relationship. “Can I let you in on a little secret?” “Um...sure.” “Some stallions are very prideful, especially when it comes to making a good impression with their better half.” “Oh I don’t think of myself as being better than Wind Racer.” “Never mind that, Fluttershy. What’s important is that he may want to impress you, but it’s a little hard to do so if the mare he’s trying to impress is the one helping him groom. That’s why some stallions would feel better having somepony else style their mane.” Fluttershy put her hoof up against her chin. “I never thought of it like that before.” “That’s why you should let me take care of it for you. By the way, where is Wind Racer?” “He’s outside feeding my chickens.” Fluttershy stuck her head out the window. “Wind Racer, come inside. A friend of mine is here to see you...no, it isn’t Twilight Sparkle.” “What does he have against Twilight?” “Wind Racer is teeny bit nervous because she was asking him questions about what was beyond the Everfree Forest, and he doesn’t remember.” “Well he has nothing to worry about. I won’t ask him anything about that nasty Everfree Forest.” While Fluttershy wasn’t looking, Rarity cracked a mischievous grin. She had questions for Wind Racer of the more intimate kind. Fluttershy pointed to Rarity when Sinclair came through the door. “Wind Racer, this is Rarity. She’s one of my BFF’s, and she came over to give you a grooming.” “That’s rather generous of you, Miss Rarity,” said Sinclair. “Oh dear, you do look like you spent three years in the Everfree Forest. Here sit down next to the window so I can have a good look at you.” Sinclair complied and sat on the floor in the rays of sunlight beaming into the cottage. Rarity bit her lip and studied Sinclair’s mane for a moment. “You look like a natural for the short and spiky style. A few inches off the top and a bit of mousse should do the trick.” Sinclair shook his head and ran a fore hoof along the outer edge of his mane. “Just take a little off and part it down the middle.” “‘Part it down the middle’?!? You can’t be serious?” Sinclair frowned. “What’s wrong with parting my hair down the middle?” “What isn’t wrong with it? Here, just take a look at this.” Rarity telekinetically emptied her saddlebag. “I’m sure I brought my pocket guide to mane styles with me. You’ll see how much nicer the style I suggested is.” Sinclair jumped and pointed. “How are you doing that?” “Doing what?” Sinclair galloped over to Rarity and began examining the levitated items. He waved his fore hoof over it as though it was suspended in the air by wires. So, that’s what Lord Arakaki meant when he said the horned children of the Great White Mare could perform miracles. Sinclair then put his leg near a floating pair of scissors. “Doesn’t appear to be electrostatic levitation; my hairs aren’t sticking up. No ionic wind generation, either.” He took hold of the can of mousse with his mouth and pulled it down. “Doesn’t peel like it’s lighter dan hair,” he said with his mouth full. “What are you doing?” “Dat’s wat I…”, Sinclair spat out the can of mousse and said, “that’s what I was going to ask. More specifically, how are you doing it?” Rarity squinted in frustration. “Doing what?” “Making objects levitate.” Sinclair picked up the can of mousse, galloped to the fireplace, and rubbed the can up against a pot. “Hmm, it’s not magnetic.” “May I ask what are you rambling about?” Rarity huffed. “Rarity please, Wind Racer’s trying to remember,” Fluttershy said trying to calm her unicorn friend down. “Well he’s doing it badly, very badly.” Rarity snatched the can of mousse with her magic. “Wind Racer, I came here to style your mane, not whatever it is you're doing.” “What I’m doing,” said Sinclair defensively, “is figuring out how you’re making objects levitate.” “I levitate them with unicorn magic. Are you satisfied now?” Sinclair shook his head. “Magic is just a cop-out explanation. I’m trying to figure out how your so-called magic works.” "Ugh!" Rarity grunted. "Could you *please* stop this foalishness. You don't see me bothering pegasi about their ability to walk on clouds or earth ponies about their ability to will plants into growing." “Why not? You should want to learn about how the world works and not just write off everything as magic or miracles.” “Never mind, I’ll come back when you’re ready for a manecut.” Rarity packed her saddlebag and was about to leave when she turned around and trotted over to Sinclair. “And two word of advice for you: one, parting manes down the middle went out of style even before I got my cutie mark and two, worry more about your personal relationships and less about how I make stuff *float*.” “Hey Fluttershy,” said Sinclair while watching Rarity storm out the door, “what’s a ‘cutie mark’?” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Twilight let herself in Rarity’s shop. She glanced around the room and saw her unicorn friend frantically sewing frills on a tiny blue dress that would be small enough to fit a grade school pony. Rarity was gritting her teeth, and her sewing glasses and hair were in an upheaval. “Hey Rarity,” Twilight said hesitantly, “how was the visit to Fluttershy’s?” “‘How was the visit to Fluttershy’s’ you ask?” Rarity held fast to the dress. She paid no mind to the sewing machine still stitching thread in the same spot. “Fluttershy’s fiancé is an insufferable mental case.” She slapped the off switch on the sewing machine. “Here I was trying to clean him up, and you know what he did?” “I’m afraid to ask.” “He prodded and probed and meddled my stuff.” “Oh my Celestia, Fluttershy didn’t see you two doing...” “I mean my manestyling implements.” “Oh, sorry Rarity.” Twilight chuckled awkwardly. Rarity went back to sewing, or would have, if the folds of the dress wasn't sewed in place. “Now I have to start back all over on Sweetie Belle’s dress,” Rarity sighed. “What happened exactly?” “Everything was going as normal, apart from Wind Racer’s terrible fashion sense. He wanted to part his mane down the middle of all things; down the middle. But then, when I tried to show him pictures of the manestyles I thought would look good on him, he freaked out. He acted as though he never saw a unicorn using magic. He was rambling on about figuring out how magic works.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “That’s silly, magic is a mysterious force that makes the world go round. You can’t examine it. It’s just there.” “Try telling that to Wind Racer.” “His stay beyond the Everfree Forest must have really done a number on his sanity.” Just then, there was a knock on the door. “Could you answer that, Twilight?” Rarity asked while making a mad dash to the waste basket. “Oh I hope none of my regulars sees this.” Twilight opened the door and was greeted by Zecora. She was panting heavily. “Oh Twilight, I finally tracked you down. Trying to find you was in and of itself a quest,” she said between deep breaths, “I sprinted from the Everfree Forest, all the way to your town.” She paused and panted some more. “Please, my unicorn friends, may I come in for a rest?” “Why of course, Zecora,” Twilight led the zebra inside where she plopped down on a sofa. Rarity ducked into an adjacent room and came back levitating a glass of water. “You look like you’re dying of thirst.” She held out the glass in front of Zecora. “Have a drink, darling.” Zecora took a few gulps. “What happened and why were you in such a hurry?” Twilight asked Zecora. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you here,” said Zecora. “Come with me to the forest, Twilight. This is only for your ears.” Twilight looked at Rarity and then back at Zecora. “I don’t like keeping secrets from my friends.” Zecora thought for a moment. “I suppose I can trust your friends, Twilight, though for Rarity, what I must show you may be too much of a fright.” “Don’t let my prim and proper ways fool you. Whatever you have to show Twilight won’t faze me.” “All three of us will sojourn to the Everfree Forest,” said Zecora hopping off the couch, “if that is the case. We don’t have much daylight. So, let us make haste.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Zecora wasn’t exaggerating when she said it was unsettling. It used to be a hydra and may have been the same four-headed beast that attacked them at Froggy Bottom Bog. But now it was a partially decomposed corpse suspended off the ground, impaled on stalagmites. The hydra’s heads and snake-like necks sported a mane composed of vultures feasting on the rotting flesh. The stalagmites punctured each of the heads and several of them impelled the main body. The stench was enough to make the two unicorns and zebra cover their noses. Twilight’s horn glowed, and a gust of wind blew around the corpse. The breeze carried away the fowl odor and forced the vultures to fly away. Without the winged scavengers covering the body, the full horror could be seen. Its bones were partially exposed. On closer inspection, the eyes seem to move underneath its eyelids, but the movement could be contributed to the overflow of maggots pouring from its sockets like tears. Rarity had to force back down the content of her stomach less she vomits it up. “I’ve been in the Everfree Forest for many seasons,” said Zecora, “but this sight surpasses all reason.” “Perhaps it accidentally ran into it,” Rarity suggested. “At that height, at that angle,” Zecora retorted, “it’s no mere clumsiness that caused this creature to be mangled.” “Zecora’s right. The hydra’s practically hoisted off the ground. Those stalagmites are almost standing straight up and some of them are taller than the hydra. It couldn't have jumped on those spires.” Twilight trotted around the dead hydra. The ground around the base of each stalagmite concaved inward. The higher the stalagmite, the deeper the indentation was. “It looks like the ground itself just jumped out and stabbed it.” Zecora nodded. “That’s why I brought you here. Do you know what could have caused this, my dear.” Twilight shook her head. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.” Rarity ran up to Twilight and nudged her away from the hydra corpse. “I don’t think it’s safe to be around that thing, Twilight. What if the ground impales you?” “You have a point,” said Twilight. They both started to walk away when Twilight saw a set of tracks made in the dried out mud. “Or maybe it won’t hurt us. Somepony else has been here.” “What pony would come out this far in the Everfree Forest?” Rarity asked. Twilight put her hoof in the print. It fit inside the hoofprint with room to spare. “Going by the size of those hoofprints and the spacing between them, it’s a full-grown male pony. And the tracks look as though they’ve been here for awhile.” “That was the other thing I wanted to ask you, my little unicorn,” said Zecora, “did you not find a colt in the forest, ill and worn?” “Wind Racer *was* found not far from here,” said Twilight. “Are you saying Wind Racer did this?” Rarity asked. “More like he saw who did. I’m starting to have second doubts about his amnesia.” “Twilight, I think he truly doesn’t remember. He acted as though he never saw unicorn magic.” “That makes things even more complicated. He does seem like he’s completely lost, as though he’s never been in Ponyville before. However, I just don’t see how he isn’t connected to it.” “But you can’t go on a set of vague hoofprints.” “Well, one thing for sure, I’m not taking anything Wind Racer says at face value.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ “Fluttershy,” Sinclair asked, “that was rude of me wasn’t it-the way I acted around Rarity.” Sinclair crawled up on the couch. It was late at night and both ponies were heading to bed. “Well,” said Fluttershy not looking directly at Sinclair, “it wasn’t exactly the nicest thing to do, and she did come over to give you a manecut.” “I suppose I could have used a little self control. It was just that I never saw anything like that before.” “Oh but you have,” said Fluttershy, “you just don’t remember.” “Fluttershy, do you think we can go and pay Rarity a visit? I would like to apologize if you don’t mind.” Fluttershy smiled at Sinclair. “I don’t mind at all, Wind Racer.” “Also, I would like to go to the library. I’m done reading both books and I would like to read up on the Elements of Harmony.” Fluttershy looked perplexed. “You know Twilight works at the library. I thought you didn’t want to be around her.” “Oh that,” said Sinclair, “I thought about it, and you’re probably right. I’m not in any trouble with her over my amnesia.” “That’s good to hear. The room went dark when Fluttershy blew out the candles. She then stood in front of Sinclair who getting prepared to lie down. “Umm...Wind Racer?” “What is it Fluttershy?” Sinclair bit into the blanket and pulled it up to his neck. “Well...umm...I was wondering if you wanted to sleep w...,” Fluttershy stuttered. She looked nervously at Sinclair for a minute. “If I what?” Then Fluttershy held her head down low. “Never mind, it wasn’t important.” “Well...okay,” said a puzzled Sinclair. “Hey Fluttershy?” She turned around enthusiastically, “Yes, what is it, Wind Racer?” “What am I to you?” “You’re very special to me.” Fluttershy was too apprehensive to give Sinclair a straight answer. “Am I a member of your family, a brother or cousin perhaps?” Fluttershy then leaned over and nuzzled up to Sinclair. “You are a part of my life. You're family to me, though not by blood.” It was close enough to the truth as far as Fluttershy was concerned. “Oh, okay,” Sinclair said with uncertainty in his voice. “We can talk about this later. You need your rest. Good night, Wind Racer.” “Good night, Fluttershy,” Sinclair replied in kind. Sinclair lied awake on the couch thinking of everything that has transpired over these last few weeks. Just how real or how fake this world actually was? If the sun rose and set under the command of this Princess Celestia, then how come no one ever noticed the sun not rising and setting outside of the predictable pattern set by astronomers? One only had to look in a farmer’s almanac for the time of sunrise and sunset on a given day and even when a solar eclipse occurs. Was the sun in the skies of Equestria really the sun or a fake created by their princess? And if it was a fake, what happens to the real sun that would hover in the sky for the next six months of spring and summer for that year. Also, he wondered about Fluttershy. Was something going on between her and the Impostor? No, it couldn’t be! A girl like Fluttershy wouldn’t even give a lowlife like the Impostor the time of day. And the only women the Impostor ever brought home were trashy bar wenches. Sinclair admonished himself for even considering the possibility that Fluttershy and the Impostor had any romantic involvement with each other. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ It looks like Sinclair’s web of lies may be unraveling. Also, he’s coming closer to realizing Fluttershy’s true feelings. Will Twilight Sparkle act on her suspicions and confront Sinclair? Can Sinclair keep up this ruse long enough to escape from Equestria? And what of Fluttershy’s love for Wind Racer? Find out in future installments of Friendship is Magic; Damnation is Alchemy. I want to give a special thanks to Ellis1342 at deviantart.com for letting me use her design for Fluttershy’s parents in my story (she moved her pony fan art to her alternative deviantart account, EllisPony). Check out her artwork. You’ll like it. Also, I apologize to anyone who doesn’t like Zecora’s dialogue in this story. I’m terrible at poetry, so rhyming is not exactly one of my strong points. Until then, see you next time.