Luminous Atonement Chapter 10:
The Ultimate Game of Shhh
The Kraken's challenge was met with a collection of blank stares.
"I'm sorry, what was the challenge again?" asked Princess Luna.
"(A game of Shhh,)" the Kraken said. "(Did One not make oneself clear?)"
"Um, that's not it," said Luna. "I understand what you said. I'm just, confused. What exactly is this game of Shhh that you're talking about? You said you got it from Fluttershy's memories."
"(It is a game that the Element of Kindness is the World Champion of, or so she claims,)" the Kraken explained. "(The object of the game is to see who can go the longest without making a sound.)"
"Really? That's your big challenge?" said Discord, clearly not impressed. "Remind me again, why should we be afraid of you?"
"(Mock one while you can, Master of Chaos,)" growled the Kraken. "(For you shall soon bear witness to ones true might.)"
"I think I'd rather watch paint grow and grass dry," Discord muttered.
The Kraken ignored Discord's snarky comment and turned his attention to Fluttershy. "(Element of Kindness, do you accept ones challenge?)"
Fluttershy placed a hoof to her chin and thought for a moment. Although the Karken seemed fearsome and intimidating, she saw Discord's point. A game of Shhh was hardly something to get worked up over. She really had nothing to be afraid of. Finally, she gave the Kraken a nod.
"I accept your challenge, Mr. Kraken," said she.
"(Splendid,)" said the Kraken. "(Princess of the Night, tell us when to commence.)"
"Um, sure," said Luna, still a bit befuddled. She then swam over to Fluttershy and leaned close to the timid pony's ear. "Be careful, Fluttershy. There's no telling what the Kraken might do," she whispered.
"I'll be alright," Fluttershy assured her. "It's just a game of Shhh. How bad could it be?"
Luna sighed. "Very well, then. All the best," she said. She then swam in between the Kraken and Fluttershy, looking over at both sides. "You may begin, now."
Fluttershy took a deep breath and held it, her cheeks puffing out in a cute manner. The Kraken merely stared back at her with his great yellow eyes. For a while, everything was still. Discord groaned.
"Is anybody else getting bored?" he asked. "Please tell me I'm not the only one."
"Quiet," Luna hissed. "You don't want to break Fluttershy's concentration, do you?"
"Well, no," Discord said sheepishly. "But come on now, Lunatic. This is nothing more than a glorified staring contest. Can you really blame me for getting bored?"
Before Luna could respond, she felt a slight tingling in her head. She looked over at the Kraken, and saw the water around him rippling again. She gasped, placing a hoof to her mouth.
"Oh no," said she.
"Oh no what?" said Discord, raising an eyebrow.
Luna turned to Discord, her face darkened with worry. "I see now why the Kraken chose this challenge," she said gravely. "It might not look it, but Fluttershy is in great danger."
***
From Fluttershy's perspective, everything around her seemed to get darker and darker. Very soon, it got to the point where she couldn't even see her own hoof in front of her face. Then, the background noises around her faded. The sounds grew softer and softer, until she could hear nothing at all. She found herself in an empty void of dead silence.
Wh-what's going on? she thought. Why can't I see anything? Why can't I hear anything?
She looked all around, but there was no sign of the Kraken or any of her companions. She was alone. All alone.
Where is everybody? she wondered. I know they were here a second ago...
Gradually, her curiosity turned into fear. A cold chill went up her spine, and her heart began to race. She wanted to call out to her friends. She wanted so desperately to find some sort of proof. Some sort of sign that she wasn't alone...
No, she told herself, shaking her head. If I speak, I'll lose. I have to be strong, for Princess Luna and all my friends.
So she remained silent, staring off into the inky blackness ahead of her. She began to lose all sense of time and space. Nothing else existed. It was just her and the void. The very thought caused her to shiver.
It feels so cold, she thought. Am I really all alone? Why am I alone? I-I don't wanna be alone.
Her eyes began to sting as tears rolled down her cheeks. It took sheer force of will to keep herself from whimpering. Slowly, she curled herself into a little ball, weeping and shuddering like a little lost filly.
Th-this is unbearable, she thought. I-I'm so lonely. Somepony, anypony, just let me know you're here. Don't leave me all alone...
Alone. Lonely. The words kept repeating themselves over and over again in Fluttershy's mind. And each time she heard those words, she felt her body growing colder and colder. She was on the brink of giving up entirely when she remembered something.
The Kraken feeds on loneliness.
Isolation, insignificance, the unknown. They are all merely playthings to the Kraken.
Princess Luna's words caused Fluttershy's eyes to snap open. None of this was real. The Kraken was using his powers to mess with her mind. Her fear dissolved, and unbridled fury took its place.
That. Big. Dumb. MEANIE!
She stood tall against the darkness and glowered. Her eyes, previously swollen from her tears, now reflected nothing but a cold, angry Stare.
Wh-what are you doing? the Kraken's voice echoed in her mind. Cease this foolishness at once!
But Fluttershy would show no mercy. Bit by bit, the void around her began to crumble.
Give me back my friends, you big cheater! she demanded mentally. Get out of my mind and stop trying to make me think I'm alone! I am not alone!
Soon enough, the darkness shattered completely, and she found herself staring down a very frightened-looking Kraken trying to hide his eyes with his tentacles. But no matter what he did, his eyes remained locked into Fluttershy's disapproving gaze. After a few seconds, he roared in pain.
"(Please! Please stop! One concedes!)" the sea monster pleaded. "(You are victorious, Element of Kindness!)"
Fluttershy gave the Kraken one last glare. "Don't you ever let me catch you doing anything like that again," she said coldly. "Do you understand me, mister?"
The Kraken's only response was a timid nod, and Fluttershy's teal eyes returned to normal. She then turned to her friends and breathed a huge sigh of relief. Luna's jaw dropped.
"My word, Fluttershy! That was amazing!" she exclaimed. "I didn't think anypony would be able to counter the Kraken's mental powers. I must confess, I feared the worst."
"I'll be okay, Your Highness," said Fluttershy meekly, twiddling her hooves. "But still, that was pretty scary."
"Well, I for one never doubted you for a second," said Discord. "Honestly, the day you lose to an overly-cryptic pile of calamari is the day Celestia stops being so persnickety. Nicely done, dear Fluttershy."
Philomena cawed her praise as well, and Angel swam up to Fluttershy and hugged her.
"Oh, you guys~," Fluttershy giggled, her face turning bright crimson. She then pulled little Angel close to her chest and gave him a big squeeze. "I really missed you all."
"You were only at it for like five minutes, though," said Discord.
"Really?" said Fluttershy. "But, it felt like an eternity."
"And it would've been if you didn't manage to break his hold on you," said Luna. "The very fact that you were able to resist him is a testament to your own inner strength."
"Oh, I'm flattered, really," said Fluttershy, hiding her face in embarrassment.
"It's the truth," said Luna with a warm smile. "You have a strong heart, Fluttershy. Don't let anypony tell you otherwise."
She then swam over to the Kraken, who was still reeling from the Stare. "Now then, Kraken. We had a wager, did we not?"
"(Y-yes. We did,)" the Kraken wheezed. "(J-just give one a moment.)"
After a brief pause, the Kraken recovered his composure.
"(One shall now bestow upon you what you seek, as One promised,)" said he. "(Close your eyes and open you minds to one.)"
"No tricks this time?" said Fluttershy, raising an eyebrow.
The Kraken seemed to gulp. "(N-none, Element of Kindness. One promises,)" he said hastily. "(A deal is a deal, after all.)"
"Just making sure," said Fluttershy sweetly as she closed her eyes.
The Kraken made a grumbling sound, as if he were clearing his throat. "(Now then, open your minds to one, as One shows you what truly happened to the Furies, and how they bar your path to Orthrus...)"