“Twilight” Rarity spoke in a hushed tone “You don’t think...”
“We cannot jump to conclusions” Twilight tossed the scroll aside and walked towards the door “I mean... There are plenty of possible reasons why Everfree is new... Although she is rather different...”
“We should just ask Fluttershy, what harm is there in that?” Rainbow Dash inquired to the others as she shot up and hung in the air, shaking her hooves about to display expression. The other two nodded at her and at one another, in approval of Dash’s idea.
“I would not expect Fluttershy to lie to us like that though, she is, as we are all aware, a kind and gentle creature.” Rarity stopped and pondered about Fluttershy’s nature around the new girl.
“Maybe she was just protecting her, the same way she protects all of her animals...” Twilight thought about Fluttershy’s keenness to answer questions, the like she had never exhibited before “We have to hurry there now, we cannot wait until it is too late.”
Rarity on hoof and the other two by air, the trio galloped toward the animal loving pony they had all adored since the first moment they befriended her.
Twilight knocked on the door and the bashful little mare opened it. “Oh, hello Twilight” She glanced behind the purple mare “... And Rainbow and Rarity.”
“Fluttershy... This may be a little co-“Twilight began, going about the topic gently, as though approaching a sleeping dragon, as the group had done previously.
“Blah, blah, blah, get to the point, where do you REALLY know Everfree from?” Rainbow Dash asked abruptly causing Fluttershy to stammer back. Twilight swiftly kicked a confused Rainbow Dash into a nearby bush with her hind left hoof.
“It’s just... Well, we don’t think that she is from Canterlot...” Rarity smiled, trying to take Fluttershy’s feelings into account.
“W-Why no-not? She is as normal as any pony I know!” Fluttershy opened her frowning mouth in slight shock, and lowered her eyebrows outwards, presenting her upset.
“Please Fluttershy, we’re your friends, and nopony wants to hurt her. We just want to talk.” Twilight sighed and exhibited all her empathy and patience that she had in her.
Fluttershy invited the trio into her home and made each pony a cup of coco. She then proceeded to tell the tale of the little red bird lost in the wood, how Everfree played with it and immediately trusted in Fluttershy. How she did not have a Cutie Mark and constantly referred to her past life. She even told them about the singing.
“Fluttershy, I don’t mean to be crude but... We have to send her home.” Twilight whispered soft as a mother’s caress, as not to startle the mare. But she had failed.
Fluttershy jumped up and stood at the bottom of the stairs “No, I won’t let you take her back there!”
“Fluttershy! Calm yourself! We can talk abo...” Rarity began, standing on her hind legs and moving her hooves up and down to calm the agitated mare.
“There is nothing further to talk about!” Her confidence grew with every second the trio dared to threaten Everfree’s future. “She is afraid, okay? Afraid of her past life, I pinkie promised that I would protect her!”
Rainbow swaggered over and laughed “You think YOU could prevent me from getting up there? I could fly right fast you before you even said anything!”
Fluttershy did not hesitate to think “maybe not me... But Discord. I’m his best friend, and, if he wants, he might take my side, and we all know his capability, I suggest you shuffle on home, unless you want me to tell him...”
“That is it!” Twilight snapped she shot towards Fluttershy “we’ve all be light on you, because you’re shy, and we didn’t want to hurt you feelings! But if you don’t take Everfree to Celestia, ponies will die! You could die! We all could! You have to at least give us a chance... Please Fluttershy...”
Fluttershy thought for a moment about her actions, contemplated about her willingness to harm her friends over somepony that she barely knew. Without speaking a word, Fluttershy stepped aside, and Twilight turned and beckoned with her head to the other two ponies, that followed her closely up the wooden and winding stairs.
Twilight swung open the door to Everfree’s room and found a wide open window, blowing in a gentle breeze, a pushed back duvet that was clearly moved in a hurry.
“She’s gone!” Rainbow yelled, plunging into the empty room, panicking as she searched.
“Gone?” Fluttershy echoed with softer and quieter tone “Oh my! She must have heard us talking; she’s desperate to live a normal, Equestrian pony life can you not see?”
Twilight flung around fast, and her hair was carried in the swirl, causing it to flutter like a blanket caught in the wind. “Fluttershy, you have to think, where might she be?”
Fluttershy looked out of the bedroom window “I have one idea” she raised her hoof, and pointed her arm towards the forest.
The ponies all flickered out of the room and Fluttershy resentfully followed. Sure, she was afraid of the forest and all that lurked within. Sure, the noises that crawled from the forest both night and day had always haunted her. Sure, the sun was beginning to fade, and evil is strongest when nopony can see it. But Everfree was afraid and alone, and needed a friend, Fluttershy was the only sort of protection and kindness she had ever been shown, and despite being afraid, even Equestria’s most timid pony could overcome such an obstacle for one who cared about her.
Sure enough, beside a crystal jade lily pond, stroking the fish and playing with the water, was Everfree.
Rainbow tried to dive forward, but Twilight restrained her, and then turned to Fluttershy. They neutrally agreed that she should talk to her, and the others should hide.
Fluttershy took two paced forward then glanced back “If she tries to gallop away, please be gentle with her?”
The three nodded and shuffled backwards into a bush. Fluttershy approached the pony.
Flutters stood on a stick, and the pony dove to her hooves, dropping the cloak on the floor as horn lit, threateningly. Fluttershy scooped up the fabric and upon realising who it was, Everfree relaxed and her horn ceased to glow.
“I made this especially for you, and you dispose of it so easily?” Fluttershy teased, playfully.
The pony chuckled “I guess I won’t need it when your Queen of Equestria comes out hiding and sends me back to...”
“No.” Fluttershy said sternly “we both know I would never allow them to take you, not ever. You will never leave me, do you understand?” she moved in close to the pony and nestled by the water “I love you.”
Everfree smiled “that’s what my parents said before they sent me off to work. Then again I barely remember that day, all those years ago. One day of feels like an eternity. They will not allow failure to escape... Don’t you see? I am fated to return to them and... I will go quietly, with pride. I was a fool to befriend ponies I’ve only endangered myself further by feeling for you, Fluttershy. I love you, and I want you to be there with me forever. But I can’t, so let’s return to Celestia and see how they feel.”
Fluttershy beckoned the trio over and they walked over. Everfree stood up, and walked towards Ponyville immediately. “She said she’ll come quietly... But I think they’ll execute her when we return her to her homeland...” Rainbow, Twilight and Rarity looked shocked.
Everfree walked with pride, her flank firmly upwards along with her nose. She lifted her legs high and her newly attached cloak drooped like spilt blood in her tracks; she was a dead mare walking.