//------------------------------// // Matters of Gravity 2 // Story: Land of Friendship and Magic // by Archmage Ansrit //------------------------------// (Carousel Boutique) The little bell announced a new customer. “Welcome to Carousel Boutique; I will be with you in just one itsy bitsy.” Rarity called out, pinning another purple accent to the red dress on the dummy next to her, while taking her tape measure to the green cape Fluttershy was currently modeling for her. “I have another friend you could meet.” Typhon announced. “And she’s from another world.” “Oh!” Rarity whirled around on the spot. “You simply must tell me all about it, dear! Any particular fashions from beyond our fair Tellus?” True to form, Rarity was standing right in front of the extra-Tellurian Earth pony, close enough for her to see the stars in the eyes of the dressmaker. “Hi,” Kat said, slightly uncomfortable. Thankfully the Doctors constant invasion of her privacy had taught her how to become more accustomed to such things. “Name’s Kat. And you really don’t want to know my fashion sense.” “Not even color combinations, or the fabrics that are ‘in’?” Rarity pleaded, managing to get even closer without touching Kat, somehow. “I honestly wouldn't know. I haven’t been home in almost six years,” Kat admitted. “Oh dear.” Fluttershy exclaimed - as much as it could be said so of her - but it was drowned out by Rarity’s own gasp. “Whatever for, darling? Are you lost?” Rarity asked, while Fluttershy peeked around her friend at Kat. “I’m in exile, actually,” Kat said with a slight bit of sorrow. “I can’t go home.” The mare’s mood reflected Kat’s own, and encouraged Fluttershy to step forward a few paces more. “Don’t worry, I’m sure everything will work out for the best.” She offered a tiny smile, which Rarity mirrored. “Well, if what the Doctor said is true, I can’t go home for at least fifty years. Which means I won’t be able to see my granddaughter anytime soon. Even when I’m looking right at her,” Kat said, looking directly at Fluttershy. “Huh?” “She’s saying she has adopted another version of you, ‘Shy.” Typhon offered, making the mare blush and advert her gaze. “And are those fifty years are the same from both sides?” Kat nodded silently. “You must have shared a very close bond indeed.” Rarity added morosely. “It must be hard for both of you.” “While I think you gave up too easily, your own personality didn’t seem like the kind that could make the direct approach work.” Typhon sighed. “I haven’t seen anything of your past five years, but I can see you still seem too.. aggressive.” “Traveling through time and space with a crazy time pony, a loveable pegasus, and a neurotic unicorn in a police box doesn’t usually help with psychological problems. You’d be scarred for life too if you saw your own granddaughter destroyed, atom by atom, only to have to do the same to your own sister the very next day.” The mares gasped, and Fluttershy in particular paled and started breathing faster. “You aren’t giving me enough… no, wait, I can see why you would think that. I am not that kind of person, though; I am at peace with myself, my past, and my hardships… that does not mean I will simply take things lying down, however, and not even time can tell me I cannot keep the happiness I worked for.” Typhon walked over to put a reassuring hand upon Fluttershy’s witters, along with Rarity. “I just have to be smart about it.” Kat sighed, trying to force her sadness back. “Sorry for springing that on you all. It’s just… always seeing Fluttershy… I always think back to that day. She showed no fear and was so brave. She had faith that I would save everyone even until the bitter end. That day made me realize what I had truly been to her: I had been her hero. Not just her grandmother but the person she looked up to. And I failed her.” Tears started stinging her eyes. “Merde! No, I don’t want to cry anymore! I’m sick and tired of crying all the satané time! I’m sick of it!” Fluttershy gulped down her nervousness to give the suffering mare a hug, petting her mane. “T-that you still cry means you haven’t cried enough. I-I mean, you can be strong, but you can’t be strong forever.” She whispered. “Even steel breaks, Kat.” Typhon said. “You’re holding it back, and it’s hurting you; let it flow.” Fluttershy said, more confident. “You’re holding onto your pain; let it flow, allow the love of your foster family to take its place.” Typhon whispered, sighing. “Don’t let pain cloud your spirit; it never helps, just look at Luna, and I’m sure Celestia has had her moments.” Kat started to sniffle a little, letting a few tears loose. “No, no merde, no more crying! I’m not weak! I’m a military general! I’m the queen of gravity, merde! I won’t be weak!” “The harder you clamp down, the greater the cracks become.” Typhon crossed his arms. “You may be all of that, but you are also a person who lost her home and family, even if not forever. Celestia is the leader of an entire country, and led military campaigns, and yet she allows herself to mourn the fall of her sister; I am, under several definitions, what amounts to a god, and yet I cry for my lost friends and loved ones. Being kind with yourself is not weakness” He then gulped; what was going to follow could come across as a low blow. “... one would think that being Fluttershy’s family would have taught you that.” The tears finally broke free, but Kat was still fighting out right sobbing. “No, no, no, no, no, NO!” With that final scream, Kat disappeared from sight with a flash. The ponies didn’t have words, not that he needed them to say anything. “I’ll go get her.” He said, opening the door with a flick of his wrist. “She’s cracking, and she’s just putting so much pressure on herself.” Fluttershy sighed, with Rarity offering a small handkerchief to dry her tears. “Maybe she should have a minute for herself, dear.” Rarity suggested, to which the human reluctantly agreed. “I’ll wait until she calms down some more; she’s a whirlwind of emotions, and her control over them isn’t all that great.” With that, he closed the door again. “Could you make some pants or a skirt for her?”