//------------------------------// // Fluttershy: Fearless // Story: Pony Immortal // by VectorSprite //------------------------------// Fluttershy had been known as the pony who tamed Discord, but in time Discord had come to be known as the one who tamed Fluttershy. Without the fear of death hanging over her Fluttershy began to lose her fear of other things. At first this was a good thing as she became more outgoing and she lost much of her inhibitions. But at some point she started doing things in excess. Drinking and partying too much. She began neglecting her responsibilities with her animals, leaving Discord to take care of things. It was a task he was all to happy to do, until he started to realize Fluttershy was coming home less and less. Discord realized she had become more and more self destructive, but she hadn't realized because she viewed herself as indestructible.Discord knew he had to do something, so he resorted to what he knew best, trickery. One morning Fluttershy came home and passed out on the couch and when she awoke she found herself surrounded by empty bottles and figured she was coming off a bender. She looked around and saw her place dark and dingy. She began to explore her own home, which felt strange and foreign. To her horror she found the skeleton of a rabbit in front of an empty bowl of food. She looked to her front door and saw the bones of a dog that waited patiently for it’s master to return. She rushed outside and found all the animals she once cared for dead. Fluttershy walked back in shock, had she really been so oblivious? On her front door she found a note taped to it. It read “Fluttershy, meet us at the castle. We need you.” It was in Twilight’s handwriting. Not knowing how old the note was she flew back to town at top speed. When she got there she found the town twisted in the chaotic form she recognized as Discord’s. She rushed into the throne room to find Discord himself sitting on a throne constructed out of swords. The five other mares stood or sat around him with the spiral eyes that Fluttershy knew meant he got in their heads. “Discord… what are you doing?” Fluttershy asked timidly. “Well I was bored, so I figured I would try and take over Equestria again,” Discord said. “But… you don’t do that anymore… right?” Discord smiled and said, “well I admit I was distracted for a while, but then I remembered who I was and what I stand for. So I challenged Princess Twilight here for supremacy, and being down one element they didn't stand a chance.” “But why?” Fluttershy asked. “They were your friends, I was your friend. Wasn't I?” Discord’s eyes narrowed. “That's what I thought, but I know better now, and I figured if you weren't really my friend then they probably weren't either.” Discord pulled out the pendent he once gave to Twilight. “So much for friends.” he said more to himself then to Fluttershy. He crushed the pendant and turned his attention back to Fluttershy. “Now to deal with you.” Before Discord could move Celestia and Luna crashed in the window. “Discord!” shouted Celestia. “What do you think you're…” She trailed off when she saw twilight possessed. “What have you done?” she asked in cold fury. “She’s my student now, princess.” Discord said jovially. “How dare you. How dare you!” Celestia was livid. “Come sister, lets do what we should have done a long time ago,” said Luna. “Together,” Celestia said. “Noooo!” shouted Fluttershy as Celestia and Luna simultaneously fired beams at Discord. Discord screamed and fell to the ground. He looked at something in his paw before his arm went limp and it slid across the floor stopping in front of Fluttershy. It was the pendant she had seen crushed less than a minute ago, now fully intact. “This isn’t real, is it?” she asked. Discords eyes opened and he said “gotcha.” Twilight stepped forward and said “I’m sorry Fluttershy, I wasn't sure about this plan, but Discord insisted this was the only way to get through to you. I read some books on how shocking a pony out of apathy can be effective so I went along with it.” “You all were in on it?” asked Fluttershy. Everypony, including Celestia and Luna nodded. “You see sugarcube,” said Applejack, “we were all happy when you stopped bein’ so afraid all the time, but then you seemed to forget who you really were.” Rainbow dash stepped up and said “I was so happy when you asked me to teach you to fly properly, but then you stopped flying with me. I stopped seeing you, and when I did see you it was like you didn’t know who I was.” “But you guys don’t think this was too much do you?” asked Pinkie Pie. “ I mean, did she really need to see Discord zapped?” Fluttershy looked to Twilight but it was Celestia who answered. “It was a bit harsh yes, but I wanted to remind you how important kindness is. It’s kindness that allows us to show mercy to those who have wronged us, a lesson you so wisely taught to others long ago.” Celestia’s words were gentle and put Fluttershy’s mind at ease. “Besides,” said Luna, “any excuse to blast Discord.” “Luna,” said Celestia sternly. “Leave him alone.” “Why are you being so protective of him?” asked Luna looking at her sister sideways. Celestia looked taken off guard. “Well.. like I said, kindness... and all that.” Fluttershy thought she saw a slight blush on Celestia and in spite of everything she just went through she started to enjoy herself, but then she remembered what she had seen earlier that day. “My animals?” asked Fluttershy. Discord snapped his fingers and they all teleported to Fluttershy’s yard where all of her animals were alive and well, as they had been under Discords care. “I can’t believe I forgot you,” she said to the animals. “And I forgot you too,” she said to her friends. “My responsibility,” she said to Celestia. “And worst of all, myself. I suppose when I lost all my fears I developed a new one. The fear of missing out. I was so fixated on what I had been missing all the years I was afraid I lost sight on what I hadn't. Thank you for reminding me.” From then on there was a new Fluttershy, one who was well known not only for her kindness but also for her bravery.