Erin laid down on the couch in Fluttershy’s lounge room. She was too tired to stay awake, yet she had so many things spinning in her head that it was keeping her awake. She missed crawling into her own bed, under her own sheets, listening to her own music…
“Music!” Erin thought while mentally slapping herself. “Why didn’t I think of that before, that should calm my mind.”
Erin got up and scanned the pitch black room to see if Riley was awake, which he wasn’t. She got up and tip toed to her backpack. She produced a dim, blue, glowing ball of light to help her find her phone and earphones.
“C’mon, c’mon where are th…found them.” She thought to herself.
Erin pulled out her iphone and earphones which were tangled into an unholy mess.
“Shit.” Erin whispered to herself.
After spending a painstakingly boring 10 minutes untangling the earphones, she was able to return to her makeshift bed and listen to her favourite song. She soon fell asleep.
Erin woke up in a cold, dark room. She was extremely confused. Three mysterious shapes came walking out of the wall in front of her.
“Hello?” Erin called out.
They got closer and closer, close enough that Erin could now recognise their facial features. One of them was Uncle Burnie, one was Riley and the other was Fluttershy.
“UNCLE BURNIE!” Yelled Erin as she embraced him in a hug.
She hugged Uncle Burnie but, something felt different about him, a sort of cold feeling.
“Are you okay Uncle Burnie?” Erin asked him.
“Of course I’m not okay you stupid little shit.” Uncle Burnie snapped back.
“What?” Erin asked with confusion.
“I would have never been dead if it wasn’t for you’re stupid actions. You made me destroy my only home!”
“Wha…Uncle Burni…” She looked at him mortified.
“He’s right Erin.” Riley spoke with venom. “I don’t even know why I keep you around anymore. All you do is complain and screw things up.”
“No no NO! That’s not true.” Erin yelled, tears trickling down her face. she stepped back away from them, trying to gain her composure.
“I don’t even know why I invited you into my house.” Spoke up Fluttershy. “Riley’s the only one who respects me. You just sit on my couch, sulking about your miserable life.”
Erin was now on the verge of a mental breakdown. “Im sorry I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I can still help. Im not useless.” She tried to say but, the words wouldn't come out. All she could do was indoor there harsh words. They hurt more than any weapon someone could use. She fell to her knees and sobbed.
“Why do we even bother?” Sneered Uncle Burnie.
“Yea.” Replied Riley. “I don’t think she deserves these then if she’s never going to stand up for herself.”
Erin could feel something sucking at her, like a vacuum cleaner was put to her chest and set on high. She clutched her chest in pain and felt her energy being sucked out of her. Erin looked up to see Riley holding a small jar full of lightning and electricity. She felt like her very soul was in his hands.
“Now that she doesn’t have these.” Said Riley. “I think that she is no longer needed.”
Fluttershy walked over to a lever and pulled it with her hoof. The floor opened up under Erin and she fell down it, screaming at the top of her lungs. The walls became fiery and jagged and the hole was slowly getting warmer and warmer. Erin could see the floor now, It was made out of pure lava. She closed her eyes and braced for her inevitable fate...
“GAH!” She screamed as she woke up to sweating sheets and Riley on top of her with an extremely worried look on his face. Fluttershy was also standing next to him with a worried look on her face and a first aid kit in her mouth.
“Erin, are you okay?!” He asked. “You were screaming in your sleep.”
Erin shot up and embraced him in a hug. She began to cry into Riley’s shoulder.
“Okay Erin. It’s okay.” He cooed.
She stopped crying into his shoulder and asked “Could I be left alone for five minutes.”
“Sure thing Erin. C’mon Flutters, we’ll go into the kitchen.”
Riley and Fluttershy left Erin to ponder in her own thoughts. She didn’t understand her dream. She didn’t think that her brother and uncle hated her, right?
Her mind went back and forth between her mixed emotions. She felt anger, sadness, she felt weird emotions that she couldn’t describe. Erin wished that she could talk to Uncle Burnie about this. She could talk to Riley but he wouldn’t understand like Uncle Burnie would. She eventually got up and walked to the kitchen.
Riley was sitting down at the table, drinking a glass of orange juice and Fluttershy was getting prepared to cook breakfast.
“So, what do you eat?” Fluttershy asked.
“I’m guessing that you’re a herbivore.”
“Oh are you a carnivore, I’m sorry if I offended you in any way.”
“Nah, it’s cool Flutters. Erin and I are omnivores. Too bad you don’t have any bacon though.”
“Well… I do keep some meat for the foxes and bears that I take care of.”
“Really, that sounds great. I’ll cook it though if it makes you uncomfortable.”
At the mention of the word `uncomfortable’ Fluttershy remembered her extremely strange experience from last night. The bright light, the wind engulfing her body. Fluttershy was utterly confused about last night’s experiences, she thought it might have had something to do with the blood that she swallowed from Riley’s wound. Maybe it had gotten her sick but, she felt fine now. She decided that it wasn't important at the moment.
“Um Riley.” Fluttershy asked. “I don’t mean to offend but, how did you get that spinning sword on your arm, is it a form of magic?”
“Ha ha ha ha ha!” He laughed. “Magic, there’s no such thing as magic.”
“Yes there is. Magic is how the clouds are moved or the sun is set.”
Riley thought for a moment. Realizing that they were in an unfamiliar place with a talking pony with wings. Magic actually doesn’t sound that ridiculous. “Actually, this is a `new world’ so I guess magic could exist.”
“Magic DOES exist!” Fluttershy said sternly.
“Whoa, sorry if I offended you, I’ll take your word for it then.”
“Oh, I’m really sorry. I didn't mean to yell.” Apologized Fluttershy.
“Don’t be. You really are a bit over the top with saying sorry to everyone if you insult them just a fraction.”
“But it’s really mean and apologizing lets them forgive me.” Fluttershy added.
“Yea but, sometimes they deserve it.”
“I don't think anypony deserves it.” Fluttershy started thinking “I know he’s nice but, could he really believe that?” She thought to herself.
“Back to what I was asking you, if that spinning sword wasn’t magic, then what was it?”
“First off.” Lectured Riley. “What I have is not a spinning sword, it’s a drill. It’s my soul weapon that I earned when I unlocked my full elemental powers.”
“Elemental powers?” Fluttershy said in the most confused state she had ever been in her life.
“I’m going too fast. Damn me and my fast words.” Cursed Riley. “Anyway an element is a person who can control any of the four elements with them being fire, wind, lightning and ice.”
“And which one are you?” Asked Fluttershy.
“I am a…Fire Element!” Announced Riley.
Riley made a gesture where he waved his hands in the air which had a trail of fire following them.
“Wow…That’s amazing.” Exclaimed Fluttershy.
“I guess.”
“What else can you do with your element?”
“Well, each elemental has an element that they can control, a special weapon that they can produce, a trait that suits them and wings that are made in correlation with their element.”
“You have wings?”
“Yep.”
“I didn’t see any when you took your shirt off last night.”
“Well…they’re made of fire.”
“Huh?” Fluttershy was even more confused. “How could he have wings made of fire? wouldn't that burn him?” she thought to herself.
“After breakfast I’ll show you.”
Riley got up and started to make some batter for the pancakes he was going to make.
“You’re really good at cooking.” Acknowledged Fluttershy.
“When you live a life like mine Flutters, it’s good to know how to make some basic meals. Also, where do you keep your flour?”
“In that drawer right there.” She gestured her hoof to a wide draw that Riley guessed had all her food in it. He grabbed the flour and proceeded to mix the batter.
“What about Erin?” Asked Fluttershy. “What element is she.”
“She’s a lightning element, but not fully developed though.”
“How do you become a fully developed element?”
“Usually by a very significant event that happens in your life, by around about her age. She should get her wings soon. When and how is the question though.”
“Oh, just like cutie marks!” Commented Fluttershy. Now it was Riley who looked confused.
“A cutie what?” Riley asked.
“A cutie mark! It’s what you get when you find out your special talent. Everypony gets one at a young age.” Riley nodded. He wanted to ask more but, thought that would be a subject that he and Erin could learn about later.
“Can I please ask one more question?” Asked Fluttershy.
“Fire away.” Joked Riley as he poured the batter into the frying pan.
“Can somepony become an elemental or do you have to be born into it.”
Riley stopped and rubbed his chin for a second in deep thought.
“Usually, someone is born an elemental. I’ve never heard a case of a person, or pony in your case, becoming an elemental but I suppose it could happen, not entirely sure though.”
“We don’t have elementals in our world, at least I don’t think.” Pondered Fluttershy. She could ask twilight about elementals. If anyone would know it would be her.
Erin came strolling into the room with a tired look on her face.
“Hey Erin, how ya feeling?” Asked Riley.
“Fine.” Replied Erin flatly.
She took a seat next to Fluttershy.
“We’re having pancakes for breakfast.” Said Fluttershy.
“Sounds good.” Replied Erin.
Erin sat down and stared at Fluttershy.
Feeling uncomfortable by Erin starring, Fluttershy spoke up. “Umm…is something wrong?” She asked
Erin sighed.
“Listen Fluttershy. I’m really sorry about how I’ve been treating you recently.” Apologized Erin.
“Oh…um thank you.”
“I’m just really stressed at the moment.”
“That’s okay, sometimes some ponies feel stressed and act out their anger.”
“Breakfast.” Announced Riley.
“Oh that reminds me.” Said Fluttershy. “I have to feed my animals.”
“I can help, if you would like some.” Offered Riley.
“That would be good.” Replied Fluttershy.
“Okay then. Erin, you can pick out some breakfast and have some. You look like you need it.”
“Thanks Riley.” Erin replied.
Riley and Fluttershy left the room to go and feed Fluttershy’s animals, leaving Erin alone in the kitchen. Erin grabbed some bacon and pancakes and dug in.
“Come on George. You need to come inside and eat.”
George the bear just huffed and turned his back towards Fluttershy with an annoyed look on his face.
“He’s not coming in, is he.” Deadpanned Riley.
“I’ve tried everything to get him inside but, he won’t budge.”
“Let me talk to him.” Insisted Riley.
“Okay. But I doubt he’ll move.”
“Trust me Flutters, I got this.”
Riley walked around George to come face to face with him.
“Listen mate.” Riley spoke forcefully. “You’re going to come inside, sit down and eat ya breakfast or I’m gonna drag you inside, understand.”
George just turned his head and huffed.
“Very well then.” Snickered Riley
George turned around to roar at Riley. He breathed in, ready to scare off his foe, but Riley wasn’t there. George scratched his head with his paw and continued to sit down and pout. Suddenly, he was grabbed by the ankle and pulled off the ground! He turned around and saw Riley, with a pair of flaming wings protruding out of his back.
“Are we gonna have to argue a second time or are you going to go inside and eat.” Drilled Riley.
George nodded his head frantically.
“Good.”
Riley lowered George onto the ground and he strutted into a Fluttershy’s cottage with a sour look on his face.
“That’s what I thought.” Sneered Riley.
Riley glided down to Fluttershy, whose jaw had dropped down to the floor.
“That…was…so…cool!” She squeaked.
“Oh that, that was nothing.”
“But how did you lift George off the ground with such ease. He must weigh something like 500 pounds.” Exclaimed Fluttershy.
“It’s one of those traits I was talking about before.”
“Oh…you never did explain what those traits were.”
“It’s very simple.” Explained Riley. “A Fire element is very strong, lightning is very fast, wind are very good at healing and ice are extremely smart.”
“I see. And since you’re a fire element, your trait is strength and Erin’s would be speed.”
“On the dot.” Congratulated Riley. “I suppose we should be heading inside to eat now.”
“Okay.”
They both went inside to eat their meal.
When they went back into the kitchen, Erin had almost finished her breakfast and was drinking a glass of apple juice.
“This is the best apple juice I’ve ever had!” Exclaimed Erin.
“It’s grown by my friend Applejack, she’s an apple farmer.”
“Judging by her name, I thought that might be her occupation.” Said Riley. “Now let’s eat.”
Fluttershy and Riley sat down and ate their breakfast. Fluttershy was washing up when they got a very loud range of knocks on Fluttershy’s front door.
“FLUTTERSHY, ITS RAINBOW DASH! OPEN UP!”
“Erin, hide.” Riley whispered loudly.
Riley and Erin both ran into the lounge room and up Fluttershy’s stairs while Fluttershy went to go and greet Rainbow Dash. She opened her door to meet the sky-blue Pegasus known as Rainbow Dash.
“How can I help you Rainbow Dash?” Asked Fluttershy.
“Well…the princess is coming down to take us to the observatory on the mountain on top of Canterlot.”
“What for?”
“Just to meet some scientist dude.”
“About what?”
“Just about those weird creatures that we were looking for.”
“Well okay then. I’ll meet you guys at Twilight’s Castle.”
“Hurry up though.” Rainbow Dash yelled as she took off.
Fluttershy rolled her eyes as she closed her front door and walked back into the kitchen. Erin and Riley came back downstairs and also walked into the kitchen after hearing the sound of the front door closing.
“What was that all about?” Asked Riley.
“I have to go somewhere with my friends for a while.” Replied Fluttershy. “Will you be okay here for a few hours?”
“Yea we’ll be fine. I’ve got some things to keep Erin and I preoccupied.”
“Okay. But since you cooked, I’ll clean the kitchen up.”
“You sure I can’t help.”
“No, I’ll be fine.”
“Alright then. We’ll just be in the lounge room if you need us.”
Erin and Riley walked into the lounge room, leaving Fluttershy alone in the kitchen to clean up. She cleaned the pans and plates and put all of the leftover food into the fridge. When she looked at the bacon however, her stomach started to grumble. Fluttershy looked shocked. She stared at the bacon while thinking, “Why does that look so tasty. I would never eat another animal. Would I?”
Fluttershy felt really sick to the stomach, a sort of hunger even though she just ate.
“What’s happening to me?” Fluttershy repeated in her mind over and over again as she put the bacon in the fridge and flew towards Twilight’s castle.