Fluttershy swallowed nervously as she trotted through the fair’s backstreets, glancing left and right between the tents and booths as she went. ‘Oh dear, oh my, I hope she doesn’t find me...’
All of a sudden, a voice piped up from behind her. “Fluttershy?”
“EEP!” The pegasus jumped in fear, dashing beneath one of the tents in an attempt to escape. “G-g-go away, Dash! I already told you I d-don’t want to be a part of the tournament!” She whimpered.
“Um, Fluttershy? What are you talking about?”
The pegasus hesitantly hesitantly peeked under the canvas. Her mind blanked with joy when the first thing she saw was pink. “Pinkie Pie!” She gushed quickly zipping up to the Earth Pony and hugging her tightly. “Oh thank goodness! I thought that you were Rainbow Dash!”
“Uh... really? Why is that?” The party pony asked in an uncharacteristically hesitant manner.
Fluttershy blinked in shock. “Uh, she wants me to participate in a jousting tournament, but... Pinkie Pie, are you okay?” She leaned back a bit and took a look at her friend before gasping in shock from what she saw and whipping her hooves to her mouth. “O-oh my goodness!”
Pinkie Pie’s mane was limp and flat, and she gave off an aura of haunted sadness. ‘Just like the birthday incident...’ Fluttershy recalled in horror. “P-pinkie Pie... what’s wrong?”
Pinkie Pie bowed her head, hiding her face behind her mane. “...I made a mistake... and I really hurt a super-duper friend of mine...”
Fluttershy paled dramatically before engulfing her friend in a hug. “Oh Pinkie Pie... tell your Aunt Fluttershy what happened...”
Pinkie Pie hiccuped as she laughed humorlessly. “T-that’s my schtick.” Nonetheless, she told Fluttershy what had happened.
-Five minutes earlier-
Rainbow Dash was lost in her thoughts as she stood behind the counter to one of the stalls, her body moving on autopilot as she reanalyzed events events she had tried her best to forget.
“What!? C-come on Dash, you’re joshing me!”
Betrayal, fear, world falling away beneath her paws.
Dash shivered violently as she shook her head, trying to dispel the memory. Trying her best to send the thoughts away, she picked up one of the instruments arrayed on the counter and held it up for all to see. “Who wants a flugelhorn?” She called out.
“I want a flugelhorn!”
Rainbow Dash nearly jumped out of her skin as she looked to her left and was met with the sight of a grinning Pinkie in a jester outfit.
The blue pegasus felt cold sweat trail down the back of her neck as more memories came rushing back.
“N-no way... It was P-Pinkie Pie! She se-set up this party to t-t-trip me up! T-To make a fool of me!”
Desperation, pleading, begging to be right, for her worst nightmares to be untrue.
Rainbow Dash snapped her eyes back towards the crowd, trying to drown out the pain. “WHO ELSE WANTS A FLUGELHORN!?” She pleaded desperately.
Pinkie Pie scowled, rearing up on her hind hooves as she tried to regain Dash’s attention. “I WANT A FLUGELHORN!” She shrieked.
Dash’s pupils dilated as the high-pitched voice dislodged the worst memories of all.
“RRGH! OH YEAH!? WELL YOU, YOU-!”
Outrage, fury, more betrayal.
Rainbow Dash’s breath shuddered through her, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.
“YOU ARE SUCH A, A FLIP-FLOP! COOL ONE MINUTE AND LAME THE NEXT!”
Accusation, blame.
‘Please...’ Rainbow Dash thought numbly.
“When you decide not to be lame anymore...”
Resignation, regret, despair.
‘Please, no more...’
“Gimme a call.”
Tears sparkling in the sunlight as she flies away.
As for the first time ever, she runs.
Rainbow Dash’s mind blanked as she tried to escape. “WHO ELSE WANTS-!”
“RAINBOW DASH!”
“WHAT!?” She shrieked, wheeling around to face Pinkie Pie. What she saw halted her in her tracks.
Gone was the perky smile and gone was the goofy hat. All that was left was a concerned friend.
“Rainbow Dash,” Pinkie whispered. “What’s wrong?”
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to rebuke her, to give reassure her that she was fine and that nothing was wrong. She opened her mouth to display her usual air of strength and bravado.
She then let out a choked sob and threw herself at Pinkie Pie, clinging to her as everything that had happened and every realization as to her absolute idiocy poured out of her, broken only by Rainbow’s bawling and gasps for breath.
Pinkie just stood there, holding her friend as she wept miserably.
-Present-
“Oh my...” Fluttershy whispered once Pinkie Pie had finished speaking. “I suppose that would explain why she was so distracted and didn’t listen to me saying I didn’t want to help her with the jousting...”
“Mm-hmm...” Pinkie mumbled in agreement. Slowly, she began walking aimlessly amongst the tents, Fluttershy scrambling to follow along her. For a minute, she was silent. Then...
“She was right...” Pinkie muttered, prompting Fluttershy to give her a confused look. “Gilda... she might have been mean, but she did care about Rainbow Dash. I should have just left them alone. I mean, maybe if I had just given Gilda some time to cool off... if I’d just listened to you...” the party mare’s voice began to choke with tears.
“Enough!” Fluttershy cut her off, whipping her hoof around her neck and hugging her close. “Look, Pinkie, you made a mistake! Maybe you could have made some better decisions, maybe you could have told Rainbow Dash to hold back on the pranks, but the fact is that’s all they are: maybes! The past is the past! We can’t change it, all we can do is live with it. It’s a lesson that’s been becoming rather apparent lately...” They walked on for a second before Fluttershy’s pupils dilated and she gave out a sudden whimper. “EEP! Er, I mean, that is to say, oh dear...”
Pinkie was silent as she was pressed against Fluttershy’s barrel. Then, she pulled away and shook her head. “But it doesn’t change the results either... Rainbow Dash is miserable... and it’s all because of me...”
Fluttershy stared at her for a second before groaning and pressing her hoof to her forehead. “Oh dear, I’m not getting through to you... I guess there’s only one answer...”
The earth pony gave her a morose look. “What, find Gilda and apologize?”
“Well, I suppose that would work, but I was thinking something more... immediate.”
Pinkie Pie sighed tiredly as she hung her head.“Meaning?”
“Cold hard liquor.”
That made an impact on Pinkie, causing her to stumble and nearly faceplant. She wheeled around and gaped at the quiet mare. “Come again!?”
Fluttershy nodded decisively. “You heard me: alcohol. It’s a good way to loosen up and relax. Sure the hangovers might make loud noises a bit painful, but the immediate effect makes it well worth it.”
Pinkie Pie blinked in shock for a second before a thought hit her and she eyed Fluttershy with suspicion. “Wait, Fluttershy, how do you know that?”
Fluttershy panicked for a second before hastily producing a calm face and beginning to push Pinkie ahead, cold sweat trailing down her pelt. “U-u-um, t-that’s not important. N-n-now come on, I know a- I think there’s a booth serving alcohol this way!”
Pinkie Pie wasn’t fooled, her thoughts racing a mile a minute before a sudden realization hit her. “Fluttershy, are you always so quiet because you’re-!?”
“Pinkie Pie.”
The party mare froze and slowly turned to stare at Fluttershy.
She wasn’t angry. She wasn’t sad or scared. The cream-colored pegasus was smiling pleasantly, calmly. And it was scaring the piss out of Pinkie.
“Pinkie,” Fluttershy continued quietly. “You do not want to continue that line of thought. Or repeat it. To anyone. Ever,” she tilted her head slowly, her smile widening a few inches. “Am I clear?”
Pinkie Pie nodded hastily.
Fluttershy straightened up again, her smile once anew becoming truly perfect. “Great! Now come on, let’s get going!” She trotted on ahead, Pinkie Pie following hesitantly behind her.
After a few minutes, they came to a large tent whose flaps were closed. Fluttershy nodded happily. “Here we are! This place has some great vintages, I’m sure you’ll like it!” She walked in, ignoring Pinkie’s hesitant looks.
The inside of the tent was lit by a single lamp hanging from the rafters. Tables were strewn about here and there, and set up in the back was a bar with several bottles and casks behind it. Standing behind the bar and cleaning a glass was a dark green unicorn stallion with a light brown mane. The aura encapsulating the glass was a rich purple. His cutie mark was a bottle of champagne with foam bubbling out.
Catching sight of Fluttershy, the unicorn smiled enthusiastically. “Miss Shy! Glad to see you again! Back for another round?”
The mare returned his smile, walking up to the bar and placing her hooves on it.. “Thank you, Crystal Carafe! And sure. But first, this is my friend Pinkie Pie. She really needs to have some too.”
“Oh?” Carafe looked the uncharacteristically reticent mare over. “What’ll you be having?”
“Balkan 176, on the rocks,” Fluttershy responded without hesitation.
Carafe whistled appreciatively. “Balkan? Yeesh, are you trying to help her or kill her?”
Fluttershy shrugged indifferently. “She needs to forget, I’m just trying to help. Either way, it’s personal and not really your business. Sorry.”
Carafe sighed dramatically as he went about shuffling with the various bottles available to him. “Of course. Seems to be the norm nowadays. I might not remember much, but I do remember that people used to actually talk to the person serving the drinks. Ah well,” he suddenly stopped searching and frowned. “Blast! Sorry miss Fluttershy, looks like I left it back at the shop. Didn’t think anyone would need that kind of mental trauma, mind if I run out and get it?”
Fluttershy waved her hoof. “No no, take your time. It’s refreshing to be the one in charge for once.”
Carafe trotted out from around the bar and out the tent entrance.
Pinkie was silent, gaping at Fluttershy. “F-fluttershy, how long... how do I put this...”
“How long have I been a professional alcoholic?” She didn’t flinch at Pinkie’s shocked look. “What? Liquor is great at dulling one’s sense of shame.”
“Right. Again, how long?”
“Weeeell...” Fluttershy tapped her chin in thought. “Do you know Berry Punch?”
“The mare who runs Vintage Vintages? Yeah, she supplies me whenever I make a flambe or pineapple upside-down rum cakes. Why?” Pinkie asked hesitantly.
“Well, you see, she was one of the first ponies I met when I came to Ponyville. She saw that I was so scared of everything and decided to help me out. She suggested I try some ‘liquid courage’ and I agreed,” Fluttershy brought her hoof to her mouth as she giggled at the memory. “Three bottles of some nicely aged Grand Palomino and I knew there was no going back.”
“I guess...” Pinkie trailed off. “Look, Fluttershy-”
“Before you start, I do not have a problem!” Fluttershy interrupted hastily. “ See, this is why I didn’t tell you all! Listen, I drink casually, in a professional manner. Why do you think I stay on the ground, or in my house so often? I know better than to fly under the influence, I keep my alcohol levels where I can control myself whenever I have to go out and I always stay inside whenever I decide to go over the edge! Besides, I need it! You try dealing with twenty plus species, some of whom are meat-eaters, and Angel Bunny!”
Fluttershy growled as she kneaded her forehead in frustration. “I swear to you, that rabbit has no idea how many times the bottle has kept me from wringing his scrawny neck and FEEDING HIM TO THE-!” The pegasus cut off as she reached over the bar, withdrew a bottle and chugged it in ten seconds flat. She panted as she slammed it on the counter. “Sorry, but he seriously grates on my nerves.”
Pinkie made to reply, but was interrupted by a familiar voice.
“Well what do you know? There’s actually some spine in you. I thought you were just rainbows and butterfly crap.”
Pinkie Pie paled significantly and whipped around to stare at the memorable Rune Keeper standing above her.
Fluttershy was unmoved, staring at him in a decidedly unimpressed manner. “Hello Scholar.”
Pinkie Pie was shivering in fear as she watched him. “W-w-what are you doing here?”
Scholar scoffed as he sat down at the bar. “What do you think I’m doing in a bar?” He asked venomously. He punctuated his point by slamming a clear glass mug on the counter.
Fluttershy leaned over and sniffed it in a contemplative manner. “”Hmm... Bacardi 151, light and dark rum, apricot brandy, orange, pineapple and lime juice, sugar, champagne and...” Her eyes widened in shock. “Absinthe!? What did you do, mix together a Zombie Cocktail and a Death in the Afternoon!?”
Scholar gave her a shocked look. “Alright, I’ve heard everything you’ve said, and even I’m starting to get disturbed.”
The pegasus was unimpeded. “What are you trying to do, kill yourself!?”
The human’s mood soured as he looked back over the bar. “Forgive me for trying to go out on my own terms.”
Fluttershy gave him a contemplative look before shaking her head. “No, you’re lying.”
CRASH!
Pinkie cowered behind her pegasus friend as the thick glass shattered in Scholar’s grip. Black lightning danced over his arms’ crystal sheath as he slowly turned to stare at her, his glasses flashing furiously. “What.”
Fluttershy was unmoved, merely staring at the impotent researcher morosely. “Scholar, please, don’t patronize me. I just had a bottle of Chateau Prance 1347 that does not taste like vinegar. I still owe Berry Punch a black eye for that, but anyways. You don’t scare me, I’ve faced down a manticore on less. Now then, that combo could be used to cause liver failure unless it has a lemon twist in it, which it does. After that, all it can do is drown your sorrows.”
Scholar stared at her for a second before groaning and slamming his head on the counter. “You remember how I’ve been constantly griping about Vitrum being different?”
“Why do you think I tried to find an alcohol shop?”
“By this point I’d imagine it would be second nature for you. Anyways, I’m not just pissed because I used to live in this place. It’s not just because everything has changed.” He sighed as he clenched his eyes shut. “It’s because I helped build this place from the ground up... and... I miss the friends who helped me do it.”
Fluttershy gave him a shocked look before softening her eyes and reaching over to rub his shoulder. “Tell me about them.”
Scholar was quiet for a moment before sighing tiredly.
~~~
Scholar muttered vehemently as he poured over the plans arrayed in front of him. “This goes here, that goes there- wha!? Are you kidding me!? Who the hell put- DAMN IT!” He roared furiously as he snapped his grimoire open and promptly blasted the table with a rather volatile Array.
“Now what did those poor blueprints ever do to you?”
Scholar scowled as he breathed heavily, reaching under his glasses as he rubbed his eyes. “What are you doing here Daemos?”
A deep chuckling behind him prompted Scholar to turn around and glare at the source.
He was a dragon, mighty and powerful. He was about sixty feet long, ten composing his head, fifteen his tail, and the remaining thirtyfive making up his trunk. His body resembled a mobile volcano, dark red cracks spider-webbing across his stony hide. His vast grey and red wings were folded at his side but were nonetheless majestic. His lips, jagged spikes that formed a facsimile of a second set of teeth over his natural dentures, was set in a wry, lax grin. His crimson eyes held vast stores of knowledge and a kind of lazy kindness.
He laid down with a resounding THUMP!, his head resting upon his crossed arms. “What?” He drawled, smoke floating languidly from his jaws and nostrils. “Is it a crime for me to visit my friend as he works on one of our world’s greatest undertakings?”
Scholar growled under his breath as he looked over the debris with disdain. “Try folly. This plan is insane! I mean, all the individual portions and pieces are great, but fitting them together is... inconceivable! If so much as a single rune or array is out of place, once we hook this ‘Vitrum’ up to the lines, it’ll take a generous chunk out of the planet! I’m telling you, Daemos, this endeavour is in vain!”
The draconic elder hummed contemplatively before snorting out a stream of smoke. “In my opinion, your ire lies less with the endeavor, more with it’s progenitor. Am I correct?”
The Rune Keeper was silent for a moment before snorting in contempt. “He betrayed his own kind.”
Daemos hummed in agreement. “True enough. And a good thing too. Had he not given us his aid, his species would have leveled the world with their rage.”
Scholar scoffed, turning his head away.
The dragon continued nonetheless. “And lest you forget, I too let my race meet its end.”
The human wheeled around instantly, his eyes wide. “Woah woah woah, there’s a big difference! Your kind went to war on their own, you tried to warn them off, they were just too arrogant to listen!”
Daemos shrugged indifferently. “Mayhaps. But the basis remains the same. One cannot blame the individual for the mistakes of a species.”
Scholar was silent for a second before he nodded in grudging acceptance. “I’ll acknowledge that, fine...” He scowled at the drake. “But still... he helps us destroy his own species and in return we help him achieve immortality? That can’t be right.”
Daemos sighed as he slowly shook his head. “Me thinks thou dost protest too much... and that you are acting narrow-minded.”
“What!? I-!”
“Be quiet and listen,” the dragon admonished. “You focus so steadfastly on his faults that you fail to see the similarities you two share. Ask yourself, why does he require immortality?”
Scholar frowned as he mulled the question over. “He fears death, obviously.”
“Oh? Then why did he charge so resolutely and so assuredly into battle against his kind?”
“Well what’s your explanation, stone-scales!?”
Daemos groaned and blew a cloud of smoke. “Impatient. His motivation is fear, true, but not of death. What he fears is ignorance.”
Scholar gave him a shocked look before waving his hand for him to continue.
“When I look into his eyes, I see the same spark I see within you. A love, an addiction to knowledge. What he fears is the idea that when he dies, he will still have some questions, any questions left. Should that occur, all of heaven’s pleasures would be left lacking, and all of hell’s torments would pale in comparison. There is too much curiosity in his mind and not enough time in his natural life. Should he desire to one day leave this world in peace, then he requires liberty from the shackles of mortality. It’s as simple as that.”
The Rune Keeper stared at him in shock for a second before sighing tiredly. “You’re... right. Damn it, I forgot my core dogma: intelligence and talent above all else. I’ve been a fool,” he gave Daemos a grateful look. “Thank you, old friend.”
The massive reptile laughed heavily. “Not a problem! We all need to be drawn to earth on occasion. Glad I could be of assistance.”
Scholar chuckled in response before frowning as a thought struck him.
Noticing the look, Daemos cocked an eyebrow. “What’s with that contemplative look?”
“It’s just...” Scholar cupped his chin in thought. “I’m starting to realize that I’ve never seen you angry before.”
The dragon blinked in surprise. “Hmm? What are you talking about? I’ve been angry plenty of times. Remember that slaver’s ring we disbanded a month back?”
The Rune Keeper shook his head in the negative. “Wrong kind of angry. Sure, you were mad, but that was cold fury. What I’m talking about is rage, pure undiluted roaring rage. Seriously, in all the time I’ve known you I’ve never heard you roar!”
Daemos tilted his head in confusion. “Well why would I? Sure, I can be rather angry at times, but by no means do those situations require me to act like a barbarian.”
Scholar whistled appreciatively. “Geeze, I knew it was true before, but you really are the most pacifistic dragon alive, aren’t you?”
Daemos shrugged. “And if I am?”
Scholar waved his hands hastily. “I’m not saying that’s a problem, of course not! But...” He tilted his head and grinned mischievously. “I can’t help but be curious! Come on, roar! Just this once, so that I know what it’s like! Pleeeeease!”
The dragon blinked tiredly as he looked his friend over. “Are you sure?”
Scholar’s smile was face-splitting as he nodded.
Daemos sighed and shrugged indifferently. “Very well...” He slowly raised himself to his claws, his joints creaking and popping. “So be it...”
Slowly, he inhaled, rubble around the room inching towards him as large amounts of air proceeded to inflate his lungs. For the longest time he held it in.
And then, finally, he exhaled it all...
...in a tremendous yawn, a wispy cloud of smoke billowing out and engulfing Scholar, forcing him into a coughing fit.
Daemos made a smacking sound as he laid back down, his eyelids at half-mast. “Nope, can’t do it. I’m not properly motivated.”
Scholar hacked and weezed as he tried to clear his lungs. “Egg... smashing... tail... humping...!”
“Nope, not going to work,” the dragon admonished. “It needs to be something truly fantastic. Something that will induce a truly horrific rage in even the calmest of beings.”
“So, what...” Scholar grumbled as he patted his robes out. “Somebody skipping out on the check or something?”
Daemos responded with a flat look. “I meant sane beings, not stingy jackasses like Solum.”
“Point taken,” Scholar sighed dejectedly. “Ah well, looks like I won’t hear your roar any time soon.”
“Indeed.”
Scholar sighed and began walking towards the door. “Eh, too bad. So be it! Come on, want to go grab a bite to eat?”
“Actually...” Daemos narrowed his eyes as he glanced at Scholar. “There’s a slight problem with that.”
Scholar froze mid-step, his body twitching slightly. “O-oh?” He stammered hesitantly. “W-w-what’s that?”
“The reason I came here... was to pick up the latest blueprints for the tertiary defense array.”
Scholar’s twitching increased. “Y-y-yeah?”
“And unless I’m mistaken, those would be the plans you just destroyed, correct?”
“Uhhhh...”
“You realize you’re going to have to start again from scratch, correct?”
“...”
SLAM!
“GET BACK HERE, MONGREL!”
“MAKE ME, WORM!”
~~~
Fluttershy was silent as she consoled the sad human, Pinkie Pie shaking slightly as she watched from behind her mane.
Scholar closed his eyes as he continued. “They were my first friends. And the best. Sure, they were loud, crazy, violent, and at times we even hated each other’s guts... but when you got right down to it, we were willing to die for each other at the drop of a hat. And that is the basis for true friendship.”
“Wow...” Fluttershy whispered in awe. “That’s incredible...”
The human smiled lightly and nodded. Then he frowned and opened his eyes seriously. “And it’s why I need to bring Vitrum back to the way it was,” he got to his feet, his head bowed as he stared at the bar. “When Celestia sent you here, she told you all that Virum was a beacon of hope...”
He turned and affixed the two ponies with his confident gaze. “But it is also so much more than that! Vitrum... it’s not a beacon, it’s... it’s a fact! For as long as Concordia has existed, Vitrum has been a fact, an immutable truth! It was one known to all existence, one that all acknowledged. Vitrum...”
He sighed wistfully. “It spoke to people. It spoke differently to all,” he spread his arms wide. “To the weak and poor and needy, it said ‘Come to me! Come and see what I have to offer! I will give you peace, and I will give you prosperity’,” he then tilted his head back and rested his hand directly below his chin. “To our enemies, it said ‘This far! This far and no more! Never again!’”
His smile became truly ecstatic, his eyes gleaming with memories. “And to the intellectuals... it said ‘Come and see! I hold so many secret! So many mysteries! So many have tried to unravel them, but there is always more! Find your place, and engrave yourself in the annals of history!’”
Scholar was truly lost in his memories, runes wafting about him as he stared millennia into the past. “Vitrum... it was not simply the capital of Concordia, it was Concordia! So long as it stood, Concordia stood! So long as it existed, we could sleep easily, knowing that tomorrow was secure!”
Slowly, his mood began to sour, his robes turning dark as he bowed his head anew. “And when it fell... Concordia fell. All hope was lost, and all who were left didn’t fight to win, they fought to simply hurt in any way possible, no matter the cost.”
He looked up and met the mares gaze, flooring them with the determination in his eyes. “And that’s how I plan to fight as well. No matter the cost, I will free Vitrum. And in the process, I will take the first step to freeing Concordia, and my friends. Tell it to whoever you will, but know it as a fact: I will not be deterred. Not now, or ever.”
For several minutes, silence reigned in the tent as the two species stared at each other. Until finally...
“HEY, TWILIGHT! WAIT UP!”
Scholar, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie whipped their heads towards the mouth of the tent.
“That sounded like Spike...” Pinkie Pie muttered.
“Hmmm...” Scholar hummed in curiosity. “Sounds like something is going down.” Before either mare could react, he dashed out off the tent, nearly barreling over Crystal Carafe as he reentered.
The emerald unicorn stared after him in shock before turning and scowling at Fluttershy and Pinkie. “Please tell me you two didn’t run him off, he was a good customer!”
Fluttershy squeaked a bit and hid behind her mane. “Oh my no! I would never do anything like that! He left on his own!”
Carafe stared at her for a second before sighing and shaking his head. “Ah well... too bad, he could really hold his liquor...” His grin returned full force as he trotted towards the bar, pulling out and displaying a bottle of clear liquid he was carrying with his magic. “At least you’re still here! Here’s the Balkan 176!” He hopped over the bar and whipped two crystal glasses full of ice onto the bar in front of Pinkie and Fluttershy. “Still sure you want it?”
Fluttershy nodded resolutely, not turning as she reached out with her wing and stopped Pinkie from moving. “We’re sure. Go ahead and pour it.”
Carafe gave Pinkie a hesitant look before shrugging and nodding. “So be it. It’s on your head.” And with that, he filled the two glasses to the brim.
Pinkie leaned down and eyed the water-like liquid warily.
Fluttershy gained her attention by tapping her on the shoulder. “Best to drink it all at once, like medicine.”
“Umm... okay...”
As one, the two mares picked up the glasses in their hooves.
“Now then,” Fluttershy said with a smile. “On three. One... two... three!” The friends knocked back the glasses together, swallowing the alcoholic beverage.
Pinkie sat stock still for a moment... before blinking in surprise. “Huh, that’s weird...” She mused. “I thought that would do... I don’t know, something.”
Fluttershy, on the other hand, had her eyes closed in concentration. “Three... two... one... and...”
POOF!
Pinkie’s mane burst into a frizzy mess, her eyes nearly popping out of her sockets. Her entire body stood ramrod straight in reaction to the alcohol hitting her system.
Fluttershy merely let a shiver run the length of her body. “Ahhh...” She sighed contentedly. “How nice, kind of like taking a hammer to the frontal lobe, huh?”
Pinkie didn’t respond, simply leaning backwards until she collapsed on the ground.
Crystal Carafe leaned over his bar and stared worriedly at the mare’s prone form. “Is she alright?”
“Oh, I’m sure she’s fine.”
Pinkie’s legs all shot up towards the ceiling, a sound not unlike a cash register ringing out.
“See?”
“I think she might need a medic... And a kidney transplant.”
“Maybe later. For now, I’ve got a feeling that things are about to get really complicated, so I want to be nice and ready. As they say in Las Pegasus, hit me!”
I feel sad for Scholar.
Flutterholic huh? Nice.
Oh my god.
Just... dude.
You made Fluttershy an alcoholic, and you made it work.
You win.
4344592 I still feel this is all part of his plan.
you go fluttershy! and pinkie flat out cold awesome~!
never heard of the flutterholic idea before
4344873 Did my creation of the idea work or flop?
flutterholic?....flutterholic,flutterholic! for some reason that is now stuck in my head and now all of the squeaking on the show makes sense!
congratulations on creating the flutterholic
Wasn't Fluttershy scared stiff of Scholar when she looked into his eyes in an early chapter?
4345125 i think that from a certain perspective it might make sense that shes always quiet because shes always hungover
4345154 She just had a whole bottle of Chateau Prance 1347. At the wedding, she was holding back. She only had half a bottle of Lindemare's. Huge difference.
Wow just wow just when you think you know a pony. Another all around great chapter.
4345154
his stare was not
turned on
All hail the Flutterholic. Xomniac I think you just spawned the next big fanon personality.
Suddenly so much stuff about Fluttershy makes sense, and I always wondered how she put up with Angel that ungrateful little bastard. It's so hard to believe that no one has thought of Flutterholic before it baffles me, baffles I say.
(I predict there's gonna be an ask Flutterholic Tumblr by the end of the month).
4345361 Thanks! Oh, and by the way, seeing how you seem to pride yourself on your psychological analyses, I'm sure there's an especially important point you'll notice once your decide to mega-post! Good luck!
Flutterholic, she actually has a backbone AND even she can't stand Angel half the time! I am SO loving this chapter! I am SO glad I started following this story
4345392 Yeah, I'm just not in it tonight. I just got off a 12 hour shift at my crappy retail job and I'm bushed. I'll try in the morning but right now I'm fried.
YES YES!!! SOMEONE WHO HAS A SIMILAR FLUTTERSHY HEADCANON!! HOW ELSE CAN THAT FUCKIN "ANGEL" BUNNY STILL LIVE IF SHE AINT AN ALCOHOLIC!!
I'm not falling for that. If Fluttershy isn't Chrysalis in disguise and this isn't a gambit to get Pinkie out of the picture, I'll eat the hat that I don't have in my head.
4345425 Ah who am I kidding how can I sleep when I've been offered such a juicy challenge. Besides sleep is for the weak....And those who don't suffer from chronic insomnia. Also I don't want to keep my fans waiting (that's you Worgen1607, you're my rock) so here I go.
Hmm, obvious confidence issues mixed with a severe case of Social Anxiety Disorder. This is one of the most common reasons people start drinking. People who don't do well in social situations often turn to alcohol as a way to deal with everyday life.
Fluttershy comes off as a severe introvert which is why she doesn't do well socially. There are 2 basic social personality types; Introverts who are natural loners and Extroverts who are your average social bloodhounds.
when extroverts socialize there is a sort of metaphorical psychic energy that goes between them and those they're interacting with. when they're talking with people they become empowered by it (metaphorically speaking) and they empower others, it's like a perpetual motion machine. Your an extrovert if you go out to a club or a party and leave feeling refreshed and empowered by the experience, like your mental batteries have just been charged.
Introverts are the opposite in that they don't gain any energy from social interaction, they're actually drained by it. An introvert is a natural loner who gains mental energy through quiet reflection. Introverts thrive on "alone time" and require periods of solitude daily to recharge their batteries. You see introverts find social interaction draining in that unlike extroverts they don't get any energy back from the people they give it to. An introvert who goes a long period of time around other people will become grumpy and agitated and simply need some alone time to reflect.
Fluttershy is an introvert, and like many introverts she is using alcohol as a way to come out of her mental safe zone. The tragic thing is that she doesn't need it anymore.
Obvious signs of confidence and self-assurance which means that she's gotten over her previous issues, however this is the kicker.
.
I need it, how many alcoholics say that. when you need alcohol just to get through everyday life than you have a problem. Many alcoholics try to justify their addiction by saying they drink casually and that they're careful. It doesn't matter how casually or safe you drink, if you're doing it to deal with stress and anger then you have a serious problem.
This is the problem with Celestias overprotective mentality with her ponies. She's babied them and coddled them to the point that they can't deal with their problems without vices. Pinkie needs her parties and mindless sugar indulgence to repress the memories of her troubled childhood on the rock farm, why Fluttershy needs to guzzle booze just to step out her front door, Why Twilight needs to constantly hoard knowledge to gain a sense of safety. Because Celestia has taught her ponies to hide from their problems rather then face them.
When you exercise you are literally shredding your muscles to tatters, yet they grow back stronger. This is the basis of the philosophy of overcoming adversity, when you suffer you can either give in and crumble or you can adapt and overcome. Life is full of obstacles that we have to deal with. You get fired from your job, your car gets stolen, your mother dies; all terrible things but when you overcome them you are stronger for it.
This is were the phrase "Don't envy the wise" comes from. It means that the wisest people have lived the most horrible lives, but they have become stronger for it.
Celestias solution was to take all the obstacles out of life (for ponies at least), sure this makes life easy but when they come to a bump in the road (an ancient civilization seeking vengeance) they wont know how to deal with it.
Their armies will crumble and be plagued by deserters; soldiers who signed up to guard doors and deliver messages unable to handle the strain of bloody battle. When the food starts running low they will starve, having no idea how to deal with famine. Hell in a world were they've had control of the weather for 2000 years they probably don't even have any natural disaster readiness at all; It'll be like Haiti after the earthquake times a hundred. How well would their emergency services like fire and ambulance do in such a crisis having never dealt with an actual emergency before, it'd be chaos.
This is why they will fail, because of the most basic law of evolution, the strong rule the weak, and ponies aren't strong.
Well that's it for me, as always give me your thumb ups (with each one I grow more powerful, Mwahahaha). And reply, I love reading what people think of my opinions, Darkkseid out.
4345982 Not bad... but not what I was talking about. You're looking for some obvious dissonance. Backtrack through the chapters and it'll stare you in the face.
4346068 Can I at least have a hint at which character. I need to know who to focus on.
4346074 It ain't a pony.
....Gilda
4346081 In Chap 12 in more than just name.
Hmmm.....Eh I'll look in the morning. I'll need some sleep and coffee for this.
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Hey pinkie, turn down for what?
I like the backstory behind this, but it seems every chapter you're giving reasons why your characters are OOC. That, combined with your heavy-handed, black and white morality, makes your writing style remind me of the author Perfect Lionheart.
That's not a good thing.
Bashing characters is repellent, but I feel like you're trying for something more. It makes me feel sad to see a creative backstory fall victim to such trite techniques.
I'll keep reading, I guess; like I said, I feel like there's something more here, so maybe you'll surprise me, or turn the situation around on me, or something, but just for the record: I believe a story that solely proves the truth of the protagonist's words is boring, because the conclusion was reached at the very beginning; there is no literary conflict between hero and villain, only the aftermath of their final battle.
I've seen flutterholic in one other storie. Maybe it will catch on.
4345982
Darkkseid, you're a pro at this.
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4350054
I'm your rock
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Wow, if only the Princesses could have Heard his tale, the guilt would have eaten them alive!
4350067
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4345982
I think you're underestimating them personally. Ponies, as a species may suffer from the return of Concordia, but individually they will thrive. They'll be pushed further than they've ever been pushed before, discover strength and talents they didn't even know they had. And those that survive will be all the better for the hardship they've suffered. Trixie Lulamoon, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, even Shining Armor, these are the kinds of ponies that will snarl in the face of adversity and fight back with everything they have.
I'm a bit weird in that I both want Concordia to return, but I also want to see the ponies thrive. Most of all I want them to do so without Celestia's help, I want them to prove her wrong and stand taller than she ever believed they could. I suppose my view is somewhat optimistic, but I've always believed in hoping for the best, even as I plan for the worst.
4351980
But as I pointed before, the ponies have multiplied their numbers, and taken the other races´ niches after more than a thousand years of prosperity. When the concordians wake up, they will want their territories back. And what usually happens when there isn´t enough land for everyone...?
4351980 That's exactly what I've been saying. Some will adapt to the new world but others won't. The ones I see failing are Shining Armor, the royal guard in general, and the nobility (except Fancy Pants and Fleur).
Look at what the royal guard currently does; they guard doors, deliver messages, and pull chariots. They're basically security guards/messengers who have never actually had to do anything related to warfare in 2000 years. They guard a city on the side of a mountain which is in the exact center of a country ruled by all powerful gods who control celestial bodies, they aren't even needed. They're like mall cops, they're there to give ponies a sense of safety, they're the face of security not the reason for it. When the shit hits the fan there's probably going to be mass desertion in their ranks because the royal guard is probably a really cushy job that has good pay and benefits but no actual effort involved. That's why Shining Armor comes off as an empty headed surfer dude; because he is literally a poster boy for the royal guard. I bet they slap his face all over the recruitment posters and place him at the head of the parade floats.
I'm willing to bet money that Shining Armor spent 90% of his career behind a desk doing paperwork and the other 10% making public appearances and doing parades and such. He's probably never even been in a fight before or dealt with an actual emergency.
Just look at how he acted when that giant ice block was falling during the Equestria games. He just stood there flapping his mouth while Spike, a friggin child, took charge of the situation. That's not even mentioning the wedding, or Sombra. Shining Armor's incompetance is Canon.
4352460
Some will fight, some will make deals and forge alliances, and some of them, probably most of them, will die. Casualties are practically inevitable at this point, no matter who wins.
4352694
Yes, but don't forget that he is also brave, powerful for his era, and dedicated to protecting others. Incompetent buffoon he may be, but he does have room to grow. After all, the first step on the road to growing stronger is to realize your own weakness.
The one I'm really worried about is Twilight. She's brilliant, but she has no focus, instead trying to absorb as much esoteric knowledge as she can. She has absolutely no excuse for knowing less than thirty spells, most of them being mere parlor tricks! She has trouble controlling her magic, she occasionally forgets she even has magic, and she's hesitant to unleash the full brunt of her strength. I wouldn't be too surprised if a properly dedicated, focused, and self-assured Twilight matched, or even surpassed her peers in just a few years time; she has that much potential. But the way she squanders it... I just don't know if she has it in her.
*I also neglected to mention Maud Pie in my previous comment, admittedly, I'd somewhat forgotten about her. If she's even a fraction as physically powerful as she's shown to be, even with Harmony weighing her down, then I shudder to think of how strong she'll be unrestrained. Mark my words, anybody that confuses her for a soft target will swiftly and deeply regret it. That is, of course, assuming that they still have the capacity to preform such a higher brain function afterwards.*
4352813
It´s kinda puzzling how little care Celestia has invested on shaping the Mare Six into proper tools of Harmony. With all their potential, they fall into the same trap as the rest of ponies, only performing some big shot now and there before hiding back into their shells. The Princess´ general strategy is simply to toss them the problem and expect they work another miracle to save her throne again.
Then again, I wonder what Twilight and co. may become under the tutelage of Scholar.
4352851
Personally I believe she fell into a nasty bit of some particularly twisty circular logic. She doesn't interfere directly, because that would be manipulating them, and manipulating them is wrong. But sometimes they need a nudge in the right direction, just a little one, to keep them on track. They're the Elements of Harmony after all, her ace in the hole. So she tests them, gives them tasks to preform big and small. She doesn't train them because that would be wrong, they're only her little ponies after all, and putting them through something like that would be cruel. In this case their own success is to their detriment, Celestia just continues to throw more and more at them, confident in their safety. After all, she made the world safe for them, they should be fine, otherwise what was it all for? The murder, the genocide, the betrayal, it all had to be for something; the world is safe now... right?
4352813 I'd love to see Maud Pie join Scholar, she's by far my favorite new character of season 4. With all the ancient mystic orders that exist here like the storm knights and the old wonderbolts I can see Maud being the heir to such an order.
Figuratively she could be a Terramorpher (earth shaper). They're like earth benders from the Avatar universe, using dances and Ley Line energy to bend stone to their will. She could even be like Toph and invent metal bending. Who wouldn't want to see Maud surfing on a wave of dirt or chucking huge boulders at the royal guard. Your right in saying she would be formidable when the harmony dissapates considering she can use her hooves like a jackhammer and throw giant stones that impact with the force of nukes while under its effects.
Twilight is another story. In an earlier comment I stated that I think Twilight has no natural talent for magic; she studies like crazy because she needs to make up for her lack of skill. Trixie on the other hand has tons of talent considering she was able to brainwash an entire city for days, plus she also studies a lot so Trixie is both well versed on magic and she has the skill to use it properly. I think in a fight between Trixie and Twilight Trixie would win hands down.
Shining Armor I want to see fail. I hate him with a passion. Haven't you ever had a character on a show that you just want to punch in the face as soon as you look at them. to me he's the Wesley Crusher of MLP. My hatred for him knows no bounds, it burns through the cavernous deeps of the world.
4353013
I feel your pain. There's almost always that one character that just grates on your nerves like sandpaper. For me it's always been Cadence, the prissy pink princess positively screams Mary Sue; I half suspect she was actually Hasbro's initial design for Celestia before Lauren Faust smacked some sense into them. Admittedly, I'm no fan of Shining Armor's either, the second I heard the surfer boy accent I pretty much instantly knew I wasn't going to like the blockhead, I wasn't disappointed. That said, I try not to carry of that animosity with me when I read fanfiction, good writing and proper character development can do much to salvage a poor character design in my eyes.
I agree with you completely, Maud rocks.
4353101 Yeah I've never really had an issue with Cadence due to all the characterization she gets in fanfics. I've always liked to think of her as Bluebloods sister. The way I see their family working is that sometime within the last thousand years Celestia had a child and Cadence and Blueblood are her descendants (she has them call her aunty cause grandma makes her feel old) and the reason Blueblood is a snob is because having an alicorn as a sister gave him an inferiority complex. If the nobles in the show are anything to go by then Bluebloods parents probably ignored him when Cadence came along and Celestia was busy with Twilight so he probably never got any love or affection growing up making him bitter and hateful.
Hehe, I see what you did there.
Well hello there, Xomniac. I think I'll read this when I've got the time and I'm not working on my own stuff.
As a personal aside, writer's block sucks.
4358845 Noooo shit, sherlock.
4358862
Considering that what I'm writing right now is for my final English assessment...
4358882 Ergh, IB/AP English Final Exam tomorrow, and with the worst teacher in the entirety of the school.
4358910
I get to write fanfiction for mine. Then again, this isn't so much a final as it is the one assignment I haven't done yet.
Well, this was the first chapter that caused actual 'dislike' in me. Well I guess it started last chapter, but didn't 'hit' until this chapter. Yeah, it's the Gilda/RD thing. You've definitely got a talent for selling one side of a story immediately, but holding back other parts. So I didn't immediately get upset at how very one-sided it was presented - because it was one side, and it was very much in line with the side the teller told. Fluttershy started peeling back another side... but - even Fluttershy didn't acknowledge that Gilda had anything to do with the situation. Which she did. RD had a right to be angry, as Gilda had just insulted her friends, and said that everything that had just happened was proof of lameness - everything that just happened having been Dash's doing, so just calling her lame. Dash and Gilda were both overreacting and causing problems there... and while I get Scholar being firmly on Gilda's side, Fluttershy completely and totally throwing her side behind Gilda? Right before revealing she was an alcoholic, that Pinkie's best solution was to get drunk, and 'forget' the problems? Not to mention that Pinkie's blame is being blown up bigger than it actually was - she's guilty of trying to make Gilda feel welcome and joy buzzing her - which Gilda actually laughed off in the episode, obviously a touch annoyed but not set off like Dash's pranks ended up doing. Gilda's being cut too much slack by the wrong people, and the blame is being laid too heavily where it wasn't. Like I said, there were two parties in the actual breakdown: Gilda herself and RD. And both of them - Gilda especially - have had that completely glossed over. For a story that I've felt has been doing a great job about two sides that do terrible things for their ideas of right (and don't anyone tell me the Scholar side is perfectly innocent and just, we have seen way too much of them for that), I can't really cope with just how one-sided heavy-handed this issue has been.
Well, that sure was a wall of text. But hey, that's how you know I care, right? Last story to hit a pressure point I just dropped without a word, here I rant and then continue, you can tell which one I actually care about.
Gotta say for as much bullpies as we get from the Scholar about how the Alcorn are monsters either they have changed over the years into pacifists (they are ponies, hardly a stretch) or the constant harmony radiation has really got to them and made them reluctant to end even one life. Heck cadence or the main six could have easily killed scholar here and ended the genocidal threat to their existstance. But no, they don't not cause they need him, not cause they like him (hell they put up with alot of casual abuse from this guy) and not cause they are afraid (he is powerless and his bodyguard could be easily disposed of) but no just cause they don't want to kill him, makes sense why cell stones everything; she can't stand killing anyone not of the Alicorns can. Not when in the ward of the past she put the weakened races to sleep.
Also the this far and no farther, never again ( I didn't like the never again part, it implies a standing feed and history with an enemy, but no enemy is mentioned not any prior northern conflics)