The Forgotten Butterfly

by A-Pie-Flying

To Canterlot We Go...

Chapter 3 : To Canterlot We Go...

It's been a while since Fluttershy had last visited Zecora, so being in her hut now makes her feel a little bit uncomfortable. Not to the extent of leaving though, that's rude.

“What brought you to the depths of the forest?” Zecora asked, searching through the shelves for some herbs of some sort. “You look a little tired, have you not rest?”

“I guess you can say that,” Fluttershy said, finding a good spot in the hut to take a sit. “Well, I'm in some sort of a... Uhm... How should I put this...?”

“Are you in some sort of trouble?” Zecora asked.

“No! Well, it's not that...” Fluttershy said. “Everypony doesn't seem to be able to recognize me at all... Actually, they don't seem to know of my existence since two days ago.”

“They have forgotten about you? But that couldn't be possible if you live in Ponyville, yes?” Zecora walked towards her cauldron and dumped in a few herbs into the water.

“It shouldn't be possible, but it did. I'm not entirely sure if it affected the other ponies from Canterlot too, but I'm so extremely glad that somepony finally remembers me!” Fluttershy said, smiling brightly. Her face is practically shining!

Zecora begun stirring the ingredients in the cauldron, and she added a few more other herbs from time to time. “How did this happen, do you know?”

Fluttershy shook her head, “Unfortunately, no... But I found something really interesting in Twilight's library!”

“And what could that be?” Asked Zecora, a little interested in what her friend was about to tell her.

“I browsed through most of the books in Twilight's place, and found out that it could be the cause of some sort of memory-erasing spell,” Fluttershy started. “It's a simple spell if you're erasing a small part of that pony's memory, but if erasing another pony's existence... Then it's really hard. Especially if you erase it from everypony who is living in Ponyville.”

“Do you perhaps know who could've casted such a spell?” Zecora asked.

Fluttershy thought for a while and shook her head. “At first, I thought it could be that it was a mistake? But then, erasing my existence from everypony's memory is just plain mean... From what I read, it could only be performed by a high-class pony,” Fluttershy said.

“From what you speak, I think it could've been one with the level of a princess,” Zecora said.

“That's what I thought too,” Fluttershy let out a sigh. “But knowing Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and Princess Cadence, they wouldn't do such a thing... So I don't know who else it could be.”

Zecora scooped some of the brew she had brewed and poured it into a small bowl. She walked towards Fluttershy and passed it to her, “Drink this, it'll make your throat better.”

Fluttershy took the bowl and nodded her head. “Thank you,” she said before gulping it down. She pass Zecora back the bowl after she had drank it.

“I apologize, but I don't think there is anything for me to do for you,” Zecora said. “But maybe it has not affected other ponies yet, so I suggest you explore.”

“There is... Well... A... 50% chance that they aren't affected by the spell,” Fluttershy mumbled quietly to herself. She stood up, looking confident and all, “Okay! I've decided! I'll head over to Canterlot!”

And off she went, running out of Zecora's hut and back to her cottage to pack her things to prepare for her trip... Or should I say... Journey?

Angel hopped up and down in the sights of Fluttershy's return, but was ignored completely as Fluttershy ran up the stairs. Angel followed her up the stairs and tilted his head.

“Why, hello there Angel,” Fluttershy said as she searched through her room for things she might bring and not bring. “You must be wondering what could I be doing, am I right? Well... I'm heading to Canterlot.”

Angel hopped in front of Fluttershy and raised his tiny little hands... Or paws if you like, in the air, trying his very best to stop her.

“Oh... I'm really sorry Angel, but I don't think you should follow,” Fluttershy said, frowning. “This is a journey of my own. I want to find out who had done this and why by my own... Even if I have to face...” She gulped. “Dangers...”

Angel shook his head and stomped his feet on the bed. As if he was saying, “That's the reason why you shouldn't go!”

“I really don't want to... Honestly! But I have to, Angel,” Fluttershy said. “If I don't, nopony would ever remember me, and I think I'll be stuck here in the cottage alone... Without any friends!”

Angel rolled his eyes and pointed at himself. “How about me?” And he hopped onto the window and pointed outside, where the other critters were staying, “And them? Aren't they your friends too?” That's what Angel is trying to tell.

Fluttershy smiled, “Well, yes, of course you are. All of you are my friends.”

Angel smiled and nodded his head proudly, thinking that his words had finally reach her.

“But no,” Fluttershy said, “I have to go. In order to find out has the spell affected other ponies living in different countries, towns and villages, I have to go and see for myself.”

Fluttershy placed her saddlebag behind her back and walked down the stairs casually. Angel chased after her and tried to stop her by her tracks. But Angel was too small, and Fluttershy could walk over him.

She opened the door, and looked back, “Take care of the cottage for me, okay?” She said before leaving.

Fluttershy walked at her own pace to the train station to buy a ticket to Canterlot. “Hello young lady, have not seen you in this part before,” the old pony working at the ticket booth said. “Are you new?”

“Uh... Not really,” Fluttershy replied.

“You're not?” The old pony asked.

Fluttershy shook her head silently.

“So, you are?”

“No, I'm not,” Fluttershy said.

“Why didn't you say so? I'm pretty sure I have not seen you before though... But it could just me being stuck in this old place for so long!” The old pony laughed. “Well then, I wish you happy travels to Canterlot.”

Fluttershy nodded and smiled at the old pony and walked to where the train is. She looked at the clock, she still had time before the train to Canterlot comes.

She sat on a bench nearby and took out a book from her saddlebag. “Let's read something to pass the time,” she told herself as she opened the book and flipped it to where she had last left it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“All aboard! Last calling to Canterlot!”

Fluttershy darted her eyes to the clock, it was already time, and she hadn't even notice! She quickly closed her book and stuffed it into her bag as she dashed to the train.

“Tickets please?” Asked the train conductor.

Fluttershy presented the train conductor with the ticket, and he stamped the ticket. “Enjoy your trip,” he said.

Fluttershy stepped into the train and sat on one of the free spots available. She let out a sigh, “Nearly missed it.”

She looked outside of the train's window, “Well, this is going to be a somewhat long trip...” She told herself quietly.

“Is this seat taken?” A unicorn with marvelous curly-looking hair asked... It's Rarity!

“No, it isn't,” Fluttershy asked. She tried to contain her excitement in seeing a friend... Or an old friend. “So you're heading to Canterlot too?”

“Indeed I am, dear,” Rarity said. “May I ask you for your name?”

“My name is Fluttershy,” Fluttershy replied.

“Nice to meet you, Fluttershy. My name is Rarity. Perhaps you've heard of me? I run the Carousal Boutique!” Rarity said.

Fluttershy nodded her head, “Yes, I know that.”

“If you don't mind me asking, what are you visiting Canterlot for?” Rarity asked curiously.

“Meeting a friend,” Fluttershy lied. She actually wanted to meet with the princesses to see if they had lost their memory too... If they did, then maybe they know how to undo the spell? “How about you?”

“I have some business in Canterlot,” Rarity answered. “Fashion. Business.”

Fluttershy smiled, “I see. Must be hard being a fashion designer, is it?”

“Indeed it is!” Rarity exclaimed, alarming everypony who was in the same cabin as them. Rarity blushed and quiet down, “Being a fashion designer is hard, yes it is! There are times when your client just doesn't like the dress, and you would have to come up with a totally different design to make and keep up with the new trend.”

“My... You do have it hard,” Fluttershy said, trying to sound a little interested in the rest of what Rarity has to say. Honestly speaking, she already know about Rarity's career and how hard it is.

“But I still enjoy my work,” Rarity said. “Now that you know about what I do... What do you do?”

“Nothing much... I just take care of the critters living near the Everfree Forest,” Fluttershy said. “It's not as extravagant as yours.”

“You live near the Everfree Forest?” Rarity asked.

Fluttershy nodded her head silently.

“I always knew that there was a cottage there... But I never thought anypony was living in it,” Rarity said with an expression as if she was thinking very hard. “Speaking of which, when did you live there?”

“Ever since I moved to Ponyville,” Fluttershy answered.

“When was that?” Rarity asked.

“Hmm... Years ago,” Fluttershy answered. “I don't exactly remember the date.”

“Odd,” Rarity mumbled. “I haven't seen you around town much though. Could it be that you don't go out much?”

Fluttershy decided to go along with it. “Mm... Guess you can say that.”

“No wonder,” Rarity smiled. “You should go out more, there are loads of friendly ponies back in Ponyville. You'll love them!”

Fluttershy laughed nervously, “Yes,” she said. She didn't know what else to say.

For hours, Fluttershy and Rarity had spoken to each other about their past and what they had experienced in Ponyville. Coincidentally, Fluttershy's and Rarity's story nearly matched.

“You were a model before?!” Rarity exclaimed, but not as loud as before.

Fluttershy nodded her head, “A friend of mine forced me into it... I didn't want to break her heart, so I just did as I was told.”

Rarity leaned against her seat, “I once designed a dress for somepony, but she became a famous model in just a few days. I became jealous of her because she was getting more attention.”

“And who is that pony?” Fluttershy asked, expecting the answer she hoped Rarity would answer.

Rarity shrugged, “I don't seem to be able to recall.”

Fluttershy sighed, “Knew it.”

“I feel like I forgot about loads of important things since two days ago. No matter how hard I try to remember, it just wouldn't come back,” Rarity explained. “Maybe it's due to the stress?”

Rarity took a peek at the window, “Oh! That's Canterlot Castle! Where the princesses lives! We're close!”

“So we are,” Fluttershy said quietly.

“A friend of mine just so happens to be a student of Princess Celestia,” Rarity said, “She lives in a tree.”

“You mean Twilight,” Fluttershy said. “I met with her when I was searching for a book.”

“She's a bookworm, isn't she?” Rarity laughed. “Even if she owns a library, she lives in it too! Plus, she even read every books she had!”

Fluttershy just laugh along. It feels as if she was having a conversation with Rarity casually when they were best of friends. This time is a little different though. Rarity couldn't remember Fluttershy, but her heart still does.

The train slowly came to a stop, “We have arrived in Canterlot,” the train conductor said from the speakers.

“Well, looks likes this is where we split ways,” Rarity said as she walked out of the cabin.

Fluttershy followed Rarity out and nodded her head.

“It was fun talking to you, perhaps we should talk more if we ever meet one another,” Rarity said.

“Sure,” Fluttershy said.

Rarity waved goodbye to Fluttershy at the train station and left in the other direction Fluttershy was heading.

“First things first... To the castle,” she told herself. “...unless they forgotten about me and I'm not allowed in, that is.”

Author's Note:

Boy... It's been a while since I've last written anything, so I apologize for any grammar mistakes. If there are any, please do point it out to me, and I'll correct it as soon as possible. Honestly speaking, I'm not satisfied. Zecora should rhyme, it's like it's a part of her to rhyme! Yet, I've failed miserably to do so. I apologize, yet again.

I'm still a little unsure if I want to cancel it or not. Part of me wants to leave it here and now, but the other part of me wants to finish it. -8.1.2016

Comments

[Dr midnight]

please continue this