> When I was just a filly > by Kunama Windrider > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > The Spell > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Fluttershy, I would like to invite you over to read sometime, however, I have a really busy calender. Maybe it's too soon, but I would be very happy if you could make it today! If you can, meet me promptly at four o'clock. Hope you can come! -Twilight P.S. I discovered a new spell! Fluttershy smiled as she read the note. Of course she would like to go over! Reading with Twilight was such fun. Her books were so interesting, and it was peaceful there. She could really relax. Fluttershy had just started reading the 2nd Daring Do book, although there was too much danger for her liking. But she didn't want to hurt Twilight's feelings, so she read them anyway. And who knew what the spell was? Fluttershy giggled. Twilight was so funny! She packed her bags and headed over. ***** Twilight waited nervously at the door. She desperately wanted to try out this new spell, and Fluttershy was possibly the most supportive pony she knew. As well as that, she was quiet, so Twilight could concentrate! Suddenly, a quiet knock at the door rang through the castle. Twilght opened the door in a rush, crying, "Fluttershy! Finally, you're here! Come-on-let-me-show-you-the-spell!" She led Fluttershy through the castle, going on and on about the spell. "It's supposed to create a circle in which we can see an alternate past! You have to say words as well, like this: A problem in the past I fear, show it to me, bright and clear... oops." A circle yawned ahead of them, blocking their way. "Never mind, we can just run through it," said Twilight, fervently hoping that it was true. They ran through it. > WHERE AM I?!?!?!?! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Where are we?" asked Fluttershy. "HELP ME! SWEET CELESTIA, I'M DOOMED!" sobbed Twilight. "I'M DOOMED TO FAIL AT TIME SPELLS, DOOMED, I TELL YOU!" Fluttershy poked her softly. "WHAT?" shrieked Twilight. Fluttershy recoiled, whispering, "Twilight, look at you!" Twilight looked behind her. She had wings. And they were lavender. But they looked more like Pegasus wings. At least her cutie mark was still there. "Fluttershy, there's nothing to-" She broke off, gasping. Fluttershy was a unicorn! Her eyes were almond-shaped, and her cutie mark... Fluttershy has my cutie mark! She's a filly! She looked in to a clear puddle, and gasped. Her purple eyes held the shape of Flutershy's! All of a sudden, she wanted to hide away from everything. A bird flew over and chirped to her. "Yes, my day has been very good," she replied softly. No it hasn't! "But really, where is Rainbow Dash?" The bird tweeted once more. "Thanks, Jay." Come on!" she called softly to Fluttershy. "The party pony is this way!" "There has to be a logical explanation to this," Fluttershy said. "Maybe when you cast that spell? Oh yes, I see it now. Sorry, I have to go consult a book!" Weird or what? Normally I'm the one doing that, thought Twilight. It's like the real me is a stranger. I don't even know WHY I'd do that. At least, I don't anymore. There's only one explanation for this... We're in an alternate universe. > Oh no, there's no leaving is there? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Woah!" "Cool!" "Yeah, look at those wings!" Twilight was surprised. Fluttershy had actually become an alicorn! She should found a way to... to... ummmmm. Her memories slipped away like soap. What was I thinking? "Congratulations, Fluttershy!" I whispered. "Thanks, but why?" she replied. "YOU'RE AN ALICORN!" screamed Rainbow Dash. "I can give you flying lessons," Pinkie put in. "You'll never be as good as me, though," she added. "CELEBRATION!" sang Rainbow, hopping around like a bunny. "Let me organise a party! All of Ponyville will be there! Can I organise it at the Golden Oak Library? It'll be AMAZING! Let's see, balloons, check! Hats! Check! Party food..." Her voice faded into the distance, carried off by the wind. But Twilight couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Let's see, darling, yer coat's all derty," Apple Jack muttered in the boutique. "Oh, it is? Sorry, I've spent so much time talking with Twilight on how to get mmmpphhmmmmppphhhhhh," she replied, stuffing her hoof in her mouth. "Get where?" "Ho- no where, just nowhere! A ha ha ha..." She laughed awkwardly. "Have you got the measurements yet?" "Done. But-" "Bye!" Fluttershy sped out at the speed of light. "What was that all about?" wondered Apple Jack. I'm missin' somthang... > Courage, my friend > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- One day, when they had grown up, Fluttershy started yelling. "I found out how to get home!" screamed Princess Fluttershy. "But first... we have to ask Luna. We need her permission to go home, get to where we need to and besides, somepony needs to know!" They raced to the castle and skidded to a halt. "What if..." Fluttershy began. "She doesn't believe us?" finished Twilight. "Oh, it shall be a disaster, I know it shall!" She took a few breaths and followed Fluttershy meekly inside. Luna was talking to Flash Sentry, a tall, handsome palace guard. Twilight immediately rushed to Fluttershy's side, knowing her mild feelings for the stallion. She would need to back Fluttershy up. "Princess," she breathed, bowing. Fluttershy dipped her head, a gesture of goodwill from one princess to another. "Luna, we need your help," she told the princess of the sun (In our world, she's princess of the moon, thought Twilight). "I must talk to you as well, Fluttershy. You too, Twilight. Flash, stay here." Yes, miss," he promised, locking eyes with Fluttershy. She nodded, as if replying to a secret message. She made an unclear sign with her hoof and waved it over at the door. He nodded in turn. "Come," Luna told them. They obeyed, following her into the darkness of the castle. Fluttershy threw a last longing glance at Flash. He was so good and kind. No wonder she loved him. Following Luna obediently, she noticed that Twilight looked scared. "What is it?" she asked patiently. "This castle... It's s-s-spooky, not like yours," she replied. "Oh." She remembered herself back in their world. Had she been like that? Yes she had. But now she had Flash. She'd be fine. "So what is it, Luna?" "I know of your world, and I know of two secrets. From this world, you two fine young mares are my daughters. But in yours, you are my sister's." What? We are? "Whoah, Luna, hold on, there. Is this some kind of joke? Because if so...it's a really good one! How long did it take to plan?" "'Tis not a JOKE, Fluttershy, it is TRUTH. Have you not learned that in Equestria we value honesty?" retorted Luna. "It's... true?" Fluttershy asked, cowering. I've never lived up to my name in this world before. She gulped. Being the children of alicorns, or an alicorn, had their limitations. Would she have to stop loving Flash? Research, Princess. She took a deep breath. "Now Luna, we must ask you what we came for." Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Twilight's gaze. One look told her everything. She feared Luna. Be strong, Twilight. She's a normal pony, like us. Don't be scared. "We want to go home, please." > Wishing is no good > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You want to...leave? Here? Fluttershy, you're an alicorn like you've always wanted to be, a pony loves you, you're better than Twilight!" She rounded on Twilight. "You're not always the centre of attention (except in Discords eyes) and you are so kind and caring! Surely you don't want to give that up? If you leave, you lose Flash Sentry." She looked meaningfully at Fluttershy. Twilight suddenly had a thought. Has Fluttershy always wanted to be better than me? She looked sideways at her friend- no, sister- and wondered. Fluttershy looked pained. She doesn't want to give up Flash, Twilight realised. She saw in Luna's eyes that this was what she had wanted. Luna has no right to manipulate a pony! Fluttershy looked up, her eyes welling with tears. "I'll stay," she said. "Fluttershy, no!" screamed Twilight. Than she thought that if she had been at home and had wanted to come here she would do the same. For her special somepony. She hung her head in defeat. "I'll stay too," she muttered. "Splendid!" cried Luna. "I'll make your sleeping arrangements. Fluttershy will get the best bedroom." She trotted out, humming Fluttershy was obviously her favourite niece. Fluttershy looked miserably at the clock and jumped. "I'll be late to meet Flash!" she cried. She raced out of Luna's quarter's, leaving Twilight alone in the blue room, to ponder and think about her Flash Sentry. Fluttershy raced through the now-dark castle, hoping to catch Flash. As she skidded around the final corner, she saw him rolling dice desolately. She shuddered to a stop right in front of him, causing him to look up. His face split into a wide grin "You came!" he cried, enveloping her in a hug. His warm breath stirred her mane. "I didn't think you would." His whisper tickled her ears. She broke free. "Luna kept us a little longer than intended," she explained. "I came as-" He held a hoof up to her mouth. "Shh," he said. "Somepony's coming." Guards stomped through the castle. "Find him! His love for the princess is forbidden!" ordered the lead guard. "He must not contaminate the royal line!" They stomped away, splitting up. One guard stayed in their hallway. "How do we leave?" whispered Flash. "One of them is bound to explore!" Fluttershy stretched out her wings. "You forget theses." She grinned. A few minutes later, they were sitting by the lake, leaning into each other. "What'll I do without you?" Fluttershy murmured. "Mope around all day. Sob. Give up magic ," he teased. Fluttershy sat up. "Cheeky!" she cried, giving him a gentle shove. "I arrest you!" They collapsed in giggles. "Flutters? I love you." "Me too. I think I'm great." They laughed together for a little while. "Well, I would have to be. That is, for somepony like you to fall in love with me." She felt (and looked) sheepish and scuffed the ground with her dainty, yellow hooves. Flash Sentry's orange foreleg reached out and patted her back. He really didn't know what to do. "Oh, Flash! I'm so scared! What if they find you- if they find us? What will they do to you?" she wailed, bursting into tears. They fell like raindrops onto the ground. She was surprised to find that they blossomed into flowers, but with wicked thorns. Her heart ached with fear for him and love too. She didn't want to, but she had to let him go. "You must run," she whispered. "Like the wind. Fly, even, though a fat lot of good that'll do. You have to. You may even have to leave Equestria. Go. Please. If not for yourself, do it for me!" Hooves thundered not far away, beating like her heart, ticking like a clock. "Who cares if I die? You must go." "You could come," he whispered, looking as if he was torn in two. She was tempted, but she had to stay. "No. I must distract them long enough for you to go. Now run!" "I won't leave you!" he cried. "I love you!" Fluttershy grinded her teeth. "Then as your princess, I order you to go!" He stepped backwards, looking hurt. Does he know why I'm doing it? I hope so. "Run!" He did. She turned to face the guards alone. Without him. > Darkness > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Where is she? She should have been back ages ago!" Twilight Sparkle fretted. Then she stopped thinking about Fluttershy. "Discord!" she cried. Fluttershy felt unusually cowardly as she faced the guards. Why should she? Well, I mean, she was doing very brave things. Facing the scary guards alone. (Are you deaf? Alone!) She had torn her heart in two by sending Flash away. (It had been the right thing to do.) She was not running away from the scary guards. "Princess," said the lead guard threateningly. "You're under arrest!"