//------------------------------// // Raspy Voice // Story: Fuzzies // by Palm Palette //------------------------------// After retrieving a spare key from under the welcome mat, Twilight creaked open the door to Fluttershy's cottage. Everything was covered in birds. They sat on couches, bookshelves, tables, on top of lamps, windowsills, and were all over the rugs. They were gray, brown, bright pink, and some with red breasts and spiked crests. They were mostly of the small and tiny varieties. No owls, hawks, falcons, eagles, or buzzards were immediately apparent. Cracked glass gave an underwater feel to the room with shadows arranged in wavy thin blurry lines. Wings opened and feathers flew as the mass of avian bodies stirred. Twilight was beset by a cacophony of caws, chirps, and tweets. “What in the world?” She winced as several took flight, creating a wave of birds flying away from the door. They didn't go far, settling on furniture and crowding the shelves on the back side of the room. “Well. I guess this explains where all the birds went. Were they all crazy this morning when ponies were smashing up the place? What's going on?” “What are they doing here?” Spike asked. He ducked when a red-breasted robin flew over his head. The little bird landed on a feeder, which looked empty. Many birds crowded around it, chirping and cooing. “Hmm.” Twilight peered around the room. Actually, all of the bird feeders were empty. Several mice stood huddled in a corner under a chair. Little black beady eyes were everywhere, along with empty bowls too. “It doesn't look like she fed any of them.” Frowning, she used her magic to open a cabinet across the room, flipping a latch and swinging open a pine door. Critters scattered away from it. She pulled out a large, white sack, tore it in half, and spilled a huge pile of seeds and grain in the middle of the room. In a massive shifting mob, it was immediately swarmed and carpeted with feathered and furry critters. Twilight gently stepped out and shut the door so as not to disturb them. “Why didn't she feed them? Does this mean she's not home?” Spike asked, scratching his head. “Probably. I should have known. Fuzzies almost always leave on their own.” Twilight sighed and hung her head. She sniffled. “She didn't even say goodbye.” “Leave? As in gone forever?” Spike's eyes widened. “It sure looks that way.” The noise in the cottage was full of scratching and shuffling. A few small gray birds flew out an open window near the back. “The Fluttershy I knew never neglected her animals. She'd be taking care of them if she were still here.” She rubbed her chin. “Maybe we should check the chickens too,” she mumbled and walked around the house. “Where do you think she went?” “I don't know.” The hens were out clucking in their pens, wandering around in the dirt and grass, pecking at the soil. Twilight examined the water trough, shook her head, and poured it out. She set a garden hose to fill it and then scooped out a cup full of dried corn from a barrel to throw to the birds. Beyond the fencing loomed the taller trees and dense undergrowth leading up to the Everfree Forest. She grimaced. “But I think I have an idea.” “You think she went—” Spike shivered as he pointed a claw at a narrow path leading into the woods. “—there?” “It's entirely possible. She's basically a wild animal herself now.” The snap of a cracked twig caught their attention, along with something large and dark moving in the bushes. Twilight snorted, folded back her ears and illuminated her horn. Mindful of possible hecklers, she growled and scuffed the earth. The chickens bawked and fled to their hen houses. “Halt! Who goes there?” Twilight yelled. The bushes rustled again and a mysterious pony stepped out. The figure was shrouded in black, wearing a long, flowing black trench coat that trailed along the ground, a thick, fuzzy black scarf around its neck, and a wide, black hat trimmed with dangling black tassels. Beneath the shadow were hints of a white coat and purple hair. Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Rarity? Is that you?” The black-clad pony froze, as if placed under a spotlight. “Oh no no no, darling!” She paused, and coughed into her hoof. When she spoke again, it was in a fake, forced, hoarse voice. “It is I, the one, the only, Raspy Voice.” “Riiight.” Twilight rolled her eyes. She turned off the water, closed the wire-mesh gate, and walked around the pen to meet with this 'stranger.' Spike hopped off her back and walked over to shake 'Raspy's' hoof. “Hi. I'm Spike, and this is Twilight Sparkle. Have you seen Fluttershy?” “Hmm, yes. The poor dear's had an awful time recently, you can't even imagine! We were having tea, discussing plans.” Twilight blinked. “What? You did talk to her? But you said you weren't going to!” “Oh? You must be referring to somepony else. I've never seen you before.” Scowling and grating her teeth, Twilight yelled, “What if somepony saw you! You said it yourself. You can't be a respectable business pony if ponies think you're a sympathizer. You'd be ruined!” Raspy tsked. She held Twilight at hoof's length, lightly shoving the frantic lavender unicorn aside. “Obviously you aren't talking about me, Raspy Voice, but about Rarity, the brilliant, resourceful, skilled—” “Beautiful,” Spike added. Grinning, the black shrouded pony flashed him a grin. “—oh, yes, she's quite lovely too, if a bit modest.” Twilight shook her head. “Okay. I get it. So, Raspy, why are you here? It couldn't have been just to say goodbye. Stopping by for a few words doesn't take half the day.” Harrumphing, Raspy stomped a hoof on the ground. “Twilight, I'll have you know that being a sympathizer is not a bad thing. Fluttershy's in a terrible spot right now. She's lost everything that's dear to her. Her whole life was torn away in one drastic, terrible moment. She's more distraught than anyone right now, and yet so few ponies even acknowledge her existence, let alone her suffering. I had to do something.” “Uh...” Twilight frowned. Of course Rarity was right. It made her feel guilty about not thinking about the way Fluttershy felt, and then she felt guilty about feeling guilty. Fluttershy was a fuzzy, and sacrifices had to be made. The feelings of a monster can't outweigh the danger they pose. “I'm sorry, but I can't agree with that. I mean, I know where you're coming from, be we can't let our memories of Fluttershy get in the way of our better judgment. Once a pony has turned into a fuzzy they're already gone.” Raspy gasped, dramatically holding a hoof to her face. She wavered as if struck by a terrible blow. “I would not expect you of all ponies to give up without even trying to save her!” “No! It's not like that! I already checked everything that I can!” Twilight clenched and gritted her teeth. “But there really is nothing I can do. I even asked Celestia and—” “Technically, I'm the one who—” Spike said, before Twilight nudged him with a hind leg, pushing him over. “—she didn't know of anything, either. All she told me to do is to talk to my friends.” “Ah.” Raspy rubbed her chin, tugging at her fluffy black scarf. “That is a shame. If anypony would have known of a cure it would probably have been her. You don't suppose the Elements of Harmony...?” Twilight shook her head. “No. I don't think we can target ourselves, and we can't even use them without her in the first place. Plus, magic and fuzzies...” “Oh. True. Well. That would complicate matters. If only things were that easy.” “Yeah...” Twilight swished her tail. “But they're not. The best we can do is to sever our ties and say goodbye. Speaking of which...” She took on a louder, patronizing tone. “I will most certainly not!” Raspy put her hoof down. “Twilight, I don't know what you've been told all your life, but most ponies have it all wrong about fuzzies. They aren't animals.” “Of course they are! It's their sole defining feature.” “They're half animals. They still have pony minds, pony dreams, and yes, even mostly pony bodies. They can think for themselves. They can choose to act like ponies. They even have cutie marks! Their purpose does not have to be lost.” “Oh please,” Twilight waved a hoof dismissively. “You can say all that stuff about the animal side too. At some point they go crazy. They always do. I know you want to help Fluttershy, but it's not worth the risk. You don't have to make up a bunch of excuses. Don't delude yourself just to help her. I mean, do what you can, but at some point you'll have to stop and leave it at that.” Spike scratched his head. Raspy clenched her teeth. She pulled her hat low over her face, swinging the tassels. “Twilight, I know this is going to be hard for you to understand, but I'm not doing this just for Fluttershy. I've always been a sympathizer.” “WHAT!?” “Yes. And proud of it.” Holding her head high, Raspy tugged her scarf to keep her neck shrouded. “You remember when you discovered that Fluttershy was a, nng, a fuzzy?” “Her tail came off. It was the most disturbing thing I'd ever seen.” “Imagine if it had not. You would have spent the whole day with her, none the wiser, and nothing would have happened.” “Um...” “Imagine, if you will, a group of ponies called the, erm, let's call them the Needle's Eye. They dedicate themselves to making disguises, working magic with needle and thread—” “Rarity's really good with thread too,” Spike said. Raspy wanly chuckled. “Uh, yes, she's something of an idol of mine. Anyway, we make disguises built to last, hiding everything we can with clothing, and for the things we can't hide, there are spells—” “You can't use magic on a fuzzy!” Twilight cut in. “Not like that! Are you trying to make things worse?” Raspy scrunched up her face. “Oh no no no, dear.” She shook her head vehemently, swinging the tassels wide. “We know better than that. The enchantments are on the clothing. The point is, after a fuzzy is spotted, we swoop in, rescue them, give them a makeover, and they can get a second chance to live a relatively normal life someplace far off where nopony will ever recognize them.” Twilight gaped. “A-are you telling me that we have fuzzies living in secret amongst us? That you're putting us all at serious risk?” “No. There's no risk. They'd be discovered if they did anything wrong. They live with that fear every day. That makes them far more peaceful than most ponies. They keep to themselves, often living alone.” “I-I...” Twilight opened and shut her jaw. She clenched her eyes shut. “And what if they do their mauling in secret too? Have you thought of that?” “I think they'd be discovered and thrown in jail, just like anypony else.” Raspy sighed. “I'm not saying they don't have bad eggs but you're completely misjudging them. They're not that bad, really now.” Twilight shook her head. “What do you want me to say? That you've changed my mind? Completely shattered my world view?” “Well, that would be nice.” “I can't do that. I know in my heart that what you're saying is wrong somehow. Just because I can't think of a good reason doesn't mean there isn't one. Don't fuzzies disgust you?” “I don't think that 'disgust' is quite the word—” “Of course they do! Because you spend your time making them go away so you don't have to look at them. Do you even know which ponies are the fuzzies living in Ponyville?” “That's hardly fair.” Raspy tapped her hooves together. “For safety reasons, we don't share information unless it's absolutely necessary.” “And how deep does this conspiracy go? Are all the fashion designers in on it?” “Well, no. For most of us sympathizers, sewing's just a hobby, and some set the fashions rather than make anything themselves.” “Sapphire Shores! I should have known!” Twilight narrowed her eyes and fumed. “That song of hers was really suspicious.” “You're not being fair! You can't go off on sympathizers just because we don't like fuzzies, either. Nopony does. That's the whole reason they even need ponies who are sympathetic in the first place.” Twilight sighed and shook her head. “I don't know, Rar—Raspy. It just seems like it's not worth it. What if they get found out? Ponies are going to ask a lot of questions, and fabric can be traced, especially when enchanted. Even if fuzzies aren't as bad as the stories make them sound, other ponies aren't going to believe that. Crowds with pitchforks don't listen to reason. It's too risky.” “Fluttershy is worth the risk.” Twilight bit her lip. She tried to follow Rarity's logic. Fuzzies weren't as bad as the stories? She didn't believe that, but she could believe it of Fluttershy. But she also couldn't see other ponies believing that, especially after surveying the damage to her cottage. The risk was very real and Fluttersy was still a fuzzy even if she wasn't a bad one. Why risk so much for something that was basically nothing? Fluttershy was nothing? Twilight shuddered. She was giving herself chills. It seemed true, but... Raspy pointed down the path. “I might not be able to convince you, but I think she can. Talk to her. If you can get over the shock of how she looks, than you'll see that she hasn't changed one bit. You'll see that she's not a villain, only a victim of cruel fate. When you see the sadness in her eyes, you'll know she's worth every bit of risk. You'd do anything to keep a friend safe.” Twilight was silent, holding her tongue. She looked at Spike, who returned her gaze. His eyes were wide, innocent, and watching her closely. “Fine,” she said, “I'll do it, but I don't expect to be wrong.” “Nopony does.” Raspy fidgeted with her scarf and tilted her hat so that her head was more fully covered. “Fluttershy's down the path by the clearing. And with that I must be off. Farewell, we will probably never meet again!” Twilight rolled her eyes. “Bye, Raspy Voice,” Spike said, waving. When she was gone, he turned to Twilight and asked, “Is it just me, or did Raspy sound a lot like Rarity?” Twilight facehoofed.