//------------------------------// // 3 - The Truth Hurts // Story: Nature's Tears // by Sympio //------------------------------// Fluttershy was sadly humming a melody she sang when she wanted Angel to sleep, but then a bit more depressive. She looked at her reflection in the water. Thanks to the slow and tiny waves in the water, her expression from her reflection looked more sad than 'Shy's actual expression. Fluttershy sighed. ''I wish for us to come together once more. It doesn't matter how horrible I need to suffer, if I just... Could bring us all together for some reason... B-But I don't know how... And my wish is stupid... It'll never happen!'' She said to herself, ignoring the final fight and thinking about the memories they made together. ''Even if they called me stupid, or too shy...'' She said, some tears building up in the corner of her eyes. ''I know that deep inside...'' She continued, the tears rolling down her cheek. ''We still care about each other.... Right?'' She finished, questioning her statement, tears falling into the pond. Then, a pony stepped from the shadows into the light, making soft noises. Fluttershy turned around, scared. Her eyes were wide, and she stood up. ''H-Hey! Chill out! I don't mean any harm! I'm here because I'm looking for Zecora, I heard she lives here. I'm looking for her...'' The pony said with a soft and sweet smile. Fluttershy started to look at the body of the pony. Something felt off. ''Okay. But then why sneak up on me?'' Shy asked scared, yet felt really brave. ''I didn't!'' The pony snapped. Fluttershy raised an eyebrow in suspicion. ''Then why snap at me?'' She asked suspicous, yet timid. ''Dunno,'' the pony said, and shrugged. ''So, Zecora?'' Fluttershy repeated, changing the subject. ''Yes,'' the pony simply answered. ''Follow me, I'll bring you I guess... Also...'' The pink-haired pony started. This time, it was the pony's turn to raise an eyebrow, only this time in confusion. ''Did you hear my wish?'' She asked shyly. ''...Yes.'' Fluttershy frowned and looked at the ground. ''Oh...'' She simply answered, and turned around. ''Mind not telling anyone about it?'' Shy asked kindly, facing the pony. ''Sure thing, only if you lead me to Zecora though,'' the pony said. Fluttershy nodded and lead the way to Zecora's house. - Applejack - ''Granny, ah got some ol' apples. They look expired,'' Applejack said. "Oh?" Granny said, looking at the apple. ''This is a rare poizonous appl', applejack! Wanna tell me to tell the story to ya?'' Granny asked. ''Sure, ah guess...'' Applejack answered, not really interested. ''Got this book righ' here! Gimme a second!'' Granny said, and ran off as fast as she was able to. ''Here!'' Granny said, pushing the book into Applejack's hooves, and then ran off, leaving a confused Applejack with the book about a mysterious apple she didn't really care about. Applejack decided to go to a hill, with orange apple trees. It was a place where not really anypony came. She sat against a tree and started reading her book. ''Chapter 1...'' She said to herself, and read the first page of the book. - Twilight - Two hours later, Twilight got a message of Celestia, asking if Twilight could come to her ASAP. Twilight said goodbye to Spike and flew all the way to Canterlot. When she arrived, she walked to the castle, and got welcomed by all of the guards. ''Welcome, princess Twilight.'' ''Good evening, princess.'' And with every greeting, she greeted them back with a 'thanks' or 'you too!' She had to, being the princess of friendship and all... ''Hello, Twilight,'' Celestia said once the doors of the throne room opened, and revealed a small purple pony. Luna and Cadance sat next to Celestia, letting Twilight know this was an important manner. ''Good evening, Twilight. It's good you could make it on such short notice,'' Cadance said. ''It's alright, my pleasure,'' Twilight said with a smile. ''You still didn't make up yet with your old friends Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie?'' Luna asked. Twilight's smile faltered. ''No.. I didn't, why?'' She asked shyly. ''That's not good, especially in the situation we're in...'' Cadance said, earning sad nods from the other two main princesses. ''Huh?'' The princess of friendship asked. ''We have noticed a strange presence. It feels... Evil. And familiar... But I can't put my finger on it. We wanted you and the other holders of the elements of Harmony to keep an eye out and bring it here,'' Celestia stated. ''I see...'' Twilight answered sadly. ''I can try and make up with them but... I doubt they want to be friends after the whole... Incident,'' Twilight said. Celestia glared at Twilight. ''I thought it was only a single argument? Are you hiding something from me?'' Twilight turned away from them. She stared at the ground for a minute, none of the princesses speaking. The three main princesses were looking at Twilight, who slowly started to frown, and trying to keep tears back. ''Well...'' She began, not trying to let her voice hint her hidden sadness. She gulped before continuing, the princesses still listening. ''It wasn't only an argument, they started fighting... Applejack kicked Rainbow, who in result, punched Applejack. Fluttershy ran away, after she got insulted... Rarity and Pinkie Pie were arguing, but later got mixed into the fights...'' Twilight said, slowly recalling the day where they broke up as friends. ''...And I...'' Twilight continued, trying to hold back tears, though now it was harder then before, as the memory played like a movie in her head. ''I just stood there... I couldn't do anything, no matter how angry I was, they ignored me. I yelled at the top of my lungs, but they just... Didn't hear me. My voice didn't reach them, nor did my magic. I used my wings to make them pay attention to me, but even then...'' She said, gritting her teeth and closing her eyes, turning away from the princesses, her tears flowing freely down her cheeks. ''I was supposed to stop them... But... I couldn't... I cried, yet they still didn't even glance at me. I yelled, but they didn't hear me... I pleaded, but they just kept fighting, right in front of me... Using their magic to harm one another...'' She said, the tears dropping on the ground. ''I couldn't do anything!'' She shouted, shotting her head back at the princesses, the tears flew from her eyes. Everyone was silent for a bit, and Twilight just cried. Luna, Celestia and Cadance took a moment to progress the new information. Twilight thought they were mad at her, for leaving this part out of her story she told them. Until, Celestia walked to Twilight, and wrapped a wing around Twilight's trembling body. Twilight stopped crying, and looked at Celestia. ''It's okay, we'll fix this...'' Celestia started, and hugged Twilight. Twilight hugged the princess back.