//------------------------------// // A Call to Battle // Story: A Most Unlikely Hero // by LunaMint //------------------------------// Fluttershy hung her head in shame as she walked to her bedroom. Her father walked to her and put his wing over her back. He smiled, attempting to comfort his guilt-ridden daughter. However, his kindness was lost in Fluttershy's sadness. Fluttershy walked to her room, and sat at the window sill. It was a pretty day. Colorful. Inspiring. However, for some, it was flushed of any true joy. "Look at me, I'm never going to pass for a bride. Or even a good daughter." Fluttershy was able to say; before crying into her long, silky, pink hair. The sound of drums came in muffled booms from behind her. Fluttershy's ears pricked up and she wiped her tears; rushing for the front garden. There, in the garden, were her mother and father. They seemed distressed and, curious. "What's going on!?" Fluttershy called, running to their sides. "Fluttershy, go inside!" Her mother responded shakily. As they walked away, Fluttershy flew near the top of a short wall, peering over in secret. A few stallions, Pegasi and Unicorns, ran and flew quickly into the center of the street. A short, skinny one, holding a scroll with names written on, spoke clearly for all to hear. "Ponies! I bring a proclamation from the Capital of Canterlot! The Hippogriffs have invaded Equestria! By order of Celestia, one stallion from every family must serve in the Equestrian Army." He immediately after began to call out last names, they were all those of Futtershy's neighbors, but none of them really made her too worried. That is, until she heard... "The Shy Family!" Her pupils dilated, and she rushed in front of her father, just as he was about to take the scroll from the stallion. Without thinking, in a voice of passion she hadn't used in years, she yelled. "No, Daddy! You can't go! Please sir, my father is alr-" "Silence, mare! You'll do best to teach your daughter, to hold her tongue in a stallions presence!" "Fluttershy, go home, you dishonor me..." Fluttershy's strong expression faded to sorrow, as she walked slowly back to her home. Dinner that night was, silent. They didn't chat, or make jokes, or even cry. They just ate in peace, but Fluttershy had enough. "Why do you have to go! Celestia surely has enough soldiers already, why more, why you!" "It's an honor to protect Equestria and my family!" "So you're willing to die for honor!" "No, I am willing to die doing what's right!" "But what if-" "I know my place, it is about time you learned yours!" Fluttershy couldn’t hold back her tears any longer, she ran away from the dinner and into the back garden. It was raining, and her bright yellow fur was quickly soaked and dark. She was reluctant to go inside, not wanting to face her parents. And so, she waited outside until she was to cold to stay there any longer. Fluttershy dried herself inside before lighting a candle in her bedroom. She wanted to check on her father, to wish him luck and say goodbye. She opened one of her wings and grabbed the candleholder, it was warm with the melting wax and she carried it with her through the dark hallways of her home. Her hooves carried her slowly to her parent’s bedroom, reluctant with every step. When she turned the corner to enter the room she paused and quietly peered inside. Her father opened a tall dresser, it held a suit of armor and sword. Fluttershy stared with curiosity, wondering what would happen next. Fluttershy’s father picked up the sword with his wing and swung it, he staggered slightly but remained steady enough to swing the sword again. The blade was sharp and silver, the small bit of light in the room was enough for it to glisten brightly. As he swung the sword one last time, fluttershy’s father fell to the floor. His legs were weak, there was no way he would survive a battle. Fluttershy couldn’t restrain herself, this was her call to battle she had to accept it, for her family, for her father. She ran to her bedroom and blew out her candle, she heard her father and mother go to bed minutes later, and she quietly crept inside. She grabbed her hair clip from her hair, a beautiful butterfly of pink tints, and left it on the bedside table to replace the scroll her father was given. She opened the tall dresser, and quickly but quietly slipped on the armor. She carried the sword tightly in her jaw, and ran to her bedroom. Her long mane almost dragged on the ground as she sat, holding the sword now with her wing, she cut it short and tied it into a bun. As she set for the door, she stopped to grab her bunny, Angel for support, he would be great company and though she desired greatly to bring all her animals Fluttershy knew it wouldn’t be good for her disguise. When she arrived at the door she flapped her wings and soared into the sky, scroll held tight in her hooves and the sword in the armor’s scabbard. Little did she know that her parents had woken. Fluttershy’s father woke with a start, noises around him had just caught his attention as he slept, and now he sat up in bed listening again as the sound of the door opening rang in his ear. He gasped and looked at the bedside table, instead of the scroll, Fluttershy’s butterfly hair clip was waiting in its place. Fluttershy’s father turned to his wife nudging her to wake up. Her eyes slowly opened and she rubbed them. Her face went from a tired stare to a worried frown. Fluttershy’s father spoke, “Fluttershy’s gone!” They both stood out of bed and walked outside their bedroom. Fluttershy’s father ran outside however, and yelled for his daughter. “Fluttershy! Fluttershy!” He screamed desperately. Fluttershy’s mother ran outside, “You must go after her, she could be killed!” Fluttershy’s father responded solemnly, “If I reveal her, she will be.”