The horrid angel watched as the Evanstallion appeared. It lumbered over closer but noticed the angry glare that came from the Eva’s deep set eyes. It stood ready to attack at the moment’s provocation. Fluttershy fought to keep her breath still as the tension from the mighty being hit her body like a wave.
“Just focus on trotting, Fluttershy,” Twilight’s voice came from a speaker in the Eva.
“Trotting? There’s a monster staring at me right now,” whispered Fluttershy. “I can’t, I can’t move.”
The Eva stood on the launch hatch and trembled.
“You can do it, Fluttershy!” Pinkie Pie screamed with pompoms in her hooves.
“Ok, I’ll try. Trotting,” Fluttershy squeaked as the Eva started to wobble forward. It took a single hesitant step then collapsed to the ground.
“Awww,” responded a dejected Pinkie Pie.
The huge creature stomped its way toward the fallen Eva and picked it up by the face. Fluttershy could feel the long, thin fingers as if it was wrapped around her own face. Warning buzzers sounded in the cockpit as the Eva pitched at an unnatural angle.
“Oh, thank you for helping me,” Fluttershy said gratefully. Then her Eva was thrown through the air.
The angel chased the Eva as it flew and jumped on it before it landed. The alien monster leapt on its back and tried to kick it into motion with spiny heels.
“Excuse me,” Fluttershy squeaked. “That isn’t very nice without asking permission first.”
The angel laughed a strange dark laugh.
Fluttershy lifted her haunches and the Eva reared it off. It flew through the air and crashed into a large tower. The angel growled, stood, and grabbed the Eva by the face again. Fluttershy noticed a strange purple light glowing from its hand.
“Get out!” cried Pinkie through the intercom. “Get out of there now!”
The light increased until a long thin lance erupted from it and slammed into the Eva’s head. It knocked the Eva through the air into more buildings, which severed the tail cable. A small clock in Fluttershy’s cockpit began to run down from five minutes.
Fluttershy could barely think as she grabbed her forehead. To her surprise she found no wound despite the pain.
Fluttershy shakily pushed Unit 0-1 onto its hoofs. The damaged head grinded on its neck as it looked for its query. Fluttershy saw the angel in the air mid leap as it descended upon her.
“Oh no, help!” called Fluttershy as she tried to shift her Eva out of the way to no avail.
The control room watched on as Fluttershy pleaded but was pounced upon. The angel launched its lance into the Eva’s forehead again and again.
Fluttershy could feel each stroke as if it was her own skull. Bright sparks of hot, white pain ran through her entire body. She felt sick and scared. No pony was around to save her. No pony was around the help.
Fluttershy lifted her hooves uselessly to fend off the incoming blows. The angel ignored the feeble attempts and focused on continuing the onslaught.
A large crack echoed through the empty city as the purple beam tore through the Eva’s skull and erupted out the other side.
The Eva stumbled into a building and collapsed. The timer had run out. Fluttershy shrieked as the angel approached. The Eva couldn’t move.
***
Suddenly, Fluttershy woke up in a hospital bed. She squinted as her eyes were assaulted by the stark lighting. She groggily looked around. It was an empty room with starchy stiff sheets. She noted that her normal khakis and button down shirt was missing and were replaced with a hospital gown. She sighed as she lay back down.
“I don’t like this place,” she said to herself. She stared at the ceiling for a few more minutes, then sat up and shouted, “Wait, what happened?.”
***
Pinkie Pie and Twilight trotted down the streets of Ponyville 3. Rubble and debris lined the cobblestone streets and teams of construction ponies worked hard to clean up the mess.
Pinkie watched them while Twilight took a phone call. She thought they looked a little down, so she found her emergency balloon animal kit. She was about to walk over and cheer them up when Twilight excitedly returned.
“Good news,” she exclaimed, ”Fluttershy is awake.”
“That’s incredaexcitmently great news! I just made that up. It’s a mixture of...”
“I can figure it out, Captain Pinkie,” groaned Twilight.” But seriously, these pilots are under your care. It might behoove you take your responsibilities more seriously.”
“Whenever I try to be more serious my mane gets all ttthhhpbb,” Pinkie exclaimed, sticking her tongue out.
“Thhhppbb?”
“Yes, thhhppbb,” Pinkie reiterated. She reached into her purse and pulled out her favorite food in the world. “Cupcake?”, she asked and offered it to Twilight.
“Thanks,”Twinkle nodded as she thoughtfully bit the cupcake. “It seems Fluttershy has no memory of the event.”
“Good, that way she won’t be scared or sad.”
“Pinkie! That could mean she’s sustained any number brain injuries.”
“Oh. I was hoping she could go back to a not sad Fluttershy.”
“It’s not possible. The events of life affect you no matter how much you want to ignore them.”
“I don’t ignore them,” Pinkie said, puffing her cheeks indignantly. “I just let them go by without thinking too much about them. If they change me then they did. It’s too late to go back. The change has already happened. No sense in worrying about it.”
***
Fluttershy stood up and tried to walk on weak legs. She slowly made her way out of the room. Some part of her felt numb. She wished she knew how she’d ended up here.
A nurse with white hair and mane pushed a stretcher with Maud lying on it. Fluttershy wondered what had injured her so badly. Then she wondered what happened to herself.
***
Pinkie and Twilight watched as the armored helmet of the Evanstallion was hoisted out of a large helmet-shaped crater. The massive crane strained under the weight and creaked unnaturally.
“So do you think she’ll pilot it again?” asked Twilight.
“She has to,” insisted Pinkie. “Although, it didn’t seem like she had the funniest time ever. But we need her. All we have to do is show how much fun piloting the Eva is.”
“How do we do that?,” Twilight curiously wondered.
“Umm,” Pinkie placed her hoof to her chin. She hadn’t thought of how to make a death machine fun and exciting to anypony before, and the prospect of the challenge excited her.
“Well, don’t think about it too hard,” Twilight said dismissively. “Hopefully she understands how crucial she is.”
***
Discord sat at an illuminated table in a darkened room with color coded copies of himself. Most of them looked bored and disappointed. Commander Discord seemed to distinguish himself from the others by not being neon colored, and by wearing his rose colored glasses.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” said a purple Discord. “You put Fluttershy in that awful situation.”
“Now, now, it’s all part of the plan,” explained Commander Discord. “It’s the reason CAKE exists.”
“We know, but we don’t have to like it,” whined blue Discord.
“That’s how the scenario works, gentlemen,” the Commander reminded them.
“I know you’re enjoying this role, ‘Commander Discord,’ but don’t get too caught up in it,” demanded white Discord. “You must still push the Pony Instrumentality Project forward.”
“Oh, pish posh,” dismissed Discord.” After all, that is why this world exists. I’ll do my part. Even if it’s not the most vaulted role.”
“Well, just remember that this is for her, not for yourself this time,” warned blue Discord.
“Humph, who do you think I am?” huffed Commander Discord.
“We’re going to leave now to make you feel excluded,” explained Orange Discord.
The lights went out along with the other Discords, leaving the Commander to grumble by himself.
***
“Wait. You want Fluttershy to live by herself?!” demanded Pinkie Pie of the CAKE agents. They stood in the admissions office. Pinkie had led the bewildered Fluttershy to the office to help get her new place.
The admissions clerk looked at Pinkie with a flat expression. “What do you want from us, miss? The commander said to put her in this cottage home on the edge of town. It sounds like a nice place if you ask me.”
“But it’s empty and lonely and way outside town. What if she needs a hug, or a cupcake, or a hug from a pony dressed as a cupcake?” demanded Pinkie.
“It’s ok, Pinkie,” explained Fluttershy. “I’m used to being by myself.”
“But that sounds so empty and lonely. I couldn’t bear seeing you all sad and by yourself. You’re moving in with me, and I won’t take no for an answer.”
“Ok,” sighed Fluttershy. She didn’t know if living with Pinkie would be such a good idea. She seemed to be such a loud and boisterous pony that it made Fluttershy cringe a little. But she seemed sad and lonely somehow. Fluttershy couldn’t bear to watch creatures in pain. So she agreed to live with Pinkie despite her reservations.
“You’ll need this necklace as well, ma’am,” said the CAKE agent. Fluttershy took the small necklace and nodded. “It’ll glow when we need you back at headquarters.”
“Thanks,” the yellow pegasus said, admiring the butterfly design that matched her cutie mark.
***
“You did what?” demanded Twilight. Pinkie and Twilight sat in the CAKE cafe at headquarters. The two liked to share hayfries together during their lunch break. “You asked Fluttershy to move in with you? Why would you do that? Fluttershy might be the type of pony that likes being alone. What if she hates the mess you leave, or your constant baking? She could leave and we would be without a pilot.”
“Stop Twilighting, Twilight,” Pinkie commanded indignantly. “I can’t just watch some sad pony live all by herself with no friends.”
“You let Maud live alone.”
“But Maud is totally fine with it. She doesn’t want anyone around.”
“What if Fluttershy is like that too?”
“It doesn’t feel the same. Sure she says she wants to live alone but her eyes say something smaller and sadder. Don’t worry, I won’t corrupt her and make her eat cupcakes all night with me until she gets sick or anything.”
“Of course you won’t. No pony has a stomach like yours. We need her in top shape if more angels come.”
“It’s already a done deal. She’ll be fine, Twilight, I Pinkie Promise. Cross my heart and hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye.”
“Ok, but don’t forget not every pony lives like you do. You have to let her be who she is.”
“Okie Dokie Lokie.”
***
Pinkie lived on the fourth floor of a large apartment building. It was a modern style building with a very sleek look. Fluttershy had a hard time connecting any of its sterile appeal and monolithic appearance to Pinkie.
She followed Pinkie to an outdoor hallway that helped to separate the different apartments and gave it a more of an open feeling. Pinkie found her bland door at the end of the long open hallway.
They stood by the door to the apartment as Pinkie fumbled to get the keys ready. Somehow she was able to hold them with a tuft of her mane. She looked at Fluttershy nervously. “It might be a little messy. I was making cupcakes for your ‘Congratulations on defeating your first angel, too bad you don’t remember it’ celebration,” she explained hesitantly. Her earlier certainly felt like it was starting to evaporate. “Now it can be a welcome home party.”
Fluttershy stopped outside of the door. “I don’t want to be a bother, are you sure you want me living here?”
“Ppppthm,” said Pinkie spitting all over,” it’s nice to have friends to share your life with, roomie.”
“Ok,” she hesitantly stepped into the apartment. “I’m home...”
But before she could finish her sentence Pinkie pounced on her in a death grip hug. Fluttershy felt the life giving air leave her lungs and hoped she would pass out before she felt her ribs crack.
“Welcome home,” said Pinkie. She let the little yellow pegasus go and watched excitedly as she gasped for breath. Pinkie always felt that a good hug should leave you breathless.
“Oh my,” exclaimed Fluttershy in disbelief as she surveyed the apartment. “This is... nice.”
The kitchen was covered in all manner of used pots and pans. Sugar, flour and sprinkles were splattered on the walls and ceiling. Somehow Pinkie had powdered the oven. Yet in the middle of the chaos sat two trays of perfectly delicious looking cupcakes.
“Well I had to get ready for your welcome home party, of course.” Pinkie emphasized the party with confetti and streamers falling from the ceiling.
The confetti landed on Fluttershy’s nose and caused her to sneeze. “Umm, who else is coming to this party?” she asked as she glanced about. She didn’t like surprises and prepared to run and hide at the slightest provocation of one.
“Just us today,” sighed Pinkie. “No pony has that much time for parties anymore. But now we can have a just-the-bestest-roommate party ever.”
“So we have a tray of cupcakes each?”
“Yeah,” giggled Pinkie. “Did you need more? Cause I can make more.”
“No, no, it’s...fine.”
Pinkie jumped to the table with the speed of a pouncing hungry animal. Half the tray was devoured in a single strike. She sat down and chewed merrily as Fluttershy began to clean the kitchen.
Fluttershy washed off the bowls and mopped the floor. Then she flew up to the ceiling and began to scrape the hardened frosting off. Shefinally wiped her brow and looked at the shining kitchen. She felt oddly content to have helped. She sat down and giggled as she noticed two of the cupcakes of her tray were missing. She glanced around the kitchen and cupboards and noticed a theme to its prior madness.
“Do you have any food that isn’t cupcakes?,” asked Fluttershy tentatively.
“Of course silly, there’s cake, and pie, and muffins, and mini muffins,”the pink roommate listed. “ I tried making mini cake and mini pie as well. Mini cake looked more like a cupcake but it’s actually just small cake.”
“Is there any oats or hay?”
“We have instant oats. It’s super yummy.”
“Oh ok.”
“You just take the box and throw it in the microwave and bing. Instant hot oats. “
“I see.”
“It’s super easy and gives me time to bake more. You know what would be fun? A bath! You should take one. They’re nice and relaxing especially after the cleaning you did around here. I hope you enjoyed it.”
“Enjoyed it?”
“Yeah I left the kitchen super messy so you can enjoy cleaning it up. You look like you’re the type of pony that really likes to help out. I thought it would be super fun to make you feel part of the home by helping clean. I didn’t want to make you feel like a burden or something.”
“Oh,” gasped Fluttershy as she realized her plan. “That really was nice to let me help. I do feel better and more at home.”
“Good. I’ll make many many messes around the home so you can help clean up.”
“That would be… nice.”
“But now go relax in that bath and soak your troubles away.”
“That does sound lovely, but I don’t want to take all your hot water.”
“It’ll be fine. After the day you had a nice soak will be good for your coat. And don’t forget the bubbles!”
Fluttershy found the bathroom surprisingly spotless. “I guess she really didn’t clean to help me,” thought Fluttershy. She ran the water and took off her well worn clothes. As the temperature of the water increased she decided to try the bubbles that Pinkie suggested. She found a pre-measured cup of bubble power next to the tub and added it to running water. Within seconds the bath and the room seemed constructed of bubbles.
“Oh my, perhaps that was just how much she had left,” she worried. Then she noticed a few stacked boxes of Supple Bubble bubble mix. The bubble bath topped off and Fluttershy slid into it. Soon the soaking warmth of the water caused her to finally relax. She had no idea how much tension she had been holding onto until that moment. Fluttershy gazed up at the strange ceiling and wondered what had happened before she woke up in the hospital bed.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the feeling of something hard brushed by her leg. She slowly looked up and found a green face amongst the bubbles. Fluttershy shrieked. She leapt out and scrambled out of the bathroom. She tore into the kitchen and found Pinkie casually drinking her cider.
“There’s an alligator in the bathtub!”
“What?,” responded Pinkie. “Oh, that’s Gummy. Awww, he likes you.”
“What do you mean?” mumbled Fluttershy as she turned and found Gummy dangling from her tail by his mouth. She screamed again and ran out of the room.
“You’re also naked,” called Pinkie after her.
She returned to the bathroom and slipped on the bubble soaked floor. The force of the slip caused the little gator to fly off her tail and land back in the tub. Fluttershy was able to flap her wings enough to keep from flopping on the floor. She stood on the slick floor and took large gulping breaths. As she breathed the little gator reappeared through the bubble wall of the tub. She looked at him while he slowly looked at her. His tongue whipped out across his eye.
“Oh, why you’re just a little gator,” Fluttershy said, calming finally. She carefully moved to him and began to pet his spines. “Awww, so cute.”
Gummy calmly turned his head and latched on to her hoof with his mouth. Fluttershy fought her natural urge to shout and noted that there was no pain in his bite. She could feel that his maw was empty of teeth. She sighed and relaxed again. Then she began to try to remove him from her arm. Try as she might the little gator would not budge. She sighed and found her room, with a gator attached and all.
Fluttershy laid on her bed surrounded by her moving boxes. She placed her headphones on and found the play button to her walk pony. She pressed play and was greeted by the cheerful chirps of a choir of birds. This was her favorite album. After the world-altering second impact in which a meteor impacted Yakyakistan and shifted the whole climate of Equestria, most of the birds disappeared along with the critters. Fluttershy always felt a twinge of sadness when she thought of that, even though she was so young when the second impact occurred.
The chirping birds began to mix with a curious sound in the distance. She strained to hear it but knew instinctively what it was. The chirping grew dimmer and dimmer as a loud metal clanging incessantly overwhelmed all her other senses. The sound became louder and louder until it was all she could hear. Then she remembered.
***
The Evanstallion leaned on a building as the angel approached. Fluttershy screamed “Please, mister angel, I don’t want to hurt you. You’re just hurting my fellow ponies and we just want you… eep!”
The Evanstallion suddenly reactivated with a lurch and lifted its head. The angel walked towards her. The Eva growled and got off the ground on wobbling legs. It felt shaky and its movement felt unnatural. Fluttershy could feel the anger and hostility it carried inside it. She shuddered as it lumbered toward its foe.
“Unit-01 is awake!,” cried Trixie. The rest of the command center gasped as the armored creature they called the Eva began squirming across the ground like a rabid dog.
“It’s not supposed to do that. All its magic was used up!” cried Twilight.” It shouldn’t be able to move.”
“Tell it that,” pointed out Lyra as they watched the Eva roar.
“It’s out of control,” shouted Twilight.
“It’s healed all its previous wounds,” cried Trixie.
“It’s horn is activating,” called Bon Bon.
“Is that an antiAT field?,” cried Twilight.
“What is an AT field? I blinked during the opening sequence!,” screamed Pinkie.
“After all my presentations on it?! Really Pinkie. An AT field stands for Absolute Terror field. It’s a field of magic that angels release to protect themselves.”
“The Eva is breaking through,” announced the bewildered blue unicorn.
Unit-01’s horn began to glow. The glow intensified as it pressed it against the thin vibrating wall that encapsulated the angel. The angel shrieked as the long unicorn lance pierced the AT field.
“Stoooppp,” screamed Fluttershy in anger.
Both Unit-01 and the angel stopped in their battle.
“You two need to calm down,” she shouted.
She pointed her hoof at the irate angel. “You need to stop attacking ponies or somepony could get hurt. You might be big and mean and scary, but that doesn’t mean you should hurt others. And you, Evanstallion. I know the angel tried to hurt you but that is no excuse to attack and try to rip apart his soul. Remember I am in here. You should be more considerate. Perhaps you frighted him when all he was doing was looking for a friend.”
The command crew stared at the two dejected looking beings in awe.
“Now Mr. Angel why don’t you leave the city so you can stop crushing other ponies, and I’ll talk to my friends in CAKE and we can figure this out.”
The angel backed away a few sad paces. Then it looked over at the Evanstallion with tears in its eyes.
“Flapping ears! Crossing eyes, twisting tail,” screamed Pinkie Pie. “Fluttershy, it’s gonna blow itself up!”
“What?! No,” shouted Fluttershy. The Evanstallion ran toward the angel with a hoof outstretched to stop it just as it exploded.
“Fluttershy!” shouted Pinkie.
***
Fluttershy woke up in her bed again. She had tears running down her face.
The door opened to her room and Pinkie walked in. Her Pinkie sense told her that Fluttershy had just remembered everything. She wasn’t sure what to say but felt she had to say something. She licked her dry lips and tried.
“Hey Fluttershy. I know we had a great party and everything, and we are going to be the bestest roommates ever, but I am worried about what happened earlier. I mean the angel went all kablooie and hurt the Eva as well. Twilight thinks it’s best to let you come to terms with it on your own, but I just feel super awful about it. But I am really happy you tried so hard to get them to be friends. It was very brave. I’m not sure these angels want to be friends though. Anyway, you are my best roommate friend ever and if you want to talk I’m right here ok?”
Fluttershy didn’t move. The shock and horror of her own memories caused her muscles to freeze. She could only let out an inaudible whimper.
“Ok, goodnight,” Pinkie finished and left Fluttershy to her thoughts. “Oh, and I signed you up for a class on the second impact to help you make some friends.”