//------------------------------// // Chapter 7- Painful Kindness // Story: Only the Broken, Only the Cursed (please read blog post) // by DougtheLoremaster //------------------------------// “Huh?” Twilight blinked as the gentle voice of Fluttershy reached her ears. Standing before her was the same yellow Pegasus that stared into her soul before. Her voice was gentle and as soft as a new pillow. “I a-asked if you would help me with something. T-that is if you don’t mind?” Twilight paused at the question. It seemed a bit odd. She knew nothing about this Pegasus, aside from one thing. As Fluttershy stared expectantly at her, she remembered their previous meeting. *** Can you hear me? Fluttershy’s stare bored into her eyes. Twilight could hear her voice in her head. What? How are you- Listen to me. I can tell you prefer taking orders rather than giving them. However, that is not my style. Still, I suppose it is the kindest act I can perform for you. You seem to be more content being beaten down than being given a hug so, here goes. When I say sit, you will sit. When I command you will obey. When my friends talk to you, you will listen! Am I clear? I- Am I clear? But I- Am. I. Clear? Yes. Good girl. Consider yourself leashed to my will. Now tell me about yourself. Understood? Yes um- My name is Fluttershy and you will use it. Yes, Fluttershy. It began when I turned 2 and was enrolled in the Canterlot Academy… Fluttershy listened to Twilight explain her past. After a minute of locking eyes with Twilight, Fluttershy blinked and turned to point at Spike, sleeping soundly in his cot. Twilight nodded her head eagerly and Fluttershy muttered. “So that’s it. I understand.” Turning to Applejack, Fluttershy exclaimed to her in a soft tone. “This Unicorn will be allowed to sit next to the dragon while he sleeps.” Applejack was shocked by the sudden statement. “Uh...Flutters Ah dun think-” Fluttershy interrupted her, stating in a more forceful tone. “I am not asking your permission, Applejack. I am telling you, she will be allowed to sit next to that dragon.” *** Twilight stared at her. Though she possessed the quality to command Twilight; Fluttershy’s voice was one of softness. Being nice was not something Twilight particularly enthused about. Now she was being asked to swallow her pride and do something with no explanation other than the possibility of helping another? What should she say? *** Normally, this would repulse her. Asking, instead of demanding was for the weak. Or at least, that’s what Celestia taught her. Now, however, Twilight’s eyes had begun opening to new scenarios and ideals she never thought possible. Just like Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, perhaps Fluttershy had something about her; something Twilight never considered. If Loyalty and Laughter served a purpose; maybe the gentle kindness given by this mare, could as well. Twilight had a chance to learn something new. And Fluttershy had already shown she could overpower Twilight’s will. *** Twilight swallowed hard. Her voice was strained as she forced the words. “I’d l-lov- I am willing to hel-assist. Fluttershy.” Fluttershy noticed the effort but shook her head. She hated being demanding. She hated telling others what to do. However, to reach the Unicorn before her, Fluttershy would gladly do so; if only to make her comfortable. Her words were soothing and sweet. “I c-can see you are still t-trying to understand. I a-am proud of your attempt, but for now-” Fluttershy paused and straightened her back. Taking a deep breath, Her tone grew harsher; commanding, and her stutter vanished. “Up on your hooves and follow me. And don’t forget Spike. Come, ‘girl’.” Her voice was abrasive. To any other, the inflection placed on the word girl would be a demeaning slur. She was treating Twilight with the utmost disrespect and Twilight, just as she had been taught, responded with an appreciative smile. Her reaction was immediate; hopping up onto her hooves. Using levitation to place the still-sleeping dragon on her back, Twilight happily followed Fluttershy out of the room. *** Twilight looked at the walls, marveling at just how large the hallway was. The hallway was massive. It was at least twenty hoof-lengths in width and seemed to be almost a hundred hoof-lengths in height. The more she followed Fluttershy the more it seemed familiar; horrifyingly familiar. Great stone columns were topped by intricately carved arches. On the walls were sconces containing shimmering crystals, that lit the hallway. Embedded in the walls between each of the sconces were a set of iron doors. Twilight blinked; was she crazy or were they walking down the great hall inside a castle? In front of her, Fluttershy was talking to her. The words were a mixture of harsh and soft tones. “Listen, w-we are going to clean up the residential rooms while the occupants e-eat dinner. G-got it?” The strange way of talking didn’t escape Twilight’s ears. It was clear that though Fluttershy could order her about; she simply wasn’t comfortable doing so. Though she noticed it, Twilight couldn’t figure out why. Humiliating, demeaning, and commanding were signs of a strong pony. Weren’t they? Twilight stayed quiet about her observation and took a moment to think about it. Within the past hour, her eyes had been opened to two strange concepts; Loyalty and Laughter. She needed to learn more. She didn’t know why, but it seemed important. She didn’t understand where she was, or why talking to these ponies was important, but it felt familiar. They felt familiar. Like she knew them, somehow. For some reason, it felt like she had to; as though it was essential for what was to come. More than that, however, she found herself enjoying the encounters. Her very being yearned to rip Fluttershy apart. Weakness was to be removed. Still, with Spike on her back, Twilight held her desire to kill at bay. She noticed Fluttershy’s missing ear and could feel the raging storm her calmness hid. There was more to her than some surface weakness; Twilight could feel it. Twilight made her choice, and momentarily ignored the feeling of weakness from Fluttershy. In the most respectful tone she could utter, she responded. “Yes, Fluttershy.” Turning to look Twilight in the eyes; the kindly Pegasus mare spoke with an attempt at being in control but broke down mid-sentence and ended up using her naturally soft and warm voice. “We’re here, alright before we go in, r-remember to respect others' belongings.” Twilight’s confusion at the statement was conveyed in her reply. “Others have belongings? I just thought Celestia owned everything.” Fluttershy chuckled as she pushed open the door and gestured Twilight in. “Oh-oh my, yes. And she does, but those under her rule are permitted to have our possessions; provided she doesn’t declare otherwise.” Twilight’s jaw nearly hit the floor in shock at the sight within. The walls were decorated with axes, knives, swords, and shields; all stained with dark crimson and well worn. Twilight was in awe at the trophies displayed upon the wall. All shapes and sizes, they were from all over Equus, not just Equestria. As she looked around at the hundreds of wall hangings, she asked Fluttershy. “Whose room is this anyway? And where did they get all of these?” Trotting over to the bed, Fluttershy said simply. “Rainbow Dash. Though a bit barbaric; she has a habit of taking the weapon she uses to rid an area of cultist infestation.” Twilight was a bit confused. She questioned Fluttershy further, her words strangely innocent. It was as though she really were a child who was curious about some baubles. “Taking...the weapon she...uses?” Fluttershy gently fluffed the pillow on the bed as she responded with clear disdain. “Yes. Rainbow gets bored fighting in a normal way. Rather than bring her own weapon; when she encounters a gathering of cultists on her patrol, she steals the chieftain's weapon. Afterward, she proceeds to dismember every cloaked creature in the area with it. Come here and help me with th-this, please.” Twilight walked over to the bed and helped Fluttershy spread fresh sheets onto the bed, all while musing over the macabre hobby. “That’s pretty neat; collecting the weapons after killing the owners. Maybe I should start doing that.” Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. “Why do you delight in such evil b-behavior?” “Evil? I don’t understand. It sounds like fun!” Fluttershy seemed taken aback at the enthusiastic declaration for a moment. Then it dawned on her. Being trained and raised by the murderous tyrant of their world, Celestia; Twilight would naturally find killing to be exciting. Of course it wouldn’t seem evil to her. Fluttershy felt slightly nauseous at the realization. As much as the topic sickened her, Fluttershy decided to play Nightmare's Advocate and try to form a connection with the seemingly wayward filly. “You enjoy killing that much, huh?” However, much to her surprise; Twilight shook her head. “Not at all, taking a life is not something I enjoy.” Her words were barely a whisper, her tone one of pain. Then she seemed to brighten up. “I was talking about the idea of collecting weapons and armor...I-” Twilight looked down at her hooves; her face flushed with embarrassment as she finished. “Don’t have anything of my own.” Fluttershy blinked. The response was just so innocent. Of all the possible answers, Fluttershy was taken by complete surprise; the sheer innocence of the filly before her was surprising. Going over the reasons why her friends engaged in such horrifying activities; she didn’t understand. During the stare, Twilight had told her of the countless atrocities she had committed when out of range of Spike. Fluttershy thought silently about the hillside a couple of hours ago; The ice ripping apart her attackers. She slaughtered those cultists. Though why didn’t she kill me? “Then why do you slaughter others? What justifies the taking of a life?” Fluttershy watched in absolute shock as Twilight stiffened at the question. Her eyes began to water and tears flowed down the little filly’s face. She began speaking; tonelessly, as though hopeless. Her words sounded hollow. “When I hurt, they will hurt. The world will know my pain. Devastating blazes shall ravage the land. Blistering cold shall freeze every living beast solid. I must hold nothing back. All will know my anguish.” Her words echoed another. It wasn’t her speaking, no, it was a lesson that had been brutally instilled within Twilight’s mind. Fluttershy felt her heart break listening to the morose tone of despair. It was obvious Twilight felt it was wrong, but she couldn't deny the horrific lessons that had been ingrained into her very being. Fluttershy’s heart went out to the little Unicorn. Unlike her friends, she had been blessed with an unending well of Kindness. Serving as a mediator of mental health for the compound; day in and day out, Fluttershy provided counseling and support for the survivors of cultist attacks. The Pegasus knew all too well that some issues couldn’t be fixed. The halls of the castle were filled with inhabitants of the broken and ravaged souls of Equestria. Fluttershy gave a sad smile. She knew what Twilight needed right now. Walking over to her, the Pegasus wrapped her in a warm hug; draping her wings around the little filly. She spoke softly to her in an encouraging manner. “Maybe collecting w-weapons would be good for you. You can decorate your w-walls as Dashie does. If you do a good job, maybe I-I’ll come to take a look.” Twilight blinked; shaken from her trance. Instinctively, she snuggled into the warm hug. She couldn’t help but smile as the soothing voice and warmth of Kindness radiating from kindly yellow Pegasus enveloped her. She felt it entering her heart; it was infectious. Feeling excited, she glanced up and responded with eagerness. “Really? You promise?” Fluttershy gave the little Unicorn a gentle pat on her head with her wing, before turning to continue tidying up the room. Her voice though containing the stutter was firm in resolve. “I-I do. J-Just promise me y-you’ll do your best.” That’s when a light went on in Twilight’s mind. Fluttershy wasn’t scared of her, and in a slight twist of irony, Twilight was overjoyed by it. Kindness may have been a weakness, but it also seemed to be a strength for the Pegasus mare. Twilight could feel her genuine concern and her pure love for all living beings. And as Twilight watched her picking up books off the floor, she noticed a rag by her side. Taking hold of it with her magic, Twilight turned and looked at the wall-hangings. A small smile appeared on her muzzle as she started polishing the weapons. Fluttershy paused and snuck a glance at Twilight polishing the sharpened blades. In the reflection of a shield, she glimpsed her face; her torn ear, her scars. Fluttershy knew first-hoof how horrible the world could be; how finding any solace in Equestria was almost non-existent. She thought of her friends and all she had sacrificed for them, and then an image stood out in her mind. Rainbow Dash smiling as Twilight and she discussed the past. While it wasn’t uncommon for Rainbow Dash to smile; she never talked about that night. Not with her friends, not with anypony. For her to be so open with a stranger was unheard of. Fluttershy couldn’t help but feel a connection had been made. And if she could make Rainbow open up, perhaps Twilight could be the key to freeing all my friends from the bonds of their past. Maybe even my own. Working together, the room was sparkling in no time. Fluttershy smiled as Twilight wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. “Alright looks like this room’s done. Let’s go to the next. And while we work, I-I have a story I want to tell you-” Twilight watched as Fluttershy seemed to gather all the courage she could muster before she finished her thoughts. “-Of a precious b-bunny rabbit, and the f-foolish Pegasus he s-sacrificed himself to save.”