//------------------------------//
// Chapter 10- The Dreams of A Butterfly 
// Story: Only the Broken, Only the Cursed (please read blog post) 
// by DougtheLoremaster 
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Outside Fluttershy’s door, Applejack stared down into the eager eyes of the surprisingly energetic filly before her. She had been startled by how fast Twilight’s wounds had healed upon transforming. Now, without a single scratch on her and acting like nothing even happened, Twilight stood before her. Though while Twilight seemed ready to forgive and forget, Applejack was not.
The Earthpony was internally fuming at herself; for her actions. Fluttershy had been right to smack her. Had it been literally any other creature in the castle, that first kick from AJ would have killed them on contact. And she knew it. The others looked to her as a leader, and she lost control of her senses and attacked; all because of a past memory.
I couldn’t stop myself. Why? She isn’t her. She isn’t willingly breaking my carefully laid out rules. So why does she remind me so much of my sister?
Admitting fault, was not something Applejack relished. She knew she was in the wrong, however. Regardless of whether Twilight was over it, Applejack knew from experience until she apologized, it would wear on her mind. You can do this. Just mare up and apologize to her. And then you can move on. Swallow your pride, pull up your garters, and just do it. 
Looking down at the Unicorn filly before her, Applejack took a deep breath before telling her what was on her mind.
“Hey, Twilight, Ahm sorry for...for kickin’ ya like that. It wasn’t anything you did and it weren’t fair to ya. Ah’m sorry- huh?”
Twilight seemed to have become panicked by these words and was furiously pounding on Fluttershy’s bedroom door. Applejack barely had time to process what was happening, let alone stop her, before an unholy scream was heard and the heavy iron door was flung open; revealing a very murderous Element of Kindness.

***

Fluttershy was a, normally, kind Pegasus. Day in and day out, she would place every creature’s needs ahead of her own. She never took a break, she never stopped spreading her love of all living beings across the castle grounds. Even Chrysalis, the Changeling Queen who normally hated ponies in the hive chambers, graciously welcomed her guidance once a week. 
Fluttershy gave her all, and in return asked just one thing. That she not be disturbed while sleeping. While asleep, the Pegasus could let any emotions towards the day’s events vanish into the ether. This prevented her from wringing her friend’s necks in an emotional rampage. Now, however, she had been woken up not once, but twice.  And there she stood, eye twitching, gritting her teeth in rage.

***

Glaring out of her doorway and seeing Applejack, Fluttershy snarled at her.
“This better be good AJ. What is it?”
Completely at a loss, Applejack just pointed to the anxious little filly in front of Fluttershy. Looking down, Fluttershy noticed the tear-filled eyes of the little filly and her rage instantly broke. Her eyes softened and with all the grace the disgruntled Pegasus could muster, she used her wing-tips to wipe away the tears from Twilight’s eyes. She spoke in the sweetest tone.
“There, there. None of that now, what was it I told you about t-tears?”
Sniffling, Twilight whimpered.
“No need for tears.”
Fluttershy nodded and leaned down to drape her wings over Twilight. Her words carried her concern and were almost melodic in tone; mesmerizingly melodic.
“That’s right. Now show me what a brave filly you are, and give me a smile.”
The little filly cracked a smile, after a little more coaxing from Fluttershy. Applejack stood off to the side and watched in wonder as Fluttershy worked her devastatingly effective brand of magic. It never ceased to amaze her just how Fluttershy was always able to connect with others; regardless of species or customs. The two began a whispered conversation with each other. It was two very nerve-wracking minutes for the Earthpony before Fluttershy lowered her wings and nodded.
“ Oh-oh my. Yes, I can see how that would s-startle you. I appreciate your w-willingness to confide in me. I’ll let her know. Please wait here for me sweetie. There’s a good girl.”
While Twilight obediently sat on her haunches, Fluttershy narrowed her eyes and approached Applejack, who was silently contemplating just how fast she could escape the castle before Flutters caught her. Trembling, Applejack watched as Fluttershy approached her; clearly irritated, to say the least.
Stopping a hoof’s length away from Applejack, Fluttershy’s eye twitched and she gnashed her teeth. She closed both her eyes and took a deep breath. Applejack could clearly see the beast within which she was holding back. Her mind flashed back to one night at the faculty dinner table, when the five discussed their strategies for coping with their various pasts. Back when the school began 6 years ago; 2 years after the infamous Ponyville Massacre.

***

“Well, Maud lets me throw parties for her, when I get sad! Did you know tomorrow is her birthday? We’re planning on taking the day to go down to the Crystal Caves to celebrate. Oh that reminds me, can I have the day off tomorrow? I’m throwing a birthday party for my sister!”
As her friends snickered at the antics of the ever optimistic Pinkie Pie, Applejack nodded.
“Alright then, Pinkie ya ken take th’ day off. Ah’ll cover your shift in th’ lunch room. Just be careful, that’s cultist territory. What about the rest of you? Do y’all have any special ways ta ward off the pain, that we can share with th’ students?”
“Why yes, Dah-ling. I’ve started practicing my stitching and bandage techniques on some mannequins I’ve made. It helps me steady my mind when I’m stressed.”
Using her magic, she materialized a mannequin that she had been working on; that strangely resembled her lost sister. The others gave her a sympathetic glance as Rarity furiously began stitching the limbs of the extremely detailed Sweetie Belle mannequin using her magic.
 Looking across the table, Applejack spoke to Rainbow Dash.
“And what about you, Rainbow?”
“I...don’t recommend teaching the students to do what I do.”
“Which is?”
Holding up a bloody scythe which she had stolen and been polishing, Rainbow smiled.
“Collecting trophies on my recruitment expeditions.”
Applejack nodded.
“Noted. We’ll leave that out of th’ lessons. What about you Fluttershy?”
“I...sl…”
“Didn’t catch that.”
“I sleep.”
“You...Sleep?”
Nodding, the shy Pegasus elaborated. “When I sleep, I work out any agressions I’ve felt during the day.”
“How so, Sugarcube?”
Fluttershy took a deep breath before explaining.
“I kill every last creature in this castle within my dreams. It prevents me from strangling you while awake.”
Rarity stopped what she was doing, and looked up; a look of shock on her face.
“You...dream of killing us...Darling?”
“Y-yes.”
Rainbow dropped her polishing rag, and pointed the scythe’s sharpened blade at Fluttershy, shouting at her.
“You want to kill us?”
Fluttershy dropped her head to the table, placing her hooves over her eyes, squeaking out.
“N-no, that’s not-”
Rarity narrowed her eyes, pointing at her, trying to hold back her disdain.
“That’s not at all like you, Dah-ling.”
“That’s not what I-”
Pinkie; initially shocked, threw her hooves in the air and giggled nervously.
“Maybe you just need a party!”
“I’m t-trying to-”
Fluttershy was cut off as Rainbow pointed the crimson-stained scythe’s hook at her.
“I’ll kill you first!”
In an instant, before Rainbow could even pull back her hoof to strike, Applejack rose from her chair and slammed Rainbow to the floor; pinning her under her hooves.
“Whoa there, Nelly. Tone it down, Rainbow, she ain’t tryin’ ta kill us.”
“That’s ri-rght, I-”
Rainbow struggled against Applejack’s hoof, which moved from her barrel to press lightly, but firmly against her neck.
“Get off, me AJ. She said she dreams of killing us!”
Fluttershy uncovered her eyes, getting annoyed at being cut off.
“No. I w-would never try to-
Applejack glared down at Rainbow.
“That aint what she’s saying.”
Fluttershy snapped. Slamming her hooves down on the stone table, the others froze as cracks spiderwebbed across its surface. Fluttershy’s eye was twitching and her voice lost all indications of her previous skittish nature.
“I am not trying to kill you! The reason I have such dreams is so I don’t! You have no idea how much weight I bear each and every wretched day in this castle!”
Pausing for a breath, her friends stared at her in complete surprise. How long had Fluttershy been holding this in?  She continued, leaving nothing off the table. Pointing at the pinned Pegasus, Fluttershy’s voice took on a mocking tone.
“Oh Fluttershy, my wings are singed to a crisp. Rarity says they’ll never heal and I feel like a caged bird running across the lands instead of flying. What can I do about it?”
Narrowing her eyes to a glare, Fluttershy roared at her.
“Oh, I don’t know Rainbow. Why don’t you find some way to make it fun? Sound familiar Mrs Trophyhunter? But of course I don’t care, right? And you!”
Turning her attention away from the shell shocked Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy focused on the disdainful face of Rarity.
“My sister, Sweetie Belle, died from my own greed and ignorance. It hurts so much, how can I overcome this pain, Darling? Oh I know, Mrs Generosity, why don’t you work on your craft. I bet if you were to practice your profession, it would help you become less stressed and allow you to help others, so they don’t suffer the same fate! Who suggested that again? Oh right, me! Not one of you has ever had to carry each and every creature’s burdens on your heart every second of every day. With no downtime! They stole my doll, she’s being mean to me. I have to listen to the problems of others non-stop. And no one ever asks about my problems. So yeah, in my dreams I burn you alive, I slash your ungrateful throats and I flay the flesh from your bones. And it’s only so I can get it out of my system and be there for you when you need me most!”
Fluttershy clasped her hooves over her mouth and whimpered, as the realization of what she said dawned on her. Her eyes watered and lowering her head to the table, she began to sob. 
“I-I’m sorry. I-”
“Ungh!”
Applejack found herself crashing to the ground as Rainbow shoved her to the side, and stood up. Dusting herself off, the crippled Pegasus walked over to and placed her hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. Her voice wasn’t the normal raspy, egotistical tone she used. It was soft, it was gentle.
“Fluttershy, you’re right. I’m sorry. It’s really unfair of us to demand so much from you, but never offer you anything in return. If that’s what it takes for you to be the warm and caring Pegasus I know you are, then do it. I have just one favor to ask you.”
Sniffling, Fluttershy raised her head and found her tears brushed away by Rainbow Dash.
“If possible, when you execute me each night, could you at least make sure it takes place in mid-flight?”
Seeing Rainbow break out in a smile, before hugging her, Fluttershy gave a soft giggle.
“Y-yes.”
Fluttershy looked up at Rarity, who had aggressively gone back to her stitching practice; working furiously on a hole that had appeared on the mannequin’s heart. 
“Rarity, I-I’m sorry I w-was just-”
Rarity silenced her with a wave of her hoof. Her voice held no animosity, sounding more hurt than anything.
“Dah-ling, it’s fine. Celestia knows we all have blood on our hooves. Whatever it takes to survive in this world, that’s what we all agreed on. As for Sweetie Belle, you were right; it’s nopony’s fault but my own. I won’t hold it against you.”
Rarity’s stitching slowed and she glanced up; a pleading expression on her face.
“But if possible, could you take my life, while I’m letting my sister know I love her, just one last time?”
As Fluttershy Confirmed she would indeed do that for Rarity, Applejack rose from the ground and dusted herself off. Adjusting her hat and giving Rainbow a quick, scornful glance with her eyeless socket, Applejack gave a laugh.
“Alright y’all. Ah think we’ve all reached a consensus on the matter. Let’s all make sure Flutters isn’t disturbed while she’s getting her, admittedly, justified ‘revenge’-”
Applejack paused as Pinkie Pie giggled, before continuing.
“On us fer our baggage, at night. Agreed?”
Looking around the table, Applejack watched her friends nod in agreement. Smiling, she adjusted her hat, to cover the exposed parts of her skull once more.
“Glad we all agree. Meeting adjourned. Ah gotta head out, promised Applebloom Ah would take ‘er out on a night scout ops.”
Rainbow got a twinkle in her eye. 
“How’s she doing in her combat training?”
Applejack thought for a moment.
“She’s the best in class. Technique, strength, drive...She has no equal. Now if she would just learn ta follow directions, she could easily place second command on your squad, Rainbow.”
Rainbow Dash grinned, revealing her crimson-stained teeth, her sharpened fangs the result of carefully whittling down her molars with the edges of her enemy’s blades.
“I look forward to it. So, what’s your mark?”
“Griffonstone. Gilda contacted us askin’ about ya, and the time has come to reclaim what was lost.”

	***

A sharp pain snapped her out of her memories. Blinking, Applejack dazedly focused on Fluttershy; who stood in front of her hoof raised again, and looking rather annoyed.
“Are you even listening, are you trying to aggravate me?”
“No Flutters, Ah-”
Applejack watched Fluttershy’s eye twitching, as the loving Element of Kindness barely managed to hold back her internal rage. Her voice was unsettlingly forced; strained and gratingly nice. Applejack winced. The normally calm and rational Earthpony’s composure was shattered by Fluttershy’s angry glare. Uncontrollably, Applejack babbled words, her utter terror evident upon her face.
 “Flutters, All Ah did was apologize...ah didn’ know she was gonna...Ah mean Ah know Ah upset her when Ah lost mah cool an’ hit her but...If Ah had known she’d wake you up Ah woulda-”
Applejack fell silent as Fluttershy’s hoof slammed down onto the stone floor.
“I am not in the mood for this Applejack. I was having a wonderfully therapeutic dream, ripping your head off. And I will not be able to prevent myself from doing so much longer-”
Sighing, Fluttershy slowly placed her hoof on Applejack’s shoulder. She spoke in a forced version of her normally sweet voice, almost as if spoken through clenched teeth. Applejack winced as Fluttershy’s hoof dug into her flesh.
“All you need to know is she wasn’t mad you hit her. The only thing she fears is disappointing others. Just tell her why you hit her, don’t say you're sorry. She doesn’t understand why you would apologize to her. Nopony does and it confuses her. Now before I lose myself completely, I’m going back to bed.”
Releasing Applejack’s shoulder which was now bright red from the pressure, Fluttershy breathed heavily, straining to withhold from lashing out at Applejack.
“Tell Starlight she will be covering my shift tomorrow, I’m taking the day off, to get some rest. Oh, and make sure she knows; if she makes my babies cry, I’ll make sure her tears never stop. So do make sure she plays nice, or I will snap her in half.”
Without waiting for a response, Fluttershy turned abruptly and walked towards Twilight, her demeanor changing once more. She reached out and as Applejack watched, gently lifted Twilight’s chin to gaze up at her. She smiled sweetly.
“S-sweetie, you need to spend some time with your big s-sister. I’m sure A-Applejack has some very interesting things to s-share with you. I need to get some rest, you and I can play tomorrow. Now be a good girl and go with Applejack.”
Fluttershy calmly straightened up and walked through the doorway to her room. Slowly closing the heavy iron door she called out to where Applejack could hear, before slamming the door shut.
“Oh, right almost forgot. H-Happy birthday, Twilight! Have f-fun at the party, you two!”