//------------------------------// // Not the Utopia You Were Looking For Part 2 // Story: PinkieShy // by PatRoison //------------------------------// It took great strength, but the group managed to restrain Rainbow Dash. Of course, pinned down was a closer description. “Rainbow,” Twilight shouted, “We have to stay calm.” “Calm my flank,” Rainbow shouted, “I want to know what she did with Fluttershy and Pinkie.” “And we will get those answers,” Rarity said, “But we must keep our heads.” Applejack limped toward Rainbow and sat down, “I get it, Sugarcube. I do, but think about Alder.” Rainbow’s anger began to lose its edge, “She wasn’t real. She was just a lie that Yew made up.” “Oh, she was real,” Yew said, “So were Cypress and Tulip. They were all real.” Twilight let go of Rainbow Dash, “Please don’t do anything rash.” Rainbow Dash sighed, “I promise. Just like the ghost, right?” “Exactly,” Twilight said, “I’ll try to get as much information as possible.” “Well, I love an interrogation,” Yew said, “But you can’t hurt me, pony.” Twilight walked to Yew, “And I don’t mean to. All I want is some information. We learned how you operate. You enjoy being cryptic, so I won’t waste time asking for details. For right now, I only have one question. You said that it wasn’t where you sent our friends but when. Did you send them to the past? To your past?” Yew nodded, “But they were already there. Time can be so confusing.” Rarity sighed and gathered Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie’s elements from the floor. “They won’t need those,” Yew said, “Besides, I don’t think they’ll work without the rest.” Twilight sighed, “Okay, I think I understand.” She returned to the remaining ponies, “We have to assume that she’s not lying. She is powerful enough to cast a spell that sent Fluttershy and Pinkie to the past.” “But that was before the princesses,” Rarity said, “Is that even possible?” “Technically, it is,” Twilight said, “But as far as I know, the most powerful unicorn could send themselves back no further than a week.” “That means I’m dangerous,” Yew said. Rainbow Dash lunged at Yew, who vanished and reappeared next to Applejack. “Don’t bother,” Applejack said, “You’re not gonna hurt her.” She turned to Yew and asked, “Was what Twi and Rarity said true? Were y’all dryads close to earth ponies?” Yew’s face softened for a moment, “We were, but that changes nothing. I’ll leave all of you with your thoughts. Besides, you have your own prisoners to deal with as well.” They turned around to Aqua Rain and her friends. Sapphire Rain was about to leave the room and froze as the group’s attention was now on her. “Do you really think that is a good idea,” Rarity asked, “You know this is a labyrinth. How do you expect to get anywhere?” Sapphire Rain looked at her friends and sighed in resignation. She returned to Emerald Lily and sat down. Twilight turned to Rarity and whispered, “I have an idea. Can you keep Yew distracted?” Rarity nodded, “I’ll try.” She walked to Yew, “I have a question.” “You have several questions,” Yew said, “But will I answer?” “You will answer because you know what I’m capable of,” Rarity said, “Your history was quite eye-opening, and it made me realize that we’ve been far too lenient with you.” Yew took a cautious step back, “There is nothing you can do to me.” Rarity didn’t let the dryad get away, “Are you sure? You have no idea how far we’ve advanced since you have been trapped here. Do you think unicorns were cruel in your time? Just imagine what new tricks we learned.” Yew glared at Rarity, “Your kind never changed. Forever cruel and taking from us. We offered nothing but friendship, and you took our lives.” Rarity grinned, “And nothing of value was lost.” She leaned closer to Yew and whispered, “It’s not cruelty. It’s efficiency.” Rage filled Yew’s face as she tried to reply. Her eyes began to glow as she began to shake with anger. “And what silly trick do you have planned now,” Rarity asked, “You’ve already played your cards, or do you honestly think you can surprise us?” The room began to darken, and the obsidian walls groaned softly in protest. Suddenly, Yew stopped. She smiled weakly at Rarity, “I’m not giving you the satisfaction. You will learn. I’ll be watching you.” She vanished, and the room filled with an awkward silence. “Dang, Rarity,” Rainbow said, “Wasn’t that a bit much.” Rarity smiled, “Yes, and that was by design.” --- While Rarity kept Yew’s attention, Twilight was speaking with Sapphire Rain. “I don’t remember,” Sapphire Rain pleaded. Twilight shook her head, “I think you don’t want to talk about it, and I completely understand. This is important. We need information, and you were connected to her somehow. Do you remember the reason you kept saying...” “Don’t,” Sapphire Rain whispered, “I don’t want to hear those words ever again.” “I’m sorry,” Twilight said, “But I have to know. What is the blackened emerald?” Sapphire shook her head, “No. I don’t want to think about it.” “It’s a key,” Emerald Lily said, “At least, I think it was.” Sapphire Rain nodded, “In my head, I see that place. I see ponies with the blackened emerald.” Groans escaped the obsidian walls, and Sapphire Rain looked around nervously. “Okay,” Twilight said, “I don’t want her to know we talked. Try to rest, and don’t run off. The last thing you want is to be lost in here.” The ponies nodded and walked to a corner to join Aqua Rain and Cobalt. “You two okay,” Cobalt asked. Both ponies shared a glance and shook their heads. “Me neither,” he said as he rested his head against Aqua Rain’s shoulder. “It all be over soon,” he whispered. “Will it,” Aqua Rain asked. Cobalt stared across the room toward Twilight Sparkle and the others. He sighed and said, “I don’t know.” --- “These roads are funny,” Pinkie said, “They’re smooth like Ponyville, but they’re made out of something that isn’t dirt.” “You’re right,” Fluttershy said, “This isn’t the cobblestone from Manehattan or Canterlot. I wonder what kind of stone this is.” Pinkie stared at the road and gave a cautious sniff. “This is weird,” she said, “There are rocks in this, but it’s a mix of stuff. I don’t know what this is, but it’s pretty fancy.” Fluttershy smiled at her girlfriend and glanced around the area. Ponies were staring at the pair, and when Fluttershy would wave at them, they would flinch and quickly walk away. “I don’t think they like strangers,” Fluttershy said. “Aww, but a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met,” Pinkie said, “Let’s find somepony and find out what’s what.” Fluttershy saw a pegasus, and she said, “Let me try talking to him.” Pinkie smiled, “You got this, Flutters.” Fluttershy smiled and walked up to the pegasus. “Excuse me,” Fluttershy asked, “May I ask you something?” The pegasus didn’t respond. “Oh my,” Fluttershy said, “Um, excuse me.” Again, she was ignored. The pegasus waved at somepony in the distance and took flight. Fluttershy shook her head, disappointed, but she decided to try again with an earth pony. “Excuse me,” she said, adding more volume to her voice. The earth pony yawned, but that was it. “May I ask you something,” Fluttershy tried again. The earth pony shook his head and quickly turned around. He walked into Fluttershy and knocked her to the ground. “Would you watch where...,” he began. Fluttershy got to her hooves and shook her mane and wings. “Oh no,” he said, “I am so sorry.” Fluttershy smiled, “It’s okay. It was just an accident.” The earth pony’s face paled, “Accident? I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. I don’t want to have an accident.” Fluttershy tried to place a hoof on his shoulder, but the pony backed away. “I’m sorry for bothering you,” she said, “I was hoping you could answer a few questions.” The earth pony shook his head vigorously, “Well, you don’t have to do that because I don’t know anything. No, ma’am, I’m just a farm pony. I don’t know anything, so you don’t have to waste your time.” Fluttershy stared dumbfounded at the pony. “Please,” he pleaded, “Let me go. I won’t bother you again. I promise.” “Um,” Fluttershy said, “I don’t wish to keep you. I’m sorry for troubling you.” The earth pony let out a sigh of relief and quickly took off. “Any luck, Flutters,” Pinkie asked. Fluttershy shook her head, “No, I think I scared him when he bumped into me. I didn’t mean to do that.” Pinkie smiled, “Don’t you worry about it. I’ll try talking to him.” She ran up to the earth pony and tapped him on the shoulder. “I knew it,” he said, “I’m done.” “What did you do,” Pinkie asked. The pony turned around and smiled, “Oh, you’re not her. That’s good.” Pinkie smiled, “Nope, I’m me.” The earth pony laughed, “Yeah, I can see that. I’m just glad that pegasus let me go. She must be new here, but I don’t care. I just know that she’s looking for information.” “Well,” Pinkie said, “We are new here.” “You’re with her,” he asked, “What did you do?” Pinkie tilted her head in confusion before shaking her head. “I can’t talk about that,” she said, “But since it’s just us two earth ponies, why don’t I ask you some questions?” “What kind of questions,” he asked. Pinkie smiled, “Oh, just some basic stuff. Things like where we are and what year it is?” The earth pony looked at Fluttershy, who offered a weak smile. “Why does she want to know that,” he asked. “Well,” Pinkie said, “We’re new here, so we don’t know where here is.” The earth pony opened his mouth to speak, but he stopped himself. “No,” he said, “I don’t know what games you’re playing, but leave me out of it. I do my job, and I don’t bother anypony. You tell your owner whatever you want, but I’m not telling you anything.” He then turned and ran down the sidewalk. “Okay,” Pinkie said, “That was weird.” She turned to see two unicorns walking up to Fluttershy. “Hey there,” she shouted. Fluttershy waved at Pinkie and asked, “What did he tell you?” Pinkie joined Fluttershy and said, “He didn’t say anything, but he was pretty scared.” “I believe we can help with that,” the new voice said. Fluttershy jumped into the air and flew behind Pinkie. “Miss,” one of the unicorns said, “Pegasi are not allowed to fly within city limits unless on official business.” “Well,” Pinkie said, “We’re here for a reason, and I think that’s pretty official.” The unicorn glared at Pinkie before returning his attention to Fluttershy. “It appears that you’re new to the city, so please allow us to advise you on a few important matters,” he said. Fluttershy smiled, “Oh, thank you. We just arrived and don’t know our way.” The second unicorn laughed, “We could see that. You should know better than to ask an earth pony anything.” The first unicorn nodded, “Unless you want lies and gossip, but I think you are seeking actual information.” Fluttershy nodded, “We are, but that is an awful thing to say. I didn’t mean to scare him.” “But you wanted information from him,” the second unicorn said, “We alerted a patrol. They’ll bring him to you, and he’ll talk.” Pinkie nudged Fluttershy, “I don’t like this, Flutters.” “You may want to keep her under control,” the first unicorn said, “Respectable ponies won’t take too well with such disrespectful behavior.” The second unicorn smiled warmly, “But let’s not dwell on that. Where are you from?” “Um,” Fluttershy said, “We’re from the countryside. A small town near the forest.” The unicorns shared a glance and nodded. “Well, that certainly explains the odd behavior,” the second unicorn said, “There are far more earth ponies than pegasi or unicorns.” “If you don’t mind our asking,” the first unicorn said, “What is the purpose of your visit?” Fluttershy shifted nervously as she desperately wanted Pinkie to take over. The unicorns’ gazes did nothing to ease her nerves, and she knew she had to do something. “Maybe we should start with introductions,” she said. “My name is Fluttershy,” she said. She pointed to Pinkie Pie, “And this is Pinkie Pie.” “And is she a representative of her village,” the first unicorn asked. “Uh, yes,” Fluttershy said, “She’s the daughter of the, um, village chief and is here to assist me on our mission.” The unicorn shrugged, “Well, the fact that you feel the need to lie tells us that whatever your true purpose is, it must be important. We won’t keep you much longer, but remember that things aren’t as lax here as in the less civilized parts of the world. Keep her in check.” Fluttershy frowned but didn’t respond. The unicorns left and stopped when Fluttershy called to them. “But,” she said, “You didn’t tell us your names.” The unicorns smiled and continued walking. “We should listen to them,” Fluttershy said, “I don’t want to, but...” Pinkie nodded, “I know what you mean, but it’s okay. That’ll give you a chance to be a little more assertive.” “Okay,” Fluttershy said, “But I don’t want to be mean.” She turned to where the unicorns were walking, but they were nowhere to be seen. “Let’s go back to the park,” Fluttershy said. “Why,” Pinkie asked, “I think we can figure out what to do.” “But we don’t know why we’re here,” Fluttershy said, “I wish Twilight was here. She’d know what to do.” “Hey,” Pinkie said, “Now isn’t the time to give up. Let’s go to this fair and listen to the ponies. I bet we’ll figure out what’s going on.” Fluttershy pawed at the sidewalk and nodded. “You’re right,” she said, “Let’s go.” Pinkie smiled, “After you, boss.” The ponies continued to walk down the road and soon spotted a group of earth ponies. “Okay, Fluttershy,” Fluttershy told herself, “You can do this. Just be assertive and speak up.” She approached the group and said, “Hello, I would like to talk to you.” Some of the ponies glanced at an older pony who sat at the rear of the group. “May I have your name,” Fluttershy asked the older pony. The mare nodded, “You may, young pegasus. I’m...” “You might as well have her name,” a voice shouted, “You’ve taken everything else from us.” Fluttershy took a step back and tried to locate the voice’s owner. In her surprise, she also opened her wings in an unconscious move to take flight should she need to. “You’ve done it now,” one of the ponies whispered. “Who said that,” Fluttershy asked. A pony stepped forward, “Don’t worry about her. She’s just a foal and doesn’t know better.” A young pony pushed past him and glared at Fluttershy. “I know plenty,” she hissed, “And I know that you’re here to make us miserable.” Fluttershy folded her wings back and opened her mouth, but nothing came out. “Jasmine,” the older mare said, “Leave her alone. I don’t think she’s here to cause trouble.” The young girl rolled her eyes and walked back to the elder. She glanced back at Fluttershy and asked, “Why do you keep staring at me?” “Oh,” Fluttershy said, “You remind me of a young pony I know back home. Her name is Scootaloo, and she can be rather headstrong.” “Enough of that,” the older mare said, “Please, allow me to introduce myself.” “If she knows your name, she owns your soul,” one of the ponies whispered. The older mare sighed, and Fluttershy raised a hoof. The ponies, except for the young girl and the older mare, were cowed. “If you don’t feel comfortable telling me,” Fluttershy said, “I won’t ask. My, um, friend and I are new to this city. We’re from the countryside and don’t know our way around.” The older mare laughed, “You can imagine how suspicious that sounds, don’t you?” Fluttershy smiled weakly, “Um, yes, I’m not used to being assertive.” Everypony was silent for a minute, and then the old mare nodded thoughtfully. “You must run a tight ship if you’re not used to exercising your authority,” she said, “I’ll help you find your way.” Jasmine helped the old mare to her hooves. “She’ll just order you anyway,” she said. “Perhaps,” the old mare said, “But I have a strange feeling about this pony.” “If you don’t feel well,” Fluttershy said, “Maybe you can tell us where to go?” “Oh, nonsense,” the old mare said, “My leg is merely asleep, but I think I have a better solution.” She nudged Jasmine and said, “She will be your guide to this city.” “What,” Jasmine shouted, “No. I won’t do it.” The old mare’s face darkened, “Girl, you will do as you are told. Now you will do as she says, and that’s final.” Jasmine scowled and nodded, “Yes, ma’am.” “Oh,” Fluttershy said, “If she’s uncomfortable...” Jasmine stomped a hoof on the ground, “You think I can’t do it? Well, I don’t know why you’re here, and I don’t care. Just tell me where you want to go.” “Let’s go to the fair,” Pinkie shouted. She quickly covered her mouth, “Oopsie, sorry, Flutters.” Fluttershy smiled, “That’s okay, Pinkie. I think the fair would be a good idea. Which way is it?” The young girl was clearly excited to go to the fair, and she almost kept her composure. “Yeah,” she said, trying to hide her smile, “I’ll take you over there, and who are you?” “Her name is Pinkie Pie,” Fluttershy said, “And we’re from the same village.” Jasmine shrugged, and the three began to leave. “Jasmine,” the old mare said. Jasmine turned around, “Yeah?” The old mare smiled, “Remember the rules.” “I know,” Jasmine said. Fluttershy turned to the old mare and asked, “What rules?” The mare narrowed her eyes and shook her head, “That’s not for you to know. Now, see to your business, so Jasmine can return to us.” Fluttershy nodded and followed after the two earth ponies. --- “So,” Rainbow asked, “How long before we decide to find Yew and make her bring our friends back?” “Sugarcube...” “No, AJ,” Rainbow shouted, “I get that bad things happened to her kind, but we didn’t do it. Heck, we don’t know if what we saw was true.” Rarity gently nudged Rainbow Dash. “As much as I would like to agree with you,” she said, “I can’t. You saw how upset Yew became. I think what we saw was the cruel reality of her past.” “Okay,” Rainbow asked, “But what do we do right now?” Twilight sighed, “We wait. I don’t like it either, but I don’t think Yew will try and harm them or us.” Rainbow pointed at Applejack, “You blind?” “I think she means that Yew ain’t planning on intentionally harming them,” Applejack said. “I think she dropped us on purpose,” Rainbow said. “If that were true,” Applejack said, “Then that means she also intended for us to meet Alder.” She smiled at the memory and said, “I think what we saw at the storage place wouldn’t have meant as much if she didn’t do what she did.” Rainbow Dash looked into her best friend’s eyes and relented. “Fine,” she said, “We’ll wait. But we should have a plan to get her when she comes back.” “No,” Rarity said, “We should not meet her desperation with cruelty. If she is trapped here for what has to be thousands of years, it must be a terrible burden on her.” “Yeah,” Twilight said, “Especially since she hoped that her surrendering would stop the conflict between the dryads and ponies.” Rainbow sat down and said, “So, we wait and hope our friends come back?” Applejack joined Rainbow and said, “I know they’ll be okay. They have each other.” This brought a smile to the blue pegasus’s face, “You’re singing a different tune.” “Hey now,” Applejack said, “I got no problem admitting when I’m wrong, and I’m glad I was wrong about those two. They’ll be okay.” She leaned against Rainbow, and the group continued to wait for Yew’s next appearance or their friends’ return. --- The fairgrounds spread before the ponies, and Pinkie Pike could barely contain her excitement. “Oh, Flutters,” she exclaimed, “I can’t wait to try all the tasty food and drinks they have. What should we try first?” Fluttershy smiled and said, “Well, I think we should have lunch.” The pink earth pony nodded vigorously, “Okie dokie, let’s fill our bellies.” Jasmine watched this exchange in bewilderment. “What’s going on,” she asked. “Oh,” Fluttershy asked, “What’s the matter? I wouldn’t dream of not getting you food as well.” The young girl shook her head in confusion, “No. I mean, why are you letting her do whatever she wants?” Fluttershy’s face paled for a moment before she cleared her throat. “Well,” she said, “Since there aren’t that many pegasi in the village, we don’t, um, rely on force.” She offered a shaky smile in the hopes that Jasmine bought the explanation. Jasmine didn’t. “It’s a little more complicated than that,” Pinkie said, “But we know how things are in the village, and Flutters is good to us. It’s kind of boring back home.” Jasmine pawed at the ground and asked, “Why are you lying?” Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie shared a glance and nodded. “Let’s talk over there,” Fluttershy said, pointing to some trees. Jasmine’s face paled slightly, but the defiant girl nodded and walked to the trees. “She’s just like Scoots,” Pinkie said. Fluttershy smiled, “She really is. What should we tell her?” Pinkie grinned, “Everything. She won’t believe us anyway.” They joined Jasmine, and Fluttershy said, “What I am about to tell you is secret, okay?” Jasmine nodded, “Okay.” Fluttershy took a deep breath and said, “Maybe you should tell her.” Pinkie saluted and said, “Okie dokie.” She sat down next to Jasmine and said, “Listen up. We’re from the future. We were brought here by a dryad named Yew. We don’t know why exactly, so we’re looking for information about some blackened emerald.” Jasmine glared at Pinkie and said, “You think I’m stupid or something? You don’t want to tell me, fine. Let’s just go.” Fluttershy placed a hoof on Jasmine’s shoulder, causing the girl to freeze. “We’re not lying,” Fluttershy said, “I think we’re supposed to help her, but we don’t know what we’re supposed to do.” Jasmine turned around and studied Fluttershy’s eyes. “You’re serious,” she whispered, “You’re really from the future?” Both ponies nodded. The young girl looked at the ground and sniffed. “Can you take me with you? It has to be better than it is here,” she said. Fluttershy knelt and lifted Jasmine’s chin with a hoof, “I’m sorry, but we can’t. You would miss your family terribly.” Jasmine shook her head, “I don’t have any family. They were taken by you...” She cleared her throat and said, “They broke the rules.” Fluttershy pulled the girl into an embrace, and the girl began to cry. “I’m so sorry,” Fluttershy whispered, “I wish there was something we could do.” Pinkie tapped Fluttershy on the shoulder. “I got an idea, Flutters,” she said. Jasmine had stopped crying and was drying her eyes. “What do you have in mind,” Fluttershy asked. Pinkie grinned and said, “I’ll tell you.” She helped Jasmine to her hooves and added, “After lunch. I’m hungry.” Jasmine couldn’t help giggling at the pink pony. “The food stands are over there,” Jasmine said, “Since you’re a pegasus, they’ll have to serve you and your prisoner.” But she’s not...,” Fluttershy began. “All earth ponies are prisoners,” Jasmine said, “At least in the city. I’ll wait here.” Again, Pinkie and Fluttershy shared a glance and nodded. Fluttershy nudged Jasmine and got her to her hooves. “Wha...” “I will not have you go hungry,” Fluttershy said, “Now, let’s go, young lady.” “But,” Jasmine stammered. Pinkie giggled, “You better not argue. Besides, we don’t know where the best food is.” Jasmine smiled and said, “I’ll show you, but they’re not gonna feed two earth ponies.” Fluttershy smiled and said, “We’ll see.” They walked through the fairgrounds. Jasmine and Pinkie Pie walked behind Fluttershy, and ponies moved out of their way. It took a great deal of determination on Fluttershy’s part not to apologize to every pony that accommodated them, but they soon arrived at a stall. “This is the place,” Jasmine said. Fluttershy nodded and walked up to the stall. “Excuse me,” she said, “I would like three meals, please.” “Yeah,” the worker said, “Get in line.” Fluttershy glanced back to Pinkie, who nodded in approval. “I don’t think I will,” Fluttershy said, “We are in a hurry and need to eat.” The worker sighed, “Look, you pegasi all think that whatever it is you’re doing is the most important thing ever, but we still have to follow the rules.” “And I understand,” Fluttershy said, “But our business is more important.” The worker laughed, “Heard that before. What next? You gonna threaten to send me to the clinic? As long as I do my job, I’m safe, so you can take your empty threats someplace else.” Fluttershy grew dismayed, but annoyance quickly took hold when she wondered how long it’s been since Jasmine had a proper meal. “Now listen here,” she said, flying to meet the worker's gaze. “What are you...” “Shut it,” she said, “I said that we require three meals, and you are going to bring them to us. Don’t ask any questions.” The worker nodded, “Yes, ma’am. I’ll get them out to you right away.” Fluttershy smiled, “Thank you. We will be at the table.” The worker watched Fluttershy join Pinkie and Jasmine. “What is going on,” he whispered as he tapped the crystal beneath the counter. “Flutters,” Pinkie said, “That was really cool.” Fluttershy smiled, “We’ll have our food soon.” She turned to Jasmine, “That includes you. You will not go hungry.” Jasmine smiled and whispered, “Thanks.” Fluttershy nodded approvingly, and the three ponies walked to a nearby table. Pinkie tapped at the table, “I wonder what’s on the menu. I bet it’ll be super yummy.” Jasmine nodded, “The food here is supposed to be the best in the fair. Only pegasi and unicorns eat here.” An earth pony brought a tray and set down three plates on the table. She didn’t say anything, only nodded at Fluttershy. She was about to leave when she noticed Jasmine. “Jasmine,” she said, “What are you doing here?” She looked at Fluttershy and asked, “Your big mouth finally got you in trouble, didn’t it?” “It’s not what you think,” Jasmine said, “Mama told me to show these ponies where they want to go.” The waitress shook her head, “You shouldn’t be messing with pegasi. Remember what happened to your parents. Be glad that they weren’t sent to the clinic.” “I know,” Jasmine said, “But what else were they supposed to do?” An uncomfortable silence fell, and Fluttershy felt Pinkie nudge her. “Um, thank you,” Fluttershy said, “I promise that nothing will happen to her. She has been very well-behaved.” The waitress watched in bemusement at the sight of Pinkie eating her food. “You’re not from around here, are you,” she asked. “They’re from the countryside,” Jasmine said between bites, “I guess things aren’t as strict out there.” The waitress studied Fluttershy and asked, “Why would a pegasus want to live out there?” Fluttershy smiled and said, “I don’t care for crowds, and I’m more comfortable around animals.” “You are an odd pegasus,” the waitress said. “Well,” Pinkie said, “She lives in the countryside, doesn’t she?” The waitress smiled, “Fair enough.” She patted Jasmine on the head, “You behave yourself, got it?” The girl nodded and continued to eat. Once the waitress was gone, Pinkie whispered, “Okay, so I got an idea.” “What is it,” Fluttershy whispered. “We bust Jasmine’s parents from jail,” Pinkie said. Fluttershy nearly choked on her food and asked, “What? Pinkie, we don’t even know where they are.” “We can find out,” Pinkie said, “Besides, I’m sure we can get them out.” “No way,” Jasmine said, “They’ll be out soon. This happens every once in a while. My parents don’t like how the dryads are being treated, so they talk about it. The pegasi swoop in and take them away. It’s just to scare them. They’re always out after a few weeks.” “But,” Pinkie said, “Maybe we can...” “Pinkie,” Fluttershy said, “If they escape, it will make things worse.” Jasmine nodded, “Yeah. Thanks for offering to help, but it’s how things are.” “Well,” Pinkie said, “I don’t like it.” Jasmine laughed, “Nopony does. Except for the pegasi and unicorns, but they’re all jerks.” Fluttershy flinched but kept eating. Pinkie noticed. “Flutters isn’t a jerk,” she said, “She’s the reason you got some tasty food.” “Maybe,” Jasmine said, “But what does she expect in return?” “Nothing,” Fluttershy protested weakly, “I just wanted to make sure that you ate.” Jasmine stared at Fluttershy, “I want to believe you, but I’ve been lied to by too many ponies.” Fluttershy nodded, “And I understand, but can I least have a chance?” Jasmine sighed, “Yeah, sure. It’s not like it matters anyway.” They finished up their food and stacked the plates. “That was quite good,” Fluttershy said. “Yup,” Pinkie agreed, “Not sure what it was, but I liked it.” Fluttershy stretched her wings, not noticing that it caused nearby earth ponies to flinch. “Let’s see if we can find any information about where they have Yew,” Fluttershy said. “I was sincerely hoping that you two were just lost,” a familiar voice said, “But it appears that you know more than you should.” The ponies turned around to face the unicorns they had met earlier. “Jasmine,” one unicorn said, “Your parents are confined for disruptive behavior. Given your actions, I feel that they should be transferred.” “To the clinic,” the other unicorn added. “No,” Jasmine cried, “You can’t. Please.” The first unicorn glared at Jasmine and raised his hoof to strike her. Fluttershy immediately stood between him and the girl and glared at him. “Don’t you dare touch her,” she said, “She is with me.” The unicorn shook his head, “You were warned, but you didn’t listen. There are rules here, and ponies must be put in their place.” Fluttershy sighed, “We are supposed to go to this clinic but couldn’t tell you why.” The second unicorn smiled, “We understand the need for secrecy, but why deal with earth ponies? Even if they’re disposable, it’s just not safe to trust them.” Fluttershy narrowed her eyes, “My reasons are not your concern. We wish to go to this clinic, and you will take us there.” “But,” Jasmine asked, “What about my parents? You can’t let them be sent to that place.” “You need to shut your mouth,” the first unicorn said, “Or so help me...” He cleared his throat and said, “They are already in transit to the clinic. If you wish to do something about it, I suggest that you hurry.” Fluttershy turned back to Pinkie and said, “We have to go as fast as we can.” Pinkie nodded and stretched her legs. Fluttershy turned back to the unicorns and asked, “Which direction is the clinic?” The second unicorn smiled, “Southeast.” Fluttershy nodded and took flight. She flew to the southeast as fast as she could, and Pinkie ran after her with Jasmine on her back. “What are you doing,” Jasmine shouted. “I have no idea,” Pinkie said, “But I know my Flutters has a plan.” Up above them, Fluttershy spotted a building that looked like a hospital. She flew toward it but had no idea what she would do when she got there. “Now is not the time to be shy,” she whispered. She repeated this mantra the entire flight. Soon Fluttershy landed outside the hospital and waited for Pinkie to join her. She didn’t wait long, and the three ponies were reunited. “This is the clinic,” Pinkie asked, setting Jasmine on the ground. Fluttershy nodded, “I think so. Do you have any ideas?” Pinkie glanced at Jasmine and said, “I sure do.” --- “How’s your leg,” Twilight asked. Applejack smiled, “It’s not too bad. I think I tore up my shoulder something fierce, but Alder’s medicine really worked.” “Would you like some more, pony,” Yew asked. “Y’all can come right out in the open,” Applejack said, “We ain’t fixing on doing anything to you.” Yew reappeared and stood in front of Applejack. “Well,” she asked. Applejack glanced at Rainbow Dash and said, “No. We saw what it cost, and, if you ask me, it weren’t worth it.” Yew studied Applejack carefully before she sighed, “I believe you. Perhaps it’s because you’re an earth pony, but I don’t think you would lie to me.” Applejack laughed, “Well, I couldn’t lie to save my life. Comes with being the Element of Honesty, I guess.” Yew’s face softened for a moment before she regained control. “No,” she said, “I can’t lose focus. Not when I’m so close. I’ll be watching.” Yew vanished. “She’s still here,” Applejack said, “But I don’t think she’ll try and hurt any of us.” Aqua Rain asked Applejack, “Did you really meet another of her kind?” The ponies nodded. “The one we met was named Alder,” Applejack said, “She patched me up.” “And she used her own blood to do it,” Aqua Rain asked, “And it worked?” Applejack narrowed her eyes, “Yeah, it did, and we saw that a lot of her kind were hurt to get...” “They weren’t hurt,” Rainbow said, “They were killed, so don’t go thinking that it’s so great.” Aqua Rain nodded, “But still...” A laugh filled the room, “Ponies never really changed. You see the chance to be evil, and you pounce.” Rainbow glared at Aqua Rain, “Don’t make excuses. It was wrong then, and they’re all gone. It wasn’t worth it.” “I,” Aqua Rain said, “I know. I’m sorry.” Silence fell as the ponies tried to keep hope alive for Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. --- “I wasn’t told of any transfers,” the guard said. Fluttershy nodded, “Oh, you wouldn’t have heard anything. This is a secret transfer.” She pointed to Pinkie, “That one tried to save a dryad.” The guard glared at Pinkie, “Well, she’ll get what she deserves, but what about the girl?” As much as it pained Fluttershy, she grinned and said, “Her parents are on their way here. Perhaps if they see their child, they will tell us everything.” The guard shook his head, “I’ve heard stories about you pegasi, but I never thought you’d use a child.” He pushed the button to open the gate, “That’s brilliant. It’s not like we’ll miss a few earth ponies. You’ll want the elevator at the end of the main floor. From there, you’ll go to the third floor.” Fluttershy didn’t respond and led the earth ponies into the clinic. Once out of sight, Pinkie placed a comforting hoof on Fluttershy’s back. “You did great, Flutters,” she said. “That was awful,” Fluttershy said, “How could I say such terrible things?” “You didn’t mean it,” Jasmine asked. Fluttershy quickly hugged the girl, “I would never let anypony be harmed. I know you don’t believe me, but I promise I will do what I can to get your parents out of here.” Jasmine took a step back and smiled, “Okay. I’ll believe you. I don’t know why, but you remind me of my mom.” She looked around as if she had said something wrong and added, “Just don’t tell her that.” Pinkie giggled, “We won’t. Now let’s get going. We have to find Yew and your parents.” Fluttershy and Jasmine nodded, and the group walked toward the elevator. As they walked, they saw a courtyard. It was plain, with only grass, a few bushes, and a thin pillar near the center. The courtyard quickly slipped from their minds as they reached the elevator. “Okay,” Pinkie said, “To the second floor.” They stood before the elevator for a minute. “Uh,” Jasmine asked, “What are you waiting for?” “We don’t know how it works,” Pinkie said. “Seriously,” Jasmine asked. Both adult ponies nodded. Jasmine sighed and pressed the call button. After a few moments, the elevator arrived, and Jasmine pressed the button for the second floor. “I think I could have figured that one,” Pinkie protested. Jasmine shrugged, and they rode the elevator to the second floor. The doors opened, and they stepped out. An earth pony dressed as a nurse gestured toward them. “Are you leaving these two,” she asked. Fluttershy was stunned by the complete lack of emotion in her voice. “Uh, yes,” Fluttershy said, “I am also here to question this one’s parents.” The nurse’s face twitched slightly, but she quickly recovered, “Very well, please proceed to the room down the hall. A doctor will see you shortly.” “Thank you,” Fluttershy said, and the group turned toward the hall. “I’d say you sold your soul, pegasus, but your kind doesn’t have one,” the nurse hissed. Fluttershy stopped and looked back at the nurse. The nurse was busying herself with paperwork, but she made the mistake of glancing up when she saw Fluttershy was still standing there. “That’s not very nice,” Fluttershy said before walking down the hall. The nurse stared dumbfounded before she found her voice. And courage. “That’s why I said it,” she said. The ponies entered the room and sat down in a chair. “I’m really nervous,” Fluttershy said. Jasmine nodded, “Me, too. What will we do when the doctor gets here?” Pinkie waved a hoof in the air, “We’ll be fine. I’m sure we’ll figure something out. Right, Flutters?” Fluttershy smiled at Pinkie, “Yes, we’ll think of something. Right now, let’s all calm down.” The ponies turned their attention to the door and waited for the doctor to arrive. They were one step closer to uncovering the purpose of being sent here, and only time would tell if they would prove successful.