//------------------------------// // Soon Parted // Story: A Fool and His Filly Are Soon Parted // by Firefox Lantern //------------------------------// Chapter 3: Soon Parted -Hahaha, oh you should have seen the look on your face. Priceless! Discord snorts and contorts as he laughs and laughs. I am not amused. I had bellowed my iron resolve to keep Dashie by my side no matter what, steeling myself for whatever fury may come my way. The reaction of Princess Celestia and co was... jack shit. Nopony even batted an eye. Umm, hello? Has everypony suddenly turned deaf? I turn to face Dashie and call out to her: “Dashie! I want you to stay with me!” I try to pass my hand on her mane but it goes right on through. Ugh, I am nothing but an invisible ghost to them. I facepalm as I had let my hopes get so high, only to have them crashing down on me. I express my deep displeasure: -Dammit Discord, this isn't what you promised! -No need to thank me, the pleasure was all mine. You were much more entertaining than that boring old geezer Picard. Now if you'll excuse me, I have more incoming souls to troll. With a snap of his fingers Discord is gone. I simmer down my anger and embarrassment. I guess I should feel happy to be with her, even if it's in spirit only. In my rush to lay out my ultimatum I had failed to notice that I was not in my house. I am in fact in Fluttershy's cottage. To my defense both of our homes are decorated in a similar rustic style. It looks like Princess Celestia and the mane six are having a meeting here for some reason. Their conversation is quite lively, I start to pay attention to it: “And so she left, just like that, without rhyme or reason” Twilight posits with agitation. “She visits us full of tears. The next instant poof she disappears.” Pinkie Pie follows up with her best Zecora impression. “Knock it off Pinkie, our best friend skips town and all you can think of is fooling around.” Rainbow Dash admonishes. “Man we wer'all shook up when she sprung this nonsense about having to leave forever on us that we didn't know how to react. Naw that we've snapped out of it we gotta go git'er!” Applejack snaps. The girls continue their animated discussion. Looks like somepony has abruptly left Ponyville from the sound of it. Princess Celestia is quiet, seemingly deep in thought. She's been like that since I got here, I wonder what's on her mind? “Girls, we all agree the circumstances surrounding Fluttershy's departure are far from reassuring but we need to keep our wits together on this if we want to have a chance of finding her.” Rarity attempts to regroup. Hold on, did Rarity say Fluttershy is the missing pony? Not that she mentions it I don't see Fluttershy around. She's always so quiet I don't notice her absence. So they've gathered here to start looking for her. Where could she have gone to? On no, could this be related to... Before I can complete my thought Princess Celestia speaks up: “Twilight, do you have a Ouija board?” Twilight blinks at the request. “Err, I think the library has one for the fillies to play around with but what does this have to do with...” Twilight goes quiet as realization of the implication sets in “Oh my gosh, you can't possibly think that Fluttershy is dead?” “WHAT!? FLUTTERSHY DEAD!?” exclaims the rest of the group. “Calm down ponies, this isn't about Fluttershy. A few moments ago I sensed the intrusion of an otherworldly being.” Celestia explains to the assembled mares. “You mean like a g-g-g-ghost?” Rarity gulps. They all glance at each other with fearful expressions. Dashie tries to put on a brave face, but I can see her wings jittering. “Twilight?” comes the reminder from Celestia. -Yes of course, right away! Twilight rummages through the boxes with all the board games, then levitates out a thin cardboard case with strange markings. -Here it is. -Thank you Twilight. Now everypony I am going to infuse the Ouija set with a special kind of magic that will create a link to the spirit world. This should enable our mystery guest to get in touch with us, should they choose to make themselves known. As Princess Celestia casts the spell it dawns on me that I am the 'mystery guest' she is referring to. Jesus, what should I do? Will they get spooked if I answer truthfully who I am? Well, maybe this is my opportunity to say hello to Dashie. I've got to give this a shot. The Ouija board is set up, all eyes staring it intently. The complete alphabet and numbers as well as a set of 'yes' and 'no' words in ancient styling are finely etched into the wood in a mixture of starry white plus hues of midnight blue. Celestia is first to set her hoof on the marker, followed by Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity. Princess Celestia clears her throat and begins the proceedings: -Greetings esteemed guest my name is Princess Celestia, monarch to the kingdom of Equestria. The 5 ponies present are my prized student Twilight Sparkle and her friends. If you would be so willing may you grace us with your name? Here goes nothing. I place my hands on top of the pile of hooves on the marker. Oh my god, I can feel them! I gently push it towards the first letter of my name. Gasps accompany the movement of the marker, with a 'Hey, that tickles!' from Pinkie. As my name is spelled out, Rainbow Dash suddenly flips out and causes the marker to tumble down to the floor. -Oh my Gosh, I know that name! It's... it's... Yes Dashie, it's me! You remember, you really do remember! -It's one of Fluttershy's flying squirrels! … … … …what? A prolonged sigh escapes my mouth. Fluttershy, why didn't you just borrow a book from the library if you had run out of ideas for new pet names? “Ooh yes that's right! A weirdo name for a weirdo animal.” Pinkie Pie chimed in. Double sigh. Sure why don't you rub it in Pinkie. “Do you know where Fluttershy is?” Twilight inquires. I hesitate. I hardly know the whole story myself, but enough to stop them from uselessly searching on the ground. I guide the marker towards the 'yes' spot on the board, hoping to be able to clarify my position on the question. “Can ya tell us which city she went off to?” Applejack asks. I'm afraid I have bad news, please don't shoot the messenger. “T-h-e-s-p-i-r-i-t-w-o-r-l-d” I help spell out on the board. The girls shriek at each other as the reality of my answer sinks in. A cacophony of exclamations threatens to derail the Ouija session. Princess Celestia motions the ponies to calm down and continues the line of questions: -How do you know that? With our painstakingly slow method I relay my story about how I am not the flying squirrel but the human who had taken care of Rainbow Dash, that I got into a fatal accident and how Fluttershy came to me in the guise of the Grim Reaper. Communication is further slowed down as Princess Celestia reminds everypony of their visit to my world (their memory of it was repressed, though not completely since Fluttershy somehow remembered my name to give it to one of her pets) as well as address the explosion of disbelief that Fluttershy of all ponies would be chosen to be the successor of deathly duties. Princess Celestia explained: -Nowadays few ponies wish to keep tabs on these kind of grim tales so it's not common knowledge but some ancient texts allude to special caretakers of the dead who separate the soul from its body and guide it to a final resting place. What our human friend calls the Grim Reaper. These are volunteers who wish to postpone their time of final rest. In some cases however they get so attached to their task that they spend hundreds or thousands of years carrying it out and when they finally decide to move on they feel compelled to designate a successor. They spent so long doing it that they somehow feel the poor being they choose should feel honoured to be entrusted with it. The chosen one has unfortunately little say in the matter, either they accept to replace them or refuse and be directly sent to the Ever. Forced to leave the world of the living either way. Several murmurs of horror bubble up from the mares during her exposition. My mind reels at the disturbing details: “What kind of sick bastard would do that to Fluttershy?” my voice erupts in disgust. -Oh it's ok with me, please don't judge my predecessor too harshly. -Aww you're being too kind Fluttershy. Fluttershy!? I swivel around and sure enough she is standing right behind me in that same creepy black robe. -I'm awfully sorry for your earlier encounter with Discord. When we defeated him he was sealed into a statue by our elements of harmony so his soul cannot join the Ever, leaving him free to spread chaos among those in transition. I hope he didn't perturb yours too much. -He pulled the dirtiest trick imaginable on me. -Oh. I'm really sorry to hear about that. All the caretakers are having a meeting this week to figure out how to deal with him. In any case I need to send you back to the Ever, if that's ok with you. -No it's not ok, I'd like to stick around a bit longer. Maybe Princess Celestia has some magic which could help us. -Oh please don't make this hard on me. I don't want any trouble from the fequitus committee. -The what committee? -They preside over all matters concerning us who are in between the Living and the Ever. If I don't properly take care of the souls I could get a visit from them. “A perfectly valid concern Ms Fluttershy.” booms an unfamiliar nasal voice. Fluttershy eeps in surprise as well as I at the intrusion. The sight behind the sound is just as unsettling: A cross between a giant bat and a badger of dark brown complexion wearing an oversized black robe with several beady necklaces around its neck. In its hybrid wing/limb it clutches a wooden staff with a permanent swirl of grey smoke twirling about. Rounding out the disturbing appearance are glowing yellow spheres partially recessed in its eye sockets in which I could distinguish some faint cloud like wisps floating about. -Sorry for startling you, I should present myself. My name is Grey Ash, sitting member of the fequitus committee. Though janitor might be a more appropriate title as I clean up the mess left behind by inconsiderate caretakers. “Ulp, I'm so sorry Mr Ash, I just ran into some... complications with this particular soul. Please forgive my tardiness.” Fluttershy softly squeaks. -Uh yes there is indeed the matter of sending this fellow on his way after his detour here because of that clown Discord. Don't worry though Ms. Fluttershy, that's not the main reason I'm here. I should have taken care of your case long ago but I've been busy handling other issues such as the bickering over the styling of the new robes. Can you believe some putz was opposed to ordering a new set with grey highlights on them? Gah, some old fogeys are just way too obsessed with the sanctity of pure black. “So I'm not in trouble Mr Ash?” Fluttershy timidly asks. -No not at all. In fact I think you will like this piece of news: I am sending you back to the Living! Wow, I think I'm getting dizzy from all these turnarounds. I am overjoyed for Fluttershy. Yet I am also envious that she will get to join her friends soon. Fluttershy stands still with a blank stare, her pupils dilated, her mind not yet comprehending what she just heard. -You see, a caretaker of the dead has the power to bring in another still living being into the role. Normally they are supposed to choose someone already near death or who is particularly suitable. 1000 years ago the committee outlawed the practice in general because it was prone to abuse. Nowadays you must obtain expression permission from the committee before doing so. Blanche was one of the last die hard from an older era, I should have known he wouldn't bother to observe the ban. You never should have been caught up in this. Fluttershy silently stood through Grey Ash's speech. She doesn't seem to react in any way, but upon careful observation I could see the edges of her lips curling up ever so slightly into a relieved smile. “So that's it? You just wave your hand... wing... whatever and off we go.” I rhetorically question. “In a manner of speaking, yes.” confirms Grey Ash. “Well, I guess this means goodbye for me... again.” I gravely sulk. Fluttershy quietly observes my diminished mood. She slowly approaches me, then unexpectedly she wraps her hooves around my torso and hugs me tightly. I flinch at the sudden contact, then relax and embrace it. I can feel tears welling up in my eyes and I don't doubt Fluttershy is doing the same. I really don't want to leave, maybe I should resist harder. Sadly I never was a fighter, I just roll with the punches. With the effects from that earlier kick from Discord gone I was as tame as a baby bunny. “It is time.” announces Grey Ash. Fluttershy and I slowly untangle ourselves and move apart. Grey Ash extends the staff and chants a hymn at a rapid pace. A bubble of sparkly white brightness envelops Fluttershy while one of stormy black darkness envelops me. I feel the magic working on us, one to send back to the Living, the other to the Ever. I part with these final words: -Fluttershy please continue being Dashie's best friend ever. FIN