Chapter 2: Unknown
Twilight Sparkle was in the library studying an ancient text that Spike accidentally dug up while helping Rarity hunt for gems. She was alone and deep in thought, trying to understand what all these strange sayings meant.
"Words of power... Shouts... What does it all mean?" She said to nobody in particular.
"And this helmet... Where did it come from?"
She frowned as she gazed upon the dirty iron helm with two ram's horns on it, lying motionlessly next to the book she was studying moments before.
"Maybe these words mean something... Here goes nothing..."
She inhaled...
"Fus..."
Nothing.
"Ro..."
Still nothing.
"Dah...?"
Even more nothing. She sighed in defeat.
"None of these words were in any of my dictionaries, there aren't any references in any of my lore and legends books. Maybe my friends know anything about these strange artifacts...? Anyway, It's late, and I should be getting some sleep. I'll talk to them in the morning."
She magically closed the book and packed her saddlebags with the helmet and book and laid them gently at the foot of her bed and climbed in. She drifted to sleep slowly, the mysteries of the day unable to escape her thoughts.
She awoke early in the morning, had breakfast with Spike, and walked into town. She was about to leave the library, when she heard the shout. It sounded like...
"Fluttershy...?"
Spike heard it too. "Maybe she's hurt?" he suggested.
"C'mon Spike, jump on my back and let's go find out what's wrong!"
Twilight sprinted into town, with Spike riding her back, searching desperately for any sign of Fluttershy. A short time later, she found Rainbow Dash lying on the ground, seemingly unable to move.
"Ow... my back..."
Rainbow Dash moaned in pain as she struggled to get up, having been sent flying by Fluttershy's Unrelenting Force shout.
"Rainbow, are you okay?"
"Huh...? Oh, Twilight! Am I glad to see you! Somethings gotten into Fluttershy! She... she..."
"Spit it out, already!"
"She... she shouted at me! And then I went flying backwards!"
"Hm... Where is she now?"
"She's still over there, I think."
"Thanks."
Twilight walked over to Fluttershy, past Pinkie Pie who still had not gotten over the shout. Fluttershy was simply standing there. She was standing in a heroic pose, mane and tail gently blow in the breeze.
"Fluttershy? What are you doing?"
"Hello, Twilight Sparkle. I see all is well with you and Spike?"
"Um... Yeah..."
"What is she doing?" Spike whispered to Twilight.
"I have no idea!" She whispered back.
"I have been thinking", said Fluttershy.
"It's been a long time since I've left Ponyville. I feel now's the perfect time to go out and explore the world. Have an adventure. And you are just the pony I'd like accompanying me."
"H-Huh?"
Fluttershy snapped out of it in an instant. She remembered everything she did and said, and bower her head.
"Um... If that's okay with you..."
"Fluttershy? What's gotten into you?"
"Um... I dunno. I just felt so... So different."
"Oh, well... Let me think about it. I'll get back to you tomorrow."
"Okay. Oh, is Rainbow Dash okay?"
"I'm fine!" She called out as she was just about to start trying to drag Pinkie into Sugar Cube Corner.
"Oh good. I thought you might have been hurt for a while..."
"Trust me, I'm fine. But that was a pretty impressive shout you have there, Fluttershy!"
When Rainbow Dash mention shouting, gears started turning in Twilight's head.
"Really? Thanks Rainbow Dash..."
"Don't mention it!"
Rainbow Dash grabbed Pinkie's tail in her mouth, and proceeded to drag her towards Sugar Cube Corner.
"Fluttershy, did she say 'shout'?"
"She did... Um, it's a long story..."
"Could you come with me back to the library? I have something I want to show you."
"I should really be buying food for Angel... Could it wait until this afternoon?"
"Of course. See you later, Fluttershy!"
"Goodbye, Twilight..." Fluttershy called out as they went their separate ways. The morning's events were reeling inside her head, and she had no idea what to think of it. She thought she would ask Twilight if she knew anything about her shout when she met her in the library later. She hadn't the slightest clue as to what she would say, but she desperately needed to find out. All she knew, is that time would tell...