//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: Flight of Madness 
// Story: MLP: Two-Face Part 1 
// by DarthWill3 
//------------------------------//


4 DAYS BEFORE THE CORONATION OF PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE

Rainbow Dash fully expected to see Fluttershy up and about by the time she came over to her cottage. The Ponyville animal caretaker was the guest of honor at the schoolhouse for a field trip. Nopony wanted to start it without her.
What Rainbow didn’t anticipate, however, was that only the upper half of the door—attached to its lower counterpart with a few locks—being opened at a pretty slow, snail-like pace. It gave out an eerie creak. She had more than enough time to move out of the way to avoid having her head whacked by the door.
She tried hard not to exhale impatiently. She knew that Fluttershy was usually nervous, but during her campaign for a new animal shelter in Ponyville? No way. She had put herself on the line for months on behalf of so many critters in need of a safe haven, run by ponies with the same gentle and caring demeanor that she had. After all, she couldn’t do all the work by herself.
Why all the sudden sluggishness? Too much work, maybe? All that campaigning could exhaust anypony, especially a pony as frail as Fluttershy.
But once the upper door had given way to show Fluttershy’s face…
“Whoa!”
Rainbow took a step back. She had never seen her best friend in this state before.
Fluttershy’s body was all sweaty. Her mane was completely messy, like she had just woken up. Adding to that, her eyelids were almost completely open. She looked very pale; paler than her natural color, actually.
“Oh. Good morning, Rainbow Dash,” said Fluttershy, sounding half-sleepy and half-awake.
“What the hay is the matter with you?” asked Rainbow. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Are you feeling okay?”
“Hmm? Oh, I’m sorry.” As she spoke, Fluttershy opened the lower half of the door before locking it to the upper end. “I’ve had a bad dream.”
Not wanting to press further on the subject, Rainbow placed her right foreleg around Fluttershy and said confidently, “Well, that shouldn’t be hard to fix. All you need is a quick treat at Sugarcube Corner. That oughta fix you up on the way to the schoolhouse.”



Rainbow was right. Fluttershy ate a nice chocolate doughnut after getting to Sugarcube Corner and moments later, she felt energized. It helped to get her eyes all wide open and adjust her senses.
She was doing all she could not to let that nightmare get to her. Especially when she was watching Miss Cheerilee’s class playing with little critters a few miles below Winsome Falls. They were all playing with the bunnies, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, and other harmless little woodland creatures. Who would want to spoil such a happy day?
Fluttershy and Rainbow were standing next to Cheerilee’s right, with Twilight at her left. Applejack was personally guiding her little sister, Apple Bloom, so as to keep the little filly from getting hurt. Rarity and Pinkie Pie were a bit busy with their separate work in Ponyville today, but everypony didn’t mind. At least Rarity’s little sister, Sweetie Belle, was here to have fun.
“It was nice of you to help me arrange this field trip, Fluttershy,” said Cheerilee. “I couldn’t find out which animals were safe for my class.”
“It was no trouble, Cheerilee,” replied Fluttershy, kindly. “I just wanted to make sure the animals would be happy around kids.”
“You’ll definitely make a good manager for that shelter,” encouraged Rainbow Dash, who winked.
Fluttershy did her best to hide her anxiety. “Oh, I don’t know. I may be a qualified animal caretaker, but I’m not as organized as Twilight.”
“Me?” Twilight was clearly flattered by that compliment, even if she didn’t show it. Being a student of Princess Celestia had really helped get so much work done at the Golden Oak Library. It even provided the solution for the last two Winter Wrap Ups. “I’m just an egghead. Right, Rainbow?” she asked, winking back.
All mares gave a light chuckle before Fluttershy and Rainbow went to join the Apple sisters.
“Ah gotta hand it to ya, Fluttershy,” smiled Applejack. “You sure know how ta let kids and critters have fun together.”
“Fun is more of Pinkie Pie’s expertise,” responded Fluttershy, modestly, “but I try my best. How’s everything?”
“Well, we just spotted a couple of birds makin’ a nest yonder,” Applejack explained, raising her right foreleg to point ahead. “Check it out.”
Fluttershy and Rainbow looked in that direction and, sure enough, they saw a pair of blue jays gathering twigs for their nest in a tree hollow. In fact, those birds were finishing up. After the last twigs were settled, they twittered a lively tune before making settling into their home. The female nudged herself closer to the male and rested her head on his left wing shoulder. In response, her mate nuzzled his head next to hers.
Fluttershy couldn’t help but sigh in adoration as she watched. “Aw… I think they might be in love. What do you think, Rainbow Dash?”
Rainbow moved her eyes from Fluttershy, rubbing her hind legs together in hesitation before responding, “Uh… yeah, I guess you could call it that.”
“Speakin’ of lovebirds, Fluttershy,” began an energized Apple Bloom, “when are ya gonna start goin’ out with Big Mac? Ah’ve been waitin’ fer weeks to hear him ask you out on a…”
Applejack placed a hoof on her sister’s mouth. “Apple Bloom, didn’t Ah tell y’all to keep yer nose outta other ponies’ business?” she muttered in a harsh whisper. She turned to Fluttershy and gave a nervous chuckle. “Sorry ya had ta hear that.”
“No, no, it’s alright,” said Fluttershy, hiding her blushing face behind that long curtain of pink hair that served as her mane. “I’m, um… I…” She didn’t know what else to say.
It was clear that Apple Bloom was not off the mark. For years, Fluttershy had had her sights set on Big Macintosh. A few days after she got her cutie mark, the timid little filly hardly contained the redness of her cheeks when meeting the bright red colt with muscles for the very first time. Rainbow, whom Fluttershy brought along to meet the animals on the ground, let out a stifled giggle. Big Mac brought the two Pegasi to Sweet Apple Acres, where he introduced them to Applejack, Granny Smith, and even a baby Apple Bloom. They were such a kind, strong, and loving family.
Rainbow and Fluttershy’s friendship with Applejack began, all because of Big Mac. Fluttershy would never forget that day: it was like love at first sight. Yet, as the years passed by, she had never gained the courage to confine in anypony on how she felt for the red stallion, not even Applejack or Angel Bunny. Only Rainbow seemed to have guessed from the beginning and would tease her about it, if given the chance.
Nowadays, Fluttershy would only watch Big Mac either passing by her house and in the streets of Ponyville with heavy loads or working at Sweet Apple Acres. Of course, they would occasionally engage in conversation, but nothing on the subject of getting into a relationship. Fluttershy never brought that up; she would always be looking for an excuse to leave before things turned embarrassing.
When she heard from Rarity that the Cutie Mark Crusaders accidentally placed Big Mac and Cheerilee under the spell of a love potion—in actuality, a love poison—last Hearts and Hooves Day, Fluttershy almost cried in despair. Whatever grief had been in her was replaced by relief as Rarity added that the spell was broken and things went back to normal. Fluttershy wanted to know how it felt for the stallion of her dreams. However, something in conscience told her not to pry. Perhaps it was for the best. Big Mac had just gotten out of a romance-induced spell, after all.
At one time, Fluttershy and Rainbow were asked to help Big Mac, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, and Pinkie Pie in transporting that “Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness” cake—“MMMM,” for short—all the way to the Ponyville Express. Each Pegasus had to be tied to a rope, which ended in a side of the cake’s tray. For Big Mac, carrying a cake that size on his back was like torture. Fluttershy was all too willing to help ease his burden: it may have been the only time the two of them had ever worked together side-by-side… so far. It almost went disastrous when Big Mac faltered. Fluttershy, for all her weak frame and flying ability, couldn’t pull the cake up by herself. She was lucky Rainbow Dash helped her straighten the cake back up in time. Rarity, Twilight, and Applejack added their assistance before the cake made it safely into the dessert car.
If only Big Mac knew. If only Fluttershy could just tell him. If only they could be together…
It was at that precise moment of hopelessness when Rainbow brought Fluttershy back to the present.
“Better ask Big Mac out fast, Fluttershy,” she teased. “I just might steal him away myself one day.”
“Oh, really?” asked Applejack, smugly. “Ah coulda sworn y’all had a crush on that feller from the Wonderbolts. What was his name again? Soarin’?” she smirked, pretending to guess as she gave Rainbow a knowing look.
Rainbow’s face went completely red at hearing that very name. “What the…? N-n-no, I don’t!” she stammered in protest. “That’s complete propaganda!”
Snickering, the Apple sisters ran off, singing a little tune along the way: ♪Soarin’ and Dashie sittin’ in a tree…♫
Rainbow growled and gave chase on all four hooves. “I’ll send you two up a tree, if you don’t knock it off!”
Left all alone, Fluttershy relaxed somewhat. While she appreciated the way Applejack changed the subject on Big Mac to save her from further embarrassment, she wished that she could somehow tell the Element of Honesty how much she cared for her big brother. Aside from that, she could only giggle quietly at Rainbow’s predicament. The best flyer of all Equestria was far too proud to admit that she had a very special somepony… and a very important one at that, given the Wonderbolts’ reputation.
Just then, Fluttershy could hear a couple of girls’ voices coming to her left.
She turned her head to see Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon about five yards from her. They were watching Scootaloo make an attempt to chase a pesky woodpecker up a tree. Despite being a Pegasus filly, Scootaloo was having a little trouble. She couldn’t quite maintain her flight level for more than a few seconds, her recent improvements notwithstanding. Being taken under Rainbow’s wing didn’t mean she would be given lessons anytime soon.
Fluttershy’s heart felt like breaking. Scootaloo reminded her of herself when she was a filly. A very weak flyer.
As a result, poor Scootaloo kept falling down back to earth whenever she was centimeters from the woodpecker, but wasn’t going to give up. For every fall, she was rewarded by a series of pecks. For every peck, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon laughed at her.
“Persistent little filly, isn’t she?” mused Silver Spoon, chortling.
“Yeah,” agreed Diamond Tiara. “Persistent and pathetic. But I’ve heard worse.”
“What do you mean?”
Diamond Tiara grinned. “Last week, my cousin from Cloudsdale told me of a filly he knows at flight camp. Exactly like Scoot-a-loser here, but a lot clumsier.”
Silver Spoon edged closer, clearly intrigued. “How’s that?”
“The way I heard it, she’s as skinny as a string bean,” Diamond Tiara chuckled, malevolently. “Not a lotta muscle. And what’s more is that she’s so weak, she can hardly keep herself from tripping on a cloud ring! And before she even knows it,” she added, raising her forelegs to stand upright. She gave a mock scream of fright and belly-flopped on the grass a split second after yelling, “Ker-SPLAT!!!”
Both girls burst out laughing.
Fluttershy was puzzled. Did she hear them right? Were they talking about… her?
No, that was a long time ago. These girls were babies back then. They couldn’t have known about it. It sounded absolutely ridiculous. And yet…
Suddenly, Fluttershy’s body shuddered, but not from fear. An old feeling started taking hold of her mind. As much as she tried to suppress it, she couldn’t. It was eating at her consciousness like a leech. Then, she witnessed the whole forest turning red, even the sky, the clouds, and the flowers. It was like she was in a different dimension.
Within moments, there stood Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon in their current position, still in their natural color. Still snickering. But not at Scootaloo.
They were eying Fluttershy as they laughed.
Anger slowly filled the heart of the yellow Pegasus as she trembled and watched. Those girls were now mocking her. Her!
Letting out a scream that didn’t sound like hers, Fluttershy charged at her would-be victims.



Rainbow’s chase of Applejack and Apple Bloom stopped abruptly when she heard the scream. It sounded raspy. Almost like a vulture. It was enough to make the birds scurry from the trees.
A split second later, Rainbow turned her head around and saw a flash of yellow and pink making its way toward Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. It crashed right into Diamond Tiara, knocking the silver miniature crown off her head. She uttered a pretty startled cry in response to the impact. Silver Spoon could only follow the movement with her eyes, her face an expression of shock.
Only when the streak holding lost momentum and rose for the sky did Rainbow recognize what it was… or rather, who it was.
“Fluttershy?”
The yellow Pegasus held Diamond Tiara in her forelegs, as if the filly was weightless. She gave off a look of distorted rage, showing her gnashed teeth. Her wings were flapping stronger than they had ever done.
“Weak, am I?!?” she shouted angrily, locking pupils with her hostage. “I’ll show you who’s the weakling here, you little rich brat!”
Rainbow gasped. Fluttershy’s voice had completely changed. There was no doubt that she made that screeching noise. She sounded a lot older.
And that attitude of hers—that anger. Why did it look so familiar to Rainbow?
“Help!” cried Diamond Tiara, clearly scared out of her wits. “Somepony help me! She’s crazy!”
Suddenly, Fluttershy instantly went calm. She closed her eyelids only halfway. She formed a small smile. One could almost mistake it as something copied from Rarity, except it didn’t look very innocent. Rainbow was sure of that.
“What do you say,” inquired Fluttershy, her voice now sultry and her grin widened, “we go for a little ride?”
Before Diamond Tiara could object, Fluttershy plunged downward at such tremendous speed. The earth filly screamed like a siren, while the uncharacteristically overactive Pegasus gave off a fiendish cackle. They were nearing ground the river before Fluttershy turned right, the wind rushing through her mane. The water transcended into a wave at her bidding.
As every second passed, Rainbow felt her anxiety increasing. It didn’t make sense. Everypony knew that she wasn’t the strongest flyer. Sure, she may have passed her limit while helping to transferring water to Cloudsdale via tornado, but this was something else. Nopony would ever be able to believe it, even if they were watching her.
She was going just as fast as Rainbow. She looked as confident as Rainbow. She acted as brashly as Rainbow. She even had that reckless streak Rainbow was always known for.
The Pegasus with the multicolor mane wanted to be proud of Fluttershy, but all she could feel was dread for her best friend’s reversed behavior. Something was wrong. If only she could remember what.
“Let me go!” pleaded Diamond Tiara, still caught in the grasp of Fluttershy’s dangerous flight. “Put me down! I can’t take it anymore!”
Fluttershy snickered before replying, “If you insist.” And without decreasing her speed, she turned right to hover over the ground and let go of Diamond Tiara.
“I’ve got you, D.T.!” Silver Spoon, without a moment’s hesitation, ran up and jumped to catch her screaming friend’s fall. It worked. Diamond Tiara landed on Silver Spoon’s back and the fillies’ combined weight caused them to crash on the ground.
“Thanks, Silver Spoon,” groaned Diamond Tiara, looking completely dizzy from the impact.
“Applejack… did Fluttershy… just... do what Ah thought Ah saw?” 
Rainbow looked behind her to find Apple Bloom and Applejack just as stunned as she was. She realized now that everypony was watching at every corner of the immediate area, even Twilight, Cheerilee, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. Fluttershy’s angry screech must have caught their attention.
“Ah… Ah don’t know what to say, A.B.,” Applejack finally answered.
As Rainbow returned her gaze to the scene, she noticed Fluttershy descending slowly from the sky. The yellow pony landed within a few yards distance of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, folded her wings to her sides, and advanced towards the confused and terrified fillies. She was still smiling. But that wasn’t the creepiest thing about her suddenly changed attitude.
Those blue teal eyes Fluttershy had were still normal, except there was a lack of compassion in them. No kindness. It had been replaced by…
Staring at this most awful sight, Rainbow suddenly remembered. The last time she saw this in Fluttershy was at… flying camp.
“No,” she whispered, her voice only quiet enough that only she could hear. “It… it can’t be.”
“C’mon, Rainbow Dash!” called out Applejack, her legs already running. “We gotta do sometin’! Quick!”
Still a bit scared, Rainbow followed her friend alongside. She just hoped that they would be able to stop Fluttershy from doing something she would deeply regret.
“It can’t be…”



Fluttershy was enjoying this. These snobby little weasels had been put just in the position she wanted them. If they had been a little more respectful, they wouldn’t be in this mess. But knowing their kind, she highly doubted it.
Now, she would make them pay.
Dazed, Diamond Tiara shook her head and slid off Silver Spoon to let her move. By the time they looked and saw Fluttershy, she was standing right in front of them. They gasped and clung to each other, shaking like leaves.
“Do you girls know what happens to spoiled little rich kids who don’t behave?” asked Fluttershy, her devious smile widening. “They get a much worse punishment than the kind Miss Cheerilee normally would give. And it requires beating sense into them.” She held out her right foreleg for emphasis. “Literally…”
“N-n-n-n-no, please!” begged Silver Spoon, her eyes watering up. “Don’t hurt us, Fluttershy! We’re just kids!”
“What we said,” added Diamond Tiara, “it wasn’t about you! Honest!”
Fluttershy was in no mood to listen. “Aw, don’t worry, Diamond Tiara,” she said in a mock sympathetic voice. “I’m sure your dad will be able to pay for your hospital bills. He’s more than rich enough, after all…” She chuckled as she rose on her stirrups and prepared both of her forelegs for the final blow.
“No!” cried Diamond Tiara, drawing her equally scared friend closer. “Y-y-y-you can’t!”
“Actually, I can, sweetie… and I will.”
“HEEELLP!!!” hollered Silver Spoon, voice cracking. “SOMEPONY! ANYPONY! HELP US!!!”
Seeing them beg filled Fluttershy with more dark pleasure than she had in years. “Let’s start with the bones that break the easiest, shall we?”
But before she could slam her front hooves onto these sniveling, pampered weaklings, she felt somepony else’s legs take her by the sides in a strong grip and spin her around to face the other way.
Ecstasy was replaced by outrage. Fluttershy gritted her teeth. Who would dare interrupt her moment of triumph? Interfering in her business would cost this pony dearly. And she mentally guaranteed it. Such insolence could not go unpunished.
“Fluttershy!” shouted Applejack, holding onto the Pegasus’ right foreleg. “Get a hold of yerself, girl!”
Almost instantly, all the dark thoughts in Fluttershy’s head vanished. Her muscles relaxed. Her body was caked with sweat. The red environment returned to normal color. Every moment of rage had been washed away by bewilderment.
"Applejack?” she gasped, her voice back to its quiet, sweet pitch. “What? I… I…”
She looked to find foals and little animals staring at her from all angles, dumbstruck. Their jaws were ajar. Eye pupils shrank. Twilight and Cheerilee were on her immediate left, their faces filled with worry.
Nopony made a sound. All except for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, who were weeping and waiting for a horrible fate.
Then, Fluttershy saw Rainbow’s face, which was evidently filled with the most genuine concern. Seconds later, the blue Pegasus breathed a sigh of relief. She mopped her brow.
“What… what happened?” Fluttershy inquired, feeling Applejack release her leg.
Twilight blinked at the question. Her eyebrows formed an incomplete V. “What. Happened?” she repeated, her voice turning harsh. “What do you mean, ‘what happened?!?’ You were terrifying two helpless kids in the middle of a field trip!”
Fluttershy cringed. She turned her head away. She shut her eyes tight. She wished she could tell Twilight just how right she was.
“Twilight,” started Cheerilee, “calm down. She didn’t mean…”
“On top of that,” Twilight continued to yell, ignoring Cheerilee’s gentle advice, “you intended to send them to the hospital! And now, you’re saying you don’t remember?!? What the hay is wrong with you, Fluttershy?!? Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon didn’t know any better! You promised Princess Celestia you wouldn’t over-assert yourself again! You promised!”
All those statements, as cutting as they were, really brought Fluttershy down. She couldn’t bring herself to hear anymore of this. Her heart was shattering. The shame was overwhelming.
Tears welled up in her eyes. She began to cry.
“Twilight, stop it!” Fluttershy opened her eyes to see Rainbow stand between her and Twilight. “Just leave her alone! Can’t you see how you’re making things worse for her?”
A few seconds had passed before Twilight looked at Fluttershy and calmed down. “Fluttershy,” she began to say, softly, “I’m sorry. I got carried away and…”
Fluttershy turned away again, unwilling to meet Twilight’s remorseful eyes. If anypony was truly sorry, it was herself.
“You diseased maniac!” yelled Diamond Tiara, all the panic inside completely gone. She hardly noticed Silver Spoon’s biting on her tail to hold her back. “When my dad hears about this, he’s gonna have you in jail… or, the madhouse!”
“Um, I don’t think either jail or madhouses will be necessary, Diamond Tiara,” said Cheerliee, betraying an awkward smile.
Fluttershy was not altogether surprised by the thought of being locked up. She had once slipped Princess Celestia’s pet phoenix, Philomena, away to help her get better. Yes, she didn’t ask the Princess’ permission, but anypony could hardly call that a crime. She was lucky that Celestia proved to be understanding.
What she had down today, however, proved to be a very genuine crime. There were plenty of witnesses and two would-be-victims. This would go all over the media. Her plans for the new animal shelter may be ruined, as a result
Worst off, if Big Mac saw this…
“Come on, sis,” said Rainbow in a quiet, understanding tone. “I’ll take you home.”
Gradually, the two Pegasi used their wings to get off the ground and left the forest.



“Uh, alright, class,” called Cheerilee, “I think this field trip is over! Let’s get you all home!”
All of the fillies and colts obeyed immediately, following their teacher’s lead. After seeing everything, it was best not to stay here a moment longer than they had to. Some were speaking anxiously in groups. Others remained respectively silent for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders—Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle—walked close together at the rear of the class.
“Ah cain’t believe it!” exclaimed Apple Bloom. “Fluttershy went plumb loco! And did y’all see how fast she was?”
“Yeah, I did,” affirmed Sweetie Belle. “Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon may be mean, but they didn’t deserve to be treated like that.”
“I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy,” said Scootaloo.
“Me neither,” replied the other two fillies simultaneously.
“Why would Fluttershy try to hurt them?” Sweetie Belle asked, after a moment’s pause. “She’s one of the nicest ponies we know.”
Apple Bloom considered. “Maybe they just… pushed the right button.”
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle exchanged glances at Apple Bloom’s theory for a second. Then, they shook their heads in bafflement.
“That’s one button I’ve never heard of before,” Scootaloo muttered.