//------------------------------// // Fluttershy's Farce part two // Story: Ruining Harmony // by Artaelian //------------------------------// Fluttershy backed away from where the portal to the present should have been. Around her, the birds continued singing, oblivious to the panicking yellow pegasus below. A single thought ran through Fluttershy’s head, how Twilight had told her and the others that the way back would be there. Did she know it was gone? She hoped that back in the library basement, Twilight had seen the portal close, and was now working on a way to open it once more and get her back. She froze when the sound of hoofsteps could be heard walking beside her, and from the corner of her eye, she saw an orange pegasus with blue hair and brown goggles on his head. His emerald green eyes observed her, and a warm smile crossed his face. “If you wish to know,” he said, “my name is Sunshine Blaze. I followed you here through that portal. Wasn’t easy, and hopefully I wasn’t seen, but I am only here to help you.” Fluttershy didn’t reply, instead she shifted away from him slightly, averting her gaze. “Could I at least know your name?” Sunshine Blaze asked. “Fluttershy...” she replied. “Okay, Fluttershy, like I just said, you and I came through that portal, and now we’re trapped here. I’m trying to find out why these events are happening to you and your friends, so you won’t see me until we meet back here to go through the portal once it reappears,” Sunshine Blaze looked up at Fluttershy, “but from what I can tell, we’re over a thousand years in the past, so whatever you do, do not mention anything that could cause the present to change, or all of time to collapse.” Sunshine Blaze waited a minute for Fluttershy to reply, but it became clear she had no intention of speaking to the unfamiliar colt. “Basically, don’t mention Princess Luna being imprisoned, Discord escaping his prison or any everyday device that hasn’t been invented yet. Should be easy, ok? And if you need me for anything, just call for me, I’ll be there as soon as I can, if I’m in earshot. I’ll leave you be, so until we next meet!” Sunshine Blaze said, taking flight rather than waiting for her reply. “But,” she replied quietly to the empty space that Sunshine Blaze was, “what am I supposed to do? How can I ask my friends for help?” she wimpered. Once more, Fluttershy was all alone in the forest. The strange pegasus, Sunshine Blaze, had given her some information to work with. She was in the past. Added to the fact the portal was gone and she was trapped, and she felt lonely. Quietly, she lay at the edge of the path, and begun to cry. -- Fluttershy was startled awake an hour later to the sounds of hooves and a flap of wings. She remained perfectly still out of fear, and listened. “So, we at least know where he is located now. All we have to do is get the agreement of our hometown, and we can end his reign of terror.” one voice said. “You know it won’t be easy,” another, sadder sounding, voice spoke up, “they fear him. He rules the land with his wicked ways. Just because we’ve saved many a land from dangerous creatures and rulers doesn’t mean we’ll get anypony to agree to this.” “I know, but with those sisters away searching for something they believe will defeat him, we can’t just stand around.” the first voice replied. “Gentlecolts, I don’t mean to disturb your banter, but I see something up ahead.” this voice informed the others, a hint of curiosity within it, originating in the air, threw in the information. “What is it? Nothing dangerous?” the second voice asked. “No, it... I think its a mare, laying by the side of the road.” the third voice answered, sounding slightly confused. “Poor mare, probably ran into him. Come, it wouldn’t do to not check on her and see if she is well.” the first voice said softly. Fluttershy cringed in fear as the hoofsteps got closer. When they stopped, she dared a glance to try and see at least what they looked like. She saw a unicorn with a pure white coat and light blue mane and tail, with sapphire eyes. Standing beside him was an earth pony, muddy brown in colour of his coat, with a blonde main and tail and green eyes. Staying in the air just above her was a pegasi, with a green coat, minty green mane and tail, and amber eyes. “She’s alive at least.” the pegasus stated. “Yes, but look at her, she’s trembling in fear. Either we’re scaring her, or whatever left her here has had a huge effect on her emotions.” the earth pony replied. The unicorn examined Fluttershy, noting she was uninjured. He sighed and looked at the other two. “We won’t know for sure, but the least we can do is talk like she isn’t here,” he smiled warmly at Fluttershy, “miss, may I ask what your name is?” The trio waited for around two minutes, nervously glancing at each other. The unicorn had a look of suspicion on his face, and he took a few steps away from Fluttershy. “Miss, you really have nothing to fear from us. We are famous heroes in this area, possibly the world. Please, trust me.” the unicorn said firmly, but in a kind way. Slowly, Fluttershy moved and stood up. She maintained eye contact with the ground, and kicked at it. “I’m Fluttershy.” she wimpered. “I am sorry, but I did not quite catch that.” the unicorn stated. “I’m Fluttershy.” Fluttershy repeated herself. “Did either of you hear that?” the unicorn asked. “I did, she said her name is Fluttershy.” the earth pony replied. “Ah, good. That at least explains your behaviour. Naturally shy. Now, we can not permit you to stay in this forest. I can see that you are scared of us, but please, accompany us to our home of Canterlot, and we can send out the word to your relatives that you are safe.” the unicorn smiled. “Well, if we want her to trust us, she should know our names at least,” the brown earth pony said, holding a hoof to his chest, “name’s Forest Breeze. Yeah, yeah, I can tell, your impressed.” Forest Breeze opened his right eye and stared at Fluttershy, amazed that her face looked blank at what he was going on about. “Y’know, Forest Breeze? The only earth pony to buck a hydra in the kisser and live to tell the tale?” he leaned towards Fluttershy, hoping this would jog her memory. “Give it a rest Forest Breeze,” the green pegasus rolled his eyes, “I am Cloudswirl. I don’t brag about what I’ve achieved, but among them is stealing back the vial of water from the fountain of youth off a corrupt ruler in the island that is seven days sailing from Equestria.” “And I,” the white unicorn stood tall and proud, “go by the name Fireshot. Former adviser to the one called Celestia, and with my friends here, we have vanquished many foes to make this sorry world just that little bit better.” Fluttershy smiled a little. Forest Breeze reminded her of how Rainbow Dash bragged about what her achievements, and yet, his pride was even easier to shoot down than that of Rainbow’s. When she hadn’t recognised him, he seemed visibly upset, whereas, Rainbow would just keep going until the other pony knew what was being talked about. Cloudswirl meanwhile acted aloof and modest, sort of like Rarity, but clearly, he seemed to have some reason for his heroic actions other than being helpful, as if he was fighting for something. Fireshot however was unlike any of her friends, but he appeared to know Celestia on a personal level. Something about them comforted her. Fluttershy felt less stranded. -- It took an hour for Fluttershy to be led to Canterlot, or, rather, ancient Canterlot. It sat at the base of the mountain where the Canterlot she knew stood. Only, less grand. The town was much like Ponyville, a collection of houses and shops. A guard stood at a building on the path into the town, and as she walked with the three colts, she noticed all sorts of things. For one, there was a bakery, run by a white pegasus with blonde mane. It stood opposite a store selling vegetables. The street was mostly the same, homes and shops. Soon, the three colts led Fluttershy to a run down looking building, which they led her inside. “Well, welcome to our humble home miss Fluttershy. It is not much, but it is where we stay when in Equestria.” Fireshot explained. “Yes, Fireshot was offered by Celestia a home closer to the capital. Just before he turned up at least. So we settled on Fireshot’s home here in Canterlot.” Cloudswirl added, just before picking up a hammer and nails, and flying to a rafter to try and nail it together before it completely broke. Fluttershy studied the house a bit more. The floor had no carpeting, and looked like it had seen a lot of rain. The floorboards were mouldy, or even breaking apart. The walls weren’t fairing much better, with visible holes in them where the wood had rotted away. And the rafters holding the roof up had a lot of nails around visible cracks. “Now, we can get to why we brought you here,” Fireshot said, using his magic to bring a quill and scroll before him, “we must tell your family that we found you. Where do they live?” Fluttershy didn’t answer. Her mind begun to race, recalling the words of Sunshine Blaze. If she told them that her home was Ponyville, how would they react? And more importantly, did Ponyville even exist right now? But to tell them the truth, while a good thing normally, could hurt the timeline. And suddenly, it made sense why she was in the past. The element of kindness must have sent her back, to say one wrong thing and alter something in the past, probably Twilight even being sent to Ponyville at that Summer Sun Celebration. It would probably be best to try and avoid changing the future. “Um, I... I don’t have a family.” She lied. Together, Fireshot, Forest Breeze and Cloudswirl looked at Fluttershy, having noticed her reply had taken half a minute. “I see,” Fireshot settled the quill and scroll down on a table. Despite how light the objects were, they managed to cause it to collapse to the floor, “you can be honest, miss Fluttershy, you only just survived an encounter with him, am I correct?” he asked. “I’ve been meaning to ask, just who is ‘he’ anyway?” Fluttershy questioned. Fireshot looked surprised, then looked to Forest Breeze and Cloudswirl, as if hoping they could confirm what she had just asked him. He returned his focus to Fluttershy. “I do not believe there is a pony who does not know who he is. You are not pretending are you?” he asked. “No, I- I really have no idea who ‘he’ is.” Fluttershy answered. “Dear Fluttershy, the ‘he’ we speak of is the tyrant ruler of Equestria. ‘He’ is Discord.”