//------------------------------//
// XIII 
// Story: The Fire and The Flutter 
// by A. Tuesday 
//------------------------------//

	 “Fluttershy!” exclaimed Twilight in happiness, “You’re awake!”
Fluttershy completely disregarded her friend for the time being, and faced Celestia. “But, Princess…you, you just can’t banish Firestarter.”
“Alas, my pupil,” she said, “But I must. For the better of Equestria, and for your safety.”
Fluttershy looked around crazily. “But, but…why?”
Celestia sighed. “Firestarter has risked the safety of one too many ponies in this fair land, and, for the safety of all others, banishment is the best decision. It is better this way.”
Fluttershy began hyperventilating. “No…no!” She leaned forward, attempting to fly, but then bent backwards into her pillow. “Ooh, ow, ow, ow!” she exclaimed. I had no idea how much her back hurt, but I figured she shouldn’t get up at all.
I walked over to her bedside. “Fluttershy…”
“But, but why?” A tear dripped down her face, and her voice cracked, something I honestly didn’t think it could do, since it was so high already. “Why do you have to go?”
“Fluttershy…Celestia is right. You don’t know all of what happened at the Center – it wasn’t good. I hurt a lot of ponies back there…I told you what happened in Ponyville…and if I were to move away, who’s to say it won’t happen again?”
I saw her face contort in despair – she squeezed her eyes shut, and when she opened them again, there was a shimmer of tears covering them. “Firestarter,” she mumbled, “You are one of my best friends. You…you just can’t go!”
I rested my head on her neck, feeling the warmth of her fur. Her hooves wrapped around my neck, and I lifted my good hoof as we embraced on the bedside. I figured I couldn’t cry again that night, but the lump in my throat began to form again.
The pegasus sniffed. “Isn’t there anyway you can…you can…” She trailed off, unable to complete her sentence. I heard a sob she tried to contain as some of her tears spilled onto my fur.
“I…I just can’t Fluttershy,” I replied, “Believe me, and I know you don’t want to…” My voice completely cracked. “It’s for the best.”
I knew, inside, that it honestly was. This was to be a national topic – I would be the monster of all of Equestria, the mare people hid from in there homes, an outsider, an outcast. I initially thought I might be mocked, but it would be different. Stories would be spread – anypony who made fun of me was ashes the next morning, things like that. I would be a hermit – not wanting to accidentally hurt anypony, not talking to them so my emotions would be in check. I would live in a ramshackle home on the side of a cliff, so, should I choose to set fire to anything – it would be my own home, where I would hopefully die in.
This was no life for me, though – I knew it, Celestia knew it, and deep down inside, I think Fluttershy knew it, too. Banishment – the chance to truly start over again. I should be looking forward to it.
But, I didn’t. I had family here, now – the Gilds, my older “brother”, Sir. I wouldn’t ever see them again. I wrote to my parents, my real family, a couple times – I couldn’t do that again, either. 
Mostly however, as the hooves of my best friend in the world dug into my upper back and her tears fell like rain onto my fur, it would be Fluttershy. I had known her for not even two days – even so, I developed more of a connection to this pastel-colored pegasus than anypony else over the course of nearly two years. I would never see her again…this time, for real. She wasn’t in a coma, or almost dead – she’d be gone from me forever. We both knew it, too.
Thinking of this, I let my tears fall now. I didn’t care who saw. I just needed to be with her.
I heard a sniff behind me. It could only be Twilight – swept up in the moment, I suppose. It brought me back to reality. Reluctantly, I began to part from our embrace. Fluttershy did the same.
Before we totally separated, Fluttershy clasped me on my shoulders, and we locked watery eyes with each other. She said, in a soft, saddened voice – “Please, do me one thing, will you?”
I nodded. “Anything.”
“Promise me you will write me.”
I looked straight into her eyes, not blinking. “I promise.”
We separated from our hug, her hoof and my good one lingering on each other as long as possible, and then leaving each other for good.
I faced Celestia and Twilight. The purple mare had been crying, and I could still see some water in her eyes. Celestia turned to Twilight, and whispered something. I could just make out the words “best if”, “Fluttershy”, “memory spell”, “be easier.”
She would forget me. Once I left, she would forget me.
For the best.
I felt a last teardrop roll out of me eye.
For the best.

Celestia turned to me. “Are you ready, young Firestarter?” she asked.
I nodded. “I am.”
“I am truly sorry, Firestarter – I only want what is best for Equestria. I hope a pony such as yourself will understand this.”
I nodded slowly, feeling that tear drop from my head, and fall to the floor. “I do.”
Celestia sighed. “I promise you, you will remembered for your achievements, more than your infamy.”
I knew it not to be true – there’s no way that’d happen. Nice of her to say it, though. “Thank you, Princess,” I cordially said anyway. 
“Then,” she said, “Let us commence with the banishment. Goodbye, Firestarter.”
She closed her eyes, and her long horn glowed as she slowly lowered her horn.
I closed my eyes and accepted my banishment. Her horn touched mine.