//------------------------------// // IV: Damned Lies // Story: Stronger // by Einhander //------------------------------// STRONGER By: Einhander IV: DAMNED LIES “Fluttershy...” Celestia repeated. “I believe this is yours.” The diamond butterfly floated in front of her eyes, surrounded by Celestia’s magic. Fluttershy breathed in quickly. Her necklace. It must have come off during her escape. She grabbed the brooch quickly, clutching it to her neck. “Thank you, oh thank you… I would have never forgiven mysel—” Glass shattered behind Fluttershy, and she ducked instinctively. Wincing, she tensed her body, expecting sharp shards to rain on her back. After a moment, she realized none had come. She glanced upwards. All she could see was white feathers, above her, around her. Protecting her. "It appears the party has started without us." Celestia retracted her wing, shaking it off in the opposite direction of Fluttershy. She sighed, kicking away the shards of the cider jar that had broken the window. "It also appears it has already gotten completely out of hoof." "Princess? Are you hurt?" Fluttershy turned and saw, for the first time, two stallions flanking the Princess. They were young, proud, one white and one gray. They clucked and fussed over her wings. Celestia's voice was sharp. "If I survived a Changeling invasion unharmed, I think I can stand a barn-burner scrape." The guards stepped away. Celestia turned back to Fluttershy. “Are you hurt Fluttershy?” “N-no, Princess…” she whispered, “I’m okay.” "Good. I came here in Twilight’s stead—she was called away on urgent business—to, again, offer my deepest condolences on your loss." Celestia shook her head, eyes closed. "Your betrothed was taken from us too soon. All of Equestria still mourns with you." Fluttershy squeaked, as she felt all words leave her vocabulary. Celestia was the sun. She was her ruler. Her mane, even outside of a barn at night, flowed with vivid strands of green and purple. And although she had just closed her eyes, Fluttershy knew as soon as they reopened, they would be looking right back at her. She felt small. “The loss of a loved one is always difficult, but I wondered if—" Another window shattered, further down the side of the barn. This time it was a pony that was the culprit. Fluttershy recognized it to be Cloudkicker, or rather, whatever creature had decided to throw her head-first through the window. She had a scratch on her forehead, a slight trickle of blood running down her muzzle. Her eyes were dazed, drunk. But they refocused quickly upon seeing Celestia. "Princess?" “... Miss Kicker?” A hoof dragged the pegasus back through the window and into the fray. "Enough," Celestia said, her voice betraying exhaustion, irritation. She turned to her guards. "Gentlecolts, this party is over. If you would please..." The guards saluted and held their spears high, marching to the front of the barn. "Good. Now." She lifted her head. "I wonder, my dear Fluttershy, if I could spare a moment of your time?" Celestia said, turning and walking. It was framed as a suggestion, but it felt like a command. "I wish to speak with you on a matter of great importance, regarding Rainbow Dash. Alone." Fluttershy hesitated. "Of course, if it's too much, we can speak another time..." She wanted to say, yes, another time, and then another, and then never, I don't want to talk another pony about this, much less you... But all Fluttershy said was, "That’s fine." She looked back down at the ground. "We can talk now." "Good. Walk with me." Fluttershy obeyed, following slowly. Her legs were suddenly made of rubber, and she was stumbling. They walked in silence. Celestia lead her around to the back of the barn. "I actually enjoy watching a good barn fight, but not tonight." Celestia said, responding to a question nopony asked. After a few moments, Celestia stopped. Fluttershy took a quick look around, realizing that although she had been to the barn numerous times she had never realized how close the back of it was to the Everfree. Before her was a clearing, only a lone fallen log disturbing the carpet of grass, and then there was the forest. Thick and intimidating trees, covered in moss and the occasional beguiling flower, made for an unsettling border between welcoming grassland and forbidden jungle. Bad things happened there. Bad things had already happened there. She turned away, and found Celestia staring her in the eye. "Now. I have instructed Spike to allow you to write to me as often as you wish. I don't pretend that my words are any consolation, but if you can think of any way I can help, please, do not hesitate." Celestia tilted her head slightly. "Any time, day or night. Do you understand, my little pony?" "Y-yes, Princess." Fluttershy looked away, shifting her hooves. What was wrong with her? Celestia's gesture was unquestionably kind, the tone in her words as warm and comforting as hot cocoa. And yet... She dared to glance back up, and saw those two eyes still staring down at her, looking at her. No. Watching her. Watching her every reaction. Why? Celestia paused, then turned her gaze back to the Everfree. "I know it troubles you... that you can't remember what happened, and that your last words were spoken in anger." Fluttershy blinked. It was all true, but... Who told her? Celestia wrapped a wing around her. "Time will heal that wound. Words in the air are not as important as words in the heart." A sound, a voice echoed in her memory. Wait a moment. It wasn't all true. "I'm sure you know that no matter what words you heard—” "They weren’t in anger." Celestia stopped. "What?" "My words to her were angry. But the last thing I remember her saying..." she trailed off. "Fluttershy? This is important. What were they?" An anguished cry. A voice in pain, but not angry. Fluttershy winced. "'Save her.'" Fluttershy swallowed. "I was wet, I was choking. But I remember her saying 'save her.'” Celestia sighed, withdrawing her wing. "That was what she said to Twilight. Before she went back to the Everfree." There it was. The part of the story that made little sense. Why would her Dash leave her, so close to death? "She didn't just save you, but many animals owe her their lives," Celestia continued. "I just don't think it was right," a voice muttered. Fluttershy blinked, and realized it was her. Celestia turned to her, eyebrow arched. "Oh?" Hot, burning blush seized her face and legs. She looked away, wanting to be anywhere else. "Nothing..." "Speak, Fluttershy." She winced, lowered her head. "I... just wish we could have found her body." There was a silence between them, punctuated by the muffled sounds of the barn fight. The guards’ presence appeared to have only escalated the brawl. Celestia continued to gaze at Fluttershy silently. Finally she turned back to the forest and said, "Not many ponies know this, but we did find the part of the Everfree where you collapsed." Fluttershy looked up, alert but saying nothing. "Where Dash found you, and saved you. Up the river, and then a few hundred hooves to the east. A fallen log where the beaver cub was trapped." Celestia kept staring ahead, but looked at Fluttershy out of the corner of her eye. "I can take you there, if you wish." Fluttershy opened and closed her mouth, trying to find the words. Only one successfully navigated its way to the outside. "Now?" “No. The Everfree is too dangerous at night, my little pony. But tomorrow, perhaps? We can go together.” The words had the crust of a suggestion. But a quick look into Celestia's eyes made it clear that it was not an offer, but an order. "I want you to see. I want you to understand.” Celestia’s voice remained even, but her eyes were sharp and focused. “I want to make sure there are no more questions.” Fluttershy swallowed and nodded slowly, clutching her diamond butterfly. Another smash of glass, and this time the missile was a royal guard helmet. Celestia sighed. "We’ll speak more tomorrow. If you will excuse me…” She muttered as she trotted over to the barn door, “If you want something done right…” Fluttershy watched her go. Then she turned and stared at the Everfree. Up the river, and a few hundred hooves to the east… Fluttershy opened the door to Applejack’s front yard, blinking as the snow rushed to greet her. The cacophony of growls and whines ceased as she walked out, but she still couldn't see the source of them. The flurries were big, fat and wet, and they were in her eyes. She shielded her eyes, squinted and saw… She blinked. No. It couldn’t be. She rubbed her eyes and looked again. Creatures of all shapes and sizes, from Mr. Bear down to a pair of crickets she had helped once, had surrounded the farmstead. They stood silently in the newly fallen snow. Each one of them, big and small, had their eyes trained on her. Waiting. For what? “H-hello, friends…” she managed, taking a few steps out into the frosted grass. They watched her walk, expectantly. “Is something wrong? Is somecreature hurt?” A calico bunny hopped forward, staring at her directly. It was young, a male from first blush, and it reminded her of… but no, he was in the hospital. And his coat was white. But this rabbit looked just like her Angel Bunny. And he was waving her forward. “Fluttershy, come back inside!” Twilight’s voice rang out from inside the house. “Celestia’s on her way!” The bunny wrinkled his nose, eyes trained on Fluttershy. Then he hopped away, and the circle of animals parted for him. He started towards the barn, then stopped about fifty hooves away from the new gap in the wall of creatures. He turned back and stared at Fluttershy, ears twitching. “Fluttershy!” Twilight shouted again. She looked back, where her friends were hiding. Then she turned towards the bunny and his piercing stare. And with a deep breath, she took a step forward. Fluttershy sat on the log, staring up at the cloudy sky. Luna’s moon was full, but whatever beauty there was in her hoofwork was obscured by the clouds and darkness of the forest. She wasn’t sure how long she had sat there. It didn’t matter. Right now, nothing mattered. She had stepped forward boldly at first, ready to defy Celestia and go into the woods herself. Each hoof towards the Everfree found herself more drained of energy and resolve, as exhaustion set in mixed with the dread of the forest at night. She only made it as far as the log. There was a rustling of leaves, a thud, an ‘ow’ that came from behind. Fluttershy’s ears perked up. Her head and mane whipped around, eyes hard and muscles visibly tense, ready for fight or flight. Then she saw who her interloper was, and she relaxed. "Oh, it's you." The orange coat looked a little more dim than usual (although that might have been a trick of the moonlight), and there were strange colors on the side of her mane, but even covered in branches and leaves Fluttershy recognized Scootaloo immediately. She had something dark green clutched in her hooves, and a sheepish smile on her face. “Us, actually.” Scootaloo held out her hooves, and Fluttershy saw a tortoise. Dash’s tortoise. Tank blinked at her slowly. “Oh, Tank… I was supposed to bring you, wasn’t I?” Fluttershy sighed. “I’m afraid I’m not much good to anypony these days.” Scootaloo frowned. “Don’t say that.” Fluttershy shrugged. There was a silence. Fluttershy whispered, “I’m sorry you couldn’t come to the wake…” “That’s okay. Didn’t want to go. Didn’t want to see… I just didn’t want to. All these ponies, saying in the same breath that she’s dead, then asking how I’m doing.” She brought Tank up to her eye level and said, “Everyone says she's dead, Tank. Rainbow Dash is dead. How should we be doing?" The words were sharp, but there was no malice behind them. She said them simply, like neutral facts that were neither good nor bad. I have five apples. Today is Monday. Rainbow Dash is dead. “But, I’m glad you’re here.” Scootaloo said, a slight smile on her muzzle. “You’re the only pony I wanted to see, really.” “Oh?” Fluttershy sniffed. “Yeah, I thought I would see how..." Scootaloo hesitated, her muzzle curdling as if she’d just eaten something rotten. “How... How you were doing. With everything." “Oh, um…. fine, I guess.” Scootaloo bit her lip. “You don’t have to lie, Fluttershy. Please don’t lie.” She looked away. “Nothing is fine about any of this.” Fluttershy stared at Scootaloo, who was staring at the ground. “Why were you in that tree with Tank?” “Watching,” Scootaloo shrugged. “Waiting.” “Um… for what?” She turned back up to face the sky. “For her to come back.” There was a quick jab from her heart, a treacherous small thing ever since the death. Where there was once unlimited kindness, now there was a limit, and it was getting exhausted more and more each day. But she found a small reserve now, especially as she got close enough to see Scootaloo's face. They never had very much in common in the past, aside from having a pair of wings that didn't get much use and a deep love of Rainbow Dash. Now, Fluttershy had something else in common: they were out of tears to cry. “I was never good at staying still, especially in trees.” Scootaloo added, turning her head to look back at Fluttershy. Fluttershy moved to her left ever so slightly, creating just a bit more space for a pony who wanted to see that they weren't unwelcome. “Do you want to sit?” Scootaloo shrugged, and joined her, letting Tank down onto the grass. Glancing over at Scootaloo, she got a better look at the side of her mane. Red, blue, green, yellow... Crude streaks mingled together, most likely hoof painted in the mirror. "I like what you've done with your..." Fluttershy waved her hoof around Scootaloo’s multi colored hair. "Thanks. I wanted to get a tattoo but the only place in town laughed at me. This isn't even hair coloring, it's paint, like for a barn or metal. Mrs. Top got mad at me, but buck her." She winced, then shook her head, "I didn’t mean that." Fluttershy shook her head. "I'm not going to get you in trouble." Scootaloo laughed, or at least made a wet cackling noise. "I'm already in trouble." "She's your, um... Mom right?" "Foster mom. She tries, I guess. I don't know. I wouldn't know what to do with me either." She went silent. Fluttershy swallowed, and said nothing, Scootaloo replied with nothing. The night continued its gentle symphony. Fluttershy closed her eyes and took a deep breath, readying herself to depart. She felt a nudge, something hot and wet was leaking onto her. She turned her head and saw Scootaloo leaning against her. She had found more tears. “I miss her, Fluttershy,” Scootaloo sniffed. “I just want to hear her voice again, you know? Call me squirt, teasing me.” She rubbed her eyes. “Say that I’m awesome.” The words hit Fluttershy all over again. Muscles seized up and sagged, and she wanted to bolt, to fly away and never return. She had the will, but lacked the energy. She wasn't strong enough. "I loved her." Scootaloo whispered. "I know that's lame or whatever, or weird, I don't care. I loved her." The end of tears begat tiny hiccups. Fluttershy wrapped a wing around her, holding her close. Scootaloo nuzzled into her side. The hiccups continued, softer now. "She was my hero." Scootaloo whispered. Fluttershy sighed. "Mine too." Moments passed. Maybe minutes. She felt some of her strength returning, although she wasn't sure if it came from giving comfort or getting it. Wiping her tears away, Scootaloo looked up at her. "I, uh, can I ask you a question?" "Of course." Scootaloo bit her lip, and Fluttershy could see her struggle with the words. Reaching into her bag of tricks, Fluttershy summoned her kind smile, gentle eyes, all the tools she used to comfort ailing creatures. Usually she didn't have to make it a performance, as caring for others was as second nature to her as speaking softly. But some days, the heart has nothing left and instinct and skill take over to get a pony through. Even though she cared for the little filly, today was such a day. "You can ask me anything." Fluttershy said softly. Scootaloo exhaled. "Why didn't you speak at the funeral?" Fluttershy blinked. Her tool kit went into free fall. Of all the questions she had anticipated, this wasn't one of them. "Oh, um, I thought you weren’t there?" Fluttershy asked. "I looked for you in the crowd, but I didn't see you. The chair next to your friends went empty." It was a lie, if it wasn't for Rarity, she wouldn't have noticed at all. But it would serve as a deflection until she came up with an answer. Scootaloo looked away, her orange cheeks turning crimson. "I chickened out at first. Couldn't bring myself to go. Carrot Top had gotten my one dress cleaned and everything. I hate that dress. Well, it's only the one, so maybe I just don't like dresses?" She sniffed, wiping her muzzle with her wet hoof, which didn't really solve anything. "Anyway. She left me at home, and after a bit, I thought, if I had died, and Dash had a seat at my funeral, what would she do? Would she hide in her bedroom? Would she refuse to wear a dress because it made her feel itchy?" "Well, um. She probably wouldn't have worn the dress." Scootaloo laughed, and this time it sounded real. "Yeah, that's right! But she still would have gone. So I scooted over there as quickly as I possibly could, but It had already started. I climbed up a tree and watched from there. So many ponies, all four princesses, and the speeches about her! The Wonderbolts flyover! Other than the gloomy weather, it was awesome! She would have loved it..." Scootaloo trailed off, face turning thoughtful. "... But I kept waiting for you to speak, for you to talk about her. I waited and waited, figuring, thought you'd go last. But after Celestia spoke, the Wonderbolts flew over and that was that." She turned to Fluttershy. "She was your mare friend, right? Why didn't you say anything?" Explanations, excuses, and a few lies filled her brain. I was too sad. I didn't feel up to it. It was my fault she died. I don't like public speaking. I was ashamed. I was scared. Any of them would worked. Most would have been easy. Then she thought back to the wake, the faces ponies had, the words they forced themselves to say. And instead she told the truth. "Because there should never have been a funeral at all." Scootaloo looked at her. "Yeah?" Fluttershy muttered, “You shouldn’t have a funeral until you know a pony is dead…” “I knew it.” Scootaloo whispered, then shouted, “I knew it!” Fluttershy blinked,. “Um, knew what?” “She’s not dead! She can’t be!” Scootaloo jumped up. “She wouldn’t leave us like that! Something must’ve happened, something-” “Scootaloo, I don’t know, I-” “Come with me!” Scootaloo grabbed her hooves, eyes pleading. “Let’s go! Right now. We’ll search for her. We’ll start from where you last saw her, right? And then we’ll-” “SCOOTALOO!” She shrieked, quieting the filly. Fluttershy took a giant breath. “I don’t think she’s coming back, Scootaloo.” Scootaloo stared, face neutral, muzzle line even. Fluttershy sighed, looking at the ground. “I’m upset they didn’t search hard enough, I do feel like I’m being left in the dark, but… that doesn’t change the facts. I don’t think she’s coming back.” “How can you say that?” Scootaloo said, “You loved her. How can you—” “I did love her, I do love her.” Fluttershy said. “But if she was still alive . . .” The words were there, but she refused to say them. Scootaloo did it for her. “She would have come back by now.” She nodded. Scootaloo deflated and sank back onto the log. They said nothing more. For a long while, Scootaloo’s head rested on her shoulder as they stared up at the sky. The clouds began to clear, and the sky was now filled with Luna’s stars and moon. Fluttershy closed her eyes, and felt a peace, a calmness that eluded her all day. Maybe she was ready now. Sitting here, with Rainbow Dash’s number one fan. Maybe she could finally— "Look!" Scootaloo gasped. “Up in the sky!” Fluttershy looked up. A bright light shot across the sky. It was a white blue streak, a comet, perhaps? It generated its own light, and for a moment it reminded her of her love. The blue wasn't quite right, but the same spirit, the same speed and majestic impression her Dash gave when speeding across the sky. As it headed away from the Everfree and towards Canterlot, Fluttershy smiled, if only for a moment. She closed her eyes and held Scootaloo close. "Yes, I see it," she murmured. "It's beautiful." "Uh, are you still seeing it?" Scootaloo's voice leaked nervousness. Flutrershy opened her eyes, and felt her heart tighten. The light had slowed and was getting brighter, and it took only a few seconds to realize it was brighter because it was coming closer. She looked at Scootaloo, who was yelling at her. The light was getting closer, she wanted to flee but her limbs would not move and Scootaloo was shouting and there wasn't time, there wasn't time— The calico rabbit didn’t have to lead her very long. Past the barn, in the back where she had spoken with Celestia, she recognized it immediately. A single log, in a grassy field, facing the Everfree. The bunny stopped, scratched his ear and turned back to Fluttershy. She nodded at him, then slowly looked around her. It was different now than last night, covered in a thin layer of falling white but otherwise… “Fluttershy, wait!” She heard Twilight’s voice behind her, but did not turn to greet it. She was close to something, something big. Important. She sat on the log, closing her eyes, muttering. “Fluttershy…” she heard Twilight’s hoofsteps, quick panicked breaths next to her. “What are you doing?” Fluttershy kept her eyes closed. “Look,” she whispered to herself, “Up in the sky. What is it?” “Fluttershy?” She opened her eyes, and Twilight seemed to jump back at the sight of her. A voice came out of her muzzle, and it didn’t sound like her but it was her saying... “You’ve been telling lies, Princess.” Nothing. No sound. Nothing but Scootaloo's little ragged breaths and her own erratic heartbeat. No explosion or crash. Nothing else to hear. But there was a light. She could see it even though her eyes were closed. It was bright and blue and was so powerful it pierced her eyelids. Trembling, she turned her head away, holding onto Scootaloo tightly. The filly must have been less afraid, because she felt a nudge. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh... look!" Scootaloo was poking her in her side. "Fluttershy, look!" She shook her head, closing her eyes tighter. "It’s her..." She opened her eyes. She turned. And saw somepony she had been promised she'd never see again. It wasn't exactly the same face, the same eyes. Light blue and white Metal replaced flesh. Her wings were now made of several hundred individual spikes. Her eyes, once warm pools of magenta, were now electric red. Tiny black concentric circles made for her irises, staring directly at them. Her signature smirk replaced with a neutral muzzle line. And an otherwordly white glow surrounded her, like magic but there was no horn generating it. But metal or no, only one pony styled their mane that way. It started at her, at Scootaloo, flapping its wings at an even pace. It spoke. “You cannot stay here. It is not safe,” It turned and looked to the horizon, eyes squinting. “This is the calm before the storm.” And even though it was disguised in metal and coldness, it was Dash. It was Dash’s voice. “Dash…” Fluttershy croaked. It swiveled its head towards her. The metal face betrayed no emotion, but the eyes, even though they were red and unfriendly… there was a dimming, a hesitation. She reached out her hoof. It stared at it, head tilted. “Dash…” And it flew away over the Everfree, gone in a flash. Scootaloo jumped up and said, "C'mon! We gotta help her!" Fluttershy turned, watching her run into the Everfree. "Scootaloo, come ba— “She’s alive.” Fluttershy stood up from the log. “She’s been alive this whole time. Changed, different. But alive. Isn’t she.” “Fluttershy…” Twilight’s voice cracked as she looked away. “Please. You’re not well, you don’t know what—” “Isn’t she?!” Fluttershy screamed, and Twilight’s ears bent back. “It’s not what you think.” Twilight turned back, tears streaming down her face. “It’s complicated.” “Is it, Twilight?” She snorted, pacing back and forth, Fluttershy was out on a limb now, but it was too late to turn back. "You lied. You all lied to us. She told me, Dash told me she was sick. But it was more than that. She was changing, right before my eyes. Celestia knew. She knew and she did nothing!” She saw the animals gathering out of the corner of her eye, watching her. But they didn’t matter. Her focus was on Twilight. “And then she just disappears? You told me she dove into the heart of the storm for me. To save me, after what I said to her, those horrible words. I wanted that to be true. But I'm supposed to believe that I turn up alive and there's no trace of her? That she went back to save more critters? That doesn't sound like her. That sounds like me. I don't think she would have left my side." “She… she died a hero,” Twilight said, lamely, avoiding her eyes. Fluttershy shook her head. “You called off the search so quickly, they didn't let the even Wonderbolts do a flying search! Celestia declares her dead after only three days! She can raise the sun but she can’t search for more than three days?" Blood was rushing to her heart, propelling the words out of her mouth faster than she could think. "She's a hero, she was one of the elements of harmony and now she’s something else, isn’t she?” She walked up to Twilight and forced her to look her in the eye. “Why did you lie to me? Why are you lying now? Why?!" The last word, shouted at the top of her voice, echoed out into the Everfree. She blinked, and realized she was standing, wings extended and shaking, ready for a fight. But there was one to battle, save a shivering Twilight. And Twilight was staring at her, horrified. "Your eyes..." Twilight finally said, breaking the silence. Fluttershy pawed at the ground, face hot and body tired, but still angry. "Just tell me the truth. Tell me what happened, where she is. Why she hasn’t come to see me, or Scootaloo. Please, Twilight.” The fury cooled slightly, and she felt the old kindness return. “There are things I'm not being told. I know it, I can feel it. I saw something. I saw somepony. It was her. Tell me it was her. Tell me that she’s alive. Tell me I’m not crazy. Twilight bit her lip. “Fluttershy… it's just not that simple.” Fluttershy's eyes turned hard. “Don’t.” "But..." Twilight swallowed. “Believe me when I say, the Dash you knew is gone.” Fluttershy slammed her hoof onto the log. ”No more lies!” There was a terrible crunch, and the birds sitting on the trees near them cried and out flew into the air. The smaller, more skittish critters fled into the underbrush. She stood, panting and sweating, feeling exhilaration and exhaustion all at once. Everypony’s eyes was fixed at the ground underneath her hoof. She looked down. The log was shattered, as if it had been thrown into the face of a cliff. There was a crack in the ground. She stared at her hoof, which was bruised and had a bloody chunk of wood embedded in it. She felt no pain. As she stared, the bruise healed, everything except for the area around the wood. Blinking, she took the wood out with her teeth, and that last bruise healed. She looked up at Twilight. “What’s happening to me?” Twilight swallowed. “I don’t know, exactly. But I want—” “TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” The familiar voice boomed through the forest, and whatever creatures that hadn't left before were gone now. All eyes turned as Celestia descended through the sky and landed on the grass, shaking the ground. Magic crackled off of her wings, and her eyes were glowing. For a Princess of peace and light, she looked like a goddess of war and lightning. And, for a moment, Fluttershy saw those eyes bore into her own... ...before they turned to face Twilight. "Twilight, I don't like to give orders, but when I do, it's for the good of all my ponies. And I expect them to be followed." Her volume was unreal, her tone unshakably commanding. "And I commanded you to bring Fluttershy to me, immediately." "She... she didn't remember!" Twilight pleaded. "I just need more time, Celestia. She can't have done those things..." "That's for me to determine." Celestia said. "Not you." "She's my friend!" Twilight cried, "I was trying to help—" "You've already done enough!" Celestia roared, and Twilight bowed her head in silence. A few moments passed, and the glow faded from Celestia's eyes. She sighed. "I know you meant well, Twilight." "She's my friend, Princess," Twilight whispered, looking at Fluttershy. Tears were running down her face. "You're my friend, Fluttershy, now and forever. I've already lost one, I can't lose another..." She broke down, full throated sobs, reaching out to hug Fluttershy. "I can't, I won't, I'm so sorry, I..." Fluttershy wanted to return the hug. She even took a step to do so. Remember who the enemy is. "If you're my friend, Twilight..." She lowered her hooves. "Then why did you lie to me? To everypony?" Twilight stopped, shaking. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. "Because I told her too." Celestia placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "Because we want to help." "Help me? I saw her, Princess..." Fluttershy growled. "I know she's alive!" "What did you see? A metal shape? A glowing light?" Celestia's voice was even and disturbingly calm. "Did it speak? Did it sound like Dash? Did it respond to the name 'Dash' when you called to it?" It was Fluttershy's turn to pause. Her memories were still in pieces, but, Celestia had a point. "I wasn't lying, Fluttershy. Not exactly." Twilight looked down. "Dash is gone, the Dash we all knew and loved. She.. it is something else now." Fluttershy shook her head. "But, I saw her. It was her, I know it was her..." "Things aren't always as clear they seem, my little pony. You were already danger in when I told Twilight to bring you to me to you this morning..." she turned to face Fluttershy, muzzle tight and eyes somber. "We may already be too late." Fluttershy swallowed. "Too late for what?" Celestia approached her, and offered her hoof. "Fluttershy. You will come with me. I will help you." She leaned down, very close now. "I will purge you of this sickness inside of you." "Sick?" Fluttershy frowned. "Like Dash's illness? Will you 'cure' me too?" Celestia didn't blink. "Your fiance did not follow my advice. This time, it will be different." Fluttershy closed her eyes, breathing in deeply. Inside her mind, what she saw with her eyes closed, was a mirror. The mirror from her room. before it shattered. The other 'her' standing there, facing her. But this time, 'she' wasn't judging her. Instead, 'she' looked back at her with sad eyes. Or was it pity? She says I'm an illness. That I'm making you sick. The other her shook her head and looked away. What do you believe? I don't know what to believe. I don't know who to trust. I thought this was coming from Twilight but it looks like it was actually the Princess... 'She' looked back up at her. We may not agree on everything... or anything, perhaps. The old fire returned in the reflection's eyes. But I will NEVER lie to you. Fluttershy opened her eyes. "No." This time, Celestia blinked. "Fluttershy? What do you mean? 'No' what?" "I decline your help. I, um. Refuse." She started to back away. "I mean 'no thank you.' I can do this on my own." Celestia sighed. "You misunderstand me, Fluttershy. I'm not offering. I'm ordering." With a flick of her head, Celestia's horn lit up and magic flooded the field. Fluttershy felt it envelop her, a soft pull that lifted her off the ground. She struggled, but it was deceptively strong and soothing. Twilight gasped, "Princess, what are you doing?" Celestia continued, "This isn't about one pony anymore, Twilight. Or even two. It's about everypony." Fluttershy opened her mouth to protest, but even that proved impossible. She felt control and consciousness slipping away, like being drowned in a sea of feathers. And the last thing she heard was Celestia saying, "And I'm in charge now."