//------------------------------//
// Seventeen – Flutterstorm, Part II 
// Story: Beauty, Books, and Butterflies 
// by Rough_Draft 
//------------------------------//

Of all the pleasures that Canterlot had to offer, most noble ponies preferred a stately gala at the palace or a royal garden party. Any opportunity the local unicorns had to rub horns with the best and brightest in the capital was a welcome one, full of gossip and intrigue and delightful stories about their peers.

All his life, Fancy Pants had been comfortable with not being like most of the nobility. Though he’d been branded eccentric for his generosity to “lesser breeds,” he kept his manners impeccable, which seemed to draw him a following from the likes of Jet Set and Upper Crust. And while he entered the garden party on the palace grounds with Fleur Dis Lee at his side, there was plenty for him to enjoy about these social events.

The other ponies thought they were rich because of their family wealth and personal fortunes, but Fancy Pants saw another kind of currency here. The value of information. Every pony here was an enigma to sort out, another mystery to unweave, with so many delicious details to sort away for future use.

Here was a red unicorn wearing a pince-nez: Sir Garnet, whose birthday was in two weeks and who had a penchant for betting heavily on Wonderbolt races. The rumors about him courting Lady Emerald appeared to be true, as she was now laughing at one of his jokes. And up ahead was Aerial View, a former Captain of the Guard with a gray scar under his muzzle, which he’d earned in training at the Academy. He attended these parties out of habit and took sips from his glass with a sour expression. All these details painted a picture of each pony that Fancy Pants ever met—and any of them could be used to his advantage at any social event he attended.

To the best of his memory, he had only missed three of these garden parties—and on all three occasions, it was always because of his work.

“Hark, here she comes!” a stallion in a dinner jacket whispered to Fancy Pants’ right.

He turned with a quiet smile to witness the commotion rippling through the crowd as the palace doors swung open. Taking her measured pace down the steps was Princess Luna herself. Like the rest of the crowd, Fancy Pants and Fleur Dis Lee bowed their heads as she entered the party.

The reformed Princess of the Night was now a far more common sight during the Canterlot social season, attending dinners and state events in the company of Celestia or entirely on her own. Indeed, this was the first time Fancy Pants could recall seeing the younger Princess alone at a common garden party. And as Fleur Dis Lee liked to tease him in private, he did have an excellent memory. But only, she would giggle, for the most trivial things…

“If it please you, my friends,” said Luna, “I would rather you continue as you were. Enjoy yourselves. Our caterers should be serving the first lunch course shortly.”

Fancy Pants chuckled behind his hoof at the smiles and joyful chatter now rippling through the crowd. Though these ponies considered themselves an aristocracy, in the end they were really no different from the honest folk living in Ponyville or Appleloosa. Mention the tiniest morsel of food and they’d be salivating like dogs.

However, he composed himself when Luna turned her attention toward him. She favored Fancy Pants with a tiny smile. “I trust you are well, good sir.”

Fancy Pants nodded. “Very well, Your Highness. Thank you for asking.”

“I must apologize, however, for interrupting you at this event,” Luna continued, striding a few paces closer to him, almost right up to his ear. “I’m afraid that you’ve been summoned.”

For the briefest moment—just a fraction of a second—Fancy Pants went absolutely still. The tone in her voice left no doubt in his mind what that could mean. Seeing Fleur’s jaw drop meant she understood it, too.

But because he was still a genteel pony, he merely adjusted his monocle and sniffed to cover his shock. “Mm, of course, Your Highness. I am as ever at your command.”

Luna leaned back, smiling as if she hadn’t whispered a thing in his ear. The game was about to begin. “Far be it from me to interfere with your travel plans, but have you considered where you and your beloved will be going for your anniversary?”

Fancy Pants suppressed the urge to snort. The Princess knew full well that their anniversary had been two months ago, but at least nopony in earshot knew that. “I hadn’t given it much thought, I’m afraid.”

“Might I suggest Fillydelphia? It’s ever so lovely this time of year.”

“Oh, is it? It’s been ages since my last visit.”

“Quite. You would find it much improved now.” With all the grace of a griffon, Luna raised her hoof toward the afternoon sky. “With my moon raised overhead, the twilight sky is rich like velvet.”

“My goodness.”

“I should hope anypony would enjoy the air in Fillydelphia. The sky is so pristine that the local poets will be writing sonnets about it.”

“I doubt any poet can do it justice like you, my lady.”

Luna responded with a delicate toss of her mane. Fancy Pants knew that marked the end of their talk. She turned toward Fleur Dis Lee with a much more courteous smile and bowed her head. “I wish you both good day and a safe trip.”

“Your Highness,” Fleur replied, offering her own elegant bow.

As the Princess departed, Fancy Pants floated a glass of cider off the tray of a passing waiter. He took a sip and made a show of enjoying the liquor, putting everypony else at ease while he scoured through his memory of the conversation he’d just had.

To anypony watching, there was nothing remarkable about how frequently Luna swished her tail while she spoke. But Fancy Pants was still a member of the Secret Service. He understood the message that she relayed. One swish for every keyword, all of which spelled out his assignment.

Fillydelphia. Twilight. Velvet. Sky. Sonnet.

He would have to pack his gear as soon as possible. Anything that involved Fillydelphia’s greatest hero and the mother of Equestria’s newest princess was worth investigating at once. He would have to speak with his old friend Strider before the next sunrise.

“Darling.” Fleur placed a gentle hoof on his shoulder, drawing his face toward her worried expression. “Must you go?”

“Sadly, dearest.” Fancy Pants took her hoof and kissed it. “Duty calls. And I have no doubt that lives are on the line.”

Despite the sorrow in her eyes, Fleur smiled and leaned to whisper in his ear, “Then, when you’ve finished, shall I meet you in Fillydelphia proper?”

Fancy Pants chuckled. “Why, whatever for, dearest? Our anniversary was two months ago.”

“Then we’ll celebrate the two-month anniversary of our most recent anniversary.” The fiery grin on Fleur’s face was enough to make Fancy Pants warm under the collar. As always, he was grateful for the ability to keep his cool in public.

How he acted around her in private was another matter entirely.

“I look forward to it,” he whispered back and took her by the hoof again. With a deep breath, Fancy Pants turned around and headed straight into the crowd, seeking out the newest face at the party. When his eyes alighted on a cream-yellow mare in a white dress, he called out, “Ah, there you are, Silver Jubilee! May I say you look as radiant as ever…!”





With the sun hanging high in the sky, Rainbow Dash gave one last kick to the thin gray clouds. The water vapor that dispersed through the air sent a chill down her legs as she executed a flawless back flip and soared back toward Ponyville.

She grinned and closed her eyes as she swooped back into town. Nothing like the satisfaction of a job well done. She only wished she could have been just as good at apple bucking as her marefriend. Big Mac had finally pulled Rainbow Dash aside for a “chat” about the trail of spilled and squashed apples she left behind.

Then again, she supposed she didn’t have to be amazing at everything in life. Being the best flier in Ponyville—if not Equestria—was more than enough to satisfy her.

As she spread her wings to bring herself down on a gentle glide, Rainbow Dash took a moment to watch her friends gathering next to Cherry Berry’s hot air balloon. She didn’t see the harm in letting Twilight and Fluttershy take a slow ride to Fillydelphia—they were kind of boring like that—but she did question the wisdom in letting them fly past the Everfree Forest. Sure, it would’ve taken them even longer to try and navigate around it, but there was something about the weather in that region that Rainbow Dash didn’t like.

Things got weird there. Weird and creepy.

But as Rainbow Dash touched down on the platform, there was Fluttershy and Twilight, both wearing green scarves that Rarity had made for their trip. The smile on Fluttershy’s face alone put an end to any doubts that Rainbow Dash was feeling. If she could be brave enough to fly over the scariest place in Equestria, then she deserved this trip more than anypony.

And besides, Rainbow Dash reflected, walking over to her friends, I’ll kick Twilight’s flank if she lets anything happen to her!

While Cherry Berry was prepping her balloon, Twilight was standing next to her marefriend, smiling as she used her magic to adjust the fedora on her head. Rainbow Dash chuckled when she saw the pith helmet that Twilight was wearing. She didn’t think this trip was going to turn into a safari, but knowing Twilight, they’d probably stop and investigate some weird flower every five miles.

“You both look fabulous!” Rarity exclaimed, drawing the two lovers into a hug. “Be sure to write to us once you’ve arrived!”

“Will do!” Twilight replied. She turned to Cherry Berry with a pleasant smile. “Are we ready?”

The pilot beamed. “Yep!” She pointed a hoof at the bottom tip of the balloon. “Once you’re in the air, you can use that burner valve to change the heat rate. If you track the air currents along the way and maintain a good altitude, you can pretty much ride the wind all the way to Fillydelphia.”

Twilight clapped her hooves and giggled, prompting Rainbow Dash to smack her hoof into her own face. Even as a princess, she was still such a dork.

Slowly, the chatter on the platform died down. Only the strong winds remained. Twilight exchanged a quick smile with Fluttershy and turned back to the rest of their friends.

“Wish us luck, everypony,” she said. While she spoke, Twilight’s horn glowed. Her magic surrounded Fluttershy and gently deposited her inside the basket. Then she hopped in and gave the crowd a small wave. “We’ll be back before you know it!”

“Don’t forget us!” Rainbow Dash and the others turned to see Pinkie Pie jumping over their heads and grabbing onto the basket with all four hooves. She shot the two marefriends a fearsome pout. “And don’t eat all the pies at once! You’ll get the worst. Tummy ache. Ever!”

Twilight laughed. “I promise we won’t—”

Pinkie glared. “Ever!”

The laugh in Twilight’s throat died, turning into an awkward swallow. “Er, right. We’ll savor each pie. Pinkie Promise!”

As soon as she and Fluttershy completed the ritual, Pinkie Pie’s face lit up. “Okie-dokie! See ya!” She launched herself off the basket in an aerial somersault. “Rainbow, catch me!”

“Whoa!” Rainbow Dash swooped up just in time to grab the pink pony before she landed spine-first into the platform. Huffing, she lowered Pinkie back down. “Don’t… do that…!”

Pinkie giggled. But the moment was short-lived. Cherry Berry ran around the basket, removing the last of the anchors with her teeth. Meanwhile, Twilight used her magic to activate the burner. The balloon began to rise into the air, silhouetted against the early morning sun.

Those kind of balloons couldn’t compare to Rainbow Dash’s awesome skills, but even she had to admit it was a pretty cool sight. It was like her first time at the Summer Sun Celebration.

“Bon voyage!” Rarity called out, waving her handkerchief at the departing balloon.

Applejack draped one foreleg around Rainbow Dash’s shoulders. “Well, that sure is something. But it don’t compare to what I got planned back at the farm.”

A shiver ran down Rainbow Dash’s spine, one that didn’t have anything to do with the brisk morning breeze. “Oh yeah? Got more apples to buck today?”

“Well, it’s a whole other kinda bucking if ya catch my drift.” Applejack winked. “Sugarcube.”

Rainbow Dash barely heard the last word. Her wings were already flittering fast as she rose off the ground. “So… last one there has to clean dishes tonight!”

“You’re on!” And then they were galloping hard through town, leaving a huge cloud of dust in their wake.





Cherry Berry had been right about the wind. Twilight found herself checking the altimeter as the balloon continued on its slow journey across the Everfree Forest. She lit up her horn and used a short burst of magic to turn the burner handle. The flame inside the balloon went whoosh and the aircraft ascended higher in the sky.

Twilight glanced out the side of the basket at the forest below. She’d never had this opportunity to examine the region from above. As tangled as the treetops and upper branches were, the Everfree wasn’t quite so scary. At least, not during the day.

“Oh, my.” Fluttershy poked her head out from under her blanket. Twilight watched her shuffle from hoof to hoof, making several attempts to steal a peek at the forest below. Each time, she squealed and ducked back under the blanket.

“It’s not so bad, actually.” Twilight cast her magic over the blanket, levitating Fluttershy to her side. “Besides, aren’t you hot under that blanket?”

“It’s very comfy,” Fluttershy answered, muffled by the blanket. But still, she poked her eyes out from under the cover and took a quick glance over the edge of the basket. “A-and it’s still scary down there.”

“But you can’t see any monsters from up here.”

“They’re still down there, though.”

Twilight conceded the point and wrapped both hooves around Fluttershy. “Well, I’ll just have to fight them off if they try and come up here, then.”

Apparently, those were the magic words. Fluttershy relaxed long enough to pull the blanket off her head and let her face bask in the sunlight. Twilight’s heart skipped a beat at how radiant she looked in the morning air. This altitude suited her. But of course it would. She was a natural-born pegasus, not a late-blooming alicorn like Twilight.

As Twilight watched, she felt a lump forming in her throat. She remembered this scene from before.

She remembered…





“Twilight, I really like you.” In the comfortable gloom of the airship quarters, Flash Sentry’s eyes glittered. Not even his guard armor could shine so brightly. “But I don’t know if I’m ready to meet your parents.”

“But they’ll be fine! I promise!” Twilight nuzzled him. “And Princess Celestia isn’t that scary!”

“It’s not Celestia I’m worried about.”

“Oh, come on. Luna hasn’t been Nightmare Moon for years—”

“It’s you.”

Twilight froze. She thought she heard a lightning strike in the distance, but she couldn’t be sure. She couldn’t tell if she was hearing thunder or her own heart racing.

Flash turned away. “I’m sorry I’ve waited so long to say this, but I don’t think you’re ready for a real relationship. We’ve had a lot of fun, but it was never going to last.”

“But… but you love me…”

“But that wasn’t me, Twilight!” Flash jumped off the couch and stormed ahead to the window. He looked so majestic, with his orange flank silhouetted against the night sky. “How many times do I have to say it? That was the other Flash Sentry! The human one! Every time you look at me, it’s him you’re seeing! Isn’t it?”

Twilight wanted to tell him he was wrong. She wanted to scream or cry. She was sorely tempted to slap him with a magic burst and demand an apology for such an accusation.

She opened her mouth—

And that’s when the lightning struck.





Back in the present, there were no storms to threaten the peace. Twilight found herself grinning from ear to ear, her lips covered with cherry pie as she munched on her dessert. It was a nice complement to the daisy sandwiches Spike had packed for her.

Curled up beside her was Fluttershy, sipping from her juicebox like a school filly. Twilight bent down to nuzzle the top of her head, eliciting a cute little sigh from Fluttershy. She dropped her juicebox onto the basket floor and looked up into her marefriend’s eyes. “Mmm. Twilight?”

“Yes, love?”

“There’s something I wanted to ask you.”

Twilight pulled her close. “Of course. Ask away.”

“Well…” Fluttershy squeaked and hid behind her mane, but it was only for a second. Twilight observed that her time between getting embarrassed and asking questions was getting shorter. She wasn’t as bold as Rainbow Dash, but for such a shy pony, she was making some impressive leaps forward.

“Well, it’s this idea I had a long time ago,” she continued. Her tail swished over Twilight’s legs, curling up around them. “It’s called the Golden Oaks Zoo…”





The fierce wind that buffeted the trees of the Everfree Forest rose up against the distant howls of a pack of timber wolves. Twilight grit her teeth as she used her magic to yank the last airship strut into place. It wasn’t much of a shelter, but it would last until help arrived—if ever.

She wished now that she had taken Pinkie Pie seriously. She’d told Twilight about the “doozy” she felt on the eve of their trip. And when had her Pinkie Sense ever been wrong?

Twilight glanced at the nearest oak, where Flash Sentry was curled up. The pegasus didn’t even look at her as he bandaged up his leg. His wings tucked into his sides when she approached.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry, too,” he replied. “But this doesn’t change what I said earlier.”

Twilight nodded and let the sound of the storm fill her mind, drowning out every happy memory she’d ever had with Flash. Rain and thunder swept away the memories of her and human Flash dancing at Canterlot High. The wind whipped through her mind, scouring it clean of the timid smiles they’d shared during their first date in the Crystal Bistro. Even the howl of a timber wolf was better than reliving their first kiss under the moonlight in Canterlot.

She’d have never guessed her first breakup would be so awful. Or that love could hurt this much.





“Twilight?” A yellow hoof waved around Twilight’s face. “Are you alright?”

“Hmm?” Twilight blinked. She let the breeze wash over her face as she peered over the top of the basket. They were still a few miles over the Everfree Forest. “I’m sorry. I guess I drifted off for a moment.” Her wings fluttered against her sides as she sat back down and faced Fluttershy. “Please go on. You were telling me about your idea for a zoo? I’d love to hear more!”

Having finished her juice, Fluttershy put the box down and stared at her marefriend. “Are you sure? Something seems to be bothering you.”

“No, it’s nothing. Really.” Summoning the biggest grin she could manage, Twilight added, “See? I was just tired, but I’m awake now. Please, keep talking.”

Fluttershy’s ears twitched back. “I-I’d rather listen to you. I know I’m such a blabbermouth—”

Funny, Twilight mused. You sure don’t sound like Pinkie Pie…

“—But I noticed that you’ve been distracted ever since we left Ponyville.” Fluttershy sat down across from Twilight on the other side of the basket, folding up her legs underneath her. “Please. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s…” Nothing was on the tip of her tongue, but Twilight couldn’t make it come out. She stared at Fluttershy. Dear little Fluttershy, who never judged anypony or said an unkind word. Not unless she was under Discord’s influence or taking self-help advice from a minotaur. Or unless an innocent animal’s life was in danger.

Who better to hear her story?

With a flick of her magic, Twilight levitated the blanket next to her lover. As she sat down beside Fluttershy, the blanket fell over both of them, with the magic tucking it in. The heat from Fluttershy’s body, pressed up against her own, made Twilight feel a bit warm below her mane. The memory of her and Fluttershy’s passionate morning together was still fresh in her mind. But she had to keep focused. For both their sakes.

“Okay,” she finally said. “It’s about Flash Sentry.” When Twilight spoke, she glanced up at the sky. She thought she could hear thunder rumbling, but it was a cloudless morning. Nothing else to worry about. “It’s about how we broke up.”

Under the blanket, Fluttershy nudged one of her wings up and laid it across Twilight’s back. A small gesture, but it opened the floodgates in the back of her throat.

“I was… scared.” Twilight lowered her head onto her hooves, forcing herself to sift through every painful memory. Falling… scrambling for cover… crawling through the mud… “I really thought he was the one, you know? After everything we’d been through, facing down Sunset Shimmer, saving the Crystal Empire from a dragon attack, stopping that Baron Bad Horse from taking over Canterlot…” Her voice cracked and she closed her eyes for a moment. She needed to take this slowly.

In a tiny voice, she said, “H-he was right. I was more in love with the Flash I knew from another world. I-I never gave this world’s Flash a chance. I had to practically chase him. It’s a miracle we stayed friends after that.” Wiping the tears away with a hoof, she looked up into Fluttershy’s tender face. “That’s partly why I was so scared about driving you away. I could bear losing him as a friend, but not you.”

“It’s okay,” Fluttershy whispered. Twilight felt her lean over and plant a kiss on her cheek. She smiled past the tears forming in her eyes.

“I wanted to make this trip special,” she continued. “Not just because you deserve it, Shy. But because my last trip with Flash didn’t go so well.” With a shake of her head, she added, “And now that I think about it, I’ve probably jinxed us.”

Fluttershy tilted her head to the side. “I’m sure you didn’t.” She lifted one hoof toward the cool gray skies. “See? Everything’s fine.”

Twilight nodded, but she didn’t share her marefriend’s optimism. For so long, she’d kept all those thoughts about Flash Sentry locked away, burying them behind memories of failed dates with other suitors offered by Rarity, along with precious memories of her time with Fluttershy. Even now, when she looked at her lover, she could still see Flash smiling down at her.

I guess pegasi are my type, Twilight thought, almost smiling. She reached under the blanket and slid one hoof around Fluttershy’s shoulders. “Thanks for listening. You don’t know how long I’ve been holding that in—”

“Um, do you hear that?” Fluttershy shivered and pulled the blanket tight around her.

Twilight’s ear twitched. “Hear… what?”

The words died on her lips as she felt the basket rumble. Leaping out from the blanket and onto her hooves, Twilight glanced up at the balloon. The winds were picking up, knocking it further south. She cast her magic onto the burner control, but the flame wasn’t changing shape fast enough. Sweat ran down her muzzle as she gave one last telekinetic twist, trying to force the balloon higher into the air—

“Oh, dear!” Fluttershy pointed a hoof. “Look!”

Twilight turned, already feeling her heart sink. She wasn’t the least bit surprised when she saw the monstrosity hanging in the air. That familiar black cloud, now twice the size of her library and still growing. Icy blue lightning flickering across the surface, tickling the trees of the forest with tiny flames that disappeared under sudden bursts of rain.

Now that evil storm was mocking her. Mocking both of them.

It just wasn’t fair. Why couldn’t anything in Twilight’s life be fair?

“W-what do we do?” Fluttershy asked.

Twilight stared at the storm. Thunder rumbled from within its black heart, sounding like laughter to her ears. She gritted her teeth in response. This was no time to feel sorry for herself. Now it was time to plan and get moving.

“We’ll have to abandon the balloon,” she told Fluttershy, trying to keep the fury out of her voice. No need to worry her precious little head. “If we’re very lucky, we just might be able to outfly it.”

“But—”

“No buts, Shy.” Twilight whirled around. She grabbed her marefriend’s hooves and pressed them against her chest, cutting off the rest of her protests. “I know you can fly faster than anypony else. You just have to believe in yourself!” She stole a quick kiss from her lips and added, “If nothing else, just know that I believe in you!”

Fluttershy didn’t reply. She was too busy staring at something past Twilight’s shoulder. Twilight frowned and turned around—

Then something struck her on the side of her head. A thick piece of wood? She couldn’t be sure. There were too many stars dancing around her eyes. Even the balloon seemed to dance in the air above her head.

She could’ve sworn she heard Fluttershy screaming her name. Everything was too fuzzy now.

Fluttershy’s hooves slipped out of her grasp and then she was falling into the storm.





It was impressive how shallow the elites of Canterlot could be sometimes. Fancy Pants was one of the most recognized unicorns in the capital, but without his trademark tuxedo and monocle, he was less noticeable. Once he washed out the mousse in his hair and threw on a green cloak to cover his cutie mark, he was just another commoner. Neither guard nor noble would give him a second glance as he trotted out the city gates with a pair of saddlebags.

Waiting in a meadow was a small gray carriage, only a few shades darker than the overcast sky. And standing beside the carriage was a sleek brown pegasus with a short black mane. He’d been chewing on some grass when he saw Fancy Pants trotting toward him. Spitting out the rest of his grass, the pegasus spread his wings and glided up to meet him halfway.

“F.P., you’re late,” said Strider. “I’ve been sitting on this lead for almost half an hour now.”

If there were in public, Fancy Pants would’ve chuckled. But this was no laughing matter. He used his magic to toss his saddlebags into the carriage, then turned back to his companion. “Ever so sorry, old sport. What’s the good word?”

Strider glanced around the meadow. They were the only two ponies in sight, but it never hurt to check in case a caravan or a flock of pegasi was about to show up. Fancy Pants slid his eyes from left to right, but kept his focus on his fellow agent.

“False Flag and I were on patrol,” said Strider. “We set our course along the southern edge of the Everfree Forest. When we saw the storm growing, we decided to fly a little closer.”

The rising tone in his voice put Fancy Pants on edge. “And?”

“And we saw a balloon go down right in the middle.” Strider didn’t blink, but there was enough of a waver in his voice to make Fancy Pants fret. “I got a clear view of the passengers. Princess Twilight Sparkle and her marefriend Fluttershy.”

Fancy Pants closed his eyes for a moment. Of course Luna would send him to Fillydelphia. He could see five moves ahead and he knew just how this farce was going to play out.

But that didn’t mean he had to like it.

“I suppose,” he murmured, “that a rescue operation is out of the question?”

Strider nodded and turned toward the carriage. “False Flag tried a go-around and got a wing fracture for his trouble. We’re talking about a Class One magic storm, F.P. Only the Princesses could take on something as big as this.”

Fancy Pants would’ve agreed, but he was too busy considering their options. Luna had given him this assignment for a reason. And he had to see it through, no matter the cost. That was all part of the royal oath: Never to rest until the day is done, never to yield ’til the battle’s won, for the good of all ponies beneath the Moon and the Sun.

His only regret was the danger that he might face along the way. Not that Fancy Pants cared about any wounds he’d take in the Service, but he didn’t want Fleur to worry.

“The Princesses aren’t the only ones who can intervene.” Fancy Pants nodded at the carriage and guided Strider toward it with his hoof. “There’s a veteran flier in Fillydelphia. He’s the same pegasus who flew the Baltimare Maelstrom and lived to tell about it.”

Strider blinked. “Sky Sonnet? But he’s retired!”

“And that’s his daughter trapped in the forest.” Fancy Pants used his magic to open the carriage door and stepped inside. “We need to find the right ponies to convince him to help. And I know just where to look. Can you make it to Fillydelphia?”

Though his muzzle twisted into a scowl, Strider didn’t question it. Instead, he slipped himself into the carriage harness, giving his wings a few cursory flaps. “If that’s where we’re going, then we’d better hurry.”

“Nice to be back in action, eh, old sport?”

“You don’t know what you’re missing, F.P.” And with that, they were off.





Fluttershy opened her eyes, trying to lift her head under the weight of the collapsed balloon. Her muscles ached, but so far, nothing felt broken. Just twigs and leaves tangled up in her mane. If Rarity saw her like this, she’d have a complete breakdown.

With a gentle shove, she pushed at the fabric of the balloon until she found an opening. Her legs were wobbly, but Fluttershy managed to get up anyway. The ground was more mud than dirt because of the gentle rain falling over the forest. Rather than skid across the mud like she used to skid across clouds as an awkward filly, Fluttershy spread her wings and floated into the air. She let the rain fall over her, clearing away the fog inside her head.

Unfortunately, all it did was reveal the fog outside. Overhead loomed the black cloud that kept pursuing her and Twilight. Fluttershy shrank back at the sight of it. Among the gnarled oaks of the Everfree Forest was a dense layer of fog, a fine gray mist that made everything look fuzzy. It was like a half-remembered dream. But the ache in the back of Fluttershy’s head convinced her that she wasn’t dreaming. If it were, she’d be flying high into the air, holding hooves with—

“Twilight!” She glanced around the crash site. “Twilight, where are you?”

“Sh-Shy…?” Her princess’s voice came out of the mist as a low whisper. Fortunately, nopony had ears so finely tuned as Fluttershy’s. “Fluttershy… over here…”

In a heartbeat, she was flying through the mist, locking onto the sound of her marefriend’s voice. Fluttershy ducked and weaved through low-hanging branches, following the trail of debris on the ground. Bits of tattered balloon fabric, ropes, and basket fragments. When she found the ripped-up hulk of the basket itself, Fluttershy noticed the faint magenta glow underneath.

“D-don’t move!” Fluttershy landed in the mud, skidding right into the basket. She didn’t hesitate to stick her front hooves under the basket rim and struggle against its weight. “I’ll get you out!”

“Wait…” Twilight groaned and the magenta aura spread over the whole basket. “O-okay… try it now…”

Slowly, between her magic and Fluttershy’s leg muscles, they managed to yank what was left of the basket out of the mud. It came free with a hideous squelch, revealing a very weak Twilight underneath.

Fluttershy gasped when she saw her lover rolled onto her side, splattered with dirt and scratches. One of her wings was sticking up at an unpleasant angle.

“I-is it serious?” she whispered.

Twilight grunted. “I think it’s… sprained.”

Now Fluttershy was breathing hard. Part of her brain was devoted to panicking and screaming in terror. The rest of her brain somehow managed to fixate on two very important thoughts.

Twilight Sparkle is in danger.

I’m the only one here who can help.

It wasn’t the first time she’d been stuck in the Everfree Forest with that dilemma.

“Okay,” Fluttershy said, reaching out to push away the loose strands of Twilight’s mane from her eyes. “Okay, here’s what I’m going to do. I’ll make a bandage for your wing so that it can set and heal. Just try to keep still.” Her lips twisted around, awkwardly forming what she hoped was a comforting smile. “I’ll be right back.”

Twilight nodded quietly and squeezed her eyes shut. Her wing twitched in the air, sending a nasty shiver down Fluttershy’s spine. She gave Twilight’s mane one last brush with her hoof before racing back toward the deflated balloon.

It took several minutes and an improvised needle and thread—just a twig and some vines—but Fluttershy was soon able to fashion her blanket into a pegasus-style wing bandage. After tucking the bandage under one hoof, she grabbed the rest of the balloon with her teeth and floated into the air. Her wings beat furiously as Fluttershy grunted and struggled against the weight of the deflated aircraft. The soft rain pouring down her back and into her eyes didn’t help at all.

I won’t give up, she vowed. I will make this work!

Though her jaw was sore by the time she reached Twilight, Fluttershy was able to drag the balloon a few feet closer. When she let go, she gasped for air and landed in the mud again. Twilight looked up at her with half-shut eyes, still clearly in pain.

“Shy, what…?”

“I-it’s okay, Twilight. I’ve got this.” Fluttershy landed beside her princess and reached for her wing with one hoof, while holding the bandage in the other. She looked Twilight in the eye and added, “Please forgive me. This is going to hurt.”

Twilight nodded as Fluttershy took hold of the sprained wing. In two swift motions, she pinned the wing against her patient’s body and wrapped her blanket-turned-bandage around the torso to hold the wing in place. Twilight squealed against the pain, but she didn’t cry or lash out. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes, but she grit her teeth as Fluttershy went to work. Despite how tired and scared she felt, Fluttershy couldn’t deny the tiny glow of pride in her heart. She’d treated so many critters over the years, but none of them had been as brave as this battered pony on the ground.

By the time she finished, Fluttershy was panting. She didn’t bother to wipe the sweat or the rain from her eyes when she looked down at Twilight. “There. If you don’t move too much… and get plenty of rest… it should heal on its own.”

With a loud sniffle, Twilight looked over her pinned wings. “Can I still use magic?”

“Oh, well…” Fluttershy looked at the other pony’s horn. It didn’t look damaged, but then, she didn’t know the first thing about unicorns and their magic. “I’m not sure. You got the basket out of the mud just fine.”

“Then let me try… this…” Twilight’s eyes drifted shut, and for a second, Fluttershy thought she’d fallen asleep. But then her jaw tightened and suddenly the deflated balloon was covered in her magenta aura. Fluttershy gasped as the balloon was lifted over her head, now sheltering her and Twilight from the rain and the wind.

Once the balloon had gotten stuck on a few branches, Twilight’s magic twisted some of the tattered fabric into knots around the trees. Then the aura faded away, letting the makeshift tarp fall against the branches. To Fluttershy’s relief, their shelter was holding firm.

“Shy…?” Twilight opened her eyes, now bloodshot and filled with sorrow. Fluttershy’s heart ached at the sight, but she came to her lover’s side at once. “Listen…”

“Yes, Twily?”

“I’m going to go under a sleeping spell.” Twilight shifted, wincing against the pain as she rolled onto her stomach. Fluttershy held her by the shoulders as she settled down into the mud again. “Can you stay with me… just for a while?”

Sniffling, Fluttershy smiled and stroked her marefriend’s tangled mane. “Of course. I’ll be here when you wake up. And then I’ll go foraging for food.”

“A-and Shy?”

“Yes?”

“I’m…” Twilight licked her lips; she looked so adorable whenever she was this anxious. “I’m so sorry. I should never have—”

“Twilight.” Fluttershy bent down and kissed her on the forehead. “Don’t think about that. We’ll talk about that later.” She tilted the alicorn’s head up and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “Just go to sleep.”

Twilight smiled as her eyes drifted shut again. Her horn flickered for an instant and then she was snoring against Fluttershy’s flank.

Fluttershy sighed and continued to stroke the sleeping pony’s mane. Here she was, sitting under a crashed balloon, wallowing in the mud and rain underneath a very mean storm, with her injured marefriend at her side.

And in spite of it all, she wasn’t scared. Tired, yes. Battered and weak, certainly. But for once she wasn’t scared. She was here with Twilight, the most beautiful mare in Equestria. Her own parents wouldn’t recognize her if they could see her now…