Chapter Eight: Reunited
The next day… um… well, what happened on that Saturday was… uh. Oh, dear, I’m so sorry to stop, but are you sure you still want to listen to my story? It’s okay if you don’t want to anymore, I understand. I just find it to be really hard to talk about. Oh, goodness, I don’t know if I really want to do this.
What’s that? You are absolutely positive that you want to stay with me? Because I’m just saying, it’s not too late to stop here and go read something more enjoyable like Filly Trotter, The Pony Games, or Daring Do. You’re still here? So you DO want to stay with me? Well… okay, I’ll continue. I’m terribly sorry for stopping, but I just wanted to prepare you.
So, where was I? Oh, yes.
The very next day flew by quicker than the batting of an eye. My biggest recollection from that Saturday was towards the evening, when we were to reunite with my parents.
6:30 was the approximate time Mockingbird and I met up with Rainbow Dash to fly up to Cloudsdale. My prediction was wrong; it wasn't a sunny day at all. The day’s gloomy, grey clouds carried into the evening; no warmth in the wind, nor beautiful sunset to bring it to a close. I could feel the chilling breeze brushing through my tail. The beating of my wings echoed softly into my ears. Focusing on the clouds above, I made my best effort to rehearse what I was going to say to them in my mind.
Rainbow Dash, soaring on my left, turned to me with an unsure face. “You know, Fluttershy, we can still go back home. It’s not too late.”
“She has a point, Fluttershy,” Mockingbird said in a serious tone. “I feel incredibly uncomfortable going home right now. I’m sure you can tell how much I really don’t want to do this.”
I understood perfectly well how they were feeling. For myself, going through with this appointment made me feel like I was approaching a dragon. Would I have been surprised by the reptile being friendly, offering me kindness and peace? Or would it have gone down as I predicted, with the beast roasting me like a marshmallow and using my bones as toothpicks?
I gulped. “We can do this. It’s just a talk with Mom and Dad.” I honestly wish I listened to Dashie. But my mind kept replaying our encounter with Milky Way; I could still hear his voice cackling, But just remember, my dad also wants you to know that worse things can happen if a promise or demand is not met. So be sure to not disappoint us, or we might just punish you.
How could I have been so foolish at that time? If any of us could've seen the future into that bleak March evening, we would not have even been flying. We would've just turned around, gone home and tried to move on with our lives like it never even happened. I realize now that was definitely the best option. But I didn’t know. Rainbow Dash didn’t know. Mockingbird didn’t know. So we just kept flying.
All three of us remained pretty quiet until we touched down at the edge of 4, Cloud Drive. Set against the background of the oncoming dusk, the house looked even more intimidating than I could've ever remembered. I wish we never made it to the cloud.
After taking deep breaths, we started trotting up the ten yard lawn. We were slow. Neither of us were in any rush to make it to the entrance. I wish we never took those steps.
Arriving at the dreaded entrance that was the door, I raised my hoof and gently pressed the doorbell. I wish I never did that.
We were answered by Mom, who had her red mane tied up into a bun while sporting a black and white formal dress. My suspicion started to widen. Growing up, I remember very well that she wore that dress for special occasions or grande events, so I knew that something was up.
Her very first focus was Mockingbird to my right. She looked like she was about to cry tears of joy, while coming up to him with full force. “Mockingbird! My sweet boy, you’re home!”
My brother reacted with cautiously raising hooves that rubbed her back. He wore a perplexed face of anxiety and confusion. Trembling, the colt gazed at the mare who said nothing when he needed help. Words lost. Fear setting in.
She released him, then hugged Rainbow and I together. “Thank you, girls, so much for coming tonight. It really means a lot for us.”
Starting to feel a tad uncomfortable, I softly raised a hoof to break free of her embrace. “Of course, Mom. I’m glad that we can finally talk this out.”
Turning her head, she led all three of us into the house. The last opportunity passed. From that point on, there was no turning back.
The door closed. Around the house the walls and floors, once again clean and spotless, gleamed a sunny yellow from the evening lamps. A perfectly cleaned house was another sign that something was up, like we were to have… no that would've been ridiculous. Or so I thought.
My stomach churned, blood flowing slow like molasses. I could feel my own heart igniting into flames. Looking at Rainbow Dash and Mockingbird, I could tell that they practically mirrored my inner thoughts.
Emerging from around the nearest corner, my father stepped out into full view. His black-grey mane was slicked back into a combover. He wore his glasses polished with a freshly ironed black suit top. He smiled warmly at us.
“Welcome home, Mockingbird,” Father greeted in a soft tone.
Mockingbird stood in his place like he was turned to stone. Lips flinching uneasily, he attempted an inhale through his nose. The throat heaved as his pupils zoomed out. I could tell he didn't know what to say. His face looked like it was trying to express a mixture of anxiety, panic, sadness, fear, vulnerability and anger.
“H-Hi, Dad,” Mockingbird almost whispered, with a tremble in his voice. As the air grew denser, I could sense my brother’s courage faltering. Rainbow Dash appeared to be the only one who tried to remain calm on the outside. Though I could tell that she was brewing with enough anger and nerve to buck a fully grown dragon. Oh, she never learns.
That was the first time in many years that we were all under one roof as a family. This picture was the complete opposite of how I envisioned it to be; nopony was happy, nopony was hugging, nopony was showing anypony love. I don’t even remember the most recent time our family had such a happy gathering.
“S-So, Mom, Dad, how was your week?” I asked to break the silence.
Mother smiled. “Fluttershy, it was wonderful. But I hope that tonight will top it all off.” Something funny. She spoke the last sentence almost like it was forced. My brow lifted.
“I... uh, I’m sorry about the fight we had last week,” Mockingbird apologized, diverting his eyes. It looked like he was about to be sick. Sensing this emotion, I put my hoof onto his shoulder and gave a look as if to say, It’s going to be okay. We can do this. If only it could've been that easy.
My dad stepped forward, closing his arms around Mockingbird. “Mocking, Son, that is far behind us. I’ll admit, I lost my temper a little, but now, we can actually talk this out as family. I’m the one who should be sorry. But I was just so angry, I never meant to throw you out.”
In Dad’s arms, Mockingbird looked like a corpse. But I noticed that father said those words like he actually meant it. It was a genuine apology coming from a stallion whom I felt so unsure of. I could not have possibly changed his position that easily the Sunday before.
“Is it alright if we take a look around the house a little?” Rainbow Dash asked. At the time, it seemed like such an odd question to raise. But I never felt more glad that she had the courage to bring it up. I could tell that she wanted a chance to relax and actually think just as much as I did.
“Sure, I don’t see any reason why not,” Mother answered. “Barrister, maybe they can spend some time alone?”
Father nodded. “Of course they can. I’m sure Fluttershy would like to see what we did with the upstairs area.”
Mockingbird quickly nodded and started to scurry up the stairs, only to be stopped by Dad. “Mockingbird.” My brother halted. The patriarch continued, “I actually want to help make things better.”
Mockingbird looked to Dash, then to Mom, then to me. My face showed a look that I could not even put an emotion behind. Still, just so I could get away like him, I reluctantly nodded.
My brother sighed. “I forgive you, Dad. I just hope that we can discuss this like father and son.”
“Will be very much obliged to, Mockingbird,” Father assured. “We’ll give you some time to yourselves.”
Like that, he stepped aside and allowed Rainbow Dash, Mockingbird and myself to pass and make our ways up the stairs.
Leaving my parents behind, we ran up the steps like it was a race. Stepping up the last flight, I looked around to familiarize myself with the home I lost those many years ago. Everything remained the same, the upstairs corridor running left and right with one door marking each end. Out of the other doors on the floor, I still remembered which one to go.
I made a right, and trotted towards the end of the hallway for my bedroom. Opening the door, I stepped inside to be hit with a flood of memories, a warming light. Everything there remained the same, almost like nopony touched it for four years.
My yellow bed with a butterfly pattern sat idly under a window near the back wall. Across was my dresser and mirror. My shelves were both stacked and aligned with an array of nature books, plastic animal models and photographs of me, Rainbow Dash and Mockingbird.
But the one thing I remember most about my room was the walls, painted a bright and warm shade of green—my favorite color. So serene and relaxing. I always felt at peace and happiness whenever surrounded by this hue. It would give me the sense of being engulfed by the nature and friendly animals with whom I’ve grown to cherish. This was a definite time when I felt like I needed to find my own happy place.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Fluttershy?” came Rainbow’s voice, her hooves clopping into the room. “Not much has really changed.”
Mockingbird followed in, a tickle in his throat. “Minus the thick layers of dust.” I didn’t even notice.
“I know, it really feels weird,” I answered. “I can’t believe they actually kept everything the same.”
Dash made her way to the shelf and picked up one of the golden picture frames. “Hey, you remember this day?” Mocking and I walked over to observe the memory she held.
A smile crept across my face. In front of a sign that read 'Junior Speedsters Summer Flight Camp' younger counterparts of myself, Rainbow Dash, Mockingbird, Mother and Father faced the camera with gleaming white teeth. With my brother on my side, Dash and I showed our flanks in dignity and pride. Mom and Dad knelt down with loving hooves on our shoulders. I was still surprised to see that Mockingbird’s face was still included, unlike the photographs downstairs.
“Yes, that was the day we earned our cutie marks,” I answered, the pleasant memory filling my mind. “Mom and Dad were so proud of both of us. They took us out to get ice cream and go swimming.” I started to chortle. “Then Dad had that trout go up his swim suit and he did that little dance on the beach.”
“The Trout Twitch!” Mockingbird called. He wiggled his flank and flapped his hind hooves while slapping at his legs, miming the tickling of the fish. Rainbow and I couldn’t help but giggle at his random silliness, reliving that happy day. Almost like he was trying to forget why he was back home in the first place.
“I also remember how they both said they were very proud of me,” I resumed. “Like I made them the happiest parents in the world.”
It started to hit me upon realizing what hypocrites they started to sound like. How could they have said that and still criticize my choice of career and lifestyle? But something kept telling me that deep down they still loved and cared very much for us. Dad was the stallion who stayed home with me every Nightmare Night to give me comfort when I got scared. Mom was the one who always tried to help me with my flying no matter how bad I was. They were both the first ponies I would run and cry to everyday after school, whenever I had an encounter with bullies. They just had to care.
“Glad to be back, Fluttershy?” Mockingbird asked me.
I nodded. “Yeah, couldn’t be any more glad.”
“Hey, Mockingbird,” Rainbow began, “is it still in your room?” A mischievous smile stretched her lips. She raised a brow, tilting her head to us both.
Mockingbird’s eyes brightened with a smirk on his face. “I think it might still be in there,” he replied. “Let’s go find out.”
He started for the doorway, Dash tailing behind. With a soft breath, I gave my old room of memories one last good look, taking in my last dose of comfort, before steadily trotting out and flipping off the switch.
Walking into the hallway, I followed Rainbow into a door on the left wall, entering Mockingbird’s room. I’ll admit that he liked to keep things more decorated than I did. On the wall next to his bed, a mural of records, hanging from fish lines, dangled from the ceiling, swaying inches above his black comforter. His four walls resembled that of a keyboard, with black and white stripes running down vertically. The top of his dresser was crowned with golden and silver trophies and medals, each engraved with musical notes and staffs flowing across a glittering surface. I forgot how many musical competitions he actually won.
After Mockingbird opened his closet in the far corner, he squatted down and began digging with his hoof. “Um, let’s see. It should be right around… here.”
I heard a click from the cupboard that was accompanied by a small yellow light on command. Trying to distract myself with eagerness, I gave a smile and ran up to my friend and brother gathering around the small space. “After you, Mockingbird.” I gestured with my hoof for him to lead.
“With pleasure,” he responded with a wide grin. He got into a position that almost made him lay on his stomach and began crawling inside. Peering into his path, I watched him wiggle into a small square hole in the very back wall towards the light source. Rainbow followed in after him. Then I squirmed my own way through lastly.
The mysterious room on the other side made all three of us huddle onto our haunches; it was like we were pushing ourselves into a house that was ten times too small for adult ponies. A bald lightbulb drooped from the ceiling with a swinging beaded lever. The confined walls of the limited space held many drawings and letters in crayon. The rising dust clouded my nostrils, forcing me to release a soft, high pitched sneeze. Rainbow mimicked. Mockingbird laughed.
“Wow, it has really been forever since we were last in our Secret Meeting Room,” he commented.
“Either way, this was the perfect place to hide away from all those boring meetings that your dad held,” Rainbow Dash added.
“But we only attended one of those meetings, Dashie,” I said. “But I remember that Dad did sound pretty mean during it. So maybe it was for the best.”
She blew a raspberry. “Whatever. They would've still been incredibly boring anyway. In here, we were rulers of our own kingdom. No adults allowed. Just foals being foals.”
“But do you also remember that after those meetings, when he couldn’t find us, he would re-iterate everything they talked about, only to us?” I asked. “He wouldn’t even let us go to bed unless we told him we understood. It was like to him, it was really that important.” Yet he was still so caring to us most of the time. Why?
Mockingbird pawed at the floorboard, wood cracking with his small flick. “It’s really a shame that I grew out of this. I was actually forced to attend a lot of those meetings and I have to tell you, it looks like they got even worse, Fluttershy. I explained them to you in our letters.” He shivered like he spotted a ghost.
I simply nodded. “Which is why we loved this room so much. I’m still surprised that they never found out this existed. It’s like some memories are never meant to die.”
Everything we said made me Imagine myself as a filly again. In our Secret Meeting Room it was our time together as a trio to do whatever we wanted. We played board games, made art, laughed, ate, even shared secrets. This room was a perfect place for the latter.
“Hey, my favorite game is still up here.” Rainbow Dash sifted through the blanket of dust and pulled out a tattered blue box. She blew more debris off the cover and beamed.
“Nice,” Mockingbird began, “I can’t believe I still kept that. Do you think we have time for a quick game?”
“Maybe just a quickie,” Rainbow answered. “You still know that you’ll never be able to beat me, right?” Her competitive, yet friendly and playful, face stretched with cocky eyebrows.
Mockingbird chuckled. “Oh, so you think. Let’s see if Captain Mock can finally vanquish Pilot Dash.”
“I accept the challenge!” Dash turned to me. "Shy, would you mind being our referee and maybe checking to see if the coast is still clear?”
I accepted the position with a nod.
“Awesome! Let’s play.” They opened the package and set the two battle boards against each other. Each grabbed a hoofful of pegs and organized their battlefields, the small pieces punching into the holes.
Time quickly passed while the two scratched heads, made their calls and removed each piece that was shot down.
“Cloud Three!”
“You found my seagull!”
“Cloud nine!”
“Miss.”
“Cloud seven!”
“You Zapped my weather pony!”
It brought a warm feeling to my heart that we could still have a moment like this. No matter what was going on, it was like we were kids again. Even if it was just for a short while, it didn’t matter to us; we didn’t want our happiness to fade.
They finished their first round with a sporty hoof bump, each adorning cheerful expressions. “Good game, Rainbow Dash,” Mockingbird complimented.
“You didn’t do too bad, yourself,” she replied. “But It’s without a doubt that I’m still the queen.”
He chuckled. “That you are, Dash, that you are.” He turned to me. “Fluttershy, how about you go see if we still have some time?”
“Of course,” I replied. “I’ll be right back.” I crawled out from the secret room, back into the closet and out into the bedroom.
Standing up and dusting myself off, I was met once again with the black and white keyboard walls. I quickly found the only clock on my brother’s nightstand, a blue and white Wonderbolts design. Trotting over, I quickly learned that the time was about twenty past seven.
Things must be starting late, I anxiously thought, turning back to the open closet door. I really didn’t want to call them out. I just wanted us to stay up there a little while longer so we could still have our fun. My childhood couldn’t end on such a sad note a second time.
I was distracted with a sudden noise coming from outside near the hall.
“No, Milky Way. I am not going to let you leave early for that again!” Zeus’ voice almost turned my stomach to acid. Did I really have to confront him again? And that awful Milky Way? Why couldn’t he just leave us alone?
“Dad, I’ll only be gone for like five minutes,” Milky Way’s voice argued. “What difference will it make?”
“What difference?” angrily snapped the voice of his father. “Tonight is the night we need you the most. I looked over your argument and it’s excellent. Now you tell me that you want to abandon it for that stupid Astronomy project?”
“My special talent is not stupid! I told you since I was a small colt that I wanted to study the constellations of Luna. Why, after all these years of me following them, are you not taking what I do seriously?”
“There are more important things in this world than looking at stars... YOUNG COLT! Look at me when I’m talking to you!”
“That’s not what Mom used to tell me!”
“Then why don’t you go visit her tombstone and tell her? I could tell you now that she won’t give a shit about what you say. She won’t even be listening! We have much more important matters to take care of. Maybe if you were ever in the same position I was, you would understand!” He spoke that last sentence with a wobbly voice, like he was going to have an episode or something.
Was there really more to this stallion than what met my eye? I almost couldn’t believe what I was hearing. That conversation. I couldn’t help but think of how familiar it sounded to me.
I couldn’t remember what else I heard from them. But all I know is that when they ended, I swear I could hear a very loud bang and crack that sounded like a kick to the wall, silence following.
Turning back around, I noticed something about Mockingbird’s window on the other side of the room: it was open. There was our chance. Our opportunity to take our flight. To leave this home and put this whole thing behind us.
I hurried back into the closet and through the hole. Reuniting with Rainbow Dash and Mockingbird inside, I announced, “Come on. We have to go, quickly.”
I assumed that they understood the message pretty clearly. After exchanging some looks of concern they pulled out the pieces, slammed the boards shut, stuffed everything back in the box and hid it away. I crawled back out into the room, followed by Dash and Mocking, who extinguished the light and shut the small door on his way out.
Once they finally closed the closet door, I peered my head over to the window, their gazes following. “We can go right now. If we’re quiet but quick, we can just slip right out of here without even getting noti—”
“Having fun, kids?” came Mother’s voice. Spinning my head around, my eyes landed on Mom, standing in the door frame. She bore a face of uncertainty and reluctance. She knew what was to come, yet we had no choice but to talk.
“Oh, yes,” I began. “I forgot how this home has so many memories.”
Mother sighed, her teeth grinding together like rocks. “Fluttershy, Mockingbird, you both realize that we want you in our family again, right?”
“Sure, we do,” I answered.
“And even though we may not necessarily agree on some things and make you do things you don’t want to do, we do it because it’s for the best.” She curled her lips into a motherly smile, very similar to how I smile naturally. Yet none of us felt too trusting of her in a time like this.
“Are the kids ready, April?” came the voice of Father as he joined her side. Zeus, with his usual suit jacket and combed back blonde mane, trailed from behind. Both stallions smiled at each of us. No comfort came.
“They seem to be just about prepared,” Mom said softly.
“Very good to see you again, Mockingbird,” Zeus greeted, walking into the room.
Mockingbird first began to choke, but succeeded in passing his saliva through the throat after a few gulps. “I-It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” He brought a quaking hoof forward as they shook like partners.
“What’s with the clammy hoof?” Zeus quizzed. “Tonight is going to be a great night for you. We’re finally going to have a sit down chat about this and get you through.”
“Sounds like a plan.” My poor brother looked so dreadful. I brought my hoof to his back and gently brushed it up and down his spine. Though his fear was still boiling beneath his skin, I could tell that he started to feel at least a little bit better from the maternal gesture.
“Just a talk, huh?” Rainbow Dash inquired to the three grownups. “What makes you think we’ll like what you want to say?”
Zeus turned to her. “Don’t worry, kiddo. We changed our approach and are now focused on compromising.” He looked to me with a wink. I wanted nothing more than to faint at that moment. Too bad I’m not a very good actress, or I would've faked it, just to get out of the scenario.
“That being said, we shouldn’t hold back any longer,” Dad said. “It would be best to do this now while we still can.”
“Okay,” I said with Rainbow. Now was the time to see if I really could fix this broken family portrait. I should've known better.
“I’m sorry! Can you please just give me a second?!” Mockingbird bursted without warning. Not waiting for an answer, he galloped out of the room, into the bathroom across the hall and slammed the door behind him.
An awkward silence of ten seconds passed. I made my attempt to get out of the scene. “Uh, how about I go check on him? Just to see whether or not my egg salad from this afternoon is causing it.”
I didn’t wait for permission. I dashed out of the room and up to the lavatory. Swiftly opening the door, I spun myself inside and closed it behind me.
Inside the white ceramic colored tub, Mockingbird sat in a tight fetal position, almost like he was trying to imitate an armadillo. He crouched over, tears seeping through clenched eyes. His knees clamped against his chest. He heaved and violently trembled like a startled rabbit.
I fluttered over and sat on the edge of the bath. “Mockingbird, what’s the matter?”
He looked up at me and choked back his vocals. “I-I can’t face them, Fluttershy.” The salty drops ran to his lips and dripped onto his tongue. “Just by looking at their faces, it's making me feel sick. Can we please just go back to the cottage and forget they ever existed? Please!?”
He was practically begging at this point. Fear is a very strong emotion; an invisible block that has held me back many times. I could perfectly understand what he was feeling. But at the same time, I just couldn’t let go of the possibility of changing my parents’ hearts. How foolish I was to give them a second chance.
Like I did on his first night with me, I wrapped my hoof around him and reeled his head against my chest, his ear resting over my slowly beating heart. Still quivering, he laid there motionless, my breasts calmly rising and falling against him. My other hoof repeatedly rubbed up and down his back. “Shhh… it’s all going to be okay, Mockingbird. It’s just going to be a talk. We can convince them. Don’t be scared. Shhh.”
A loud knock came. Dad’s voice called, “Fluttershy, Mockingbird, are you two alright in there?”
Jerking my head, I quickly replied, “Everything’s okay. Just a little food poisoning. We'll be out in a little bit.”
“Okay. Meet us downstairs.” The sound of hooves departing and descending followed.
For what seemed like five minutes, we both sat in the same position. Him in the protection of my arms. Me rubbing his back while whispering soothing hushes into his ear. My mane draping over his head as he hid away from the world. So devastating. So much distress. I tried my very hardest to give him as much of my love and security that he could possibly feel. It was like we were playing ‘Hospital’ without the costumes. The ailment: Panic.
Once he started to feel at least somewhat calm, he lifted himself up and took in a breath. “You sure we can do this?”
I tried to paint on a confident smile. “Absolutely positive, sweetheart.” I leaned down and gave him a kiss on each cheek, then his forehead. “I promised we will be a family again, and I intend to keep it.”
Still looking hesitant to go further, Mockingbird rose from the tub and focused on the door. “Okay, let’s do this.”
He shuddered. His tightening hooves stepped over the brim. I rose and embraced his side, acting as support.
Opening the door, we ran into Rainbow Dash face to face in the hall. “You two doing okay?”
“We just kind of had a little moment,” I answered.
Rainbow bowed her head, looking like she’d rather be modeling for Rarity than being there at that time. “Well, then, I guess there’s no going back now.”
A pregnant silence filled the space. All three of us, not saying another word, lightly trotted to the top of the stairs. Looking down the case seemed so tranquil. So still. So calm. This silence, I could tell, was far from relaxing. The chilling air that came with it gave the quiet an atmosphere similar to a winter’s night.
With my arm still wrapped around Mockingbird, all three of us began our way down. It almost seemed like an eternity to just go from one step to the next. I could feel my own heart race as we went deeper and deeper.
Mockingbird’s breathing increased in both weight and volume. His pupils dilated to tiny holes. He kept his pace slow with a hanging head like he was a death row inmate, marching to his execution.
Rainbow Dash’s hooves sounded like they turned to iron. She walked like a guard for me and my brother. Like if anything bad were to happen to us, she would refrain from showing mercy.
We reached the very bottom of the stairs and stood petrified. In the living room a group of about twenty or so ponies sat patiently in rows of folding chairs. In front of them was a podium where Dad was standing confidently. A projector screen created a large white canvas behind him. A sign in front of the arch read, Traditional Pegasus Family Coalition.
I could not believe this was actually happening. Father lured us to one of his meetings.
Oh, no.