//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: The Full Story Part One // Story: The Goddess Inside Us All // by That_G3_Obsessive //------------------------------// [Do I have to do a chapter? Applejack hasn't done one, maybe she should...oh, alright.] My name is Fluttershy. I...I don't really know where to start here. I guess what happened after Rarity was captured could work... at least I hope it does, I don't want to make anypony mad because I accidentally skipped a part! After Twilight, ah, 'helped' me into the forest, we were all upset. I can't speak for everyone in the group, but I can say that I felt like a dozen buffalo had stamped on my chest and smashed my heart to pieces. I missed Rarity already... Twilight sighed. "I know we're all upset about Rarity, but she said that we should keep moving. I'm sure that she'll be okay," she said. She looked at Pinkie Pie as she spoke. I noticed that her mane had partially deflated. I hoped it didn't go full-out flat. I remember the last time that happened. Rainbow Dash had never fully explained what she meant by her comment about being replaced by a bucket of turnips, but I could easily imagine Pinkie Pie talking to one. Am I doing okay so far? I hope I am... Applejack looked up from the dirt. "Well, I think we should go on without Rarity. She may be gone, but that doesn't mean that we're gone, too. For Celestia's sake, I think that should make us more encouraged to go on, and continue this darn quest. We didn't come all this way for nothin'! This new guy, he's gonna pay for takin' her away. We can't let him get away free of charge! We won't let him get away! For Celestia! For Equestria! For Rarity!" Slowly, the others perked up. Even Rainbow Dash came down from the treetops. "Now, who's with me?" Applejack stuck her hoof out in front of her. "I am," said Twilight, placing her hoof next to Applejack's. "I am," said Rainbow Dash. I noticed that she looked slightly over at Twilight with a glare, but I didn't say anything. "I am," said Pinkie Pie, her mane going back to its normal state. "I am," I said finally. Lifting our hooves in the air, we all shouted two words: "For Rarity!" "Let's face it. We're completely lost," moaned Rainbow Dash, floating right above us. "Now, don't you go being the pessimist, Rainbow," Applejack said, but I could tell that she was starting to lost hope, too. We all were. Even though I'd worn my Element of Harmony many times before, it was starting to feel like a ten-ton weight around my neck. We'd been walking for Celestia knows how long through the dark, dank, and dreary landscape that was this part of the Everfree Forest. Rainbow Dash groaned, then flew above the treetops yet again. I supposed that she hated confined spaces, being an athlete, but everyone else looked like they were pretty upset over her ditching them over and over for the open sky. Of course, I only assumed they were, I wouldn't want to judge something as serious as that based on a facial expression. Then they'd be mad at me, and then they wouldn't be my friends, and-- Twilight says that I'll be alright. [Well, if you say so...] Back to the story. Suddenly, Rainbow shouted out from above. "Fluttershy! Get up here, quick!" I flew up as fast as my wings could carry me, wincing slightly as the branches whipped my face. I wondered what Rainbow had seen to sound so worried. "What?" I asked as soon as I reached her side. "Do you see that?" she asked shakily, pointing at something on the clouds. It was a bright blue circle, with something inside it... "Rarity's pony signal!" I gasped. Rainbow sighed. "Good, I thought I was hallucinating for a second..." "That means that she's right..." I searched the mass of trees for the tip of the cone of light forming the pony signal at the top. It seemed to be moving into a deeper section of forest. "...there!" "What's goin' on up there?" Applejack called from below. Twilight came bursting from the trees, shaking slightly in her flight. I guessed that she still hadn't gotten it down yet. "Is everything all right?" she asked in a worried tone. "It's Rarity!" Rainbow said. "Her pony signal's right... hey, where'd it go?" It was true. The pony signal had disappeared. "I don't know what you're talking about," Twilight said curtly. "I don't see any pony signal." "I did!" I said. "It was there, really! She must have shut it off!" "Where was it?" Twilight demanded. She seemed to trust me more than she trusted Rainbow Dash for some reason. "Right there, close to the house with the weird two-legged things," Rainbow said. "We need to go find her!" I was surprised at Twilight's outburst. She had said in the first place that we should go on. Now she wanted to go back? [Not that I don't trust you, Twilight. I know you thought it was for the best.] "C'mon, let's go tell Applejack and Pinkie," Rainbow said, and zoomed off before we could answer. "Wait, Twilight!" I called at her. "Right before it disappeared, the pony signal moved a little. Rarity's probably moving around, which will make it more difficult for us to find her." "We still have to," Twilight said softly. "I'd never forgive myself if I just walked away from a friend, knowing there was a chance to help her." I nodded, and together we descended into the forest. Rainbow had apparently told the others about the pony signal, as they were already anxious to get going in the direction of Rarity. I smiled slightly. Rarity was lucky to have friends like these. The weight on my chest lifted as we set out. I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, and I wanted to reach it, to be done with the quest, to go home. But I knew that we were still a long way off from our goal, and we hadn't seen even a glimpse of the hidden enemy since the incident in the throne room. Even my godly hitchhiker, Benevolentia, was excited. She kept buzzing around my head like a fly, commenting on things every second. Why are you so excited? I asked her. You can see Liberalis any time you want! Since I am a part of you, my emotions mirror yours, she answered. I don't control it, you do. I sighed, trying to calm down my excitement so she wouldn't be so annoying, but I couldn't help it. I wanted my friend back so badly. As nightfall approached, my exhaustion caught up to me at last, and no amount of hope could keep me going. I had a feeling the others were tired, too. "Why don't we take a break?" suggested Pinkie at last. "I'm so tired I could fall asleep next to an angry manticore!" "I agree," I said. We had just landed into yet another clearing, where the canopy opened just enough so you could see the sky turning a gentle purple. Everyone yawned, and as we spread out our supplies, Twilight organized a night watch. "We need to be on guard at all times," she explained. "That thing could attack us while we're asleep, and we'd never know what hit us! I'll take the first shift. Any volunteers for the next?" "I will," Applejack yawned. "I'll take third," I volunteered, partially without thinking. "Fourth!" Rainbow called from across the clearing. "Pinkie Pie, will you take the last one?" Twilight asked. There was no answer. "Pinkie?" As I looked behind Twilight, I saw that Pinkie was already laying on her blankets, fast asleep. Everyone laughed, then we all settled into our blankets for the night. It had been a long day. Almost instantly, I was cast into a deep sleep. Sadly, it wasn't peaceful. Not in the least. I was flying. This wasn't a unique experience for me, but I still wondered where I was. As I looked around, I saw somepony was flying next to me. No, not somepony... me. But at the same time, a complete stranger. She was as tall as Celestia, with a meadow-yellow coat surrounded by cute little bluebirds. Her light pink mane floated around her head, bedecked with a small tiara and many flowers. A spiraling horn protruded from her forehead, while glorious wings spread from her back. I knew instantly who she was. "Benevolentia," I said. Her teal eyes twinkled. "Fluttershy, do you know why I'm here?" she asked. It was weird hearing her talk without her voice echoing in my head. "No," I admitted. If she truly had been in my head for my entire life, she would know if I lied. "You need to know what would have happened to you if I had not chosen you as my host. Since I'm not all that great at words, I'll just show you." Her horn glowed teal, and suddenly I wasn't flying. I was falling. I flexed my shoulder muscles desperately, but nothing happened. Glancing at my back I saw that Benevolentia had made my wings disappear. I let out a scream, and flailed my forelegs wildly. The ground was coming closer, and closer, and closer... I closed my eyes, waiting for the ground to hit me. Instead, I felt a gentle floating sensation, and my hooves touch the ground. Carefully opening my eyes, I looked around. I was in a grassy field filled with flowers of all different types. Looking at my back again, I realized I was an earth pony now, though still me. Benevolentia landed next to me, smiling softly. "This is what you would have looked like if you were not Fluttershy, but Posey," she said. "Posey?" I was extremely puzzled. "But what does that have to do with animals and my special talent?" "Posey's special talent is not animals." "What...?" I looked at my cutie mark. Instead of three butterflies it was... three tulips. "Is Posey by any chance a gardener?" I guessed. "Yes, you would have been, if I had not chose you," Benevolentia said. Suddenly her warm smile faded. I mean literally faded. When her face came back into view, it expressed worry. "Something is happening. You must wake," she said worriedly. "But--" "Wake!" I sat up with a start, sweating profusely. I clutched my hooves to my sides, relieved to find my wings still in place. I was not Posey. I was Fluttershy. "Uh.. Fluttershy?" Applejack said, poking me awake. "Is it time for my shift already?" I asked sleepily. Then I noticed all of the ponies were awake also. I gulped. Something is happening. "Uh... no." "What is it?" "You'll be happy to see this, but I'm still a little puzzled 'bout what she's tryin' to say... er... just come see this, will you?" As I untangled myself from my blankets, I saw all of our friends surrounding something by the fire. I had a sneaking suspicion of what was going on, but I didn't dare to hope too much. As the crowd cleared, I gasped. "Hello, Fluttershy, dear," said Rarity casually. "Care to sit down? It's time you heard the full story."