The Past of a Shy Mare

by Songbrony


The Amulet

When the TARDIS stopped shaking, I stepped outside and saw a bustling city with ponies moving about, not noticing anything around them. It was as if we didn't exist. "Manehattan. A city full of ponies too busy to notice a police box just appearing out of nowhere." the Doctor said as he stepped out of the TARDIS.

"So this is what the city looks like." I said. "It's so big. How will we find the Amulet?" I asked.

"We're just a few blocks from the shop that has it. If you follow me we should be in and out in no time." Sarah said. We followed her as she led us through the city streets. We turned a few corners and came upon a thrift shop.

"The Galaxy's Most Bizarre Thrift Shop? That's an...interesting name." I said.

"Well it's true. This really is the most bizarre in the galaxy. I would know, I've been to them all. I always love a little shop." the Doctor said. "Now Fluttershy, you need to go in there and place this small chip on it."

"What does the chip do?" I asked as he gave it to me.

"The Amulet's magic holds a small memory of the ponies who've held it. It's part of it's magical attributes. Whenever a pony holds it, it holds a magical imprint, sort of like a hoofprint. We can use it to see who has used it or attained it throughout its entire life." Sarah explained.

"And why do I need to do it? I'm not sly like you. I can't just walk in, talk my way through a situation and just gingerly place it on the Amulet." I told the Doctor.

"Because you have a certain connection to the pony we're looking for. If she has indeed been in possession of the Amulet, then the device will activate when attached."

"But how will it stop Nightmare Moon?"

"They worked for her. Still do actually. But with this, we might be able to figure out what it was used for." he explained.

"Umm...okay." I said. If it was going to help stop Nightmare Moon, I needed to do this. I walked in the shop and looked around. I saw many different ponies that searched the store. I walked up to the counter that had a green pony that looked like it had scales on his body.

"What can I help you with miss?" he asked me.

"Umm...I was just looking for an amulet? The Alircorn Amulet I believe is what it's called." I said.

"The Alicorn Amulet? Why would a Pegasus need that?" he asked.

"Oh um....well....I'm a collector." I said, not very believably.

"I see. Well, it's right over here." he said, pulling it out from behind the counter. "That'll be 100 bits."

"100?!" I exclaimed. The Doctor hadn't given me any money to buy it, and I had no money on me. "Ummm....Can I just...Hold it?" I asked.

"You freaking crazy?? I don't let anyone touch this unless they pay for it. What? You think just because you're shy and cute that I'll just let you hold it? I'm not stupid." he said, angrily.

"Oh, no I just...I...." I said, stammering. There was a crash behind me and a loud ruckus coming from between a group of ponies.

He swore under his breath. "You three! Break it up! Get out of my shop!!" he exclaimed, running over to them. I looked at the Amulet that he had left behind and quickly placed the device on the Amulet and ran out of the door.

"Good job Fluttershy! Now, give me the Amulet so I can hook it up to the TARDIS' computer banks and begin the tracking." the Doctor said.

"Wait...you wanted me to buy it?" I asked him.

"Yes. Didn't I make that obvious?" he asked.

"No. You just said that you needed me to plant the device on the Amulet. You didn't say anything about having to make a purchase." I said.

"Even I didn't catch that, Doctor." Sarah said.

"Oh come on. It's a device that identifies hoof prints. I'm not going to be able to see who used it if I can't connect to the TARDIS." he said, as if I should have known that.

"I have no money anyway to buy it. It's 100 bits!" I told him.

"Here, give him this." he said, passing me a black notepad. "It's got psychic paper in it. Whatever you want him to think will appear on this slip right here." he said, opening it up and pointing to the page.

"It can't do that." I said. "It's just paper." I saw words start to suddenly appear on the page that read, 'Equestrian Shop Examiner.' "Wait, how did you-"

"Psychic paper. Whatever you want him to think you are, think it, then show him this." he said.

"Umm...okay, Doctor." I said. I walked back in the shop and noticed that the pony behind the counter had finally split the ponies up by the shelves as they made their way toward the door. Both of them looked like they were made of wood. I could've sworn that they had leaves growing out of their heads.

"What do you want now missy?" the green scaly looking pony asked me.

"Umm...I'm actually a member of the Equestrian Shop Examiners. I need to check on the Amulet and bring it back to our, um...headquarters and make sure it's not a counterfeit." I said quietly, holding up the psychic paper. This isn't going to work. He's going to know I'm a fraud. I should get out of here before he realizes it. I thought, panicking.

Right as I was about to run out the door, he said, "Oh, well why didn't you say that when you first walked in!" he exclaimed. "Here you go. You'll find everything is in order and that it's a genuine Amulet."

"Thank you." I said with a small grin and walked towards the door.

"Um, how long do you think it'll be before I get it back?" he asked.

"Oh, um, only about a week." I said, unsure of what to say.

"Okay. I have some very important customers who come here looking for things like that, so I just want to make sure I can give them a time frame to return so they can receive it." he said

"Don't worry. I'll have someone bring it back when it's done." I said and walked out the door. I had a strange itch on the back of my head. I itched it and it went away. It wasn't too bad, but something about it was weird.

"Great! Now you've done exactly what I needed!" the Doctor said with a wide smile.

"Can I go back to my friends now please?" I asked him.

"Sure. Just let me plug in this artifact into the TARDIS and we'll be off!" he said walking into the TARDIS.

"Everything go okay in there? We saw two ponies walk in with hoods on a little bit after you. I had a bad feeling about them." Sarah said.

I felt the itch return to my head again and felt a bump when I scratched it. I hope the mosquitos here aren't dangerous like the ones in Saddle Arabia. I thought, thinking back to when I did a research project for school.

"Yeah. Everything went fine." I said.

"Good. Well, we better follow the Doctor. Never trust this pony alone. He'll find something to destroy." Sarah said.

We walked in the TARDIS where the Doctor was messing with some buttons and levers. "Did you find anything?" I asked.

"Well, a surprisingly large amount of ponies have used it before our target. It'll take some time for the TARDIS to scuffle through all the wibbly wobbly junk from the Amulet's magic. Science and Magic. Need them both to live, yet they can't fit together like pieces to a puzzle." he said.

"Um, why do we need magic to survive?" I asked.

"Well think of the Princess. She raises the moon and sun through magic. Without magic, we'd have either eternal day or eternal night. Eternal night would leave all of the plants dying with no sunlight for photosynthesis. Ponies would just start to starve.Eternal day would be slightly better, but eventually all the plants would dry out. And with the Pegasi being unable to move the clouds and change the weather due to their small loss of magic that they hold within them, the plants would dry out and have no moisture. Earth ponies wouldn't be able to tell when certain events with the earth are about to happen and when it's time to harvest." he explained.

"But I thought only Unicorns had magic?" I said confused.

"Well they're the only ones who can channel it into multiple forms. Every pony has some form of magic in them. It's very small and is mostly unnoticed. It's the reason you and Rainbow could move the clouds." he said.

"But what about Earth ponies? I thought that was all instinct?"

"That's what it feels like." Sarah said. "We become so used to it at a young age that it comes naturally. However, if you can master the magic, like I have been trying for years, you can use it to help prevent natural disasters, such as earthquakes. It's saved my research more times than I can count."

"Wait, you've mastered it?" I asked, surprised.

"Only a tiny bit. I can't stop all earthquakes, but I can stop the smaller ones. When I notice a big one coming, I grab all the important stuff and just move it someplace safe." she explained.

"The magic also forms around the ponies personality and talent. For example, have you ever wondered why you were able to talk to all sorts of animals with ease? It's because the magic inside you has given you a small understanding of animal linguistics. Why is Rainbow Dash so fast? Other than her being naturally athletic, the magic inside her also gives her a small speed and agility boost." the Doctor explained.

"Wow. I had no idea." I said, surprised. I was a little curious about what other things the small amount of magic inside me could do.

"Huh. That's surprising. How did..." the Doctor said, his eyes growing wide.

"Doctor what is it?" Sarah asked.

"That's not possible. How did she use it?" he said to himself.

"Doctor, explain what is going on." Sarah said.

"She took her. Somehow, she took her to Buckingham Palace using the magic of the Alicorn Amulet. But she isn't a Unicorn. She can't wield the magic. Which means..." he said looking to Sarah.

"You've got to be kidding me. Luna took it with them?" she asked.

"Not Luna, but her other form." he said.

"Umm, what are you guys talking about?" I asked. I think they forgot I was there because they both suddenly looked at me, a little shocked.

"Nothing." the Doctor said with a smile. "Just a little misreading on the TARDIS dash. There's no way she could possibly have used it." he looked behind him to Sarah who nodded. "Alright Fluttershy, let's get you back to your friends."

"Wait, who's she?" I asked as the TARDIS started to shake.

"Nobody too important. What's important now is getting you back to your friends." he said, smiling.

"But what about the Amulet?" I asked.

"Don't worry about it." the Doctor said.

When it stopped shaking I looked at the Doctor, hoping he would give me an answer. He sighed. "The pony who used the Amulet gave it to Nightmare Moon a thousand years ago. It's what gave her the ability to almost take over Equestria. And both of them are back."

"How are both of them back? I understand Nightmare Moon, but how is the other pony here?" I asked. It didn't make sense how a pony could survive a thousand years.

"Because she time travelled." he said. "Most likely with the use of a vortex manipulator."

"A vortex manipulator? Like the one Jack has?" I asked.

His eyes widened. "Of course! Jack you little horn dog." the Doctor said swearing.

"Um, did I say something I shouldn't have?"

"I don't think Jack would've appreciated it, but you just told me how she got here." he said.

"Doctor, Mr. Jones has located her at Trottingham." Sarah said as she stared at a screen on the dash.

"Excellent! I'm going to take you back home so that way you can monitor where she's at in case we don't get there in time." he said. She nodded her head.

"You're going after her?" I asked.

"Yep! Who else would go after her?"

"Well, I just don't want you two getting hurt." I said.

"Oh, we'll be fine. I've faced worse." he said, smiling at Sarah.

"Okay. Well, I guess I'll go." I said, turning to exit the door.

"Hey, Fluttershy, don't forget about saving Equestria from Nightmare Moon. Your friends need you." he said.

I smiled and walked out the door. I liked feeling like I was needed. I looked up and saw them by the Everfree Forest. I quietly made my way over there and stood next to them.

"Not so fast. Look, I appreciate the offer, but I'd really rather do this on my own." Twilight said.

"No can do, sugarcube." Applejack said. "We sure ain't lettin' any friend of ours go into that creepy place alone. We're stickin' to you like caramel on a candy apple."

"Especially if there's candy apples in there!" Pinkie said happily.

As they entered, I became suddenly fearful, as if something in my mind was telling me not to enter, that this place held danger to all of us. They walked on, as if I was the only one who could feel it. I shook my head and sucked up the courage, much like Rainbow Dash would do, and followed my new friends into the forest.