“Goodbye fish. Goodbye bees. Goodbye my little woodland creature friends.” Fluttershy darted about her yard frantically waving her goodbye’s to all her animal friends.
She had not planned on taking a trip so soon after returning from her last one. The animals had long, sad faces knowing that their dearest pony pal was leaving them once again. Her bear friend shed a few tears as he enthusiastically wrapped the much smaller pony in his big paws.
“Don’t you worry your sweet furry head for one second,” came the muffled voice of Fluttershy under the heavy layer of fur draped around her. “I’ll be home before you know it.”
The bear loosened his grip as Fluttershy slipped out of his warm embrace. She flapped back over to her cottage door and picked up her waiting saddle bags. She gave the group of animals gathered around her one last air kiss and wave before heading off down the path towards town.
“I’m leaving Angel Bunny in charge, so you all listen to him and be nice to one another,” called Fluttershy as she floated away from her cottage.
The normally timid pony put on a brave face for her animal friends, but secretly dreaded the fact that she was heading off into the unknown once again. She struggled within herself to keep a steady pace as she flew towards the castle and a waiting Rainbow Dash. The concept of bravery and daring that so epitomized that young Pegasus still eluded her understanding.
‘Oh why can’t I just be brave like Rainbow,’ thought Fluttershy.
She would miss her animal friends a lot, but she still understood that her pony friends needed her now. That gave her the courage she needed to face this task – although, she was still very glad that Rainbow Dash would be coming with her. She wasn’t sure if she would be up to facing this challenge alone.
As she approached the castle, a few waiting ponies called out to greet her. Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash all stood on the castle steps and waved as she landed.
“What took you so long?” chided Rainbow Dash. “I thought you said you just needed to say goodbye to your pets?”
“Well,” mumbled Fluttershy, “I do have quite a lot of animal friends and they all deserve a personal goodbye.”
“Ok, I guess that’s fine,” replied Rainbow Dash. “We just better get a move on if we’re going to make it to Griffin’s Nest before dark.”
“Now Rainbow,” interjected Twilight, “I know you’re in a hurry to get going, but you need to make sure that the two of you stay together. I don’t want you flying off on your own and leaving Fluttershy to fend for herself.”
“No way, Twilight,” said Rainbow Dash. “I would never leave a friend hangin’.”
“Speaking of friends,” whispered Fluttershy, “are you sure Gilda will be willing to help us? We didn’t exactly see eye to eye the last time she was here.”
“No worries, Fluttershy,” pronounced a confident Rainbow Dash. “Me and Gilda go way back. I’m sure the last time she was here was just a fluke. She’ll be happy to help an old pal.”
“I hope you’re right, Rainbow.” Fluttershy looked a bit unsure as she nervously dug a hoof into the ground.
“Well, you two better get going,” said a little more confident Twilight. “It’s a long way to Griffin’s Nest and you don’t have a full day of sun left to fly there.”
“You’re right, Twilight,” continued Rainbow Dash. “The sooner we get there and find that element, the sooner we can get back to Ponyville.” She nodded to Fluttershy and added, “We’ll be so fast those animal buddies of yours won’t even know you were gone.”
The two Pegasi hugged the other ponies and flew off toward Carousel Boutique. Twilight’s could be heard as they floated away:
“Be safe, and stay together!”
They made a quick stop at Rarity’s shop to say goodbye and to wish her luck on her own quest before doing the same at Sweet Apple Acres with Applejack. With each pony she hugged, Fluttershy felt the impact of her departure sink deeper and deeper into her heart.
Soon they were both winging to the North past Cloudsdale and beyond. They stopped a few times on their way for a drink and a chance to rest their wings. Flying was definitely hard work – especially considering that they were carrying supplies. Knowing that they would be taking an aerial trip, they had packed as light as possible. Even so, the saddle bag strap still rubbed into the base of Fluttershy’s wings and made it hard to keep up with her much more athletic partner.
“Come on, Fluttershy,” complained Rainbow Dash. “We need to keep going. At this rate we won’t make it to Griffin’s Nest before nightfall.”
They had just made their fifth stop of the afternoon. Fluttershy was in pain. She wasn’t used to this amount of flying. A red patch of chaffed fur and feathers had developed around the base of her wings. The only thing that kept her going the last few miles was the constant prodding of her partner.
“I’m sorry, Rainbow,” said a defeated sounding Fluttershy. “I just can’t fly any further today. We’ve been flying for hours, but I just don’t think I can flap any more tonight.”
Fluttershy reached up to try and rub her sore back as she let her packs slip down off her flank. Rainbow Dash came over to assist the tired pony and saw that she really wasn’t in any shape to be flying right then.
“Wow, Fluttershy,” said Rainbow Dash encouragingly. “I had no idea you could fly that well. By the looks of that sore, I’m surprised you made it this far.”
The encouragement in her voice only masked the disappointment she felt for not making it to their destination just yet. The bigger problem, however, worried her even more. Fluttershy was in no condition to fly and they were still a few miles from the Griffin city. Rainbow Dash glanced around taking in their surroundings.
They had landed in a grassy meadow near the edge of a lake. A calm and inviting forest spread into the rolling hills further on. She trotted down to the lakeside and gathered some water in her canteen which she brought back to her resting friend. Fluttershy’s injured wings looked even worse as she spent more time examining the sores at their base.
“That doesn’t look so good,” stated Rainbow Dash. “I think we better keep to the ground for now.”
“Thank you for the water, Rainbow,” winced a clearly hurting Fluttershy. “I’ll be ok – don’t let me stop you. You go on ahead and I’ll catch up as soon as I can.”
“Nothin’ doin’, Fluttershy. I promised Twilight that we’d stick together and that’s what we’re gonna do. Can you walk?”
“I-I think so.”
“Ok then – here’s the plan. We’ve only got an hour or so left of daylight and we need to make it into town if we can. I sure don’t want to find out what’s lurking in those woods after it gets dark.”
“I’ll do my best, Rainbow.”
Fluttershy reached over and tried to lift her packs back onto her injured back.
“Now we can’t have you doin’ that now can we, Fluttershy. Let me carry those bags, and you just worry about moving those legs of yours.”
“Why that’s awfully kind of you. I appreciate you being such a good friend. I’ll try my best to keep up.”
Rainbow slung the extra packs over her own back and the two ponies set off towards Griffin’s Nest once again – this time, on hoof.
It was nearly two hours after sunset when the two tired ponies came to the edge of town. The town was quiet. A few solitary griffins stumbled along the path trying to make their way home after an evening at the local pub. This town sure wasn’t like the Ponyville they had left earlier that day.
As they walked into town they passed a few shops and houses. A couple of places were still open, but they were closing up quickly. Rainbow Dash happened to glance in a window of one of the taverns – her gaze was met by a stern faced griffin who glared back at her as she passed by. The window near the door to the establishment had a curious sign hanging in it. It read:
NO PONIES WELCOME
Fluttershy stayed as close as she could to Rainbow. She squeaked out a few words, “I don’t think it’s really all that safe for us here, Rainbow.”
“Nonsense, Fluttershy,” came Rainbow Dash’s reply. “We just need to find Gilda and see about finding a place to bed down for the night.”
The few griffins still milling about had noticed the presence of the ponies. Fluttershy’s nerves were starting to get the better of her as each one they passed seemed to growl at her. As they came to a shop near the center of town, they heard a familiar voice call out to them.
“My little pony friends, come quickly – you must get inside.”
At first they were somewhat startled by the stranger calling to them. He gestured for them to approach as he held open the door to the shop behind him. As they got closer, they realized who it was.
“Gustave?” replied Rainbow Dash.
“Oui, Oui. Come now, vee must urray.”
The Griffin pastry chef half pulled and then half pushed the two ponies inside his shop before looking around skittishly and closing the door behind them.
“What’s the deal, Gustave?” asked an annoyed Rainbow Dash.
“It very nice to see you again, Mr. Gustave,” said Fluttershy with a small curtsy.
“Euh merci, mon petit ponie,” said a somewhat relieved looking Gustave le Grand. “I am so appy to see you. I ave no idea how you both made it zis far into town without being captured. Zee guards must ave all gone to bed.”
“Guards? What do you mean, Gustave?” replied a still slightly annoyed but now more confused Rainbow Dash. “Why would the guards want to capture two ponies?”
“Because, those are her orders,” he replied.
Rainbow Dash waved a hoof in front of his face. “Now hold on just a second, what’s the matter with ponies being in Griffin’s Nest and who’s ordering our capture?”
Gustave looked offended at the question, but said, “why, it’s your old friend Gilda of course.”