//------------------------------// // Violent Surges // Story: A New Dimension, A New Threat // by ZeroChill //------------------------------// Fluttershy stood within a dark blue room with lines of blue light running through. Black fabrics wrapped around her front hooves. Fluttershy looked back to a mirror with a bead of sweat falling from her forehead and her teeth gripped with anxiety. “Commander Spitfire, are you sure that I should be the one to test these gloves?” Fluttershy asked with anxiety in her tone. “I don’t think I am cut out to be a physical fighter.” “You did give a gleeful yes for when I asked you to do some testing. Besides, all of the other operatives are either busy or just declined.” Spitfire said. “But you are here, Spitfire. Wouldn’t you be more suitable for testing them? I mean… if you don’t mind that is.” Fluttershy squeaked out. “Ummm…” Spitfire stuttered out with a nervous tone. “Someone has to record the results.” “But Twilight is still here, and I have formal training in recording results in general.” “Uhhhh…” Spitfire hit a green button on the dashboard. The mirror disappeared from Fluttershy’s view of sight. The roof and walls disappeared and an azure sky with an infinite horizon replaced it. The floor became an island of sand and grass. A sandbag the size of a human dropped onto the center. “I’m not even sure what these fabrics can do, Spitfire.” Fluttershy called out. “The developers said that these are developed using the latest information discovered on the genome matrix. From what I understand, the techniques available within the gloves are Thunderpunch, Sky Uppercut, Volt Switch and Focus Blast.” Spitfire explained. “Those sound like they hurt others.” Fluttershy noted. “That’s because they do. Now try out those moves on the sandbag there.” Spitfire commanded. Fluttershy put her hooves together. Yellow electricity cackled from the fibers, eliciting a squeak from her. “The electricity isn't shocking me. Is there a reason why?” She asked. “It uses the electric-type genome within your body to function. Don’t even ask me how that is possible.” Spitfire answered. “Also, if anything goes wrong, I will stop the simulation and get you immediate help.” Fluttershy pounded her hooves together, feeling a buzz of electricity surround her entire body. Her body shined with the luminescence of a brilliant light bulb. The light transformed into an orb of electricity between her hooves. She tossed it forwards, striking the sandbag. The remnants of the electricity pushed her towards the edge of the water. “Wow. That felt… good!” Fluttershy called out. “Nice Volt Switch there, Fluttershy. I thought you would have blown up for a second.” Spitfire commented. “Now try going for a Thunderpunch and combo it with a Sky Uppercut.” Fluttershy galloped towards the falling sandbag. Her left front hoof charged with a virulent flow of electricity. She held it out forwards, surrounding her in an aura of volatile voltage. Her hoof collided with the sandbag, stunning it in place. Her right front hoof cloaked itself with a light blue aura. She struck the sandbag with that hoof and leaped with her uppercut, knocking it into the air. She gritted her teeth and felt the adrenaline pump through her blood system. “Now finish it off with a Focus Blast!” Spitfire shouted. Fluttershy held her hooves out and brought them to the side of her left shoulder. A light blue sphere of aura built itself between the two hooves. The sand blew away from the source point of the move, and an inferno erupted from Fluttershy’s eyes. She tossed the sphere forward, exploding on contact against the sandbag. A vicious roar escaped from her. “My blood… is on fire!!!” She shouted with the ferity of a lunatic grizzly bear. “Woah! Calm down there, Ariani. You almost lost yourself there.” Spitfire called out with snide fear in her tone. Fluttershy snapped back into reality and looked over her shoulder. A sheepish smile emerged on her face and a shy giggle squeaked out of her mouth. “Sorry.” Spitfire and Fluttershy walked down the hall. Spitfire flashed a content grin towards Fluttershy. “You were quite the warrior back in the training chamber, Fluttershy. I wish I could have been that fierce.” She admitted. “Honestly, I was not sure what came over me. Activating those gloves made me feel like a different pony altogether. I almost felt like I was going to be a savage beast if I had continued testing.” Fluttershy admitted with her eyes looking away from Spitfire. “But, at least we know that they work well.” “I’m glad. Those will be an amazing weapon against the Van’Goth. And in your hooves, we will be so much closer to ending the war.” Spitfire complimented. “May I hold onto these gloves for a bit, Commander Spitfire? I mean, if you don’t mind that is.” Fluttershy asked. “I’d say you did more than enough to deserve them. Not only are you frightening with them on, but you have such a destructive streak with them that it makes me proud of you.” “I’m not sure if I should be happy that you said that… or scared that you made me sound like a monster.” “Let’s just leave it at what I said. Now, I have a very special mission that you can appreciate, Fluttershy.” Spitfire said, patting Fluttershy on her left shoulder. At the end of the hallway sat the cafeteria. Spitfire and Fluttershy strutted their way towards a table, where Hydrangea and Rondo sat at. Hydrangea stirred a dark green beverage and glanced towards Rondo, who pecked at the golden brown slices of fruit before him. “This peach is pretty good. It tastes almost like a pecha berry.” Rondo noted. “Well I’m glad you enjoy it. They are known for their juicy sweetness. So tell me Rondo, what is your favorite fruit?” Hydrangea asked. “When it comes down to it, watmel berries. It has that niiiice sweet flavor with a hint of bitterness to it. It’s pretty good.” Rondo responded. “I do have a fruit I hate though; the yache berry. That fruit tastes horrible!” “Yache berry? Please tell me why you hate it so much. I am curious.” Hydrangea requested. “Ohhhh, the yache berry. It was during one winter when Mono gave it to me. He said that when I start to feel cold, I could eat it to reduce the effects of the freezing temperatures. So, my wings are feeling frigid and then I took a sample of it. It was disgusting! It was too sour and the dry flavor didn’t help too much. The sour flavor perpetuated throughout my mouth, and I was still cold! From that day, I vowed never to eat another Yache Berry in my life!” Rondo explained with disdain. “You know, as much as I would love to hear your conversations on fruit, I must interrupt.” Spitfire interjected. “Commander Spitfire! What brings you to our lunch table today?” Hydrangea asked. “Nothing much. Just your assignment for the day.” Spitfire responded. “And considering Rondo is here as well, I might as well give it to him and Fluttershy as well.” “Oh dear. An assignment with just the three of us? What are the details, Commander?” Hydrangea questioned. “I will tell you after you finish your lunch and conversation. Just report immediately to the briefing room.” Rondo, Fluttershy, Spitfire and Hydrangea stood around the map of the briefing table, gazing down upon the map. “We have to go into the Twiluminescent Jungle? What for?” Rondo asked. “There are rich traces of mithril located somewhere within the brambles of the jungle. H.O.R.S.E.’s supply of mithril has been running low as of late, and we aren’t getting much luck with finding mithril in the subterranean regions of this continent.” Spitfire explained. “Mithril is a very important metal for making armor for our pegasi. Its durability and weightlessness allows for a pegasi to excel in aerial combat without being hindered by traditional armors. Without that armor, then our fighting efforts will be reduced.” Fluttershy added. “I see… And you need a cervine being such as myself because we are capable of traversing our ancestral continent, correct?” Hydrangea asked. “Precisely. Hydrangea, I will leave you in charge of navigation. Rondo will be in charge of recon. Finally, Fluttershy will be in charge of information gathering. It isn’t typical where I would send off a squad into a faraway location with non-combative roles, but that doesn’t mean you are not capable of fighting. When push comes to shoves, shove it back with a kick. Got it?!” Spitfire declared. “Yes Commander Spitfire!” Fluttershy, Rondo and Hydrangea stated with straight voices and their respective left front leg, right front leg and right wing saluted over their foreheads. “That’s what I’d like to hear from my operatives. Now, I will provide the mode of transportation via the military air transport vehicle.” Spitfire said. “Not the Fortress Exo, because those are expensive to replace.” Fluttershy, Rondo and Hydrangea sat on a black-cushioned bench. The air around them strangled their limbs, giving the impression of the plane being able to explode at any moment. Rondo looked out of the window of the plane, glancing towards the black wing and the sea that took the appearance of a bending fabric to his eyes. “I know I’ve flown into the air several times, but this is much higher than I would usually fly. Everything looks like a paper-mache model from this height.” “It is quite interesting to be up in the air. I flew several times in a plane like this. My first time… wasn’t so great though.” Hydrangea said. “I know how you felt. Everything just felt so sudden. I remember when I heard all of the panicked shouting and we were forced to evacuate into vehicles like this. But… I’m honestly glad for that. If I had not, I would not be able to explore this new world. I know it is dangerous, but it still is always amazing to discover new things.” Fluttershy stated. “Mono would hate to be aboard one of these planes. Not only because he would feel threatened, but because he hates flying in general.” Rondo revealed. “Wait… didn’t he just go flying to do that request the other day?” Hydrangea questioned with a tone wet with suspicion. “He did. He also kept shouting how he hated riding the fortress exo after Commander Spitfire gave him and Sophia that punishment.” “Oh right! You know, that was kind of funny to see. His shivers made it all worth it. I know it is wrong for me to see him like that, but he looks a bit cute doing it.” “Ummm… you do know Sophia will be out for your blood if you say that in front of her, right Hydrangea?” Rondo asked with a hint of fear in his voice. “I don’t care what a dog…cat…fox thing feels about me saying that. He’s just cute when he freaks out.” Hydrangea responded. A stifled giggle emerged from Fluttershy. She dropped down onto the floor, rolling on it in laughter. “Are you okay, Fluttershy?” Rondo asked. “I’m fine, Rondo. I just find it funny how Hydrangea cares about what kind of creature a Sylveon is.” Fluttershy answered. “H-hey! It’s not my fault. I mean… I know what all the other Pokémon are based off… but wow is Sophia a mystery!” Hydrangea shouted. “Don’t you ever get curious?” “They are aliens though. We cannot use our perceptions and beliefs of what we see to judge their appearance. Doing so is wrong.” “I guess you’re right, Fluttershy. I should quit while I’m ahead.” Hydrangea stated. “Ummm… we are about to descend now.” Rondo said, pointing towards the mass of green land cutting into the sea below. The inside of the plane dipped towards a sharp diagonal angle. Rondo, Fluttershy and Hydrangea gripped the benches with wide eyes and felt their insides rushing towards their right side. The plane came to a sudden stop, throwing all of the passengers within the bench forward against the wall. Hydrangea stood up with spinning and slanted eyes. “I think we are here now…” Rondo and Fluttershy trailed behind Hydrangea, whose steps moved with a wobbly pattern. Rondo and Fluttershy shared a glance and looked back towards Hydrangea. “Are you sure you should be walking after getting off the plane, Hydrangea? You don’t look too good.” Rondo asked. “I’m… fine.” Hydrangea responded. A wave of queasiness struck her stomach. Her fur turned a sickly shade of green and a burning liquid reached her uvula. She cupped her mouth with her right front hoof and gagged. “I have an emergency barfing bag in my bag if you need it.” Fluttershy offered, pulling out a brown paper bag from her bag. Hydrangea snatched it from her left front hoof and put her mouth inside of it. The gagging turned into a mesh of liquids hitting the inside of the paper bag. Rondo looked away and his hid face behind his wing, trembling with every burst of vomit shot into the bag. Hydrangea dropped the bag and pushed it away. Her stance wavered. “T-thanks, Fluttershy. I n-n-needed that.” “For Arceus’s sake! Don’t do that in front of me!” Rondo shouted. “I hate the sound of vomiting!” “S-s-sorry, Rondo. I couldn’t…” Saying this, Hydrangea felt another burst of nausea rise from her throat. “Do you have another bag?!” She shouted with rushed words. Fluttershy pulled out another brown bag, which became snatched through Hydrangea’s hooves. Hydrangea ran off towards the bushes within the opposite side of the path. “You know, Rondo, Hydrangea is lucky that she can relieve her nausea through vomiting. We ponies have to stomach our nausea.” Fluttershy explained. “Her lucky?! I wish I couldn’t vomit! When I eat a bad piece of fruit or eat something sour…” Rondo stated, shuddering at the end of his words. “So much… there was so much.” A roar erupted from the bushes next to Hydrangea, causing everyone’s hearts to drop into their stomachs. A large redclaw emerged from the bushes and looked down on the three agents with bloodthirsty eyes. Hydrangea looked above with her eyes a pale color from exhaustion. “Can you please do this some other time? I really do not feel like dealing with you after I had to stomach all of this vomiting!” Hydrangea shouted, pointing towards the two bags on the ground. “Wow, she is definitely not happy right now.” Rondo noted. Fluttershy walked up towards the Redclaw and cleared her throat. “Excuse me, Mr. Redclaw? I know you must be hungry and are very upset that you cannot sate it, but we are not food for you. We are looking for veins of Mithril in this continent. Would you mind leading us there?” The Redclaw roared in front of her face, blowing back her mane with strands of her hair frozen in shock. Fluttershy moved her left front hoof through her mane and straightened it out with closed eyes and a gentle smile. She slipped on her Volt Fighter Gloves with a devious smirk on her face. She flew towards the Redclaw’s face, shouting with primordial aggression in her tone. She launched her left front hoof the Redclaw against its temple with earth-shaking force. “You want to insult my mother again you big nasty lizard?!” She shouted, rearing her right front hoof and aiming it under the chin. She ducked under and struck it with a Sky Uppercut. “She was a greater mare than what your entire species’ females are like!” Each word she shouted, the Redclaw’s face met with an electrified strike to the face. Rondo’s eyes popped out of his head. “Yikes! Fluttershy’s scary!” Hydrangea leaped on the airborne Fluttershy, stopping her in her tracks. The redclaw ran away from the area with tears dripping down its eyes. Fluttershy squirmed underneath Hydrangea’s weight and growled through clenched teeth. “Let go of me! Can’t you see that overgrown lizard needs to die?!” “Fluttershy! What has gotten into you?!” Hydrangea asked. “I’m perfectly fine, Hydrangea! I am in the best mood of my life!” Fluttershy yelled. “No you aren’t! You just attacked an animal, Rondo is hiding behind the leaves of the tree above because of your attitude and you are seriously being out of character right now!” Hydrangea shouted. The anger within Fluttershy’s eyes dissipated. Her body stopped squirming and she looked towards Hydrangea. She looked up in the trees and saw Rondo looking away from her, shivering with fear. “By Deus… what have I done?! I hurt a poor and innocent Redclaw who was just hungry and agitated, and I scared Rondo. That isn’t like me at all…” Hydrangea smiled and got off of Fluttershy. She grabbed Fluttershy by her right leg with her right hoof and lifted her up. Fluttershy hovered towards the canopy where Rondo was. Rondo looked to his right and scream. “Don’t hurt me! I get badly hurt by electricity!” Rondo said. Fluttershy wrapped her front legs around Rondo’s body and brought him in for a hug. “I’m sorry, Rondo. I don’t know what came over me. When that Redclaw shouted at me, I knew I had to do something to scare her off… but I didn’t want to hurt her.” Fluttershy said. “Wait, her?! That thing was a girl?” Rondo questioned with a loud tone. “Yes. She was very mad because she was hungry. When I put on my Volt Fighter Gloves, something vicious came over me. I felt… violent and aggressive! I promise, Rondo; I will never be like that again.” Fluttershy vowed. “Thanks, Fluttershy. And you have nice hugs.” Rondo stated. Spitfire entered inside of the lab of the Research & Development division, fluffing her mane with a smile on her face. She walked towards Twilight Sparkle, who had a glimmering grin on her face. “The testing was done, Commander Spitfire?” She asked. “You will be happy with the results I have gained from the Volt Fighter Gloves.” Spitfire responded, hitting a black button on a tablet. Twilight Sparkle’s eyes skimmed through the contents of the tablet’s words. Upon scrolling down enough of the words, her smile formed into a concerned frown. “Umm… Spitfire, are you sure it is okay that you used Fluttershy for the test?” She asked. “I don’t see why not. Fluttershy wanted to toughen up a bit, and I forced her to volunteer for the test to help her give a backbone with using different types of weaponry.” Spitfire explained. “You do realize that Fluttershy is one of the very few Equusians we have documented that has a very rare personality condition, do you?” Twilight Sparkle asked with her face stoned with immense gravity. “Ummm… what’s this condition again?” Spitfire asked with an uneasy tone, scratching the back of her head. Twilight Sparkle smacked her face with her right front hoof. The two ponies directed their attention to a black screen. It flashed into life, depicting a base image of a pegasus and a cloud above it. The lightning struck the pegasus. “Normally, when a pegasus pony would be strike by lightning, they would emerge unharmed due to the special structure within their muscle system that would nullify ninety percent of the electricity, transfer nine percent of it towards the nervous system and one percent of it throughout the blood system.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “This allows a pegasus to remain unhindered by even the worst of lightning shocks during flight.” “I know that. That’s basic pegasus biology one-o-one.” Spitfire commented. “What you probably wouldn’t know is Fluttershy’s special case.” Twilight Sparkle said, changing the image of the pony on the screen into a pointy and stylized image of Fluttershy. The lightning strikes her. “Fluttershy suffers from a rare case of volt cuniculum, where her muscle system fails to neutralize forty five percent of that electricity. That means an additional forty five percent of volatile electricity runs through her body.” “That doesn’t sound too good.” Spitfire commented. “Not good is an understatement, Commander. That extra voltage towards the nervous system isn’t enough to kill her instantly, but it causes some drastic personality changes.” The image of Fluttershy being struck by lightning scowled and gritted her teeth. She stood onto her hind legs and beat her chest with her front legs. “It’s good that she gets a bit more aggression. What can possibly go wrong?” Spitfire asked with a carefree tone. “Here’s what can go wrong; Fluttershy can develop psychological problems that would need to be medically treated. It throws her entire circadian rhythm out if its proper cycle, giving her insomnia and other sleep-related disorders. Finally, there is a variety of health issues that can permanently affect the heart and light bone structure of the pegasus.” Twilight Sparkle listed off with a scowl on her face. “That does sound serious…” Spitfire noted. “And she can get hurt in her current mission.” “You sent her on a mission with those weapons?! I’m sorry, Commander Spitfire, but you have to pull her out of it as quickly as possible. Leaving her with those gloves is the worst possible thing you have ever done!” “Don’t you think you are overreacting a tiny bit, Twilight Sparkle?” Spitfire questioned. “I have read through documented cases of this condition, Commander. From what I have looked up, constant exposure to even small amounts of electricity ruined their lives. It’s not something to joke about.” Twilight Sparkle walked towards the edge of the lab. “Umm, where are you going?” “I’m off to get my friend watch so that I can warn one of my best friends about the use of that weapon.” Seeing Twilight Sparkle run out of her sight, a frustrated groan passed from Spitfire’s lips. “Another casualty of a good friend is going to occur because of my stupid ambition! I thought I wouldn’t let any more cases like this happen…” She said to herself. “No, I won’t let that happen. I will not let her suffer because of an oversight!” Fluttershy, Hydrangea and Rondo walked into a cragged canyon, where ores of dark blue rocks scattered themselves throughout the ground and walls. “Amazing! So this is what mithril looks like in its purest form.” Hydrangea said in awe. “I thought you might have seen it more often since you lived here.” Fluttershy stated. “You would think that and you it wouldn’t be a bad guess. But truth be told, I never ventured out of the established paths and cities of Deerope. While mithril is a common ore for us deer to use in our technology, the locations were always away from the cities we built, and I never really wanted to go away from those cities. Kind of weak for a deer, isn’t it?” “I don’t think so. In a way, it is like how I hate flying and always try to care for animals despite being a pegasus. We all have our quirks.” “Life would be more fun if I had a Quirky Nature. But, I’m still happy with how I am. Just be happy with yourself and all will be good.” Rondo advised. “Thanks for not making me feel like a total stranger among other deer. I really appreciate it.” Hydrangea thanked. From the cliff tops above, jet black lizards the size of buses leaped down into the chasm towards the trio. Hydrangea looked into the sky and pushed Fluttershy and Rondo away from the falling shadows. The ten lizards let out scratchy screechs. “What the heck are those things?!” Rondo asked, pointing at their yellow eyes. “From what I see, these appear to be shadow skinks that exist only on this part of the continent.” Fluttershy answered. “They think we are intruding on our territory, so they’re going to kill us.” “Boy, don’t we have the luck with everything trying to kill us?” Rondo commented. Fluttershy’s watch rang with a cheery series of notes. She brought her left front hoof over to the watch and touched it, revealing a holographic head of Twilight Sparkle. “Twilight! What brings you to communicate with me through our friend connection?” She asked. “Fluttershy, do not use the Volt Fighter Gloves anymore. I repeat, don’t!” Twilight Sparkle warned. “I know what this is about, Twilight. Don’t worry, because I promised to never use them again.” After she said this, the shadow skinks all shot their tails towards Rondo and Hydrangea, knocking them to the ground. Rondo squawked with a shrill noise. “This feeling… I know it…” “What… feeling… Rondo?” Hydrangea asked with a slurring tone. “It’s… poison.” Both Rondo and Hydrangea collapsed onto the ground with their eyes dropping to a close. Fluttershy shrieked and ran towards their side. “Rondo! Hydrangea! Please, get up!” She shouted, shaking their bodies with her hooves. No response came from either of them. She looked forwards at the shadow skinks, whose eyes flashed with a bloodlust. She looked down towards her watch with a hologram of Twilight Sparkle’s head. With a hesitant shutting of her eyes, she peered into her bag and pulled out the Volt Fighter Gloves. She slipped them on. “Wait, Fluttershy! What are you doing?!” Twilight Sparkle shouted. “Sorry, Twilight. Sorry, Rondo. But, desperate times call for desperate measures. Shadow skinks are vulnerable to electricity from my research, and this is the only weapon I have that uses it.” Fluttershy stated. “No! Don’t do i-“Fluttershy shut off her watch before Twilight Sparkle finished her words. Her gloves charged with a surge of electricity and a red aggression fell over Fluttershy’s serene form. “You want to poison my friends?! Then I shall send each and every single one of you to the depths of Tartarus!” She shouted. A large ball of electricity formed between her hooves. With gritted teeth, she threw the Volt Switch forwards and struck a shadow skink between the eyes. The reaction of the electricity flowing through her body pushed her back towards the cragged wall. Using the force received, she kicked off of the wall and flew forward, punching another skink across its cheek. The skinks hissed towards Fluttershy’s direction and spat a glob of black goop towards her direction. Fluttershy punched the blobs back and flew towards a skink, striking it directly in the forehead with a Thunderpunch. She then unleashed a Sky Uppercut with her right front hoof, knocking it into the air. She felt her heart beat out of rhythm and felt twinges of burning pain in her ventricles. She groaned and dropped to the ground, but her anger remained unfazed. She held her hooves behind her and shot a Focus Blast towards the group. The orb exploded around the skinks, knocking them all against the walls. “That will… teach you to…” Fluttershy mouthed out. Her heart slowed to a standstill and she collapsed onto the ground. Fluttershy’s eyes opened to the sight of a white and blurry room. The sounds of oxygen rushed through her mask and a sheet wrapped around tender body. Around her bed are Spitfire, Rondo, Twilight Sparkle and Hydrangea. Fluttershy wobbled her left front hoof towards her face and pushed off the oxygen mask. “Where… am I?” She stuttered out. “Rest easy, Fluttershy. You took a horrifying amount of electricity there.” Twilight Sparkle stated, wrapping her front hooves around Fluttershy’s body and embracing her. She let go after three seconds. “What? I’m confused.” Fluttershy asked. “After recovering the Volt Fighter Gloves from you, there was a coding error in its design that failed to regulate the proper channels of electricity within a safe current.” Spitfire explained. “With your condition, it was a miracle that you even survived.” “But… Rondo and Hydrangea. Weren’t they poisoned?” “Yeah, we were poisoned. It was potent enough to make us faint.” Rondo noted with a happy tone. “Thankfully, Commander Spitfire came to our aid and gave us antidotes. We were fine after that. But you… were not that lucky.” Hydrangea said with an uneasy tone. “Those gloves channeled your inner electricity and drove it out of control. And combined with your condition, it led to a nasty cardiac arrest.” “How did I survive that? Doesn’t death usually come after one?” Fluttershy questioned, sitting upwards and rubbing her right shoulder. A frown appeared on Spitfire’s face. “You are extremely lucky that I rushed as quickly as possible to your location with a medical team by my side, Fluttershy. They brought you back to life with the very weapons that nearly killed you.” Tears welled up within her eyes. She brought her face onto the side of Fluttershy’s bed. “Commander, why are you crying?” Fluttershy asked. “I’m still alive and the mission was a success.” “I broke my promise to this organization. I knew something wrong was with you when I had you wear those gloves and I did nothing to sway your decision because you would be a better soldier with them. I let my ambition get the best of me, and it almost cost you your life. I’m sorry, Fluttershy. Please, forgive your foolish commander.” Spitfire cried out. “I don’t blame you, Commander Spitfire.” Fluttershy stated, putting her left front hoof onto Spitfire’s head. “I don’t blame you for anything bad that happened. You were just hasty was all, and anyone can be forgiven for being hasty.” Spitfire brought her front legs around Fluttershy’s shoulders and hugged her. Fluttershy glanced towards Rondo, Hydrangea and Twilight Sparkle. She crooked her neck towards the side with the door. “I think Fluttershy wants to be alone with the Commander. Let’s give them some privacy.” Twilight Sparkle said. “If that’s what she wishes, then so be it.” Hydrangea stated. “Boy, being poisoned makes me feel hungry. Anyone know where some of those watermelons are? They’re very close to the flavor that watmel berries have.” Rondo asked. The three operatives left the room, leaving Spitfire and Fluttershy alone. Spitfire retreated back to her seat with reddened eyes. “Thank you for… forgiving me, Fluttershy. You may not know it, but I really tend to beat myself up for mistakes I make that cost lives.” Spitfire admitted. “And… I also have a bit of a case of volt cuniculum as well. I never revealed it to others because I’m afraid that others will think less of me. That’s why I was so afraid of trying on those Volt Fighter Gloves and had you wear them. But, I never expected you to have that condition as well.” “I understand, Commander. And… if it makes you feel any better, I don’t think any less of you. You still are a brave war hero who is always willing to go into the line of danger to help out those under her. Nothing will ever change that. Besides, I always knew of my condition before putting those gloves on.” Fluttershy said. “Then… why did you put your life in danger like that?” Spitfire asked with a tone backed with anxiety. “I don’t know if you don’t know, Commander, but I honestly get too tired of being considered the weak link in the organization. I wanted to prove to everyone that I was much stronger than the weakling they considered me to be.” Fluttershy explained. “But you aren’t weak! Even if you know the risks of going out into the world to do research, you still do it with a smile on your face. Not that many Equusians would even consider taking a step outside of Neo Canterlot. Even our own operatives are afraid of being out of the walls. You’re even rising through the ranks of the Marksman Division! Rainbow Dash always brags about how well you are doing under her wing.” “I know, but it still doesn’t change the fact that ponies mock me for being weak. Those Volt Fighter Gloves made me feel strong and powerful, even if it nearly cost me my life and sanity. For once in my life, I felt like an apex predator. I felt like I was capable of changing everything. That feeling felt amazing and I never wanted it to end.” A rise of light-hearted chuckling broke out of Spitfire’s mouth. “Fluttershy, did I ever tell you about how much you reminded me of you in my youth? I was the smallest out of all my classmates when I was just a filly, after all. I was weak and picked on, but I wanted to prove them wrong. And prove them wrong I did.” “I never knew that, Spitfire. I would have always assumed that you were always this gruff and tough.” Fluttershy said. “I didn’t need the help of anyone to do that either. Just sheer will and determination allowed me to hit harder, fly better and grow bigger to the point where I pretty much wrestled the respect out of everyone who ever dissed me.” Spitfire stated with a cocky grin. “You sound a lot like Rainbow Dash at times, Spitfire. Not that it’s a bad thing.” “She’s pretty good at what she does. Even with dislocated joints, she’ll fight to the end. I admire and respect that about her. Who knows; if I kick the bucket, she’ll take my position as Commander.” “While it would be nice seeing one of my best friends in your position, I wouldn’t want it to happen upon your death. I would be sad to see you go away.” Fluttershy admitted. “I’ll be around for a very long time for your sake, and for Mono’s and Lith’s sake. Somebody’s gotta watch over you three to make sure that you don’t get into trouble and become amazing operatives.” Spitfire and Fluttershy hugged each other once more, with a grip that is tightened with the bonds they share with each other.