//------------------------------// // Chapter 26 "Trials in the Dark Part 1" // Story: Equestria Guardians // by Jacoboby1 //------------------------------// Trials in the Dark Part 1 Or Who you are on the Inside Celestia sat down at her desk, her sister Luna sitting across from her. Both looked down at the object between them. A small black crystal, which occasionally sparked with an energy that would put goosebumps on those not used to it. Their expressions displayed the gravity of what they were going to face. “So soon sister?” Luna said, looking up at Celestia. “I would think at least a month or two before we would begin the trials.” Celestia shook her head, “The Hours are getting more and more frequent, and the monsters in them stronger. I fear we don’t have the luxury of putting it off any longer.” Luna nodded and observed, “They have faced a good many challenges themselves, Sunset, the Sirens, Chrysalis, all great victories for them.” “But that was merely the tip of the iceberg,” Celestia said, extending her hand and a bubble formed around the crystal, encasing it as it floated in the air. “It is time they learned that one of the most powerful forces in the world...can affect them at any time.” “I will make the calls then,” Luna said, getting up, and then turning back to Celestia. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with Cadence’s comments, would it sister?” Celestia simply turned back to the window, looking at the crystal. “We have become lax in their training. The more prepared they are, the better they’ll be.” Luna nodded solemnly then said, “Just don’t detach yourself Tia, you’re less of a person...or pony...when you do.” She then closed the door, leaving Celestia to quietly look at the crystal as it glowed faintly green and dark violet… ________________________________________________________ The Guardians had gathered at the special training warehouse, and sat around, waiting for the regime to begin. Luna had been the one to call them, not Celestia, and that caused them a little concern. Now they spent most of their time waiting just meandering around, looking busy. “I can’t help but wonder what she may have in store for us,” Twilight said pacing nervously. “Way Luna talked, ya think we were all doin’ some kinda big test,” Aj said, casually kicking around a can while they waited. “That oooor, she could be teaching us how to use our guardian powers to kick more butt!” Rainbow said, smiling. “Like... teaching us how Celestia and Voidera made that super mode they had! So Awesome!” “I don’t know, Rainbow, dear,” Rarity said, passing the time by drawing in her sketchpad, working on her latest project. Spike occasionally passing her some drawing supplies when she needed it. “Luna seemed quite serious about the whole business, I doubt she would just be showing us how to do some flashy technique.” “Did she give any hint at all as to what we’d be doing?” Sunset asked the group curiously. Private shook his head, “Nah, Luna’s pretty good at keeping things close to the chest when she wants to.” “She’s much more intimidating than Professor Celestia, I know that much,” Twilight said, pacing some more. “Some big test, though… I doubt we’re ready for it…” “Ah Come on Twilight,” Pinkie said, suddenly appearing in front of her friend. “We got this, we’ve been beating monsters since, well, the start of the school year. We can take this.” “I wish I shared your enthusiasm Pinkie…” Twilight sighed. The conversation was cut off when Celestia and Luna entered. Celestia was still holding the dark crystal in the bubble, her face not giving anything away. She handed the bubble off to Luna and said, “I am glad you all managed to make it, that will make things a little easier.” “Principal Luna made it sound very important, Professor,” Twilight said, frowning at Celestia’s closed-in countenance. “What… is that? And what are we going to have to do?” “All of your questions will be answered soon,” Celestia said, and then gestured to the Crystal. “This is a souvenir from Equestria, there, far to the north was another kingdom, called the Crystal Empire. Before Cadence came and ruled there, it was ruled by a vicious tyrant named Sombra.” Private suddenly tensed at the name. When did it get cold in here…? He thought to himself. “Sombra was the foremost practitioner of dark magic in his era, and created these crystals to store his power. This is one of the last ones left.” Celestia explained. “Dark... magic?” Rainbow said, tilting her head. “Indeed,” Celestia said, nodding grimly. “For every light, there is shadow, and Dark Magic is the counterpart to the Magic of Friendship. Those who use magic on a regular basis, are more vulnerable to it.” “But how is it the opposite of what we got?” Rainbow asked, “I mean, it sounds kind of awesome actu-” Rainbow was silenced with a death glare from Celestia...one that nobody in that room had ever seen. “Dark Magic is not cool, it is not a toy to play with, and it is certainly not something to dabble into.” Celestia said, firmly. She strode up to Rainbow looking down at the athlete as Rainbow started to sweat. “I hope you understand.” Rainbow gulped, “Ye-yes ma’am…” “Oh my…” Fluttershy said, shocked that somebody else managed to get Rainbow to close her big mouth. Celestia collected herself, and then continued, “Dark Magic is a powerful form that magic can take on. It is powerful, capable of so many terribly wonderful things. But it comes with a price, it plays on the user’s emotions. Gets them to focus only on their desires and their fears, makes the want to change the world or simply uplift themselves. But Dark Magic’s only purpose is to corrupt, transform even the kindest of ponies into horrific, twisted versions of themselves…” “... Kind of like how I was, when I was turned into a rampaging she-demon?” Sunset asked. “Is that like bein’ Discorded?” Applejack asked. “It is similar, only while Discord would change who you are on a fundamental level,” Luna explained. “Dark magic plays on your emotions, controls you by convincing you that you are right. It convinces you that ends justify the means, that you no longer need those around you...that you goal should only be to acquire more of it…” “It is a dangerous magic, and one I hope none of you ever encounter. For it is difficult to face Dark Magic unprepared…” Celestia then looked to Sunset, “It can be hard to come back from it...and you probably won’t recognize yourself once it has fully gripped you.” “That’s… a pretty good description,” Sunset said scratching the back of her head. “I didn’t recognise myself, after I had changed, and I didn’t care. I just wanted to cause more havoc, and destruction, while my motivation of getting back at Twilight Sparkle for tearing down my little kingdom stayed the same. Putting on the crown, then transforming, though, was incredibly painful… But then it was happening all at once…The way you describe this… dark magic, it’s much more insidious, and subtle...” Private didn’t say anything, just looked nervously at Twilight. Twilight met his gaze, they still hadn’t told Celestia about his little...outburst. “Indeed,” Celestia said, “And that is why I’ve brought you all here today. This crystal will allow me to cast a spell that will put you in a dream like state. In there, you will face temptation, be put in a situation where Dark Magic will come to you. This is so that when you do encounter Dark Magic in the field you are prepared for it.” “What exactly are we gonna see…?” Aj asked nervously as Luna gave the crystal to Celestia. “I cannot know, it will look different for every one of you…” Celestia said, and then let out a small breath, holding the bubbled crystal in her hands...then...her eyes opened, her eyes becoming an acid green, and giving off a strange eerie purple smoke...she then focused on the crystal, popping the bubble, and levitating it out before her, the crystal writhed, stretched and formed itself into a large door. Celestia let out a breath as the magic faded. “You will all enter one at a time, you will face your inner temptations, your inner darkness. Succeed, and you will come out stronger and more prepared...but if you fail...you don’t want to know,” Celestia said firmly. Everybody collectively gulped, staring at the doorway before them. Nobody knew who was going to go first. Until, finally, Aj dusted her hands, brought down the rim of her hat, and stepped towards the door, taking the handle cautiously. “Do be careful, darling,” Rarity warned. “Yeah, I’d like to still be able to kick your butt at arm wrestling.” Rainbow said, chuckling to hide her worry. Aj smiled back at them. “Like Ah got anythin’ tah worry about. Always be true to yerself is how we Apples live after all.” She turned back to the door, hiding the worry on her face...before opening the door. A small flash of light overtook her… __________________________________________________________ Wait… She remembered this… A young Applejack sat in the back seat, looking into the front of the moving car, as they drove along, staring in surprise at her parents. ”Mama… Daddy…” she thought staring at them in shock. It had been so long, she had been through so much… She was quiet, as she drank in the sight of their faces, once more. Then some part of her mind protested, angrily, that this was the lowest of the low blows, but young AJ wasn’t listening. She was with her parents again. “Aww, Big Mac is fallin asleep…” Lilyblossom, her mother, said as she looked back at the pair. Young Aj looked to her right and saw a younger version of her brother lying against the side of the car door. Rain coming down hard on the window outside… “Aren’tcha gonna go to bed too, little lady?” Her pa, Applebuck, said as he tried to make sense out of the stormy night. “It ain’t that long befer we’re home.” “Nah,” Aj’s mouth moved without her input...as if she was playing a part in a horrible play. “Ah’m a big girl now, Ah get tah stay up nice an’ late.” “A fine example you’ll set fer yer baby sister,” Applebuck said, chuckling. “Aww, she’d keep me up anyways with all her cryin’,” Aj said, rolling her eyes and crossing her little arms. “Now Applejack, family is important,” Lilyblossom chastised. “I know you don’t like babysitting Applebloom, but she’s gonna be with ya fer a long time. So ya better love her like crazy, ya hear?” “Yes Mama, Ah hear ya…” Aj said, grumbling. Her younger self hated looking after that annoying baby. All Applebloom did was cry, whine, poop and beg for a bottle. Usually all at once to add to the tedium… Future Aj couldn’t believe she used to think like that… “It’s really comin’ down…” Applebuck said, squinting his eyes. “Maybe we can-” “DEAR LOOK OU-” It was too late, it all happened so fast when the oncoming truck came...Aj didn’t remember what happened..only that she slowly woke up among the ruins of a car and truck...she was still in her seat, thanks to her seat belt...her body aching all over...and her arm and leg was bleeding… Applejack then looked around. Mac lay close by, no serious wounds on him. She then looked towards the front of the car, her eyes going wide at the sight. Her parents… There was no describing what had happened to them, beyond the word “mangled”. The truck had crushed the front of the car like foil, doing the same to Applebuck and Lillyblossom. Applejack looked on, horrified...as she was no longer looking at herself through her younger self’s eyes, but through her own as she stood in the rain. She watched the whole scene play out...old wounds coming open again as tears started coming down her cheek. “So, ya don’t just cry on the inside do ya?” A voice suddenly said, Aj turned and saw...herself standing before her...the only difference was that this Aj had those same green eyes that Celestia had for a moment...and Aj never grinned so wickedly… “Who’re you?!” Applejack demanded, glaring at the apparition. “Well that there’s a dumb question, Ah’m you.” Dark Aj said, “Shame our folks went and kicked the bucket huh? All of our confidence and strength, and we couldn’t save the two people most important to us…” “Ya ain’t me,” Applejack sniffed, as she held her bleeding arm. “Ah don’ talk like that. Ya sound like ya jus’ don’ care ‘bout this happenin’. Like it amuses ya fer some reason.” “Ah’m just bein tha honest one, here,” Dark Aj said, smirking. “Ain’t it sad that we couldn’t do nuthin’? One minute our lives were happy and wonderful, tha next we’re orphans. We always did wanna take over the farm one day...didn’t think it would be this soon…” “Ah’m jus’ a kid! How’m I supposed ta do anythin’?!” Applejack retorted. “An’ Ah didn’t wanna take over tha farm… Not ‘till Ma an’ Pa decided ta retire…” Dark Aj suddenly dropped the smile and growled, “That’s right...we were jus’ kids. And nobody had any faith we could fix the farm. And on top of that we had a baby sister tah look after...we were nuthin. We always were nuthin but a dumb hick who couldn’t replace Ma and Pa….” “So… What’re ya here ta do? Make me some kinda offer? Use yer magic ta save Ma an’ Pa?” Applejack demanded. “That would fix everthin’ wouldn’t it? Ma and Pa would be alive, we wouldn’t have to worry about runnin’ the farm till we were old enough to handle it, and we wouldn’t have so much responsibility on our worthless shoulders.” Dark Aj said, smiling slowly. “Don’tcha wanna have agency in your life? Ta make things how they should be and make everyone happy fer it?” Applejack frowned, obviously considering it. Her mother and father alive to run the farm, giving her the childhood she never got to have, otherwise. A chance to be a little girl, then a teenager, just thinking about school, and dances, and her boyfriend. Not having to think about how hard it will be to eat, should the crops fail, or should Granny fall doing her cafeteria work… She then looked up at her dark self. “Ya know, Ma did tell me one thing. Ya can’t make people happy. They’ll think they’re happy, but all along, they’ll be missin’ somethin’, cause in tryin’ ta make ‘em happy, ya take away their free will. It’s shore temptin’ ta’ bring ‘em back… But in what state will ya bring ‘em back in, is what I wonder. Ah may have had a hard life, but it’s what Ah know, an’ it’s made me into tha person Ah am, today. So you can take yer offer, an’ shove it where tha sun don’ shine!” Dark Aj growled at her, “Ya think ya can live with yerself?! What about our parents?! What about our future?!” “MAH parents would kick mah ass if Ah took the easy way out,” Aj said firmly. “And if Ah’m gonna build a future fer mah family-” She summoned her gauntlets, and then launched a powerful punch that sent Dark Aj flying away. “It’ll be with these two hands here…” The street, the rain, and the cars all faded away, leaving only a black void around Applejack. Aj then looked on, as her guardian beast, Fenrir, padded over to her. The large orange wolf gazing down at her kindly. It then howled, and Aj felt a power flow through her...and her gauntlets morphed on her hands, becoming more ornate and stronger, she also watched as her boots developed into hard greaves, stylized wolves adorning them. Fenrir then looked at Aj, and smiled as best it could...giving Aj a little lick. Applejack stared at the changed gauntlets, then down at her altered boots. “Oooo whee… They weren’t kiddin’ ‘bout us becomin’ stronger,” She said, then chuckled when Fenrir gave her a lick. “Shucks, Fenrir…” she said, scritching the wolf’s ears. “...Ya stay strong lil lady…” Aj blinked at the sound of that voice...before everything turned to white… _______________________________________________________ The others all sat around, it had been about ten minutes since Aj went in. Private stood off to the side, as Twilight came up to him, checking to see they were out of earshot. Private sighed, “Twilight, I’m fine really, I know what you’re going to say.” “I’m… just worried about you, that’s all,” Twilight said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Because I was the one who gave in…” Private said, looking ashamed. “You… you were worried about me,” Twilight whispered looking at him worriedly. “You wanted to protect me, and… went too far.” “I haven’t done it since then.” Private said, trying to reassure her. “I can handle it…” They were interrupted when the door suddenly opened, out stepped Applejack, sporting her newfound gauntlets and greaves. She smiled proudly. “Sweet kicks Aj!” Rainbow said, as the others came over. “Congratulations, darling!” Rarity added. “Hail! The conquering hero!” Pinkie said, suddenly coming with a one man band set up. “So… You passed,” Twilight said smiling. “Congratulations.” “Wow,” Sunset murmured, looking a bit apprehensive about her own trial. “Ain’t nuthin.” Aj said, her gear fading. “Ah was just true to mahself is all.” “You can keep what you saw to yourself for now Applejack.” Celestia said, but did smile. “You did very well, I had every confidence you would succeed.” “Thanks Principal Celestia.” Aj said, smiling. “Now...if ya don’t mind Ah’d...just like tah make a call.” She then walked away from her friends, over to a corner, and dialed up her sister Applebloom… ________________________________________________________ “So which one of you is next?” Luna asked as Aj made her call. The apprehension suddenly came back to all of them, the door loomed over them like a shadow. Everybody knew Aj came back stronger from what she saw, but everyone knew it wasn’t pretty. Suddenly, Pinkie stepped forward, smiling cheerfully. “I’ll take it Principal Celestia.” “Are ya sure Pinks?” Rainbow asked. “It sounds really scary in there…” Fluttershy said worriedly. “Hey, if it means we can fight baddies better, then I’ll jump in,” Pinkie said firmly. “Hit me with your best shot mister door!” “You might not want to suggest that…” Sunset groaned, facepalming. Pinkie slowly walked up to the door, her smile fading a little as the seriousness settled in. She then took the handle and stepped inside...everything went to white. ___________________________________________________________ Pinkie found herself in a drab outfit, in a somber home in a plain where rocks were piled in cairns by type. Her family were gathered their faces somber, Marble’s face was tear-streaked. Maude seemed to have… internalized, showing a stoic face to the world. Limestone was teary-eyed as well, but was looking more angry than anything. Pinkie frowned, remembering this scene. It was one she never wanted to relive again. She sat on a small rock, much younger than she was now. She looked over at her parents standing nearby. Their faces were torn up at what happened as they stood on the front porch of their home. Pinkie knew what was inside… “Grandmama…” She said to herself, her straight hair falling over her face. “She was such a wonderful person. She was always happy and cheerful, always bringing a smile to this dreary place. Why’d she have to go?” She knew why of course, Grandma Pie was always an active person, and she simply pushed herself too much one day. Her old body couldn’t take the stress...a heart attack was inevitable… Pinkie watched her younger self, and all of her sisters slowly becoming the people they would be later in life...Marble barely able to say two words to people, Limestone always grouchy, and Maude...oh Maude...who didn’t seem to feel anything yet seemed to feel the most… “It’s sick isn’t it?” A cruel voice said behind her. Pinkie turned and...saw her doppelganger, like Aj it sported those green eyes and...another detail Pinkie noticed was that her copy sported perfectly straight hair, and a cruel smile. “Everybody lollygagging around, becoming shells of who they used to be. All because Grandmama had to go and die, leaving everybody alone!” “It’s really, really sad,” Pinkie said sighing. “Grandma kept us together, through thick and thin. She taught us not to be afraid of the dark, and all sorts of things…” “Oh yes and everybody got all depressed, our family becoming worthless.” Pinkamania said, “But what if we could stop all this nonsense? We could just get everyone to stop feeling bad! We can make everybody nice and happy again!” “Oh, don’t be a silly billy. You can’t make people happy. You can make them laugh, make them smile, but you can’t make a person happy, if they don’t wanna be happy,” Pinkie said, with authority. “I should know, I’ve tried.” “Don’t you get it!?” Pinkamania yelled. “We can change things! We can make things better! With me we can make them all happy forever! Or even better, bring back Grandmama to fix all of this!” “But we can’t bring back Granny Pie. If we tried, we’d get a shambling zombie,” Pinkie replied, and shuffled around, making silly sounds as she did so. “I don’t think having a zombie Granny would make anybody happy.” “You…” Pinkamania growled. “Besides, I got this” Pinkie said, and grinned as she watched her younger self suddenly head towards the barn. She then peeked out and called, “Hey everybody! Come on in!” They all came in and saw… Balloons, and cake, and ice cream, with Pinkie in the center, her hair having somehow curled into the massive mess it is today. “Granny Pie wouldn’t want us to be saddy-waddy!” she said. “She’d want us to celebrate her life! So let give Granny Pie a good send-off!” Maude smiled a little, Limestone looked a bit less grouchy, and Marble blinked then smiled. “MmmHMMM!” she enthused, nodding. “Not bad Pinkie…” Limestone said, a little smile coming to her face. “I know everybody feels real sad,” Young Pinkie said, “But Grandmama wouldn’t want us to just give up on having fun. So, let’s all party!” They all laughed and joined in the fun, as everything faded away...Pinkie now stood in the black void, as she saw her huge Rockodile come in, walking towards her as her party cannon appeared in her hands. Rockodile suddenly grabbed the cannon in his teeth, chomped it up, and then spat out...an ornate and wacky looking multicannon, a bright pink set up cannons locked together so that they would spin like a chain gun. He grinned at his handiwork. “Ohmygosh! This is the BEST! THING! EVER!” Pinkie squealed, hugging the rockodile, and kissing it on the snout. “You are the best! Thank you, Rocky!” “...No problem, Pinkie dear, keep smiling…” “Eh?” Pinkie said as everything faded to white… _________________________________________________ Once again, everyone rejoiced when Pinkie came out, Twilight spent most of it fretting over the impracticality of the chain party cannon though…. “That’s just...how….” Twilight said, looking over the contraption. “Silly Twili, still befuddled by Grade A Pinkie Logic.” Pinkie said, patting Twilight on the shoulder as the nerdy girl continued to be befuddled. “But… that contraption is IMPOSSIBLE!” Twilight uttered, looking frazzled. “The weight alone should be astronomical, and if it’s made of lightweight materials, then it shouldn’t be able to fire, at all, without exploding in Pinkie’s face!” Sunset chuckled at Twilight’s tirade, “If you think she’s bad now, you should’ve seen her when she saw an ogre when we first met.” “Well done Pinkie,” Celestia said as Pinkie’s weapon faded away. “It was no problem Principal,” Pinkie said, “Though, I am gonna pull an Aj and give my sisters a call…” “Your sisters?” Rainbow said as Pinkie walked away, rather calmly which freaked everyone out. “Two down…” Luna said to herself as everyone suddenly realized it was time for another person to go in. The six remaining guardians all looked at one another, completely unsure of who should venture inside. Spike who was standing next to Rarity was looking thoughtful for a moment… Before Fluttershy finally spoke up, “Um...I’d like to go next, if that’s okay?” “You?!” Rainbow said, shocked. “I figured you’d be the last one to wanna go in!” “Well, yes it does seem awfully scary,” Fluttershy said to the group. “But if I can do it, then at least there will be some assurance for everybody else.” “You don’t have to go in, darling,” Rarity said, “I could-” “No it’s okay,” Fluttershy said, walking towards the door nervously. “I can’t be a wallflower forever…” “Fluttershy…” Rainbow spoke up. “Yes Rainbow?” Fluttershy asked, looking back at her friend. “Don’t... don’t get scared or anything. And make sure you come back alright? If you don’t I’ll come in there myself and give you a nice yelling at,” Rainbow said, trying to play it cool and failing just a little in letting her concern show. Fluttershy smiled and said, “I’ll be fine Rainbow, but thank you for letting just a little sappiness show.” “Don’t go expecting it too much, ya hippie…” Rainbow said, chuckling. Fluttershy softly laughed as well, before taking a deep breath, and opening the door… _____________________________________________________ Fluttershy opened her eyes to find herself sitting in...her middle school playground? She was at the awkward stage of tweenhood, with a fluffy oversized sweater, and braces. This plus her shyness made her an easy target, because she tended to act like the cute fuzzy animals she enjoys tending when she is at home. Right now though, she was on her knees before a group of faceless bullies, her books in the mud, and their jeers rang in her ears. “What a wuss!” “C’mon Fluttershy! Are you gonna cry again?” “Fluttershy! Fluttershy! She Really Really Loves to Cry!” Those meanies… She wanted to teach them a lesson. She wanted to make them cry, like they made her… Oh but the last time she lashed out… somebody ended up going to the doctor. She must never lash out. Never be mean, never let loose the monster that’s inside. “Aren’t you tired of that bullshit?” A voice said, Fluttershy was suddenly herself, watching the scene play out. Fluttershy looked over and saw a doppleganger, she having these strange green glowing eyes and a cruel sneer….the fact it was on the normally adorable Fluttershy made it all the more unnerving… “Oh! Uhm… Well… I was…” Fluttershy replied. “That’s just an old, bad memory.” “It still happens though doesn’t it?” Dark Fluttershy said, glaring at her counterpart. “Sure they replaced all the jeering with smiles but they all insult us deep down. They hate us, make us feel terrible for even standing up to them...so why don’t we change that?” “Oh, but I shouldn’t… The last time I did that somebody got hurt,” Fluttershy said with a gasp. “I’m not saying hurt them, why don’t we just use a power to make them be nice to us. We can force kindness upon all of them, make them stop hurting everyone!” Dark Fluttershy yelled. “They won’t bully anybody anymore!” “Uhm… I don’t think that’s how kindness works,” Fluttershy retorted. “You can’t force somebody to be kind, you know, without changing a person’s mental state. That’s about as cruel as using electric shock to train puppies and kitties.” “You’re saying you have the perfect chance to make everybody kind and you won’t take it?!” Dark Fluttershy yelled. “EEP!” Fluttershy yelped, cringing away from her dark self. “You… you can’t bully people into being kind. You can’t make somebody be kind who doesn’t have kindness in their heart… You may look like me, but… but you don’t know a thing about kindness.” “So that’s what you’re going to do, roll over and take the abuse they give you!? When you can be-” Dark Fluttershy began, before normal Fluttershy slammed her foot down and stood firm before her doppelganger. “If I want to change them, then I will do it with kindness and assertiveness. I will not force them to change their views through some sick, twisted magic. Otherwise, I’d be no better than they are. So don’t you go acting like what you’re offering is anything remotely kind!” Fluttershy asserted, and then smiled. “If that’s alright with you?” Suddenly, the scene faded away, Fluttershy looked up as her swans descended from the sky, all of them coming to her, they landed in front of her as Fluttershy’s bow and arrows appeared in her hands. The bow became much more ornate, like something out of Elvish fantasy art, but the real change were the arrows, they had numerous different tips on them, all seemingly designed for some purpose that Fluttershy would have to try out later. “Oh! Oh my, thank you. They’re lovely,” Fluttershy said petting each swan in turn, before reaching into her pocket and crumbling them some bread. “Here you go, my friends. Just a little ‘thank you’ for all you’ve done in the past and just now.” “Ve’re alvays glad ta help our friend,” a voice replied, putting Fluttershy in mind of the Swedish Chef, but more coherent. “Ve helped each otter in de past. Yew showed me not to be over critical, and Eye showed yew dot yew can be tew kind. Jus keep de lessons en yer mind en de few-ture.” Before Fluttershy could say anything to the voice, she was enveloped in the white light...