//------------------------------// // Enter: The Princess // Story: Fluttershy: an Anastasia Au // by halloweennut //------------------------------// That night three ponies huddled together around a fire, sad but unwilling to say their mind. Princess Twilight Sparkle stared blankly at her book, looking at the same sentence on repeat. In the ten years that had happened since the Ponyville attack she had grown up considerably, more comfortable with her wings and magic than before, but the unsettling burden of a title crept in the back of her mind. Next to her was Applejack and Rarity, her sisters since as long as she could remember. Applejack was strong and stubborn, as always, and being taken into the royal family never changed a thing about her or her roots. Rarity was lovelier than she had been as a filly, but time and graciousness has softened her shell. Although adopted to be her companions and friends, they were family nonetheless. But that didn’t ease the discomfort of silence. “Where…,” Rarity started, unsure of whether or not she wanted to continue, but the quiet was becoming insufferable. “Ahem, where is Pinkie and Rainbow Dash?” “I think Pinkie is with Cheese Sandwich somewhere in the city, probably partying, and Rainbow is flying, as usual,” Twilight replied, closing her book and placing it on the ground in front of her. “As usual,” Rarity repeated, and glanced out the window. “I hope they come back soon. It’s getting dark.” “Can we just talk ‘bout this already?” Applejack suddenly said loudly, startling the other mares. “We all know why they ran out like that, and we all know why none of us has said a word for hours.” “Well, maybe I don’t want to talk about it, Applejack!” Rarity snapped in reply. “I don’t want to accept it yet.” “Girls, please!” Twilight pleaded. “I know the decision is hard on all of us, but we have to accept it eventually. The search had been going on for years now with no results! Just heartache and ponies doing it for money.” “But what ‘bout Fluttershy? What if she’s still out there and alive? Are we just going to let her go like that?” Applejack replied. “Rainbow hasn’t forgiven herself since we were fillies, and Pinkie is trying to stay optimistic, but there’s only so much partying and a coltfriend can do,” Rarity added solemnly. Twilight lowered her head sadly. “I know. Maybe the ballet tomorrow will lift everyone’s spirits up, and maybe it will help change her mind about calling off the search,” Twilight said, slowly brightening. “Of course! She loves the Crystal Ballet!” She hopped onto all fours, fluttering her wings in excitement. “We have to make sure everything goes perfect for tomorrow night - then she’ll be sure to change her mind!” “You sure, Twi? Just because it may cheer her, and all of us up, doesn’t necessarily mean she’ll up and change her mind,” Applejack said. “But it might help,” Rarity replied, standing up as well before trotting to the door. “I am going to go find our sisters, and let them know so we can plan everything accordingly!” --- The next morning found Discord, Shining, and Gracie pulling into Canterlot on the early morning train. Gracie nervously toyed with her necklace and smoothed out the skirt of her dress. Discord gently placed a hoof over her’s, snapping her attention from the habit. “You’ll be fine. Relax, and go with the flow,” he said as soothingly as he could. If he was honest - and he rarely was - he was just as nervous, but time taught him how to keep a poker face on in adversity half the time. “But what if I-” she started, only to be shushed by Shining. “Don’t start second guessing yourself,” he said. “You got this.” “Besides, we’re here,” Discord said. “It’s now or never.” They exited the train to the incredibly busy train station and beyond into the city streets - if Gracie had thought that the town they stayed in was busy, then Canterlot must be hectic! Of course, she had spent most of her life around Ponyville, and that wasn’t exactly a metropolitan hub. A few blocks and a cab later found them at Shining Armor's quarters, close to the castle. They only spent a little while there, just long enough to settle in before they were back into the city, this time to just outside the castle itself, and both Gracie and Discord felt their stomachs lurch - nervousness? Excitement? Nervousitement? Neither wanted to linger on it long, especially since Shining was knocking on the gilded door of the grand house in front of them. It opened moments later, revealing a blue and white unicorn maid. She gasped, quickly recognizing him and hastily curtsied before ushering them all in. Angel nearly was locked out, if not for the saving grace of his owner’s long pink tail. They were led to a cozy parlor overlooking a small garden, which, if it was later in the year, would have been luxurious. The same maid came in with a tea set, filled with the brim with tea cakes and other pastries, and she told them that Princess Mi Amore Cadenza would be with them shortly. Discord nodded and looked over at his companions; Gracie was nervously perched on the edge of her seat, but Shining- Shining was biting at the bit, from apprehension of seeing his fiancé for the first time in months, or fear that she would see through their scheme, or both. He couldn't blame him. He felt nervousness creep up and down his spine as well, mostly for reasons unknown. If anything went wrong, he was a snap away from safety. But that would have to wait - the door opened, revealing Princess Cadence. For a moment she stood still, back and neck straight, the very image of royalty, not a feather or strand of hair out of place. That moment lasted all of two seconds before she and Shining collided like two trains heading in opposite directions. Discord and Gracie looked at each other, unsure of what to make of the sight. “Shining Armor! What are you doing here? I didn't expect you back so soon!” Cadence laughed, pulling back from her fiancé happily. Shining nuzzled her cheek. “Miles are no barrier for me,” he whispered. She laughed again. “You cheeseball…” Discord coughed into a hoof, snapping their attention from one another to the other ponies in the room. She blushed, and both took a step from one another. Shining stepped forward and cleared his throat. “Ahem- may I introduce her royal highness, Princess Cadence,” he announced. Discord and Gracie bowed in response, and in turn, the disguised draconequus stepped forward. “And may I present, her royal highness, the royal Duchess Fluttershy, “ he said, looking back at Gracie. She shyly walked closer to the princess, and he looked back to Cadence to gauge her reaction. The reaction was split second: her pupils dilated and her breath hitched slightly, but it was just that. No big reaction. Then again, she had seen dozens if not thousands of girls claiming to be Fluttershy, but who had looked so close to her than Flowing Grace? “Ah, is that so?” she said, and walking around Flowing Grace. “She certainly does look like her…” The mare in front of her was the most authentic looking contender for Fluttershy she had seen in a long time and a quick, silent detector spell showed no signs of illusions. But the poor thing was so nervous! It was hard to tell if she was an actress playing the part or just like that normally, just like the filly she foal-sat so long ago. The mare curtsied, and Cadence smiled, waving her hoof. “There’s no need for that! Please have a seat!” She said motioning to a large, cozy chair in the center of the room. She sat down, relaxing slightly into the velvet, and Cadance sat down across from her. “Now, I’m going to ask you a lot of questions, so this is going to take a while.” “I-it’s fine! We don’t really have any plans other than this for today!” Gracie chirped, her voice mellow and sweet. Cadence was taken aback once again - her voice was even more authentic! Then again it had been years...She shook her head, and levitated an empty tea cup. “How do you take your tea?” Cadence asked. “This isn’t the first question for the test, just being polite.” “Of course! With honey, please,” she replied, gratefully taking the cup when it was offered. Cadence took a sip from her own cup, and turned her attention back to the supposed royal duchess. “Now, let’s begin…” The questioning took over an hour, ranging from family to events, to literally anything that Fluttershy would have known, until it came to the very last question. Cadence didn’t particularly like this one, not because she knew that it would determine the the real one, but because she herself didn’t completely know either. “This is the very last question,” Cadence said at last, setting down her teacup with a clink. “How did you, and Princess Celestia, escape the Ponyville Palace. Shining Armor froze in his spot behind Cadence, eyes wide as he stared at Discord, who’s jaw sunk at the question - they hadn’t even thought of teaching her that! Even Angel pressed a tiny white paw to his forehead at the misstep. Discord pressed his head on the mantle of the grand fireplace at the far end of the room. ‘Well, game over,’ he thought. ‘How could you forget that?’ Meanwhile, Gracie’s eyebrows furrowed in concentration. It was true that they hadn’t taught her that, but something tugged in the back of her head and she couldn’t let it go. “There was somepony...somepony in the palace...they just appeared out of nowhere and...and they opened a wall...I’m even quite sure if they were a pony…,” she said softly, turning her head to look outside to the last rays of sunlight. She laughed. “But that probably sounds a little silly! Ponies opening walls. But I was so little, and if I’m honest...it’s a blur…” Discord stared at her the entire time she spoke, his mouth and throat going dry. He quickly excused himself, exiting out into the garden. Shining Armor relaxed, pressing against Cadence as she nodded in approval of both answer and of Discord. He missed Gracie’s worried smile as he escaped into the garden, all the while that fateful night raced through his head on a loop. The small filly clinging to Celestia, the servant’s entrance, the large blue eyes looking at him - the same ones that watched him go into the garden. ‘By Celestia, that’s really her,’ his mind raced. ‘That’s Fluttershy.’ --- “So...did she pass?” Shining asked, looking between Cadence and Gracie. The princess nodded. “She answered every question!” She said cheerfully, picking up the tea tray. “Shining, come with me. Please excuse us, my dear.” Shining looked at her, confused but followed her, anyway, into the hall beyond the parlor. Once outside, she placed the tea tray down on a small table and turned to him, worried. “Didn’t you get the message?” She asked, stepping closer. “What message?” “Princess Celestia cancelled the search yesterday!” Cadence whispered. “There have been too many imposters...it’s brought more strife to the family than she wants…” “No! I’ve been travelling from Ponyville since we found her!” Shining whispered back. “Oh my Celestia...there’s no chance we can bring her to even meet her? I’m so certain that she’s...she’s real.” “No…,” Cadence sorrowfully replied. “And she is the closest mare I’ve ever seen to Fluttershy…” She suddenly perked up. “But…” “What is it?” Shining asked, noticing that look in Cadence’s eye when she got up to something - devious or good natured, it ended up working one way or another. “The Crystal Ballet is showing tonight...and we, including Aunt Celestia, never miss it,” she replied, moving past him with a wink. “And I always save you a few tickets...say, three…” “Cadence, you are incredible,” he swooned, nuzzling against her cheek. “I know,” she said. “Go tell your friend, I’ll tell ‘Fluttershy’. Besides, I want to get to know her more, and I doubt she has a proper outfit for the ballet - on my insistence I’m taking you all out tonight before the show...consider it a welcome home gift.” Shining Armor kissed her cheek before running out into the garden. Discord was, for lack of a better word, melodramatically leaning against a fountain, staring at his reflection in the water. “Discord!” He called, snapping the disguised unicorn from his reflection. “She did it! We’re going to the ballet, where we meet Celestia, and everything continues without a hitch!” “But, Shining Armor, there’s-” Discord hissed urgently, cut off before he could finish as Gracie excitedly ran into the garden. “Discord! Shining Armor! Can you believe it?” She happily chirped. “Cadence is taking us shopping and to the ballet! I can’t believe I passed!” “I can...I can definitely believe it…” Discord said, staring down at the mare only minutes ago he never would have thought to be the Grand Duchess Fluttershy, safely returned home.