Chapter 7:
Letter of Ashes
Fluttershy blinked her teal eyes, which brimmed with sparkling tears, her framing eyelashes sticky and messed, like her dishevelled pink mane. Her pale face was even paler than before, and her eyes were red from crying.
The letter still sat in her trembling hoof, barely held there, only by the gravity that dragged it down, but not properly clutched by the hooves that were shakily wrapped around it.
The black, neat, italic lettering was very visible in the flickering candle light. It was how it had always been, bringing a wave of nostalgia, back in the days when Fluttershy received such letters frequently.
Such a time seemed far too long ago.
Far too long.
The words were hastily written, but it was still the familiar hoofwriting of the element of magic. Fluttershy only read it once, but the letter was already stuck in her head, the usual short greeting, followed by a request for her presence. Her breath hitched and released in her windpipe repeatedly. More tears fell to the scroll, staining it, blurring the writing, even thought it was already very blurry in Fluttershy’s gaze.
Dear Fluttershy…
She cleared her throat, bringing the letter closer to the candle wick, the flame dancing rebelliously, dangerously, licking the letter, which started to burn.
“No.” She said, firmly.
The script, the summons to the element of kindness, became a pile of black ashes in a few minutes.