Chapter Four
“Fluttershy,” asked Twilight Sparkle, “do you believe in God?”
Fluttershy's eyes widened at the shivering pony at her doorstep. "Um... maybe you should come in, Twilight," she said.
Twilight nodded and hurried inside to lay herself out on the long green couch. Fluttershy took the cushioned chair adjacent. Angel jumped into the chair and curled up against her wing.
"What did you ask me, Twilight?" Fluttershy said.
"I asked if you believe in God," Twilight said. "Or, more specifically, what kind of God do you believe in?"
"Oh, goodness." Fluttershy sighed. "That's a very interesting question, Twilight. What brings it up?"
"I found several books on ancient worship in pre-Equestrian culture," she explained, "and wondered why nopony talks about God anymore. I started asking our friends what they believed." She groaned and covered her face. "Now I know why nopony talks about it."
Fluttershy was quiet until Twilight spoke again.
"So I just wanted to ask you," she said. "You're a kind, quiet, sensible pony, Fluttershy. Where do you think everything came from? Who created all of this? The forest, and ponies, and all your animals?"
"Oh. Well..." Fluttershy smiled. "I don't believe in creation so much as transformation."
Twilight sat up. "What do you mean?"
"I think everything has always existed, Twilight," Fluttershy explained, stroking Angel's little head. "The universe is eternal. Heehee... I always thought universe was a funny word."
Turning herself on the couch to face Fluttershy, Twilight clarified. "So you think that... matter is eternal?"
"And infinite," Fluttershy said. "I know it's hard to comprehend the way we are right now, but it doesn't have to be a distressing thought. Actually, I find eternity to be very comforting."
"In what way?"
"If all this is eternal--if nothing has beginning or end--that means we don't ever really lose anything. It just transforms. We see it in nature all the time. An apple falls from the tree, it rots into the ground, the soil absorbs the nutrients, and it gets sent back up through the roots to feed new fruit." She closed her eyes in a peaceful smile. "Everything has a cycle, Twilight. Day and night, sea and rain, life and death."
"You think life and death is a cycle?" Twilight asked. "Seems to me like it just... starts and ends."
"Bodies begin and end, yes," Fluttershy said. "But I believe that everypony has a soul."
"Applejack said the same thing," Twilight remembered. "She thinks the soul of a pony is immortal and goes to heaven when the body dies."
"Oh, that's a lovely thought," Fluttershy said, sighing happily.
"Do you believe that, too?"
"No," Fluttershy said simply. She tilted her head to sway her mane out of her face. "I don't really think there's the soul of a pony and the soul of a bunny and the soul of a star. I think we're all the same thing on the inside."
Twilight's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Oh, yes. I've spent enough time with animals to see they're just as alive and intelligent and curious as we are. They just have less means of expressing it. Their purpose is different."
"Purpose?" Twilight smiled. "Do you think everything has a purpose?"
"Most definitely!" Fluttershy said. "I believe that we, too, go through many cycles. Every time the body dies, our soul goes to a new one and lives another life. We learn that way. We get many different experiences and contribute to beauty and existence from hundreds, maybe thousands of different perspectives."
"So you think we all become animals when we die?"
"Maybe we've already been animals. In fact, I'd say it's very likely. We are just as eternal as the matter we get to control, life after life. But it's not always animals, Twilight. I think once I was a tree." She smiled again and let out a soft sigh. "Maybe I'll get to be a star someday. Or a mountain."
"I bet Pinkie Pie knows somepony else who would like to be a rock," Twilight said. They both giggled.
"I'm not saying I remember any lives before this one," Fluttershy said, almost as an afterthought. "Perhaps we're going through lots of different lives in preparation for something greater. Maybe, once we learn all we can from each life, our souls go someplace else to use what we have learned."
Twilight was nodding. "That's a beautiful belief, Fluttershy."
"If it's true, then we ought to treat each other--and nature--much better than most ponies do," she added. "We should try to identify our inner self: the true, eternal part of us, and let it govern our choices and interactions with other souls. We must learn to be aware of what is in our control and what it is not. When that becomes clear, life gets very... hmmm... peaceful."
"I can imagine," Twilight said.
"I don't do as well as I should, believing like this," Fluttershy said, looking at the floor. "Sometimes I get very angry and forget to let go of what I can't control. It helps to meditate."
"Like, sit and think about it?"
"Well, more like not think about it." Fluttershy giggled again. "The key to meditation is removing everything that stands between your consciousness and your soul, the eternal part of you. Usually there are so many filters, and thoughts are one of them."
Twilight frowned. "So, you're saying it's bad to think?"
"Oh, no, of course not. Thinking is the one of the greatest tools we have in life, Twilight. Meditation serves to teach us that we are in control of our thoughts, and not the other way around. During meditation, I try not to focus on any one thought. I pay attention to the way I breathe and where I feel energy entering and exiting my body."
"Energy? Like, magic?"
"Heehee... it's hard to explain. I guess it feels like light. Inner light."
"Huh..." Twilight rubbed her hooves together. "I don't think I've ever experienced that before."
"If you'd like, you could come over during one of my meditation sessions."
Twilight raised an eyebrow. "You have sessions?"
"It usually takes quite a long time. I'll let you know. You're welcome to come. I usually prepare a kettle of spice tea to enjoy afterward. There's something very special about tea."
Something settled in Twilight's chest. "Wow, Fluttershy. I really like that."
"How do you feel?"
After a deep breath and a small smile, Twilight answered, "Better. Good."
"Our feelings are very important, Twilight. Emotion is a common thread in many forms of life. We all seek happiness, and it comes to those who are aware of what's around them, who make the good choices they can and leave alone that which is out of their control."
"Huh. That makes sense," Twilight said. "So, to be clear, you don't believe in God, then?"
"Hmmm... well, I wouldn't say that." Fluttershy swished her tail. "Perhaps there is Someone who directs the whole thing, assigning each soul to their next body, shaping the lessons they learn in each life. I really don't know. But in my opinion, the universe is taking care of itself. It is a soul of its own, something we are each a part of, and it sustains life and harmony as effortlessly as a sparrow sings."
Twilight frowned. "Well... what about when bad stuff happens, Fluttershy? We've seen a lot of bad ponies and other creatures do a lot of bad things. Where does that fit into all this peacefulness?"
"Not all souls are aware, Twilight," Fluttershy said in a colder voice. "Most souls, I think, get caught up in their present lives, seeking for personal gain and power. They don't realize that the true power lies in understanding the cycles. The true power belongs to the universe, and in a sense that means it already belongs to us. Bad ponies, in my experience, are only trying to take more than their share. They are trying to increase what is in their control. That's not the way it's supposed to be. If each pony, rock, snail, bear, and tree lived according to its nature, the harmony would be endless."
"Some might say it is in a pony's nature to seek more power and control," Twilight noted.
"Ah, yes, but I'm not talking about a pony's nature." She grinned and looked directly into Twilight's eyes. "Our souls know how to preserve the balance. It is natural, to our eternal selves, to give and be kind. Only the filters of our different bodies lead to greed, selfishness, and harm."
There was a long, warm silence after that.
"I would really like to believe this," Twilight said.
"You get to decide what you believe," Fluttershy cooed. "It's all part of life. If you ask me, I'd say you're on a very good path."
Twilight's wings twitched and she looked away. "Fluttershy... you said that life and death is a cycle, right?"
"Yes."
"Well... what happens if you can't die?"
"Alicorns die, Twilight."
Twilight's eyes snapped back to her friend's. "What?"
Fluttershy nodded slowly. "Matter is eternal, but it does not stay still for long. It might take you longer than the rest of us, but you will eventually learn all you can from this life and move on to another."
Tears colored with a dozen emotions lined the bottom of Twilight's eyes. "Do you really think so?"
"I do," Fluttershy said. "Heehee. Maybe, Twilight, you and I will meet again in another life. Maybe we'll be two neighboring trees in somepony's orchard."
Twilight smiled. "Or two rocks at the top of a mountain."
"Or two bunnies. Doing whatever bunnies do."
Angel grimaced and slapped Fluttershy's feathers. The ponies just laughed.
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So I was right about her being a sort of Buddhist. It makes sense given who she is and how she's lived her life. Hmm. I wonder what Celestia's perspective on it is. She's bound to have a fascinating one.
The last pony she asks has to be Celestia, right? It just fits with Twilight's natural character arc.
What a lovely story this is. I feel better for having read it.
figured dash would cuddle up good and proper to a nebbish like Nietzsche... Celestia should be interesting.
Oh, this chapter was very relieving!
We could have Luna's answer as well and it doesn't need to be the same as Celestia's... And then there is Cadance.
I do note that we saw a very catholic looking death ritual in the song "Perfect Stallion."
I mean we could all be immortal beings who send parts of ourselves into various universes and when we die, we return with the knowledge and wisdom of the life lived back to our greater self and rejoin it.
Okay, so Fluttershy came first. I'm sure Pinkie's will be amazing.
I'm curious how Discord fits into Fluttershy's philosophy. It's one thing to say alicorns die, but Discord I think is a bit harder to get rid of for good. I'm also interested to know where she learned all this from.
Ahh, this was an interesting one.
Wow, these are all really neat! I figured each pony would have a 'yes' or 'no' answer but I think this was better! The ideas fit each of the characters individually but also address completely different points of view. Well done!
Celestia, "I'm right here Twilight Sparkle."
I'm gonna guess that Pankie Ponka is agnostic, like, "OH, TWILIGHT, HOW COULD WE POOOOOOOOISSIBLY KNOW THAT??????????".
Or a Satanist.
I agree with Fluttershy.
You guys have got it all wrong. Pinkie Pie believes in the mysterious things that live on the other side of the fourth wall. They're not very interesting though. Mostly they spend their time typing.
5908172
Same here..., and I've always believed that alicorns also die...they just have longer live I guess.
Very VERY well done! Bravo to the writer for portraying each of these beliefs as best he could, in a ponified way. You have truly done a remarkable job at it, and i hope you keep it up!
5908353
I think its more because of her personality. She is very intense, and quite frankly the few times i have discussed these things with people with similar personality's to rainbowdash, whatever they believed they reacted in the same way. To them, they weren't being hostile but thats how everyone else saw it.
Its just a personality thing and i applaud the writer for staying true to the characters in each of these.
so Applejack believes in God
Rainbow dash is probably similar to Atheism
Rarity is... idk Alicornism? Egyptianism or whatever? Egyptians usually believe Pharaohs as gods.
and Fluttershy is Buddhist?
Honestly, I thought Twilight would have asked the obvious question of how the universe could be eternal if it eventually suffered Heat Death, since she brought up entropy in the conversation with Rainbow Dash.
Ok, well, I'm stopping here. Nothing wrong with your fic, these are just two things I've decided I don't want to relate.
Fluttershy's a hippie.
Well, that's unsurprising.
Buddhists don't believe in a soul. They believe that only through ceasing craving for things, we can achieve nirvana. I'm simplifying a lot but the main core of Buddhism is incredibly interesting and I encourage everyone to learn a bit more about it. The view fluttershy has similar to Hindu beliefs. That is that there is a soul transfered through after death and that it comes from something similar to an ocean of souls which we all come from.
i'd have to agree with fluttershy's views on the whole concept of god
I can very easily see Fluttershy as a Buddhist.
I can dig it.
So bunnyshy and twilight fluffle would **** each other 24/7?
The first thing about being immortal is knowing you will die.
In my experience, it is making more bunnies. That is all they do.
Fluttershy is being extremely reasonable in this chapter, so much that I'm leaning toward this being what happens after you die.
Fluttershy: the next Dalai Lama.
I loved this.
This is the best chapter so far. This belief reflects Fluttershy very well.
I must admit, the way Rainbow explained to Twilight her beliefs, it reminded me of a moment from either the book Eldest or Brisingr by Christopher Paolini, and in it the elf Oromis explains the Eragon about how elves do not believe in a higher power like the dwarves or the wandering tribes, becuase there are no facts to prove there is or there is not a god, or gods.
It raises some interesting points, and for as much as I've read, it's been captured extremely well.
Well done.
5911281 When she says the universe is eternal, she's probably not talking about just our universe, but rather the whole system, referring to the multiverse and omniverse or whatever else.
Furthermore, you could make the argument that our universe is eternal because the whole system is in absolute stillness. Time is just a mathematical dimension and past, present, and future technically exist all at once.
5924368 She already is
Fluttershy... what have you done?
This comment section now seems calmer. The previous chapters were the filters. This chapter has just become meta-relevant!
This chapter makes me feel very warm and cozy.