Chapter 197: Nighttime
Ranger
Chapter 197: Nighttime
By Wanderer D
Alejandra woke up when the door to the house opened. She was too tired to get up, so she just barely lifted her head as Gabby walked in, looking exhausted as well. The young griffon stopped and stared, as if suddenly remembering that she was there.
It wasn't surprising all things considered. The two looked at each other in silence for a moment, before the younger one crawled over and cuddled into the inner curve of Alejandra's current position, curling up and nuzzling her fur briefly before putting her head down on top of her crossed claws and taking a deep breath, which she let out slowly.
Alejandra remained paralyzed through all of this, looking at the younger version of herself doing all of this, her own feelings a jumble. It brought back memories she had wanted to leave behind.
Surviving the attack had left her alone, she had wished and wished for years to see her mom again. To hear her dad opening the door and calling out he was back, or to play with her older brother like they used to.
Once ADVENT had taken control of Earth, she had moved from settlement to settlement, at first with her distant family, but as they died off or lost interest, she had gone on her own, and even knowing that there was no chance whatsoever to see her parents or brother again, she still looked around, just in case, in every new settlement. She had kept doing that until she became a teenager and admitted to herself that the past was the past.
Now, in this world, she had unwittingly brought back hope to this young, beautiful griffon, who worked hard, tried to make friends in a town where friendship was discouraged, lived on her own… Alejandra had to admit to herself, that she was proud of Gabby from what she had seen so far, and she hated the thought of deceiving her, even if it was because she hadn't had a chance to explain herself earlier.
Still… they were both tired, and these thoughts were better left till the next morning. With a gentle smile, she wrapped her wing around Gabby and settled down, joining the young griffon in sleep.
"There you are."
Tala looked over from the top of the fence where she had been sitting, admiring the moon and feeling the wind flutter her wings.
"Fluttershy," she said with a nod, glancing up at the moon a moment after.
Fluttershy smiled, sitting next to the tiny warrior. It still amazed her how close they had become, given their differences. Unlike the others, Tala didn't seem to judge Fluttershy as much as the others. She was a bit rough when explaining her point of view, but she had never made Fluttershy feel like she was stupid for not agreeing with Twilight and some of the others on fighting.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked, looking up at the moon as well.
Tala didn't sigh, but she slumped a little. "Home. Earth."
"Oh?" Fluttershy glanced down at the breezie. "You don't like it here?"
Tala was quiet for a moment. "It is… nice. Were things different, I could see myself coming here to live a mostly peaceful life with Mr. Sticks. I'd like to explore this world, and see all the wonders that it has, like I never could on Earth."
"Then, why do you want to go back?" Fluttershy asked, genuinely curious.
"Because while I am here, others suffer and fight—and die—just to be able to do this exact same thing… to simply sit down, free of worries, and take in the world around them." There was no exasperation or annoyance in Tala's voice. It was simply how it was.
Fluttershy couldn't understand how somepony, or creature, would willingly be that cruel to others. Even though there were some… not very nice ponies… the worst so far she had seen were petty issues. There was no rampant death for disobedience; no rebellion of underground forces trying to bring down Celestia and Luna's rule.
Tala's world terrified Fluttershy. Not because there were wars—she knew Equestria had had wars before—but rather because of what she had seen it do to Twilight and others. Both, her friend and Sunset Shimmer were originally from Equestria, and had grown in a loving, peaceful world, but spending time on Earth had changed them.
She still had vivid memories of the guard Sunset had crippled when she had escaped the castle all those months ago. He was doing okay, (thank goodness!) but what she hadn't mentioned to the others is just how viciously calculated it had been. She might not be a nurse, but she was well versed as a veterinarian on how a skeleton was arranged. Sunset's crippling strikes hadn't been random—they had been fully calculated to incapacitate the guard in the most vicious and effective way possible.
If she hadn't been there to reset the bones…
She shook her head. And then there was Twilight. The change her friend had undergone still felt raw to Fluttershy. If she was honest with herself, it was also because of how Twilight was still herself, despite it all. She was still the nerdy, nervous, unicorn, eager to learn and loving magic with every fiber of her being.
When she looked at her friend, she couldn't comprehend how this sweet mare could—she shook her head, flashes of Sunset's horrible battle against the siren Aria flooding her mind. Their horrible weapons making creatures explode, the sound of breaking bones, of flesh being pierced, Sunset's tortured scream when she had been impaled through the thigh with that sword—
"It still scares you."
Fluttershy turned to look at the breezie, nodding slightly.
Tala looked away. "It terrified Sunset too, at the beginning."
Fluttershy blinked. There had been a slightly stressful sound in how Tala had said Sunset's name. She considered asking about that, but instead flowed with Tala's start. "Oh?"
"Yes. When she and Mox arrived at the camp, she had no idea what she was getting into. I recall Betos saying that she had tried to threaten them with a bat earlier, despite the guns. Until I came here, I could not understand her incomprehension on their deadliness. She was very smart… how could she have acted so stupidly?
"But here? Ponies don't use guns. There was no magic in that world, so she couldn't imagine how close she was to dying right then and there. I saw her go pale every time we walked past the shooting range for a couple of months. No doubt that thought crossed her mind every time."
Tala took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "This world of yours… I wonder how many times she saw it in her mind's eye when she was alone, cold and surviving as best she could. How many times has she thought about the princess when plasma is flying around, how many times her heart ached to be back where it was safe?"
Fluttershy felt a lump in her throat.
"I couldn't understand, despite her ambitious nature, how quick she was to trust in comparison to any other human I met. How she was so open to being with people that were so clearly a different species. It was a shock to find out that my clan sister was originally a cute little unicorn… someone that chose to stay because she believed in a cause and loved her friends, despite paradise being just across the mirror."
"You miss her?"
Tala shook her head. "I'm afraid I'll go back and she'll be dead. And I won't be able to ask her to forgive me for doubting her heart."
Fluttershy blinked, lowering her head down to carefully nuzzle the breezie. "What do you mean?"
"When Mox died saving her… I blamed her for being weak. I didn't want her back with us—Mox was a hero, and he had died for her." She sighed. "I think… now I have a clearer vision of who Sunset Shimmer is, and it speaks ill of me to not act on this new knowledge of her origins and character, and mend the rift I was creating. After all… one day I might not have the chance."
Fluttershy thought about Twilight and Alejandra and shuddered. Understanding was a two-edged sword, after all… now that she had more perspective from her talks with Tala, the onus was on her to act on it or not. And where they came from or were going, there really was a chance that she would never have the chance to even try if she waited longer.
"Come on," Fluttershy said after a long, contemplative silence. "Let's go to bed. We have a few busy days coming up."
o.0.o End Chapter 197 o.0.o
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Nobody’s asking you to like it, Flutters, nobody does. They just want you to know why they do it anyway.
hmm... with Tala's exposition I think I'm getting a clearer picture of Sunset's reasoning for going full "Fugue" in the chapter of the Siren Form's Namesake, though my theory will have to wait until I have more relevant data.
And to all those who think we've lost Sunset, if things are going to go the way I think they are, I do believe Sunset/Fugue may yet surprise us...
- Thunder
I hope you explain soon, lest Gabby feels betrayed.
... Reminds me of a situation I’ve seen in Stardust.
Very good!
I’m afraid that, in a way, there’s worse waiting for you, Tala.
What would happen if Mr. Sticks crossed the mirror?
Yeah, about that chance to mend the rift...
9323885
Yeah, that's going to be a few flavors of awkward.
Well, here we go. There are gonna be some explanations in the future.
that second comma shouldn't be there, and Twilight's an alicorn, not a unicorn. I realize this may simply be Fluttershy still thinking of her as a unicorn. She didn't really get much of alicorn Twilight before she left for the human world. Though it would still be nice to at least acknowledge that she isn't a unicorn any more.
Also, I'd like to use this opportunity to point out something that's been bothering me throughout the entire story. Every time they fight or even just mention combat, there is always talk of plasma. Now the alien weapons actually do shoot plasma, but advent and, at this point in their research, XCOM use magnetic weaponry. Magnetic weapons don't shoot plasma, they fire physical projectiles, likely made of alien alloys, that are magnetically accelerated, rather than chemically propelled like those of the weapons XCOM used before. They do not, however, fire plasma.
Fluttershy and Tala are really the odd pair, but they compliment both each so well into understanding each others point of view.
Bring on the friendship power!
Tala and Fluttershy understand each other well.
Graffiting the fourth wall here a bit are we?
Those who have the ability to take action, have the responsibility to take action. Fluttershy learned a lesson related to this further on with the breezies, but at this time in her life she still has an imperfect understanding of Kindness. But she's learning. And the first lesson is in the differences between disagreement, disapproval , and condemnation.
You can disagree with someone and still approve of them, 'tis something any friend, family member, spouse or parent understands. (or should anyway) Storms, you can completely disapprove of someone's actions and love them anyway. love is more than summertime kisses or picnics with friends, 'tis a commitment, a deliberate choice to put someone else's wellbeing ahead of your own.
And sometimes that means letting them go their own way.
Finally caught up after a 3-4 day binge. I feel bad for Jane, having to experience that in chapter 185. The closest equivalent I can think of is rape, but that I feel like that doesn't scratch the surface of what she experienced.
9324762
Yeah, reading that and her talk later with Luna made me wonder if a "trigger warning" tag should be added for it. I'm still not sure, but the physiological horror was jarring to think about.
9325817
Yeah, it did jar me for a day, mostly because I wasn't expecting it. I knew the blood magic would take over eventually, but not like that.
I really want Fluttershy to meet her X-Com counterpart now. Even if it was only to see whether they'd argue over X-Com Fluttershy's use of a sniper rifle or have a heart-to-heart that truly bridges the gap between the Equestrian and Human mindsets (for Fluttershy).
After all who better to explain something in the very same logic you use yourself other than yourself?
I know she didn't really see much of him, but what about Sombra? That would probably be the strongest point of comparison. Then again, I think only Twilight got the proper briefing from Celestia, with all the images of ponies in chains. The most Fluttershy ever knew was probably "there's a big scary cloud, and it would be bad if it got here". More a natural disaster than a being of ill-intent (who they then exploded).
Even putting aside her human analogue, I can't help but think of what Fluttershy became in the Chrysalis Triumphant timeline. She's certainly capable of understanding the grim necessities of war. Thankfully, this one did so without the collapse of equine civilization.
Also, if they do get the portal working without massive psionic kill waves, I could see Ponyville becoming a prime therapy and R&R spot for XCOM. Of course, there are far more pressing needs at the moment.
Wait, what? No next button? Ah, hell, I caught up. Well, this story is very interesting, it caught my attention. I do hope that Sunny's gonna be OK. Keep writing.
Close enough... Lets hope Sunset can be saved...
Makes me wonder if a butter knife for a pony is a Halbert for a Breezee...
9323689
Indeed, they want understanding, not invide for participating in it.
9323777
Sunset is extremely dangerous, but if she focused it on Advent Facilities and military bases exclusively?
She might delay any effort the Elder had worked towards for years
9323841
Very good question, but even more so if they can be sustainable on Earth, imagen themas apies in the mostly wild areas of the world!
9324092
It is indeed very educational
9328065
That is a magnificent idea! I wonder if Equestria might help them also in physical recovery.
Many stories have Equestria shown to heal wounds and scar tissue beyond Earth's capacity.