A Most Unlikely Hero

by LunaMint

Honor

Fluttershy was in a small salon, being dragged against her will to a bathtub across the room. She whimpered as the ice cold water swelled along her body.

"It's so cold!" She exclaimed as her mother walked to the tub's side.

"It wouldn't be if you arrived in time." Her mother laughed a bit, amused by the surprised expression stained on Fluttershy's face.
Fluttershy didn't want to be on time. She wanted to stay with her animals, feeding them and conversing with them. Sharing their inmost thoughts and feelings.

Before Fluttershy could protest, she was dragged behind a curtain, dried off, and sat on a vanity chair.
Makeup Mares and Hairdressers were bombarding her space with brushes and paint, as they prettied her up.

When the makeup powder fanned away enough for Fluttershy to see herself in the mirror, she stared at the reflection in awe. Her face was painted with white, blush at the cheeks, and eyeshadow to extentuate her eyes in a comforting format.

When she was done gawking at her new beauty, Fluttershy was lifted magically behind a dressing curtain; and a dress was tightened around her waist.

"Ow! That- That's ti- tight!" She squeaked in pain as a mare behind her pulled a string and tightened the dress.
The dress had fabrics of transparent blues, deep reds, sweet maroons, and more beautiful colors. Her hair was tied into a compact bun, and the ribbon hung down the back of her neck in orange-red strands.

The ponies surrounding her, grabbed a deep pink robe and wrapped it snug around her body. It obstructed movement in her wings, but she preferred being on the ground.

She closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. Before she even knew, she was opening her eyes, and her mother was leading her outside.

"Ready? Remember, you must bring honor to the family." Fluttershy's mother grabbed her hoof. Only to see ink smudge onto her own.

"What's this?" She asked, turning over Fluttershy's arm to reveal the mess of ink.

"Uh in case I forget something." Fluttershy blushed sheepishly.

"Okay, now you should be leaving." She pushed Fluttershy briskly along and waved goodbye.

Fluttershy continued walking forward, until she fell into line with a few other mares. The unicorns held fans with beautiful colors and patterns. The pegasi walked with the earth ponies, who spun and puffed up their dresses.

"Celestia, hear my plea, please don't let me make a fool of me, and to not uproot my family tree. Keep my father standing tall." Fluttershy said to herself in a small whisper.

Her father had been sick for the past few moons, and was growing in age. If she didn't bring honor to the family, her father would be heartbroken; and her mother would be much the same.

As she and the other mares approached the matchmaker's home, they kneeled down and awaited for their names to be called. The matchmaker walked out to the front porch of the small building. She was a pudgy mare, with what seemed to be pounds of makeup on her swelled face. She was a unicorn, and so, was levitating a paper and quill in front of her.

"Fluttershy!" The matchmaker yelled to the row of mares before her.

Fluttershy stood shyly before whispering, "Present."
The matchmaker humphed and wrote something down on the paper. As they walked inside, Fluttershy was immediately being looked at from all directions. The matchmaker continued to walk all around her. Studying her waist and outfit, alongside her hair and hooves.

The matchmaker wrapped a measuring string around Fluttershy's waist before writing something down.

"Too skinny. Not good for bearing sons." The matchmaker scoffed.

As the matchmaker walked a few hoof steps away, Fluttershy felt something crawl out of her hair. She moved her hoof out of her sleeve and a cricket jumped onto it. Fluttershy didn't want to leave the poor cricket at home. Although, she felt the cricket was lucky, in a way.

The matchmaker walked back to Fluttershy with angry eyes. Fluttershy quickly, without thinking, popped the cricket into her mouth.

"Recite the Final Admonition."

Fluttershy nodded and waited as the matchmaker turned to circle her. As soon as Fluttershy knew the matchmaker wasn't looking at her face, she briskly spit out the cricket, and recited the Admonition.

"Fulfill your duties, calmly and... respectfully. R- reflect before you snack... Act! This sh- shall bring you honor and glory." Fluttershy tried to peek at her notes but they were too smudged to read, and the matchmaker had reached Fluttershy's front.

The matchmaker grumbled skeptically, before dragging Fluttershy to a table and sitting down. A teacup and teapot were sat on it. As Fluttershy looked at her surroundings, she noticed that the matchmaker had ink staining one of her hooves. Fluttershy's eyes widened as the matchmaker spoke again.

"Now, pour the tea. To please your future in-laws, you must demonstrate a sense of dignity..." Fluttershy reached for the pot while staring at the sight before her. The matchmaker rubbed her cheek with her hoof, spreading ink there as well.
The matchmaker continued.

"...and refinement. You must also be poised." Fluttershy tried to pour the tea into the cup, but missed as she gawked at the matchmaker. After a few moments, Fluttershy regained her composure and filled the cup with tea. As she finished, she noticed the cricket. Sitting in the cup, bathing in it's warmth comfortably.

The matchmaker suddenly grabbed the cup with her magic and lifted it up to her nose, sniffing the wonderful aroma.
Fluttershy stared in fear before whispering.

"Excuse me..."

“And silent!” Interrupted the matchmaker. Fluttershy reached for the cup, trying to pry it from the matchmaker's hooves.

"I'm sorry, but I need that back for just a moment"

Fluttershy grabbed the cup and pulled it back; only for the matchmaker to pull it to herself. They tugged the teacup back and fourth until the cricket jumped out; Fluttershy let go of the cup and grabbed the cricket, putting it in her hair. Only before the cup flew out of the matchmaker's hooves and spilled all across her chest. The matchmaker stood up and glared angrily at Fluttershy, who sunk down at whimpered.

"Why, you clumsy..." The matchmaker screamed, only to fall back and knock over an iron bowl filled of hot coals; and fall onto them.

The matchmaker's clothing was immediately engulfed in flames. She ran around until she reached the front door, opening it as quickly as she could.

"Put it out! Put it out! Put it out!" The matchmaker yelled.

Fluttershy ran outside with the teapot and threw the liquid onto the matchmaker, attempting to put out the flame. The fire stopped, but the matchmaker was soaked. Fluttershy dropped the teapot in embarrassment.

The matchmaker grabbed the teapot with her magic and smashed it on the ground. She screamed at Fluttershy, "You are a disgrace! You may look like a bride, but you will never bring your family honor!"

Author's Note:

Hi! Not everything is going to be exactly the same. Writing human characters into MLP characters, is not as easy as it seems. This took painfully long to write. The next chapter should be out next week! Have a great day!

Comments

[Starlight Nova]

So... Why the hippogriffs of all creatures?

[Herald of Opera]

A friendly reminder that Mulan was based on a "real" legendary hero.

[LunaMint]

10169936 10169789
I know. I had no reason to use the hippogriffs, I just used the first creature that came to mind.

[EverfreePony]

A crossover with Mulan starring Fluttershy, huh? That’s a really interesting choice.

As for the story itself, I don’t think I can say much about it yet. It was readable, though watch out for some recurring issues in direct speech (can explain more if needed) and also for some formatting errors, most notably missing spaces between paragraphs. Furthermore, the story would definitely benefit from more showing, as right now it’s just a retelling of the movie’s events with some details tweaked. Also, I’m curious, are you going to diverge a little from the movie’s plot and add something of your own making to the story?

[SamSwordsman123]

Nice. I would like to see this updated.