Warden of Everfree
Near the Everfree Forest stood a two-story cottage. Bird houses hanged from every tree and post in the yard, a few of the tiny houses even placed on the roof and the chimney of the cottage; on the ground burrows surrounded the cottage’s front, while a chicken coop could be seen in the back. A calm brook streamed in front of the cottage, a small bridge spanning over it.
Purple eyes took the scene in, paying attention to the windows. It was already night, the landscape painted in blues and purples, but no light could be seen from any of them. From the shadow of a nearby tree the pony stood still, ears swiveling, straining to hear something, anything, from the cottage that would reveal its owner to be inside.
From the nearby forest the night song could already be heard; the ever present ruffling of leaves was joined by crickets chirping and cicadas buzzing, creating the sound canvas over which owls, wolves, and other less identifiable creatures drew their melodies. Nothing could be heard from the cottage, though.
As the pony sighed and turned to leave a shadow passed in front of the moon, its identity revealed by a hoot. The large white owl silently glided towards the cottage and landed on a second floor windowsill. It scratched the glass and turned its head backwards, its eyes attentive even as it ruffled its feathers. Soon a dim light appeared inside, the owl quickly darting inside as soon as yellow hooves opened the window, from where a series of hurried whispers and hoots could soon be heard; before long the light vanished, all sound ceasing.
The silence was broken by the creak of the front door. The owl flew out, as silently as it had arrived, and perched on a nearby tree; a yellow face framed in a pink mane peered from the doorway, an inquisitive frown on the brow as cyan eyes locked on the bird.
The owl nodded; nodding back, a yellow pegasus left the cottage, closing the front door as quietly as she could. She glanced at her side, inspecting her unmarked saddlebags for a moment, then took off towards the forest, the owl following closely.
A pair of purple eyes blinked from the shadow of a tree. Soon a shape was zipping across the ground, following the yellow pegasus while keeping out of sight.
Fluttershy flew ahead, the sound of her wings mixing with the symphony of the night, as she followed the owl down a forest path. The pegasus’ eyes were narrowed in determination, though from time to time she stole glances at the green blur of the surrounding forest.
Pony and bird continued for a few minutes and came to a sudden stop, Fluttershy’s ears moving in search of any noise. The forest had become silent, the only sounds around the ruffling of leaves, her own beating wings, and a curious low buzz in the distance.
Fluttershy nodded once, a hoof pointed up. The owl flew up at once, silently emerging above the treetops, its eyes scanning the forest below as it flew around in a circle.
Still looking up at the circling bird, she was startled as a crash sounded from the path she came. Turning, she saw a large beast jump into the path and heard a scream — a female pony’s scream — sounding from somewhere just out of the path, away from where the beast came from.
Fluttershy started to move towards the scene as splinters from the beast’s previous swipe fell around it. The beast stood up, taller than a bear, and roared, its large beak and white head plumage clearly visible; an owlbear, and a large one. Dropping back to the ground, the beast scooped and brought in front of its beak something, while its eyes kept fixed at a point ahead.
Fluttershy’ eyes went wide as she recognized the scooter in the beast’s grasp. “Scootaloo!”
In a yellow blur the pegasus landed between the owlbear and a shaking bush, her cyan eyes locking on the beast’s own. “Now look here, you big meanie! I will not tolerate —”
“Fluttershy, look out!” came Scootaloo’s voice from the bush.
The beast threw out the scooter, narrowly missing Fluttershy. It took a step forward; Fluttershy stumbled as she backed. The beast stood, its feathered paws spreading above Fluttershy, ready for a final thrust.
Without warning something white dove at the owlbear’s head. The beast took a step back and attempted a swipe at the attacking owl Fluttershy took to the air. The owl danced around the swipe, barely avoiding the claws and unable to press the attack, before retreating; the beast turned its hungry eyes back towards the still shaking brush.
“NO. YOU. DON’T.” The last word came as a hiss, Fluttershy diving towards the beast, her now leathery wings pumping furiously.
She landed with three hooves on the beast’s head, the fourth hoof landing a kick on the beast’s beak, and jumped to the side in time to avoid the beast’s claw. “Want a hoof, dumb beast?” Twisting in the air, Fluttershy landed with her hind legs towards the beast, and in a flowing motion branded its flank with a powerful kick. “Yeah!”
The beast roared in pain and lashed at her, but Fluttershy was already in the air, red eyes fixed on the beast. She took something cylindrical from her saddlebags. “Laughing yet? This will be a blast.”
Swiping madly with both claws the beast advanced. Fluttershy flapped her wings once, diving below the beast’s claws and throwing the cylinder up. Enraged, the beast bit the offending object.
The cylinder exploded, turning the world into a cacophony of color and sound, confetti and streamers spreading everywhere.
The owlbear dropped and unsteadily ran on all fours, spitting streamers as it dove into the vegetation. The sound of its passing could be heard for a while, the beast more intent in fleeing than in avoiding attention.
Watching where the beast had disappeared to Fluttershy’s pointed ears swiveled; the odd buzzing sound had restarted. She turned to face the path; the scooter had vanished, the trembling bush now still. A wicked smile crept into Fluttershy’s face, her fangs gleaming, as she perceived the smell of fear. “Now, where do you think you are going, little chicken?”
Scootaloo was racing down the path, feeling like her heart was matching her buzzing wings beat for beat.
She could feel every twig and stone, every bump and low in the path, attempting to throw her off. The trees and bushes blurred, only vague shapes around her where anything - or anyone - could be hiding.
Wherever she looked she saw that… thing. Eyes hidden in the trees, red and gleeful at the pain caused; smiling, fangled mouths, full of scorn; wings —
Scootaloo screamed as a claw reached for her and latched to her scooter’s handlebar. The claw gave way in a splinter shower, sending the scooter spinning, throwing Scootaloo high in the air. she crashed hard on the ground, her head swimming.
She closed her eyes, her little chest trembling with uncontrollable sobs. After a few moments she bolted upright; she could feel a glare on her, a breathing on her neck... or were she just imagining things?
Scootaloo looked around; nopony else — and no bat-pony creature — could be seen. She raced to her scooter, ignoring the helmet and the pad that lay on the ground.
That can’t be Fluttershy, can it? I’m just imagining things. It must be.
Her tiny wings heavy like lead Scootaloo saw the end of the path. Just a bit more and she would be out of the forest. Once out she would go to the library, Twilight would know what to do. Twilight had to know what to do. This is a good plan, Scootaloo kept repeating in her head.
“Gotcha!” Yellow hooves grabbed Scootaloo, lifting her clear of the scooter. As Scootaloo felt herself rising, the hooves pulled her against a mare’s chest.
Scootaloo gasped, her eyes going wide as she flailed helplessly. “Let me go!”
A hissing laughter made Scootaloo look to her side, at the mare’s head. It was the same yellow and pink as Fluttershy’s, but the mane was frazzled, the ears were long and pointy, and two fangs protruded from her mouth. It’s not a dream, thought Scootaloo as her little heart fell.
And the eyes. The eyes were what, back during the fight, made Scootaloo flee. Red eyes that drew pleasure from inflicting pain.
Eyes that right now were glittering in a menacing way.
“Oh, has the little filly learned to fly?”
Scootaloo felt the emptiness around her as she started falling. The ground rushed towards her; her buzzing wings failed to slow her fall. Before she noticed, Scootaloo was screaming.
“I guess not.” Yellow forelegs embraced her once more, stilling her scream. The voice became low, hissing. “Now keep quiet. I’m taking you to a friend of yours, but I won’t have you screaming.”
Stifling a whimper, Scootaloo kept deathly quiet.
Pinkie Pie woke up with her ears flopping. Her eyes fluttered open, and her knees jerked as she tried to stand. She looked up, towards the balcony. ”Gummy, get away from that door!”
The balcony door suddenly opened, a hovering pegasus framed in the doorway, the light from the moon silhouetting her confident pose.
The pink pony inclined her head. “Rainbow Dash?” As the pegasus entered the room Pinkie stared at her. The mane and tail were too long, the ears… “Flutterbat? Can I panic now?”
Fluttershy closed the door and floated down to the bedroom floor, tossing her saddlebags aside while ignoring both the tiny toothless alligator clamped on her tail and Pinkie. She was holding something orange, something — or somepony — that trembled violently. She glared at the orange filly. “Promise now that you will never speak of what you just saw. A Pinkie Promise in front of Pinkie Pie. Promise!”
Pinkie’s jaw went agape, her eyes listless, as she recognized the filly in Fluttershy’s hooves. Scootaloo’s unblinking, wide open eyes turned to her, making Pinkie’s own eyes flare open. Seeing the filly shivering uncontrollably Pinkie felt the fur on her back bristle, her legs tense, her tail swoosh in quick movements. The filly’s whimpering reached her ears, making a primal growl escape her throat.
“Fluttershy, turn back now!”
Fluttershy stopped mid-sentence, looking stunned at Pinkie; her hooves went to her head as she forcefully closed her eyes, her mouth wide open as she visibly struggled to hold back a scream. Scootaloo, free from her embrace, scampered behind the bed, as far from both Fluttershy and Pinkie as she could get, and collapsed there, whimpering softly.
Pinkie stomped towards Fluttershy, nostrils flaring. “What in the name of pink were you thinking? How could you —”
“Pinkie? Everything all right? We heard shouts.”
Pinkie looked to the stairs down, then back to the two pegasi. Fluttershy had collapsed on the ground, sobbing, her eyes blue again, her bat features gone; Scootaloo hadn’t moved except for her fearful eyes, tracking the two mares in the room.
Pinkie felt herself deflate, letting out a sigh as she attempted to force a smile on her face. She went halfway down the stairs until she was face to face with a blue mare. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Cake. I got a little excited and…”
Pinkie looked back towards her room. She wouldn’t be able to help Fluttershy and Scootaloo at the same time, not with how Fluttershy had scared the poor filly, even if it wasn’t the real Fluttershy.
Pinkie would have to send one of them away, and as much as it pained her to not help her friend right now, Fluttershy was a grown up and had her animals; even if she couldn’t ask for help from any of her other friends she would be fine. Or at least I hope so, thought Pinkie.
Scootaloo, on the other hoof, was just a child. One that had just seen a grown up friend turn into a monster and threaten her. And — Pinkie remembered Fluttershy’s discarded saddlebags; she hadn’t seen the streamer bomb — might have seen that friend use a bomb without knowing that it is meant to stun without harming.
Pinkie turned back to Mrs. Cake. “Can Scootaloo sleep here? She had a…” Pinkie’s eyebrows dropped as she imagined the trembling filly. “... nightmare.” Close enough, at least.
Mrs. Cake’s eyebrows furrowed together. “Do her parents know?”
Pinkie winced. “Can you tell them for me? Please? Scootaloo is fine, but we really need to talk something over.”
“Well… “ Mrs. Cake looked at Pinkie’s pleading face and sighed. “All right, Pinkie.”
Pinkie waited until Mrs. Cake left before climbing back to her bedroom. Looking back at the two pegasi she felt her heart heavy with what she needed to do. At least Fluttershy wasn’t sobbing anymore.
Pinkie went to Fluttershy’s side and lay down, gently stroking her mane. “Fluttershy, I’m sorry, but you need to leave. I don’t know what happened, but Scootaloo is frightened of you.”
Eyes tearing, Fluttershy opened her mouth, but only a tiny squeal escaped. Closing her mouth she nodded, shuffling towards the balcony door.
Fluttershy was reaching for the doorknob when Pinkie gasped. “Wait! We need to tell Scootaloo what is happening. I need to tell her.”
Fluttershy shook her head slowly.
“But she has to know! If she doesn’t know she won’t be able to forgive you, and then she will not be your friend anymore! But I pinkie promised not to tell anypony without asking you first.”
Fluttershy looked pleadingly at Pinkie. “If Twilight finds out…”
Pinkie scratched her head. “I will tell Scootaloo only enough to for her to not be afraid anymore. The rest only after she pinkie promises not to tell the way I did.”
Fluttershy looked from Pinkie to Scootaloo, lowering her head. “Um… Okay then...”
Nodding, Pinkie opened the door to the outside balcony and peeked; nopony outside. She looked back at Fluttershy, a sad smile in her face. “Now come, we’re gonna get you out.”
Fluttershy put her forehooves on the railing and spread her wings, looking back just before taking off. She wasn’t crying anymore, but her face still had tear streaks and her eyes were red and puffy. “Do you think she will be fine?”
“Of course, silly. I can put a smile in any face.”
Fluttershy jumped into the night, a white shape silently joining her.
Pinkie went back to her bedroom, lighting the lamp as she entered. Scootaloo was now by the bed, her head cradled in her forelegs, gently sobbing into the mattress.
Pinkie approached the filly gingerly. Why had it to be me? Any of the other girls would be better! I’m just a silly mare that make others laugh, and laughter can be cruel. What do I do?
The filly noticed the mare approaching and hugged Pinkie, her face resting on Pinkie’s shoulder. Pinkie put a hoof around the filly and stood there. Well, this I can do.
Luna walked, absentmindedly, into a kitchen, the one she and Celestia used whenever they wanted solitude. A frown in her face, she went right to the far cupboard, where the sweets the royal sisters sometimes snacked on were kept, and looked inside.
Selecting a delicious looking slice of cherry pie, Luna turned around, her snack floating at her side, and met the pink eyes of her sister.
“Is something ailing you, Luna?”
The pie slice wavered for a moment, Celestia’s golden aura joining Luna’s dark blue to rescue the dessert. Luna kept her gaze firmly on it. “What makes you think so?”
Celestia looked at her sister from hooves to mane, gently smiling. “You were distracted enough to not even notice me. Startled when you saw me. You only eat sweets just before lowering the moon when you are troubled. And you are avoiding my eyes.” Celestia placed the pie slice on a plate, nodding to her sister. “I’m here for you, little sister; you may bare your heart if you so desire.”
Luna sat at the table, still fixing the pie slice. “I found the Warden of Everfree. A filly dreamed of her, and when I attempted to make sure I found my way magically barred.”
Celestia stepped besides her sister, putting a hoof on her shoulder. “Why are you not happy? Now you can step in and guide that pony, or break the curse if the warden is not needed anymore.”
Luna’s gaze fell upon the floor. “The warden is needed, as always, and that is the issue. How can I face the pony that now bears my blessing and the Nightmare’s curse, a pony that has helped me — helped us — so much already, and tell her that she must continue to suffer?”
Celestia opened her mouth to speak, and closed it again. When she spoke again her gaze followed Luna’s. ”Fluttershy. She lives in the last place an easily scared pony could be expected. And she did have an unlikely reaction to Twilight’s spell some time ago.”
Luna sighed. “Yes. The clues were thrown at our faces, but I chose to not believe.”
“It was not your fault alone; I was blind to the signs too.” Celestia turned her head towards Luna. ”Why not tell her friends, then? I’m sure they could help.”
Luna shook her head. “Revealing her status is a decision Fluttershy must make for herself. It is not a harmless gossip like your craving for cake, sister.”
Celestia winced; whether at the continuing dilemma or at the memory of that indiscreet photo, Luna couldn’t tell.
A soft smile returning to her face, Celestia glanced at Luna, motioning at the door. “Come, sister. It’s almost time for the Moon and Sun to switch places, and I believe you could use the distraction.”
Luna slowly nodded, and together the two alicorns left the kitchen, leaving the pie slice forgotten.
Scootaloo woke up to an insistent knocking sound coming from above.
She was in a strange bed; colorful balloons floated above her head and the blue bed covers were decorated with pink balloon and sweets stamps, while under the bed there was a pink round rug. To her right was a nightstand, a mirror and one of her elbow pads on top. Huh? Why am I in Pinkie’s bed?
A memory of red, cold eyes, and falling under a full moon came to her, making Scootaloo shiver. She shook her head, trying to clear the memory.
The knocking sounded again. It was strange, too soft and fast, as if somepony was knocking in a hurry but had wrapped his hooves with cloth.
Scootaloo climbed out of the bed and went up the stairs, reaching the internal balcony that overlooked the bedroom floor. She remembered gliding down in the embrace of the.. whatever that bat thing was, but forced herself not to whimper.
She turned to the external door and opened it, finding two long and white ears in front of her. She looked down. “Angel?”
The bunny was tame, sad… pleading? It was gingerly holding up a purple hyacinth, his moist eyes seeking Scootaloo’s own.
Scootaloo sat down and took the flower on her hooves. “What are you doing here?”
With a nod Angel indicated something to the side: Scootaloo’s scooter, her helmet and the missing pad hanging from the handlebar. Scootaloo walked towards it, taking the helmet in her hooves; it had been polished, gleaming like new. Her eyes were drawn to the pad; She could swear the band had ripped…
Putting back the helmet and taking the pad, Scootaloo examined the band closely; it had been carefully replaced with a new one, the stitching all but invisible. Looking at the scooter, Scootaloo noticed the same care; if not for the familiar scrapes she wouldn’t even recognize it as her own scooter.
Dashing to the railing Scootaloo looked around. If Angel is still here she must be close... There! Noticing a crestfallen yellow pegasus walking away, Scootaloo raised her hoof…
And promptly withdrew it. She turned towards Angel; the bunny was looking expectantly at her, his ears upright. Scootaloo felt her heart sink. “I can’t. Not now.”
Angel’s ears deflated. he approached Scootaloo, nuzzling the flower the filly still held in her hoof, and jumped down the roof and onto the street, racing towards Fluttershy.
Scootaloo stood there, thoughts racing. Do I tell anypony else? I don’t want to hurt Fluttershy, but if she is turning into some monster...
Her stomach decided her next step loud and clear. Grateful that nopony was close enough to hear, Scootaloo entered Pinkie’s room and slowly descended the stairs to the Sugarcube Corner first floor. When she was just below the ceiling of the main room Scootaloo cautiously looked through the railing, trying to not disrupt anything. There were a couple clients in the room, and...
“Hey, look who has woken up! I guess you must be hungry!” Pinkie turned to the amber stallion at her side. “Mr. Cake, I need to use the the kitchen. I’m gonna show Scootaloo how to make cloud cookies.”
Mr. Cake nodded. “Sure, Pinkie.”
Scootaloo lowered one eyelid. “Huh? What are you talking about?”
Pinkie winked. “We will have some fun while we get something for you to eat, silly!”
Pinkie looked at the grinning filly, eating a freshly baked cloud cookie, and felt her heart soar. Making everypony around forget their worries and smile; that is what Pinkie lived for. And a bit of silliness and song always helped.
Her smile shrunk a bit when she remembered what she still needed to do. The Pinkie Promise made a long time ago to Fluttershy, to protect her secret so she could protect all of Ponyville, demanded it. She would need to remind the grinning filly why she was sad and scared in the first place.
“Pinkie? Are you okay?”
Pinkie looked at Scootaloo’s slanted orange face and blinked away her confusion. “Of course! Hey, Scootaloo, wanna talk a bit?”
Scootaloo looked down. “I guess we have to. Does Fluttershy really —”
Faster than a blink, a pink hoof was covering Scootaloo’s mouth. “Don’t say it loud!” Pinkie looked around and brought her muzzle close to Scootaloo’s ears, whispering, “There could be spies.”
The pink hoof was removed, revealing Scootaloo’s newfound smile. “You’re just being silly.”
“Am I? Didn’t notice.” Pinkie was already leaving the kitchen. “Mr. Cake, I’m gonna talk a teeny bit with Scootaloo and then get her home.”
The stallion nodded. “Make sure you’re back before lunch.”
Pinkie was already climbing the stairs to her room, Scootaloo following closely. “Okie Dokie Loki!”
The two ponies entered Pinkie’s room and made for the blue couch by the bed. Tossing a teddy bear onto the bed Pinkie sat, beckoning Scootaloo. She looked at her tiny pet alligator. “Gummy, guard the stairs with your life!”
She smiled at her pet and looked at the expectant filly by her side. Pinkie felt her mane deflate a bit, but she needed to start. “What do you remember of last night?”
“Well…” Scootaloo’s gaze passed over the bed, her cheeks becoming redder than the cherry on top of a sundae. “Did I really sleep with you?”
“Duh! You were crying, I couldn’t leave you.” Pinkie winked at the filly. “Don’t worry, Scootaloo, I won’t tell Rainbow Dash. I mean, that you cried.”
Scootaloo smiled weakly and looked down on her hooves. “Is Fluttershy really…”
“Flutterbat? Yeah. But she has it under control.” Pinkie looked at the saddlebags that remained from last night, her eyes resting on the missing cylinder. “Well, most of the time.”
“How come nopony else knows?”
“Well, she only turns into Flutterbat in the Everfree Forest. Oh, and that time in Applejack’s orchard, but Twilight used a spell and made Fluttershy think she was a vampire fruit bat, so that doesn’t count.”
Scootaloo lowered one eyelid, and then quickly shook her head a moment later. “Shouldn’t we tell somepony else? Maybe Twilight?”
“No.” Pinkie slowly shook her head. “It would hurt Fluttershy. And… somepony else. And I did pinkie promise not to tell anypony else without asking first if she would promise to turn back when I ask.”
“How come you are telling me? Isn’t that the promise you, like, never break?”
“It’s okay, I asked Fluttershy. But you totally have to pinkie promise not to tell anypony else without asking first before I can tell more.”
Scootaloo shook her head. “I don’t know. What if… what if she hurts somepony?” Pinkie had to strain her ears to hear what scootaloo said next. “What if she hurts herself?”
“Can you at least tell Fluttershy before you tell anypony else?”
“Well…”
Pinkie slouched. “You are still scared of Fluttershy.”
Scootaloo nodded.
Pinkie put a hoof around the filly’s shoulders. “Can you tell me before you tell anypony else? Please?”
The filly took a few seconds to answer, “Yeah.”
“On, right.” Pinkie started towards the stairs, beckoning at Scootaloo. “I have to get you home. We better get going.”
Scootaloo took a couple steps towards Pinkie and stopped. “Wait a minute.” She took the pad on the nightstand and trotted up the inner balcony and out the balcony door, coming back wearing her safety gear and carrying her scooter.
Pinkie looked up with wide eyes. “Hey, how did it get up there?”
Scootaloo reached the room’s floor and looked down. “Fluttershy brought it.”
Pinkie’s eyes gleamed. “Did you talk?” Her eyebrows fell when Scootaloo shook her head. “You know, she cares about you a lot.”
“I will talk to her later. I promise. I just… can’t right now.”
The two ponies went down the stairs, a faint glimmer of hope on Pinkie’s eyes.
Walking slowly, Fluttershy was near her cottage when Angel jumped off her back and raced towards the garden. In a few moments Angel was back, with birds, squirrels, jackalopes, a badger, and even a bear trailing after him.
Fluttershy lifted her head. “Oh, hello”
The squirrel jumped in front of her, chittering excitedly, then ran towards a hyacinth bush and pointed it, his eyes glued on Fluttershy.
“No, I didn’t speak with her. I couldn’t. Not after making her cry.”
The badger started squeaking. He stood on one leg and moved the other back and forth, as if he was propelling himself on a scooter. He then pointed at the bear, who promptly crossed his paws and made an indignant look.
“Yes, yes, I know. I saved her from an owlbear. But I said and did terrible things to her after that.”
Two birds, one red and one blue, took to the air, circling Fluttershy’s head and chirping.
“But it was my fault. I got so scared that the owlbear would get Scootaloo that I transformed, and then I got so angry at scootaloo that I…” Fluttershy lay down and started to sob. “I’m a monster.”
Angel walked to her and started to pat Fluttershy on the back.
“Thank you, Angel. But I’m still a monster.”
“No, you aren’t. And it’s not funny even as a joke.”
Fluttershy lifted her head, looking at the approaching pink pony. “Pinkie? What are you doing here?”
Pinkie stood in front of Fluttershy, removing her saddlebags and placing them on the ground. “You forgot these yesterday; I got a new streamer bomb in there. And Scootaloo is all better, she was smiling when I left her at home. She liked pretty much what you did with the scooter and the helmet.”
Fluttershy dropped her head. “Is she scared of me?”
After a few seconds Pinkie slowly nodded. “Yeah, she is. I mean, you were yelling a lot at her and this would have scared anypony, but she sure will speak again to you when she calms down. When I tell her that you pinkie promised to transform back to Fluttershy when I tell you to she will see that there is nothing to be afraid of, and maybe you could promise to change back if she asks too —”
Pinkie looked at Angel, who was hammering his foot on the ground while glaring back at Pinkie. “I did it again, didn’t I?”
The various critters huddled around Fluttershy, while Angel kept glaring at Pinkie.
Pinkie looked down, hoofing the ground. “Okay, I’m going.” She narrowed her eyes, glaring back at Angel. “But tell Fluttershy that I will get Scootaloo to trust her again. I promise.”
Pinkie was long gone when Fluttershy got up again, slowly walking towards her cottage. She opened the door and made for the couch, but her wandering eyes stopped over a willow hoop with a net inside and decorated with feathers. A large number of strands were broken in the net.
Fluttershy gasped, wondering how could she not notice the broken strands when she woke up. She galloped towards the door, and from there flew towards the north border of the forest.
Scootaloo lay on her bed, looking at the ceiling. Pinkie had been ready to pull all the stops in trying to make Scootaloo smile; it could have been another Pinkie Smile parade, complete with singing and dancing but this time with Scootaloo in the center, had Scootaloo not put an end to it before it even started.
And then Pinkie took her to the open field and spent half an hour helping Scootaloo practice Scooter tricks. Scootaloo smiled, wondering how could Pinkie just go from crazy idea to crazy idea and find just what others need to cheer up.
Distracted, Scootaloo took notice of a strange, rhythmic noise; a short and fast burst of knocks and a boing, repeating every few seconds.
Lowering her eyebrows, she got out of the bed and looked at the window that framed a moonlit Ponyville. As the knocking sounded once more she saw a familiar pink face outside. “Pinkie?”
Scootaloo opened the window and looked outside just in time to see Pinkie land on a trampoline and somersault back into the ground. Pinkie wasted no time in waving and pointing her still twitching tail. “The Pinkie Sense! It’s a combo! We gotta go!”
Scootaloo tilted her head. “Huh?”
“It’s Fluttershy! I have to show you something!”
Scootaloo raised her head. “I’ll get my scooter.”
In a few moments Scootaloo was racing at Pinkie’s side, speeding towards the Everfree Forest. The filly’s mind was racing too; why was she even going to the forest, why did she just leave without hesitation when Pinkie mentioned Fluttershy? Why, after Fluttershy humiliated her, scared her?
The answer came unbidden; because that wasn’t Fluttershy. The real Fluttershy was the one that cried when she saw what had happened, the one that must have spent most of the night awake repairing the ripped band on the elbow pad.
Scootaloo felt her heart tightening; Fluttershy was suffering, perhaps even more than Scootaloo herself, and still Scootaloo had refused to speak with her. Fear had taken hold again, and in fear Scootaloo had hurt somepony that cared for her.
With a start she noticed that Pinkie wasn’t at her side anymore; she must have fallen behind while Scootaloo was distracted thinking. Scootaloo scanned behind her, failing to see any pink pony. She faced back ahead…
“Wait, what?” Scootaloo saw Pinkie waiting at the edge of the forest, beckoning. “How is she already there? Is she faster than Rainbow Dash?” A smile crossing her face, Scootaloo’s wings buzzed faster, her speed increasing.
Soon the two ponies were zipping under the trees, guided at first by Pinkie’s twitches, and then before long by a series of loud whistles and bangs.
Scootaloo approached Pinkie. “What is that noise?”
“Party bombs! My own recipe!” Pinkie was grinning. ”They are really fun and don’t hurt anypony.” Her smile faltered. “But she never used that many. I hope Fluttershy is okay.”
The roars — and the smell — soon alerted both ponies to the nature of the fight even before they saw the wooden creatures. Timberwolves.
Rounding a large tree, Pinkie and Scootaloo finally could see what was happening. Fluttershy was cornered, backing; she was attempting to stare down the three slowly advancing timberwolves, but they had spread apart; there was no way for Fluttershy to stare down all at the same time.
And Fluttershy was still a pegasus. Why didn’t she transform into Flutterbat? The memory of a yellow pegasus sobbing on the floor of Pinkie’s room came to her. She is scared of transforming!
As Scootaloo watched, her eyes darting between the pegasus and the timberwolves, Fluttershy took a round object from her nearly empty saddlebag. She was staring down the two timberwolves to her left already; without breaking eye contact, she attempted to throw the sphere at the remaining timberwolf, missing it.
Scootaloo looked back at Pinkie. “You have to help her!”
Pinkie didn’t move. Scootaloo gawked at Pinkie; her pupils were just pinpricks, her mane visibly deflated. Pinkie’s voice sounded hollow, lifeless. “I can’t. When I promised not to tell I also promised not to help. Fluttershy didn’t want anypony else to get hurt.”
Scootaloo could feel her heart racing. “What a ridiculous… The timberwolves will get her! Can’t you do anything?”
Pinkie’s mane deflated more still, almost completely straight. “Right. I have to help even if must break a Pinkie Promise.”
Scootaloo looked from the slowly moving Pinkie to the cornered Fluttershy. “You know what? I didn’t promise anything.” Before Pinkie could react Scootaloo was scooting towards the dropped sphere, scoping it as she passed and turned towards the advancing timberwolf. Close to the monsters the stench was even worse, making Scootaloo gag. “Here, you stinky monster!”
The timberwolf turned towards Scootaloo; it was exactly what Scootaloo wanted. She used the momentum as she raced towards the timberwolf to throw the sphere towards the beast’s mouth and… it went wide.
The beast’s glowing green eyes fixed on the approaching filly. It raised a paw to strike, and Scootaloo closed her eyes…
She felt an impact, her eyes going wide open. She was in the grasp of something pink, moving like a blur; in front of her the Timberwolf was trying to hit something that moved like a yellow blur. A yellow blur with red eyes.
Pinkie stopped. “Are you crazy?! You could…”
Scootaloo wasn’t paying attention anymore; the only thing she noticed at the moment was Flutterbat. Just like the first time Flutterbat was easily dancing around her oponents, using the dwindling contents of her saddlebags for maximum effect, but that wasn’t what drew Scootaloo’s gaze either.
It was the eyes. The red eyes, narrowed in unbridled rage and cruelty, that had haunted her since last night.
Eyes under whose anger and cruelty something else could be seen, now that fear didn’t cloud Scootaloo’s senses. She had seen eyes like that before, if she could remember where...
Babs Seed. Apple Bloom’s cousin that, before becoming a Crusader like Scootaloo, used to hide her fear under a facade of cruelty.
Scootaloo barely registered when Pinkie stopped talking to her, eyes still glued on Flutterbat. As soon as the three timberwolves started running to the deepest parts of the forest, Scootaloo raced towards the yellow bat pony.
Pinkie’s voice finally penetrated into Scootaloo’s consciousness. “Fluttershy, can you —”
“No!” The two other ponies turned towards Scootaloo, eyebrows raised. “Please, don’t turn back.”
“Huh? Whatcha thinking?” Pinkie’s mane was puffy again, Scootaloo was glad to notice.
“Yeah, why would a little filly like you want a monster like me to stay? Aren’t you afraid?”
Scootaloo kept moving closer, remembering the words Luna said to her what seemed an eternity ago. Face your fears.
“I’m afraid.” Scootaloo lifted her head, locking her gaze on Fluttershy’s red eyes. “But I know you aren’t bad. You saved me two times, and you could have hurt me but didn’t.”
“Oh, the little filly isn’t a chicken anymore. And what do you want, little filly? Some thrill from being close to a monster?”
Ignoring how Pinkie Pie was glaring towards Fluttershy, Scootaloo came close to to the bat pony. “I want to sit here with you for a while.” She turned her face up. “And you aren’t a monster.”
Two sets of eyes observed from afar as the yellow bat pony silently extended a wing, drawing the pegasus filly close, while the pink pony stood slackjawed.
With a contented sigh the owner of one of those pairs of eyes, a dark blue alicorn, turned around and walked away, though not before shooting an annoyed glance at her companion. The old looking, white pegasus stallion kept watching for a few moments longer and turned to follow the alicorn, a smug grin in his face.
A cup of tea, the soothing aroma of chamomile rising from it, was rising in a dark blue magic aura as a knock from the cottage door sounded. An old, but still fit, white pegasus, his close cropped mane steel blue and his cutie mark a snow mask, went to the door, opening it just enough to see who was outside.
“Fluttershy. I was expecting you.” The white pegasus looked at something lower. “Welcome to you, little one. You can call me Bright Winter, or just Winter for short; I’ve been helping Fluttershy.”
“Um... good?” Fluttershy’s voice sounded confused. “I thought you didn’t want to tell anypony else.”
“Things have changed.” Winter threw open the door, allowing Fluttershy and Scootaloo to see Winter’s guest, calmly sipping her tea.
The eyes of both ponies outside went wide open. “Princess Luna?”
Luna put her cup down, smiling. “Greetings, Fluttershy. Or should I say, Warden of Everfree? And a warm welcome to you too, Scootaloo.”
Fluttershy seemed to melt under Luna’s gaze, while Scootaloo opened a big smile. “Cool! Are you here to hear about why Fluttershy turns into a bat pony too?”
Fluttershy weekly lifted her head. “W-why are you here?”
Luna nodded towards Scootaloo. “In a manner of speaking. I already know part of the story, and I might have something to add.” She turned to Fluttershy, her smile shrinking as her eyebrows pressed together. “You don’t need to apologize for your previous silence, Fluttershy. If anypony must apologize, it’s me, for not being able to free you of this ordeal; the Everfree still needs its warden, and as much as it pains me to leave this burden on your shoulders, my duties limit how much assistance I can give.”
Winter looked towards the Princess, flicking up an eyebrow. “Not that miss all-powerful here wouldn’t love to handle it all by herself. Yesterday I had to smack her horn to prevent her from turning those timberwolves, and all trees around, into kindling.” Luna shot him an irritated glance, and Winter added, “Sorry about that.”
Fluttershy was straightening again. “But why?”
“Why, she asks. Bah! Did you even notice the wreck you were yesterday? You needed to win that fight to get your confidence back. Having somepony else rescue you would have crushed your resolve.”
Fluttershy winced. “No, I mean, you are right, but… why were you two there?”
“I called Princess Celestia when you told me about your broken dream catcher. She sent Princess Luna.”
Luna nodded. “So the wardens use dream catchers. Wise, in case I returned as Nightmare Moon and was not stopped.” She looked up, thoughtful. “And for once I’m grateful for my sister meddling with my work. After I was banished my sister gave the warden a magical token, a way to call for help in emergencies; if not for that I might not be here now, as I was afraid my presence would be too painful for fluttershy.”
Scootaloo’s mouth stood open for a moment. “Wow, you mean that there was already a warden that long ago?”
Luna frowned. “Yes. The Everfree Forest was growing wilder back then, and in my arrogance I decided to solve the problem alone, to prove to my sister that I could best her. I sought my best guard and used a ritual to empower him, a ritual that would transfer that power to another pony in time, guaranteeing a line of protectors. It was not my wisest decision; the cursed power of the Nightmare was already tainting me, and when the ritual was complete it tainted the first warden.”
She lowered her head. “I was banished soon after that. My sister only told me that she helped the first warden recover, and that the wardens vanished from story soon after, but she refuses to elaborate. I have searched for the wardens since my return, I could feel their presence and see the result of their actions, but I now know they had a way to shroud themselves from my power.”
One corner of Winter’s mouth rose. “Heh. Celestia might as well not tell you. The first warden went crazy; he is why the legends say vampire ponies are so dangerous.” He pointed to a huge bookshelf at the back of the cabin, filled with books, or perhaps journals. “Our records tell that Celestia was able to prevent any deaths, but only barely. She captured the warden and restored most of his sanity.”
Winter looked up and spoke as if reciting a book; perhaps he was. “Together they created the ways we follow even now, the master and disciple approach that makes sure each new warden is ready, the ritual that allows the master to remove the power from the disciple when needed — which I used to prevent Fluttershy from turning when Nightmare Moon returned — and the selection process that finds the pure of heart to be the new wardens. This is what allowed the wardens to survive the curse that comes with the power.”
Fluttershy lowered her head, her eyebrows dropping. “The curse that turns me into a monster.”
Scootaloo moved in front of Fluttershy, looking her in the eyes. “You aren’t a monster! And Flutterbat isn’t a monster too!”
Luna nodded. “I concur; you are definitely not a monster. But I think Scootaloo is wrong in referring to your transformation as a different entity.”
Fluttershy seemed to shrink again. “You mean I don’t turn into a monster; I’m a monster instead.”
Luna narrowed her eyes and lifted Fluttershy’s chin with her magic, looking directly into her eyes. “Do you even know what it means to be a monster? To want to cause harm to everypony else just because you can — real harm, not just some verbal lashing? To try to kill your own sister? You were never a monster, Fluttershy. Besides, “ a warm smile touched Luna’s face, “Scootaloo did show us us that even your transformation can change for the better. Or did you feel nothing as you stood there, close to her?”
Luna’s gaze went between Scootaloo and Fluttershy. “Which reminds me, why did you bring only Scootaloo with you? Aren’t you going to share this with your friends?”
“I’ll tell them someday, when I’m sure they will not get angry at you for how your magic transforms me, Princess Luna. Well, except Pinkie; she already knows I turn into a bat pony, but she didn’t want to come.”
Winter laughed. “Pink pony, hyperactive, has strange hunches? She already knows.” All eyes turned towards him. “Before you even got to Ponyville she found me, telling some story about a twitching tail, and made some crazy promise about a cupcake that she would not reveal my secret.”