After a traumatic event rocks her life, can Fluttershy recover?
After experiencing a traumatic event, Fluttershy has become an emotional wreck (more than usual). Can she put the pieces of her world back together? If so, how will she do it?
This is Fluttershy's recovery arc from the events of Dark Sunset.
A strong wave of panic overtook Fluttershy as she anxiously waited for Sunset to reply to her text. She had been spending a lot of time at Sunset's apartment since Twilight died in a car accident six weeks earlier. Last night she didn't get off of work until late so rather than wake Sunset, Fluttershy decided to stay at her own house instead. There was a bad feeling that kept working its way into her head the night before, but she just shook it off all night. Now that feeling was back with a vengeance and with how long it had been since she sent Sunset a text, Fluttershy was worrying so much that it was making her nauseous.
Something’s wrong, she thought. Sunset's never taken this long to reply.
She dialed Sunset's number, hoping that her friend was in the shower and didn't hear the text alert. After five rings it went to voicemail.
“Sunset, it's Fluttershy. I didn't know if you had gotten my text or not so I decided to call. I just wanted to let you know that I'll be stopping by to pick you up for school. Please call me back.”
Fluttershy waited another five minutes before calling again. Once again, five rings and then voicemail. This time, Fluttershy didn't leave a message. Instead, she hung up, grabbed her car keys and ran out the door, pausing briefly to grab her purse.
Normally Fluttershy would hop in her car and recite her “driver’s safety rhyme” before inserting the key in the ignition but this time was different. Something was wrong. She cranked up the engine backed onto the street and hit the gas pedal hard enough to make the tires let out a small chirp.
“Pick up, Sunset. Please, pick up,” she begged as she continued to be directed to Sunset's voicemail. “Sunset, please answer.” She drove as fast as she could, breaking the speed limit for the first time in her life, to Sunset’s apartment. When she arrived, she didn't bother trying to park properly, nor did she bother closing the car door as she ran Sunset's front door.
“Sunset, are you in there? Sunset!” she called as she pounded on the door. Getting no answer, she turned the doorknob to find it was unlocked. “This can't be good,” she whispered.
She made her way slowly through the apartment, checking the kitchenette and the bathroom before she noticed the light on in the loft. “Sunset? Sunset it’s time for…" she trailed off as she took in the scene in front of her. "NO! Oh no! Oh my gosh!"
“Coming!” Fluttershy called to whoever was knocking on her door from her bedroom. She had spent all day in bed, missing school in the process. She hadn't felt like going to school since her discovery at Sunset's apartment last week. Of course, Rainbow Dash didn't help matters three days ago in the band room with her tactless comment.
She looked through the peephole in the door to see who was there. Upon seeing the visitor, she let out a groan and reluctantly opened the door. The one person she wasn't keen on seeing right now was the one bothering her.
“Um, hi, Rainbow Dash,” she said, pretending to be happy to see her friend. “Can I help you?”
“Can I come in? I'd kinda like to talk to you about something.”
Letting out a sigh, Fluttershy closed the door to unlock the security latch so that she could accommodate Rainbow's request. The two girls walked to the den and, after moving a few animals, sat down on opposing chairs in an awkward silence.
“Well?” Fluttershy asked, trying to hide the annoyed tone in her voice.
“Oh, right. I noticed that you've been a little upset-”
“A little upset?” Fluttershy interrupted.
“Okay, very upset and probably angry with me over what I had said in the band room the other day,” Rainbow relented. “AJ and Pinkie read me the riot act yesterday after you left with Rarity. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking when I said what I said and just blurted the first thing that came out of my mouth. I really am sorry, Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy sat on the couch in silence while trying to process Rainbow’s apology. Rainbow began wringing her hands together nervously, waiting for her friend’s response. It wasn't what she expected.
A wave of emotions began to flow from Fluttershy’s heart. “Sorry? You think just a plain ‘sorry’ will cover it?” she said as her normal demure personality began dissolving. “Rainbow Dash, do have any clue what I've been through? I found Sunset dead. Okay? I found her in her bed covered in her own blood, then you had the nerve to ask what it looked like. And you know what else? It was my fault that she died.”
Rainbow moved to sit in front of Fluttershy on the floor. “How was it your fault, Shy?”
“Because I didn't stay with her that night.”
Rainbow reached out and grabbed Fluttershy’s hand. “Hey, hey, hey. Stop beating yourself up like that. None of us-”
Fluttershy yanked her hand back. “That's right. None of you know what I'm going through. None of you ever found a loved one covered in their blood, Rainbow.”
Rainbow kept silent as she began to realize that her comments the other day had hit her childhood friend harder than she had originally thought. She looked into Fluttershy’s eyes and saw the pain, guilt, and anger in them, as well as the tears that had begun to flow. “I… I had no idea.”
“Rainbow, my heart is hurting so much from this. In a month and a half, we've lost two of our closest friends. One of which I cared about in a very special way,” Fluttershy said as her burst of anger vanished as quickly as it appeared; replaced by the sadness brought on by her heartache.
Rainbow again tried taking Fluttershy’s hand in support. This time, however, she got more than just a hand. Fluttershy nearly melted off the chair and wrapped her arms around the stronger girl. “I’m so sorry, Dashie. I didn't mean all those things.”
“It's all good,” Rainbow whispered as she held her friend.
“No, it's not. I said a lot of hurtful things to you just now. I… I don't deserve to be your friend anymore.”
Rainbow pulled back and lifted Fluttershy's chin so they could look into each other's eyes. “Look, you're right. I have no idea what kind of hell you're going through right now. I don't blame you for going off on me. If I was in your shoes, I probably would've done the same thing. I love you like a sister and so do the rest of our friends. We'll be here for you.”
“No matter what?”
“No matter what,” Rainbow replied, pulling Fluttershy tightly against her body.
Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie sat in their usual corner booth at Sugarcube Corner; the mood, however, was different from normal. Instead of everyone laughing and joking around, a somber vibe filled the air. Two of their best friends had passed away within six weeks of each other; one to a car accident, the other to suicide. And now the third missing member of their tight group had holed herself up in her apartment, emerging only to go to school and grocery shopping.
Pinkie Pie was playing with the straw in her milkshake not really paying much attention to the conversation going on between the others. After a while, she noticed a silence as everyone just stared at their drinks. She collected her thoughts that had her distracted and broke the silence. “Sooo… is there anyone else worried about Fluttershy besides me?”
“I can't speak for everyone, Darling, but I've been worried since day one,” Rarity responded before taking a sip of her chocolate shake.
Applejack nodded. “Something’s wrong but the only one that's been able to get anywhere near her was Dash when she visited her two weeks ago.”
“Any ideas on something we can do to get her out of this super duper funk?” Pinkie asked.
“Not really, Pinkie. Cheering people up is usually yer thing,” Applejack replied. “Dash? Dash?” Rainbow slowly looked up at the other three. “Y'all okay?”
Rainbow just stared off into space as she quietly answered, “I'm just thinking about something Flutters told me when I apologized to her.”
“Whatever would that be, Darling?”
“When she ‘yelled’ at me,” Rainbow said, using her fingers to make air quotes, “one of the things she said was that I wouldn't understand what she was going through because I never found a loved one covered in their own blood.”
“Loved one?!” Rarity said, shocked. “You mean like a girlfriend?”
“I don't know. She never said anything beyond that,” Rainbow explained. “But-”
“It would make sense since she spent so much time with Sunset after the accident,” Pinkie interrupted.
“So, do Y'all think she's going through the same feelings as Sunset after Twilight was killed?”
Rarity rubbed her chin with her thumb and index finger. “It’s a high probability, Dearie. Sunset felt as though it was her fault that Twilight died and, from what Rainbow Dash told us a few weeks ago, Fluttershy thinks that Sunset dying was her fault.”
Pinkie subconsciously pulled the straw out of her shake and accidentally flung some of the liquid across the table, hitting Rarity in the face.
"Pinkie!"
“Oopsy. So what can we do? She's not really into parties and going out to the clubs terrifies the daylights out of her.”
Applejack let out a small chuckle at Rarity's mishap with Pinkie's shake and returned to the conversation. “Ah say we just offer to be there for her. Ya know? Keep an eye out and if she starts gettin’ to where Sunset was, then step in and make sure she doesn't do nothing that’ll take her from us.”
The other three girls nodded in agreement and extended their arms to make the pact to protect Fluttershy.
The next day at school, Fluttershy hid in the restroom between classes in an attempt to avoid as many people as possible. She had begun to let her appearance slip in the last couple days and other students had taken notice. So to avoid questioning, she just hid in one of the stalls until the warning bell would ring.
Her hiding didn't go unnoticed by her friends, however. Before her last class, Rarity stood outside the restroom to address her friend. She leaned against a locker facing the door as Fluttershy slowly stuck her head out of the door, checking if the coast was clear.
“Not feeling well, darling?” Rarity asked, causing the other girl to jump slightly.
“I, um, no… not particularly,” Fluttershy said, hiding behind her messy hair.
Rarity moved closer so that she could wrap her arm around her friend's shoulder. “Fluttershy, dear, I'm not going to pressure you but if you need someone to talk to, the other girls and I are here to listen. Okay?”
“Okay,” Fluttershy said as she tugged on her long pink locks. “I'm fine at the moment.”
“Alright then. May I ask a favor though?” Rarity asked with a warming smile.
“Sure.”
“Will you let me fix your hair after school? It looks absolutely dreadful,” Rarity said as took Fluttershy’s hand and led her to their last class.
“I guess so,” Fluttershy said as a small amount of warmth began to fill her heart.
Meanwhile, Rarity simultaneously felt a sense of accomplishment as she had managed to get through to her depressed friend. But her accomplishment was minor compared to how Fluttershy’s home life had become.
Fluttershy sat quietly on the scarlet leather sofa, wringing her hands together as she waited for her therapist to retrieve her file and start their semi-weekly session. She had been going to him since her uncharacteristic tirade on Rainbow Dash almost four weeks earlier. Dr. Hindsight straightened up after pulling Fluttershy’s chart from the filing cabinet and walked to the chair adjacent to the couch.
“So how was your weekend, Ms. Fluttershy?” he asked in a soothing tone.
“It was… okay,” Fluttershy said quietly.
“Care to tell me anything about it?”
Fluttershy continued to fidget as she thought about what she wanted to tell him. She looked at the floor and then to the doctor. There was something about the smile he had today that allowed her mind to open up more than normal.
“The girls and I went, um, to the mall on Saturday. Well, I went to have lunch with them,” she elaborated as she nervously twisted her silky pink locks around her wrists.
“Would you care to share what happened with me?”
Fluttershy shifted slightly. “I… I guess so.”
”Is… is this seat taken?” Fluttershy asked meekly as she approached a table in the food court. The four occupants of the table looked in her direction with a combination of surprise and joy. Before anyone could say anything, Fluttershy was scooped up into a tight bear hug.
“Of course it isn’t, silly,” Pinkie Pie said as she released Fluttershy. “We made sure to save it for you just like we do every Saturday.”
Rarity gave Fluttershy a small hug when she got seated. “So wonderful of you to join us, darling. Everything going okay? We hardly see you outside of class anymore.”
“It's difficult but I'd like to think I'm getting a little better each day. I still miss them dearly,” Fluttershy replied as a stray tear made its way down her left cheek, which went unnoticed by everyone.
“We all miss them, Sugarcube,” Applejack responded with a warm smile. “We understand that it's been devastating for ya since y’all happened to be the one to find Sunset.” She reached out and held Fluttershy’s hand. “Remember, any time ya need someone to talk to, day or night, we’ll be a phone call away. Y'all ain't gotta go through this hell by yerself. Okay?”
Fluttershy returned the smile and nodded her head. She then turned her attention to Rainbow Dash, who was avoiding eye contact and picking at her food. “Rainbow? Are you okay?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Just thinking,” Rainbow said quickly.
“Are you sure? You've been quieter than Wallflower Blush ever since Fluttershy showed up,” Pinkie asked.
Rainbow made a quick scan of her friends’ facial expressions. “Its… I still feel bad about what I said a few days after Sunset’s death.”
“Rainbow Dash, I forgave you for those comments weeks ago,” Fluttershy told her.
“I know but I've had time to think and my comments were way out of line. It was insensitive of me and it eats at me daily,” Rainbow said, her tone of voice growing sadder with each word.
“Darling, there is no need to continue to beat yourself up over something that we’ve all put behind us,” Rarity said as she lifted Rainbow’s chin. “The guilt you're feeling isn't healthy and the more you let it in, the worse the feeling gets until there's no turning back.”
An unsettling wave of emotion began building up in Fluttershy’s chest as she listened to Rarity’s words. She wanted to say something in response but held her tongue instead; at least for the moment.
“Still… I made that insensitive comment while Fluttershy was crying over losing someone she was in love with,” Rainbow said, which was immediately followed by loud, angry gasp from across the table.
“How. Dare. You.” Fluttershy growled. “I told you that in confidence.”
Rainbow suddenly realized what she said and immediately attempted damage control. “Fluttershy, I-”
Fluttershy swiftly pushed her chair back and stood up in a heartbroken rage. “Stow it Rainbow. I… I knew it was a mistake to come. I… I…” Fluttershy cried before running off.
“Fluttershy, wait!” shouted Rainbow Dash as she stood up to give chase only to be stopped by an orange hand.
“Dash, Ah think you've done enough damage today. Just let her be. One of us will talk to her later,” Applejack scolded as the girls watched their friend disappear into the crowded mall.
By the time Fluttershy had finished telling Dr. Hindsight about the lunch at the mall, she had drawn her knees to her chest and was weeping softly. The shame she was feeling mixed strongly with the guilty feeling that resulted from her time with Sunset shortly before she died.
Dr. Hindsight handed her a box of tissues, which she gladly accepted. “I know its hard at the moment, but would you mind telling me what sort of feeling you had for your friend?” he asked.
Fluttershy let out a few sniffles before answering. “I… I… I had fallen in love with her. I never got to tell her that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I was afraid she would get mad at me.”
“Miss Fluttershy, we talked about this before. Keeping your feelings bottled up inside isn't good for you; especially if its love.”
Fluttershy wiped her eyes with a tissue. “Wh-why love?” she asked.
“Because love is a strong emotion. If you are afraid to share it with the person you have that feeling for, it hurts that much more when you don't have the opportunity anymore,” he said as he held her hand.
“B-but how can I get the pain to go away?”
“Did you begin that journal I suggested during your first session?”
Fluttershy quickly looked the other direction. “N-no.”
“Well, I highly recommend that you start one after the events of Saturday afternoon. Every page of the journal will be a letter to Sunset Shimmer. Now, you don't have to write one every day, just when you feel the need to write something that you wish that you could tell her,” Dr. Hindsight explained. “Okay?”
Fluttershy slowly nodded her head in response.
“This might be a sensitive question, especially considering the information you just gave me, but have you visited Sunset’s grave since the funeral?” he asked.
She replied with a no that could barely be heard. She didn't have the willpower to visit her late friend’s grave. The unwarranted blame she kept placing on herself over the events of the last month or so was the main reason she didn't go anywhere near the cemetery. Her heart just couldn't take it. However, she listened closely to his advice.
“I believe that if you are able to express some of your thoughts and emotions at the gravesite, it may give you the jumpstart that you've been needing for your path to recovery,” he elaborated.
“Do you think it will help me to stop being so mean to Rainbow Dash and the others?” Fluttershy nervously asked.
Dr. Hindsight closed the file folder he was holding before answering. “I'm not certain, however in other cases I've seen that were similar to yours, it has worked.”
A small timer chimed from the desk signaling the end of the session. Fluttershy rose from her position shook the doctor’s hand and left the office. It was the last time she would see him.
This seems like the craziest thing in the world but I'm going to try it. My therapist told me that if I wrote letters to you in a notebook it would help me cope, so here it goes.
It's been a month since I visited your gravesite and experienced the odd wind vortex toward the end of the visit. I felt as though you were trying to communicate with me somehow, but when I told the girls what happened, they all dismissed it as my mind playing tricks. As a result of them blowing me off, I began turning into someone that I hate. I don't know how to deal with this new personality and quite frankly, it's scaring the daylights out of me. Almost all of CHS has begun referring to me as ‘New Fluttershy’. It hurts my feelings when they call me that but for some reason it makes me devolve into this… ugly person.
Sunset, I really miss you and I would like to think that you wouldn't have sliced your wrists had I told you how I felt. It eats at me all the time knowing that I could've been the one to save you. Somehow I think that's partly the reason that I constantly get into arguments with the other girls on a daily basis. Poor Rainbow Dash avoids me because I've yelled at her the most. Sunset, I really wish you were here to give me advice and to help me through this troubling time.
All my love, Fluttershy
Fluttershy closed the yellow spiral notebook and laid it on the nightstand; the pen placed in the drawer so it wouldn't be lost in the mess on the floor. She waded through the paper plates, empty soda and pet food cans, and week-old dirty laundry toward the mirror on her closet door.
Maybe no one will recognize me for a few days and I'll quit getting picked on, she thought as she ran her fingers through her self-cut hair. It wasn't cut evenly but she honestly didn't care. Her long, pink locks that she had been growing since eighth grade was now gone and would not be returning anytime soon. Maybe losing the eyeshadow will help blend me into the crowd…
As she reached for a moist towelette to clean her face, a noise from the direction of the doorway caught her attention. Angel Bunny had entered her bedroom and bounded up the miniature staircase to her bed. He sat down, crossed his forelegs, and rapidly tapped his left rear foot in disapproval of his owner's appearance.
“What?” Fluttershy asked as their eyes locked.
Angel made a bunch of gestures with his paws in an attempt to communicate with her. Upon getting no reply from Fluttershy, he scratched the bottom of his chin before jumping off the bed and crawling underneath it. Fluttershy tilted her head in confusion as she observed his odd behavior.
“Um, Angel? Why are you going under my bed?” she asked, following him.
There was some rustling of paper and clanking of cans underneath the bed, along with a few other noises that she couldn't quite identify. After a minute or two, he wiggled back out from under the bed. Fluttershy’s attention was immediately drawn to the object dangling from Angel’s mouth.
“My… geode?” asked Fluttershy. “I got rid of it weeks ago.”
Angel hopped back on the bed and set the pink and yellow necklace in her hand. She looked at her geode which began to emit a very faint glow.
“...you get rid of it?”
“Um, I didn't quite catch the entire question. Could you repeat it, please?” Fluttershy asked as she squatted down to look her pet in the eyes.
“Why in the heck did you get rid of your geode?”
Fluttershy thought a moment. “I guess it’s because Sunset isn't around anymore and I felt that without her, it wouldn't be useful anymore.”
“But you always loved talking to us, especially when you were feeling down. What changed?”
“I don't know, Angel,” she said as she took a more comfortable position on the bed. “I fell in love with Sunset and then she, you know, did what she did.”
“Mom, you know we all care about you and we hate seeing you like this.”
“I know, but I just don't know how to deal with these emotions,” Fluttershy said as tears began to escape her eyes. “It's been so tough. I honestly think the girls hate me now because of how I've acted toward them.”
“I’m pretty sure they don't hate you.”
“No offense, Angel, but you haven't seen how I've talked to them in the last two months,” Fluttershy said, wiping her eyes. “Angel, I cussed out Rainbow Dash the other day over asking me a question about our homework. That's it. She has been my friend since kindergarten and I've been so mean to her and it hurts.”
Angel hopped onto her lap and nuzzled against her jaw. “Why don't you do something to take your mind off of all this?”
Fluttershy looked at the disaster area that was once her bedroom and answered, “Well, I guess I could start by cleaning up this place.”
“I meant that you should do something in memory of Sunset. It could probably help out a bunch.”
Fluttershy laid down on her back and stared at the ceiling, trying to think of ways to honor her crush’s memory. Then it hit her. “What about some kind of program that teaches people about depression and how to watch for suicide in others?”
“That's more like it.”
Fluttershy’s excitement began to dissipate almost as quickly as it appeared. She began mentally going through the checklist to pull something like that off and she soon found herself being overwhelmed.
“Are you okay?”
“Um, yeah, I suppose,” replied Fluttershy. “This idea would take more than I'm able to handle to pull off.”
Angel jumped off the bed and left the room. A couple minutes later he returned, hopping backward, dragging a picture of the Rainbooms in his teeth. He pointed to the photo and said, “What about asking your friends to help you?”
Fluttershy reached down and picked up both Angel and the photo. A moment later she broke the silence. “I'm not sure I have friends anymore.”
“I’m pretty sure they're still your friends.”
“You really think so?”
“Sure do. Now I think a call to Pinkie is in order.”
After Pinkie answered the phone, Fluttershy asked her, “Pinkie, I have two questions: are you mad at me and how fast can you put a rally together?”
Fluttershy stood on the stage looking out at the gymnasium. The first half of the first annual Sunset Shimmer Memorial Suicide Awareness Rally at CHS, which was a rousing success so far, had just wrapped up.
During the first half, Nurse Redheart had presented a slideshow with warning signs of suicide and depression. Various students shared their thoughts and concerns regarding the topic. Others, including the Rainbooms, shared some of their favorite stories of Sunset. However, the most emotional response from the student body came when Fluttershy told the story of her helping Sunset through all the nights of her depression.
The students were now helping to put the folding chairs away so that the “carnival” portion could get started. Fluttershy was elated as to how well the event was received; not just by Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna but also by the student body.
“This event has been quite the success, hasn't it?” a voice behind her said, causing her to jump slightly.
As she regained her composure, Fluttershy replied, “Why, yes it has. I'm just surprised that anyone wanted to attend after how mean I've been.”
The firm but gentle grip on Fluttershy's shoulder caused her to turn and lock eyes with Vice-Principal Luna. “You've been through a lot in the last few months and I'm pretty sure most of them know this,” Luna said with a small smile.
"I know but..."
"But nothing. Recovery from a traumatic event is a difficult process," Luna said. "You've got your friends and the therapist to help you through it, which is a lot more than other people have."
"About that..." Fluttershy said as she twirled some of her hair around her index finger, "I actually stopped seeing Dr. Hindsight before I visited Sunset's grave last month."
"Why would you do that?"
"I, um, I kind of shared some feelings with him before I wanted to," Fluttershy said as she tugged on the hair that was twisted on her finger. "Then I visited Sunset's grave and the girls didn't believe me when I told them what happened there. So I decided that I didn't want his advice anymore and just stopped going."
Luna pulled Fluttershy into a gentle embrace said, "I'm sorry things aren't working out the way you'd like. Remember though, my sister and I will always be here if and when you need someone to talk to."
"Thank you but that's not what you wanted to talk to me about, is it?” Fluttershy asked.
“No, it isn't. As you may know, the school board wants us to take down the memorials for Sunset and Twilight. Unfortunately, that wasn't a request from them. My sister tasked me with the responsibility of removing them,” Luna said as her face slowly hardened. “I decided to leave the photos up until after the rally today but I took the time to clean out the inside of the lockers this morning.”
“You found something important in them, didn't you?”
Luna reached into her back pocket and pulled out an envelope. “I found this underneath Sunset’s books. It looks like something she meant to give to you before she committed suicide.”
Fluttershy took the envelope and looked at it. On the envelope, in Sunset’s handwriting, showed the following:
To my dear friend Fluttershy 💕
“Are you okay, Fluttershy?” Luna asked as she spotted a tear slowly make its way down the teenager's cheek.
“I, um, I need to be alone for a few minutes, Vice-Principal Luna,” Fluttershy whispered.
“Very well."
Fluttershy removed the contents of the envelope as Luna walked away. She unfolded the letter and a photograph, that was wrapped within the paper, fluttered to the ground. She reached down and picked up the photo and held it behind the letter. More tears filled her eyes as she read what was essentially a suicide note.
Dear Fluttershy,
I don't know how to put into words how much I appreciate all that you've done for me in the past six weeks. I've been so lonely without Twilight and your company helped immensely. I felt that you needed to know this.
I also wanted to say that I'm sorry. I noticed you had begun developing feelings for me during this short time and to be honest I was developing feelings for you. Please don't be mad at me for that. I never told you about them because I didn't want anything to happen to you like what happened to Twilight. You're a sweet person and I hope someday you'll find that person you deserve.
I just wanted you to know how I felt toward you but I couldn't figure out how to tell you. Maybe I can let you know before this letter gets to you. Thank you for everything.
Love,
Sunset
She looked around the gymnasium to see if anyone was paying attention to her before slipping behind the bleachers. She sat on the floor and stared at the photo that Sunset had left for her. Heartbreak filled Fluttershy’s body to the point that her crying wasn't even making any sounds anymore.
The minutes felt like hours as Fluttershy wept, hidden and alone. Soon a shadow cast itself over Fluttershy and a hand gently touched her back. She looked to see who it was and found Vinyl Scratch squatting down next to her.
“Yo, Fluttershy! What's happening?” Vinyl asked as she walked into Spa For Paws.
Fluttershy looked up from the puppy she was grooming. “Oh hi, Vinyl. I'm just giving this cute little puppy-wuppy a pampering.”
Vinyl looked at the puppy being pampered. “Uh, that's a pretty big puppy.”
“This is Bernie. He's a Saint Bernard puppy,” Fluttershy said. “But he's still one of the cutest little guys you've ever seen.” She turned her attention to Bernie. “Yes, he is. He's just the cutest little guy.”
“Okay then,” Vinyl said slowly. “Anyway, I was at Neon’s shop checking out the available gigs this weekend and figured I’d stop by and see if you had plans after work before I headed home.”
“Oh, I, uh, I don't know,” Fluttershy began stammering while simultaneously turning a bright shade of pink. “I-I mean, its nice of you t-to ask but it’s j-just so sudden-”
“Hey relax. If you're busy, it's no biggie. I just thought you might want to hang out for a little bit,” Vinyl said as she wrapped her right arm around Fluttershy’s back.
“Y-you really want to, um, ‘hang out’ with me?” Fluttershy asked as she tried to remain focused on grooming Bernie.
“Sure, why not?”
“It… it's just that I, um, hardly get asked to spend time with anyone, you know, one-on-one,” Fluttershy softly explained.
“Flutters, you've been through a type of Hell that not many people go through. I can't even imagine the roller coaster of emotions that you've been riding on since Sunset’s death,” Vinyl said, gently rubbing Fluttershy’s back. “I know you're doing a little better since the rally last month but I imagine it's still pretty rough.”
“It is and I do have nightmares still,” Fluttershy said, “but they are getting less frequent.”
Bernie suddenly shook the water from his fur, eliciting a squeal from each of the girls.
“Good thing I wear a tank top under my shirt,” Vinyl laughed as she looked at her top which had gained a slight transparency.
“Hehe. That's why we wear aprons when bathing pets,” Fluttershy giggled. “There's some towels in that cabinet to your right if you'd like to dry off.”
Vinyl wiped the suds from her arms. “I'm good. It's just a little water.”
“Okay, then,” Fluttershy said, prefacing a semi-awkward pause.
“I’ll, uh, I'll let you get back to work then,” Vinyl said as she began to walk away.
“Oh, um, Vinyl?” Fluttershy called, catching her friend’s attention. “I don't get off until late, but I go on break after I finish up with Bernie. I’ll meet you in the food court in about fifteen minutes if you'd like.”
Vinyl replied with a large smile and a thumbs up.
Fluttershy returned work after her impromptu lunch with Vinyl slightly distracted. Even though it was only twenty minutes, her time with the budding DJ had caused a feeling to surface that she hadn't felt in nearly three months: peace. The feeling of guilt brought on by events of Sunset’s demise had finally begun to take a backseat to some other emotion.
Is Vinyl the element that I need in my life? Fluttershy thought as she took the next customer in line. I mean, she hasn't been there for me any less than the rest of the girls.
“Hey, I'd like to keep my fur if you don't mind.”
“Oh, I'm so sorry,” Fluttershy said to the cat she was shampooing. “I'm a little distracted and I didn't realize I was scrubbing so hard.”
“I forgive you. Care to talk about what's on your mind?”
“Well, it's kind of a long story,” Fluttershy said.
“I’ve got plenty of time left before my appointment is over.”
“Okay then, it started about four and a half months ago…” Fluttershy began telling her story to the cat as she continued his grooming. About fifteen minutes later, Fluttershy wrapped up her tale. “So what do you think?”
“I’m no expert on human emotions,” said the cat as he set a paw on Fluttershy’s face, “but it sounds to me like you're in love.”
Fluttershy stepped back slightly. “In… in love? But I've been in love before and it didn't feel like this, Mr. Wuzzles.”
Mr. Wuzzles tilted his head. “Are you sure?”
Over the next few weeks, Fluttershy began spending more time with Vinyl when she wasn't hanging out with Rainbow Dash and the others. She spent a lot of time texting Vinyl when she was at work or with the rest of the Rainbooms. It even got to the point where they would text each other during class. Then, out of the blue, Vinyl cornered Fluttershy with a ticket to the school’s orchestra concert.
“I don't know what to say,” Fluttershy said as she brushed her bangs aside. “I wouldn't have thought that you were into orchestral music.”
“It's not something I like to advertise,” Vinyl said with a smile, “being a DJ and all. It's mainly to support Tavi.”
“Oh, I see…” Fluttershy whispered.
Vinyl instantly picked up on Fluttershy’s sudden mood change. “Yo, it’s nothing like that. Me and Tavi have been friends for years and I've gone to nearly all of her recitals and concerts.”
Fluttershy looked at Vinyl’s facial expression and could easily see that she was telling the truth. “If I can get someone to cover my shift that night, I'll be there.”
“That was a beautiful performance, Octavia,” Fluttershy said as she and Vinyl met up with Octavia after the concert.
“Thank you for the kind words, Fluttershy, but it was far from beautiful,” Octavia responded. “Being the second chair with an untalented third chair playing horribly in your ear can hardly lead to a pristine performance.”
“It sounded good to me, Tavi,” Vinyl chimed in, trying to boost her friend’s spirits. “I got an idea. How about some ice cream at that 50’s diner at the mall?” Fluttershy quickly tensed up at the mention of the diner. “Something wrong, Flutters?”
“I, um, no,” Fluttershy stammered. “Well, maybe.”
“Whatever is the matter, dear?” Octavia asked as she loaded her cello into her SUV while Vinyl and Fluttershy climbed into the back seat.
“I, um, may have lied to Pinkie Pie about not wanting to go to a slumber party at her house and so she picked up some extra hours at the diner tonight instead of having the party,” Fluttershy said as she began wringing her hands together nervously as Octavia started the vehicle.
“Gotcha,” Vinyl said, giving her a small hug. “What about Sugarcube Corner? I mean, the ice cream’s not as good but it's still pretty kickin’.”
“That’s fine by me, Vinyl. Fluttershy?”
“Um, sure. I guess that'll work,” Fluttershy said softly.
“Great, it's settled,” Vinyl looked at Fluttershy. “Are you still staying over tonight?”
“I… I didn't realize that I was invited,” said Fluttershy as Octavia drove the three of them to Sugarcube Corner. “But I can if Octavia’s okay with it. I really don't want to be an unwanted house guest.”
Octavia looked at Fluttershy from the rearview mirror. “Of course it will be fine. It will be nice to have some company for a change.”
“Thank you very much then,” Fluttershy said with a small smile.
Later that evening, Vinyl and Fluttershy lounged on the couch watching a movie about what pets do after their owners leave for work. Vinyl initially protested, claiming the movie to be “boring” but had since gotten more engrossed in it than Fluttershy.
“Um, Vinyl? Can I ask you something kind of, I don't know, personal?” Fluttershy asked softly.
“Sure. What do you want to know?”
“Is Octavia okay with you and me, you know, talking to each other so much and hanging out and stuff?”
Vinyl let out a small chuckle. “Yeah. Why wouldn't she be okay with it?”
“Well, you know, because of your relationship with each other.”
Vinyl chuckle turned into a playful laugh. “Hold on a minute. I told you the other day me and Octavia aren't like that. Yes, we’re roommates. Yes, we're good friends. But Octavia’s straighter that one of the lasers in my light shows.”
“So you mean-”
“No, we aren't dating,” Vinyl finished for her.
“Can I ask you another question then?”
“You can ask however many questions you want. Heck, you can lay your head on my lap while we talk, if you'd like.”
Fluttershy shifted around so she was laying on Vinyl’s lap with her head propped up on the armrest of the couch. “This might seem kind of random but,” Fluttershy took a deep breath, “have you ever been in love before?”
“Well… let's see,” Vinyl said as she began to think. “Once.”
“Once?”
“Mhmm.”
“Could you tell me about it?”
“Sure. This happened a few years ago. I think I was fourteen or fifteen. I had gotten a reputation for running some sick tunes at parties I had attended.
“Anyway, I had gone to Neon’s store to blow my allowance on a new fog machine to go with my ever growing stash of DJ materials. While I was checking out he told me his niece, Limelight, was going to be in town for her birthday and asked me if I was interested in learning how to run a table for the party he was throwing for her. Naturally, I said yes.
“The day of Limelight’s party is one I'll never forget. I went to the party early so I could get acquainted with the equipment that I'd be using and when she walked in the room for the first time… I wanted to plant a kiss on her right then and there.”
“So you were always, um, gay?” Fluttershy interrupted.
“Yeah, it didn't really sink in until I met Limelight. I had crushes on girls all through elementary and middle school but I hadn't had feelings that strong before that. I digress, we really hit it off, friendship-wise. We swapped numbers after the party, called and texted daily, even Skyped every so often. I really thought we had a connection.
“The next time she was in Canterlot, I decided to ask her to the movies as an indirect first date. It all was going great until I put my arm around her.”
“What happened then?” Fluttershy asked.
Vinyl let out a loud sigh and continued, “She asked what I was doing and like an idiot, I just blurted out my feelings for her. She jumped up in the middle of the movie, slapped me in the face, called me a sick pervert, and ran out of the theater.
“I cried for days after that. I couldn't look at the turntable that Neon had given me. I stopped going to parties for five or six months. All because these things had reminded me of Limelight. It had gotten to the point where my parents sent me to therapy.”
“Oh, wow. I had no idea,” Fluttershy said in awe.
“To be honest, you're the first person I've told that story to. Not even Octavia has heard that tale.”
Fluttershy continued to lay silently in wonder as she tried processing why Vinyl would keep that story to herself for so long. Something so personal that she kept it from her best friend but was willing to share it with her. Her thoughts were shaken by a sudden dimming of the lighting in the room; which was the result of Vinyl turning off the reading lamp next to the couch.
“Are you going to bed now?” asked Fluttershy.
Vinyl pulled her glasses off and showed them to Fluttershy. “Have you ever wondered why I always wear these shades?”
“Not really, but now that you mention it, I am kind of curious.”
“I'm sure you saw my irises when you and your friends sang that bitchin' song in the cafeteria during the infamous Fall Formal.”
“Um, yes. Why?”
“I've got a condition with my eyes that makes them extremely sensitive to Ultraviolet lighting. These shades are not only stylish but they filter out all the UV light that affects my vision. And because of that, I hardly ever take them off,” Vinyl explained.
“So what is the reason you took them off now?” Fluttershy asked as her heart began beating harder.
“Well… there are only three reasons I take them off. For sleeping, for bathing and…” she leaned down as Fluttershy began to sit up, “for this.”
Time seemingly came to stop as the lips of the two girls met. Fluttershy gazed into Vinyl's eyes as they parted and whispered softly, "I love you, Scratchie."
“So, whaddya think, Tavi?” Vinyl asked as her and her roommate walked to the living room. “Too over the top?”
“Perhaps. It seems a little too fast-paced,” Octavia replied. “Maybe try slowing down some and have a bigger build up as you get toward the climax of your… what?”
Vinyl had doubled over with laughter while Octavia looked on in confusion. “I… I can't believe that… that you... said that,” she replied through her laughing.
“What? Climax?”
“No. That… I needed a bigger… build up to get a… a… better climax,” Vinyl answered, still laughing.
“I was going to say that a bigger build up is probably going to have a better payoff once you reach the climax that… oh, shut up. Ugh!” Octavia said, quite annoyed.
By now, Vinyl had fallen to the floor laughing so hard she was in tears. Octavia rolled her eyes and left the room to make a cup of tea.
“Hey! Can… can you… bring… me a… soda… with you… when… you… come back?” Vinyl managed to get out.
“Very well,” Octavia shouted from the kitchen.
I can't believe she worded her opinion of my plans the way she did, Vinyl thought as she tried getting her laughter under control. It was a futile endeavor, however, because every time she replayed Octavia saying “climax” in her mind, she started right back up.
A few minutes later, Octavia returned to the living room with her tea and a soda for Vinyl. “Are you and your dirty mind finished?”
“Just as long as you don't use ‘climax’ again,” Vinyl replied with a small giggle. “So what was your opinion before my mind went to the gutter?”
“Very well. I think that you should have a slower approach when you start. If you do that, I think you'll have a better result when you finish. Oh, my god. Now what?” Octavia said as Vinyl began laughing like a hyena once more.
“Vinyl! Fluttershy is here!” Octavia shouted as Vinyl exited the shower.
Vinyl cracked the bathroom door and shouted, “Okay! I’ll be down in five minutes.”
“How have you been, Fluttershy?” Octavia asked as she took Fluttershy’s coat.
“Pretty good actually. I've been looking forward to Scratchie’s surprise all day,” Fluttershy replied, smiling. “Do you know what it is?”
Octavia shrugged her shoulders. “Honestly, I don't know. She hasn't told me about anything special that she plans to do,” she lied.
“Oh, I see,” said Fluttershy dejectedly.
“Hey, whatever she's got planned its bound to be pretty good,” Octavia assured as she placed her hand on Fluttershy’s shoulder.
“You really think so?”
“I know so. Anytime Vinyl says she's got a surprise for you, she goes all out,” Octavia said the smile returned to Fluttershy’s face.
Vinyl entered the room in a tank top and gym shorts, still drying her hair, as the other two girls continued their conversation. She set the towel on one of the end tables and snuck up behind Fluttershy.
“BOO!” she said as she poked Fluttershy’s sides.
“AHHH!” Fluttershy squealed. “Scratchie, are you trying to kill me?!”
“Haha, no. I just wanted to surprise you, that's all,” Vinyl said before giving her girlfriend a kiss.
“That was the surprise you planned for me?” Fluttershy asked after parting her lips from Vinyl’s.
Vinyl let out a small chuckle. “No way. The surprise I have planned is way bigger than a couple small pokes.”
“Bigger?”
“Way bigger.”
Fluttershy’s eyes lit up in anticipation of whatever Vinyl had planned. She tried her best to guess her girlfriend’s plans but nothing she could think of would fit Vinyl’s style. Whatever it was, Fluttershy really hoped it would be worth the tease.
A couple of hours later the girls were lounging on the couch watching “Greet The Parents". Octavia had just stepped out for a date with her boyfriend, leaving the two of them alone in the apartment.
“Um, Scratchie? Why are you acting so… odd this evening?” Fluttershy asked suddenly
“What do you mean?”
“Normally you're hanging all over me or trying to pin me to the couch for a make-out session. Tonight, you seem to be content with sitting next to me like I was your mom or something,” Fluttershy explained as she put her arm around Vinyl. “Are you worried I won't like whatever you have planned for me?”
“Something like that,” Vinyl said quietly as she looked away.
“Scratchie, you know that I love you. Nothing will change that. Okay?” Fluttershy whispered as she pulled Vinyl’s face toward her own.
Vinyl nodded as a stray tear rolled down one of her cheeks. “Okay.”
“Listen, how about we take a break from the movie and you show me what you’ve been working on.”
Vinyl wiped her cheek and led Fluttershy to her studio. “It-it’s a new mix that I put together with Tavi’s help. I have a light show synced up with it. I…” Vinyl paused before taking a breath, “I made it specifically for you.” She pulled up the light show that accompanied the mix she was about to play, dimmed the lights in the room and started the beat.
A soft bass began thumping from the speakers as the fog machine pumped out a light pink fog. The mirror ball, which normally cast off white lights, was now reflecting red light as it spun on its axis. About a minute into the song, the lasers came to life. Pink, purple and red lines filled the room as an instrument could now be heard with the rhythmic beats.
Fluttershy stood in awe as she suddenly realized that the bass in the music had the same rhythm as a heartbeat. What is going on? Fluttershy thought as her heart began making it's way to her throat.
Vinyl set the mix to repeat and left the controls with something in her hand. “What do you think?”
“It's wonderful,” Fluttershy replied.
“Thanks. I made it just for this occasion,” Vinyl said as her nerves began hijacking her thoughts. “Listen, the past few months, we've both grown together mentally and emotionally. We've been able to help each other move forward and overcome what has hurt us in the past. Personally, I've never felt this strongly about anyone or anything before, which is why I've been acting odd tonight.”
Is she doing what I think she is? thought Fluttershy as her heart began to race.
“Fluttershy, this is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. It's harder than DJing for a high profile wedding. Fluttershy, my Critter Lover, would you do the honors of becoming my wife?” She got on her right knee and a kissed Fluttershy’s hand before opening the jewelry box she had been holding. Inside was a 20K diamond engagement ring with butterflies and music notes engraved into the band.
Fluttershy began crying for joy as she saw the beautiful piece of jewelry. “Oh my gosh… Scratchie. It-it’s beautiful…” she said before tackling Vinyl with a hug. “YES! Oh my gosh, yes! I love you so much, Vinyl. Thank you.”
“I love you too, Critter Lover,” Vinyl said just as Fluttershy pressed her lips against hers for the most passionate kiss she'd ever had. As they kissed, Vinyl touched her watch which changed the lights that were lit. “Look at the wall behind you,” she said as the two ended their kiss.
“Wow,” Fluttershy gasped when she saw the image that was projected; a pink butterfly and a purple music note surrounded by a red heart.
"Vinyl?!" Applejack said with her eyes wide in shock. "Yer the mystery person that Fluttershy's been keeping a secret?"
"Sure am," said Vinyl with a huge smile.
"Scratchie's been with me almost every day with me since I got the letter that Sunset wrote to me before she... well, you know," Fluttershy said as she hugged Vinyl. "I don't know what I would've done if she hadn't found me under the bleachers the day of the rally. I mean, I don't think I'd go as far as Sunset but I would at least have locked myself in my bedroom for a long time."
“Well, Ah’ll be… C’mon in and join everyone else in the den, “Applejack said as the three girls went inside.
Vinyl looked around the house as they made the way to the den. “I love your pad, AJ. You don't mind me calling you AJ, do you?”
“Not at all,” said Applejack, “and thank ya kindly for the nice words about the house," Applejack said as they entered the den. "Hey y'all, look who’s here!”
“VINYL?!” Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, and Rarity simultaneously said in shock.
Rainbow Dash made a letter " T" with her hands. “Timeout! You've been the one to finally get Flutters to mellow out?” she asked.
“Yep. I thought about maybe becoming a psychologist or therapist and give up on the DJ business,” Vinyl said, giving a wink to Fluttershy. The other four just sat in shock to Vinyl’s announcement. However, it didn't last long as a huge grin appeared on Vinyl’s face. “I'm just messing with you guys. If I ever leave the music business, it's because I've become too old or too rich to continue.”
While everyone had a laugh at Vinyl’s joke, Rarity’s acute vision locked onto Fluttershy’s left hand.
"Um, darling? Wherever did you get that ring?" she asked.
"Oh, Scratchie proposed to me the other night," Fluttershy beamed. "It was so romantic. She had this soft beat playing on her turntable with the most beautiful light show. She kissed my hand and then presented the ring to me. I was so surprised and happy and... oh my, I'm getting really excited thinking about it."
“Excited how?” Rainbow Dash asked as her eyes got wide.
“Like when you know you're about to go on vacation or something,” Fluttershy responded.
“Oh. So what did you guys do after that?" Rainbow asked with a smirk.
“Rainbow Dash!” Rarity hissed. “Whatever is your problem?”
“Let Dash have her mind in the gutter, Rares. Truth is, all we did was cuddle on the couch and watch TV before sleeping together for the first time,” Vinyl said as Rainbow Dash’s eyes lit up again. “I don't mean that way, either. We're not going to be doing that until after the wedding.”
“Speaking of which,” said Rarity, “Have you decided on what you're wearing; two gowns or two suits or a gown and a suit?”
“Or a suit and a gown?” Pinkie chimed in.
“Uh, Pinkie? That's the same thing,” Applejack said.
“Oh, right. Silly me.”
“We’re only a few days into our engagement, Rarity, but we're thinking a gown for me and a suit for Scratchie,” Fluttershy responded.
“Gowns ain't really my thing,” Vinyl added.
“Very well. I'll be needing some measurements from the both of you before the night is out,” Rarity said with a huge grin.
Fluttershy and Vinyl looked at the enthusiasm on Rarity’s face and then each other. Fluttershy pulled five dollars from her pocket and gave it to Vinyl as the two of them shared a laugh.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Vinyl asked as she and Fluttershy pulled up to the Canterlot Cemetery.
“Yes, I am,” Fluttershy responded. “I've been putting this off for too long.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
“No thank you. I think I'll be okay,” said Fluttershy before giving Vinyl a kiss and exiting the car.
Fluttershy listened to the gravel shift under her feet as she walked down the narrow path to her friend’s final resting place. The bag she was carrying on her shoulder seemed to be getting heavier with each step she took.
After five minutes of walking, she arrived at a tombstone with a few vines covering it that read:
Sunset Shimmer
Beloved friend. May you finally find peace.
1999-2017
Fluttershy looked at the marker for a few minutes, trying to hold back the tears in her eyes as she sorted her thoughts into words. A few deep breaths and a wipe of her eyes, she began talking. “Hi, Sunset. I'm sorry it's been so long since my last visit. There has been a lot going on in my life for the last five years.
“First, I got married almost four years ago. I hope you're not mad about that. Vinyl Scratch helped me through the rough times after my last visit here. We developed feelings for each other, much like you and I did, during this time and they continued to grow as time went on.
“The next thing is that I'm halfway done with getting my doctorate in veterinary medicine. I'm putting money back in order to open my own vet clinic after I graduate. I plan on naming it the Sunset Shimmer Memorial Veterinary Clinic.”
She paused once more to wipe her eyes and also to remove the bag from her shoulder. She moved closer to the tombstone, knelt in front of it and set the bag on the ground.
“I brought a few things that I'd like for you to have,” she said as she removed a notebook from the bag and set it in a possession box next to the stone. “This is a journal that I started shortly after you, um, did what you did. It’s a collection of notes and letters that I wrote to you whenever I was feeling down or had a thought that I wished that I could tell you. I feel its now complete and it's now yours. Don't worry about anyone reading it. Princess Twilight took it to Equestria for a few days to put a spell on it so no one can read it.”
Then she pulled out a photo that she had gotten hermetically sealed inside a picture frame. “Id like for you to have the last pic I took of us together. Don't worry, I've got a copy of it for myself, too.”
Fluttershy closed the bag and wiped her face again. “This… this I've been debating on whether or not to give to you.” She reached behind her neck and unclipped the necklace that she was wearing. “I'm letting you have my geode. I'm going to miss talking with the animals but I'm the only one that still uses it. Plus, it's from your homeworld. It deserves to be with you.
“Sunset, I'm not forcing you from my memories by giving these things to you. It's just my way of…" Fluttershy cut off, unable to continue for a few seconds. She sniffed, wiping her eyes with a hand, before she continued, "...of moving on. We had gone through a lot…” Fluttershy began breaking down as she tried wrapping up her speech. “…I'll never forget you. Okay? We… had some great times. Times that'll stay… times that will last… forever.”
She stood up and cleared the vines from the tombstone. As she stepped back from it, she felt a hand gently rest upon her back.
“You okay?”
Fluttershy turned and found herself being wrapped in her wife’s arms.
“Yeah. It's just… a little harder saying goodbye than I thought it would be.”
