AN: Another chapter set to go, after a couple hours of editing.
And rndmfan-These future chapters will have more Fluttershy moments. We just needed the right placement for the characters before we get to the next part of the story. In many ways this is probably the conclusion of the first part of the story.
As with before, I don't own My Little Pony.
Chapter 13: Because I Said So!
I am never going to see the light of day again, am I, Strong Bones thought as the carriage she rode in slowly swayed back and forth, I am going to jail. Yep, straight off to jail. Never going to see family or friends again. And when Discord finds me…!
Across from her, Princess Celestia studied her with a calm glaze. She wished that Celestia would just get it over with and say that she was in deep and was going to be banished or something. Perhaps put in a dungeon or even an execution! Had anyone been executed before by Celestia? Oh, why did she have to forget all those history lessons now!
"Have you gotten far in your research, doctor?" Celestia asked in way of light conversation.
"And what research would that be, your Highness?" Strong Bones was trying to sound calm, but her voice wavered a bit. Was she really trying to lie to the Princess?
"Why, the one you asked the Royal Canterlot Library about," Celestia smiled knowingly.
"Poorly," she answered honestly, as that was something she had no problem in admitting, "I had hoped to get some more finalized information from the library. I wasn't expecting..."
"This?" Celestia suggested at the doctors pause.
"Yes," she giggled nervously, "I was hoping that this would help conclude my…"
She struggled yet again for the right word. The Princess's gaze rested upon her face, making time feel like it was going even slower. Or perhaps it was just her brain that was moving slower and the world moving fast. Either way it was hard to think with her heart beating in her ears.
"Project," she finally provided, though it came out more like a question.
"Ah, yes. Your...project," Celestia stated with the same general pause and disbelief at the term, "May I ask what inspired such a project. I must say that cutie marks are not something that most ponies choose to research."
"Why, my natural curiosity, of course," she tried to smile convincingly.
"Of course," Celestia repeated dryly.
Silence reigned in the carriage for a minute. Strong Bones trying her best to avoid eye contact with the Celestia, while Celestia waited in silence for her to speak. It was Celestia who broke the silence first.
"May we cut to the chase, doctor?"
Strong Bones felt her heart constrict in her chest.
Here it comes, she thought, I am going to be exiled from Equestria! Gone forever! No goodbyes!
"And what would that be, your Majesty?" Strong Bones tried to smile, but couldn't seem to be able to make her mouth cooperate.
"One of my subjects recently was injured in an...accident." Celestia began carefully choosing her words, "She has gone missing, and her friends would like for her to return home."
When in doubt, Strong Bones thought to herself, Deny, deny, deny.
"And what makes you think I would know where your missing subject is?" the doctor stated softly, looking anywhere but at Celestia.
"Your Highness," she added after a second.
Princess Celestia looked at her with an annoyed expression, before relaxing into a smile. Strong Bones felt like her heart was going to pound out of her chest. Could Celestia actually hear her heartbeat? Was this room getting hotter? How long had she been here? It felt like forever. Wouldn't Celestia just get this over with!
"And how is Fluttershy doing?"
Now that she was not expecting.
"F-Fluttershy," Strong Bones stammered, "Who said anything about Fluttershy? I didn't say anything about Fluttershy! Who in world is that? I wouldn't know anyth-"
"Doctor. Please relax. You are not in trouble."
"Yet," Celestia added after a second. Was the princess...mocking her?
Strong Bones immediately stopped talking, and stared at the floor. She already knew she was caught. She had known that ever since she was put into the carriage. Why was she trying to get out of this? She never really was a good liar.
"Is Fluttershy alright," Celestia asked again with a frown, "We have been trying to contact her but it has only served to worry us more."
"Contact?" Strong Bones asked in confusion, how were they trying to contact her? "You know what, nevermind. I don't need to know."
The doctor paused, looking up at the ceiling of the compartment and sighing dejectedly, "When I was first brought to Fluttershy, she was not in very good shape. If Discord hadn't-"
"Discord?" Celestia asked in a startled voice.
"Well...yeah. He was the one who found me to help heal Fluttershy," she said in confusion. Didn't Celestia realize what was going on? She had thought that if the Princess knew about Fluttershy, then Discord wouldn't be far behind. Especially with how he was acting around the mare.
"Please, start from the very beginning," Celestia urged, her face gaining a level of seriousness that the reminded the doctor of a protective parent when they first learned of their child's injury. It threw her off, making Strong Bones hesitate before she nodding. Either which way, be it the Princess or the Lord of Chaos, fate had put her in a corner. With a sigh, she began from that night in the hospital.
Discord smirked as he reappeared in his little cottage. Those ponies had no idea who they were dealing with! Now he and Fluttershy could be the bestest of friends forever! No interruptions or having to deal with the glares of disapproving ponies! They would play games and perhaps a random chocolate milk party and fly above the masses causing all sorts of havoc!
Once her wing was healed, of course.
Speaking of which, where was the pegasi? The house was unnaturally quiet.
"Fluttershy?" Discord asked softly as he opened the door to her room.
There on the bed she still sat, eyes unfocused, looking off into the distance. As a matter of fact, it looked as though she had not moved at all since he left.
"Fluttershy," Discord repeated, trying to get her attention, "Are you alright?"
The pegasi did not respond, remaining stationary on the bed. Discord slowly entered the room, moving to sit beside her.
"Fluttershy," Discord called out, gently placing his paw on her shoulder.
As if a spell had been broken, Fluttershy jumped to his touch, her eyes fluttering as they struggled to gain focus of the room around her.
"Discord," she smiled upon spotting him, "I'm sorry. I didn't even hear you come in. I was going to get a surprise cake ready for you, but I think I ran out of time. Perhaps we could have Unsurprised Surprise Cake instead of a Surprise Cake! How does that sound to you?"
"Ooookay," Discord muttered. He completely understood the need for cake at random times, half of his life's work was summoning random confectionary treats at moments in time to cause all forms of havoc, but this seemed a bit out of character for Fluttershy. Was this related to the cutie mark again?
"Then after that," Fluttershy continued with a large smile that seemed strained upon her face, one that didn't quite reach the eyes, "We could throw a party! I could practice my magic and we could play games and-"
"Fluttershy," Discord interrupted, "This...this is not like you at all. Are you feeling alright?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, tilting her head to the side and giving a slight pout, "I thought you liked parties?"
"Well of course I do my dear! But that isn't the point! You aren't well, are you!" he declared, his voice coming out as a rough shout, "All of these-these parties and cakes and-and stuff! Ugh! What happened to the quiet tea times and tail fluffing and animal caring?"
"But my cutie ma-"
"No! Its that stupid spell's fault!" Discord growled out, his eyes glaring down at the mark on her flank in disdain, "What is with you ponies and your stupid cutie marks!"
Fluttershy looked up at him with betrayal, her eyes slowly forming tears as she offered an explanation.
"O-our cutie marks mark our destiny," her voice floated up softly as she glanced away, "They show our maturity into adulthood and our place in the community. They show that we understand who we are and what we were meant to be."
Discord shook his head. He already understood that much, but it didn't explain the girls apparent fixation upon following what a stupid tattoo might symbolize, "But why does one little mark matter so much to you ponies? Why is it affecting you this way?"
"I-I don't know," Fluttershy cried out in frustration, tears now freely flowing from her eyes, "It symbolizes me. Cutie marks are there to guide us ponies to our destinies! They tell us what we are to this world! Or-or at least it is supposed to!"
Fluttershy mashed her hooves into the bed sheets as she started to yell.
"It tells me what I should be doing! It tells me I am a party pony! It tells me that I am here to make the world happy! It tells me that I should be making ponies smile! So why! Why can't I do that?!"
She looked up at the draconequus in frustration and sorrow, her voice that filled the room seconds before now down to a soft whisper, "Tell me, Discord! Why am I so-so unnatural? Why is my destiny something that I cannot fulfil? Why can I not make ponies happy?"
As Fluttershy cried into her hooves, Discord cursed at himself. Why did he have to go and make her cry? He was just as frustrated and confused as she was about this whole cutie mark thing and he had to take it out on her. He really was bad at this friend stuff, wasn't he….
"Fluttershy. It-it's going to be alright," he said softly, awkwardly putting a paw on her shoulder. He didn't quite know how to calm somepony down. He was never good at this. Mostly he just played pranks and changed the surroundings to some crazy landscape of his own creation, ignoring the issues that followed. He was there to cause chaos, not deal with the consequences that followed. Not the tears.
Stiffly he tried to pat her back as her tears began to descend into hiccups. What did others do when someone was upset? They, what, listened and sat there with them and tried cheering the up…. That was it! He could cheer her up with the events of the day!
"How about some good news?" he asked with a smile.
"What good news," she asked miserably.
"I saw your friends today."
"M-my friends?"
"And I am glad to say you never have to see them again!"
"What?!" Fluttershy's head snapped up to stare at Discord in horror. Sure, she may have run away from her friends, but there was always this option to go back. She didn't run away because she hated them! She ran because of the other ponies.
"What...what happened?" she asked shakily.
"I went to Ponyville and found all your friends celebrating. It was as if they were happy you were gone!"
"That...that doesn't sound like my friends…"
"But that is what they were doing! Believe in old Discord when he said that it is! They were all collected in that library, laughing away at something or other!"
Fluttershy bit her lip as she thought about it. Celebrating at a time like this? That did not sound like any of her friends at all. As long as she had known them they had always tried their best to put their responsibilities to Ponyville and Celestia first, then parties second. They wouldn't just party at a time like this without her.
But Discord had been so helpful and kind these last few days. He had cared for her when she was injured, brought her food, and even respectfully gave her space when she asked for it. Could he be lying?
He looked down at her face of uncertainty and urged once more, "You can trust me, my dear, that is what I saw!"
"I don't know, Discord," Fluttershy whispered, "Maybe I should go talk to them."
"Talk to them?!" Discord cried out.
"Well, maybe...it might help explain the situation. I bet this is all just a big misunderstanding."
"Fluttershy," Discord hissed, shaking his head back and forth. As much as that cutie mark had changed her, she still was the same, trusting, naive Fluttershy at heart. "Why would you want to do that! They have abandoned you! Your supposed friend has cast a spell on you and now they are all celebrating your absence!"
"But it doesn't sound right," Fluttershy pressed on, "Maybe I should go see them. We can talk this all out!"
"No! I refuse to let you go back to them!"
"You...you refuse to let me go?" she stared intently up at Discord accusingly. Why would he keep her apart from her friends?
"But why?" she asked in confusion.
"Because I said so!" Discord's eyes bored into her own as he stared intently at her. Did she not understand what he was trying to protect her from? Her returning to those so-called friends would only end in heartbreak and tears! He just knew it!
"Because you...said so?"
"Yes! I have seen this before! Ponies can be such fickle creatures! They say one thing but do the other! They are mean and deceitful and lie!"
"I am a pony, Discord," Fluttershy looked at him with hurt eyes, "Not to mention that those are things that they say about you."
"Well, yes," Discord backtracked, kneeling by her bedside and grabbing her hooves between his hands, "But-but you are different, dear, dear Fluttershy! You are compassion and kindness made real by the sunshine!"
"D-discord," she fought back a blush at his sudden spout of poetry, trying to keep him on the matter at hand.
"And the rest of them….the rest of them hide like shadows in the dark. Waiting to strike out and steal the light that you wield. So, no! You cannot go back to your "friends!" I utterly forbid-"
"That's not good enough!" Fluttershy's sudden interruption caught him off guard, making him immediately shut up, "I understand that you want to protect me, but-but these are my friends we are talking about. You can't just say that I am not allowed to see them anymore! That's not how things work!"
Discord stepped back. It was always a bit startling whenever Fluttershy's assertive side came out.
"You don't understand-" He started to say.
"No!" she held his gaze. She hated how he was making it feel like she was the one betraying their friendship.
"You don't understand! These are choices that I must make! Not you, Discord! I want to see my friends! Now!"
Discord slunk to the ground so that he was at eye level with the pony. He held her gaze for a few seconds before it drifted off to the floor below.
"Please," he whispered to her, his gaze refusing to meet her eyes, "Please don't leave. If you leave, I fear you may never come back."
Fluttershy was taken aback by this comment. She had been worried for a moment he had turned back into the greedy chaos lord they had first met, and instead he had become more morose. Was this the side of Discord that he normally hid away from the world?
"Why would I not come back?" she whispered softly.
"I...I don't know!" Discord looked up, pulling at his mane in frustration, "Celestia will most likely demand it! She probably thinks I foal-napped you as it is! Other ponies already hate and fear me as though I was some sort of-of mutant! Not to mention your "friends" probably want me to be returned to stone now."
"I know we may have our differences," Fluttershy took his claw softly into her hooves and tried to pet it in a soothing way, "But Celestia is fair and my friends will-"
"No! You don't understand!" Discord grabbed her, looking her straight in the eyes, "I don't want to go back to the way it was before! I don't want the fear! I don't want the hatred! I don't want the-"
Discord stopped as though he had said too much.
Fluttershy looked up at him, "You don't want...what?"
With a defeated look, he hunched over and mumbled to the floor, "The loneliness."
Fluttershy looked at him in empathy, but couldn't help but be confused with this revelation, "Why would you go back to that?"
"You wouldn't understand," Discord huffed, rolling his eyes to the corner of the room.
Fluttershy took a breath and went to inquire further, but the sound of a chime took away any chance she had to respond. It's deep, billowy tones rang through the whole cottage, making the room around them shake. Looking up at Discord in confusion, she saw only a hardness and fury that seemed to lurk deep below.
That look, she thought to herself, That is just like the old Discord.
"Looks like we have unexpected guests," Discord narrowed his eyes, oblivious to her inner musings.
"Guests?"
"Just stay here. I'll be back."
"No! I should go with you. What if it's my friends!"
"Friends?" Discord scoffed. He was trying to be more open with her but had to be interrupted by whoever this was. No, he was past the point of kindness.
"They cast a spell to change your cutie mark, they drive you out of Ponyville, they celebrate your absence, and you still consider them your friends?"
"I am sure that it was a mistake," Fluttershy looked down at her hooves, her courage from earlier now long forgotten, "They...they probably didn't mean for everything to be like this."
Discord stared at her in disbelief before he began to smile softly down at her.
"Dear, dear sweet and innocent Fluttershy," his voice floated down to her ears in a soothing manner as he used his clawed hand to push her chin up so that their eyes met, "You really are too kind for your own good."
Discord smiled down at her, the look in his eyes reminded her of when they had first met and he was terrorizing Ponyville. It made Fluttershy's skin crawl.
"I'm sure this is just the stress of the day talking," he said in a dismissive yet smooth voice, "You should stay here and rest. We don't want you getting tired and embarrassing yourself in front of your friends!"
"But-but I'm not tired," her voice just barely audible in her fear.
Discord smiled as he reached out with his paw and tapped her on the head. Fluttershy immediately passed out into his arms.
"You are now," Discord laughed. A small part of him felt guilty at what he just did. He really didn't want to use his magic on her, but he couldn't risk her getting injured by these...intruders. Yes, it was for the best that she just stayed here, safe and out of harms way. Then later they could discuss things and he could convince her once and for all that she was safest here, with him.
She would be his friend...forever.
Fluttershy found herself upon a stage again. The curtains remained closed, but she knew when they opened that everything she feared would be let loose.
"My dear," Discord's voice said from the side of the stage, "The show is about to begin! Are you ready?"
"I-I don't know if I can do this," Fluttershy whimpered.
She knew, she just knew when the curtains opened, she would have to deal with all those ponies. And Fluttershy honestly didn't know if she could handle it anymore….
"But! But Fluttershy!" Discord cried out, "You wouldn't leave me now! You promised you would stay! You can't leave! You wouldn't leave! Would you?"
The look on his face made her heart break. She couldn't just leave him now. He was depending on her!
But, oh, how she was tired. So very, very tired. Fluttershy couldn't handle those judging eyes and fierce stares. No matter what she tried, she could just never meet with their expectations. They were never going to smile for her.
Flopping down to the ground, Fluttershy began to cry.
"Fluttershy," a calming voice said from nearby.
Fluttershy snivelled a bit as she looked around the stage for the voice. It sounded so familiar. Looking over her shoulder, she spotted Princess Luna walking towards her, wings spread wide in a majestic fashion as her hair flowed in some ethereal wind.
"I am so glad I finally found you," Luna said softly, walking up to her, "Are you alright? Have you been hurt in any way?"
"I-I am fine," Fluttershy said, sniffling softly, "I-I-"
"Fluttershy!" Discord's interrupted her
"Discord?" Luna studied the draconequus' form with a frown, "I had been wondering…."
"Please get up Fluttershy," Discord continued as if Luna was not there, "The show is about to begin! How can the show go on if you don't get up!"
Discord's reminder of everything beyond the stage was just too much. The failure of her job and destiny, the expectations from her fellow ponies in the town, the judging eyes of her friends, all weighed down heavily on her. And Fluttershy broke down, tears pouring down her bawling face.
Luna rushed to her side, pulling a wing comfortingly over her sobbing form, "Fluttershy. Shhhh, dear Fluttershy. It is going to be alright."
"I-it's not going to be alright!" Fluttershy cried out between sniffs and hiccups, "I-I can't do anything right! N-no matter h-how hard I try! Everypony hates me!"
"No pony hates you," Luna said softly, "Why would you think that?"
"H-how can I fulfill my destiny if I can't make any pony smile," Fluttershy whimpered, "I tried so hard, and-and no pony ever smiled for me! I tried and tried and tried and tried!"
Taking a big gulp of air, she continued, words spilling from her mouth faster and faster as she went on, "It-it has to be my destiny, r-right? It's what my cutie mark is saying! I have to-to entertain ponies! But-but I can't do that! I can't stand to be the center of attention! I can't stand their disappointed eyes or their angry glances! I go to speak and my voice is gone! I t-try to tell a joke and they all frown! I do a magic trick and all I can do is make my audience disappear! I don't understand! What am I doing wrong! My cutie mark keeps telling me to make them smile, I can hear the laughter inside my head, but they never do! Why can't I fulfill my destiny!"
Luna watched in sadness. She felt at least partially at fault here. She had finally relented, after months of urging, to Celestia's plan for Twilight Sparkle, but had never expected anything like this. This was why she took so long to agree to the so called plan. Why was one pony so important that the others had to be hurt? Watching Fluttershy's continued tears just broke Luna's heart.
"If you are here," the pegasus whispered, her voice sounding tired and drained, "Then this is a dream, isn't it."
"Fluttershy," Luna whispered softly to her, pulling the sad mare closer to her, "I know everything is bad right now, but I can promise you it will get better soon."
"It will?" Fluttershy's faint voice was barely heard.
"My little pony," Luna cooed, "Why did you leave your friends? They are so worried about you."
"They-they are?" Fluttershy asked with a sniff, looking up shyly at Luna's face to see if it was the truth.
"Of course, dearest Fluttershy," Luna giggled softly, "They want to help you, but you left before they could. They have been so worried and are searching everywhere for you."
"But why would they?" Fluttershy looked away, "I-I know the truth. Twilight Sparkle cast some sort of spell on me! Now they are all laughing and celebrating that I left Ponyville!"
"Who told you that?" Luna asked in shock.
"D-Discord," Fluttershy whispered, staring at his form across the stage.
"Discord," Luna tested the word. She didn't fully trust the draconequus, no matter how much he claimed to be reformed. She did not care what her sister or the creature insisted, she remembered their battles against him and what he had done to Equestria. He had already proved himself less than trustworthy on more than one occasion.
Was this one of his games? Had taken to tormenting and playing with ponies once more, starting with the kind little Fluttershy? No, it didn't feel that way. Fluttershy wasn't upset because she was being tortured by a demented being of power. She was upset because of this spell gone wrong.
"Fluttershy," Luna said, "I won't lie to you. Twilight Sparkle did cast that spell that hurt you."
Fluttershy gasped softly, tears freely flowing down her face.
"But this was never the intent of the spell," Luna continued, "Twilight Sparkle didn't even know what the spell would do. She never meant to hurt you."
"So...so why are they all celebrating that I am gone?"
"I don't know about anypony celebrating," Luna frowned, "But your friends have all been looking everywhere for you. Twilight Sparkle knows how to end this spell that is making you feel so terrible. They are all very worried and want to fix this for you Fluttershy."
Fluttershy hesitated, uncertain of what to say.
Luna picked up on her hesitancy and sighed, "Why did you run away Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy sat in silence as she contemplated the question. She had run away because she was scared. She was scared of failing her supposed destiny, scared of the townsponies' gazes, and scared of saying goodbye. She was scared of everything.
So she ran.
And she was beginning to deeply regret it.
"Fluttershy," Luna's voice stopped her frantic thoughts, "Your friends only want to help you."
"I…" Fluttershy began, her voice failing her again.
"Your friends care deeply for you. They don't care if you can't make other ponies smile, as you can always make them smile. They wouldn't care if you could not tell a single joke in the world. You are their friend, and they miss you so very much. Don't you think it is time to return home, Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy's mind was going a mile a minute. She couldn't keep up with all these thoughts. It made sense. Her friends were always there for her in the past. Just as she was always there for them.
"You-you're right!" she cried out, her tears renewed, "I never should have left!"
"It is going to be alright, my little pony," Luna whispered to her, hugging her close.
"W-what should I do," Fluttershy asked as Luna released her from the hug, "I don't think they'll ever forgive me for leaving!"
"Your friends only want their friend back," Luna stated with confidence, "They will forgive you for leaving."
Taking a deep breath, she thought about what Princess Luna had just said. Of course her friends would forgive her. They forgave each other for anything! They all cared for and looked after one another so much, why would they let this ruin their already strong friendships.
With a small smile Fluttershy slowly got up to her feet, her gaze going across the stage. The curtains no longer seemed as scary as they once did. Strange, it was as if by the Princess simply being there that nothing bad could happen anymore. Like everything was going to be alright and there was nothing to fear.
Then her eyes landed on Discord.
"What…" Fluttershy looked up at Luna as she struggled to word her question right, "What about Discord? He is my friend too."
"Discord," Luna frowned, "If he is truly your friend, he will recognize that you need to get back to your other friends. He will understand that you have to leave for now and that he cannot keep you like a caged bird."
The dream Discord made his way across the stage and stood shyly before the small pony.
"Please don't go Fluttershy," Discord's voice sounded pitiful.
"Discord," Fluttershy said softly, "I'm not leaving. Not forever. I just need to get better. You understand, right?"
"I-I-I-" Discord stammered. Strange. Now that Fluttershy realized that this had to be a dream version of Discord it was easy to see that he was so unlike his usual self.
"Don't worry Discord," Fluttershy smiled up at her minds projection of the draconequus, giving him a hug, "We will always be friends."
Fluttershy let go and saw the soft smile on Discord's face. Yes, everything was going to be alright now. She would return to the awake world and talk with the real Discord. Let him know why she had to leave, and reassure him that she would be back. Giving Luna one last look, before turning to the front of the stage as the curtains opened, the blinding light from the other side filled the stage with light. This time, Fluttershy didn't feel so afraid.