When a person, or two, just gets in your head

It's been two weeks since Fluttershy received her letter, and in those two weeks her training started to intensify, they didn't take it too easy on her anymore.

It was rough and pretty tough but Fluttershy's determination to improve herself kept her going, not the first time she's had to push herself physically.

Now this wasn't that easy for her, she was usually banged up or on the verge of tears, but she remembered that she wanted this, even though she could quit at any time, she wouldn't, she would see this out.

Soon Campbell had called Snake, Raiden & Fluttershy to the meeting room, he had a mission ready for them to do.

"This mission will be slightly different, it's a hostage situation, a group of marines have been taken prisoner by Liquid's men, if a ransom is not met soon, those men will be executed on national T.V.", Campbell said.

"What!? They can't do that!?" Raiden shouted.

"They will, that's why you have to go in there and rescue those men"

"This is barbaric! What are they trying to prove?" Raiden asked.

"They just want to instill fear in the hearts of everyone, if they kill marines on TV, that's gonna send quite the message"

Snake clenched his fists a bit, "Don't worry Colonel, we'll handle the situation, no marine is gonna die on our watch"

Campbell nodded and turned to Fluttershy, "This is a big mission, a chance to prove yourself, I hope you don't let us down Fluttershy"

Fluttershy saluted, "You can count on me Colonel!"

"You can count on all of us", Raiden said.

"Good, now Meryl and her team won't be joining, they're off handling a situation elsewhere, and Drebin has taken them, so you're gonna have to head part of the way on foot, hopefully Meryl will be done by the time you're finished with your mission, otherwise you're gonna have to find a way back here, doing this through stealth will be hard so you might have to go in and make a little noise"

"Fine by me", Snake said while loading his M4.

"Same here", Raiden said while whipping out his sword.

Fluttershy simply nodded, "Ok Colonel"

They took a Helicopter piloted by Otacon to the base, they landed far enough not to draw attention.

"Ok, you have my codec, let me know when you finish, I can get you back to the Cargo Plane", Otacon said.

"Right", Snake said.

"Good luck, all 3 of you"

The trio then proceeded to the base in hopes of finding the captured marines.

They snuck around a bit, hoping not to trip any alarms, otherwise risk losing the chance to get to the marines, not to mention if they get caught, the marines could be executed.

Any solider that came too close to them were usually grabbed by Snake or Raiden and rendered unconscious, or in some cases, some soliders took a pressure point shot from Fluttershy, to which she would whisper an apology.

"Fluttershy, you don't need to apologize to every solider you knock out", Raiden said.

"But it would be rude if I didn't, Fluttershy said.

Raiden gave her a hopeless look before continuing the mission.

They snuck around until they saw some marines being transported somewhere.

"Must be more hostages they captured", Raiden said.

"We better move quickly then", Snake said.

They moved carefully, not wanting to set off any alerts.

As they moved they noticed the area full of Marines.

"There it is, we need to cause a distraction and get those soldiers away, otherwise those men are gonna get killed", Snake said.

"What do you have in mind?" Raiden asked.

While Snake thought of something, Fluttershy noticed some birds nearby.

"I think I know what we can do, hold on", Fluttershy said.

She approached the birds and said something to them.

"Is she talking with birds?" Snake asked.

"She specializes with animals back in her world, so this doesn't seem too unusual"

The birds then left and Fluttershy went back to Snake & Raiden, "Don't worry, I got everything under control. just wait a few minutes"

Snake & Raiden seemed confused but decided to trust Fluttershy's judgment.

Soon a whole flock of birds arrived and started bothering the soldiers, mostly pecking though others tried resting on the soldiers, really annoying them.

The Soliders ran around very agitated, trying to escape the birds, more started coming and chased away the soldiers.

Snake & Raiden were impressed.

"Wow, that worked pretty well, Fluttershy you did that?" Snake asked.

"Yeah, I asked those birds if they can chase those soldiers away, now we can rescue the Marines without violence", Fluttershy said.

"Very resourceful", Snake said.

"Come on, before those soldiers get back", Raiden said.

Snake, Raiden & Fluttershy approached the marines and freed them from their bindings.

The marines were confused at the sight of Fluttershy, "What is that thing?" One asked.

Raiden looked annoyed, "First, that's not a thing, that's a Pegasus, second she's the one that summoned all those birds to chase away your captors, so show some gratitude"

"But how is this-"

"Never mind!" Snake shouted, "Let's just go before those men get back!"

"Yes sir Solid Snake, ok men grab your weapons and move!"

The Marine grabbed their Assault Rifles and ran off.

Snake contacted Otacon, "We got the marines, we're on our way back"

"Good, Meryl's just about finished, she may stop by and help get you all out of there", Otacon said.

As Snake, Raiden & Fluttershy moved forward, Fluttershy suddenly stopped and grabbed her head in pain.

Raiden noticed, "You ok 'Shy?"

Fluttershy held her head, "Something feels...weird"

She then heard a voice in her head, "Little pony...I can see into your mind...so much happiness, harmony, it disgusts me"

Fluttershy held her head, "Who are you? Where are you!?"

Raiden looked concerned, Snake also came, "What's wrong?"

"I'm not sure", Raiden said.

"I am just doing some work on behalf of my boss...as well as your king"

Fluttershy cringed her face, "Are you working for King Sombra?"

"I'm just doing him a favor, he's provided me and my boss with a few details about you, as well as giving me the power to destroy you and your friends"

"Get out of my head! Who are you!"

Raiden's concern grew, "What's happening? Who are you talking to Fluttershy!?"

Fluttershy then started screaming, her eyes started glowing, freaking out Snake & Raiden.

"Dammit! What's going on!?" Snake asked.

Raiden grabbed Fluttershy into a hug, "Fluttershy, what's wrong!? Talk to me!"

"Poor pony, your mind is so weak, this is too easy!"

Soon some scary images flashed in Fluttershy's mind, images of death and destruction, especially in her world, then Fluttershy could hear the sound of her friends screaming in terror, then the sounds of her friends of this world dying.

Fluttershy started tearing up, "Get out of my mind!"

"Fluttershy! Who's voice are you hearing!?" Snake asked.

Fluttershy managed out an answer, "Not sure...says he sees inside my mind"

Raiden wasn't sure what was happening, he was really scared for Fluttershy, Snake however had an idea, "It can't be..."

Fluttershy started screaming more and flew into the air, "Get Out Now!"

Raiden was also afraid for her, "Whatever it is, you have to fight it! You need to be stronger than it!"

Fluttershy held her head and then went limp mid-air, then her eyes lost their pupils and she stared at the two and spoke in a voice that sounded like a combination of hers and another person's.

"Snake...it's been a while"

Snake clenched his fists, "Psycho Mantis..."

Raiden looked confused, "Psycho Mantis? But he should be dead!"

"Not sure how, but that's definitely Psycho Mantis"

Fluttershy glared at Raiden, "Do you need proof of my existance, fine, I will show you my powers of psychogenesis, telekinesis & telepathy"

Fluttershy then started to fight it a bit, "No! I can't let you hurt them, I won't...AAAHHH!" she held her head and her eyes glowed more, "Silence girl! I'm running things here!"

"Mantis, get out of her head! I swear I will find you!" Raiden threatened.

Fluttershy glared at Raiden, "You seem to really care about this girl...I know she cares about you...she loves you, you seem to struggle with your feelings, part of you loves her back, part of you remembers Rosemary, oh how she might react to this..."

Snake turned to Raiden, "She loves you? And you love her? What's going on!?"

Raiden groaned, "That's not important now! We need to rescue Fluttershy! Mantis, where are you!?"

Fluttershy did an evil laugh, "You won't find me, but I will find you, count on that"

Suddenly Fluttershy grabbed her head and growled, "GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"

Soon an aura glowed around her and Mantis screamed.

"Her Elemental Magic's too strong..."

Soon Fluttershy was able to finally get Mantis out of her head and she fell to Raiden, who quickly grabbed and held her, "I got you Fluttershy, I'll keep you safe"

Raiden and Snake then heard a voice, "I'll be back!"

Soon everything dissipated, Snake & Raiden decided to leave before anything else strange happens.

Soon Drebin had arrived and he assisted in bringing Snake & Raiden to the plane while Otacon used the Helicopter to get the Marines back to their base.

While there Fluttershy was still somewhat freaked from the whole PSycho Mantis ordeal, she was sobbing and crying from the situation.

Raiden comforted her, "Don't worry, you're safe, we'll get Psycho Mantis for that"

Fluttershy hugged him, "I was so scared...he showed me horrible things!"

"He just likes to play mind games", Raiden said.

Meryl sat next to Fluttershy, "I know what it's like for Mantis to mess with your head, he's fucked around with my mind as well"

Fluttershy was still crying, Meryl stroked her mane to calm her down.

Snake approached the two, "Meryl, mind taking Fluttershy to her room? I need to speak with Raiden a moment"

Meryl nodded and picked up Fluttershy and walked her back to her room, Snake turned to Raiden.

"So...what's this about Fluttershy being in love with you?"

Raiden sighed, "She told me she had a crush on me, I told her I couldn't really return her feelings"

"Did you tell her you're still married?" Snake asked.

"No...though quite honestly I don't know how long that's gonna last"

"She still needs to know that, you've had marital problems with Rose before, and they've been straightened out, what happened this time anyway?"

Raiden rubbed his head, "She's just unhappy that I'm back to this lifestyle, she wanted me to retire, but I just can't do that yet, there's still a lot I can offer, especially now with Liquid being back"

"Raiden...you don't have to do this, do yourself and your family a favor, just step down, it's not worth it to keep fighting"

"What else can I do Snake!? Being a solider is all I know, and now I'm a highly gifted solider, if I can still contribute then by God I'm going to do so!"

"But Raiden-"

"I have to do this Snake, besides let's say I do retire, what about Fluttershy, she needs someone to take care of her"

"Then bring her home with you, keep her there until you can get her home, neither of you need to risk your life"

"Snake...I can't bring Fluttershy home, she's in love with me, suppose her jealousy of Rose shows, or Rose gets the idea that Fluttershy loves me"

"You have to explain to Fluttershy that you're married, she'll get over it"

Raiden sat back very stressed out, "She told me over a month ago, I once thought it was a phase, I'm not even so sure anymore, I think her feelings are real, breaking it to her that I'm married is gonna screw with her head too much"

Snake simply paced a bit, "I hope you know how you're gonna handle this"

"I got this Snake, don't worry about it, let's just worry about our enemies, right now Liquid has Vamp & Psycho Mantis on his side, who knows what other old enemies might return"

Snake groaned a bit, "Fine, just make sure it doesn't blow up in your face"

As Snake walked off, Raiden sighed loudly and rubbed his head before sitting down to just think about everything.

Fluttershy was in her room, Meryl still there, comforting her, "You want anything? A nice drink or something?"

Fluttershy weakly nodded, "Yes please, Lemonade"

Meryl nodded, "Be right back", she left the room, Fluttershy was still upset, then another voice entered her head.

"You have much sorrow in your heart"

Fluttershy looked scared, "Who said that?"

"Fear not, I mean no harm, I am simply known as 'The Sorrow', I believe your Crusade of Kindness is a noble one, this world has too much death, destruction, violence, stuff like that results in many emotions, your emotions are that of sorrow, pity for others, it's a rare thing, you have the power to help shape this world, but to do that, you must improve both psychically, mentally and emotionally, prove to the world that not everything needs war"

"What about Liquid Snake? Will it work with him?"

"Some are too late to save, but others aren't, sometimes before you can plant a new fresh garden, you must remove the weeds, to purify the world, you must remove everything that plagues it, then you start anew, with Kindness, then all souls can be at peace"

Soon The Sorrow faded away and Fluttershy pondered.

Meryl entered the room with Lemonade, "Here you go"

"Thanks Meryl", she sipped it while still thinking of The Sorrow's words.

Raiden then entered the room to check on Fluttershy, Merly decided to leave them alone and Raiden sat next to her.

Fluttershy turned to him and hugged him, "Thank you for protecting me the way you do"

Raiden hugged back, "Never any trouble"

The two kept the embrace, Meryl noticed and smiled a bit, happy that Fluttershy seems to be recovering just fine.

What will Psycho Mantis do next? And what will happen between Fluttershy & Raiden?