Chapter 12

Reminders of Home

Five Days Later-

Fluttershy paced in her living room, fanning herself and grinding her teeth. She stared out at the early morning sun from her living room window as it beckoned to her. For the last two weeks she'd stayed inside, only going out to feed her chickens. It was beginning to take its toll. The walls inched in closer with every step she took, and it was all she could do not to scream.

She shook her mane as she tapped a hoof on the mahogany floor. I can't take it anymore! I don't want anypony to get hurt, but if I don't get out of here for a while, I'm going to go nuts! I have to go somewhere, have to do something!

Fluttershy had been scared to death about going out again ever since the incident in the fog a few weeks back. She remembered the looks of heartless menace in Megnii and Spesci's faces, their voices like knives as they rushed Derpy and the Doctor. She'd been able to stop them in time, yes, but she wasn't about to tempt fate a second time.

Her wings quivered at her sides. She adjusted them as she sighed, giving an exaggerated nod. All right, It's not going to anypony much good if I turn into a madmare. I'll go somewhere, but it has to be a place where there aren't any other ponies around.

The walls resumed their normal dimensions at her decision. Fluttershy walked over to a bookshelf and pulled out a brown, cloth-covered scrapbook. She placed it on a table and opened it, flipping through the pictures and debating each one in turn.

She stopped on a picture of a swamp with sickly green waters and brown noxious bubbles. Drooping, thin trees with mossy branches dotted the waters, their long, twisting roots reaching far out beyond their base and sinking into the murky depths. The air was filled with a dark haze that, upon closer inspection, was revealed to be swarms of mosquitos, gnats, and flies. Fluttershy wrinkled her nose. Not there. Every time I go to Froggy Bottom Bog I spend at least two hours getting the smell out of my mane. Besides, I heard rumors that a hydra has moved in there, and they can be really grouchy.

The next page held a picture of a sparsely wooded countryside with mature, healthy trees and rocky streams. A faint rainbow hung in place over a waterfall, which crashed down from a nearby cliffside. The misty spray drenched a nearby stone bridge with a herd of deer engraved on its side. Trails of smoke could be seen in the distance as a group of ponies made camp a short ways away. She shook her head. I went to Whitetail Wood last month, and there'll be lots of ponies camping around there until the Running of the Leaves. I need something secluded, and farther away.

An idea came to Fluttershy. She turned the pages for a few moments before stopping on one near the back. On it was a picture of a pristine lake larger than the eye could see. Its waters were perfectly still, reflecting the deep azure above like a colossal mirror. The twin skies stretched out to the horizon in perfect parallel, merging so that you couldn't tell where one ended and the other began.

Fluttershy hummed as she remembered the day she'd taken the picture. It's so nice there this time of year. The waters are warm, the berries will be ripe, there'll be nopony out at the island, and it's so much like home...

The word plucked a sensitive heartstring. Fluttershy looked up at a different picture on the wall, framed in dry, braided straw. A younger version of herself stood on a spotless golden beach, her wide, innocent eyes sparkling in the fading light of the setting sun. She wore an open-mouthed, joyous smile as she stood between two adult pegasi. The first was a stallion wearing a bright green flowered shirt that clashed horribly with his dark peach coat. He beamed as he rested a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. On her other side was a mare, tall and willowy, her mocha coat accentuating the circlet of flowers on her brow. She wore a mysterious smile as she draped an extremely long, slender wing around Fluttershy in a loving embrace.

A familiar, dull ache pulsed in the back of her throat. She bit it back and looked away, but the damage had been done. Fluttershy failed to suppress a whimper as she covered her face. It really has been crazy lately if I haven't even had time to be homesick. I forgot how long it's been since I've seen Mom and Dad, let alone when I got to go home last. I hope they're okay.

She set aside her nostalgia and set her jaw. That settles it; Dragon Turtle Lake it is. It's a ways away, nopony goes out to the island, and I could use the therapy. Ah, but I'm going to have to fly there, and that means…

She looked back at her wings and sighed. They twitched again as she adjusted a stray feather, causing her entire body to shudder. She was grateful for the stretching exercises her mother had taught her. I was going to have to show them sooner or later. It's just been so long since I've had to explain to anypony. I didn't even have to for Twilight! Then again, I shouldn't have been surprised that she knew right away, smart as she is.

Fluttershy put the picture book back on the shelf. I don't know if Megnii and Spesci are going to be able to keep up. They look pretty strong, but they're going to have to flap more to get as high up as me, and that might tire them out, and then they won't be able to make it all the way, and they'll fall out of the sky and it'll all be my fault!

Her thoughts became smothered as her apprehension covered her mind like a repressive blanket. She disregarded all her plans and started to walk upstairs, trying to make alternative plans for the day.

She took one step on her staircase, and the walls zoomed in again, leaving her feeling like was trapped in a tiny box. Fluttershy's pupils turned to pinpricks as she backed away into the center of the living room, turning in circles and shaking her head. Gotta escape… can't stay here… gotta get out! I'll just fly a little lower for them, and do a little more flapping. They won't have to push themselves so hard that way. Dragon Turtle Lake is really pretty when you get above the clouds, but that's a sacrifice I'll have to make.

Her unnatural movements caused a robin, a badger, and a beaver to come out from various dens nestled around her living room. They tentatively approached her, making sure she was aware of their presence.

The badger raised himself on his hind legs. "What's wrong?"

Fluttershy's ears twitched. She stopped and looked down at him. "Inside too long. Thinking about going to Big Lake."

The beaver to her right slapped his tail on the ground. "Lake is fun! Go with you?"

She shook her head. "Only going for the day. Need to be light."

His whiskers drooped. "You be safe, at least?"

Fluttershy crouched to be eye level with him. "Yellow and purple ones go with me."

More small animals began to emerge. A porcupine uncurled itself from under her couch. Two opossums climbed down from the top of a high-backed chair. A pair of hedgehogs yawned as they shuffled down the stairs. Mice, rabbits, hamsters, ferrets, chinchillas, marmots, and prairie dogs all emerged from a large, multistoried wooden structure with various crawl holes in it. A herd of bunnies hopped out from the kitchen.

She was now surrounded by dozens of her animal friends. They shuffled and played around as they circled around her, voicing continued encouragement. They strengthened the voice inside her that seemed to be so quiet, but was needed to help her to make the hard decisions. The house became filled the sounds of chattering, squeaking, and grunting.

"Go and play!"

"Don't coop yourself up!"

"Stretch your wings!"

"Have some fun!"

Fluttershy felt lighter than air as their voices bolstered her spirits. Not for the first time, she thanked the Sun and Moon for being so lucky to have so many caring friends. She closed her eyes and smiled."Thank you. I'll be back tonight."

Her head bobbed as something jumped out of her mane. Angel landed on the floor, then turned to her and made a shooing motion.

Fluttershy wrinkled her brow. "You don't want to come?"

Angel shrugged. "Said you need to be light. I'll slow you down."

She rubbed the spot where he always nestled. It felt cold without him. "You're always with me. I'm used to your weight."

"Don't like flying that far." Angel gyrated his arms. "Almost fell out last time from falling asleep."

Fluttershy motioned over at a small spool of rope. "I can tie you down."

He motioned towards the other bunnies. "Census coming up. Lots to do."

Fluttershy gasped as she remembered the upcoming birthing season. "Is Bluebell okay?"

Angel fidgeted. "Due soon. Want to be close."

She bent down and nuzzled his cheek. "I understand."Angel hugged her, then went and joined his kin. The group of them waved at her as they hopped out the back door.

"All right," Fluttershy said aloud. "I'll get all of us fed, and then I'll pack."

( * * * )

Twenty minutes later, Fluttershy walked out the back door of her cottage and into the early morning sun. The air was hot and thick despite the early hour, promising that the day would be reminiscent of the months previous. She walked down the sparse stone path past her chicken coop and into the woods beyond.

Two shadows flickered above her as she passed the orange wooden building. Fluttershy looked up to see a barn owl and a bald eagle, circling above and descending rapidly. She stopped and watched the two birds flare their wings and land on a nearby wooden fence, sinking their talons into the soft bark.

Fluttershy stared at the owl. "You're up late."

He gave the sun a look of utmost loathing. "Bad luck hunting."

She drug a hoof on the ground. "Only in Everfree, yes?"

"Of course." The owl stuck his chest. "Taboo to break agreements. As bad as breaking eggs."

Her sigh of relief died in her throat as she beheld his shrunken stomach. Fluttershy bit her lip. "When was the last time you ate?"

The owl looked away. "Not first time I've gone hungry for this long."

Fluttershy thought for a moment. "Ask Mr. and Mrs. Bear to get you something."

The owl lowered his head. "Female is very protective of new cubs. Male is always grumpy. Best to stay away."

She looked out at the Everfree Forest to the east. "Say I sent you. They owe me a favor."

The owl followed her gaze and bobbed his head. "Will do in evening."

The eagle stared at Fluttershy's sides with his intense, yellow eyes. "Not flown lately. Afraid to show wings to newcomers?"

She flinched as his observation struck true. Fluttershy gave him a sorrowful look. "Haven't explained to anypony in a long time."

The eagle spread his own. "Wings are pretty! They will like!"

Fluttershy's stomach quivered as the remembered the looks of shock and dismay she always got. "They'll stare. Don't like it when ponies stare."

"Stare because pretty!"

She sat on her haunches and stared at the sky. "Stare because different."

The owl flew over to Fluttershy. perching on her shoulder. "Unless never fly again, delaying the inevitable."

Fluttershy leaned her head against his soft feathers. "I know. Just nervous."

"Nerves mean shame." The owl gave her a gentle squeeze. "Be proud of who you are."

"We'll come with you," the eagle said. "Can show them together. Then all ride thermals!"

Fluttershy smiled. "Going to Dragon Turtle Lake. Want to come?"

The eagle cocked his head. "Too far. Will leave you at boundary of Valley."

"Newcomers go, as well?" The owl hopped off her shoulder and back onto the fence.

Fluttershy looked around, seeing no sign of Megnii and Spesci. "Going to tell them now. Know where they are?"

The owl puffed out his feathers. "Yes. Can show you."

She watched as he shuffled and clicked his beak. "Don't like them?"

"Keep eating the leaves of favorite roost." He stared at her with bloodshot eyes. "Not as much shade now. Haven't slept well all week."

She got to her hooves. "I'll talk to them."

The owl spread his wings. "Follow me."

He led Fluttershy to a middle-aged oak tree a few hundred yards away in the center of a nearby field behind the chicken coop. It's gnarled, thick branches were filled with ripening acorns and jagged, green leaves. The owl circled the tree once before diving in, disappearing amongst the foliage. The eagle stayed in the air, doing a lazy circle high above. Fluttershy looked up into the tree, and saw Megnii and Spesci perched in the branches, each of them nibbling the nearby leaves. Megnii waved at her.

"Morning!" he said in a chipper tone. "Have you had breakfast?"

Fluttershy nodded. "I just finished."

"Shame." Spesci stripped a twig with his lips. "These leaves are excellent, nice and tart."

"Applejack told me the soil in this area is very rich." Fluttershy bent down and sniffed a daffodil. "All the plants here are really healthy because of it."

Megnii leaned forward and grabbed another clump. "Maybe I should take some back with me to make a garden," he mumbled.

Fluttershy watched as they munched on the leaves. "Um, instead of eating just off this tree, could you choose a few other ones, as well?"

Megnii paused in mid bite. "Why?"

"A friend of mine sleeps here during the day," Fluttershy said. "There won't be any shade for him if you eat too many."

There was a loud, indignant hoot at her words. Megnii and Spesci turned to see the barn owl glaring at them from a few feet away.

Megnii swallowed his mouthful and gave a nervous laugh. "Oops."

Spesci wiped his mouth and raised a hoof in gesture of apology. "Suppose we went overboard. We were only eating off this tree because it's where we've been watching you."

Megnii jumped off the branch, gliding down to land a few feet away. "What were you planning on doing today?"

She pawed at the ground. "I was thinking about going to a place southeast of here."

"Really?" Megnii raised his eyebrows. "What's it called?"

"Dragon Turtle Lake," Fluttershy said. "It's the largest body of freshwater in Equestria."

"Sounds fun," Spesci said. He had landed next to Megnii. "How far is it?"

"It takes me a few hours." Fluttershy's gaze shifted from side to side. "I just ride the thermals and soar the entire way."

Spesci's eyes flickered to her sides. "There must be a lot of thermals if you can do that."

Fluttershy froze as she beheld their expectant faces. Her chest tightened and her limbs shook. I can't do this... she cowered and started to back away.

There was a hoot and a squawk. Fluttershy looked up into the tree to see the owl and eagle waving their wings at her. Her lower lip quivered a moment, but she then gathered her resolve with a shaky breath. She nodded and looked down at Megnii and Spesci.

"I have something to show you."

Megnii blinked. "What?"

Here goes. Fluttershy closed her eyes and relaxed her shoulders.

Megnii and Spesci suddenly realized that Fluttershy was much thinner than she looked. What they'd mistaken for slightly unkempt fur was actually very fine feathers. Her wings had been tucked under her barrel, and then wrapped around her like a blanket. Her entire frame shifted as she unfurled them one at a time.

The first and most obvious thing was their size. Each wing started off wide, enveloping her shoulder and extending all the way down to her knee. They became narrower at the elbow joints, which rested at her flanks and extended out past her body to twice the distance of her tail. Her feathers were short and round at the shoulders, then became narrow and pointed, ending in fine, slotted tips.

As she fully released her wings for the first time in a fortnight, she felt the beginnings of a terrible, undeniable urge. She rolled her shoulders, trying to resist, but it only intensified. She tried as hard as she could not to give in, but it grew to an intolerable level. Finally she gave in with a small groan, stretching her wings to their full span: twice the length of her entire body.

Ah, that feels good…Fluttershy forgot about Megnii and Spesci for a moment as she rid her wings of their accursed stiffness. She was reminded, however, as she opened her eyes and saw the slack-jawed, wide-eyed, incredulous looks on their faces. The sun perforated through her feathers, creating narrow rays and deep shadows that accentuated her already delicate features. For an instant, she was surrounded by a golden aura that made her look like a divine being sent from on high.

Fluttershy folded her wings normally and looked away. "S—Sorry," she murmured. "I don't have enough room to stretch in the house."

Spesci tried, and failed to close his jaw. He slapped himself with a hoof, which had the desired effect. "Fluttershy..." he managed.

"Your wings are huge!" Megnii blurted out.

Spesci shot him a murderous look.

Megnii took note of it, but was unabated. "Well, they are."

Fluttershy began to straighten the feathers of her left wing. "Not huge enough, actually."

The guards slowly turned their heads to her. Spesci stretched out his own wing, which was a third the size of hers. "Huh?"

"They're too short." She kept her attention on what she was doing. "And they're the wrong shape."

Megnii put a hoof to his forehead and closed his eyes. "Okay, I'm lost. What are you talking about?"

Fluttershy stopped her preening and looked at the two of them. "Have either of you heard of Hoofolulu?"

Spesci furrowed his eyebrows. "The island in the Great Western Ocean?"

Fluttershy nodded. "That's where I'm from. I came here when I was ten to attend Flight School."

He frowned. "Why? That's thousands of miles from here."

"Only pegasi are native to Hoofolulu," she explained. "Over the centuries, they developed extremely long, narrow wings so they could cross the ocean. When the island was annexed into Equestria, the natives became couriers to the Kingdom of Antelese to the West."

Megnii squinted at Fluttershy with an awed, open-mouthed smile. "I'd heard that the pegasi of Hoofolulu had exotic wings, but I'd never seen them until now."

"You still haven't," she corrected. "Mom's a Hoofolulu native, but Dad's from Cloudsdale. He moved there after they met while he was on vacation. I have a mix of his normal wings and Mom's albatross wings."

Spesci gave a short, incredulous laugh. "Are you saying that your mom's wings are longer than yours?!"

"By about a third," Fluttershy said. She stretched out her right wing and scratched an itchy spot. "But since mine are wide like Dad's, I can't soar over the ocean. At least, not for thousands of miles."

Megnii's eyes softened."There wasn't much opportunity for you on the island, was there?"

Fluttershy looked away. "Dad's colthood friends with Rainbow Dash's father. They got in touch when we all realized I couldn't be a courier, and set it up for me to go to school here. I lived with them during that time."

Spesci nodded. "You're pretty close with them, aren't you?"

The memories of her adolescence hit her in quick, powerful flashes. Her voice dropped to a thick whisper. "Rainbow's my sister in all but blood. Her parents even call me their second daughter. They've done so much for me, and I love them very much. They're the ones who gave me the cottage as a graduation present."

Megnii did a double take. "They gave you a house?!"

"They didn't have a use for it," Fluttershy said. "It'd been sitting vacant since a distant family member left it to them. When I said I wanted to live in Ponyville, they gave me the deed."

Spesci shielded his eyes as the sun shifted. He moved over to the shade."That was... very kind of them. Do you get to go home often?"

Fluttershy's eyes unfocused. She straightened and looked to the west."Mom usually meets up with me halfway, since that's easiest for both of us."

A warm gust rose from the east, filling the air with the sound of swishing leaves and creaking branches. Megnii followed her gaze westward. "What do you mean?"

"Hoofolulu pegasi have very light bodies, long, narrow, flexible wings, and can fly in their sleep." Fluttershy opened her wings as the wind picked up. They snapped taut, catching the air and pushing her forward. Her hooves brushed the ground as she effortlessly circled once around the tree. "I inherited all of those things, along with Dad's wider wingshape. Together, I have a body that's perfect for soaring over land. As long as there are thermals, I can fly for as long as I like. The only thing I have to stop for is food, and if I bring some with me…"

Spesci watched as she did another lap. It looked like the wind was carrying her while she exerted no effort at all. "What's your wingpower?"

"Um, it depends," Fluttershy said as she landed. "I think I have around two on my own. But since I gain so much lift from the thermals, I wind up going faster the longer I fly. I'll probably be around eight by the time we get to Dragon Turtle Lake."

Megnii whistled. "So you're going to be soaring the whole way and picking up speed because the thermals send you up so high. Spesci and I don't have wings like yours, which means we're going to have to flap to get up as high as you. And on top of that, you're going to be picking up speed the entire time."

Fluttershy folded her wings and trotted back to them. "If I slow down, it's really hard to get going again. I'll eventually outpace you if I don't, though."

Spesci shook his head. "Megnii and I each have around nine wingpower. We're no strangers to a little exertion, and we'll have time to recover in between thermals. We shouldn't get tired."

"I'm sorry," Fluttershy said. "I have this problem with Rainbow, too."

"We'll be fine," Megnii said earnestly. "You probably need this, seeing as you haven't left your property in weeks. I imagine you're starting to get cabin fever."

Fluttershy's eye twitched as she gave a strained smile.

( * * * )

A half-hour later, the three of them embarked for Dragon Turtle Lake. Immediately upon take off, Megnii and Spesci found themselves getting ahead of Fluttershy with their smaller, more agile wings. They circled around and let her in front, cutting their speed to match hers. A bald eagle that had been flying above swooped down close to fly beside Fluttershy. He squawked at her. She nodded, and then turned back to Megnii and Spesci.

"There's a giant thermal to the northeast!" Her voice was almost lost to the wind. "It should be enough to take us all the way out of the Valley!"

Megnii and Spesci followed her and the eagle as they turned around, flying out past the Ponyville city limits into the wide, verdant hills beyond. They flew in silence for a few minutes, neither of the guards seeing or feeling any sign of a disturbance in the air. Megnii spoke up as they crossed over a large hill that was partially draped in shadow. "Are you sure there's a ther—"

Fluttershy and the eagle shot up with astounding force, shrinking into a pair of yellow and brown dots as they ascended high into the heavens. Megnii and Spesci jerked as they felt the first tendrils of warm air begin to push them up.

"Oh boy…" Megnii steadied his wings.

Spesci smirked. "Here we go."

The two of them were rocketed skyward as they entered the thermal, the details of the lands below blending into vague shapes and colors as they went farther into the heavenly realms. They angled their wings and began to circle around so that they stayed inside the warm current of air. Fluttershy ascended much faster above them; her larger, wider wings better catching the air and flinging her up like a pellet in a slingshot. She reached the top of the thermal and continued to climb, leveling out at twenty-five thousand feet. She looked down to see Megnii and Spesci halfway up the thermal. A few minutes later, they reached the top and flapped their wings to get up to her height. When they got close, she locked her wings in place and descended to the south, picking up speed as she went.

The sparse woodlands came to an abrupt halt at the base of the two massive, craggy, snow-capped mountains that marked the end of the Equius Valley. A crack of blue could be seen between them from a small narrow pass, marking one of the few ways in and out to the world beyond. The three of them flew between and past the ancient sentinels. As they did, the bald eagle keeping pace with them broke away with a parting shriek.

They continued to the southeast at a steadily increasing speed, the lush woodlands thickening into proper forests to their west. Rolling hills were to the east, marking the way that Fluttershy had taken several times past. The warm, lingering summer air combined with the slight cloud cover made for perfect weather for thermals, and they soon found themselves moving at an impressive clip. Megnii and Spesci matched her speed as she continued to accelerate.

( * * * )

A thin line of blue formed on the horizon two hours later. Fluttershy flew over to Megnii, who was just to her left. He saw her approach and quickly hid the beginnings of fatigue that were etched on his face. She saw however, and allowed him to hang back so he could ride in her slipstream.

"Did you want to go to the shore?" he called.

Fluttershy spoke over her shoulder. "I always go to an island in the center about twenty miles out."

"Twenty miles?" Megnii shouted over the wind. "That's going to be a lot of work getting back!"

She looked back at him. Her eyes were hidden by her mane, but he could see that she was smiling. "That won't be a problem."

A crosswind blew past, causing both of them to steady themselves. Megnii looked out at the distant body of water. "Should try to find one more thermal if it's that far out."

"There's a usually a big one over a hill a few miles before the shore," Fluttershy said as she angled away.

They continued on for fifteen minutes, the thin blue line getting wider and wider as they went on. It finally filled their entire field of vision, revealing a lake larger than the two guards had ever seen before. If they didn't know better, they would've sworn they were at the ocean.

As the largest body of water in Equestria, Dragon Turtle Lake stretched out for miles in every direction, so far that even from ten-thousand feet up, they couldn't see the other side. The waters still reflected the sky above like a crystal clear, cerulean mirror, despite the winds that were up around the lake. The beaches were a spotless, golden white reflecting in the noonday sun, and a small speck of land was just visible out amongst the endless blue.

Fluttershy motioned to a steep hill which had now become noticeable to their right. As they approached, they began to feel the onsets of the warm air currents. They entered together and rode it to the top, leveling out at twenty-thousand feet. She turned back to them as they exited.

"Have either of you flown over a large body of water before?"

"Nothing like this," Spesci replied.

Fluttershy angled herself to the left. "We should be high enough that all we need to do is dive. If you overshoot the island, just circle around. Don't flap unless you have to."

Megnii was about to ask why when his question was answered for him. The air became cold and still as they crossed over the lake's surface, dropping out from their wings and almost making them lose their momentum. Fluttershy straightened herself out and dove towards the island. The two guards followed suit.

Dragon Turtle Island was about a mile in diameter and shaped like a wedge. A quarter of it was dedicated to a wide, crescent-shaped sloping beach with blinding white sands. The rest was covered in sparse, coniferous trees and thin underbrush. The northern side ended in an abrupt cliffside with a shallow, U-shaped sandbar, and the waters all around the island were a light, sparkling azure.

Fluttershy had overshot the distance, and made a few circles over the island to kill her speed and come in safely. A massive cloud of sand accompanied her as she landed on the beach, going into a canter and coming to a complete stop. As she folded her wings, the sound of the waves against shore washed over her. She took a deep breath, letting the crisp, clean air fill her lungs and take her back into the memories of her fillyhood.

A seagull had noticed her descent and now flew nearby, calling down to her in an aged caw.

"Not seen you here in seasons. Homesick again?"

Fluttershy squinted at the gull. His feathers were mottled, and he had a grey splotch on his left wing. One of the talons on his right leg was missing. She looked out at the shore."Hello, Elder. Afraid so."

The Elder Gull landed on the beach before her, staring at her with his dark, beady eyes. "Always welcome here. How long you stay?"

She tore her gaze away from the shore to look down at him. "Not long, just wanted to stretch wings. Leaving in late afternoon."

"Need ride back, I assume."

Fluttershy nodded. "Can you ask the Master?"

He made a cough that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle. "Will send word. Lucky I'm in good mood."

She winced. "Don't mean to bother. Can find messenger instead."

The Elder Gull raised a wing. "Only kidding, wouldn't leave you stranded. Have business with him, anyway."

He took off again, circling her once before ascending higher. "Expect word soon." He flew off to the west.

Spesci sailed in as the gull disappeared. He flew past Fluttershy, flaring his wings and coming to a skidding halt on the beach. After he'd stopped, they closed the distance to each other.

Spesci looked around, taking in the island. The sands of the beach were fine and smooth. There was hardly any underbrush beneath the tress beyond the beach, and what little there was were tiny thin shrubs and bushes laden with ripe, plump berries.

"Nice place," he said as he took in the island.

Fluttershy nodded vigorously. "Isn't it great?!"

"Not that I mind," Spesci said, "but why did you want to come out here, instead of staying at the shore?"

"I like islands." Fluttershy reached up and rotated his head towards the water. "What do you see?"

Spesci shielded his eyes as he stared out into the vast expanse. "Nothing, I can't even see the shore."

She beamed as she followed his gaze. "Exactly."

"Wooooo!"

Megnii shot by them in a yellow blur. He flew out over the water and tucked in his wings, diving into the water. He stuck his head out a moment later. "Come on!"

Fluttershy squeed and ran after him, taking a running leap into the surf.

Spesci snorted as he watched them surface, laughing and splashing each other like a couple of schoolyard foals. "That didn't take long."

She looked back at him and beckoned to him with a hoof. "You too, Spesci!" she yelled. "The water's great!"

He lay down on the soft sand. "I'm not a fan of the water."

"I'll drag you in if I have to!" Megnii threatened. His soaked mane completely covered his face, making him look like a piece of seaweed.

Spesci crossed his hooves and sneered."You couldn't even move me an inch."

"Wanna bet?!" He started to head for the shore.

Spesci regarded him with a devious smirk. When Megnii was waist-deep in the water, Spesci sprang to his hooves and charged him at a full gallop.

Megnii jerked back and floundered, trying to dodge incoming assault. However, his movements were hampered by his awkward position in the shallows. Spesci spread his wings and leaped out over the water, catching his partner and pinning his wings to his sides.

Megnii yelped and flailed helplessly in Spesci's grip as the two of them flew up into the air and out over the water. There was a sense of vertigo as they went into a sharp incline.

"Spesci!" Megnii yelled as they went upside-down, realizing what his partner intended. "Don't you dare!"

Spesci gave an evil chuckle. "I hope this water's deep."

He finished the loop and dove straight down towards the lake at dizzying speed. At the last second, Spesci released his captive and spread his wings, pulling out of the dive and flying harmlessly away. Megnii hit the water with a painful splat.

He emerged a few seconds later, gasping and shaking a hoof at his assailant. "I'll get you for that one!"

At Megnii's challenge, Spesci rose higher into the air and flew back around. He stopped just above and began to spin like a violet corkscrew, cackling like a maniac.

Megnii gasped. "Oh, no..."

"Cannonball!" Spesci blasted down to the water and hit with the force of a depth charge. His entry created a massive wave that swallowed Megnii and sent him crashing back onto the shore.

Spesci surfaced and looked around, bursting into more evil laughter as he saw Megnii just getting to his hooves, shaking himself off like a dog.

"You'd do well to fear me!" Spesci taunted.

Megnii wiped his mane out of his eyes, staring at him with grim determination. "You realize this means war."

Spesci raised his forehooves in open challenge.

"That was fun!"

They both turned to see Fluttershy flying in from the direction of the lake. She landed on the water, tucking in her legs and folding her wings at her sides. "The wave you made sent me really far out! It was just like surfing at home!"

They blinked as she sat on the water like a bird. Spesci swam over and examined her. "Are you... floating like that?"

Fluttershy gave an odd smile. "You should do it again!"

Megnii flew over to them and whispered to Spesci. "Whoever sends her out the farthest wins."

Spesci's grin returned.

( * * * )

Fluttershy spent the next two hours being the judge for Megnii and Spesci as they did cannonballs in the water. She determined who was winning by riding the waves as far as she could out into the lake. Megnii now hovered above, preparing for his latest attempt. He zoomed up in a quick burst, then turned around and blasted towards the water, tucking in all four of his legs at the last second.

The force of his impact created a wave over twenty feet high. Fluttershy braced herself as it approached, getting swept up and quickly ascending to the top. She steadied herself, riding it out for five hundred feet before it tapered off enough that she fell out of its wake.

She turned to see how far she had gone. She closed one eye and held up a hoof, seeing if it completely covered the island. Looks like Spesci is still winning though with those corkscrews of his. That was a really good one, though. I think Megnii needs to tuck in his wings mo—

She jumped as she felt something brush one of her back hooves. She turned and saw a long, dark shape behind her. Fluttershy took a breath and stuck her head underwater.

A small, dark green turtle swam below her, blinking as he watched her startled reaction. His thick hexagonal shell glistened in the dim rays. "Never seen a pony ride waves like you."

"Not many can," Fluttershy replied. "Not around here, anyway." She pointed up to the surface and went up.

The turtle followed suit, poking its head above the water. He spoke again as she regained her breath. "Elder Gull has spoken with the Master. Will come for you in two hours."

Fluttershy tensed. "He's coming himself?!"

"Wishes to see you," the turtle said. "Master likes news."

"That he does," Fluttershy looked back towards the island, where the waves from Megnii's latest cannonball still rippled outward. "Does he know I have guests?"

The turtle grunted. "Hard not to notice."

She tucked her legs back in as she sat on the water. "He's not mad, is he?"

"Master does not know anger," the turtle replied. "Even if he did, churning of waters is no grievance."

Fluttershy relaxed. "Give him my thanks."

"Can give them yourself when he comes. Be ready." The turtle swam away.

Fluttershy flew back to the island to find Megnii and Spesci standing on the shore. Megnii ran over to her as she landed.

"How was that?" he asked eagerly.

Flutterhy giggled. "Spesci still has you beat with that bullet dive he did."

Spesci tilted his head. "I'm gonna have water in my ears for a week from that one."

"Eh, I think I'm done." Megnii lie down on the beach and spread out his wings. "I wanna be dry by the time we leave; I hate flying with wet feathers."

Fluttershy nodded and followed suit, lying down a ways away from them so that she could fully extend her own. Her own feathers were waterproof, but she wasn't about to miss out on an excuse to sunbathe.

Spesci still stood for a moment, his eyes hovering over her impressive wingspan. "Fluttershy, have you been hiding your wings because you thought we'd make fun of you?"

Her ears drooped as she shook her head."It's just that, well... I haven't had to explain this to anypony since I've moved to Ponyville. And even then, either Rainbow or Derpy have had to be there for me to work up my courage."

"You don't have anything to be ashamed of," Megnii said in a dismissive tone. He was building a small hill out of sand as he spoke.

Fluttershy rested her head on her hooves. "I've always been really self-conscious about it, and it hasn't helped that I've always been a weak flier. On Hoofolulu, I got teased because my wings were too small. When I came here, it was because they were too big. Rainbow stopped it when she could, but she couldn't be there all the time because she's year older than me. It was really bad for a while until I found some help."

Megnii paused and looked up at her. "From who?"

She took a moment to collect her thoughts. "I was being teased one day because I was having trouble with vertical take-offs. Rainbow saw what was happening, and challenged the ponies doing it to a race. When they took off, I was standing too close to the starting line, and the turbulence made me fall out of Cloudsdale."

Megnii's eyes widened. "Were you all right?!"

Fluttershy looked up at him through her eyelashes. "I was fine, but the bigger problem was that I'd never been on the ground before. I landed in a meadow, panicked and confused. I wasn't strong enough to fly back up to the city on my own, so I didn't know what to do. I was just about to curl into a ball and cry." She smiled. "That's when the animals found me."

"Was this how you discovered that you can speak Sylvan?" Spesci asked.

She blinked at the strange word. "I never knew there was a name for it. I just thought I could communicate with the animals on a different level."

Spesci dug a small groove in the sand. "Animal Speech, The Voice of Nature, Beast-Tongue, Sylvan... whatever you want to call it, it's a rare gift. Only a few ponies in history have had it."

Fluttershy sat up and helped pile sand on Megnii's hill. "It was one of the happiest times of my life. I spent that whole day learning their names and faces. The land animals all wanted me to come and play with them, and the birds wanted me to come and fly. I told them I was stuck on the ground, so they introduced me to a bird that had wings like to mine. That's how I met Mr. Eagle."

Megnii started to flatten the top of the mound. "Was that the same one who with us earlier?"

Fluttershy smiled. "He's very nice, and knows all the good spots to soar in the Valley. He taught me how to ride the thermals and get back up to Cloudsdale."

Her face fell as she looked away. "In the meantime though, Rainbow had gone frantic looking for me. She felt terrible over what happened and got really depressed, even though I didn't blame her for it. She was having some other issues at the time too, so that didn't help."

Fluttershy watched as Megnii started to mold the sides of the hill into parapets. "After that, I started going to the ground every day to be with my animal friends. The teachers in Cloudsdale were fine and all, but there was only so much they could teach me because my wings are so different. Mr. Eagle taught me how to fly like him though, so got teased less and less. By my freshman year ponies had finally left me alone… which was great for Rainbow."

"Rainbow?" Spesci echoed. "Why not for you?"

"She was only staying in school because she felt like she needed to watch out for me," Fluttershy said. "I tried to tell her I was fine, but she wouldn't listen. I went to her parents about it, and together we came up with an idea for how to convince her."

"What'd you do?" Megnii asked.

Fluttershy coughed. "S—She, um… came with me when I went go visit my mom at the coast."

Spesci suppressed a snicker. "How'd that turn out?'

Fluttershy tried not to blush as her voice became quieter. "Well, you see… Rainbow's always been very competitive, so her parents said we, um… shouldn't fly together. Instead, we should make it… into a race."

Megnii stopped building the sand castle and looked at her, a smirk forming on his face. "Who won?"

"She did," Fluttershy said immediately.

Spesci narrowed his eyes as he watched her wings twitch. "How long did it take you?"

"A—A day and a half," Fluttershy managed. "Rainbow did it in sprints with long rests in between, and I went the whole way without stopping. We landed in Seaddle about ten minutes apart."

Both the guards were now staring at her. "How fast were you going at the end?" Spesci asked.

Fluttershy shrugged. "I didn't have any way to measure it."

"You might've beaten her if you'd gone a little farther," Spesci said.

Fluttershy started to carve a moat around Megnii's sand castle. "You've never met Rainbow, so you wouldn't know how much she hates to lose. I know she would've just pushed herself harder, and then she could've gotten hurt. I'm glad we stopped where we did."

Megnii picked out some rocks to place on the top. "So what'd she say when you landed?"

Fluttershy picked up a nearby shell and examined it. "Nothing. That's the first and only time I've ever seen her speechless. It was a good thing though, because I'd finally found the right words to say. I told her I didn't want her to be miserable for my sake, especially when I didn't need her to take care of me anymore. I understood why she felt the way she did: She was comparing me to herself. Because of that though, she couldn't see that I'd become strong in a different way."

"Was it enough to convince her?" Spesci asked.

The faintest hint of a smile played on Fluttershy's lips. "I think she was more impressed that I wasn't tired at all when she could barely stand."

Megnii chuckled. "You two sound just like me and Cyclone."

Fluttershy snapped out of her reverie and turned to him. "Cyclone?"

His laughter was cut short as he now stared wide-eyed at the sky. "Oh, um…"

Fluttershy raised her chin, trying to see his face. "Is that a friend of yours?"

Megnii cast a pleading look to Spesci, who rested his head on a hoof and looked at him with false, innocent eyes.

"N—No, actually…" Megnii gulped. "Cyclone is my twin brother."

Fluttershy gasped. "You have a twin?! Fraternal or Identical?"

Megnii blinked. "F—Fraternal."

"Oh," Fluttershy said as she slumped back down. "So he looks nothing like you."

He got up and stretched. "Not even close. You wouldn't even know we're related unless we told you."

"Is he in the military, too?"

"No," Megnii replied casually. "This life wasn't for him. Besides, he'd already gotten a job at the weather factory."

Fluttershy furrowed her eyebrows. "I didn't know Las Pegasus had a weather factory."

"W—Well, ah…" Megnii gritted his teeth.

"It's not a very big one," Spesci cut in. "The locals have it in case they need extra rain. The city's in the middle of a desert, after all."

She turned to him. "Do you have any family that work there?"

Spesci shook his head. "I'm an only child. My father's a scientist who studies the weather patterns of the region. His lab is by the nearby mountains. My mother's retired, but she used to be a ranger. She and her crew were sent out to rescue ponies that got lost in the desert."

Fluttershy's lips parted. "Does that happen a lot?"

"Unfortunately," Spesci said. He began to build a bridge over the moat of the sand castle."Las Pegasus is very popular with tourists, and all it takes is a little liquid courage for a pony to think he can go blaze his own trail. She usually got to them in time. Every so often, though..."

Fluttershy put a hoof to her mouth. "That's awful!"

Spesci began to speak in a monotone. "Everypony gets warned when they come in. There are signs everywhere. If you ignore all of that, you get what you deserve." He exhaled through his nose. "Mom's exact words."

'Get what you deserve?' How could anypony say such a thing?! Why wouldn't you want to help ponies that get lost out in the desert?! A chill ran through Fluttershy that had nothing to do with the weather."That's so… cold."

He sighed. "She wasn't always like that. When she started, she was driven to save anypony who got lost out there. Over time though, watching the same mistake get made over and over made her lose faith in what she was doing. She slowly turned bitter and jaded, and the worst part of it was she didn't even realize it was happening. At least, not until somepony died in her arms and it didn't even make her flinch."

The bottom of Fluttershy's stomach dropped out. Oh, my… to have to see anypony suffer like that, let alone his mother? It must have affected him, too!

A gentle warmth formed in Fluttershy's heart that began to spread as she walked over to stand beside him. "I'm so sorry, that must have been awful for both of you."

Spesci tilted his head, as if he were trying to ward something off. He made a motion as if to get up, but hesitated at her approach. Fluttershy stopped beside him, and his eyes reluctantly crept up to meet hers. They glinted with a faint, pink light, which became reflected in his.

"It was a wake-up call." Spesci relaxed and spoke in a softer, more earnest tone. "It made her realize how detached she'd become, and anypony who's become numb to the loss of life like that isn't cut out for public service. She turned in her badge, and helps Dad out with his research now."

How awful, to do something for so long and to try so hard, only to have it drain you so much that you can't do it anymore. And then how that must've in turn hurt his family, too. Fluttershy lay down beside him. "Do you think she'll ever get better?"

Spesci didn't seem to mind her closeness anymore. He absentmindedly poked the side of the castle, making a hoof-shaped doorframe. "Even if she could, I doubt she'd want to. The numbness can be a blessing. It's better than drowning in your own sorrow, and prevents you from dwelling on things beyond your control."

I don't believe that. You'll never heal if you just keep repressing your memories, and just shutting yourself off isn't the answer, either. You need to face your demons at some point, and the longer you hold off on it, the worse it'll be. I understand that you do what's necessary to continue on when you're surrounded by terrible things, though. I just wish I knew how to help with that. Then maybe I could help him and his mother.

The light in her eyes grew brighter as it filled her irises. Fluttershy put a hoof on Spesci's shoulder.

…or remembering those you've killed.

The light in her eyes died. Fluttershy recoiled and backed away from him like he were made of something vile. "What did you say?!"

For a split second, Spesci's face contorted and his breath caught in his chest. He then rolled away in an exaggerated fashion, knocking over the sand castle and looking all around. "Did something startle you?"

Fluttershy stared blankly at him. "I—I thought that… did you j—just say something about… k—killing ponies?"

His eyes narrowed. "My mother never killed anypony. She lost her heart, not her work ethic. She saved more lives in her last year on the team than most others do in their entire career. The problem was that she couldn't see the faces of those she saved anymore."

What? I wasn't talking about his mo—Fluttershy shook her head. Am I hearing things? I could've sworn he just said… his lips weren't moving, though. Maybe it was just the wind?She waved a hoof. "I didn't mean your mother, I thought I… never mind."

Megnii, who had been watching the entire scene from several feet away, wiped the sweat from his brow and cleared his throat. "S—So Fluttershy, is there anything good to eat on this island? Or is it just the leaves and grass?"

She turned to him, forcing herself to focus on his question. "There are some gooseberry bushes here. Have you ever had those?"

He pursed his lips. "I've never even heard of them."

"You're in for a treat, then!" Fluttershy walked towards the woods. Megnii looked back at Spesci, who had a hoof to his head. He nodded and motioned for him to follow.

( * * * )

They spent the next hour walking around the island, munching on the leaves of the various trees, picking out berries that were ripe on the bushes, and relaxing in the shade. Fluttershy brought them up to the cliffside of the island and showed them the sandbar below. They considered going down, but after seeing the playful grin beginning to twitch on Speci's mouth, they thought better of it. Afterwards, they headed back towards the beach at Fluttershy's request. As they walked together through the pathless wood, a thought struck her. She turned to Megnii.

"You never finished telling me about your brother."

Megnii had kicking a rock along the ground as they walked. He whiffed at the mention of his sibling. "N—No, I guess I didn't. Well, like I said, we're twins. We've never looked alike, though. He was really small and weak when we were born, and most of his foalhood was spent at the doctor because he was so sick all the time. It carried on into Flight School, and he got picked on a lot for it. I wasn't gonna stand by and let that happen, so it led to trouble."

I suppose it's different for boys with bullying. I never really thought about what it must be like for them.Fluttershy bit her lip."I'm sorry."

Not wanting to go back for the rock, Megnii settled for a stray stick instead. It clattered just ahead of them as he spoke. "I didn't want to fight, but some of our classmates were bullies that didn't back down. I didn't always win, but everypony learned real quick that I gave just as much as I got."

That really does sound like me and Rainbow… except for the fighting part. None of the boys wanted to hit a girl, even if the girl started the fights half the time.Fluttershy snagged some berries from a nearby bush as they walked."I never understood why bullies have to single out the weak. Do you know why they're so mean?"

"There isn't any one reason," Megnii replied. "Some ponies are just angry, and are looking for something to take it out on. Others are cruel because they've been cruelly treated themselves. And in rare occasions, you get ones that are just plain bad." He suddenly laughed. "It wasn't a problem for very long, though."

Fluttershy cocked her head. "What do you mean?"

"Like I said, Cyclone was really weak when we were young. In our freshman year though, he just grew out of it… literally. He shot up like a weed, and filled out like he'd gone to the gym every day. He can whoop me with all four of his hooves tied now."

So his body kicked into overdrive to make up for lost time. Hehe, I'll bet that was an interesting role reversal. She munched on the berries as she watched him."So what'd you do?"

Megnii picked up the stick, set it at his side, and did a mock salute. "As the leader of our platoon likes to say: Old habits die hard. I couldn't help but feel like I still needed to watch out for him."

"Despite that it's like a chihuahua guarding a bulldog," Spesci said dryly.

Megnii chuckled and threw the stick away. "A vicious chihuahua, though. After Flight School, Cyclone got a job at the weather factory, so I was about to apply too. Before I could though, he sat me down and said, 'Bro, you don't need to spend the rest of your life watching out for me. Go live your own life, I'll be fine.'"

"Did you listen?" Fluttershy asked.

"Not at first," Megnii admitted. "It wasn't because I didn't believe him, though. I just didn't know what else to do with my life. I'd spent so long being the watchful 'older brother' that it was in my blood. That led me to thinking though, if he didn't need me anymore, I'd find others that did.

"So I joined the military," Megnii said. "I'll admit I didn't put a whole lot of thought into it, but it felt like the natural thing to do. I don't regret it though: I still believe that what we do is for the sake of protecting the things we care about, and I haven't lost sight of that."

I never thought about it that way. I always thought that the military was just there for big scary ponies to go and fight because that's what they liked to do. They walked out from under the trees and back on to the beach. "What'd your family think?"

Megnii cringed. "Mom and Dad weren't too keen on the idea. Course, it didn't help that I kind of up and did it out of the blue. They came around, though. Cyclone wasn't surprised at all. In fact, when I told him he said, 'I figured you would. You've always been a nice guy.'"

Spesci rolled his eyes. "A little too nice, perhaps."

"Give it some time," he said cryptically. "You might start to see things my way."

He gave a strange smirk. "I think I'm starting to."

Fluttershy looked at the two of them as they laughed. There was no hint of the darkness or menace she'd seen two weeks ago. If she didn't know better, she wouldn't even think they were the same ponies. They were relaxed and friendly, joking like old friends. She was finding herself enjoying their company; something she never thought would happen with two stallions, let alone ones from the military. She turned back at her wings. What was I worried about? This isn't Flight School anymore, and we're all adults now. I have to remember that. They didn't make fun me, and it's my fault they stared because I hid them for so long.

Megnii turned to her. "I assume you wanted to come back to the beach so we can leave. What's the plan? You said getting back wouldn't be a problem."

Fluttershy gave a sharp intake of breath. I forgot to tell them, and he'll be here any minute! She looked out at the calm waters. "A friend is coming to pick us up. We need to get into the air!"

"A friend?" Spesci echoed. "How's he going to get here?"

"He's going to carry us," she said in a rushed voice. "He's a—"

"Carry?" Megii interrupted with a snort. "What is he, a sea monster?"

There was a rumbling from just off the coast, causing all three of them to stumble. Fluttershy spread her wings and went up as high as she could.

"Get up here, quick!" she yelled.

The color drained from the two guards faces as they watched a set of waves over twice their height speeding towards them.

They jumped into the air just in time to watch the frothing walls of water submerge the entire beach. Fluttershy winced as she saw Megnii and Spesci's panicked expressions.

"It's okay!" she yelled over the noise. She pointed out at the disturbance in the lake. "It's my friend!"

Megnii was completely rigid as he stared at the spot she had indicated. "What is that?!"

Fluttershy clapped her hooves and smiled as the waves became taller. "It's called Dragon Turtle Lake for a reason."

A second island emerged off the shore. The turtle had a wide, streamlined shell with jagged, blade-like protrusions on either side. His long neck ended in a triangular head with a crest on top like a sail, and his mouth was a jagged beak, toothless, but lined with serrated edges made for ripping and tearing. His flippers ended in grey, honed talons, and a long, spiny tail extended out from his back. He was over three hundred feet long from nose to tail, and almost half as wide. He turned to the island, and then looked up to the sky, locating the three ponies and staring at them with clear, ancient eyes.

Fluttershy waved and flew out to the creature. She swooped out in front of its head, hugging the very edge of his snout. She then went over and hovered before its left eye. "Hello Master," she said. "It's good to see you again."

The Master of the Lake made a low hum, almost inaudible to her ears. "Always have I felt the winds of change at your back, little one. Less than a year has passed since you last visited my shores, yet in that time, you've changed the world."

Fluttershy backed away so that she could see his entire head. "You heard about the Elements?"

The Master nodded, causing another set of waves to crash against the shore. "My ears go farther than you might think. You're to be commended for the part you played in restoring Princess Luna."

The gentle warmth in her heart flickered as she remembered the glimpse of intense loneliness and blinding pain she'd seen on Nightmare Moon's face. "She just seemed so sad and lonely. When I saw her, I... I wanted to help her so much! She'd been alone for so long already; I knew I had to do something."

"Such is the nature of the power you wie—" the Master stopped. He leaned his gargantuan head forward and sniffed. "I sense that the Element of Kindness has left its mark on you. Are you aware of this?"

Fluttershy raised a hoof to her chin. "Maybe that's what she meant. Twilight—err, the Bearer of Magic said that my friends and I are the only ones who can use Elements now."

His eyes widened. "This Twilight didn't say why?"

"That's all Princess Celestia told her, and Twilight's her personal student." Fluttershy frowned. "She seemed to accept it, although we were all a little confused. I don't understand anything about magic, so I figured it was a common thing."

The Master lowered his gaze to the water, saying nothing for a time. The waves crashing against the shore ceased. After a minute, he looked back up at her. "Celestia is good and wise. If she hasn't spoken more of this, I shall respect that."

Fluttershy's wings were starting to ache. She flapped a little harder to stay hovering in place. "Are you saying she isn't telling us something? I was afraid to ask more."

The Master raised a claw out of the water. "I admit I'm not well-versed in the Elements of Harmony. All I know is that they're ancient pieces of magic, and their power is tied to the order of the planet. Celestia didn't have a… hoof, in their creation, but she knows more about their nature than most. It's possible I'm mistaken."

Fluttershy gratefully perched on one of his talons. "Will you tell me your thoughts, Master?"

A deep rumbling resounded through the air as the Master chuckled. "There are many possibilities, and I don't want to sow the seeds of doubt. My suspicions are just that, nothing more. You must always remember to trust and respect your elders little one, and just as I am to you, Celestia is to me."

He raised his head to Megnii and Spesci, who hadn't moved from their spot in the air. "I was under the impression your species only took one mate at a time. Do the ponies of the sea have different breeding customs?"

Fluttershy went bright red."It's not like that! They're ponies in service of the Princess. She sent them and several others to protect me and the other Bearers."

The Master blinked. "From what?"

"She said somepony might try to hurt us as a way to get at herself or Luna."

The Master made a dismissive huff. He watched as Megnii and Spesci were blown slightly to the left a few seconds later. "Celestia isn't the only one keeping watch over the state of the world. The unrest in other lands has nothing to do with Equestria, and there hasn't been so much as a harbinger of anarchy within our borders in centuries."

Fluttershy leaned forward. "Master..."

"I wonder..." The Master swam forward, coming directly underneath Megnii and Spesci. They jerked and became unbalanced in midair as he approached. A green light appeared in his eyes as he squinted at them. He stared unblinking for several moments, giving no indication of his thoughts.

"You say these two were sent by Celestia?"

She nodded. "Twilight showed us a letter written by Princess Luna herself asking us to agree to them being here."

The Master was silent for a long time. "I see... well then, I suppose I shouldn't keep you waiting any longer. You have a long flight back to the Equius Valley, after all. Tell them to fly onto my back, and I'll take all of you to shore."

"Oh… um, okay." Fluttershy left the Master's claw and flew onto his back. She waved at Megnii and Spesci.

"Come on down!"

It took a few moments of continued encouragement and reassurance that they weren't going to be devoured before they finally obeyed. Upon feeling their weight, the Master began to move, heading out into the lake and towards the shore. Spesci folded his wings and walked over to Fluttershy, who was adjusting her feathers. He spoke in a low voice.

"Why did he look at us?"

Fluttershy cleared her throat. "H—He was curious about something."

Spesci suppressed a nervous twitch. "Did he say what?"

Her eyes flickered to the Master's head. "No, he didn't."

( * * * )

The minutes dragged by as the Master of the Lake went on at a leisurely pace towards the shore. Fluttershy sat to the side, watching the Master's giant claw as it rose and fell out of the water. Megnii craned his head over the side, shuddering as he saw the ominous foaming waters twenty feet below. He stepped back and turned to Fluttershy.

"This was fun… aside from getting the horseapples scared out of us by your friend here. Do you do travel to other places often?"

Fluttershy adjusted her mane so that she could see him. "I have animal friends all over the Equius Valley that I normally check up with."

Spesci walked up from behind and sat down. "Why haven't you gone to see them?"

"Because of what happened in the fog." Fluttershy looked behind them to watch the Master's tail maneuver through the waters like a rudder. "I've been afraid something like that will happen again."

"That was an innocent mistake," Megnii said. "Can't you explain who we are to your animal friends?"

Fluttershy shook her head. "Some of them are territorial, and only let me in because they know my scent. You'd have to wait on the fringe, and even if I vouch for you, they might attack anyway because they don't like ponies aside from me. I've tried to stay around the cottage so that you'd and everypony else will be safe, but it wound up driving me crazy! That's why I had to get out."

"You shouldn't be disrupting your life trying to make our jobs easier." Spesci wiggled a leg which was starting to get a cramp. "That's actually a contradiction of our orders."

Her breath caught in her chest. "It is?"

Megnii nodded. "We're not supposed to interfere with your activities, unless you ask. If you keep going out of your way like this, we'll get in trouble."

Fluttershy grit her teeth and put her hooves on her head. Even by doing nothing I mess up! I really can't do anything right! Living my life normally will put everypony in danger, but if I do nothing, my friends won't get the care they need, and Megnii and Spesci get in trouble! I can't stay inside anymore like I have been! I want to help others with their burdens, not become one myself! I don't know what to do!

"I just want to help everypony!" She closed her eyes and slammed her hooves on the Master's back.

The Element of Kindness awoke with a flash, surging forth and filling her body with a gentle warmth. Her aura intensified, making Megnii and Spesci jolt as the top layer of their mental defenses were brushed away. Fluttershy began to hear whispered voices in her mind that weren't her own.

Did Grovi's shield just break?! Why would it—oh, that's not good…

So she IS in stage two! This isn't good, we aren't ready for this!

What's happening to you, child?!

Fluttershy opened her eyes, which were shining with pink light. Megnii and Spesci winced as she looked at them.

"What's going on?!" she demanded. "Why am I hearing your voices in my head?!"

Megnii facehooved. Blair's gonna kill us.

We have to calm her down before she hurts herself! Spesci rushed towards her.

Fluttershy backed away from him. Her back hooves scraped the air as she realized she was on the edge of the Master's shell. Her wings snapped to her sides as she forgot herself.

"Stay away!" she said in a shrill yelp.

The Element of Kindness flared in response. Fluttershy felt a sharp throbbing in her head as the power lifted her up into the air. It surged again, causing her eyes to be completely filled with light, shining like lanterns on a moonless night.

Fluttershy's voice was tinged with a faint echo as she screamed to the sky. "What's going on?!"

Sleep, little one.

The power flickered and went dormant again. Fluttershy collapsed forward, landing on the Master's back and curling into a ball.

There was a silence, only interrupted by peaceful snoring. Megnii and Spesci stared open-mouthed at Fluttershy's sleeping form. The Master had stopped swimming. He tilted his head back to them, and spoke in the language of ponies.

"Come before me, beings of magic."

Megnii and Spesci jerked at the address. They looked at each other for a moment before doing as they were asked. Their wings twitched as they hovered before the Master's gargantuan, emerald eyes.

"Do I need to enlighten you of your situation?" he asked in a calm, neutral tone.

Spesci, despite the circumstances, couldn't help but laugh. "Alone with a giant, angry monster in the heart of his realm, with no means of escape and a lot of explaining to do? No, I think we've got the gist."

"You are correct in all your assessments but one," the Master raised his chin. "I'm not angry. I've known Celestia long enough to feel her influence in this. I also know her well enough to recognize her spellwork in you two, even if she did a good job hiding it this time. I don't like it when she hides things from her own subjects, and performs actions under false pretense. However, I know that she only does it in the most delicate of situations."

He narrowed his eyes. "Such as when lives hang in the balance."

Megnii hung his head. "Great One, you called us beings of magic. Do you know what we are?"

The Master clicked his beak as he studied them for a moment. "You look to be constructs inhabiting a living vessel, although I've never seen anything this advanced before. I don't particularly care for the specifics."

Spesci shrugged. "It's a long story, anyway."

"I imagine so." The Master focused on Spesci. "Is your host the one in peril?"

He nodded. "His name is Horizon. The magic that binds us to him is about to fail. If it does, he will die, and we will cease to be."

"And what does this have to do with Fluttershy?"

"We need her help." Megnii raised his head. "Celestia told us that the Elements of Harmony are the only thing that might restore our bond."

The Master blinked. "Might?"

The guard's expressions turned somber. "Or it will just restore Horizon to his original state," Spesci said. "If that happens, we'll be destroyed. "

"Who or what will make that decision?"

"The Elements themselves," Megnii said, motioning to Fluttershy. "We've been told that their power and function is determined by the natural order of the world. The only limitation is that they can't kill. Problem is, not even Celestia can tell if we're alive."

An emerald light appeared in the Master's eyes. Megnii and Spesci felt a tingling that swept across them from nose to tail. It ceased, and the Master made a derisive snort. "I can't, either. I sense life in both of you, but it's faint and incomplete. I assume that's your host? "

Megni bit his lip. "He… hasn't been whole since the accident. He'll be saved regardless of what the Elements decide, though."

The Master lowered his head so that his chin was in the water. "This poses another question, however. If you need Fluttershy's help, why did Celestia send you to guard her?"

"Not guard," Spesci corrected. "Watch."

"Watch for what?"

He gulped. "I think you already know."

The Master looked back at Fluttershy. She was still fast asleep, her head tucked underneath a wing. "That surge... it didn't just leave its mark, did it? The Element of Kindness dwells within her now."

Spesci looked out at the waves. "We're under orders. If you want to know more, you'll have to contact Her Majesty."

"I might do just that," the Master said with a short laugh. "It seems more has happened than I thought."

"I'm sorry we can't tell you anything else," Megnii said.

"Underlings can't be blamed for doing what they're told," the Master replied. "Answer me this, though: is Fluttershy truly in any danger?"

Megnii straightened. "Only from herself. As you might have guessed, this wasn't supposed to happen. I promise you we're doing everything we can to keep her safe."

A deep, amused sound echoed through the cold air. "It seems she's affected you rather strongly. Very well, I'll practice what I preach. Celestia hasn't steered the country wrong in a millennium, and she's had plenty opportunity for mistakes. If she hasn't told Fluttershy of what she's become, then I'll assume there's a good reason."

Spesci shook his head. "It's too late. We're going to have to explain it now, and then she'll tell the others. None of them are supposed to know yet."

"Then I shall make her forget." There was a swirling sound, and a green haze surrounded Fluttershy that hovered above her head. It narrowed into a thin trail, entering one ear and exiting the other. A second later, it dissipated into the air.

"There," the Master said. "I've modified her memory so that she thinks she fell asleep on the way back to shore."

Both Megnii and Spesci lowered their heads. "Thank you, Great One."

The Master raised his chin. "I don't do this lightly. You must take great care from now on."

Megnii cringed. "Her power is still growing. We've been keeping our distance and had mental shields cast on us so that we wouldn't trigger her telepathy, and she just shattered them without even trying. If we upset her again, she'll hear more than our surface thoughts. "

"I can provide you with a stronger shield than the one you had." The Master focused on both of them. "You will need it if you are to be in close proximity to her at all times."

The green haze reappeared. It surrounded both Megnii and Spesci, entering their ears just as it had Fluttershy's. This time though, it didn't come back out. The guards twitched as it felt like a hard thick shell formed around their brains.

Spesci relaxed as the magic took hold. "We're in your debt even more, it seems. I'm just glad she's not a bad pony; her powers have the potential to do terrible things... especially the one she hasn't developed yet."

Megnii shuddered in agreement.

"Such things are contradictory to her nature," the Master replied. "Kindness is the act of being considerate and helpful to others. In order to do so, one must know the right thing to say, and how they can help. In regards to your debt, I'll find a way to have you repay me. And if the Elements do indeed destroy you, then I'll simply collect from your host."

Fluttershy shifted and muttered something in her sleep. All three of them looked back at her.

"She will wake soon," the Master said. "Get on my back."

Megnii and Spesci obeyed. As they landed, the Master began to swim forward again. The waters sped past them at a faster rate, and the shore became visible a few minutes later.

"Know this, constructs," the Master said over his shoulder. "I trust Celestia, and in turn I will trust you. However, the one whom you 'guard' is precious to me. I keep close watch on those I care for, and my influence is not limited to this lake. No matter whether she walks the land, soars in the sky, or swims in the sea, Fluttershy is never alone."

He turned back to them with the cold, focused eyes of a predator. "And neither are you."

"Oww…" Fluttershy moaned as she poked her head out from her wing. "Master, your shell is really hard. I think I hit my head a few times."

"My apologies, little one. It's been a while since I've carried any creatures, and I'm out of practice with smooth swimming."

She jumped as she saw the approaching shore. "Wow, we're almost back already? I must've been more tired than I thought!"

Spesci helped her to her hooves. "It's fine. There's not much to do while your friend ferries us across, so we figured we'd just let you sleep."

Fluttershy rubbed her head and stretched. "Were you talking about something when I drifted off?"

"Not to you," he said. "I was discussing possible alibis with Megnii for how we could be in plain sight instead of shadowing you. That way, we wouldn't have a misunderstanding like we did before."

Fluttershy nodded. "That would help a lot. Did you come up with anything?"

Megnii scratched his cheek. "We could say we're here to learn Sylvan so we can help you take care of the local animals."

Spesci shook his head. "Not much chance of that; it's not something that can be learned."

"Not through normal means, anyway."

Fluttershy jerked. "Master?"

"If it will help you, I can imbue them with the ability to hear the Voice of Nature for a time."

Fluttershy's jaw dropped. "You can really do that?! For how long?"

"Three months," the Master said. "After that, if they are still with you, they will need to return so I can renew the spell."

Fluttershy squeed and danced in place. "Oh, this is so exciting! I can introduce them to all my friends, and they can help me when I go outside of Ponyville, and I can say they're learning from me, and I won't have to worry because the animals will see that they can talk to them too and—"

All three of them stumbled as the turtle shook with laughter. "Calm yourself. I'm happy to help you, but are you sure you wish to share your gift so freely?"

She smiled. "I've always wished that there was somepony else that could do what I can. This is like a dream come true for me."

"Very well. Tell them of my offer."

Fluttershy turned back to Megnii and Spesci, who were staring at her quizzically. "Master says he can cast a spell on you that'll let you understand the animals like I can! Do you want him to do it?"

They both blinked several times. "Sure!" Megnii said simply. "It'd certainly make things easier for everypony."

There was a watery sensation in the back of their heads and inside their ears as the Master cast the spell. Megnii and Spesci were unsure it had worked… until they were scared out of their wits when a passing otter swam past, chittering a greeting to them. They spent the remaining time coming up with an explanation to give to everypony.

Ten minutes later, the Master halted before the shore. The three of them disembarked, and said their farewells. The Master of the Lake then turned and dove back into the deeps, his long spiny tail the last to disappear with a splash. Fluttershy turned to Megnii and Spesci, who were staring wide-eyed at a nearby flock of seagulls on the beach. The loud cacophony of cawing was like a group of loud children playing and screaming during recess.

"There's so many..." Spesci murmured.

Megnii rubbed his ear and turned to Fluttershy. "How do you deal with this all the time?!"

Fluttershy giggledand walked off the beach, heading for a nearby hill she used for takeoff. "Same way you tune out voices anywhere else. You'll get used to it."