Second Attempt: Apples

[kind_to_all]

[ The scroll shows Fluttershy in her cottage, looking incredibly embarrassed. Behind her, the room is completely filled with apples, all the way to the ceiling. ]

Um... Applejack, I picked some of your apples for you... and brought them back here. [ For some reason. And it's something of a hike from the orchard to the cottage. ]

Would somepony mind helping me move them to the barn? Even if it's only a few? I'm-- really sorry to be a bother.

[ The agitated pony looks fretfully around her cluttered cottage, trying to think of something else to say. ] Um... that's all... I ... [ and switches to private. ]


[ To Lyra and the Twilights, she adds: ] Could I... talk to you sometime? Not that it's a rush. Whenever you're free.

Comments

Private

[magicalrealist]

...

Fruit bat?

Private

[kind_to_all]

Fruit bat... pony.

Private

[magicalrealist]

...

First priority: returning all of the apples to Sweet Apple Acres. The instant we're done with that, we're looking into what happened to you.

Re: Private

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy nods. ] I've already got a few dragons and ponies to help me, but there are a lot left...

Private

[magicalrealist]

(Using her magic, Twilight lifts the remaining apples in the cottage outside and into the air with her magic without the slightest bit of strain.)

Let's just bring these back, okay?

Re: Private

[kind_to_all]

Uh...

[ The pegasus stares blankly at the apples just floating in midair. ]

Can I... help?...

[ She plucks a single apple out of midair and carries it. Helping! ]

Private

[magicalrealist]

(Nope. Twi's just gonna pluck that apple out of Shy's hoof and levitate it with the others. Shy's picked enough apples already.)

You can help by telling me exactly what happened and if you can, what lead to the...vampire bat...pony.

(Twilight begins walking on over to the farm, expecting Shy to follow.)

[kind_to_all]

... Okay.

[ Haltingly, Fluttershy tells Twilight every detail of the fruit bat incident. ]

... And I thought I felt the beginnings of a- a fang afterwards, but I figured it must have been my imagination. ... Until last night.

[magicalrealist]

(Twilight has to stop and process all of that for a moment.)

...How exactly did Applejack convince everyone that forcing them out like that was the better idea?

[kind_to_all]

I don't know. It was sort of sad, really. I never thought the bats meant any harm.

[ Thinks seriously for a moment. ] A song was involved. You even sang it, Twilight.

[magicalrealist]

...You're telling me Applejack convinced everyone to follow the worse idea because she sang the better song?

[kind_to_all]

... Well, I guess so. [ She shrugs. ] I tried, really I did. And it ended up all right in the end, the bats are living just fine.

[magicalrealist]

But it has you dealing with this...

(Twilight shakes her head.)

I'll question my alternate self's and alternate friends' reasoning later. Right now, we need to focus on these apples and what that incident has done to you.

[kind_to_all]

That's why I asked you and the other Twilight for help. I'm not magically inclined, but I don't know what might happen to me later. What if I turn into a bat again? I don't want to terrorize all of you!

[magicalrealist]

If you turn again, then we'll be there to bring you back. I don't know if we can undo it, but I'll do everything I can to at least help you keep it under control, okay?

[kind_to_all]

Thanks, Twilight. I know you will, really... [ She looks away. ] I just wish you didn't have to.

[magicalrealist]

(Twilight wraps a foreleg around Fluttershy.)

We're friends, Fluttershy; I'll do anything to keep you safe and make you happy. No regrets; just friendship.

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy nuzzles her friend, but still looks uneasy. ] I just hate being turned into something like that. I feel like it happens more often than I'd like.

[magicalrealist]

If you'd like, I can direct you to a few others who might be able to help you with that. If not the transformations, then at least keeping the instincts under control and ensuring you don't lose to them.

[kind_to_all]

[ She only hesitates briefly before nodding. ] Lyra and I are looking out for each other, but we're not that experienced with it. I'd be happy to talk to somepony else who knows more about it...

[magicalrealist]

I'll be sure to ask him if he can set aside some time.

Fair warning: he's a dragon. He's actually very nice and supportive, but I thought you should know that.

[kind_to_all]

He- what?! A dragon? Oh no... I don't know if I can do that... [ She bit her hoof. ]

[magicalrealist]

He can shrink down to reasonable size! Plus, like said: he's a really nice guy. He's an offworlder, actually.

If you really don't want to meet him, then you don't have to. All I'm saying is if you want to resolve this "Flutterbat" issue, you should keep your options open.

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy continues toying with her hooves. ] Oh, I don't know... I guess... I don't know very many other ponies who could help, and Zecora was fine...

It's just that dragons are a little scary.

[magicalrealist]

I know, Fluttershy. I know. Dragons or no dragons, you'll make it through this. We'll just make that choice, okay?