Tragedy of an Angel

Heat. Heat and sweat was the name of the game during this time of the year. This was summer, and it was a very unpleasant being outside. For some odd reason, the heat had skyrocketed compared to the previous years of Celestia’s reign. Maybe she’s just giddy over her sister’s return, which had transpired over a year ago. But were not interested in them right now. We're more interested in a particular town south of Canterlot, and the ones who resided there.

The Elements of Harmony; who have saved Equestria three times over, resided within those wooden houses and dirt roads. It is by far the quirkiest and weirdest place in Equestria, but only because of what transpires between these six mares.

        Twilight Sparkle: A busybody, Protege to Princess Celestia, Analytical, Well-learned mare. She leads the Elements; and bears the title, Element of Magic. Lavender fur decorates her body; while a deep-purple, almost like ink, mane rests on her head. A shade of purple and a tint of pink highlighted her hair, resting somewhere over her forehead. Her hair rested in bangs, nearly covering the short horn on her head. She had recently been made an alicorn, which is a combination of all three types of pony.

        Earth Pony, Pegasus and Unicorn. Her bones are as durable as an Earther, but she also has the wings of a Pegasus and the magic of a Unicorn. Even more so, since she’s now known as Princess Twilight Sparkle. But she only makes up one-sixth of the group...

        Rarity: A mare of unparalleled Beauty, Elegance, Grace, Manners, Class and Poise. With traits like these, may ponies assume that she would be stuck up like the other snobs in Canterlot. That’s horribly untrue; as a matter of fact, Rarity is the complete opposite of such stereotypes. She is the most generous mare in Equestria, by far, and has shown such generosity a million times over. She cut off her own tail in order to help a distressed sea-serpent, claiming his miffed moustache a “crime against fabulosity.”

A beautiful white coat, brushed and cared for almost every day at the hooves of experts, shone brightly in both the light of the sun and moon. Her mane was an amethyst, perfectly shaped and coiffed into spirals that bounced with every step. Three diamond-shaped diamonds adorned her flank, quite contrary to Twilight Sparkle’s six pointed stars. Blue eyes, as pristine and clear as any river in existence took hold of any stallion’s heart at the point of contact. Eyelashes, which are clearly fake, protrude from the sides of her eyes like butterfly wings. Sky-blue eyeshadow did its job well, pronouncing her eyes and other colors against the rather plain white background of her coat. She was the Element of Generosity.

The two mares conversed with each other underneath an umbrella, flexed open to shield them from the rays of the sun. Summer had hit with full force, causing the normal seventy-degree weather to skyrocket, nearly hitting the high nineties. Rarity had an oriental style fan flapping furiously at her face, surrounded in her magical glow of blue as she tried to beat the heat even further. She also had on a ludicrously large sunhat and purple shades, concealing her dazzling eyes in the hopes of lessening the overbearing heat on her.

“Twilight,” She called, earning the lavender mare’s attention, “Although I appreciate you coming from Canterlot, coming here in this type of weather is absolutely dangerous! Why, imagine if you tire yourself out from using magic? You could pass out or-” With a ring of some chimes, Rarity’s mouth was zipped shut. Her eyes widened in panic, then settled for bemusement at her predicament.

Twilight smiled sheepishly while she adjusted her tiara with her cutie mark on it, simultaneously removing the spell from Rarity’s mouth, “Sorry Rarity, it’s just that I came down here for some important news regarding your order from last week,” Twilight’s horn shimmered briefly before a scroll with a gold horseshoe emblem sealing it, appeared from the air in front of her face. She levitated it over to the seamstress, who was very careful in her work. The fact that this was the first time she’s received criticism since Fluttershy’s rant at her boutique, unnerved her greatly.

Well...more like made her wary of foul play. She had never been one to be given critique, everypony either being too nervous or too uncaring to say anything. The translucent lavender-aura was replaced with a sky-blue, before Rarity undid the seal with a butter knife and began reading it, “...The ensemble...tight around the chest...runs a little high,” She said quietly, thinking nopony could hear her. Twilight already knew what the letter entailed, for it ahd come right from Princess Celestia herself.

Princess Celestia had asked Twilight over a week ago if she could get Rarity to make her a dress; but this wasn’t an ordinary dress...this was the dress. More acutely; it was a dress she adorn for the Summer Sun Festival, which is one of the most celebrated events in Equestria. The dress had been thought up regular haute couture style, making it an easy order for Rarity’s skill and prowess as an expert seamstress. Even though she worked on the dress for hours, staying up late at night and even hallucinating due to sleep deprivation, Rarity had finished the dress after the third day. A total of two days had passed since she sent the dress to Princess Celestia, making her believe that everything was alright.

“Why, I can’t believe I missed that,” The chic mare exclaimed in disbelief, “Princess Celestia deserves better than a dress that rides high! Oh, the shame and scandal that could’ve happened would’ve ruined me!” She wailed, slapping her head into the green metal table. She was legitimately crying, and Twilight wasn’t about to let a close friend beat herself up.

“Rarity, come on,” Twilight said in forced optimism, “It can't be that bad.” Big mistake.

“BUT IT IS THAT BA-HA-HA-HAD!!!” Rarity wailed from her face down position, tears comically rolling off the sides of the green metal table like mini waterfalls. Twilight’s ears flickered towards the familiar sound of approaching hooves, her head following the direction her ears had turned. A familiar face, one she wholeheartedly welcomed during this predicament with Rarity. That familiar face was nopony but Ponyville’s number one partier...

Pinkie Pie: Bubbly, Sporadic, Hyperactive, Optimistic, Random, Joyous and Fun. She was...pink. As in, her coat was a bubblegum pink while her hair was a shade of that same color. Blue eyes completed the package, but they weren’t as lustrous and full of class like Rarity’s. They did, however, radiate an unfathomable mirth that would find joy even in the End Days. Such was the heart of pinkie Pie, the mare who could make anyone smile. Which is why she’s the Element of Laughter.

The pink mare bounded over to them in hops, her eyes closed and a silver tray balancing two tall cylindrical cups of glistening lemonade on her back. How she kept such things in place while hopping over to her friends, can only be summed up by a phrase everypony uses when Pinkie does something inexplicable. It’s just...Pinkie Pie. And with that, any questions are immediately thrown to the wind.

After every hop, a sound like a tiny spring popping resonated. It was entrancing but random, which pretty much sums up Pinkie Pie’s behavior as a whole. Twilight waved as another one of her best friends hopped towards her.

“Hey Pinkie Pie,” Twilight greeted happily as Pinkie stopped at their table abruptly, “How’re you doing?” Pinkie Pie slid the tray off her back with practiced ease, beaming all the while as the drinks and tray aligned themselves perfectly on top of the table.

“I’m A-Okay, B.P.F.F,” (Ah, that stands for Best Princess Friend Forever.) Pinkie responded cheerfully as she gripped Twilight up in a bone breaking hug, causing her to wince from the sudden case of scoliosis she developed. After a minute, the hug was broken and Twilight applied some healing magic to her back, trying to right the spine that was unceremoniously bent into an ‘S’. With a satisfying crack of her back, twilight was back in business, “Oops! Sorry about that, Twilight! It’s good to see you by the way! I haven't heard from you since you left from Canterlot. Do you know how long it’s been!? Huh!? Do ya’!?” Pinkie yelled, invading Twilight’s personal space by shoving her pink maw into her cheek.

Twilight winced at the deafening volume Pinkie was using as such a close range, before reaching up with a hoof and pushing her away with it. Rubbing her right ear out, Twilight grimaced as Pinkie aurally assaulted her again with a sharp gasp.

“Ohmygosh! Rarity!? Why’re you all mopey-dopey!?” Pinkie asked as she was quickly beside Rarity, faster than the eye can follow. She looked on the verge of tears herself, just from looking at Rarity for about two seconds.

“OH PINKIE,” Rarity wailed as she wrapped Pinkie up in a hug that made her wince, “I’VE BEEN TOLD OFF BY CELESTIA HERSELF!!! MY CAREER AS A SEAMSTRESS IS GONE...” She snorted three times in a high-pitched childish manner, “...IT’S ALL GONE!!!” She buried her face in Pinkie’s bosom as those words left. Pinkie stroked her mane comfortingly.

“There there, Rarity. Like my Granny used to tell me...”

“Here we go...” Twilight thought as she rolled her eyes, Pinkie Pie oblivious to her rude gesture.

“You’ve gotta learn to smile for yourself! Even when meenie-weeny-reality wants to put you down! Actually, I remember a song she taught me about this! Do you want to hear it!?” Pinkie asked excitedly. Rarity immediately pulled herself away from Pinkie’s grasp, straightening her disheveled mane with a fancy purple brush she had pulled from nowhere.

“I appreciate the offer; Pinkie, but I’m afraid I must decline. I have to get going now, so feel free to talk it up with Twilight! Thanks for cheering me up, it is what you do best!” Rarity said through a force smile as she readjusted her outrageously big sunglasses and stood up from the table, half-trotting half-galloping away from Sugarcube Corner and her friends.

“Oh that was low, Rarity. REALLY~, low!” Twilight fumed inwardly as she watched the chic mare turn a corner quickly, disappearing from sight altogether. After a heavy sigh, Twilight slowly turned her head just to come eye-to-eye with a pair of blue ones. She jumped back in fright, yelping all the while.

“Pinkie Pie,” Twilight exclaimed through haggard breaths, “You almost gave me a hernia!” Twilight scolded, making Pinkie giggle as she slid the silver serving tray onto her back.

“Oh Twilight, you say the funniest things sometimes,” Pinkie responded with a boop of her hoof on Twilight’s nose, making the well-learned mare fall off the chair because Pinkie miscalculated the amount of strength she put into it.

“OOF!!!” Yelled Twilight as her rump made contact with the cobblestone walkway. She threw an irritated glance at Pinkie, who responded by smiling sheepishly. Pinkie then dashed away. leaving a pink cloud in her exact shape afterwards and leaving Twilight alone.

“She didn’t have to run away,” Twilight trailed off as she grasped the glass of lemonade with her magic and pulled it towards her lips, wrapping them around the white stray as she drunk nearly a fourth of the medium-size beverage, “Speaking of running away, I wonder how Fluttershy is doing?”

Fluttershy was; in this very moment, running away. Nipping at the butter-yellow pegasus’s heels were a pack of timberwolves who had caught her near one of their pups in the Everfree Forest. Fluttershy’s eyes were wide in panic as she fought the urge to give into her weariness, for she had been running away from the wolves for almost five whole minutes. Adrenaline had played a huge part in aiding her escape, but even her inner reserve of stamina was beginning to tire out.

“Oh Fluttershy, you just had to nurse that little pup,” Scolded Fluttershy, thinking to herself as her hooves carried her a couple more feet. A couple more feet...

...Until a root caught her left front-hoof.

“Woah!” Fluttershy said in surprise, falling onto her face.

BARK!!! BARK-BARK!!!

Fluttershy let out a tiny squeak as she smelt the rancid breath of a timberwolf, meaning it was near her face and probably readying itself to strike. Her hooves covered her head as she tried to appear small and helpless, just like she did in every situation that involved her being encroached upon. Her stomach lurched as she felt the wooden teeth dig into her neck slowly, as if taste-testing her to make sure that she was an adequate meal.

As the teeth removed themselves from her neck, Fluttershy burst into tears as she felt the paws of many wolves surround her body. The smell was amplified tenfold now, driving her to the point of unconsciousness.

RAWWWRRR!!!

The wolf that had raised its head to deliver the killing strike stopped, mouth around Fluttershy’s neck opened wide. The other wolves turned their attention to the entrance of the Everfree, growling in anger at whatever just roared at them. By the sound of the anger in its roar, the animal wanted a fight. Who were the timberwolves to refuse such an offer?

Idiots...that’s who.

A white speck; hidden in one of the bushes near the path, called out in ‘psst’ noises. It was a mystery on how the wolves didn't hear him, for his teeth did little in the way of helping him be sneaky with his calls. He prayed that his owner would stop cowering and crying, that she would turn around to look at him before the timberwolves...realize..they’ve been...had...

The bunny’s face became one of horror as the parrot was taken from the green shrub at the end of the path. He had been instructed to copy a bear’s roar, in the hopes of startling and distracting the timberwolves from harming Fluttershy. A sickening crunch caused the bunny’s face to whiten as the parrot exploded into a cacophony of blood and feathers.

Looking around frantically, the bunny decided that he had run out of options with the death of Jeffrey. Seeing no better time like the present, he fervently hopped out of his hiding place and bounded for Fluttershy's tail faster than a speeding ray of magic. With a frantic super hop, the bunny had successfully landed in Fluttershy’s tail.

The owner of the tail’s face flushed as she quickly stood up, thinking that one of the wolves had tried mounting her. Now that she was all worked up and standing, the bunny had to grab onto a couple strands of her tail. Feeling the intrusion, Fluttershy inclined her head to peer at the many bubblegum-colored strands of her tail.

It was a brief flash, but she could have sworn that Angel had somehow gotten mixed up in there. If that was true, she would have to find some way out of this predicament in order to safeguard her favorite pet’s life.

She would never dare hurt the wolves, for they were animals and she cared for animals like no other did. It’s what marked her as the kindest mare in Ponyville...and also non-violent. She was; after all, the Element of Kindness. It only made sense that she would try to find a peaceful resolution to all of this. That motion was quickly scrapped, however, when she became surround by the timberwolves again.

They snarled and snapped their jaws at her, the sound likened to mousetraps going off. A scared squeal that started off low and echoed off highly came out of Fluttershy’s mouth, even though her mouth remained closed the entire time. She had become fear locked in place, shaking like a leaf in a wind current as the stalking predators began to close the circle off. Which means, they got closer and closer with each time they circled her.

Angel; seeing the distress on his owner’s features, had began thinking of a plan voraciously. He hungered for some sort of idea; some sort of machination that would end up saving her, no matter what the cost. Then; in a burst of genius, Angel pounded a paw with a fist with a huge smile on his face. It was a risky plan, but he would rather the danger fall on him then on his owner.

Plus; he couldn’t just let her die protecting him, not like she did. It would tear him up and spit him out, his pride becoming nothing but leftovers from the bowels of guilt and suffering. Not again, not on his watch!

Angel sucked in a large amount of oxygen as he jumped off the back of Fluttershy, hopping as fast as his feet and legs could carry him into the recesses of the Everfree Forest. The wolves perked up, seeing the fleeing prey. With their predatory instincts revved up, the wolves barreled past the comatose Fluttershy and went after the small bunny.

When the last of the leaves rustled from the chase, Fluttershy shook her head madly and began muttering to herself. Panic and hysteria gripped her voice, causing her to speak and think a mile a minute, “Oh my, Fluttershy you have to go after him! You can’t just let Angel get chased by a pack of timberwolves, especially when he ran into the Everfree Forest! Who knows what else is stalking them from the trees!? Hold on Angel,” Fluttershy shook her head again, a look of confidence becoming plastered to her face, “Momma’s coming!” With that, she turned and followed them into the forest.

Angel was on his last legs, his pants turning into wheezes as his tempo and quickness became sluggish instantly. There was simply nowhere left to go. He had succeeded in outrunning the timberwolves, but his reward was bittersweet. In front of him was a mountain, but its height was uncertain, for the trees were too thick with vines to gaze upwards.

A cave mouth; sealed with various sized boulders, froze Angel in place. He knew all too well what this place was and how it was connected to him. For the briefest of seconds, he saw the pink bow around a faceless bunny, caressing a lump on her midsection with a white paw. She was staring; or what felt like staring, at Angel who began to back up in shock and fear.

She’s not supposed to be here! Why...Why is she here!?

Angel’s sudden backpedaling walked him right into the snout of a timberwolf, who promptly growled at the contact. Angel jumped out of his fur; literally, out it back on and hoped towards the faceless image of Her. His mind was torn on whether to keep advancing towards Her, or be eaten by the lone timberwolf who had found him. He couldn’t do this; couldn’t face her! Not after what he did two years ago. He just wasn’t prepared for this.

He stopped right before he reached Her, staring into the featureless face of his past lover. He could see her hazel eyes; their gaze locked lovingly in his as he snuggled close to her on that cold winter’s night, doing his best at keeping his family safe. The den...Their den; was cozy around that time of the year. He had met his lover in spring; where heat played a large roll in-

WHUMP!!!

Pain flooded Angel’s senses as he was sent flying towards Her image, phasing through it almost as if she was a...ghost. Angel rised to rest upon his legs, only to wince and grab the right side of his stomach. Blood, claw marks and splinters rested over the fresh wound. The splinters dug into his exposed flesh with every breath he inhaled, causing him to wince and fall to the ground. He was losing a lot of blood, for he was already teetering on the edge of unconsciousness.

He could see the timberwolf approach with a manic look in its eye, almost as if it was laughing at Angel’s state. As the predator drew near, She turned around and extended a paw out to Angel. Sadness gripped at his heart as Her image did this, but it also made him fight to get back on his feet. Struggling profoundly, Angel wobbled onto his butt, finding that further progress will only succeed in pushing the splinters in more.

The timberwolf was no more than two strides away from Her, and five strides away from Angel’s battered frame. She didn’t even flinch as a wooded paw crushed Her underneath it, causing Angel to tear up and extend a paw in anguish.

That was the second time.

It was the second time he had failed to save Her from a timberwolf. And just like back then, he’s just as powerless now. A painful throb from his wound brought him all the way to the ground, laying on his stomach while covering his wound with a now red paw. his eyes were shut in severe concentration, waiting for the end and trying to numb the pain of his wound. Sweat formed at his brow, reminding him of the last time he saw Her.

It was in the mouth of that cave, where a timberwolf had chased her and not him like he planned. Nothing ever goes as planned. Why!? Why couldn’t it have been him instead!? She was too innocent, too pure for death. But it took her anyway, almost as if it was playing a cruel joke on him. A joke he was not fond of...but was powerless to voice his opinion.

By this time, the timberwolf had reached the battered and cut body of Angel. It began licking its chops, almost as if it was tasting the blood that had pooled around the little bunny. With a growl that sounded so hauntingly close to an evil chuckle; the timberwolf placed a wooden paw on the back of Angels head, grinding it into the dirt a little bit. Angel squealed in protest; mouth becoming instantly filled dirt, leaves and other foliage.

YIPE!!!

The pressure on top of his head was alleviated, letting him crack an eye open to see what had caused his sudden relief. The timberwolf laid motionless underneath four butter-yellow hooves, causing him to crack a smile of gratitude before smacking his face into the dirt again. He had no energy left, his body feeling like a sack of bricks.

He heard her voice, Fluttershy’s that is. She was...calling him. By his name too, but it became as if she was speaking through the many fishbowls in her house.

“Angel! ANGEL!? Oh no, oh my, oh dear! Just hang on Angel, Momma’s gonna get you home!” He saw the ground fall away from him as Fluttershy lifted him with a hoof. After that, he found himself bleeding out upon her back. Before he passed out, however, Angel envisioned what he thought was Her. This time; she had a mouth, but still no other facial features. And with it, he heard her voice. A voice that sounded devoid of all emotion, but also had a lower echo to it. Almost as if there were two voices speaking simultaneously.

“Come Angel, it’s time to come home...” She held out a paw, to which he tried reaching for in the real world before passing out completely.