The Look

Idiots... Fluttershy thought as she spread her wings. Of course they had forgotten to tie those up. She spread her right wing and buried it into her mane, pulling out her hidden pen knife with great difficulty. She slid it into her mouth and began hacking at the brown rope. It was going to take a while.

The five ponies finished their very long walk up to the institute, approaching the large black gates.
''Looks more like an asylum than a place of fashion'' Rarity remarked.
Pinkie was the first to press the gate buzzer, she smashed it multiple times excitedly.
''Hello?'' A voice called.
''Oh hi there! We wanna go in to see our friend, Fluttershy! Can you let us in?!''

Fluttershy had just finished tearing off the final rope pieces. She flared her wings in triumph and then paused to notice the large amount of blood the cut on her face had created.
''2-3-6-4...2-3-6-4....''

''I'm sorry, Fluttershy is not available right now.''
''What do ya mean she's not available? Can ya let us in, we'll wait?'' Applejack attempted to reason with the voice.

The yellow pegasus began trotting at first down to the front of the building, Luna's moon had risen high in the sky and it was beginning to get very late. It was the perfect time to escape and only two grey guards were on patrol, nopony else was visible near the front entrance.

''Can you just let us in darling, this is getting quite nonsensical. I know Photo Finish you know. I'm Rarity.''
''Who''

Fluttershy had found her advantage. Wings. She just had to fly along these three dark corridors and she'd be on the home stretch.
''One... two... three...''
She flew for it, but as she did two figures appeared in front of her. Catwalk. Limelight.
''You're dead, Flutters.'' Catwalk took out a large knife and ran towards the pegasus. Fluttershy's pupils constricted and her heart began to pound like a motor. Her veins ran ice cold and a shiver ran down her spine. The adrenaline suddenly kicked in, causing her to burst into flight in the other direction. Her mind was pacing back and forth searching for an answer that would never come.

''JUST OPEN THE GATE OR WE'LL BREAK IT DOWN. THIS IS STUPID! I'M NOT ONE TO GET MAD BUT...SERIOUSLY. WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?'' Twilight could no longer contain herself.
''Leave pl-''
''WE'VE COME ALL THIS WAY. WE. ARE. NOT. LEAVING!''

Fluttershy burst through to a corridor connecting to the main hall, she made a break for it, her wings furiously flapping like crazy. She clumsily dropped her little knife as she flew.
''Oh no!'' She screamed and hurriedly sped back for it. She'd need it.
She started to reach for it when both Catwalk and Limelight rampaged through the door. The pegasus spun around in the opposite direction, knowing they were furious, she would not survive this night if they caught her. They would make up an excuse to Photo Finish, she'd seen it before. Again and again. She would die ''accidentally'' according to Catwalk. She smiled as she almost reached the door when out of nowhere her betrayer, Snapshot, appeared.

Finally, it was Rainbow Dash's turn as midnight drew near.
''I'm not asking for much here, I just want to see my friend''
''I see you on the camera, your type is not welcome here''

Fluttershy was surrounded, her heart beat sped impossibly.
''Fine,'' she panted ''Kill me Snapshot''
Snapshot raised her knife.
Fluttershy breathed out, closed her eyes, resigned.

Snapshot handed the knife to her. ''I can't''
''Snapshot?''
''They changed the password. 2-3-1-1. Go''
''Snap-''
''GO!!!''
The last thing the yellow pegasus saw before flying off was Catwalk sink her knife into Snapshot's chest.
''Thank you Snapshot''

She was about to make it, she was reaching the door, she was typing the code in..
2-3-1....
''HEY'' A stallion's voice bellowed.
The pegasus spun around to see herself surrounded by two guards.
She sighed and looked up to the glass roof above. This was it, her plan B, the plan which was more likely to kill her but she was about to die anyway. Everything seemed to slow down as Fluttershy flared her wings for a final time.

Rainbow Dash sighed, ''I'll give you to the count of three to open the gate and the door.''

Fluttershy screamed as she doged a guard and soared upwards.

''That sounded like Fluttershy!'' Twilight exclaimed.
''One''

Fluttershy was swooping upwards. She smiled, everything was going to be okay, they couldn't get her up her. She heard Catwalk's muffled screams from below as she beat her wings.

''Two''

The yellow pegasus had almost reached the top when she looked down and saw her worst nightmare.

''THREE!''
Twilight and Rarity blasted through the gate and Applejack bucked down the door with help from Pinkie Pie. Rainbow Dash spent ten seconds outside, whispering to herself.
''Please, please let Flutters be okay. Please, I promise I'll be good to her. Please...''

CRASH!

Fluttershy burst throught the glass roof and raced off into the night, she was going to die. Why? The grey guards had spread their large wings which were hidden under their uniforms and had sped off after her. They were gaining on her and she knew it. She heard the clock from the institute strike midnight, she smiled a sad smiled and silver tears welled up in her big eyes. My birthday... She thought as she closed her eyes. This time there was no going back. She turned to face the guards, to face her fate. They were mere metres from her yet the world seemed to slow down in that brief moment.

''My friends, I'm sorry I never got to say good-''

BANG.

Fluttershy was knocked back and began to plummet towards the ground, and as she fell she opened one eye. She smiled the biggest smile she could manage. It was her saviour, Rainbow Dash. Loyal, dependable Rainbow Dash coming to save her in the nick of time with a sonic rainboom. But she hadn't counted on the fact that Fluttershy was blown back so far that she was falling too fast, losing the ability to use her wings.

''Guys I think I see her falling!'' Twilight yelled ''Quick, Rarity, help me!''
Applejack and Pinkie Pie were busy ordering the Princesses to immediately aid in rescuing all the trapped ponies in the institution, and so Rarity was the only pony at hand. She nodded, they both knew what to do.

Rainbow Dash had just finished her wonderful rainboom. She laughed in joy at the fact she had defeated the baddies and saved the day! Then she turned around and her face fell. Fluttershy wasn't behind her, cheering, she was falling.

The yellow pegausus was very near the ground now and the unicorns began to focus their aura on her.
''Come on... come on...'' Twilight began to sweat.
They had done it! Well, sort of. They'd managed to slow Fluttershy's fall but not stop it completely.
''Oh no...'' Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity and Applejack all raced over to Fluttershy.
''Fluttershy! Fluttershy can you hear us?!'' It was no use. The four ponies all ran to retrive a medical pony from a hostpital in town as quickly as their hooves could carry them. Hopefully they would find one soon, unless it was already too late.
''Rainbow Dash! You stay here!'' Twilight yelled as she ran.

Rainbow Dash was unresponsive as she sat beside Fluttershy. Her once sleek yellow coat was ripped and in tatters. Her delicate wings now bent, tired and worn. Her long shiny mane was now a black knotty mess with several parts ripped out. Her body was covered in rope burn and scars. Rainbow could do nothing but sit for a while, her unimaginable guilt resting on her shoulders. Then she walked over to her friend.
''Fluttershy, pal. I.. I-'' Her voice cracked and tears welled in her eyes.
She turned her back on Fluttershy.
''God dammit Rainbow. The one time you couldn't act strong and brave and big headed. You failed to protect her, again'' Then she broke down.

''You didn't fail Rainbow. You saved me'' Fluttershy smiled.