Equestrian Diaries

"Dead-end?" Fluttershy whispered. Angel ran in, figuring he had to rescue Fluttershy from below her bed, only to freeze at her expression.

"Angel," she spoke softly. "It looks like I'm going to die in an hour."

Angel's eyes widened. Then he shook his head furiously and slammed his foot harder into Fluttershy's hind leg than he ever had.

"Ow," she spoke surprisingly nonchalantly. "I should be freaking out and hiding right now. Isn't that what I do? Instead, all I can think about is who would take care of you guys and how my friends might miss me. Even though I'm often in the background and very rarely speak up, I know they care."

Fluttershy sighed, eliciting another kick from Angel.

"What is it?"

He glared at her.

"Oh! Right, I'm sorry. I have to go feed you guys."

He shook his head rapidly and kicked her again.

"That's not it? You aren't hungry?"

He glared at her again, then moved his hand across his throat as if to imitate slitting it.

"Is this about what's happening in an hour?"

He nodded his head in agreement.

"What about it?"

He glared hard, put his paw on Fluttershy's leg, and shook his head rapidly.

"You-you don't want me to go?"

He nodded.

"I-" she took a few seconds to process the thought. "I've changed the future before with my foreknowledge. I can do so again! I will live. But, who is it that's going to murder me? Oh I don't know what to do! I need help. Umm, maybe I should go see Applejack?"

[8:25] Died by a blunt object to the head.
---DEAD END---

"Well, that's no good. But how did he find me so fast? Sweet Apple Acres isn't even that far, though, so maybe. Hmm. Perhaps I'll see Rainbow Dash?"

[8:28] Died by a 580 meter drop.
---DEAD END---

"So we know the murder can fly. That narrows it down to a pegasus, griffon, or dragon. Or-well, an alicorn, but the Princesses would never. Or maybe a unicorn manages a good shot of magic, or maybe an earth pony with a crossbow, or maybe-"

A swift kick from Angel brings her back to the immediate issue at hoof.

"Right, sorry Angel, I was over thinking a little. The murder can probably fly, but it's possible it's not the case. Moving on. Rarity?"

[8:15] Died by blood loss from multiple puncture wounds.
---DEAD END---

"Pinkie Pie?"

[8:35] Died by ???
---DEAD END---

"Not even the diary knows how I die in this case? I just do? That is-I guess it can't predict the ways Pinkie tries to save me? Umm, maybe Twilight can help me find a way out. After all, she's the smartest one in Ponyville."

[8:21] Twilight teleports us away from a hostile pegasus!
...
[11:15] Died by blood loss from a throat puncture.
[DEAD END]

"This is the only one that gives useful information before the event that causes my death, and it seems it really is a pegasus. This seems to also give me a larger window to figure things out, but-"

Yet another kick from Angel interrupts her. He pulls out a pocket watch as she turns to him, then points at it, glaring.

"The time? The-time. The time! Oh dear oh dear oh dear I'm running out of time!"

Angel begins to shove her out of the room.

"Alright, alright, I'll just head to Twilight's. Uh wait! What about breakfast?"

Angel responds by shoving her closer to the door.

"Oh, alright. Sorry! I really don't mean to abandon you guys like this, it's just that I'm about to be murdered and we probably want to prevent that and-"

The door is slammed in her face, cutting her off.

"Oh, umm"

Fluttershy flies straight towards the Ponyville Library, ignoring everypony that says something. She stops at the door and meekly knocks three times, and waits. Then, realizing she should probably be assertive in a situation such as this, she opens the door without waiting, blushing furiously in the process.

"Twilight!" she shouts-at least, shouting when it comes to Fluttershy.

"Fluttershy? Is something wrong?" Twilight replied, rushing to her usually meek friend as she notices her expression.

"Twilight. Can you lock me up in a magical cage with no way in for, umm, the rest of the day?"

Twilight blinked rapidly for a second, unsure how to reply.
"Uh, that wouldn't be too hard in theory. Why would you want that, though?"

"Can you just do it? Please?"

"Fluttershy, tell me what's going on."

Fluttershy sighed.

"I'm going to be murdered if you don't."

Twilight's eyes widened.

"Are-are you sure? This horrible! How do you know?"

"I just, umm, know."

"Fluttershy, you should know me by now. You know I won't accept that."

"You have to believe me, though!"

Twilight began to raise her voice as she talked. "Fluttershy, I do believe you, but I can't help me if you don't tell me what's going on!"

Fluttershy squeaked.
"You'd think I was crazy if I told you."

"Fluttershy, you ran in here and asked me to lock you up in a magical cage."

Fluttershy looked Twilight in the eyes, then wordlessly pulled out her diary and handed it to Twilight, opening up to the current day.

"This is-this is, uh," Twilight began as she processed what she saw, notably the future entries.

"It's my diary. It shows me what I would have written in advanced, as in it tells the future-"

"I know."

"-it's been like this for–you know?"

Twilight walked over to her desk, pulling out a book from deep within.
"This is my diary."
She turned the page to the latest entry.

Wednesday, October 27th

Today I realized one of the harshest realities of life: death. Logically, I've always known death as just an aspect of life. We are born, hopefully live a long, happy life, and eventually die. I only know of three beings who seem exempt from this inevitability, but otherwise I always knew it was there, although far away.

I never thought I would have to deal with it so soon, and to one of my closest friends, too. I still can't believe she's really gone, and I don't know what to do. I really don't know what to do, and it scares me, and it scares me knowing I'll never be able to tell her anything again, that she's gone for good.

She was murdered. Murdered. I thought Ponyville was one of the nicer, safer places. There hasn't been a murder here in decades. Perhaps it's that crazy mass murderer from Hoofington? Even so, why would they be here? I want to go after them now. I want to, but I just really don't know what to do. Not even books comfort me.

What have I learned? Don't take anything for granted. Cherish it, for it might be ripped from you at any second, whether it may be a nice book or a friend's life.

"I've never let anypony or dragon see this diary, not counting the friendship reports I also send to Princess Celestia," Twilight said after giving Fluttershy a chance to read. "Around since I began studying magic, I would write down everything I learned here that wasn't from a book, no matter the subject. Lately, I've been getting them in advance. It surprised me, and I still haven't figured out how it's doing it, but I also see now I'm not the only one with a Future Diary."

"Future-Diary," Fluttershy stated slowly as she continued to process what she read.

"It's a fitting name, isn't it? Now that I know there isn't just one. This is really fascinating. I wonder if there's others? But-but now's not the time to think about that. Ever since I read it when I woke up, I've been preparing some supplies and combat and defense spells. I was just about to teleport to every one of you girls when you ran in. I don't know why he's after you, but I will stop him with whatever it takes. Even if I have to-if I have to-" Twilight gulped. Then, in a voice rivaling Fluttershy's meekness, said, "-kill him."

"T-Twilight! You-you can't do that!"

"He's going to try to kill you, Fluttershy!"

A loud banging sounded from the library door.

"Who could that be? Coming!"

11:14

"Twilight, wait! It's the murderer!"

As if on cue, the door flew across the room, having been bucked by a cloaked pegasus, the red wings the only part of them to show. Fluttershy stood and stared at them while Twilight leaped in front of her, assuming a threatening but defensive stance as her horn glowed.

"I won't let you lay a hoof on her!" Twilight shouted.

The pegasus chuckled, a distinctively masculine voice sounding through the cloak.

"Get out of my way and you won't be hurt. The only one to be killed is that yellow filly over there. Now be a good little filly and get of my way so I can kill her, and I'll even avoid dirtying the floor or your books."

The change in Twilight was instant. A small purple aura flew from the sides of Twilight's eyes and her horn glow turned a menacing black. Black tendrils tore through the ground toward the pegasus and wrapped around him, forming an inky cocoon as she shouted in a voice that rivaled that of Princess Luna's Royal Canterlot voice.

"YOU WILL PAY FOR THREATENING THE LIFE OF A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE!"

Fluttershy could only watch, shocked at her friend's transformation. Then, without warning, she very visibly shuddered, and the inky cocoon fell apart, the pegasus leaping over and bucking Twilight across the room into the wall. He turned his attention to Fluttershy and laughed.

"I've never seen a unicorn use such pathetically woven magic. I knew provoking her would give me a show, but that? That was beautiful. Provoking her so much that she turned to dark magic, something that's not only hard to even cast in the first place, but so obviously unpracticed that it was easy to break?"
He licked his lips.

"Oh look, you're positively shaking! Maybe I can have some fun with you before I gut you. Haha, satisfying two cravings at once? Mmm."

Before he could lay his hoof on Fluttershy, a barrier formed around her, surprising and litterally shocking him, causing him to jump back. Twilight ran over and attempted to buck him, only causing him to grunt and subsequently laugh.

"Little filly, you're going to need to gain at least ten times your strength to even-"

He never got to finish his insult as Twilight teleported herself and Fluttershy away.

The two mares appeared just outside Applejack's home. As soon as they appeared, Twilight grabbed Fluttershy and started sobbing into her chest.

"Fluttershy! I-I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened. I was just so angry and and then I started using black magic which I still don't understand, mostly because it's always scared me but then I used it and almost caused you to die and please forgive me for being such a failure and-"
Twilight's ramble became incomprehensible as Fluttershy let her sob, her eyes closed as she chose to hold them back.

"Twilight," Fluttershy stated softly. After Twilight ignored her, Fluttershy pushed her away. "Twilight."

Twilight looked up at Fluttershy, seeing a brave face on the usually shy mare, who continued, "Twilight. You are not a failure. You are everything but that. You are a smart, beautiful mare, who's even the student of a Princess. Now please, don't make me be the brave one here!"

Twilight sniffed, then gave Fluttershy a real hug.
"Sorry Fluttershy. Let's take care of him and cry later."

Fluttershy nodded.

"I noticed something while I was being useless, standing there," Fluttershy began, staring into the ground. "When he bucked you, his cloak flapped a bit. I could've sworn I saw a book. He-I think he has a Future Diary like us, Twilight! It would explain how even when I changed the future by choosing a different plan, my dead end would be way too short of a time away from the other ends."

Twilight's expression hardened.

"Then we can't afford to waste time. Fluttershy, if he does indeed have a Future Diary and is using it against us, let's use ours too. Mine isn't so useful in this situation, as it only gives me lessons ahead of time, but don't you write about everything that scares you?"

Fluttershy nodded. Twilight continued, "Then yours may be lifesaving here. Being attacked sure is scary, so yours can give us foresight into all of his visible moves against us. What's the next entry?"

"There's no change from when I made my plan to see you. He's-oh my. He's going to be here within the next two minutes!"

"Celestia damn this! We have no time to make a plan. Is there any other useable info?"

"He's going to rush out at the trees at us. Umm, can you really not stop him with your magic? It says that you fire purple bolts at him which he dodges, and he breaks a barrier after several seconds of pushing his hooves on it, lighting up like a light source."

The diary phased.

"This is bad, this is very very bad," Twilight started. Fluttershy placed her hoof on Twilight's shoulder.

"Please calm down Twilight. You're smart and the most powerful unicorn I know. Also, the future has changed with that knowledge, though it's still a dead end. Please, Twilight!"

Twilight glanced at Fluttershy, who's brave expression was waning a little.

"R-right. He's clearly highly trained. Dodging the bolts is self explanatory, he used his Pegasus nature to redirect the shock barrier charges, and he knows how to disrupt mana flow with his own innate magic. Power is nothing over control, and while my control is normally excellent, it's lessened due to earlier, and he can clearly break mine in this state."

Fluttershy handed her diary over to Twilight. The diary phased over and over as Twilight processed more information about the enemy's capabilities due to the foresight. Running out of time, she stopped, grabbed Fluttershy, and teleported the two away just as the pegasus flew in.

The pair appeared in Rarity's Boutique, devoid of its owner.

"Rarity?" Twilight shouted. There was no response, to which Twilight shook her head.

"Do you have an idea on how to stop him?" Fluttershy asked.

"No, I'm sorry. But we can keep buying time until we figure it out. You're still on a dead end, although-" Twilight pulled her diary out of her saddlebag. "It looks like I'm on one now too."

Fluttershy gasped. "Oh my! Twilight! I'm so sorry I got you into this."

Twilight shook her head. "Don't apologize. You're one of my closest friends."

Fluttershy nodded. Twilight continued, "And no matter what, we will figure this out. It's not going to be easy, though. He is exceptionally skilled. I've lost count as to how many times I've changed the future with the foresight, and I still can't figure it out. This is military-no, Royal Guard level training."

"Oh-oh my. We're fighting someone from the Royal Guard?"

Twilight shook her head in response. "I don't know. He could be ex-Royal Guard, he could still be Royal Guard, or he might have gotten training from elsewhere, although it's unlikely. Either way, he has their level of training. Princess wanted me to go through some military training before, and now I really wish I hadn't procrastinated on it."

Fluttershy stared at Twilight, unsure if she really heard her say that she procrastinated, but quickly shook the thought off to focus on the matter at hoof, then took a look at her diary as Twilight went through plans in her mind.

"T-Trixie?" Fluttershy said.

[11:14] Trixie came out of nowhere and stopped the pegasus from hurting Twilight with a stunning spell! Oh my!

"What?"

Twilight took a look at the entry and repeated, "What?"

Twilight pulled out her diary.

"Fluttershy! Look, I'm no longer on a dead end!"

Fluttershy smiled. "I'm glad."

[11:15] Died by bloodloss from a throat puncture.

"Fluttershy-"

Fluttershy hugged Twilight.

"It was nice knowing you, Twilight."

Twilight briefly returned the hug before shoving her away.

"No, Fluttershy. No. I'm not letting you die, and I don't know how, but it looks like Trixie isn't letting me die, either. We'll factor her into our plans and come up with one to save you."

Fluttershy smiled. "I'm so lucky to have you as a friend, Twilight."

Twilight giggled. "I'm the lucky one."

The pair giggled for a moment before going through plans.

"No, no, no!" Twilight shouted. Several teleports and multitudes of plans later, Fluttershy's dead end drew near with no end in sight. The two were in a clearing near the Apple Family home, the time being 11:12.

"No matter what I attack him with, who we acquire help from, how we try to escape the town, he always gets you. Trixie manages to save me from most of my crazier plans, but I can't seem to stop your dead end."

"I wish I wasn't so useless," Fluttershy murmured.

"You aren't useless, Fluttershy. It's just, well, neither of us have any combat training, and the few in Ponyville who do can't seem to come close to his clearly elite training."

The red pegasus marched into the wide clearing. Twilight turned to him, taking a defensive stance in front of Fluttershy.

He shouted, "It seems you've both stopped running. According to my diary, I'm not going to murder you, filly unicorn. I am, however, going to murder the yellow one over there. I don't know how you manage to escape with your pitiful lack of training, but save yourself the trouble and step aside now."

"No." Twilight replied, angrily, but much calmer than before.

"Very well."

The pegasus flared his wings and glided along the ground towards them. Drawing upon previous failed plans, Twilight slowed him down the best way she could, firing apples around him and causing the branches to lash out at him. He wove back and forth, but Twilight's concentration kept him back, even occasionally whipping him. A few concentrated bursts of magic added to the assault, forcing him to fly in ways that would make Rainbow cry.

Why am I so useless? Fluttershy thought. I know I've managed things in the past, but mostly I've just stayed on the sidelines. It didn't bother me before that I was weak and helpless, but now? Now, with my friends' very lives on the line?

Even with Twilight's persistence, it only took him the greater part of a minute to reach them, and Twilight desperately erected a barrier in a last ditch effort. Instead of casting a shock barrier which couldn't seem to even faze the trained pegasus, Twilight pooled all of her concentration into keeping the barrier going. All it bought was time, however, and the barrier soon faded, leaving a triumphant red pegasus, a tired Twilight, and a frightened Fluttershy. Twilight glared at the murderer, refusing to move. He pulled out his blade.

Fluttershy continued to stand still in fear.
First, Trixie is going to come out and counter him, but he's going to kill me anyways. But-but maybe if I wasn't such a coward? Could I do something? Could I make the decision to prevent my Dead End? Could I do what he does so seemingly easy?

Before he could strike, magic tendrils grabbed him and sent him spinning in the air, tossing him a meter away, stunning him in the process. His blade fell beside Fluttershy, and his diary fell open half a meter away. Trixie appeared beside Twilight, her horn flaring menacingly.

"If you wish to harm Twilight Sparkle, you must get through me, the Great and Powerful Trixie!"

It's coming. Oh, it's-that-that's his diary!

At the bottom of the stallion's left page were the two ominous words that have haunted Fluttershy.
---DEAD END---

Upon Fluttershy seeing it, diaries across Equestria flickered.

I see. He's going to be dead too, isn't he? B-but I don't want him to die. I don't want anypony to die. Why should anypony die before their time? B-but he is a bad pony, isn't he? Even if he stopped here, would be be killing ponies elsewhere? Innocent mares like me? Fillies? Twilight? No, no, he has a dead end too. He's going to die right here, right now, and so am I-but no, no, no! My animals! My friends! After reading Twilight's diary entry, there's no way I can let myself die. No, that pegasus will be the only one to die today. But I-it's-it's inevitable. He's going to die anyways. I-I'm sorry.

Before either the stunned red pegasus or Twilight and Trixie could react, Fluttershy grabbed the blade in with her mouth, half leaped and half glided over to him, and thrust it into his neck, his life blood suddenly spraying onto the mare, shock evident on all there. Fluttershy twisted the knife, plunging it as far as she could, heavily coating herself in red.

"I'm so, so sorry," Fluttershy whispered, tears running through the blood as she let go of the knife. The now redder pegasus collapsed as the newly red pegasus let go, creating a red puddle as blood continued spilling out.

Red. So much red. Way too much red.

Fluttershy fainted, ignorant to the shouts around her.