The shroud of night had hardly fallen, the ground smelled of fresh rain...but I still paused, thinking maybe if I just never went down the hill they would forget. I used to be the element of kindness, but now...I don't know.
I closed my eyes and just let the wind rush over me and the tears fall. I can't face them...If they find out, I mean they used to be my friends but that was two years ago.
For the first time all night I sat down to think.
"Whoa! Fluttershy? when did you get back," Dash asked, raising a cloud of dust with her landing.
For the first time all week I felt safe, happy, and finally accepted that everything might turn out all right after all.
"What's in the bag," I asked, feeling like a ton of weight was removed every step we took towards the old village. Home.
"You're not the only one who needed a little space ya know," she paused as if debating how much she should tell me, "I'll tell you later okay? Just...I want to forget for a while."
I could definitely relate to that.
"So, how was Las Pegasus?"
The question caught me off guard. I started to panic I didn't have a cover story!
"Um...," I knew Dash would see through anything I could concoct in the few seconds I had. "Exciting! very exciting," I blurted out hoping that would be good enough.
"Okay what aren't you telling me, Fluttershy," it wasn't a demand, but it felt like an execution order.
"I...um, well..." I couldn't take them hating me, I just couldn't. I felt like running, locking myself in a closet and never coming out.
"If you don't tell me--"
"I'll tell all of you later," I almost shouted, picking up my pace a little.
Bam! my face smashed into the apple stand, sending the red projectiles rolling across the dirt floor of the market.
"Why, of all the careless--"
"I'm sorry! Please don't hate me," I squeaked, cowering away from the angry Applejack. some Assassin I turned out to be.
"Is-is that really you," she sounded shaken almost...sad did she want me to stay away?
"Is something wrong AJ," Dash asked sounding confused.
"You didn't hear? I thought y'all would've been told," wait Applejack was defending me?
"Well, I don't really get any news being stationed in Canterlot," Dash retorted, sounding irritated suddenly.
"Yeah, I heard the princess keeps you real busy," AJ muttered sarcastically, pulling me to my hooves.
"Hey! It's not my fault she got away," Dash defended, now full on angry.
"I'm sure it wasn't," I interjected, hoping to defuse the situation, "which princess do you work for?" the question was more of a polite redirection of conversation than actual curiosity.
"Well...I'm kind of not allowed to say," Dash answered, suddenly fascinated by the ground.
"Hey, AJ! Are you still open," Twilight called from across the market. Great, another one of the ponies I didn't want to meet yet.
"For you Twi? always," AJ answered without hesitation.
Twilight was flanked by a pair of large pegasi guards who shared the standard lack of expression...and the red cross as the guards in Las Pegasus!
I felt my pulse spike and the adrenaline rush came back like an old friend. I didn't want to fight here...maybe they won't notice me?
They saluted Dash and then slowly started circling the stand.
They were getting behind me. No! relax. you haven't done anything wrong so they can't hurt me...right?
"Watch the nervous one," one whispered to the other.
His brown maned friend nodded.
'They know who I am! I have to get out of here. I don't want them to hurt my friends.' I couldn't form full thoughts anymore and now I was sweating like a stallion.
"Hey, are you okay," somepony asked, I couldn't tell. It was like the time Pinkie had stuffed cotton candy in my ears.
"Fluttershy what's..." I didn't hear the rest of it.
The chains rattled. another sentry down.
I dragged the body out of sight, 'the convoy is coming,' I reminded myself.
The rain thudded against my cowl as I crouched on the roof, watching the road with the intensity of a hawk.
'There it is!' I whistled to the revolutionaries on the road. The signal.
Instantly the leaped into position, blocking the progress of the Templar guards. I allowed myself a small grin while I watched them rip the convoy to shreds. The "soldiers" who weren't taken down fled; their loot will fund the revolution for months.
"Fluttershy! wake up!"
The Strip faded into the library, more specifically the guest room. (Twilight had grown an addition when I left)
"What? what happened," I asked, pushing myself up ti a sitting position.
"You totally freaked out," Dash pointed out, "I mean I've seen you freak out before, but this was a little weird."
"...and I found these in your saddlebag," Twilight added, dumping the contents of my luggage on the floor.
My blades clattered to the wooden floor, followed by my unwashed jacket.
"Whoa!" Dash exclaimed, jumping back from the items.
"Something tells me that ain't tomato paste," Applejack commented, poking the garment like a rotten pumpkin.
"Girls. there's something I have to tell you..."
"No offense sugar cube, but that's just not possible. I mean you wouldn't do those things...right?"
I sighed, "It was for a very good cause. I would never do that without reason."
"Well, I for one think that it's kind of romantic," Rarity commented, helping herself to another cup of tea.
The room went dead silent.
"It's like a bedtime story, where the dashing knight slays the dragon and saves the world," she explained. "Also I think we need more ponies who are willing to risk their very lives to do the right thing."
She did have a point there, I had to give her that. But personally I thought she would be the first in line to run me out of town.
"So all of you are just going to ignore the fact that she willingly committed treason," Dash demanded, jumping up on the couch and thrusting an accusing hoof at each of us. "You could all be arrested for harboring a criminal! where are those guards!?"
"Just simmer down sally, we don't know the full story yet," AJ responded calmly, trying to restore the semblance of order the room used to have.
"No! I won't just 'simmer down' she's-she's one of them! An enemy of the peace. You know...I-I-I just...I just can't. You know what? she's your problem now! so don't come crying to me when she hurts somepony!" Dash fumed, slamming the door and tearing off to the sky. Her sky.
"She'll come around, don't worry," AJ reassured, closing the curtains after our colorful friend.
"You have my word Fluttershy, my guards won't touch you," Twilight promised, before going back to her research.
"They wouldn't make that mistake twice," I assured, scrubbing at the last of the stains. Sadly Rarity's "solution" was perfumed soap. It cleaned terribly and smelled worse.
"Oh, no you don't," Twilight declared shifting tones to "motherly" "your weapons are not leaving this library. Is that clear?"
"How am I supposed to--"
"That's what the guards are for Fluttershy. you're safe now, I won't let anything happen to you," Twilight answered without looking away from the page.
"I could take them any time I wanted you know," I pointed out a little more bitterly than I would've liked.
"But you won't. I trust you Fluttershy, don't make me regret it."
"Are you threatening me," I asked, almost laughing at the prospect. Imagine Twilight threatening me, ludicrous.
"Yes I am," she answered plainly, "you are unofficially under arrest until I can get to the bottom of this. You aren't allowed to leave Ponyville, understand?"
"I'm...wait...you-you can't do this," I protested, glancing around the room for any sort of support.
Applejack was just barely keeping from laughter, Rarity was busy fussing over the parts of the stains that didn't come out. So much for friends sticking up for you.
"It's getting late, and I should be heading home," I excused, snatching my Jacket and saddlebag from Rarity, and making my way towards the door.
"Are--"
"I can take care of myself thanks," I responded politely before slipping out into the darkening town.
The night was a comfort, the dark, cool breeze, and silence put me in high spirits. I started off towards my cottage at a brisk trot whistling a cheery tune.
"I know something Twilight doesn't," I sang softly to myself, feeling quite immensely satisfied with how my situation has unfolded. I still had my hidden blades! "I win."
"Angel I'm home," I called, long formed habits resurfacing. I hung up my jacket and slowly made my way upstairs. I was honestly exhausted and more than a little impatient to sleep in my own bed.
Angel helped me stumble into bed before turning out the light and darting downstairs to the couch.
"Some things never change," I mumbled, before drifting off to sleep, fully content to be back home.