Rain.
Rain fell in Ponyville.
It was midnight, and everypony had retreated into their homes to sleep in peace with the rain hammering on their windows. Some ponies stayed awake, listening to the sweet sound of the water trying force its way in. Many slept, awaiting the rising on the sun to greet the morning.
Only one pony remained outside in the storm. One solitary pony, separated from the rest of her kind. Her mane was soaked and it hung in sheets in front of her face. The tears on her face mixed in with the tears falling from the sky as she looked into a puddle forming in front of her, the ripples distorting her beautiful visage.
Lightning flashed at Fluttershy finally saw her own face clearly in the puddle for a moment before it faded. She angrily hit the small pool with her hoof and sighed wistfully.
Fluttershy had realized her life was meaningless. She knew that no pony really, truly, cared about her. She had always been mistreated, stepped on, pushed over. Ponies only really seemed to notice her when she either messed up, cried or actually did something useful. Doing something useful was in the vast minority to her failing... Even when she tried to be more assertive, her so called 'friends' tried to pull her away from it, back to the lovable pushover that she was.
'Is that all I am to them? A pushover? Just somepony to laugh at!?'
Her 'friends' didn't even stand up for her when the times were tough. She remembered back to the Gilda incident. She had flown off, tears streaming from her eyes... and Pinkie Pie had thrown Gilda a party... They didn't trust in her, they didn't believe her...
The unfairness of it all welled up inside her, making her angry. But as soon as that brief moment of emotion was shown, it faded. What was the point of fighting anymore?
She had been depressed for a very long time... However, like usual, nopony seemed to notice. She had been pondering over this decision for a few weeks now... what she would do...
This isn't a decision you take easily...
To her however, it was already made up.
Fluttershy stood up and started to walk.
Her cottage door opened, creaking slightly. Fluttershy slowly entered, slamming the door behind her. The room was dark, but she didn't bother to illuminate it as she trudged into her kitchen. For a while, she just stared out the window, watching the rain hammer against the glass. The water droplets stuck for a brief moment before falling slowly down the window. A flash of lightning illuminated the room, followed by a clap of thunder. Removing her gaze from the window, she looked down at her kitchen table, where a long knife was lying innocently. Fluttershy reached out her hoof and took the knife, holding the simple wooden grip in her hoof, gazing at the shiny, deadly blade.
She had already made up her mind.
She went upstairs to her bedroom, the knife quivering. Fluttershy placed herself on top of her bed and looked once more at the knife. She lowered it to her foreleg, took a deep, calming breath, and drew it slowly across. The pain she felt was masked by a sudden surge of relief. As she looked at the crimson liquid slowly dripping from the wound, she felt strangely happy.
Moving the knife upwards slightly, she drew it across her skin again.
And again...
And again.
With each slice, Fluttershy was removing her problems, one by one.
And she cut herself again.
And again...
And again.
She moved the knife to her left hoof and continued the knife's progress up her other foreleg. Now her left foreleg would have some revenge for the wrongs the right one gave her. She positioned the knife above her foreleg and once again, drew the knife across. This time, the cuts were more deeper, and Fluttershy relished the pain.
And she did it again...
And again.
Blood soaked the sheets of her bed. Her forelegs were covered in the liquid, the knife graced also.
But she didn't stop...
She brought the knife down again, feeling the knife once more rip away a part of her. Her vision was starting to fade as she sat in a pool of her own blood. The pain was almost unbearable, but Fluttershy persisted. She made one, long, jagged slash across her foreleg, feeling the shocking ease at which the knife passed through her flesh, and she let out a small gasp. She now wanted the pain to stop. She wanted to start her endless sleep.
She had no regrets...
Fluttershy brought the dripping knife up so the blade was touching her throat. She slowly drew it across her neck.
And again...
And again...
And again.
It was a bright sunny day in Ponyville. Rainbow Dash flew around happily, joyfully drinking in the warmth of the sweet sunshine. Dash started to have some more fun. Loops, spins, spirals, she was infinite in her happiness. She flew at top speed to the ground, pulling up with amazing grace and style, spiralling through a single cloud which exploded into nothingness, before flying once more back to ground where she landed. She received applause from the surrounding ponies. She raised her hoof and waved at her admirers before trotting off at a steady pace.
As Rainbow walked, she looked around, smiling at all ponies outside enjoying the sunshine. It was to be yet another perfect day in Ponyville. Yet, the cyan pony couldn't help but feel that something was completely wrong. But, she told herself, what could be wrong? It's a bright sunny day, and everypony was happy. I feel great and happy to be alive. No, I must be imagining things. What could possibly be wrong? However, she couldn't help but feel the chills of her doubts wash over her.
As she rounded a corner, she crashed into a galloping pony. She fell backward and she flapped her wings to stop herself from falling to the ground. Dash righted herself and looked at the pink pony who had crashed into her. Pinkie Pie was sprawled out on the grass, her eyes rolling around in her head. Rainbow Dash laughed for a second before helping Pinkie to her hooves.
“You all right, Pinkie?” asked a concerned Rainbow Dash.
“I'm fine Dashie.” replied Pinkie. “I was hoping to run into you anyway.” Pinkie fell to the ground again, giggling uncontrollably at her own joke, terrible as it was. Dash sighed and waited for the crazy pony to finish. When Pinkie had finally got control over herself, she stood back up and passed over a small card to Rainbow Dash. She opened it. It was an invitation to another one of Pinkie's parties that would be starting in 30 minutes at Sugarcube Corner.
“Why the sudden party?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“I don't know. I just felt this chilling feeling on the back of my hoof.”
“Could it be your Pinkie-sense?”
“I think so. But, I've never had that feeling before. So, I'm hosting a party.”
“Just because you don't know what that means?” voiced Rainbow in a dull, 'that-doesn't-make-sense” voice. But she shouldn't have been surprised, or even mildly amazed at Pinkie's behaviour. It was pure randomness, complete 'don't-question-it' style.
“Yup!” Pinkie said happily. “I've already invited all of our best friends! You were the last one I was hoping to find. Now, I've got to get ready!”
With that, Pinkie galloped off so fast that she left a dust figure of herself hanging in the air for several seconds before it faded into non-existence.
34 minutes later, Rainbow Dash entered Sugarcube Corner to see Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack and of course their host Pinkie Pie around a single table. Rainbow Dash trotted over to them. As she sat down, the ponies started to resume their talk. Twilight rambled on about her magical studies. Rarity boasted about the famous ponies that had asked her to make dresses for them. Applejack interjected and interrupted the other's stories, but rarely had anything interesting to say. Pinkie Pie kept them all fed and watered with an endless supply of food and drink. Rainbow Dash lent back and allowed the words of her friends to wash over her. Pinkie announced to the group that they would party all day and into the night, which was met with cheers. Rainbow Dash sighed in comfort. This truly was going to be another perfect day.
They had been talking for almost 20 minutes, when Rainbow Dash asked the group something. Something that had been bothering her.
“Has any other pony felt that something bad was going to happen today? I've been getting chills running through me all day.”
The rest of the ponies looked at her with looks of confusion on their faces. Rainbow Dash turned a deep shade of crimson and she eagerly tried to change the subject.
“So, Pinkie! Where is Fluttershy? I thought you invited her.”
The rest of the ponies looked around. They had just noticed a distinct absence of the yellow mare.
“Well... duh! Of course I did! I popped the invitation in her mailbox as I went past.” said Pinkie, who was thoroughly concerned at the absence of one of her friends. “Come to think of it, I haven't seen her in days.”
“So you didn't give her the invitation directly?” continued Rainbow Dash.
“She wasn't answering her door, so she must have been out.” explained Pinkie. “But that doesn't explain why she isn't here.”
“Maybe she couldn't come?” thought Rarity out loud.
“She would have told me; she always apologizes for ages if she couldn't come.” retorted Pinkie.
“Maybe she's late?” added Twilight.
“Not really like her to be late.” said Rainbow Dash thoughtfully. She rose from the table. “I'll go find her.” She opened the door, spread her wings wide and flew off towards the cottage where Fluttershy lived. Rainbow was a little worried about Fluttershy. She felt quite protective of the shy mare. On more than one occasion, Fluttershy was a valuable ally as well as a good friend. If it wasn't for her, the rest of the mane 6 would have died years ago.
As Dash left, the conversation returned, but with a new topic. Fluttershy.
“She's so quiet, nopony rarely ever seems to notice her.” said Rarity.”But she's always been there, hasn't she?”
“Yeah, we would have all most likely died years ago if Fluttershy hadn't been around.” giggled Pinkie, taking the notion of death a little bit too happy-like.
“What do you mean, Pinkie?” asked Twilight.
“Weeeelllll... Remember back to that dragon?” replied Pinkie.
“Oh yeah...” said Applejack. “We would have been food for one large lizard if Fluttershy hadn't done anything.”
Rainbow Dash continued to fly on over Ponyville, getting ever closer to Fluttershy.
“And that manticore!” continued Applejack. “She walked right up to it like it was nothing. She's the bravest pony I know.”
“And... that time when Discord took over Ponyville.” said Rarity. All four of them flinched. They didn't like talking about that. “But anyway,” continued Rarity. “If it wasn't for her, we could have never caught up with Rainbow Dash and changed her back.”
“And without Rainbow Dash, the Elements of Harmony would have been useless.” finished off Twilight.
Rainbow Dash could see Fluttershy's cottage in the distance.
The four friends beamed at each other.
“The more I think about it.” said Twilight. “The more that I realise that Fluttershy isn't just a shy pony.”
“She is the most super-amazing-fantastical-absolutely-positively the best friend I will ever have.” said Pinkie, jumping up and down.
“She helps out in her own way.” said Applejack.
“She is always there for us. We owe her our very lives.” finished Rarity.
“You know... when she gets here... we should make it up to her. I mean, she hardly gets any credit for what she does.” Twilight suggested.
The others agreed instantly and unanimously.
Rainbow Dash landed in front of Fluttershy's cottage. She knocked on the door.
“Fluttershy? It's me, Rainbow Dash. Where are you? You were supposed to be at a party that Pinkie put on.”
There was no answer. Rainbow Dash banged on the door loudly.
“Fluttershy? Are you in there?”
She tried the door. Locked. Rainbow turned around and the mailbox took her gaze. She trotted over to it and pulled out a card. The invitation to the party. Rainbow Dash turned around and trotted back to the door. She tried the door again, but it was irresolute as before. Where was Fluttershy? Why wasn't she here? Where was she? These thoughts ran through her mind, galloping around each other. Rainbow Dash lent back against Fluttershy's door and sighed.
Then a scent came to Rainbow's nostrils. She sniffed deeply. Her eyes widened with shock. She hadn't smelt that scent in a while, but she knew exactly what it was. Blood...
“Fluttershy!” shouted Rainbow Dash, and she hurled her body weight at the door. The door held. She flung herself at the door again, and this time the door seemed to slightly give. Adrenaline pumping through her, she hurled herself at the door once more and it burst open.
Rainbow Dash slowly got up from the floor and looked around. Light burst in through the broken door, the only source of illumination in the dark dwelling. Rainbow Dash looked around frantically, looking for any sign of the yellow mare. Seeing nothing, Dash flapped her wings and took off from the ground. The door to Fluttershy's bedroom was ajar.
She flew up to it.
She pushed it open.
Light flooded from the windows, dazzling Rainbow Dash for a split-second. When her vision had adjusted, the cyan pony looked more closely into the room. Her eyes were drawn to the bloodstains on the floor, which slowly travelled up the sheets, and finally, her gaze fixed on the source.
Rainbow crashed to the floor, as her wings stopped functioning due to the terrible sight before her. Rainbow slowly entered the room, staring transfixed at the sight before her. She felt her hooves start to lose strength as she moved ever closer. Finally, they gave way, and she crashed to the floor again. She crawled closer, grabbing the bed and hauling herself up. She was shaking uncontrollably as she looked down at the bloodstained mare in front of her.
There was no mistaking that yellow coat and pink mane and tail, splattered with the dried red from her body. Rainbow Dash picked up Fluttershy slowly, and she lay limp and cold in her forelegs. Rainbow Dash sat down, cradling Fluttershy in her hooves. She looked down, her lips quivering, at the beautiful mare, finally at rest.
Rainbow buried her face into Fluttershy's coat and started to cry. Finally, her feelings found voice.
“No... Fluttershy... Don't be dead... Please don't be dead...” she sobbed.
She shook the mare lightly but nothing happened.
“No... no..” Rainbow Dash's voice quavered in her throat.
She squeezed the mare tightly, her cries of grief muffled in the soft fur. Rainbow's hooves trailed along the cuts in the Fluttershy's forelegs, her eyes flicking to the largest one, ripped across her neck. Rainbow Dash slowly drew her hoof across the gash, anger coursing through her. Her angry tears flowed as she looked at the broken mare before her.
“Who did this to you Flutters?” cried Rainbow Dash, her voice mixed with anger and laced with sadness. “I'll find them, and I'll fucking kill them.” Rainbow raised her gaze and saw a knife lying on the bloody mattress. She carefully laid Fluttershy on the ground and picked it up. The long blade was covered in dried blood. Rainbow stared in horror at the weapon before tightening her grip on it and hurling it across the room with a yell of frustration. The knife sunk into the wood, quivering slightly. Dash turned around and her eyes gazed upon a small piece of paper, lying on Fluttershy's bedside table. She picked it up and started to read.
Hello to the pony that finds this, October 23rd. That is when I died.
October 23rd? That was... 4 days ago...! thought Dash, her hooves trembling.
I don't know how long it will be before anypony finds me. But I don't have my hopes high. For all I know, you will probably never find me. I'll just rot alone, until somepony comes to see what the source of the smell is.
None of you care.
Those words struck Rainbow Dash's heart, and she stumbled slightly backwards, as if the words had actually hit her.
None of you really care about me. You only notice me when I fail or start to cry.
Maybe after I'm gone... you'll finally notice me.
Finally notice the pony that was right in front of your eyes.
Rainbow Dash tried to stop reading, but her eyes wouldn't stop moving across the page.
You aren't my friends...
I hate you.
Goodbye.
The note spiraled downwards, hitting the floor softly. As the final dagger of the truth sunk clean into Rainbow Dash's mind, she wailed and held Fluttershy close to her, pleading for the mare to return.
But the truth is, she won't. Death has a vice like grip, and it won't let go.
Author's Note
Pissed? You should be.
