The message was clear and simple, and got the point across easily.
Especially to Fluttershy. Especially.
She cowered as she read the note that had been dropped of earlier that day. Getting the point across, indeed.
Fluttershy knew what she had to do, but was in no condition at all to do it. She had all the time she needed to make up her mind, and she kept thinking saving her friends was the right thing to do. But deep inside, she loved this world, and would stop at nothing to keep herself in it.
Fluttershy had seven days to make up her mind. One hundred sixty-eight hours, ten thousand eighty minutes, six hundred four thousand eight hundred seconds... you get the point. In simpler terms, plenty of time.
To her, however, it felt like a blur.
Seven days was not enough. She just needed more time...
No. This was cruel and unethical. Nopony should have to go through this.
She sighed. She had to go through this.
Fluttershy needed help. But who to ask? That was the question. She couldn't go to any of her friends for help; for they would just freak out and give her the obvious answer. Her.
And that's how Fluttershy found herself soon at Zecora's door.
She took a deep, breath and knocked, immediately regretting her decision and was somewhat hoping nopony was home.
No such luck.
The door swung open, and in the doorway stood Zecora. The light from the inside of the hut made their shadows dance around the forest, revolving off of the trees.
"Fluttershy! Long time no see. Come inside and have some tea?" Zecora stood clear of the doorway, motioning Fluttershy to come into the hut.
Fluttershy cleared her throat. "Actually, Zecora... I'm here on a d-different matter." She went into the tree, followed by Zecora. Fluttershy sat behind one end of Zecora's cauldron. Zecora sat on the other side.
"What seems to be the problem, my dear? You seem to be stirred up with fear." Zecora looked into Fluttershy's eyes. She could see fear, anger, and depression.
"I-I, um..." Fluttershy pulled out the note from her saddlebag and hoofed it to Zecora. She swooped it out of Fluttershy's hoof, and read it to herself.
"Very odd, my Fluttershy. But on me, you cannot rely."
The yellow mare shifted uncomfortably. "S-so, you can't do anything about it?" She scratched her mane.
The zebra shook her head. Fluttershy sighed, thanked the zebra, and returned back home.
Fluttershy was lying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She was trying to recall the events of the day.
She was trotting through the Everfree Forest, gathering fruits for her critters: blueberries, raspberries, and bayberries. She was also looking for stellaria media, or chickweed, to top off Angel's lunch. Fluttershy was supposed to be back by eleven o' clock. The time was ten forty-three.
She was looking in the undergrowth for the chickweed.
None.
Fluttershy needed to find some, but she also needed to be back in time.
Ten forty-nine.
Time was running low.
Angel would be very upset if Fluttershy didn't come back with what he wanted. That made her look even more vigoriously. She swept away bushes, trees, even the smallest patch of grass to see if she could find any chickweed.
No such luck.
Ten fifty-five.
She sighed and was about to head back when she spotted some in a clearing.
Fluttershy galloped towards the green plant, picked it, and put it in her saddlebag.
Then, Fluttershy began the trip home.
A couple times, she thought she'd heard a twig snap or bushes being moved aside, but she dismissed it as part of her imagination and thought nothing of it until--
She was interrupted from her thinking by a small but delicate sound that she'd have missed had the house been a decibel noisier.
Fluttershy went downstairs to investigate. On the rug in front of the door was a small leaflet. She closed her eyes and picked it up, trembling.
When she opened her eyes again, she was relieved to see it wasn't a death threat, but rather an invite to a party from who other than Pinkie Pie.
Subject to take place at three o' clock tomorrow, Fluttershy decided it was a great opportunity to make up her mind. Best case scenario, nopony got hurt.
Unlikely, however.
Fluttershy knew that whoever was doing this to the poor mare was out to get her.
Party guests started arriving around two thirty, a half hour before the party started. Four guests sat at a table, talking to each other. Their names were Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Twilight Sparkle.
According to Pinkie Pie's RSVP list, they were expecting one more visitor. Fluttershy.
She didn't make any attempt to get there early. Fluttershy got there at exactly three, the party about to start.
When she trotted through the doorway, she found herself greeted by five other ponies. But Fluttershy was in no mood to talk. Well, she was. Later.
She said hi to everypony and slipped away to a corner of the room. She needed to think about how she would explain this to her friends.
'You or me.' No, too agressive.
'I hate to have to tell you this way, but...' Nope, too cheesy.
'I received a death note from an anonymous person saying that...' No, too long.
'In less than a week, we're all going to die.' Yes. Perfect. Now to get back over to her frie
"Hey, Fluttershy! What are you doing back here?" It was Rainbow Dash.
"Oh, I-I, um, nothing, it's, um..." she stammered.
"Oh, don't worry, Fluttershy! C'mon, let's get back to the party!"
Fluttershy agreed and nodded, lagging behind Rainbow Dash.
"What's taking you so long, Fluttershy?" Rainbow asked. She turned back around to face her friend.
"I-In less than a week, we-we're all going to d-die." Fluttershy quickly spat the words out. Everypony in the room slowly turned to face her, in dreadful silence.
The silence continued for a few seconds, before it was broken by a pink pony by the name of Pinkie Pie. "Nice joke, Fluttershy!" Pinkie was rolling around on the floor, bursting with laughter.
But nopony else was laughing.
The six ponies huddled around the small table.
Fluttershy discussed what had happened, why it had to be like this.
"I got this leaflet i-in the mail earlier yes-yesterday." Fluttershy tossed the letter onto the table. The other five tried to get a glance at it.
Then, they all expressed their opinions.
"Look, sugarcube. Ah know this may seem a bit harsh, but if anypony's going, it should be you. Five lives are more important than one, in most cases. But then again, quality over quanity." Applejack slumped back down when she'd finished.
"Applejack's right, unfortunately, Fluttershy. But in my opinion, we should try to save everyone," Twilight explained.
Rarity was next. "I hope this fiasco is just one big joke!" She hmmph'd.
Pinkie wasn't able to talk because her mouth was full of cupcakes.
"Look, guys. I know five is more than one, but give some credit to Fluttershy! It's not her fault." Rainbow Dash stood up and walked out of the room, followed by Rarity.
The remaining two ponies apologized to Fluttershy, and said they would do anything they could to help.
Fluttershy chuckled after they left the room.
Of course they wouldn't do anything to help.
They didn't care about her.
FLUTTERSHY'S DIARY
DAY 3
I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary today, but that doesn't mean much. I've been keeping a close eye on Ponyville from my cottage and haven't seen anything suspicious.
So far.
I hope this is all a joke.
DAY 4
Nothing today, either. Except for the fact that I was taking care of Winona today. She was acting strange, and kept wimpering at the basement door.
Angel did the same.
I went down there and I found nothing.
More tomorrow.
DAY 5
I went back down to Ponyville today to go to the market. And I must say, it's
Hold on.
Back... there's another message.
It says 'make your decision.'
I crumpled it up and threw it in the trash.
I just need more time...
Oh. Almost forgot. I was visited by my friends today. They asked me if they needed any help, but I said no. They looked like they knew something was up but didn't acknowledge it, and that they'd keep a look out.
DAY 6
One day away from the deadline! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is messing with my head. I can't take it...
GET
OUT OF MY
HEAD
All I can hear is whispering, murmuring... it won't stop.
Am I being brainwashed or something?
OVER
AND
OVER
AND
OVER
I can make out 'kill... friends... no hope... help me... don't go back... betrayal...'
All sorts of unsatisfying and unencouraging words.
DAY 7
If anypony finds this...
you know what happened.
Winona was wimpering at the basement door today, as was Angel. Opalescence was scratching at it over and over.
When I went down, there was a folding chair on the floor and a hook hanging from the ceiling. On the other side of the dark room, there was a revolver. Five bullets.
Five bullets to
...kill...
...destroy...
...friends...
please
stop
what have i done
you're
right
i need to do it
now
That was the last anyone had heard of Fluttershy.
When her friends came looking for her, the door to the cottage was wide open.
The five ponies searched the house and found the animals crowding around the basement door.
They looked at each other, and decided to open the door.
It was dark.
The five ponies were looking for a light switch.
Applejack felt around. She touched something cold and soft.
When Pinkie found the light switch, Applejack let out a scream.
It was Fluttershy, dangling from a rope.
