The Lost Shy

Chapter 1: The Closed Casket

      It was another beautiful day in Ponyville, the sun was just starting to peak over the horizon and the ponies of Ponyville were beginning to shake off their fatigue and meet the new day in front of them. Fluttershy had been awake for about an hour making sure all of her little animals were well fed and would be ok on their own while she went out for her bimonthly medical plant trip, into the Everfree forest. She had asked Twilight to set aside a copy of the Newest edition of “The Breakdown of Rare Plants” which was only released two weeks ago, for her. She would be needing it to make sure she only picked the best ingredients to help the animals she loved so much. Her trip to the Library was uneventful, a few hellos her and there as she made the little journey into town.

     Twilight was already up and running around, reorganizing the pile of books she had been reading the previous night. Her assistant Spike was caught up in the commotion and was somehow stuck to a book shelf, placing the books he was holding precariously with his tail onto the shelves.  Grumbling about how he was woken up way to early and was missing out on an amazing dream about a giant ice cream town with rubies sprinkles, his mouth started to water with just the thought.

A light knock at the door brought them both back to reality.

“Come in” Twilight said as she put several books back into there respective places.

The door slowly creaked open as the shy little Pegasus peeked inside.

“Hello Fluttershy, did you come for the books on plants?” Twilight said with a smile on her face.

“Um.. yes.. is now a good time” Fluttershy whispered while looking at the ground.

“Of course, come on in. Spike can you bring the book over here.” she said while finishing her job of putting away the books.

“Sure thing Twilight” Spike said as he ran off, all to happy to be back on solid ground.

“So your heading into the forest to get some plants right?” Twilight asked

“Yes… I need to refill my supplies or I might no be able to help some poor creature that is really hurt.” Fluttershy said while

fidgeting a little bit.

“Here it is Fluttershy.” spike said as he came into the room.

“Thank you Spike.” said Twilight looking at her assistant. “ you can go back to sleep now I know your tired”

“Thanks Twilight, see you later Fluttershy.” Spike said as he walked up stairs to his bed,

“Thank you Spike” Fluttershy said while smiling. “Thank you Twilight, I need to get going so I am back be for night fall.”

“That’s fine just be carefull out there, the forest he been a little weird these past few weeks.”

“I know the animals have been acting strangely, and a little more territorial then usual.” Fluttershy said while walking out the

door with a little smile.

“Take care of yourself.” Twilight said while closing the door.

     Fluttershy’s trip towards the forest was a little more eventful then her trip into town. More ponies were out and about, more

hellos and a little chit-chat and she was on her way, when a bright pink mass popped up in front of her, causing her to jump

back with a little. “eep.”

     “Hey there Fluttershy, were are you going? Did you get a new book? What is it about? Oo oo let me guess, bunnies, no cats, hmmm what could it be. O well that is not what I am here for, you see my Pinkie sense had been acting up a little bit so be careful.” Pinkie said in one drawn out breath. Before disappearing as fast as she had arrived, leaving a very startled Fluttershy hiding under her front hooves.

When reality came back to her, she saw the pink party pony doing the exact same thing to everypony on the street.  She

blinked a twice then was back on her way.

     Upon arriving at her house she took a quick look through the book as she ate a little bowl of oatmeal. The book had more

pictures then words which made it easier to find the right plants without having to read the whole book and wasting time that

might be used to save a life. There were diagrams and a few warnings sings but for the most part it was pictures and recipes.

Finishing her meal she grabbed her pre-packed bags, placing her new book inside and started her journey.

     After entering the forest her shy nature started to surface and she wanted to go home but she pushed down those thoughts,

thinking “This trip can save lives of many animals and I need to do this.” with this though she pushed forward deeper into the

forest.

     As she pushed through the forest collecting  plants in fairly large numbers, filling up her saddlebags, and bringing her closer to leaving the forest. She found several kinds of rare plants she had been needing, with a smile on her face she did one last look at the list, only one plant remained. A very rare type of flower that when used increases healing speed and works as a pain reliever, this flower cost a fortune and she had only gotten her hooves on it once, it was a gift from the princess for trying to help her pet phoenix. Which she had used to save a family of foxes that had been run off a cliff by a cockatrice

“I-I can do this, j-just one more plant and I can get out of the forest and start treating the poor little animals.” stuttered Fluttershy as she looked at the book one last time, it showed a picture of the red flower and a picture of a large Manticore, along with a warning sign.

     She took her time getting close to the point she though it would be at, then she saw it a small clearing with several of the blood red flower she was looking for.

“yay” she whispered as she looked around seeing no sings of movement, she moved into the clearing, there were about a dozen flowers each one worth more then a months income if sold. As she picked the last one she realized she was being watched.

     Back in Ponyville the sun was shining, and everypony was happily going about their business, that is everypony but Pinkie who was shaking sporadically, even scaring herself. She was rushing towards Twilights house, as fast as her shaking little body would take her. It was mid afternoon and a cool breeze was blowing out from within the forest.

      Pinkie burst into the library causing Twilight to crash into a newly formed pile of books. She popped head out with a slightly distressed face, that until she saw the normally happy go lucky pony in front of her with an extremely worried face, and tears forming in her eyes.

“Pinkie what is the matter you look horrible.” Twilight said with an inquisitive look.

“It is really bad, Twilight really bad.” said the still shaking Pinkie

“What happened”

“My Pinkie sense has been of the fritz all day but it just went crazy a minute ago.” Pinkie said with a deflated mane

“Ok calm down what was the signal.” Twilight said in a calming tone.

“It was the signal for pain and fear, Twilight pain and fear, I only had this once before when my sister fell down the loft on the

rock farm, she was there for twenty minutes before help arrived.” said the now crying pony.

“OK tell me where the signal is coming from” Twilight said as she started to take notes.

“From within the Everfree forest” Pinkie said while regaining some of her composure.

Twilights eyes went wide and the quill and notepad she was levitating abruptly fell to the ground. “Fl-Fluttershy went into the forest today to get plants” said the now shaking unicorn.

Pinkie’s pupils shrunk to the size of pin pricks after she relised what this meant.

“Pinkie you start gathering the girls ill contact the princess we will meet at Fluttershy‘s cottage.”

Pinkie nodded and ran off. While Twilight started writing franticly. After which Spike sent her letter.

Fluttershy turned around and was horrified to see an enraged Manticore standing about fifteen feet from where she stood. A realization flashed through her head, as she understood what the warning in the book meant. The flowers grow near Manticore dens.

“I-I’m sorry I came to close to your den, I-I didn’t mean to make you angry.” Fluttershy stuttered as the beast came closer with bloodlust in his eyes.

The beast brought his claw across Fluttershy’s right side, cracking her wing and sending deep gashes across her ribs, up her neck and across her face. Both her eyes still work but blood was starting to cloud he vision along with the pain and blood loss. The force of the bow sent her several feet into the air, she came crashing down, dislocating her left wing and breaking two ribs. The Manticore had a sadistic smile on his face as he closed in on his pray.

The last thing Fluttershy saw before passing out was another Manticore coming out of the brush. “I hope the animals can get by without me” was her last thought as she drifted into unconsciousness.

Pinkie rushed to cottage as the other girls followed, Twilight was already there with two large Pegasus stallions wearing the armor of the Canterlot guard. With everyone there, she gave a quick explanation of what happened. That the Princess had sent the two guards to help them find Fluttershy, and that there was no sign of her around the house so she must still be in the forest.

There was about three hours of sunlight left when they entered the forest. It took about an hour and a half to find the clearing with three sets of eyes in the air. When they did they were all horrified at what they found, blood was splattered across the ground and trees, Fluttershy’s saddle bag was turn and blood coated with its contents scattered around the area. Upon closer inspection Manticore claw prints were all around the area along with several yellow feathers soaking in the blood.

A moment of silence was held by the group as they stared the bloodied scene. One of the guards was the first to speak, in as gentle a tone as he could.

“We can’t stay here much longer the sun will be setting soon and the forest is not safe, we are in charge of your safety, and we all need to leave” he walks over an picks up the torn saddle bag and starts to walk back to the town.

“Your right we need to go back, I will write the Princess and tell her ‘hic’ what we found.” Twilight said while crying over the loss of her friend. She she turned and starting walking, the others followed suit.

The next day a funeral was held and all of Ponyville was in attendance, along with the Princesses and their guards.

“We lost an important member of Equestria, she was kindness incarnate, she would help all of those in need even if it put herself in danger. We should all learn from her and her kindness.” Celestia said in a authoritative tone.

The casket was closed because there was no body within just the tattered remains of her saddlebags.

     Fluttershy’s closest friends came one by one towards the casket, each placing something on top of it as their final gifts to a

close friend. Pinkie placed a yellow cupcake, with tears in her eyes. Twilight placed another copy of “The Breakdown of Rare Plants” the first one was not found at the scene. Rainbow Dash brought a clump of cloud she had shaped like butterflies. Rarity had a golden necklace with three yellow gems on the end of the chain. Applejack placed a bottle of Fluttershy’s favorite Cider. After the town said goodbye the coffin was lowered into the ground.

      Her eye opened quickly, sending shots of pain through her whole body, her right eye was covered, she looked around, she was still in forest but was bandaged and drugged to keep the pain down. She looked around and saw a fire burning next to her keeping her warm. Horror filled her body as she saw what was sitting next to the fire. A large Manticore was facing away from her eating something, making a crunching sound.

“eep” she was so startled she did not realize she did that out loud.

The creature started to turn.