The trot to Fluttershy’s cottage took far longer than either had expected. She lived far out from town, preferring her isolation to the pressures of a social life. Though being so scared of the Everfree forest, Fluttershy had known nopony would dare come all the way out to her home regularly if she lived right next to it. She liked to be alone, and if that meant having a home next to the most feared place in all of Ponyville, so be it.

Pinkie and Rarity stopped on the bridge near their friend’s house. The wood creaked under their weight ominously, something Rarity had always hated about that old bridge. She felt like it would snap in two beneath her, unable to hold her weight. “Finally,” she panted out, having ran all the way here with Pinkie. She rested for only a moment with her head down, watching the river water beneath the planks stream by. The sound of the water rushing over the pebbles below was all that Rarity could hear in the meadow.

“Wow…” Pinkie said, surprise and fear practically dripping from her voice. Rarity glanced at her, a bit confused as to what she was so surprised about. Pinkie simply pointed at the door, her eyes wide.

Rarity gasped as she looked at the door for the first time, seriously taking in its appearance. “O-Oh my…” The door was in shambles. It was still a door, per say, but it looked as though it had been nearly torn away by the hinges. Deep scratches in the wood could be seen, even from this distance, as well as even a few dents in the door. Rarity didn’t quite know what to think, other than the obvious. Is Fluttershy in there, and if so, did the murderer come to get her, knowing she was helpless??

Rarity gulped and began the walk to the door. “I-I’m sure there’s a good reason for the door to be in this shape. Perhaps one of her animal’s got a little too rowdy, and wanted her attention.” She glanced back at Pinkie once, seeing her skeptical expression. Pinkie knew Rarity was grasping at straws with that one. She sighed and turned back to the door. Nearing it, the scratches looked far deeper, the dents far more real. “We mustn’t jump to conclusions, Pinkie Pie. I’m sure she’s fine… Besides, we haven’t been here in a few day-“ Rarity stopped just in front of the door as she felt something furry rub up against the base of her hoof. She looked down in fright, half expecting her friend’s skin to lie beneath her hooves, her teal eyes watching back at her friend accusingly.

Right in front of the door, a dark blue, fuzzy doormat sat. It was sewn together expertly. Nopony in Ponyville made this sort of doormat, Rarity realized as she took a deep breath to slow her rapidly increasing heartbeat. The sewing was a different kind of stitch. She smiled as she read the words written on the front with red string to herself. ‘Stay awhile, Crocodile’. “See darling? S-she must’ve been making this today. You know her, and her love for sewing.” Her smile grew. “And look at the writing. It certainly fits an animal caretaker.” Confident that that was what had been happening all day, ignoring the scratches in her foalish hope, Rarity knocked lightly on the door.

“Oh! P-please come on in” a small voice from inside squeaked instantly.

Pinkie smiled, her worries diminished as she heard her friend’s voice. She hopped up to Rarity as she opened the door. She glanced around once. All was quiet in the meadow today, but for the water. Strange, she thought. Usually animals hopped around, chirping, humming, chittering, and all sorts of other sounds. She turned back to look inside, shrugging off the lack of noise.

It was pitch black in the cottage, the only light streaming in from the open door. Pinkie and Rarity had been in such a rush, they hadn’t noticed the sky beginning to grow darker from a storm on its way. The pegasi had scheduled a light storm for later that evening, and the teams were already out in full force to make sure it happened. Thus, the sun in all its glory was slowly being hidden away by the tempest’s clouds.

“Hey, Fluttershy, you in here?” Pinkie asked hesitantly, trying to look around as much as she could in the darkness around the small house. “Sorry we missed the picnic!”

Both ponies walked further inside, curious about why it was so dark, their trepidation slowly easing itself back into their veins. As they crossed into the center of the room, they heard a small, timid voice behind them, next to the door, soft and unheard until now. “T-thank you both for coming… B-But I’m sorry, w-with the rain that’s coming, I-I decided to do something else…”

They both turned to look at Fluttershy. Through the darkness, both of them could just make out her figure. She was next to the door on her two hind hooves, one of her front hooves on the door. Her mane was ragged, as though she had been in a struggle. Rarity could have sworn her fur was darker than it had been, although that could have just been from the dim light. She was grinning, a strange look on such a sweet face, her teeth and the whites of her eyes stealing the attention of the two gathered. “Do you like my new doormat,” She asked with a slight hint of a laugh in her voice. With a small push and a long creak, the door shifted closed, locking out the last shred of light and leaving them all in shadow.

Author's Note

This one took me awhile to beef up. =n=; Sorry for the short chapter, guys, best I could do. The original version doesn't have chapters, so yeah. ^^;
Edited by DrakeFang