It was a normal spring day in Ponyville, the sun was shining and everypony was outside enjoying the fun and the sunshine. Austin and Rainbow Dash were flying around, Applejack was farming. Rarity was traveling the shops around town ,Pinkie was bouncing around looking for friendly faces. Twilight and Spike were sitting under the old oak tree studying. Yet Fluttershy was not yet to be seen.
It was very peculiar for Fluttershy of all the ponies, to not be the one outside. Wether caring for her animal friends or simply enjoying the wonders the outside world usually brought to her, she was almost always around-- at least during the day light. Yet here it was, a lovely day, all of the pale yellow mare's friends out and about, seeming to be having a nice time... and she was nowhere to be found. Unless one were to come looking for her... Fluttershy hadn't disappeared, she simply remained shut up in her house. Every window and opening closed tightly, sealing any interaction from between inside the cottage, and all the life just beyond the front door. It almost seemed as if the quiet soft spoken pegasus didn't want anypony around at all. Though it was true she was very shy-- as her name dictated, that typically didn't keep her from being open with and enjoying the company of her friends.
Austin got a bit curious as he scanned the sky for his friends, he saw everypony except his shy pale yellow animal lover, he looked at the cottage and saw everything was shut up and closed, the house was dark and very quiet and vague. Unlike its usual happy demenar. He took a look at Rainbow Dash who was flying next to him and gave him a small smile as she laughed just a tiny bit, almost mockingly. But his interest was still on the pegasi's house for once and didn't really take notice, which made Rainbow a bit jealous. But worried nonetheless. He put a hoof to his chin and thought. "What's up with Fluttershy's house? Its usually more.... cheerful?"
Rainbow Dash's eyes went from Austin down to the mentioned pony's home. Now understanding more why he had been so distracted and, also curuios herself now she blinked in surprise. "Uh... yeah..." Still gazing at the house she raised one eyebrow at the scene. It was true, and very strange that Fluttershy's home would seem so closed off and .. uninviting. Especially if the long pink haired pony was at home, which Dash had previously assumed she had been considering she wasn't seen anywhere else. "Maybe she just got.. spooked..." Dash mumbled "You know Fluttershy, shes always got something she is afraid of." The light cyan pegasus flicked a hoof "I bet she just went into town, but now has this fear of somepony coming into her house and hurting her animals or something." Dash shrugged.
Austin still looked down at the house and pondered before looking at Dash again. "That may be the case... I mean she is shy and easily scared.. but its usually really unlike her to just not be doing SOMETHING outside.... but maybe we should leave her alone... She might not want company.." he was still looking at Dash but his eyes wandered back to the house. Which made Dash jealous again, she didn't like it when Austin wasn't paying attention to her or at least SOMETHING important. Not just some dumb old cottage.
Dash crossed her hooves as Austin pulled his attention away from her once again. "Hey!" she snapped "If we should just leave her alone, then don't worry about it." If it were not for the fact that they were flying she would have stomped a hoof down to make a point. "So just leave it be, alright?"
Austin looked back at the Pegasus. "Oh sorry.... but maybe.... Oh nevermind. Its probably not important..." but he knew something was going on, and after Dash falls asleep. He was going to learn what was happening. One way or another. But he didn't dare announce that to Dash. He just smiled and spoke in a calm manner. "So you wanna continue our fly or did you get so annoyed that you don't wanna anymore?" He said with a mocking smirk.
Dash grinned at him, though she still seemed somewhat irritated "Well!" she started "You did get on my nerves, but I am never too annoyed to fly!" she laughed and came up pushing her muzzle into his face. "Especially with you."
Austin quickly kissed the Cyan mare and smiled. "Well then lets get to it! I'll race you and beat you in a lap around Ponyville!" He pushed his muzzle in her face and pointed the direction,the race would be going, his eyes narrowed and a smirk again came on his face.
The rainbow-maned pegasus returned the expression, her competitive spirit showing through and playing in her rose eyes. "You're on!" she grinned widely at him stretching a hoof out to playfully poke him on the chest.
Austin pulled away "Then lets go!" He got into a readied racing stance as well as Dash. He then counted down slowly "On your mark.... get set....go!!" And they were off. Later that night though at their cloud tower, Austin layed down in their bed, also.made from clouds and yawned "Well that was a great day Dashie......" he said with a chuckle. Dash was unaware of his plan.
Rainbow Dash laughed as she trotted over and plopped herself down next to Austin. She gave a simple "Uh huh" before yawning herself. She placed her forehoves behind her head and crossed one of her back legs over the other. She looked over at the orange pegasus next to her and smiled "Do we ever really have many bad days?" she asked laughing again.
Austin shook his head no while still smiling. "Noooooot really! But we do have moments where I totally beat you in a race!" He laughed and shut his eyes a bit, leaving a little bit open to see her reaction.
The mare gave him a hard stubborn look and fidgeting slightly in her place. "Hey now!" she said flicking her tail at him as she spoke back up "I got something stuck in my eyes!"
Austin opened his eyes at her tail hitting him, "Hm? You need any help getting it out dude?" He looked at her calmly but curious, but he knew inside that she would just smack him with their pillow or something.
"Pffft." Dash let out, laughing slightly and rolling over, turning her back to him and waving her hoof in the air "Not anymore! Was done with that problem a looong time ago" she said "Man, maybe you really are going slow on me!" she laughed again, but didnt turn back to look at him.
Austin laughed "I was being sarcastic dude." He moved his neck over to where Rainbow's face was. "I'm not slow!" He said looking at her upside down and beaming.
Laughing again Dash smiled back up at him. "Mmm, Okay, whatever." she said before pushing him away lightly and closing her eyes.
Austin came back and put a hard kiss on her lips before flying up, his plan was about to be executed. "Well uh I'm not actually tired anymore! So uh I'm gonna take a fly! Y'know around Cloudsdale!" He said flapping his wings slowly towards the window, which was just a opening made of clouds.
She gazed at him seeming a little surprised. "Uh... Well alright." she said watching him fly towards the window "I guess I will be here." she laughed "sleeping." She waved a hoof at him slightly before turning again "Have fun."
Austin kissed her again. "Love you gorgeous! Peace out!" He flew out the window, and just went straight down. He was actually headed for Sweet Apple Acres. He had called Applejack earlier about the situation, theyre gonna check it out together. "We'll be here to help Fluttershy!"
Dash just gave a small smile and a sleepy mumbled after he kissed her again and flew out of the window. Applejack however, was standing just outside of the barn that lay on Sweet Apple Acres, tapping her hoof on the ground and gazing around in the sky. The orange farm pony hadn't been waiting outside long, but she seemed anxious to hurry up and get going. After all it had already been quite some time since it was noticed that Fluttershy wasn't around, and the longer they waited to see what was going on, the more Applejack had wanted to know.
Austin flew up to the farmhouse at rapid speed. It didn't take him too long to get there. He hadn't seen AJ or Fluttershy for that matter since the Flimflam brothers incident a few days ago. "Hey AJ" he said calmly "I'm here, I spent a little more time with Dash than I should've but I'm here...." his hoof hit the rough wood of the barn.
Applejack looked over as Austin approached. "Ah, good." she said smiling at him "That's alright sugarcube, let's just get ah goin' and not wait any longer to see whats goin' on with Fluttershy." The earth pony gave a slightly worried look at the pegasus "I'd hate for her to have to be all alone any longer if it turns out she really needs us."
Austin flew back up as Applejack lead the way to the cottage. "Yeah... I haven't seen her in a few days actually... she may be in really bad shape or something.." He was worried and scared. His face never really showed it but in his mind many thoughts were going through, processing what may or may not have happened. "I haven't seen her since the whole cider thing...." he said with a worried tone.
The earth pony mare looked up at Austin as he spoke, giving a small, worried nod in agreement. "Yeah..." She had realized that there had deffinatly been something wrong about the whole situation, but untill Austin had mentioned just how long it had actually been since they had seen Fluttershy, it only made the blonde pony all the more concerned. It didn't really take them very long at all to actually make it up to Fluttershy's cottage. The cozy home was exactly how it had looked as of late, completely closed up and secluded away from anything outside. Not even the smallist bit of light could even be seen shining through the cracks in the window shutters. Applejack cast another worried glance at Austin, before proceeding to walk up to the door and knocking her hoof on it. "Fluttershy? Sugarcube? You in there?" she called in tune with her knocking. There was no response or sound at all.
Austin lightly pushed Applejack's hooves away from the door and just opened it. It was dark and quiet. An eerie tone could be heard. Austin shivered a bit. It was freezing in the house. And the animals usually kept around the house were unseen.
Applejack gazed into the home with Austin. She had an obvious look of surprise on her face. The farm pony stepped in blinking and trying to be able to see around better in the light. "Ah wonder where she is...." she spoke softly, still looking around in a semi nervous manner.
Austin could hear a low soft voice though... it seemed to be soft,calm and in a low sweet voice. He heard the words being uttered "Hush now, quiet now... its time to lay your sleepy head.." Austin knew the old lullaby, and it sounded almost exactly like Fluttershy but something didn't register with him. It sounded way too eerie. But he knew it was from below the house. The basement. "Applejack do you hear that? It sounds like Fluttershy in the basement..."
Her ears twitched as she did infact hear what Austin had mentioned. She blinked shuddering slightly. Something didn't seem right at all about the faint voice that driffted from below, and even though Applejack was happy that they had found out where Fluttershy was, she almost felt... reluctant to proceed any further. She looked over at Austina nd nodded "Sure do...." she said looking back around the house once more. "Wish ah could see a little better.."
Austin sighed "Applejack why don't you stay up here? You look really freaked. I'll take it from here. Just keep watch and I'll yell if I need you, got it?" He lifted a brow at the question he just asked her.
At first Applejack gave Austin a small glare, as if saying 'no way, I want to come along too' but after a short moment she gave an almost defeated sigh. "Alright, but you better holler if anything at all is wrong." she said.
Austin nodded "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye...."
He flew down into the dark, eerie basement. All over the walls there were dead animal carcasses scattered across the floor, blood everywhere. Not a single thing on that floor wasn't black,or a dark crimson red. A lone pony that couldn't be seen could still be heard singing the old lullaby. A knife in her hoof and a bird in another, she hummed and stabbed it straight through its throat. "F-Fluttershy?" Austin mumbled.
The pony didn't respond or turn away from her task as her name was called, she just continued to hum as she cut deeper into and further along the tiny animal, the slow, eerie notes striking a harsh flat tone every now and then. Almost as if in response to his pressence and to his question, the dark lighting in the room shifted slightly alowing the before completely invisible pegasus to be very faintly outlined on the other side of the room. A small rugged circle of critter corpses positioned all around where she sat, digging the blade into the bird's gullet and slowly slicing down all the way to the end of its stomach.
Austin said it a bit louder "Fluttershy? W-Why are you cutting up that innocent bird?" He backed away a bit but fell and slipped over a small pool of blood.
This time Fluttershy stopped humming, and removed the knife from the bird's now completely sliced open body, laying it down on the floor among several of the other corpses that lay around her. The pegasus was completely silent for a moment, her head just held low as she was apparently looking at all the bodies that were displayed infront of her. She never did answer Austin's question, nor look back at him, but instead the first words to actually come out her mouth formed a question of their own. "Why are you here...?" She asked in her low, soft voice, though it also sounded rougher and more scratchy at the same time.
Austin was on the ground, but moved his eyes to look at the pegasi, who now.sounded like gravel on a dirtroad. "I- I came to check on you... we haven't seen you in forever.... b-but what is this?!" Austin was a bit scared, even though he wasn't scared of a lot. This was genuine.
Fluttershy scraped the knife she held across the hard floor, creating the grating sound of the contact between the sharp object and the flat surface. "You shouldn't have come...." she mumbled seeming to hunch over slightly, her tail and wings twitching momentarily.
Austin yelled out, just like he promised. "APPLEJACK!!!! HELP!!" He began to get up and fly back a bit, hoping to stay far away like she is now.
Fluttershy flinched at the sound of him yelling for Applejack. The pale yellow pegasus quickly turned around, a sharp intensity in her eyes, which were wide and dull, pupils large, almost as if extra dialated from the dark room, despite the intense look on her face. Applejack hurried down into the basement ariving only a few seconds after being called. "Austin, wha-" she was cut off by her own gasp at the scene layed out infront of her.
Austin kept looking at Applejack. "Don't just stand there! Move now!" He picked up the farm pony and Dashed away out of the basement as fast as he could.
Applejack was still slightly stuned from both the scene and Austin picking her up. "What the HAY was all that?!" she asked, her green eyes stretched wide and full of shock and confussion.
Austin was still,soaring in the sky as fast as he could until they were up high and he held Applejack in,his forelegs. "Fluttershy is crazy. She killed a t-ton of animals then tried to k-kill me... and she mentally scarred me..." his voice was.shaky with fear.
The orange earth pony looked confused, but also frightened as she had at least seen the basement's condition. "But, why would Fluttershy, the sweetest'a al' ponies do something like THAT?" Applejack shook her head and gazed off into the clouds.
Austin hung his head behind Applejack "I-I don't know! But we gotta stop her, we gotta report this to the police before she does something everypony will regret!" A sense of fear totally took over his face, his heart racing.
Applejack looked slightly heartbroken at the mention of having to report the police onto her friend, but she knew if what Austin had just went through was all true, that was what deffinatly needed to be done. "W-well..." she started looking back at Austin and giving him a weak look as she could obviously see the fright on his face. Austin wasn't very easily stirred up.. "Let's go then... We ain't gunna get anywhere stayin up here." Applejack said looking down rather uncomfortably.
Austin flew to the police station rather slow. He couldn't go faster or else his heart might pop out of his chest. "I just cant believe I'm doing this..... Fluttershy...." he said looking down.
Applejack blinked sadly. What would have cuased Fluttershy to suddenly be so... demented? Out of all the ponies she knew, Fluttershy seemed to be one of the most kind-hearted and sweetest ponies around, how could she just suddenly be down in her basement killing the very creatures she had always cared for. It just didn't seem to make sense. The orange farm pony looked at Austin in a confussed haze. She wanted to say something else but didn't seem to know what TO say. She just turned her head looking downward with a sigh.
As Austin landed at Ponyville police station. He put Applejack down and looked at.the.ground, letting his brain process. He didn't know what was wrong with Fluttershy but that wasn't her. He knew that, he needed comforting badly so out of nowhere he just hugged Applejack tightly. And sighed.
The mare blinked in surprise as Austin suddenly hugged her, though under the cirumstances she could certainly understand why. Honestly, she was slightly thankful for it, even though Austin had been the one to go down and see what was going on with Fluttershy and been subjected to whatever she had exactly been doing, she was nervous and flusstered as well. The pale yellow pegasus was her friend, someone she cared about, and now here they both were about to report her to the police. Giving a hug back to Austin she closed her eyes tight as she tried to clear her head.
Austin let go and kicked the dirt. His mane drooped a bit and he tried to clear his mind, but it was nearly impossible. He had seen some horrors in his day but nothing that terrifying. His body shook and wobbled a bit, a studder in his voice. "C-C'mon AJ.... lets go tell the officers..."
Applejack let out a small sigh before she nodded. No matter how hard she tried to get past it and how much she told herself how serious the situation was, her mind still couldn't accept what had happened back at Fluttershy's cottage. But they had to do it, and not only because now Fluttershy posed as a potential threat to other ponies, but because it was obvious she needed help.
As Austin walked in the secratary pointed them to some chairs. "Two officers will be with you momentarily." She said.
Austin flew to his seat quietly and sadly. What will the others think? What will that do? "I'm sorry you had to see that Applejack... but I don't break a promise." He said softly.
Shaking her head as she slowly sat down next to Austin she attmepted to give him a reassuring smile. "Don't be sorry sugarcube, you didn't do anythin wrong..." she looked ahead slightly "I'm actually kinda glad ya did call me down." she said sighing "Otherwise I probably wouldn't have beleived ya if ya tried to tell me what happened."
Austin actually let out a very small chuckle. Then the Sectary called "You two! Officers Clip and Clop will see you now.." Austin slowly but surely got up and helped Applejack up too. "Time to bust our friend..." he said with a sigh. He never in a million years thought he'd be doing THIS.
The farm pony gave a small sad nod, getting up out of the chair with Austin's help and straightening her hat. She sighed and blinked at the orange pegasus "Lead the way...." she said giving him a dull look and pointing her out towards their destination.
Austin flew down the hall into a small.little corridor with two thin walls seperating them from the other cops. As the officers saw who was there they motioned for them to have a seat again. As Austin did so, Officer Clip spoke up. "Good evening you two. What seems to be the problem?" He said curious but stern.
Applejack followed Austin to where the two cops had showed them to sit and sat down in a chair next to him. The orange earth pony looked as if she honestly didn't want to say aything, and Austin was the one who had actually been down in the basement with Fluttershy to witness the spectical. She gave a small sigh and looked over at the brown-maned pegasus as if to say 'You should tell them since you know more'.
Austin explained the whole specatacle, the dark house, described the basement, what she was doing and anything else that would sound useful to the officers. "Hm? Fluttershy? That animal lover? I don't believe she'd ever do such a thing!" Said officer Clip. "We'll check it out, have any witnesses?" Said a stern Officer Clop. Austin gazed of at Applejack, she had seen at least a little of what happened. He looked at her with sad eyes and sighed.
The mare listened as Austin explained the scene, and at the officers' remarks. She gazed at the two "Yeah, I saw the basement..." Applejack said rubbing a hoof behind her head and under her hat before readjusting it. She looked away with a sad expression, not really saying anymore.
Austin looked at her and said softly "Applejack your one of my best friends.... Fluttershy was too but she needs help. SERIOUS help and you gotta help me give that to her.... because that's what we friends are for...." he put a hoof on her shoulder "To help each other" he gave a small smile to say that everything would be ok. Even though they weren't.
Applejack heaved another sigh and looked back at Austin. "Ah know.." she said trying to give him an honest smile back "If ah didn't beleive that, than ah wouldn't be here right now." She shook her head slightly "Its not that ah ain't willing or going to say what needs to be said." she pointed out looking back down "Ah'm just havin a bit trouble acceptin the fact." Giving another smile sigh she looked back up at the two officers. "Ah did witness it, everything he had told ya'll is true."
Officer Clip responded "Ah, good. Us two will check it out in the morning. In the meantime it is very late. I suggest you two go home and get some rest." Austin flew up out of his chair, "C'mon AJ... do you want me to fly you home dude?" He said trying his best to stay the slightest bit cheerful
The earth pony nodded, tipping her hat to the officers "Thank ya kindly..." she said before Austin's offer to fly her home. She smiled at him slightly and gave a small nod. "Ah suppose" she said getting up out of her own chair.
Austin picked the mare up and flew her back to her farmhouse, he gave her a friendly hug saying he'll meet her again tommorow. As he flies into his window he sees Rainbow Dash. Fully awake and a bit angry. "Oh ummm hi." He said with a nervous smile.
Applejack nodded and said goodbye to Austin before heading back into her home.
Rainbow Dash raised a brow at him, pouting a lip out slightly. "I thought you were just going for a fly? You sure have been gone a LONG time..." she said snorting lightly "Where the hay have you been?"
Austin sighed "Alright I'm going to tell you the truth, it may sound unreal but its the 100% truth!" He explained the story with her also. He then hovered in the air, silently. Waiting for a response.
Dash listened blinking in disbelief at the story. Then she looked frustrated again. "Wait a sec." she said glaring at him "You didn't tell me thats what you were going off to do, and you took APPLEJACK with you and not me?!" unfurling her wings she flapped up into the air and made herself level with Austin getting up into his face. "Whats up with that, huh?!" she growled at him "Am I not good enough to go with you to check on OUR friend!?" She pushed her hooves back in anger "And why would Fluttershy do anything like that anyways?! This all sounds like some kind of stupid story you made up! How do I know you didn't just go off with Applejack or something and leave me alone!?"
Austin got a bit irritated himself "I lied to you to keep you safe in case something was wrong! Which there was! Yes I took Applejack because we planned this in advance! You are good enough but again I didn't want you to get hurt because you love danger! You could've made a wrong move and Fluttershy could've skinned you Alive!! I don't know why she did it! Nopony does! But she did! And why the hay would I go off with Applejack?! We're just best friends! I love YOU! But I don't feel like arguing about this anymore because I'm freaked and tired!" He snorted and flopped into his bed of plush clouds, pulling the covers tightly over him knowing Rainbow Dash another outburst was soon to come.
Rainbow Dash listened to what Austin was saying, and though it sunk in at least a little bit, she was still fuming, gritting her teeth in agitation and still unconvinced. "Don't you dare just go to sleep yet." she huffed whizzing over to the bed and hovering over him. "You can't just come home and tell me something like that, and expect me to just brush it off so easily." she crossed her forelegs as she glared down at where he was covered up. She reached down and pulled his covers partially off of him to make sure he was listening to her. "You shouldn't have left me out, YOU of all ponies know I hate being left behind! And what if something had happened to YOU, I wouldn't have known what happened and I would have been here all alone, and worried because I had NO IDEA where you were!..."
Austin had planned on this happening, he disliked Dash unhappy but it was kinda his fault. "Well you said that it was just a cottage and you weren't worried about it. I said I was so me and AJ went to look at it! And I wouldn't have gotten that badly hurt because AJ was right outside! Now look I know I shouldn't have done this with or without you but I was curious and worried and I'm sorry! Ok? I'm sorry!" He rolled his eyes sleepily as he just wanted his girlfriend to love him again so he could let her snuggle him and worry about the rest in the morning.
The pegasus mare opened her mouth as if she were about to yell something else spiteful at him, but after a momet she clamped it shut, gritting her teeth and letting out a long hissing sigh. "Fine. Whatever." she huffed, forelegs still crossed, head turned to the side and eyes shut. "Just do whatever you want." she said before leaving her place hovering over him and flying out of the room.
Austin was angry but then he felt his heart sink. Did she not love him anymore? Did she think he was a total liar? What was wrong with her? Was it something he said. But he couldn't leave this alone, he cant just let her fly out on him. "Wait, please come back...." he said in a soft low breathe.
Rainbow Dash was already too far out the room to hear Austin's low call, seeing as how she had moved out quickly. She didn't leave the house, just simply left the room where Austin was. Landing, she trotted heavily into their living area huffing frustration and sitting down on the couch.
Austin wanted, no NEEDED to know what was on Dash's mind. He quickly but quietly flew up to the top of the stairs. Waiting to hear what she had to say so he nah fix it later.
Dash didn't really say much of anything. She just layed down with a small huff and grummbled lightly to herself. In all honesty she shouldn't have still been as angry as she was, deep down she did trust Austin and knew what he was telling her was the truth, but being the stuborn kind of pony she was, she felt like she needed to have the last word, regardless of the reason or what that 'word' actually was. She had also been having a hard time wrapping her brain around the event he had told her about with Fluttershy, her anger of the fact that he neglected to take her with him combined and just added more anger in place of that confussion, and once she was heated up, she wasn't very quickly or easily cooled down. She gazed down at the plush white furniture beneth her raking her hoof back and forth across it every now and then in irritation.
Austin Facehoofed. "I guess I'm just gonna hafta cheer her up myself...." he flies downstairs to their living room. He saw Dash eyeing him angrily as he came down, he put on a nervous smile and got to work on getting her to be happy with him again. "Dash... I'm really sorry I didn't bring you with me and Applejack... Its just that well I love you and also you were super sleepy so I,just kept you out for your sanity and saftey..." he looked sorry as he hung his Orange muzzle down and stared at the Cloud floor. Looking at all the bumps and patterns in them as he spoke.
The rainbow-maned mare glared at him as he spoke, still keeping an angry exterior-- and making sure he could tell she was still angry, but still listening none the less. "You don't have to keep appologizing and telling me that." she huffed rolling her eyes slightly and looking back down at the couch, banging her light cyan hoof against it again. "I get it." she added before lookig back up at him. She still looked rather annoyed, but seemed to have clamed down somewhat. "Its really late." She looked back down at the couch once again "Why don't you just go ahead and go to sleep..."
Austin flew up closer "Ok first I will not rest without you and I keep doing that because you wont accept that its true. I know you hate being left behind but I should've told you sooner and not lied. I also should've taken you with me but What's done is done.... I'm sorry for dissapointing you dude." He started to fly back upstairs when Rainbow cauught his tail, he looked back to see she had a bit of a playful smirk on her face. So she just calmed down like that? That's odd for Dash. But he's not complaining.
She let go off his tail and gave a small sigh. "Fine." she said getting up off the couch and onto the cloud flooring, gazing at him. "I'll accept it, and come back with you." Dash got up into his face giving him a stern look "I'll forgive you this time... but you better not do that to me again!" she huffed before her eyes relaxed again and she pulled back.
Austin went in reverse and picked Dash up like he did to AJ, swaddling her. He looked into her rose eyes and gentley kissed her. "Ok, I PINKIE promise. I wont do that again." He said as he carried her upstairs, still navigating to their room in their large 5 story tower of clouds.
Rainbow Dash smiled at Austin giving him a hard "GOOD!" She was still a little irritated over the entire situation and her thoughts continued to race, but she seemed to have pretty much gotten over the whole ordeal. She gave a small yawn, as she was actually pretty tired herself. Shortly after Austin had left, Dash had been unable to actually fall alseep, and she had been waiting for him to return. Though of course he had been gone for way, way longer than expected, hence the start of her anger. She sighed and leaned her head against Austin.
Austin smiled as he softly Layed down Dash on the soft cloud bed, after her he got in and looked at her a smiled as he turned the other way and sleepily said, "I love...you.."
The pegasus mare yawned again giving a smiled and rolling over to cuddle up against Austin. "I love you too.." she said as she closed her eyes.
Austin put his hoof on her mane and slowly put on a smile... he fell asleep. The next hot spring morning, Officers Clip and Clop were strolling down the dirt road towards Fluttershys cottage. "This story these two told us is downright crazy! This cant be true!" Said Officer Clip.
The other officer pony walking next to Clip-- His partner Clop, nodded in agreement. "Indeed it does sound ridiculous, doesn't it." he said snorting in a light form of disbleliving aggitation.
Officer Clip trotted closer in the direction of the house. "I mean in all my years of the force I never heard a bigger bunch of baloney than this! If this a prank then those two are in serious trouble!" He stomped a hoof on the ground harder than the others for emphasis
Clop, though just as irritated as Clip was, seemed a little more humored on the subject. He gave a small chuckle "In all honesty I wouldn't be surprised at all if it were a prank!" he said shaking his head "But at the same time Applejack doesn't seem like she would be the time to do that, especially something this serious." he said frowning "I know it sounds completely out there, but what if they were really telling the truth?"
Clip was unamused "Fluttershy the animal lover? Killed all her animals and then tried to kill Austin and her? I highly doubt it."
The officer stared foreward for a moment before shaking his head. "Yeah, it does sound really stupid." she stated laughing slightly, before giving a sigh. "But we told them we would atleast go check it out..."
Officer Clip nodded and inspected the.area he looked ahead and saw the familiar cottage. "This is the place." He then knocked on the door. "Hello.Ponyville Police department?"
Clop followed Clip, standing next to him as he knocked on the door and announced his pressence. Just like the night before with Austin and Applejack, there was absoloutly no answer from within the house.
Clip just like Austin opened the door and found it to be rather dark and quiet. Not an animal to be seen. "Shes not here! I knew it! Just a stupid little prank!"
Clop gave an irritated huff. "Yup!" she said scrunching his face in annoyance. "Come on, lets get out of here." the cop pony turned about to walk away from the house. A rather loud, high pitched yet strangly off laugh driffted up from underneath the cottage.
Clip put a hoof up to his ear, he heard it too. "What is that? Is that her? Wheres that laugh coming from?" He tried following the sound.
Officer Clop blinked looking back into the cottage. "I don't know.." he said following Clip further into the house. Another laugh, this one a little louder driffted up.
Clip wandered the old cottage and looked at the basement doors and put his ears up to it. "Its sounds like its coming from in here Clop!"
The mentioned colt walked up to the door next to Clip, listening as he mentioned the source of the sound. "Yeah, it does." he stated nodding slightly in agreement. "Suppose we shoudl check it out." he said looking over at his partner.
Clip opened the cellars doors and slowly trotted down the stairs when he slipped in blood and landed on the bottom step. "What the-?!"
Clop quickly followed down after him, not slipping like he had, but almsot not stopping behind him in time. The basement was still pretty dark, a very faint light coming in from small windows on the top covered with sheets to keep the sun from shining through. He gave a small gasp seeing the blood and dead animals that lay everywhere. Fluttershy was sitting almost in exactly the same place she had been in the night before, he back once again turned and her back hunched as she stared at the floor, pawing at the corpse of a small white rabbit. Her body shook slightly with the laughter that erupted from her as she fiddled with the dead creature.
Clip spoke up "Uh Fluttershy ma'am what is the meaning of this?!"
Fluttershy stopped her laughing, letting out a long exhasperated wobbly sigh. "Oh, hello..." she spoke softly straightening herself up slightly, staring at the wall now, wings twitching. She tilted her head "Meaning of what?" she asked starting to giggle a little again "I have just been playing with my friends..."
Clip whispered to Clop "They weren't lying! This is real!" He then spoke up "Uh Fluttershy you're gonna need to come with us!"
Clop shook his head slightly in disbeleif and blinking at the whole scene. Fluttershy gave a wide grin, though her back was still turned and neither of the police colts coult see her face. "What for....?" she mumbled standing up onto her hooves and swishing her long pink tail.
Clip responded sternly "For killing all these animals and.causing a huge disturbance to other ponies! Especially Austin and Applejack so attempted murder as well!"
The pale yellow pegasus was silent for a moment, still just standing there before she started to laugh again. Slowly increasing in volume as she took her time turning around. Though she had her head down, her pink hair covering her eyes. Her laughs formed into what sounded like pleased, and greatly amused demented giggles as she raised her head up to meet eyes with with officers. Where the whites of her eyes and irises should have been were replaced with pure black, dripping down her cheeks and out of her open laughing mouth almost like blood. Tiny white points replaced shrunken pupils and stared unwavering at the intruders. He lips curved into an akward smile as she continued to laugh and slowly take a step towards Clip and Clop.
Clip was shocked but her eyes, they were willing him to do something. Something he didn't want to but its like her eyes had the force. They were controlling his hooves. And as they got closer and closer to his eye he ripped one eye ball straight out, a bloody line of flesh came out as he gave a large yell and gasp and it willed him to do the same with his other eye. As he did he rolled on the floor in pain screaming bloody murder. He was still alive but blind and in very intense pain.
Clop blinked, his eyes widening in shock. His hooves were momentarily frozen in place keeping him from moving no matter how hard he tried. His eyes were glued to that of the demented looking mare's an djust out of the corner of his eyes he could see Clip begin to rip his own eyes our of there sockets just as his own hooves were rising up to do the same to the same. The police colt soon had both of his eyes missing just like his partner, the now empty sockets bleeding down his face and the broken contact of sight causing him to also fall over onto the floor, holding his hooves over the empyt holes in his head and screeching in pain. Fluttershy laughed at the two of them as she stepped closer. She halted just infront of two still smiling down at them despite the fact that they could no longer see her. She quickly walked off over the side and picked up the knife she had been using on the animals and came back over to where her current victims were. Still girning she quickly descended onto Clop taking the knife and digging it into his throat and laughing as she did so. The surprised officer's painful howls quickly swtiched into wet disgruntled gurgles as the blade cut into his windpipe.
Clip sat up, "Huh? What's going on?! Clop?! Clop are you ok?" he said looking around in any desperate attempt to see, he heard the gurgles not knowing what it was. "No please don't kill me! Please!" he yelled out, sweat dripping over his coat.
Fluttershy gave a small coo of pleasure as Clop had stopped moving. She dug the blade deeper into his skin and moved it around in different directions, as if exploring different parts underneath his outer flesh. She gave a small giggle before looking over at Clip and getting off f the now dead pony. She grinned not saying a word to him, keeping herself quiet as she slowly walked over to him.
Clip couldn't see but he could hear very well as he heard her hoof steps he backed up farther and farther until he hit a bloody wall, his back now stained with the crimson red liquid.
The pegasus laughed again. To her this was all like a fun game, one that she knew she would win, but it was deffinatly still fun. He was up agasint the wall now, she stopped a little ways short of him for a moment, only thing being heard now was her amused breathing. Suddenly however she leaped forward at him, attempting to pin him to the wall he was already backed into.
Clip suddenly felt her cold hooves on his shoulders. He was pinned, nothing he could do now as he wait as the slow painful knife would cut him up.
Fluttershy moved her muzzle slightly closer to Clip, allowing him to feel her hot breath as she giggled. She just sat there for a moment grinning widely as she stared at his bloodied deep openings where his eyes hsould have been. She rasied the knife and quickly jabbed it right into one of the empty eyes sockets.
Clips brain was filled with pain and blood as he slowly but surely died
The mare yanked the weapon back out of the pony's head as the life faded from him. Still grinning she looked between the two corpses. She sighed slightly, as if she was sad that it was already over, but she still seemed to have had a good time. She moved both bodies into a corner near he stairs of the basement. Nodding as it seemed like a good spot to her she happily trotted back over to her little circle where she had been previously sitting and scooped out another live critter from a small cage she had sitting next to her.
Around that time Austin had just woken up. He slowly lifted a cloudy eye open as he saw Dash wide awake on top of him, smiling with her wide rose eyes. "Ugh.... Morning Dashie...."
"Morning sunshine." she cooed as she grinned down at him. "Did you sleep well?" she asked grinning at him as if she were expecting special answer.
Austin let out a small giggle "Like a log dude. Your a good blanket." He smiled back her with his brown eyes.
"Really?" Dash asked raising a brow at him and giving him a playful sideawys glance. "Well, I guess you don't need any more covers huh? I can just sleep on you all the time and you would be perfectly content!"
Austin hugged her tight and laid her down on top of him "Yep! Your my girlfriend and covers! Goodnight!" he closed his eyes and pretended to snore.
Dash stared at him. "Aw what, now you are going to go back to sleep?" she said nudging him "How many times do I have to tell you to quit being lazy?"
Austin put a smirk on his face as he knew Dash thought he went back to sleep. He quickly perked his head up "RAH!" He said loudly as he smirked.
The pegasus jumped back slightly, rolling off of him she huffed and layed next to him with her hooves under her chin "Ooooh, you startled me!" she said sarcastically at him flicking her rainbow tail.
Austin bit her tail as she flicked it. "Hmm odd... Doesn't taste like skittles!" he laughs
"Hey!" Dash said as he bit her tail, laughing a little at his remark. "Is it supposed to taste like skittles?" she asked giving him a playfully irritated look.
Austin shrugged "I dunno, I haven't tasted your tail before. Only had it wrapped around me." he gave a small chuckle at his remark.
Dash laughed before yanking her tail away from him. "Well, its not for your taste testing!" she said turning around and staring. "So, got anything planned for today?"
Austin nodded "Me and AJ were gonna go to go to the police station but like I promised your coming with..." he put his fore hooves on her mane and stroked it.
She continued to stare at him for a moment, as if thinking before she gave a small nod. "All right.." Dash said smiling as Austin stroked her mane. "Glad you are atleast keeping your promises." she teased poking his nose with her hoof.
Austin nodded "Why wouldn't I? I'm honest!" He said stroking her mane. "Actually I'm creative....."
"Of course you are." Dash said smiling once again at Austin. Her anger from the previous night seemed to have completely vanished, almost like it had never happened. "So, uh, we going to go? Or hang around here all day?" she asked laughing.
Austin flew up quickly "Hay yeah dude! I'll beat you there!" He dashed out the window.
Dash smiled opening her wings and jumping up into the air and out of the window after him. "No you wont!" she called.
Austin soared through the sky at an immense speed, zooming through the clouds and then entering back into the light blue sky. He did a few flips as he flew and maybe a barell roll or two as he waited for Rainbow Dash to catch up.
She had caught up quickly, watching from behind as he flipped around in the air. Grinning she dashed up next to him and gave him a quick wink and continueing to grin, now in his direction.
Austin looked at the mare with a playful smile stretched on his muzzle. He did a quick twirl and got closer the tip feather of his wing touched her wing. "Well hey dude!" he cooed
"Hey, Rookie." she replied bach as she continued to fly next to him "I guess even with a hige head start I still catch right up to you." she added giving him a teasing smirk.
Austin smirked right back "Maybe, Or maybe I'm letting you win because I love you..." He got up in her face.
Dash waved a hoof dissmisivly at him, turning her head and giving a sarcastic answer "Pfffft, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm SURE thats what it is!"
Austin smiled "Well you'll never know now will you?" He did a small head turn. "Because I'll be too busy beating you! WOOHOO!" He zoomed farther into the blue sky.
"Or maybe that just answers the question!" she said laughing as she dashed right after him, leaving a streak of rainbow in her wake. She was going to mess with him now "Austin, I thought you were letting me win 'beacause you love me'?" she called out from behind him "Or where you pulling my leg with that?"
Austin turned around, flying on his back "I wasn't pulling your leg! But I love the thrill of winning! It's so.... Winnifying!" he said with a confident smile on his face while his mane flapped in the wind.
Dash laughed at him once again "Yeah, I can understand that." she said smirking at him. "But you can't win all the time." she quickly added before doing what he had done and dashing on up ahead of him.
Austin sputtered out a laugh "What? You of ALL ponies saying somepony cant win all the time? Did you bump your noggin or something dude?"
Dash looked back at him and grinned. "No, I was only implying that YOU can't win all the time." turning her head back forward she called out "I never said anything about anypony else!"
Austin grinned slyly "Oh your on Dashie!" He gained up an immense burst of speed and was off way ahead in a flash of neon orange.
Rainbow Dash laughed once again meeting the dual-wayed challenge head on, barreling through the sky faster and faster untill she was speeding right back up with Austin yet again. Sticking her tongue out at him as she began to pick up even more speed.
Austin soared right next to her, his eyes watered at his immense speeds as her went further and further when all of a sudden *WHAM!* He heard the large clang, he then saw Rainbow Dash fall onto the ground from hitting a nearby lamp post. He flew down by her side "DASHIE! RAINBOW DASH! ARE YOU OK?! He said sounding very worried about her saftey.
The pegasus had flopped down onto her back, wings still splayed out, eyes squeezed shut and muzzled scrunched up into a pained snarl. She let out a moan before sitting up, visibly dazed and off balance, stumbling without even standing up. "Uuuuuuuh, I think so..." she mumbled rubbing a hoof against her head. "Stupid pole....hit me really hard..."
Austin helped the mare back onto her hooves. "Here let me help you..." He brushed her off with his hoof and kissed her forehead. "There now unless you have a concussion you'll be all good gorgeous!" He said smiling at her.
Dash thanked him for helping her up and rubbed her head again after he had kissed it. "I sure hope I don't!" she growled putting her hoof back down onto the ground and giving her head a small shake. "I think I'm fine though.... Just give that lamp post my angry regards!" she snorted.
Austin smirked and gave a small giggle at this and he started yelling at the lamp post. "Hey! Lamp post! My girlfriend here is angry at you! So there!" He laughed after almost every word. "Biggest weirdo EVER." He rolled his eyes smiling at his own remark
Rainbow Dash laughed at him, and smiling. "Aw, thanks Rookie, you really told that lamp post off." she said as she laughed again and trotted up to him, giving him a quick kiss. "Made me feel much better already."
Austin accepted the kiss and went into bliss for a second but shook his head to get back to reality. "Oh it was no problem beautiful! Its just what I do! Now c'mon! The police station is right there!" He flew upright and offered his hoof for Rainbow Dash to hold, a calming smile on his face.
Dash smiled, but then tilted her head slighty. "Uh, weren't we supposed to get Applejack first?" she asked blinking at him. "I thought you said you and her were supposed to be going back to the station together?"
Austin shrugged "I'll call her later and tell her to meet us somewhere, I want to make it up to you from yesterday...." he said with a sigh.
She smiled gazing at Austin "Ah, okay then, Rookie." Flapping her wings and lifting herself back up into the air next to him, she said "Lets go then."
Austin grabbed her hoof and flew into the station with her, he went up to the secretary and asked "Uh are Clip and Clop here? They were supposed to go to Fluttershys house.this morning?" He asked politely
The secretary looked up from what she was doing and gazed at the two of them for a moment before she shook her head. "Well, they did leave earlier this morning to check it out, but neither of them has returned yet."
Austin looked surprised and his eyes widened "Wait what?!" Without question he Zoomed out the double doors, roaring towards Fluttershy's cottage.
Rainbow Dash blinked and quickly zoomed after him out of the police station. She didn't say anything or question why he had raced out in such a hurry. After what he had told her what had happened last night, she pretty much could guess what he was thinking.
Austin reached Fluttershy's house and heard her creepy hum as he opened the wooden doors on the ground and right there as if they were the pride and joy of her collection, there on the wall was the skins of officer Clip and Clop. Austin almost vomited at the sight and awful smell of the basement but moved in anyways and wasn't afraid this time. "FLUTTERSHY!!" He yelled in a ready to pounce stance.
Dash followed Austin, the immediate sound, sight and smell all put her almost into a state of shock and she nimbly, and almsot mindlessly followed him further in. A shiver visibly running down her spine. The other pegasus who currently resised in the basement looked over at Austin as he yelled out her named "You came back.." she cooed sounding pleased before her face grew a little darker "I didn't expect you to..." Her dull eyes drifted over to Rainbow Dash and her smile returned "Rainbow Dash too?" Fluttershy stood up flapping her wings in a choppy fashion as she beamed at the two of them. Such a happy smile for such a horrid atmosphere not to mention the overall look of Fluttershy herself. She was covered in crimson fluids, some long dried and changed into a more crusty brown, others splotches looking much more...fresh. Her hair was a wild mess, and her teal eyes were dull with dark circles around them.
Austin was agitated as all things could be. "Fluttershy I'm giving you one chance to come with us before I make this get ugly. You need help! Real help! You can be normal again! Rainbow! -he then whispered- Go get Applejack." He went back into his irritated stance, ready to attack at any given moment.
Fluttershy blinked at Austin her face switching from delight to a blank form of confussion. "But..." she looked around her room "Its so nice here..." she mumbled, falling silent for a moment. Dash, eyes still wide glared at Austin before giving him a hissing whisper back "I don't want to leave you here alone!" she stated deffiantly. Fluttershy began to smile again "Why don't you just stay here with me instead?"
Austin hissed "Rainbow Dash just go! I can handle Fluttershy myself.." he said as he turned to her "Alright Fluttershy.... I tried..... but now its gotta end...." he said letting a tear run down his cheek. He then pounced on Fluttershy and fight began, and only one would come our victorious.
"Fine.." Dash said, taking a small step back and lingering for only a few heartbeats more before turning around and zooming out of the basement towards Sweet Apple Acres as fast as she could. Fluttershy managed to give Austin a sad look before he pounced on her. She let out a tiny squeak of surprise at the assult. She then however gave a small giggle as a black liquid began to form at the corners of her eyes and mouth. Her eyes seeming to gradually be growing even more dull and her pupils shrinking in what looked like a fit of insanity.
Austin couldn't look at what was happening, so he shut his eyes tight as he began punching and wailing on one of his supposed best friends. "IM....SORRY...FLUTTERSHY!" he said with small droplets of tears squeezing out of his eyes still.
The mare's eyes quickly became completely engulfed into the black voids they had been before with Clip and Clop, however with Austin's eyes closed he couldn't see hers. She deffinatly didn't seem happy anymore either, she let out a high pitched squeal of pain as she was slowly but surely being beaten to death. A mix of both black and red liquids running down her face and small white pupils shaking. She began to desperatly try to get her hooves to Austin's face and pry his eyes open, but she had already become too weak to do so, her limbs falling away from him and to the floor as her struggles grew fainter and fainter untill they finally stilled. Yet her eyes and mouth remained wide open....
Austin kept beating and beating the mare, he couldn't see what was happening but he didn't really want to. He could feel her cold hooves on his face but her jerked back and continued to hit and kick and bite her until she had paid for all the ponies and animals she killed. He tried to be nice but she tried to kill him twice. There was no other option. Just then he heard the door swing open and hoof steps as he delivered the final blow, killing her. He sat on the floor crying, crimson blood on his hooves and a dead friend to his left. As Applejack and Rainbow quickly trotted in.
Both Rainbow Dash and Applejack halted at the bottom of the steps and gasped at what they saw. A dead, beaten Fluttershy, and a bloodied sobbing Austin next to her. Dash with wide eyes blinked as a few tears began to form in the corners of her eyes as AJ covered her face with her hat. The pegasus mare quickly trotted up next to Austin with wavering eyes, not really looking at the dead corpse next him "Austin..." she mumbled blinking the tears out of her eyes as they were now starting to slide down her cheeks. "You..." she shook her head and placed it up against him.
Austin nodded "I...I had no choice..She.killed innocent ponies, animals and she tried to kill me... plus she basically -sniffles- threatened you...I'm so sorry...."
Dash let out a sigh, keeping her head pressed against him and sitting down next to him. "I...I know..." she mumbled "You did what you had too.. I'm not blaming you..." she let out a nother sigh. "But I guess its all over now at least though..."
Austin looked at Dash then to Applejack, then to Fluttershy, but there was something creepy about.her eyes.
the dead pegasus' eyes had remained wide open despite the fact that her face had been beaten and bloodied. The completely blacked out eyeballs still oozing the same color down her face. Small white pupils seeming to be looking directly back at Austin. For a short moment the air seemed to grow thicker as an invisible wave seemed to be immited from Fluttershy and directly into Austin.
Austin felt himself feel strange as he almost had a strange seziure on the floor, wobbling, shaking and foaming at.the mouth until he suddenly stopped and sat up, put a wide sinister smile on his orange face and in Fluttershy's voice just says "Hi girls..."
Rainbow Dash jumped back as Austin began to convulse on the floor. "Austin!?" she said in a panic stricken voice. Though he soon sat up grinning and speaking in a voice that was recognizable, and deffinatly not his own. "A--ustin..?" she said shakily taking a step back, rose eyes shrunken. Applejack, who had been silent through the short time span suddenly yelled out "What the hay!?" her own face displaying shock and disbeleif.
Austin or Fluttershy in Austin's body to be more specific. "Austin isn't here right now...he's Around..." she said picking up the knife on the floor. Though Austin's real true voice popped out "Help me...." "SHUT UP!" Said Fluttershys voice returning in an actual yell.
The rainbow-maned pegasus gaped at what was both her boyfriend and apparently the spirit of her other friend who had come completely psycho and murderous. She was feeling extreamly conflicted and confused, instictivly taking a few more steps backwards as she stared at 'Austin'. "Fluttershy..." she breathed, still seeming startled before she yelled "GET OUT! LEAVE AUSTIN ALONE!"
'Austin' chuckled dementedly "No.. I think I like this body..." Fluttershy ran the.knife across his hoof, making blood spew out. "I think you'll make a fine addition to the collection." She raised the knife to her before getting bucked by Applejack, landing a bit away again.
Dash let out a small cry as Applejack hit the possessed Austin. "Sorry Sugarcube..." AJ said with a stern look "He ain't himself no more..." Rainbow gritted her teeth, she didn't know what to make of the situation. She knew what Fluttershy had become, and she had though after Austin had killed her it was over, bit here they were, her former friend's essence taking hold of Austin's body and using him like a puppet. Her hooves were frozen into place out of internal confussion and conflict. She didn't want to hurt Austin, she wanted in every way to figure out, somehow to get rid of Fluttershy's demented presence and just have Austin back. Yet somehow she knew that probably wasn't going to happen.... Tears began to once again trickle down the light blue fur that covered her face. Applejack didn't want to hurt her friend either, but she knew that unless they stopped, Austin... or Fluttershy rather, that they would not be safe, and nor would any other pony. The orange farm pony tipped her hat slightly giving a glare in the direction of the Austin-Fluttershy hybrid, ready to strike out again at any moments notice.
Austin got up but the real him responded "Get her out....." then it came back to Fluttershy. "Oh Applejack.... I always knew you loved to play rough. .. I like that. .. you might be able to hurt be but Rainbow wont even lay a hoof on her precious little Austin..." he said with a sinister smirk and looking at the knife.
Applejack gave a snarl "Maybe not, but that don't mean ah still can't wranggle you up mahself!" she said before charing up at him/her to land another kick.
Austin's real voice popped up again "Kill.... her...." Fluttershy returned yet again "Oh owies AJ, my wittle booboo it hurts!" He got back up again.
The earth pony bit her lip slightly at the remark, raking a hoof across the floor and snorting. She let out once more kick from her hind legs aiming it at Austin's head. "It better!" she growled.
Fluttershy as the orange pegasi came up once again "You arnt bad AJ.... beget than Rainbow CRASH over there! Wont even touch me!"
Applejack growled "You just leave her outta this!" she yelled "She shouldn't hafta deal with you! But AH will!" Rainbow Dash shook her head, as if struck back into reality. She heaved a deep painful, shakey sigh as she spread her wings out and took a step forward, her words coming out as if she didn't want to say them at all, but determined none the less "I'll do more than that."
The pegasi inside her boyfriend laughed "You really think you're gonna hurt me Rainbow Dash? Perhaps it hasn't been made clear, you hurt me, your precious little Austin gets hurt too, not only that but he can feel everything that I feel! So Boo hoo hoo!" She laughed maniacally.
Rainbow Dash flinched back slightly. The truth of the words stinging her already cramped heart like a venomous snake. She raised her hoof to wipe the remaining tears from her eyes “I know.” She hissed out in a gruff displeased voice. “But… We have to get rid of you Fluttershy…” she growled “And I know Austin knows that too..” Applejack had taken the moment of exchange between the two as a chance to land another blow onto the possessed Austin.
The Fluttershy-Austin hybrid pony landed across the room, but she got up rather quickly this time and quickly tackled Rainbow with a large buck to the stomach. Her head was still spinning after that last hit but she could still throw some punches and kicks, she was determined to win this battle.
Dash was knocked back, hitting the floor with a hard “humph” Her vision swam slightly and she breathed hard to regain missing air that had been knocked out of her lungs. She tried her best to both block as much of the blunt of the attacks as she could and kick her legs back out at the attacker. Though she wasn’t doing a great deal at either, Dash deffinatly wasn’t at her best when pinned down, and her current weak status didn’t help. Applejack growled and launched herself onto Austin’s back, taking her hat and shoving it over his face and against his muzzle.
Fluttershy couldn't see anything so she just began failing her hooves around in hope that she would hit one of them, she wouldn't let up.
Applejack had managed to stay on top of him for a while, her hat still held in place against his face, until the flailing finally knocked her grip loose and she fell down onto the floor. However she managed to jumped back up quickly and latch back onto the body, wrapping her hooves around Austin’s neck.
The pegasi quickly began choking as she thrashed even more and felt suffocated and could barely get out a breath. She turned around and bucked Rainbow in the face as she thrashed. Sending a loud disgruntled moan from her neck also flew up and shook Applejack off before heading back down on the ground seeing the two laying down on the crimson red ground.
Dash, who had previously regained her breath and managed to move more or less out of the way during the time Applejack had covered Fluttershy’s Austin face, was now suddenly hit very hard again. She let out a harsh cry as the kick completely re-agitated the spot on her head where she had only recently banged into the lamp post. She once again fell back to the floor shaking her head to try and clear the new spell of dizziness that swarmed back around her. She grunted in frustration, she wasn’t doing much to help at the moment, and though part of it was hesitation, she also seemed to keep losing her vision, deeming her unable to do much anyways. She got back onto her hooves and jumped into the air despite her still semi-burred sight, she made a quick hard charge at Fluttershy attempting to ram her hooves into her. Applejack, who had also been lying on the floor due to falling off of the pegasus’ back got back up as well, glaring at Fluttershy, picking up her hat off the bloody floor an quickly placing it back on her head.
Fluttershy was in full control, but she felt as if she not givin in as Rainbow put her hooves into her, she banged her into the cold concrete wall many times, feeling light headed dizzy and felt almost as if she had been defeated, as Rainbow Dash and Applejack almost huddled around her staring her down. As if this was their last straw. She just smirked and said in a low soft voice "Go on.... kill me... make my day.." but the real Austin's voice popped up in a painful yet calm voice as he looked in to Rainbow Dash's rose eyes. "I-I love you....." then Fluttershy was back in control, the sinister smirk pinned back on her face.
Tears began to drip down Dash face once again as she and Applejack stood over the Fluttershy controlled Austin. “I love you too…” she breathed “I’m sorry..” She gave a small growl, Applejack glancing over for a heartbeat with a saddened expression, before the both of them raised their hooves and brought them down hard onto Austin’s face.
That was it Fluttershy was knocked out, she wasn't dead. Neither was Austin but it was gaurunteed that she wouldnt be getting up for quite awhile. The two ponies exchanged tear filled glances at each other. Knowing what they had to do next.
Dash turned her head away, shaking and covering her face with her hooves. She no longer desired to even look anymore, and it was a shame that it wasn’t at least over. Applejack didn’t want to have hurt Austin either, but she knew that since she was here she could at least spare Dash the trouble of finishing her own boyfriend off. The farm pony gave a rough sigh taking off her hat and placing it back over Austin’s face, as a way to hide it. Gazing around the room she then saw the knife that Fluttershy had been using and she trotted over picking it up before slowly coming back. Ears laid flat she gave yet another sigh, tears of her own starting to fall down her orange face. She took the blade and quickly struck it down deep into Austin’s chest, squeezing her eyes shut tightly on impact. Dash flinched, knowing what the sound was without even looking back to confirm.
And with that there laid Austin.... dead. Cut to be killed and motion less. No movement, no steady breaths. No sound coming from anypony actually, his eyes and face were covered up as Dash took one last look. Her heart could barely contain it, even being the tough pony that she was. She began sobbing, tears dripping all over her face.
As Dash sat there, crying Applejack walked over and put a hoof on the pegasus’ shoulder, her own tears streaming from her green eyes. Though it probably wouldn’t be something that would normally be done between the two, the current situation deemed it a worthy moment. Applejack embraced Rainbow Dash into a hug, to which the Pegasus gave a small huff between sobs, but didn’t object. The earth pony mare sighed again “Come on Sugarcube….” She mumbled while still hugging Dash “We ain’t quite.. finished yet…” there a small pause in her words, the only sound for the moment being Dash’s small small sobbing whine and gasp as she had for a moment denied her lungs oxygen. “We still gotta finish this up before something else crazy happens…” The light blue mare gave out a sad groan, but after a few more moments managed to regain the majority of her composure, her sobs slowing down until she was just staring blankly at the floor with tears still being blinked from her rose eyes. Applejack released herself from her friend, staring at her with a heartbroken expression, her own face not lacking any tears. She glanced over a Austin’s body and at Fluttershy’s as well. Two dead friends and of course, Rainbow Dash, completely broken down and torn apart by the fact that one of them was the pony she loved so dearly, and she had been part of his end. The farm pony shook her head and looked back at the Pegasus mare how had gotten up onto her hooves. Dash looked over at AJ with dull eyes before she gave a nod “Yeah..Okay.” she sighed finally actually saying something and kicking her hoof along the hard flooring. Applejack gazed at her for a few more second before trotting over to Austin’s corpse, removing the knife she had neglected to take out earlier and tossing it aside, her face looking grim as she did so, the metal tool hit the floor with a light clang. Making sure her hat stay over Austin’s face she carefully picked up the body and placed it onto her back. She looked back over at Dash, who had been watching with a pained and sickly expression. Applejack frowned “Rainbow… can you go get Fluttershy...? Justa be safe…” she sighed. Dash stared blankly for minute before slowly nodding her head at the farm pony and walking over to the more previously life-drained corpse. She carefully picked Fluttershy’s body up, not looking at her face, where the creepy expression still remained, though the white pupils had completely disappeared from her black eyes. Walking back up to Applejack she gave another small nod without looking at the farm pony, or the Pegasus she had on her back. Both of the ponies walked out of the aphotic and dank basement and into the much brighter atmosphere of the outside world. It was such a nice day out, everything about it seeming pleasant and cheery. The sudden mood swing of their surroundings seemed so drastic it was frightening. The two of them walked side by side in silence heading out further past Fluttershy’s cottage and into the woods. Dash wasn’t entirely sure exactly what Applejack was planning to do other than just getting rid of the two bodies, but she had a feeling it wasn’t going to be just as simple as dumping them off. After they had walked for a while Applejack and Rainbow Dash had come to a large clearing that was oddly mostly deprived of grass or any other plant life. As if she had known this exact location the whole time she trotted up to where an indention in to ground formed a hole, not terribly too deep but definitely large enough to fit the two ponies into. Without looking at his face, Applejack removed her hat from off of Austin and allowed him to slide off of her back and into the pit. Rainbow Dash blinked digging hr hooves into the soil as Applejack motioned for her to do the same with Fluttershy. Which she did, moving up to the edge of the hole and dropping the other body in, it landing on top of the previously dumped one with a ‘thump’, causing Dash to shudder slightly. Applejack blinked at her friend before spinning around “Find some dry sticks, Rainbow…” she said in a surprisingly blank tone. Dash’s eyes grew wide as AJ started to walk off to do what he had just instructed the pegasus to do as well “We aren’t going to b-“ “We are…” Applejack interrupted her, halting and looking back at her. “Ah don’t know WHAT got into Fluttershy that caused her to act like that, but whatever it was it was BAD, and we gotta get rid it…completely…” The farm pony placed her hat back onto her head, a little bit of blood staining its corners and she started to walk forward again “So this doesn’t happen again..” Dash blinked for a moment the idea of having to burn the bodies horrified her, but she just gave a sad sigh and shook it off, helping her friend gather up numerous dried twigs and nearby branches, tossing them into the hole and squeezing them around the dead ponies. After they had tossed in what seemed like a fair enough amount to keep a fire going, Applejack glanced over at Dash who looked as if she were on the verge of breaking again. “Rainbow can you.. uh…” Applejack started rubbing a hoof behind her head, unsure of how to make her request. However Dash seemed to understand, she closed her eyes and waved a hoof “Yeah..” she mumbled before flapping her wings and flying off. It only took a few short moments for Dash to return pushing a cloud and positioning it over the hole in the ground. Applejack looked up at her, noticing the sad, dark expression she held. The earth pony backed up out of the way as Dash sighed taking one final look down into the hole before delivering a kick to the cloud, causing a lightning bolt to shoot from it and down into the pit, striking the dried wood and igniting a small flame within. The fire spread more and more until it had engulfed onto all the wood and began to eat away at the bodies that lay underneath and around it. Shortly they had a well sized inferno blazing up out of the dirt, sending up a wave of heat and the smell of both burning wood, and flesh. Rainbow Dash pushed the cloud away flying back down to stand next to Applejack and staring at the fire with a distant look. The farm pony next to her took off her hat for a moment looking over at Dash with all the empathy and sympathy one could put into a gaze. “Sugarcube, A-“ “I don’t want to talk about it.” She stated firmly, interrupting Applejack’s words. The blonde mare blinked at her “But Rainbow-“ Dash stomped a hoof raising her voice into a yell as she cut in again “I SAID I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!” Applejack sighed, placing her hat back on her head again as the Pegasus turned her head away. “Alright, alright…” she looked back over to Rainbow Dash “But, if you’re feelin any better… or worse…. And you wanna come talk to me, please do…” she continued to look sadly at the Pegasus, who’s face she couldn’t see. “I’m here for ya sugarcube…” she mumbled. Dash dragged on the silence for a while, not moving or saying anything, but eventually, without turning her head she did give a tiny nod, to which Applejack seemed at least somewhat more satisfied and stayed quiet after that, allowing Rainbow to keep the silence she seemed to want. The both of them just stood there for quite some time, in the silence, the only real noise coming from the crackling and popping roar coming from the fire, and the frightened alarm calls of birds coming from the nearby trees as the smoke spread out. “I’ll make sure to put out the fire when we are ready…” she sighed gazing back at the bright flames. “You could just go ahead and go home AJ..” The farm pony immediately shook her head “No can do, I’m staying here with you Dash until its done.” The light cyan pegasus was silent yet again, not saying anything else for what seemed like quite a while. Though eventually she let out a small huff and said “Thanks…” They stayed there in yet another episode of silence until Dash stomped another hoof, tired of staring at the fire. She jumped up bringing back another dark gray cloud and stomping it over the fire, letting out a bunch of rain and eventually dousing the flame as it sizzled into its end. Landing on the ground once again she shook her head. She didn’t want to look into the hole, but at the same time she did, just to see… After a short hesitation she did in fact peer over into their little burning pit and allowed tears to once again start to fall down her face. The bodies were not completely burned up, but they were without a doubt close, and absolutely and completely unrecognizable, ash splayed all over and small embers still glowing within. Closing her eyes Dash stepped back before reopening her eyes and gazing over at Applejack. The orange mare sighed, she herself still looking rather ruffled. “Come on, Rainbow…” she said motioning for the pegasus to come with her. “Lets get outta here…” Dash took one last glance towards where the flame had just previously been, her ears flat against her head. She trotted up with Applejack and the two mares began to walk away together.
