Crimson Plague

Today was like any other summer day in Ponyville. Sunny blue skies with just enough clouds, the sun giving plenty of warmth, with a cool breeze that kept everyone comfortable. Rainbow Dash was overlooking the perfectly crafted day her and the rest of the weather team had made with a sort of pride that came with a job well done.

“I think I’ve earned myself a nap”

The cyan Pegasus stated with a grin, waving goodbye to the rest of weather team, she looped and glided to her favorite napping spot. A tall tree that overlooked Sweet Apple Acres. On her way there though, she spotted three of her friends walking down the dirt path below, well one was hoping, but that was beside the point. Twilight Sparkle, Rarity and bubbly Pinkie Pie spotted the rainbow-maned mare and waved at her, a very audible and enthusiastic ‘HI’ could be heard coming from the pink pony. Which was surprising considering she was a good four to five stories up in the air.

Dash flanked left and spiraled down to her three friends, landing softly just ahead of them. Pinkie resumed her enthusiastic wave while the other two mares rubbed their ears, trying to get the ringing to stop.

“Hey guys, what’s up?”

“HI Rainbow Dash! We’re going to go visit Fluttershy! Wanna come?!”

“Sure, what’s the occasion? She ask for you guises help with something??”

Responded Pinkie as she proceeded to literally jump around Rainbow dash. Rarity, being the first to recover from the deafening ‘Hi’ from before, was the first to respond

“Not quite Darling, it would seem that our shy friend has been under the weather for the past few days, she’s missed two of our spa days, TWO, naturally I grew worried, and seeing as none of us has seen hide or hoof of her in the past three weeks, we decided to check up on her, and ensure she’s alright.”

Rarity said with her usual amount of flare and dramatics. While she didn’t quite understand why missing two spa days was such a big deal. Dash did notice the diminished presence of her yellow friend in recent days.

“She is probably alright Rarity, she probably just has a very sick animal in her hands, you know how she gets when she has a sick animal on her hooves, heck I remember when she found that deer that got attacked by timberwolves, she didn’t leave her cottage for a whole month that time”

Twilight said, acting none too concerned about their friend’s absence, making a logical explanation to ensure her friends and probably herself about the whole situation.

“Well at least she had the decency to send her rude little bunny to inform me of her absence that time, I haven’t even a word of warning for her now, there must be something wrong! And as her friends, we must investigate!”

Rairty said fiercely, as twilight held up her forehooves.

“Alright! Alright! We’re already heading over there, so there’s no need to get so wound up, I was just saying there’s nothing to worry about”

Twilight assured the unicorn, while the prissy white mare simply hmmphed, and started down the path again. The pink party pony giggling at their display while she hoped right along with Rarity. Dash smirked and cackled as the sighing purple alicorn walked past.

“Shut it”

“What?”

Dash laughed a little more openly as she floated next to the unamused Twilight. Following the path around Sweet Apple Acres that lead to their destination. Having picked up Applejack on their way, the five mares walked up to the cottage that served as their friend’s home, but something was off about it. The usually lively home was strangely quiet, the usual plethora of tiny woodlands creatures that played or stayed in the home were missing. The chirping of birds missing from the air as they approached, the strangest thing off all was the fact the door was locked.

“You know twilight…I’m thinkin’ Rarity might be right about there being something wrong”

Stated Dash as the two earth ponies that flanked them nodded in agreement. Twilight didn’t really respond to that, she simply stared at the eerily quiet cottage for a moment before lighting up her horn. An audible click from the door lock could be heard.

“Well then, let’s go look for her”

The five mares entered, the cottage and found it extremely dark, all the shutters had been closed, and locked from the inside, and no lamps had been lit to accommodate for the lack of light, the smell of old food hung in the air. The tension and worry in room grew by the second, as the mares called out for their friend. Rainbow Dash and Twilight were silently chosen to head upstairs to do their search. The smell of old food had stayed downstairs, the smell of stale air now replacing it as the continued further into the second floor. Again, the upstairs had little to no light, Twilight’s horn being the only thing providing them with illumination. The search for their friend continued room by room, slowly they searched up until they heard something.

A faint cry echoed in the still air, the two mares had to train their ears to hear it. It took them a moment but eventually they figured out the source.

“Fluttershy!”

The two mares breathed the name as they hurried to the source, which was hiding behind another locked door, but unlike the one downstairs, undoing the door lock didn’t do much to help them get the door open.

“What the hay?! Is it nailed shut or something?! Fluttershy open up!”

Dash beat on the door calling out to the fellow Pegisi while Twilight worked her magic to get the door open.

“Go away…”

The faint sound of their friend’s voice could be heard through the door, but was too low for anyone.

“Don’t worry Fluttershy, Twilight’s almost got the door open! We’re coming! Hurry twilight!”

“Almost got it!”

Twilight strained as she continued to remove the things blocking the door. All the while dash continued to bang at the door to try to force it open, meanwhile their other three friends had run up to join them in the hallway, watching from behind the alicorn as the two struggled to get inside.

“No…Please-cough cough-..go away!”

The tiny voice spoke again, but could not be heard over the work of the two mares. Soon enough their work paid off, and the door flung open. Dash was the first one inside the room, jumping over bent nails to get to her friend. Though the sight she found was nothing like she was expecting.

“Fluttershy?..”

There was a collective gasp from the four mares behind her as they caught sight of their dear friend. Fluttershy lay in her bed, unmoving, her head and chest were still, blood spilled from her mouth, nose, ears and eyes. Her usually blue colored eyes had been replaced with those of a dark crimson red color. The blood coming from her eyes looked almost like tears. Her skin bulged and her yellow fur was now in patches over her body, the exposed skin seemed to shine in a soft reddish hue. Her Mane and tail were in no better shape, the pink hair lay on the bed, now disconnected from its owner, leaving the mare nearly bald on both ends.

“No…You all need to stay away…get out…get away”

The girls stood there speechless as they looked upon the scene, their brains working to try to come to grips with just what was going on.