fLuTtEr

Author: Annonymouse
MLP:FiM is property of Hasbro. This is a free fan-fiction, not to be sold or traded for any money, goods or services.
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WARNING: GRIMDARK. Contains graphic writing. Please do not read if you do not like gory violent stories concerning MLP. Contains murder, slaughter, vore and swearing (like this last one really matters, lol).
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fLuTtEr
fIvE
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News of the young Puddle Jumper's disappearance reached Fluttershy's cottage the next day.

Rainbow Dash landed in front of Fluttershy's home and knocked. She was greeted by her oldest friend.

“Hello Dashie.” Fluttershy smiled sweetly. “What brings you here to see me?” She then saw the grim look on her friend's face.

“A youngster in town went missing yesterday. He was last seen heading toward the Everfree Forest.”

“Oh my.” Fluttershy gasped. “We need to try to find him before anything happens.” She turned to the happy little animals in her care. “I'll be back later. Try not to make a mess please.”

Fluttershy closed the door and turned to Dash. “Any idea where he might have gone?”

“Tracker was able to follow his tracks to the edge of the forest...” Dash looked away from Fluttershy. “But his tracks vanished. There were no other tracks around...”

Fluttershy looked shocked. “No... could it have been some flying monster?” She thought it was ironic, calling herself a monster.

“Dunno. The weather ponies are flying over the forest right now, trying to see if they can pick up the trail. Nopony knows the forest better than you. You have to help us find Puddle Jumper.”

“Ripple and Pond's little colt? He's the one missing?” Tears formed in her eyes. “We have to save him.” She galloped into the forest.

Dash flew behind her. “We'll find him... no matter what.”

Fluttershy nodded and lead Dash down a path, one that would lead well away from the hidden cave, her baby, and WELL away from the ravine. She just hoped that none of the Pegasai flying overhead would find it.

“I really don't like this place.” Dash shuddered. “Why can't we just fly overhead?”

“We could.” Fluttershy slowed down and looked around, pretending to look for clues. “But then we might miss something.”

“Well yea, I guess that's true.” She shivered. “Hey Shy?”

“Yes Dashie?”

“I have a really bad feeling about this. I mean, Twilight tried using a locater spell... but she couldn't find him at all.”

“Maybe he's out of range? Oh, that would mean he might be further into the forest.”

Dash shook her head and landed in front of Fluttershy. There were tears in her eyes. “That's not it. The spell picks up the life force of the Pony... The spell's range is really big, especially with Twi casting it. She... She just couldn't find him...”

Fluttershy paled. “But...”

“Whatever took him either flew so far away that even Twi can't find him... or...” She gritted her teeth. “Or it killed him.”

Fluttershy hugged Dash, her own tears pouring. She sobbed.

Dash stepped back. “She also said the spell can't reach underground...”

“A cave?” Fluttershy wiped her tears. “Maybe he fell into a cave or a hole in the ground.” (I am so glad that Whisper Wing's cave is so well hidden. You can't even find it until you're almost right at the entrance... and the Ravine, it may be a clearing on one side, but there are plenty of trees growing and hanging over it from the other side.) She frowned in her mind. (Guess I'll have to find a new place to hide the remains, and I might have to move my baby further into the forest.)

“That's possible.” Dash dried her tears. “Come on, let's go join the others.”
...

Dash and Fluttershy were flying high over the forest, searching for anything that might be out of place.

Fluttershy could see the small clearing that housed the ravine, but from up here, it was hidden by overhanging trees.

She hoped that it would remain hidden.

A moment later, she spotted two Pegasai circling the clearing.

Dash also noticed. “Hey, I think somepony found something. Let's go check it out.”

Fluttershy felt her heart sink. Sure, Jumper's body wasn't in the ravine, but in the cave. There was no tracks or anything like that, thanks to Flutter covering all evidence, including all evidence from the hunt.

But she was still worried.

“Rainbow Dash. We found something.” One of the circling Pegasai flew up. Dash recognized him as Tracker. He was the best at tracking.

The other one was on the ground with two more.

Dash joined them, Fluttershy right behind.

“What did you find?”

“A ravine filled with bones.” Tracker replied. And worse... One was a pony.”

Fluttershy whimpered and hid behind Dash as pieces of the skeleton were brought up.

“Is there any clue who it was?” Dash stepped forward and looked at the pile of bones. She wanted to scream and fly away as fast as she could. “Where is the skull?”

“There was none... There are none.” Tracker pointed to the ravine. “There's a lot of animal skeletons in there. This pony, it's not the missing colt. This was an adult.” He examined a hoof. “Splayed hooves... this was a Unicorn Pony.”

Dash looked back at the cowering and wide eyes Fluttershy. “One sec, okay Tracker?” She walked to her friend. “Fluttershy? Hey, maybe you should go home...”

Fluttershy shook her head. “No... I don't want to be alone right now.” Her eyes were still locked in those bones. The skeleton was not in one neat piece, and many bones were missing, scattered among the other bones below.

“There's a few more bones for that poor pony down here.” Another pony called from below. “I found the pelvis... It was a mare.” The Pegasus carried the dark stained bone in her hooves and set it down. “Look at these... all these teeth marks.”

Fluttershy whimpered more. Those were mostly her own teeth marks, left behind as she stripped the flesh from the bones.

(I'll have to be more careful from now on...) She promised herself. This was a mistake she would not repeat. Live and learn. Live and learn.
...

The remains had been transported back to Ponyville for Dr. Reeds to examine.

Fluttershy was worried that the Unicorn doctor might be able to identify those bite marks as her own. If that happened, she didn't know what she would do.

She was one of the three Pegasai who were transporting the bones, carrying them in sacks that had been brought in for that purpose.

As they landed, Dr. Reeds was waiting, flanked on either side by Nurses Redheart and Needles.

“Bring them inside please.” The doctor had a grim expression on his face.

Fluttershy deposited the sack she carried next to the other pair of sacks. “Dr. Reeds?”

“Yes Fluttershy?” He knew her well enough, as she would often stop by for medicine for her animals.

“Will you be able to tell what... what did that?” She looked nervously at the bags of bones.

“I don't know really. I'm no expert at this kind of thing. I don't even think of a time in all my years as a doctor that anything like this has happened.” He rubbed his brow. “I don't even think there are any experts in this field.”

“Maybe I can help?”

“What? Why would you want to help?”

Fluttershy looked down. “I... There's nothing else I can do.”

He sighed. He knew Fluttershy was an accomplished healer, and had on more than a few occasions seen her candy striping around the hospital when it got busy. “Very well. Let's try to piece this skeleton together.”
...

Dr. Reeds was impressed as he helped Fluttershy piece together the remains, rather than her helping him.

“A shame the skull is missing.” He muttered. “It could have held valuable clues as to this pony's identity.”

“Mare, Unicorn.” Fluttershy ignored Dr. Reed as she examined various bones. “Right foreleg leg looks like it had been broken and magically mended.” She jotted down the notes.

Dr. Reeds raised an eye. “And how could you know all this?”

“Unicorns have unique hooves. Similar to goats. The pelvis has a large hole, big enough for a newborn foal to fit through.” Fluttershy tapped the leg bone in question. “And the fracture looks very neatly and professionally mended, smooth and with no distortions.”

Dr. Reed was indeed impressed. “What can you tell me about these marks on the ribs.” He pointed to the faint teeth marks.

Fluttershy examined them. “Flat, but very sharp teeth.” She paused and ran her tongue over her own teeth. They didn't feel sharp at all. “Flat like a pony's teeth, but they're sharp, so that's impossible.”

Dr. Reeds knew he was out of his league. He specialized in medicines after all. Fluttershy knew more about the biology of an animals body than he did, meaning she most likely had a better understanding of the pony physiology. He specialized in medicines after all.

“I'm glad you're here to help me.” He paused and ran his own tongue over his own teeth. “And I agree, these teeth marks on the bones can't be those of a pony.”

Fluttershy tapped one of the neck vertebrae. “May you float this one?”

He did so and watched as Fluttershy scrutinized the bone. “Next one please.”

They repeated the process, all the way down to the tail.

Fluttershy had examined each and every bone in great detail. She didn't write down a few of the interesting things she was noticing. (The spine... It seems to be more than just a bunch of bones that hold out front and back together.) She mentally grinned, but remained somewhat passive, and a little worried on the outside. (All of them have a hole through them... and I pulled that long thing from them. It wasn't a vein or any muscle. Hmm, I wonder what that was.)

“Dr. Reeds, I need to get a book. Do you have any on pony bodies? I mean, the insides.” (Would be nice to know what all that stuff does in the body... and what can be picked on for maximum pain without proving fatal.)

“I think we have some books like that... But the worst thing we ever need to treat here is a broken leg or wing... though I did have to reattach Pokey Pierce's horn after Snippity Bobbity cut it off a while ago.” Reeds frowned momentarily, rubbing his own horn. “Let me go get those books.”

“Thank you Dr. Reeds.” Fluttershy grinned darkly as she watched him exit the room. (So much to learn.)
...

Fluttershy entered the library, wearing her saddlebags, and weighed down by a couple thick books.

Twilight was reading through some of the books she had ordered from Canterlot, making a ton of notes in the process.

“Twilight?”

Twilight nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of Fluttershy's soft voice. “Fluttershy? I didn't even hear you come in.” She took a few deep breaths. “Um, what can I do for you?”

“We found a pony skeleton in the Everfree Forest...”

Twilight went white. “No... was it...?”

“It wasn't the missing Colt. It was a full grown Unicorn mare.” She glanced around the room. “I'm helping Dr. Reeds to find out how she died.”

“Can't he just do a memory tap?”

“A what?”

“A Unicorn can house a few hours of memory into their horn, which can be read by another unicorn by touching their horn to it.”

“There was no skull recovered.” She then described the ravine, using minimal detail.

“So many skeletons, but no skulls?” Twilight frowned. “Sounds like some creature is collecting trophies...” She then grinned. “If i can make use of the Unicorn's bones, I might be able to locate her skull, and thus, her horn.”

“That's great!” Fluttershy looked happy, but inside... (Fuck... Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Of course Twilight would be able to do something like that... I'm proud that she's so smart...) Her mind then grinned, a dark though creeping out from hiding. (So let's see what will win. Cunning and experience, or book smarts. If smarts win, then Mama will just have to vanish with her baby. If Cunning wins... Twilight learns what it is like to be hunted. I'll have to think up something special just for her, and her alone.)

“Of course... that will require me taking a trip to Canterlot and requesting to study books and spells in the Forsaken Hall in the library.”

“How long would that take?”

“Assuming Princess Celestia even allows me to research the spell I'm thinking about... It might take a few days. Then I'll need to prepare the skeleton and...” Twilight frowned. “There's a reason that section of the library is called the Forsaken Hall. Necromancy is not practiced anywhere in Equestria.”

“Necro...?”

“Magic that allows the animation of the dead. After this is done... I'll be turning myself in to Princess Celestia to have the spell erased from my mind, as well as anything else I learn while in those halls.”

Twilight grabbed a spare scroll and started writing her request. She then sealed it and called for Spike.

Spike entered the main library from the old books section. “You call Twi?”

“Please send this to Princess Celestia.” She floated the letter to her assistant. “It's very urgent.”

“Gotcha.” Spike sent the letter off with his emerald fire. “So, have you found the missing foal yet?”

“I don't think they'll be able to find him...” Fluttershy hung her head. “I feel so useless...”

Twilight hugged her shy friend. “You are not useless. Your talents are perfect for who you are.”

“Is it?” Fluttershy asked, a little tension in her voice.

“What's bothering you Fluttershy?”

(I have to keep calm... I'm a lot smarter than most ponies believe. I'm cunning. I'm a huntress and a healer. Still, I can't let anypony find out about my baby.) “I'm just scared.”

“Don't worry.” Twilight gave a reassuring smile, even though she was full of doubt herself. “I'm sure we'll figure out what happened to little Puddle Jumper and this mystery Unicorn.”

Spike was aware of the situation, even though he didn't really understand. He just stayed quiet till he belched out green flame. The reply to Twilight's letter appeared.

Twilight took it in her magic and opened it. She read it over to herself tensed. “Princess Celestia... accepted my request...” She gulped. “I... I'll be leaving once a chariot arrives.” She turned back to Fluttershy. “Please make sure nopony disturbs the skeleton till I get back.”

Fluttershy nodded. “Alright. I'll ask Dr. Reeds to make sure nopony goes near the bones.”

Fluttershy smiled on the outside, but frowned on the inside. (Not good... If she can locate the skull, that will lead her right to my baby. Guess I'll have to do something to sabotage her.)
...

He could see and hear everything clearly though Fluttershy's eyes and ears. She could hear his whispers, feel his manipulation, and even feel his worries.

Blackthorn was highly intelligent. He was weak right now, but potentially very powerful. He cared nothing for the lives of the ponies, all but for his Mama. If the feeling he had for her could be described... it was love.

But Blackthorn was not wanting to take any chances. Twilight was potentially a VERY dangerous adversary. Something had to be done to throw her off track.

He then had an idea. He hated to give up the lovely trophy, but had no choice.
...

Fluttershy stepped into the Everfree Forest once again, her hooves never leaving tracks in the dirt or mud.

(I know he likes his skulls, but I have to do something... I know. What if I planted the skull someplace else? Framed some other creature or even...) Her passive expression became a dark grin, her flat teeth growing into small, sharp fangs. (I could place the blame on another pony.)

Fluttershy knew of one pony near Ponyville that most viewed with fear and superstition. (That old, creepy halfbreed Earth Zebra. Nopony likes him.)
...

Before removing the skull from the cave, she made sure to remove every part of the horn. No need to leave ANY evidence that could lead Twilight to her, and her baby.

Late that night, the skull had been planted under the floorboards of his rickety shack while he slept (thanks to a pinch of sleeping herbs in his drink). She disposed of the evidence of the herb, just to be safe.

After that was done, she returned to the cave and fed her baby more from Puddle Jumper's corpse.

After feeding her quickly growing baby, she stepped outside and searched among the bushes.

“There you are.” She picked up the broken horn and returned inside. She examined every piece of the horn and bits of skull that remained.

“I have to dispose of this so it can't be found. Twilight said it should take a few days before she returned... I hope I have enough time to...” She cringed slightly at the though of how she was going to dispose of the horn. “To digest it...”

She took the tip of the horn between her teeth and bit down, crunching through the enamel to the bone inside. She ground the horn to a powder between her molars and swallowed it with some stream water.

“Minty?” She wondered. “But then... that pony did have a mint leaf as her cutie mark.” She grinned and resumed her gruesome task, wondering what other Unicorn's horns might taste like.
...

It was midnight when Twilight was escorted to the Forsaken Hall by Luna.

“We know mine Sister Eldest hath giver thou permission... But art thou certain of this path? Three months thou shalt spend in these halls.”

Twilight nodded and steeled herself. “Yes Princess Luna. There's a killer in the forest outside Ponyville... this is the only way we can find it... and hopefully before it can kill again.” Still, she could not believe it would be taking three whole months to learn a few spells.

“Very well... Thou shalt be locked within these halls. Were it our decision, thou would not be permitted entry.” Luna's horn flashed, lightening striking the massive series of seals and locks that barred entry.

Slowly they opened, creaking and groaning from lack of use for untold hundreds of years.

The hall beyond was wide and cavernous, and dark.

Twilight had to bring all her supplies with her. Food, water, lamps, candles, a dozen blank books, lots of ink and quills. There were also other supplies that Celestia had prepared for her ahead of time.

She entered, using her magic to carry everything in with her.

“We shalt return three months hence. Should thou have learned what thou need by then, then may the Holy Light have mercy on thy soul.” With that, Luna shut and locked the door behind Twilight.
...

In the darkness, Twilight could hear something. Scratching. Voiceless whispers. She felt a chill run down her spine as the air itself seemed to become cold.

Her horn was glowing enough for her to see a short distance, her breath visible in the cold air.

She approached the only table in the center of the room and set up a lamp. She lit it, the light doing little to brighten the room.

Every now and again she saw a shadow move in the corner of her vision and would look, only to see nothing.

She pulled on a warm cloak that Celestia had provided for her, though the choice of black, with a tarnished silver skull clasp was not something she would normally choose to wear.

Setting out her gear, food and water. She took stock of everything.

“Three months worth of food. Same for water. Plenty of books, ink and quills.” She shivered, her breath an eerie green in the mixed light of her horn's glow and the flickering orange light from the lamp.

A magic 'disposal' bin, for garbage and bodily waste. A small single pony tent, bedroll, thick and warm fur blanket, a small heating crystal... wait... fur blanket?

Twilight examined the blanket and saw it was a bear hide. She shuddered, thinking she would be using the skin and fur from a dead creature to stay warm. Still... this place felt unnaturally cold.

She sent back to checking what Celestia had provided for her.

Black leather leg wraps, with straps and steel buckles. A tight looking black silk vest, embroidered with fine silver patterns, skulls and other dark looking symbols. A tarnished silver horn ring, sporting small blood red ruby shards, like small spikes.

She knew she would have to wear these clothes. They were designed to protect her, or so Celestia had said. Twilight dressed and sighed. It felt strange, the leather leggings specifically. Leather was made from the skin of once living creatures after all.

There were other supplies for the magics she would be learning, as well as a full pony skeleton. Well, all the bones of the skeleton.

With everything set up, she approached the massive bookshelves that lined both walls of the long, dark hall. They loomed high to the twenty length high ceiling, books filling every space of shelf. Where there were no books, there were various 'artifacts' and even pony skulls.

(I'm here. I can't turn back now... I have to find the killer...) Twilight used her magic and started summoning the books she would be needing.
...

Flutter looked at the stripped remains of the skeleton. The colt had been pretty small, but had lasted a week.

But with it stripped as it was, she needed to hunt for her precious baby again. She would not let him go hungry.

(I'm a fast flier... I should be able to go to nearby towns and find prey I can easily hunt.) She grinned. “Blackthorn, Mama is going out to hunt for some yummy food. You stay here and be safe.” She piled all the bones into a sack, but placed the skull onto a stone shelf. Flutter then left the cave.
...

Trottingham. A small village to the north of Ponyville that rested near the Everfree Forest.

Flutter stood on a thick branch of a tall tree, looking out over the small town. She couldn't see any activity.

Or perhaps there was activity.

A small pub looked like it was just closing its doors, a half dozen drunk ponies leaving and staggering off to wherever they would sleep for the night.

Flutter did not want to take any unnecessary risks, so looked for the most inebriated pony of the group.

Unfortunately that one was with another pair, and entered a house with them.

(Hmm... Alright. How about a lone one...) Her flickering red eyes following the other three. Two staggered together, singing drunken songs.

But one was all alone. A young Pegasus. He was not in any condition to be flying right now, which was to Flutter's advantage.

She launched off the thick branch, flying fast and silently toward her prey.
...
To Be Continued...
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Editor's Note: My deepest and most sincere apolo... no, wait. Why do I need to apologize for that John W. Bobbit reference concerning Pokey Pierce? It was the author who wrote it.
A/N: I regret nothing...