( Fluttershys P.O.V )
Five years.
It has been five years since any of my friends have decided to come for a visit.
When I say it out loud it sounds pathetic, who counts the days since they've seen a friend?
I just don't have anything else to do.
The moon outside is shining so brightly tonight, the sky is clear and the wind from above so crisp and welcoming.
Though it alone calms me now just a bit, I fear it is my memories that haunt me now.
Each memory like a blade stabbing at my heart over and over again.
They are not bad memories at all, in truth they are the thoughts of days filled with laughter and love that keep me awake at night.
Five years.
All my friends left Ponyville to chase their dreams and find their path, yet I decided to stay behind too afraid to take the plunge and live my life on another path.
I chose to stay here and live with my wildlife friends, and for a time all was good I gave them company and in return they gave me their love.
But as the years started to pass so did those smiling faces, one by one each of my friends who looked to me for care moved on in life. Be it finding love, looking for adventure or like my dear Angel Bunny- simply run out of time on this earth, they left my side and moved on.
Once gone I couldn't bare to replace them I felt if I did then maybe I was dishonouring their memory in some way, so within time my cottage lost the cozy feeling of a home and slowly turned into a place so silent and lost it felt forgotten.
I would sit outside on clear nights such as this and think about how my friends would keep my spirits high, keep my faith alive that no matter what happened in life they would be at my side till the end. Yet it didn't take long to allow the truth to sink in, within five years not once have those so close to my heart come to see me.
I've sent packages, letters and even gifts.
Never once had I gotten a reply.
I see how things are now, I gave my heart to those who have left and in return got nothing.
I can still join the last of those who reside on my land, I can hear them call for me to return to their sides once more and care for them. Give my love to those who will not throw it back into my face.
I was scared at first of those voices, but now I'm ready- I want to return things back to how they were.
With a broken heart and a single tear rolling down my cheek, I knew it was this perfect night to make my journey back to my true friends.
Turning my gaze away from the soft light of the moon above, I began my slow trott back towards my cottage my heart racing wildly in my chest not of fear but of something else I had not felt in so long.
Excitement!
I could see my friends now waiting for me in a large meadow full of flowers of everykind, the sun shining brightly overhead while the scent of nature would fill the air around us.
My hoof pushed open the old worn door to my cottage as I gazed around the dimly lit room, my blue eyes fell upon a small length of rope set atop my dirty dust ridden coffee table.
Taking it in my mouth gently I gazed about the room looking for the right spot to place it, eyes just about missing a perfectly strong beam nested right in the middle of my living room. Tossing the rope upward I was able to wrap it around the beam in one go, my body began to go numb as I tied the rope into place.
In silence that I had grown so acustomed to I started to tie the noose into place, my mind drifting off to a sight I just couldn't wait to see.
Angel Bunny staring over to me with that cute look on his face, so happy and glad to see me after all these years I bet he has been as egar to see me as I am to see him. The first thing I want to do when we meet again is fix him his favorite treat then from there we can catch up on everything.
Taking a deep breath I gently pounced up atop a small chair set under the rope, The howl of the wind outside sending a small shiver down my spine.
Smiling I placed the noose around my slender neck and tugged until I could feel the rope tighten, tears started to fill my eyes as I looked ahead just a few more moments and I wouldn't be surrounded by this pain no more.
I wouldn't be alone.
I just want to feel the warmth again, if only for a second.
I could feel myself kick the chair out from behind me as the weight of my body plunged me downward hard., kicking my legs back and forth my mind started to race wildly I was hoping this might be quick.
Unfortunately I could feel my air being cut off roughly a painful strain on my neck caused tears to roll down my cheeks quickly, I felt my legs start to go numb my eyes growing a dark red as everything around me started to grow black.
But instead of light ahead of me.
Instead of seeing my friends.
All I could see was darkness.
Cold.
Silent.
Darkness.
What have I done!!
My mind screams for my wings to start fluttering, but my whole body is numb now I can't feel anything.
I...I...can't breath.
I don't want to die.
It's comepletly dark now.
Please Celestia...
Spare me.
But most important.
Forgive me...
( Scootaloos P.O.V )
" Rainbow? " I spoke aloud through the dimly lit room in the hotel, sure it was dark but I could make out the room littered in filth and discarded items.
And if I couldn't the stench of this room would have given it away, It took me a bit to track down my sister after she stormed out of our last get together. Ever since that bolt of lightning struck Dash down during her first year as a Wonderbolt she hasn't been the same, the color she brought to the world seemed to fade away.
" Dash are you here? " I spoke up a bit louder stepping inside the room, finding a small candle off to the corner with a box of matches.
Quickly flicking one into flame I lost no time lighting up a candle, coming to sight with something horrible.
Hanging from the middle of the room was Dash her whole body still and unmoving, my heart started to speed up as the whole world around me began to spin.
" DASH!! " I screamed out loud tears forming in my eyes.
" Ahhhh! " Dash quickly slung up her head in shock from my high pitched scream, flashing me a worried yet confused look.
" Scoots-Scootaloo!!- What's with the screaming? " Dash glared crossing her hooves across her chest as she stayed hovering in midair without the use of her wings.
" You-you were hanging!-I thought you were dead!! " I spoke up in a lower tone my hoof over my chest feeling the rapid beating of my heart.
" Phst!- One. Rainbow Dash will never end it okay?! and Two It's a harness!! " Dash pouted narrowing her eyes at me as I simply gave it a closer look, indeed strapped around her chest area was a leather strap.
" Why are you in a harness? " I sighed walking over to my sisters side and sitting down on the floor, gazing up towards her with worry in my eyes.
" Well the dumb thing was supposed to help my wings stretch and workout, but I kinda slipt it on wrong and got stuck..." Dash rolled her violet colored hues at me as couldn't help but giggle.
" Yes-Haha- get me down now Scoots I've been here for at least a day! " Dash sighed placing a hoof atop her forehead as her body slowly spun around in place, my eyes catching a small glance at her burned busted right wing.
" I'm sorry Dash." I smiled quickly standing on my forelegs to untie the back of the harness as Dash undid the front.
Within a flash she ploped down atop the floor stretching her body into place, Her mane wild and a bit tangled as black lines had formed underneath her eyes.
She looked so tired though she'd never admit it.
" So what bring's you all the way to Las Pegasus- scratch that how did you track me down? " Dash spoke in a slightly annoyed tone as she trotted over to a nearby counter with a half drunken bottle of spiced wine atop it.
" I just got worried about you Dash among other things.-That and I asked Pinkie if she knew where you might be." I spoke watching my sister lift the bottle in her hooves to her lips chugging down a large swig in a single gulp.
" Don't worry about me I just like my privacy..." Dash winced swallowing the wine before sliding it back onto the counter.
" You know like Fluttershy. " She finished off as she trotted over the trash in her room, jumping atop a worn dirty mattress the sheets stained from months of neglect.
" That's another reason I was sent to find you- Fluttershy hung herself. " I slowly allowed the words to fall from my lips as Dash quickly rolled over to her side in a swift motion falling off the bed.
" Is she alright? " Dash quickly asked slinging up to her hooves galloping across the room to face me.
" She's..." I tried to speak my voice cracking slightly.
" IS SHE ALRIGHT!! " Dash screamed her hooves clutching my shoulders hard sending a pinge of pain up my neck.
" Yes!-yes she's alright though being looked after at Ponyville Hospital. " I finished as Dash let out a sigh of relife, slowly ploping down onto the floor in silence.
" Is that all? " She spoke up in a solemn tone eyes darting about the room wildly.
" Well Pinkie is off to go visit her-she asked if I did find you to also ask you to visit." I spoke up as my eyes gazed down to the flith of the floor how did she fall so far.
" I....Can't go back." Dash spoke turning away from me in silence, walking over to her mattress again.
" Dash we all miss you! - We...I need you!! " I felt my voice start to raise once more, Dash simply plopping down atop the bed with a dull thud her coat even less colorful than before.
" Nopony needs the company of a Busted up Ex-Flyer. " Dashes voice escaped her lips in barely a whisper her back turned to me.
Her wing was folded back and twisted, burn marks seared the fur from her wing leaving only bare skin and a slight imprint of bone into view.
" You used to tell me when I thought I'd never fly-To Never Give Up!! " I yelled out from the corner of the room, my lower lip quivering as I could feel the tears returning.
" That giving up was for Rookies!- That even if I never did fly you'd always be there at my side!! " I felt the warm tears roll down my cheeks as I stomped my hoof atop the ground firmly.
" Well guess what!- You never gave up on me!- So I'm doing the same!! " I yelled out dashing over to my sisters bedside as I gazed down to her limp body in disgust.
" I'm at my end kid.- This Rainbow is just too tired..." Dash sighed ears folding back gently.
" Please for me..." I whispered hoping just for a second to see the fire in her eyes one last time.
" Tell Fluttershy I said hello..." Dash waved a small hoof my way as if to dismiss my company.
" I can't believe I ever looked up to you." I spoke turning away from this shell of a mare and trotting out the door, my whole frame felt numb and cold.
( Rainbow Dashes P.O.V )
The door slammed firmly shut behind Scoots, I could hear her hooves stomp off down the hallway and back out of my life.
It was for the best.
Nopony needed me around, to feel sorry for and talk about how I could've done great things.
That's why I run, they can't talk about me if I'm alone.
The whispers.
The taunts.
Here it doesn't exist.
I rolled over off the bed once more, hooves touching the ground the thirst of another drink calling my name from across the room.
With some effort I made my way back over to the counter, needing to blow out the candle that kid lit anyways before getting some shut eye.
Lifting the bottle of wine in my hoof I gazed forward to a small mirror on the wall, Inside a dull pale coated pony stared back.
Her coat was dirty and devoid of true color, her eyes were covered in bags of darkness from days or perhaps months of no comfortable sleep.
Her mane was a tangled mess and within her hoof was a bottle of wine, so long had passed since I've been in the light.
Is this how I really looked?
Hoof trembling I slowly placed the wine back onto the counter.
" Why would you?-Flutters..." I whispered under my breath gazing over to a large pile of letters on my nightstand.
" I...I've been running for too long. " I spoke under my breath as I trotted over to my letters in silence.
" Why Fluttershy?- You better have a good Damn Reason!!! " I yelled out from the bottom of my soul quickly stumbling over towards the door of my room, I needed to find my way back to Ponyvlle and knock some sense back into that filly.
" I'm not a rookie!!! " The words escaped my lips as I dashed down the hallway of the hotel, I knew this would lead me back to where it all began but I had no choice my friend needed me.
I've run for far too long.
It was time I came home.
