Celestia

I blinked into existence a few dozen feet away from the fringe of the apple orchard. Can't be too careful with those.... things crawling around; they had a tendency to show up whenever something interesting was happening. I cast a simple illusion around myself, rendering my body completely see through. I had no clue if they could see through my enchantments. I wish I knew more about them but they are dreadfully hard to catch.

No time for regrets, I have work to do. I examined the tree line, looking for the slightest splash of colour against the dark green backdrop. Nothing, I needed to get closer, I slinked towards the tree line, listening for the slightest echo, maybe a branch breaking. Then, I heard it, screaming. It sounded like somepony was being set on fire; and sadly I knew all to well what that sounded like. I forced myself not to rush to the aid of which I could only assume were the elements.

I could make out their manes, bright colours against the darkness, still blurry from the distance, I had to get closer but from this distance I could see that two of them were flying. I cast another spell to sharpen my eyes and my body turned to ice from what I was witnessing.

"N-no..." I whispered aloud, no longer caring if I was heard. I fell backwards onto my hind legs, my body no longer being able to support my weight. I felt dead inside, like the sun would never rise again. "There... there is only one thing left for me to do." I sat up, my legs trembling beneath me. I dimly noticed that Twilight had arrived. Good, that would make this easier, I teleported in front of what used to be Fluttershy and held her in my magic.

"Princess Celestia!" I heard five mares shout from behind me.

"I'm so glad your here! You must know how to fix Fluttershy!"

"No. I'm truly sorry about this Twilight, but I can't fix Fluttershy."

"But... your Princess Celestia! You must know how to fix her!"

"I'm sorry Twilight but-"

"NO! YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO FIX HER! There... there is no way that..." She blinked tears out of her eyes. I sighed internally, this was just going to make things harder. I shot a quick five bolts of magic into the foreheads of the mares in front of me. Four collapsed straight to the ground but Twilight looked up at me, a look of disbelief and betrayal ran across her face. "How.. how could you?" her eyes rolled back into her head and she collapsed beside her friends.

No time for tears Celestia. I turned around to face the mare I used to know, she was hissing and slashing at the air with her fangs. I prepared a spell, it would be quick, she didn't deserve the pain my sister had brought upon her. I bathed my horn in the golden light of my magic, she wouldn't feel a thing. I shot the spell, it arced towards her I could see the fear in her eyes, even in this state I could still see the old Fluttershy. The spell stopped in front of her, I couldn't do it. I smashed my hoof against the ground with enough force to break it. I didn't feel it, the only reason I knew is because I could feel the growing puddle beneath me.

Tears begun carving their way down my face. "I.. I still have work to do." I sniffled and shone my horn towards the five mares on the ground.

'You've always been weaker than us'

Twilight

"Spike!" I called into the library. Just where has that drake slithered off to? I spotted a tail peaking out from under my bed. I felt a sly grin lighten my features as I tiptoed towards his hiding spot. Upon arrival I slowly pressed my hoof onto his tail. The bed lurched upwards and I heard a groan emanate from under the bed. I giggled to myself. "Spike?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you under the bed?" I heard some grumbling coming from under his hiding place. "What was that?"

"I said I accidently lit my bed on fire."

"What? How?" I shook my head in disbelief, my earlier mirth forgotten. "You know what? It doesn't matter." This time it was his turn to be surprised.

"Huh?"

"I could just make a new bed. Oh! I almost forgot the reason why I came up here in the first place. Would you like to go on a picnic with me and my friends?"

"Or I could go back to sleep? I've kinda been awake for a while." He smiled sheepishly. I sighed and rolled my eyes before teleporting a new bed into the room and walking out the door.

I spotted my friends under a shady tree and trotted towards them, it seems they are in the middle of a conversation.

"It's quite the shame Fluttershy had to leave so quickly. I mean she didn't even have time to say goodbye!"

"Well a chance to visit dragon hatchlings is an amazing opportunity" I piped in, alerting the other mares of my presence.

"Oh hey Twilight!" Pinkie called out, somehow her voice not muffled by the plate of cupcakes in her mouth. I really wish I knew how she did that but after the incident where I went slightly crazy trying to find out how her Pinkie sense worked I resisted the urge.

"I agree wiff Rare. It's not like Fluttershy to leave wiff out sayin somethin first!" Applejack and Rarity both seemed bothered by this; I for one didn't feel like this was much of an issue, from how Fluttershy reacted to Spike I couldn't imagine how happy she would be around a dozen smaller versions of him.

"I think Twilight's right." I heard Pinkie say as she took a seemingly endless array of food from out of her basket. Wait, what?

"Pinkie? How did you know what I was thinking?" I asked cautiously.

She snorted and fell into a fit of giggles. "You were talking out loud, silly!"

I sighed, thinking out loud had always been a habit of mine.

"I just can't help but worry! We still haven't gotten a letter from her and it has been three whole days!" Rarity fell back into a couch that somehow appeared behind her. "I wish she would at least send something, just to let us know that she is all right."

We all nod our heads in agreement and begin our feast.

Author's Note

Funfact: I almost broke my toe while writing this chapter!