The Vanishing of Twilight Sparkle

Blood flowed all around her. It splattered the walls, and dripped off of the ceiling. Scraps of fur were strewn across the room...

"...No..."

...From upstairs she heard a ear-piercing screech...

"...No no..."

...She galloped up the stairs as fast as she could. She skidded to a halt outside her room, but the blood caused her to crash into the wall. A spear of pain shot through her wing, but it didn't slow her as she shot through the doorway to her room...

"...No no no no no, please, no..."

...Angel was floating in mid-air, held aloft by a shadowy tendril. The shadow tossed the torn corpse aside and placed it's attention on her...

"NO! NO NO NO NO!"

"Fluttershy! Wake up!

Fluttershy shot bolt upright, butting Rainbow in the head unintentionally; she had been shaking her friend when the screaming had started, and wasn't prepared for her awakening like that. She rubbed her muzzle and looked at Fluttershy.

"You ok?", Rainbow Dash asked.

Fluttershy didn't answer. As her breath was slowing back down to normal, she lifted her hoof and realised she'd been laying on a bed of hay. She looked around and saw she was in Applejack's barn alone with Rainbow (all the others had gone to do their respective jobs, while Pinkie went searching for more clues). The sun streamed through the bale hatch, but it offered no warmth as a crisp wind blew through the barn. She still hadn't completely woken up to shake off the confusion of how she got there, so she spread her wings to shake the hay out of them. She sucked a breath in in pain.

"You ok? What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"Just my right wing. Feels a bit painful when I move it", Fluttershy replied.

Rainbow moved to her right side and saw that a black bruise marred her usually unblemished coat. It ran from the base of her wing up to the first joint. She also noticed swelling around the base of her wing. That didn't look good; Rainbow had seen, as well as had, injuries similar before. But whereas she used her wings everyday, Fluttershy preferred to walk, so hadn't developed the muscular or skeletal strength to withstand strain.

"Looks pretty nasty. Don't move it and we'll get you to the hospital as soon as". Fluttershy just looked at the ground, and Rainbow pondered what to say next. Subtlety wasn't her strong suit; that was more Rarity's thing.

"Um...do you...you know...remember what happened yesterday? I mean, if you want to talk about it, that is. I'll understand if you don't. It can wait until we get back from the hospital.", asked Rainbow.

Fluttershy looked up, her jaw trembling for but a second, before she clenched and took a deep breath. She shook her head, wiped away a tear and began to speak.

"W-well, I started quite early..."

Recollection: Fluttershy's Scouting, and Return Home

W-well, I started quite early. I knew there wouldn't be many animals out, since it's Winter and they're all snug in their nests for hibernation, so I though if I start early, I can get back to you earlier.

So, like I said, I got up quite early. I fed Angel. Oh, he wasn't happy with his salad. It was quite cold out, and a little misty, so I put my scarf on to keep me warm. I flew around for a bit looking for animals. It took me ever so long to find some, but I eventually found some beavers mending their dam after the wood broke from hoarfrost. So I helped them and asked them had they seen anything. They said that it had been quite misty lately in the nights.

That was the only encounter I had with any animals all day, apart from the animals at my home. Since I didn't find out much, I headed back to my home to feed all the little animals I was taking care of. Angel probably hasn't eaten his salad either. Oh my.

Well, when I got back home...blood flowed all around me. It splattered the walls, and dripped off of the ceiling. Scraps of fur were strewn across the room. From upstairs there was a ear-piercing screech. I galloped up the stairs as fast as I could. I skidded to a halt outside my room, but the blood caused me to crash into the wall. A spear of pain shot through my wing, but it didn't slow me as she shot through the doorway to my room. Angel was floating in mid-air, held aloft by a shadowy tendril. The shadow tossed the torn corpse aside and placed it's attention on me...

"...Fluttershy? FLUTTERSHY?! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!", yelled Rainbow. She waved a hoof in front of her face, then started to shake her.

Fluttershy just sat there, her eyes glazed over and a look of terror on her face and tears streaming down her cheeks.

All she done was repeat "No" under her breath, over and over.