"Oh, I can't believe we're going to actually try and do this!" Pinkie Pie squealed happily as she helped Rainbow Dash prepare their latest prank. Rainbow Dash blew her mane out of her eyes as she continued painting the masks that she had placed on the table in front of her.
"I hear ya', Pinkie," Rainbow replied, "And to think, I just brought the idea up as a joke, but I think everypony deserves a good scare now and then, right?" The two ponies smiled mischeviously as they each added their own ghoulish touch to each of the two masks. Rainbow Dash peeked over at Pinkie Pie's work. "Pinkie, your mask looks way too colorful to be scary. Everypony knows that black and red are the scariest colors!"
"Oh yeah, says who?" Pinkie retorted, looking defensively and almost lovingly at the mask she had created.
Rainbow Dash snorted haughtily and sneered, "You're looking at the queen of scaring ponies. You know, I heard the mayor mention something about renaming Nightmare Night after me." Rainbow's eyes shifted from Pinkie, then back to her mask. "Look, Pinkie," she began, "Your mask looks like a clown. Not a funny clown. A very lame clown."
Pinkie Pie puffed out her chest in an attempt at being intimidating. "Oh yeah? Well you're just a big pile!" Pinkie crossed her hooves and threw her nose to the air.
"A big pile?" Rainbow repeated with a raised brow. "A big pile of what?" Pinkie Pie considered for a moment, rubbing one of her hoofs over her chin in the universal sign of deep thought. She raised the same hoof to the sky and said,
"You, madam, are a pile of trick birthday candles!" Rainbow Dash face-hoofed as Pinkie Pie smiled in victory.
The blue mare let her hoof slide down her face as she asked, "How does that even make sense, Pinkie?"
"Simple, my simple-dimple mare," Pinkie began in an enlightening tone, "Trick candles are annoying and aren't good for anything but keeping ME away from cake."
Rainbow really had no idea where this conversation was leading, but asked anyway. "So, you plan on keeping your mask like that?" Pinkie's eyes filled up again with motherly love as she turned them to her admirably creepy clown mask.
"Yes, Rainbow! I think my masterpiece," she paused for dramatic effect, "is completed. Now let's see yours!!"
Rainbow lifted her mask up with both of her front hooves and held it above her head. "This is, by far, the scariest mask ever crafted by pony-kind!" Rainbow was right to believe this of her mask. It was absolutely a ghoulish sight. The mask was blood-red, and it had black, tribal-like markings dotting over it. The mask was complete with a chilling grimace and declined eyebrows, giving it a very intimidating look.
Pinkie Pie looked at the mask in awe. She yelped, "Oooooh, it's so spooky! If somepony snuck up on me while wearing that, I'd definitely lose my cupcakes. If you know what I mean."
Rainbow Dash lowered her mask back down to the work table, laughing. "Oh, Pinkie, you're TOO random sometimes." The energetic, pink mare giggled as well, while fitting her clown mask over her face.
"So, who's going to be the lucky pony to get the heeby-jeebies tonight?" Pinkie spoke with a mischevious glint in her eye.
Rainbow Dash smiled, putting on her own mask. "Tonight, we scare a pony that we've never pranked. Fluttershy."
Pinkie Pie took her mask back off, revealing a worried face. "I don't know, Rainbow, we don't want to hurt her feelings. Besides, you know how she is."
Rainbow quickly waved a dismissing hoof through the air. "Don't worry about it! We won't let it go far enough for anything bad to happen! That's the plan, and I'm sticking to it! Are you in or out?" Rainbow Dash was using an overly authoratative tone with her friend, but she found it necessary. If Pinkie Pie backed out now, Rainbow would have to fly solo. That was positively no fun! Pinkie Pie still had a slightly worried expression, but slowly, her face became flooded with the familiar mischevious facade Rainbow was so used to.
The pink mare fit her mask back onto her face, giggling wickedly, "Tonight, we pay Fluttershy a visit! Muahahahahahaha!" Rainbow Dash faked an evil laugh along with Pinkie as they began the short trot over to Fluttershy's peaceful cottage.
--
Fluttershy was blissfully humming a quaint melody while she lightly dusted off some shelves in her cottage. Sure it was late, but she hadn't been able to get around to giving her cottage a good cleaning during the day. Not with all of her little critters to attend to. Angel, her pet rabbit, had decided to sleep outside with the other animals for once, which was fine with her. Fluttershy knew that it was easiest to just let Angel do as she pleased. Always better to avoid an argument.
She continued her cleaning, feather duster in hoof, when a thunderous knocking sent her into an immediate panic! Fluttershy squeaked, dropping her feather duster as she flew under the nearest table. She stayed under the table, a wing shielding her eye from whatever monsterous being was causing that racket. Then, the sound came once more. It was somepony knocking at the door. Fluttershy cautiously moved out from under her table, her knees shaking violently under her. "W-who would be visiting me at this hour, I wonder?" she whispered to herself nervously. The pink-maned pony edged nearer to the door, and slowly unlatched it, allowing it to creak open.
Fluttershy was met with absolutely nothing. The door opened fully and all she could see was the night in front of her. It was still creepy however, nothing to look at but the imposing Everfree Forest. The yellow mare poked her head out of the safety of her cottage and did a quick scan of the surroundings. She saw no sign of there being anypony around. Fluttershy quickly, yet silently, retreated back into the safety of her cottage, closing the door. She let out a contented sigh. "Oh my, I must be feeling nervous without my little Angel with me."
Just then, a loud crash demanded her attention. Immediately, Fluttershy spun around to see an empty vase rolling lazily across the floor. Fluttershy wiped her hoof over her already sweating forehead and gently picked up the vase. She made her way over to its correct spot but as she did, she noticed that the desk it was resting on was completely upturned! Fluttershy felt her knees begin to go weak as she fearfully questioned how her little desk could have been turned upside down. Unless... Somepony else was in the cottage with her!?
Eyes wide and full of fright, she quickly scanned the whole of her home. The door was still shut, nopony could have gotten inside from there. Her eyes quickly darted back and forth, looking for something, but praying to find nothing. She shifted her gaze higher as she felt a cool breeze blow through her mane. The upper window was open! "Oh no!" Fluttershy yelped as she quickly flew up to close the window. The terrified pony descended back to her ground floor, still carefully scanning over her home.
"If somepony's here, please come out, if you don't mind." Just then all of the candles that were illuminating Fluttershy's home were instantly snuffed! The yellow mare stood, frozen in place, now completely shrouded in darkness. Fluttershy's eyes were once again dancing around her head, looking for some comfort zone. Her eyes stopped on her bed. Ah yes, her warm, safe bed. Without hesitation, she deftly sprang over to her bed and securely veiled herself under her blanket.
"Whoever you are, please go away," Fluttershy begged.
Fluttershy's blankets were visibly shaking as Rainbow Dash's cleverly disguised voice was heard. She whispered manically, "Fluttershy." The poor pegasus continued her frightened mumbling. Then another noise was heard. The front door clicked, and proceeded to creak as it drifted open. Fluttershy curiously chanced a nervous glance out from under her blankets. She was terrified to see that her door was wide open. She "eeped" and continued her sobbing. "Please stop!"
Suddenly, from under her blankets, Fluttershy noticed a faint light glowing directly on the other side of her blanket. Somepony or something had lit a candle right beside her bed. The mortified ponies eyes were wide, almost bloodshot as she moved her hoof over to the edge of her bed. She would quickly flip over her blanket, and nothing would be there. She knew it! This was ALL her imagination! If only Angel was here! Fluttershy wrapped her hoof around the blanket's edge and threw it up over her!
The poor pegasus screamed in horrible fear as the two monsterous faces loomed over her! They were horrible! An insanely smiling clown face with clashing colors and maddening, wide eyes! The other was bright red, with odd markings on it. The face stared hatefully down at the recoiling pony. Fluttershy was stunned. She had shrunk down into her bed as far as she could, her eyes incredibly widened and red, her teeth chattering madly. The clown moved its face closer to Fluttershy, just mere inches from her. The horrifying being bluntly said, "Boo."
Fluttershy let out a lasting bloodcurdling scream as she leapt up from her bed, taking to the air, her wings flapping vigorously! The two specters below were whooping and laughing, as if they had just told a wonderful joke. They giggled and bounced around the room ecstatically. They were insane! The angry, red faced monster began to fly up to meet Fluttershy, holding out a familiar blue hoof. That is, it would have been familiar, had this poor mare not have been frightened to the brink of insanity!
Fluttershy roughly slapped the hoof away, demanding in a fearful voice, "Get away from me!" She had to escape! She had to! She'd go to Twilights, Rarities, Applejack's! Anywhere but here! The crazed pegasus saw an opening, an escape! Fluttershy used all of the speed she could muster, and flew towards the upper window!
Right before she was able to escape, Fluttershy heard Rainbow Dash's familiar, cracking voice cry out, "Fluttershy stop! The window!" It was too late.
The next thing Fluttershy felt was a piercing pain in her skull as she heard the shattering of glass pervade the air. Her senses numbed. She knew she was falling, but nothing could stop it. She felt herself hit the ground, felt herself hopelessly bouncing and rolling through the yard of her cottage. Everythng was evaporating right before her. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie both galloped over and stood over Fluttershy, with horrified expression invading their features. Rainbow Dash yelled something to Fluttershy, but it sounded like Fluttershy was listening from under water.
Before Fluttershy lost all control of herself and passed out, she couldn't help but slightly make out the two ghoulish faces that had done this to her. They were both dangling from the faces of her friends. Fluttershy understood, and she was angry. The angered boiled deep within her belly as the darkness swallowed her up.
Fluttershy was asleep. Not really asleep, but somewhere in between being asleep and being awake. It was a kind of dream. Fluttershy found herself walking through a realm of absolute darkness. Though she didn't know what, she had a determined feeling to find something in this vast canvas of nothingness. She continued her search, constantly looking for something she couldn't place. Then, a voice was heard from behind her.
"Fluttershy." She quickly spun around to see herself looking right back at her, almost like a reflection. No, that wasn't right. It looked similar to Fluttershy, this being. It had the same body, the same style mane, but her coat was a jet-black. Her face lacked any features. No eyes, no mouth, just a literal blank face.
Fluttershy took a cautious step back and stammered, "W-who are you?"
"A friend," the being answered. Though she spoke and was easily heard by Fluttershy, she had no mouth to move. It was obvious that the sound was coming from the black mare, but there was no way of actually proving it. Her voice was but a whisper, but was still easily hearable.
Fluttershy continued her onslaught of questions. "Where am I? What happened!?"
The black mare ignored the first question, but instead answered the one she was most pleased with answering. "Your 'friends' injured you. They thought it would be funny." Fluttershy shook her head furiously. "No, no it was an accident! I saw that they had the masks that scared me! It was just a joke!"
"That's what they all think of you, hm? Just a joke?" The black mare's voice was taunting, yet its tone was somewhat soothing, calming. The being continued. "They are so cruel to you, your friends. They are well aware of your timid nature, yet they insist on playing such harmful jokes on you."
Fluttershy tried to wear a warming smile and defend her friends. "Oh no, you don't understand. They were just playing with me. They'd never do anything to intentionally hurt me."
The creature didn't respond. It sat quietly, as if thinking. Finally it broke the silence. "You are right, my dear. But do you know what they would truly admire you for?" Fluttershy shook her head. "They would truly love it if you 'pranked' them back. They would adore your cleverness."
Just then, the blank world was replaced. Fluttershy was standing in Ponyville, with Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, and Applejack standing in front of her, smiling widely.
Twilight Sparkle spoke first, "Fluttershy, that was absolutely genius! I praise your ingenuity!"
Applejack chimed in next, "You sure did raise the bar there with that prank!"
Rarity was next, "Oh, darling! You simply must teach me how to do that!" Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were nowhere to be seen, however. Though Fluttershy found this odd, she allowed her face to light up as her friends beamed at her.
Suddenly, they all disappeared in a whisp of black smoke and Ponyville dissolved from view. It was replaced with the aforementioned blackness. The black entity was standing close to Fluttershy, her nonexistant face turned to look at her. "You can have all of that. If you do exactly as I say." Fluttershy was still smiling as she turned to look back at the creature that looked somewhat like her.
Fluttershy answered, "Okay, I'll do it! Let's prank Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, if that's okay with you."
The black mare chuckled. "Oh, they'll get what's coming to them, I promise."
After she said this, the world of blackness began to fade, and an odd light flooded Fluttershy's eyes. She was awake.
--
Fluttershy's eyes "fluttered" open. She was back inside her cottage, laying comfortably on her bed. Her head ached a substantial bit, but nothing compared to the rest of her. Fluttershy began to move around, testing all of her limbs and her wings. It seems her injuries were minor, nothing that would impare her movement or her ability to keep up with her animals. She was still very well aware that moving would be quite uncomfortable for a while. Suddenly, a voice rang out through the silence. It belonged to Twilight Sparkle.
"Fluttershy! You're awake!" Twilight dropped the book she was scanning through and quickly cantered over to her friends bedside. Fluttershy tried to sit up, but as soon as she did, Twilight gently shoved her back down.
Fluttershy asked, "Twilight, what's going on?"
Twilight plopped her plot down on the floor beside the bed. "I don't know, really." She began. "Rainbow Dash barged into the library, hollering about how you injured yourself, then she lead me here. Pinkie Pie had brought you back inside and put you in bed. After they were completely sure that you were alright, they left together. They told me they had no idea what had happened to you."
Fluttershy noticed a slight movement come from behind Twilight's head. She moved her head slightly to get a better view, and noticed the same dark figure of herself that had penetrated her dreams standing in the far corner of the room. Though it still whispered, Fluttershy could easily hear her. "Did you hear her Fluttershy? They didn't bother to tell Twilight that your injury was their fault. Once again, they prove themselves to be unworthy of you."
Twilight continued, "Fluttershy, do you remember what happened? What made you fly through your window?" She waved her hoof towards the window, which was now boarded up, most likely thanks to Twilight's magic.
It appeared that nopony, or at least Twilight, could hear or see the dark figure. Twilight hadn't acknowledged it and appeared to not hear the creature when it spoke to Fluttershy from across the room.
The yellow mare began to answer, but the shadow version of herself interrupted. "Lie, Fluttershy. Tell her you don't remember. If you get them in trouble now, we won't be able to play with them!"
The pegasus stammered, "Uhm, n-no Twilight. I can't remember a thing. I probably got scared by a... dust bunny."
"Good," the shadowy figure hissed.
Twilight was rubbing a curious hoof over her chin. "Well, you seem to be okay for the most part. I just hope your head's alright. You took a pretty big hit." Twilight stood up and her eyes shifted towards the cottages exit. "Well, do you think you're going to be alright by yourself?"
Without thinking, Fluttershy quickly answered, "I won't be alone, my friend's right behind you." Twilight quickly glanced over her shoulder at where Fluttershy was directing. Twilight was looking directly at the being, or rather, directly through her.
Twilight looked worriedly back at her friend. "Fluttershy, what are you talking about? There's nopony else in this house but you and I."
Fluttershy quickly regained her composure, "Oh, I meant that I'll never be alone, because Angel will be here soon."
Twilight raised an eyebrow. "But you said that your 'friend' was right behind me."
"I'm sorry, Twilight. I'm just so tired. I'd really like to get some more sleep, if that's okay." Fluttershy feigned a cough and laid back onto the bed.
Twilight still looked unconvinced and with a suspicious glint in her eye, she said, "I'll be back later today to check on you. You should probably just.... take it easy."
Fluttershy nodded rapidly and sighed, "Of course, Twilight." The purple unicorn slowly backed out of the cottage. Something was definitely not right with Fluttershy, but it would be rather rude to bring it up. And with that, Twilight began her way back home, leaving Fluttershy alone with her new friend.
Fluttershy sat straight up, not even bothering to contain her excitement. "So, what are we going to do first?" The black entity dissolved into the ground, reappearing beside Fluttershy.
It answered, "First, we prank Rainbow Dash. I have a feeling that she was the mastermind behind their little scheme last night." Fluttershy nodded in agreement. Fluttershy suddenly realized something. She had absolutely no idea what her new friends name was. Now that was just simply improper!
"Uhm , pardon me, really quick," Fluttershy began. "What's your name?"
The being answered, its voice rang out, still a whisper, still pleasant. "You don't know my name, so I have no name. If you were to name me by definition, you could appropriately call me, "Scapegoat."
"Scapegoat?" Fluttershy repeated. "That's a very nice name." Although she didn't really think that it was a nice name, in fact, she thought it was a downright odd name, but it would be rude to tell her new friend so. The timid mare hastily changed the subject back to pranking. "What are we going to do to get Rainbow Dash?" she asked mischeviously.
Scapegoat moved in closer to Fluttershy. "You leave that to me."
--
Fluttershy was standing in the middle of an open field. The yellow mare quickly glanced around. She had no idea how she had gotten there. She easily noticed that the sun was already setting. Odd, considering just a few minutes ago, or so it seemed, the sun was high in the morning sky! Through her confusion and added nervousness, Fluttershy noticed Scapegoat, her friend, standing next to her, her eyeless face looking straight ahead. The timid mare studdered, "W-where are we?"
The replica of Fluttershy hushed her. "Look! Up there!" The kind pegasus looked up, where she saw Rainbow Dash slicing through the air at her usually impressive speeds. Fluttershy watched in awe as Rainbow performed her usual awesome tricks. Scapegoat spoke, "I want you to bring her down here. Be kind to her, as I expect you to be, of course. Have her drink the liquid from that cup in your hoof and the prank will be finished."
Fluttershy looked down at her hoof, perplexed. There was, indeed, a beverage of some odd liquid in her hoof! How had it gotten there? She couldn't remember. In fact, she was still curious as to what had happened to her whole day! She could not recollect a moment after Twilight Sparkle had left. Fluttershy looked towards Scapegoat, but she had dissapeared, leaving her alone with Rainbow Dash, who was soaring above. The quiet mare simply waited for a few minutes, watching Rainbow zoom through the sky. Eventually, Rainbow spotted her fellow pegasus friend, and slowed to a cool glide down to meet her.
Rainbow Dash looked slightly guilty as she approached her wonderfully kind friend. She began, "H-hey there, Fluttershy. How are ya?"
Fluttershy smiled assuredly, "Oh, I'm just fine, thanks."
Rainbow Dash, though being a loyal friend, couldn't help but ask a selfish question. "Fluttershy," she began. "Did you happen to tell anypony what happened last night?" Once again, Rainbow was met with a beautiful smile that she knew she didn't deserve.
"No, I wouldn't want you and Pinkie Pie to get in trouble, now would I?" Rainbow went against her regular cool attitude, throwing her hooves over Fluttershy and pulling her into a tight hug, almost knocking the drink from her hoof.
Rainbow Dash released her as she noticed the inviting beverage in her friends hoof. "Say, Fluttershy," she began, "What's that you got there?"
Fluttershy held the odd liquid out to Rainbow. "I brought it for you to drink. I figured you'd be practicing really hard, as usual, so I thought I'd bring you something to keep you from getting too exhausted." Rainbow's eyes sparkled. How can a friend be so perfect? You prank her, she doesn't snitch, but brings you a drink! Rainbow graciously took the cup from Fluttershy's outstretched hoof and downed it in one gulp.
She wiped the excess drippage from her lips and sighed in relief. "Wow, that was pretty good!" Rainbow laughed.
From nowhere, Scapegoat's voice filled Fluttershy's head. "Quick!" it ordered, "Tell her to show you some of her aerial acrobatics."
Fluttershy interrupted Rainbow, who was still noting the odd taste of the drink given to her. "H-hey Rainbow. Would you mind showing me some of your stunts? If it's not too much trouble?" Rainbow Dash, of course, rose to the occasion.
She puffed out her chest, throwing a saluting hoof to her head. "For you, you bet!"
Rainbow instantly tore through the sky, gaining as much altitude as she possibly could. Then, as she easily surpassed every noticeable cloud, she nose dived towards the ground! She flew at increasing speeds, with gravity's assistance only advancing her acceleration. She was to zoom back up into the sky just as she is about to hit the ground, resulting in a jaw dropping experience. But as she descended, she felt her wings giving slack, and her eyes droop. Why was she feeling so drowsy?
The blue pegasus fought to keep her eyes open, as she knew letting them close for even a moment would cause her to pass out! Her wings were no longer in her control! At this rate, there was no way for her to regain control. Rainbow Dash watched, numbing fear gripping her, as she plummeted helplessly towards the ground. Before the fastest pegasus in Equestria finally closed her eyes, she couldn't help but notice a pink-maned pony watching her fall, a wicked grin upon her face.
--
Fluttershy was standing inside the Ponyville Hospital. It had happened again! Another time lapse! Fluttershy glanced around nervously. She was standing, alone, in the waiting room of the hospital. Why was she here? The last thing she could remember was asking Rainbow Dash to perform a stunt for her. Why did she keep blacking out like this? Did it have something to do with that conk she took to the head?
Suddenly, a familiar voice invaded the privacy of Fluttershy's worried thoughts. "Oh, dear! Have you heard anything?" Fluttershy whirled around to see Rarity and Twilight Sparkle entering the waiting room.
Fluttershy answered, "Uhm, no."
Twilight had that same worried expression on her face that she wore the last time she visited Fluttershy. Twilight spoke, "What happened to Rainbow? We heard she was very badly injured, but we weren't given any details of the accident."
"I don't even know what the accident was." Fluttershy sighed.
Rarity looked dumbfounded. "But, my dear, the paramedics mentioned to us that you were there! They told us that Derpy Hooves happened to be wandering by, when she saw Rainbow hit the ground. According to them, Derpy said that you didn't do anything but grin at Rainbow while she was laying in the grass!" Twilight nodded, confirming what Rarity had just told Fluttershy.
The yellow mare gulped, "I-I'm sorry, but I don't remember anything! Honest!" Rarity began to argue with her, but Twilight held up a silencing hoof. "I believe you, Fluttershy. I think that while we're here. We should get your head examined. Just to make sure that everything is fine.You took a pretty hard conk on the head the other day, after all."
Fluttershy said nothing, but stared down at her own hooves. What was happening to her? She was doing things that she couldn't even remember. Her thoughts were, once again, interrupted. This time, by a doctor sporting the traditional white garbs of a surgeon. He spoke calmly and optimistically.
"Everypony," he began. "Rainbow Dash is doing just fine. Surprisingly, very little damage was done to her after her crash. She is a very lucky mare! She probably won't be able to fly for about two months though, and physical therapy will probably be needed. That, however, is a very small price to pay for what should have been the death of her."
The three ponies simitaneously exhaled relieved sighs as the doctor's words sunk in. He continued, "You all are allowed to visit her for a while if you'd like" Rarity, Twilight, and Fluttershy began to move into Rainbow's room, but he abruptly stopped them. "However," he began, "I'd like to at least speak to Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy." Twilight and Fluttershy moved to the side as Rarity entered the room, the doctor closed the door. He eyed Fluttershy with a sinister look. His disgracing tone was directed at her. "My paramedics told me everything. They said she was drugged. Some traces of herbs known for their sleep-inducing attributes were found in her blood sample. Derpy told us that you were the only other pony there at the time."
Twilight glanced over at Fluttershy, who was once again staring down at her hooves in shame. What could she say? That this didn't happen? It most certainly did! She couldn't possibly tell them that she didn't remember. What a likely story. They wouldn't believe her. What happened now? The doctor continued, "Also, our paramedics said they came across you about halfway to the scene, where you tried to interfere. According to them, you tried to give them false directions to where Rainbow Dash had landed. Luckily, Derpy had already given them the correct directions." He rose his voice at this point. "You have a lot of explaining to do. I should have called the Guard by now, but I'll be honest."
He stopped talking and directed his attention over to Twilight. "You. You believed that she didn't remember. You also mentioned that she took a conk to the head and that we should have it checked out." Twilight nodded, confirming everything he said.
"You were listening to us?" Twilight inquired.
"Of course I was. An attempted murder suspect is in my waiting room. What did you expect?"
Twilight nodded and agreed, "Before calling the Guard, perhaps we should have a look at her head."
"That's why I stopped you two." With that, he lead the two mares into a very dim-lit room. He instructed Fluttershy to lay down while he took some X-rays. After that, he ran some diagnostics on her brain activity by doing some overly complicated doctor-stuff. Fluttershy tried with all her will, but she failed to understand a word of what he mumbled to Twilight, who seemed to be easily absorbing every bit of his educated talk.
Finally, after what seemed like an age, the doctor and Twilight Sparkle had finished with the tests. Twilight sat Fluttershy down back in the waiting room. "Okay, Fluttershy. You wait here, okay? I'm going to run back and get the results from the doctor. Try not to do anything else, okay? I promise we'll get to the bottom of this!" She winked at Fluttershy, as if that would relieve some of her stress. Twilight meandered away with haste.
Fluttershy's mind was in a tumble! Was she insane? Why was she doing these things? She couldn't remember one bit! And everything she had done last night, they were all simply terrible! She would never do anything to harm her friends. But she did, and according to the doctor, it could have killed her! A tear slowly slid down Fluttershy's cheek.
Fluttershy wiped the tear. She had to wait! Hopefully, Twilight would solve whatever was happening to her, she had to believe she would. The fearful mare allowed her eyes to wander around the waiting room. Her gaze fell upon a nearby mirror. She stared into the mirror, and as usual, her reflection looked back at her. Then, a sudden realization struck the pegasus like lightning! The shadowy reflection of Fluttershy, Scapegoat! She had to know what was happening! This was all her doing! Fluttershy knew she was innocent! With new vigour, Fluutershy jumped up onto her hooves and raced out of the hospital towards her cottage to face this horrible black entity.
--
Twilight and the doctor closely examined the results of all of the extensive tests they had run on Fluttershy. "Everything seems normal so far," the doctor remarked.
Twilight squinted her eyes as she scanned the results. "There has to be something here, I refuse to believe that a pony as sweet as her could do such horrible things!" The doctor chuckled slightly, "I wouldn't be surprised. I've heard of odder things."
Suddenly Twilight gasped loudly, causing the doctor to flinch!! He recovered quickly and returned his gaze to the results, letting his eyes fall where Twilight's hoof was pointing.
The doctor wiped a hoof through his mane in shock. "I can't believe it." Twilight looked to the doctor, who looked back at her.
"Doctor, it all makes sense now! Why she's been doing things she wouldn't normally do, why she can't remember it!"
The doctor blew out a heavy sigh, "I know what you're going to say. Mostly because I'm thinking the same thing you are. I just don't want to believe it."
--
Fluttershy slammed open the door to her cottage, quickly scanning around her home for the monster she expected to find. She trotted in, allowing the door to close behind her. She continued forward until she
was in the center of her room. All was quiet, not a sound. Even the usual animal sounds that pervaded the air from just outside her home were oddly silent. Fluttershy called out, "Scapegoat! Where are you?"
Suddenly, a whispy laugh was heard from right behind her! Fluttershy turned on a dime, revealing the shadowy figure of herself. The entity laughed, "I can't believe you just called me "scapegoat." That was a joke, you know?"
Though timid by nature, Fluttershy was in no mood for jokes. This was no laughing matter. nopony, and she seriously means,noponyever harms her friends! Fluttershy gritted her teeth, an angry snarl escaping her lips.
The evil pony feigned fear, putting her hooves up hooves in mock defense. "You seem upset." she sneered. Fluttershy had had it!
"You hurt Rainbow Dash! I know it! It was your 'prank' that did this to her, and now everypony is upset with me!!!" Fluttershy fell silent, her chest falling with each heavy, angry breath. She awaited a response.
"Scapegoat" pretended to be shocked, putting a hoof to her chest. "Why, you think I did it?" The entity laughed. "You are mistaken, my dear. It wasn't me, or you. It was us!" Fluttershy stamped an impatient hoof. "What do you mean!" Again, it spoke, with the usual airy, whispering voice. "Don't you see, you are me. I am you. We are one in the same. My existance is all thanks to you."
Fluttershy was taken aback. "W-what do you mean?" she asked nervously.
"You wanted revenge. What they did to you, your 'friends.' She said friends with a dash of hostility. "They hurt you, and you wanted to get them back. You wanted to hurt them, but you couldn't. It's not in your nature. So you subconsiously created me. I'm sure if you wanted to, you could remember everything that we did together to sabotage Rainbow Crash."
Fluttershy yelled out, fueled with anger, remorse, and disbelief, "I didn't do it!"
Then all at once, the memories flooded into her head. She was seeing it all.
She was in the Everfree Forest, searching. "These herbs have to be somewhere," she remembered saying to herself. She continued her search through the dense trees. She'd been in this forest before, but she never liked coming in here alone. This was a special occasion of course. She was finally going to get Rainbow Dash back. So simple, really. The herbs are a well-known sleeping remedy. She would simply mash an overdose of the herb up, mix it with cider, and give it to her rainbow-maned friend. It was so genius! Fluttershy smiled triumphantly as she pulled the light-blue herbs from their roots. "This'll be more than enough," she whispered wickedly, and began her trot home.
The memory shifted, quickly thrusting her into a whole new scene.
Rainbow Dash was lying, motionless on the grass in front of Fluttershy. She couldn't help but smile at her work. She had done this! She pulled it off, and so smoothly, not a single hitch! She moved forward, admiring Rainbow's finally silent body. She was breathing. Fluttershy felt slightly upsetted. "I was hoping this would be easier," she sneered. She began to move in on Rainbow's helpless frame, but a gray, cross-eyed pegasus suddenly swooped down, landing in front of Rainbow.
She yelled out, "What happened to Rainbow Dash! Is she okay?" Fluttershy was unable to hold in her grin at the idiotic mare. Of course Rainbow wasn't okay, just look at her! Derpy was frantic, "I can save her! I'll go get help! Why aren't you doing anything!" She looked desperately at Fluttershy, who did nothing but grin victoriously. Derpy couldn't wait anymore, she bolted off!
Once more, the memore faded and was replaced with a new one.
"Ma'am, the gray pegasus told us to go straight through the clearing. She seemed like she knew what she was talking about." The paramedics were definitely in a hurry, but Fluttershy had to stop them. If they got to Rainbow, they could save her, and all of that hard planning would be fruitless!
"No, sirs! I'm telling you that you need to take a right at the oak tree! I was just there! I saw the whole thing happen!" Even as she spoke the lie, she knew she wasn't being convincing enough. Fluttershy was never good at lying, even when something important depended on it!
The paramedic pony said, "Well, we promise to give it a look, thanks for your help, ma'am." They left. Of course now, Fluttershy knows that they didn't listen to her, and followed that idiotic ponies directions instead.
The memory ended, thrusting Fluttershy back into present time.
Fluttershy had tears pouring down her face, soaking her coat. The evil, black being appeared suddenly by her side. "You finally understand then? And you know what we must do?"
Fluttershy wiped a hoof over her face, and looked into the blank face of Scapegoat. "I know what I have to do," she whispered.
--
"I don't understand!" Rarity whined. "Why did you pull me from the hospital!? And why do we need to go see Fluttershy?" Twilight and the doctor both stopped mid-gallop. They had rushed out of the hospital the moment they realized that Fluttershy had left. They were now all in Ponyville and on their way to Fluttershy's cottage.
Twilight said simply, "Look Rarity. We ran some diagnostics on Fluttershy. It appears to the two of us," she motioned to the doctor, "that Fluttershy is suffering from a very extreme case of schizophrenia brought on by trauma to the head!"
Rarity looked completely dumbfounded. "I'm afraid I didn't understand a thing you just said. The doctor stepped in and quickly reworded Twilight's explanation.
"Look, to put it simply. Fluttershy has damaged her brain, causing a severe imbalance which is bringing on very negative psychological effects. It appears to us that she may have a whole other pony inside of her head, causing her to do things she wouldn't normally do."
The doctor quit talking, prompting Twilight Sparkle to ask, "Do you understand now?" Rarity's eyes were slightly crossed as she tried to grasp the gravity of what was just said.
"So what do we do now?" she asked.
"We have to go find her, and get her treatment now, before she hurts somepony else! It's so typical that her other self is violent!" Twilight scoffed as she began galloping towards the cottage, the other two following close behind.
--
Fluttershy looked up angrily at the creature she thought was her friend. "Yes, I know what I have to do," she whispered.
Scapegoat patted Fluttershy, hissing, "Good, now I have a wonderful plan for ol' Pinkie Pie. How ironic it would be for her to become a cupcake, don't you think?"
Fluttershy screamed, slapping the shadowy hoof away from herself. "I will not help you! I don't want this!"
Scapegoat sounded slightly annoyed as she reminded Fluttershy, "Yes you do. Everything I want, you want. You just can't accept that you want it, so you use me as a scapegoat for the feelings and actions you don't want to take responsibility for."
"No! I won't let you tell me what I want anymore! I want you to go away! I don't want to ever see you again!" Fluttershy demanded.
The anger was now very clear in the shadow mares voice. "You can't get rid of me! I am you! Do as I say! Now go, get on your way to Pinkie's now! Before I change my mind, or my mind changes me."
Fluttershy roared in hot fury, "Never! You tried to kill my friend! I'll never forgive you!"
"You can always make new friends." Scapegoat answered simply. Fluttershy had enough! She roared, jumping at the darkness! She tackled the being to the ground, slamming her hoofs into its face! They rumbled and rolled, wrestling their way around the cottage. Scapegoat slammed a hoof into Fluttershy's face, causing her to tumble backwards. She fell back against the wall, Scapegoat approaching.
--
"We're here!" Twilight yelled as the two other ponies caught up.
"Darling, these hooves were made for walking, and that's just what they should do!" Rarity whined. Twilight ignored her as the doctor approached, finally. He was out of breath as he moved up beside Twilight. They were standing just outside of Fluttershy's cottage.
"Are you ready?" the doctor inquired of Twilight.
"Yes, let's go in!" Twilight answered. The three ponies prepared to breach and enter, but a small sound caught their attention.
Rarity chimed in quietly, "You two, look here, through this window!" The ponies all poked their head into the window of the cottage and were shocked at the sight that greeted their peeping eyes.
Fluttershy was standing alone, staring angrily at the wall. Fluttershy roared, "Now go, get on your way to Pinkie's now! Before I change my mind, or my mind changes me!" Fluttershy didn't move but instead answered herself, "Never! You tried to kill my friend! I'll never forgive you!" Twilight looked over at the other two ponies, who were watching the scene play out, their mouths agape. She looked back through the window as Fluttershy hissed cooly, "You can always make new friends."
Suddenly, Fluttershy screamed out in fury as she leapt out at pure, empty space! She tumbled around her cottage, wrestling with the air. She seemed as if she was on top of somepony else and was slamming her hoofs onto the floor of her home! Fluttershy's head jolted back, as if she had been suddenly struck by some unseen force, sending her reeling back into the wall. Fluttershy looked up fearfully, recoiling against the wall as if somepony was advancing on her.
"We have to stop this!" Twilight begged, looking towards her two friends.
The doctor shook his head grimly. "No. Fluttershy has to conquer this demon on her own. She can do it. You have to believe in her."
--
Fluttershy pressed herself up against the wall, her head still in a daze from the heavy strike she felt! Scapegoat moved closer, "You can't get rid of me Fluttershy! You may as well try to banish your personality. It's impossible. It's who you are. I am who you are!" Fluttershy shot back up and dived at Scapegoat, once again sending them both into an impossible tangle of flying hooves!
"No!!" Fluttershy roared. "I am not you! I am me! I don't want these things, no matter how badly you say I want them! We all want to do bad things sometimes, but they never do any good! What have you done for me!? You almost killed my friend! How would that have solved anything!?" Fluttershy swung her hoof with her full strength, and it landed squarely on the black mares face, knocking her to the ground. Fluttershy quickly pinned her down, as she struggled and writhed.
"You can't ever truly be rid of me, Fluttershy!" Scapegoat yelled. "You may destroy me now! But I promise you, one day, you'll look in the mirror, and it will be me who stares back at you! I swear it!"
Fluttershy quickly lifted a hoof, and screamed at the top of her lungs, "NO!" And slammed her hoof with full weight and force down upon the creatures head. She dissapeared in a cloud of black smoke, dissapearing into the air. Fluttershy felt free. She felt light as air! That beast was finally gone and defeated. The pink-maned pony fell onto her back, looking up at the ceiling blissfully. "I did it." she laughed to herself proudly. She closed her eyes.
The door to her cottage flew open, prompting her to fly up offensively, ready for another struggle! She quickly calmed down to see that it was Twilight, Rarity, and the doctor from the hospital. Fluttershy blushed and apologized. "I'm sorry I left you guys. I finally understand what happened, and I've taken care of it. I know it's hard to believe but-"
"Stop explaining," Twilight interrupted, "We saw every bit of what happened." The doctor and Rarity both nodded.
Rarity eyed Fluttershy nervously and said, "I won't pretend to understand a bit of what happened. You talked to yourself, then rolled around on the ground. I must say, I don't understand this form of entertainment." The ponies all laughed as Rarity stood, utterly confused.
The doctor stopped laughing and returned to his serious demeanor. "Fluttershy, I know you don't want to hear this, but I want to take you back to have more tests run. I think that little scuffle you had just now, and the realization of what has been going on may have put your brain on the right track again."
Twilight Sparkle chimed in, "I'm sure it has!"
The yellow pegasus smiled sweetly, "Oh, well okay. I'll do more tests if you think it'll help, but I know that I have nothing to worry about."
"That's not exactly true," Twilight reminded her, "You have quite the apology to prepare for Rainbow Dash."
Fluttershy blushed again and admitted it. "Yes, yes I do!"
The three ponies began their walk to the hospital, laughing, and enjoying each others company while Fluttershy celebrated silently, her mental victory.The ponies finally entered the hospital, the doctor leading the way to the testing lab. Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy followed him close behind, best friends. Even without the tests, Fluttershy believed deeply that she was completely cured, and that she would never see Scapegoat again.
Even so, as she trotted through the waiting room, she couldn't bring herself to look into the mirror as she passed. For when she does, who will be looking back at her?
