Twilight's Secret

It was a beautiful early afternoon. The sun was shining, and it was also quite hot. In fact, the Pegasus planned a down pour later that afternoon.

At Fluttershy's cottage, the birds chirped happily, and Angel was fussing once again over his lunch.

“Now come on, Mr Picky Pants. You love carrots”, Fluttershy softly said. Angel pouted, crossing his arms and refusing to eat.

Fluttershy sighed, frustrated.

“Pretty please, Angel?”, she begged. Angel shook his head, turning his back to her.

“Well...what will you eat then?”, asked Fluttershy. Angel glanced at her, and then showed her a picture from a cook book, of a fancy carrot cake.

“Oh Angel, I don't have time to make that today. I could make it tomorrow”, Fluttershy said. Angel glared.

“Well...I guess I could...”, Fluttershy started, when GoldenFeathers entered the cottage.

“Fluttershy, baby girl, just make him eat his carrots! You can't be on your hooves constantly for him!”, GoldenFeathers said, worried, as he walked over.

“But..he has to eat”, Fluttershy pointed out, softly.

“He'll eat when he's hungry”, GoldenFeathers told her. He gently nuzzled her then. Fluttershy blushed, nuzzling him back.

Angel stomped his foot, crossing his arms.

“You need to take it easy, baby girl. You're already eight months along”, GoldenFeathers added, worried.

“I know...besides, I promised Twilight we'd go to the spa together”, Fluttershy said.

Two months went by, and things were going a bit better for everypony.

Twilight's wing had finally healed, and her spirit was even beginning to shine again. But she still suffered nightmares almost every night.

But Cadence used her magic to help her little sister sleep.

Rainbow Dash and Soarin had their hooves full with the twins.

“Are you sure you feel up to it, love?”, asked GoldenFeathers.

“Oh, yes. I've been looking forward to today. Twilight has too”, Fluttershy smiled.

“I'm sorry I can't watch the animals...they need me up in CloudsDale to help prepare the rain storm”, GoldenFeathers apologized.

“It's fine, Applejack will be coming over to watch them for me”, assured Fluttershy, as she nuzzled him.

Angel continued to stomp, glaring.

“I better get going...I'll be home once the storm starts”, GoldenFeathers said.

“Same here”, Fluttershy smiled softly. The two nuzzled once again, and GoldenFeathers gently nuzzled Fluttershy's swollen belly, the foal kicking softly.

Fluttershy blushed, as GoldenFeathers kissed her softly, and left. Angel stomped louder, glaring even more.

“I'll see you later, honey”, Fluttershy waved, as her husband flew up towards CloudsDale. She then heard Angel stomping, and turned.

“Angel, just eat your carrots. They're really good”, Fluttershy smiled. Angel glared at her, and continued to fuss.

Fluttershy frowned, and sighed softly. She then heard a knock at the door.

“Oh, that must be Applejack”, she walked over, opening the door.

“Hey Fluttershy!”, Applejack and Twilight arrived at the same time.

“Oh, hi girls”, Fluttershy smiled softly.

“We ran into each other on the way over here, I hope I'm not too early”, Twilight explained, as she walked in with Applejack.

“Oh, not at all. Applejack, are you sure you got this?”, asked Fluttershy.

“You betcha'! I got your 10 page list. All's under control”, Applejack assured her.

“Okay...well, if you can, please try and get Angel to eat. He's fussy today”, Fluttershy said.

“Sure thing, Fluttershy”, Applejack smiled.

“You ready to go?”, asked Twilight.

“Yes, we'll be back by late afternoon”, Fluttershy told Applejack.

“All's covered!”, Applejack assured her.

Fluttershy and Twilight left, closing the door behind them.

Applejack turned to Angel.

“All right, ya little cotton tail. Eat your lunch”, Applejack pushed the bowl of carrots towards the white bunny.

Angel glared, and then threw the bowl up, it landed on Applejack's head, carrots falling out. Applejack frowned, and snorted.

In town, Twilight and Fluttershy arrived at the spa.

“So your wing's all healed?”, asked Fluttershy, softly. Twilight ruffled her wings a little.

“Well, yes. But I the doctor said I have to be careful when I fly...there is sadly permanent damage”, replied Twilight.

“I see...you'll be able to fly again, right?”, asked Fluttershy.

“Eventually, right now I'm just glad it's all over”, Twilight admitted.

“I am too...for your sake”, Fluttershy smiled softly. They started with a relaxing bath at the spa.

“So Pinkie Pie said she has your shower planned for next month?”, asked Twilight, the warm water felt really nice. Her body, even after two months, still felt sore from all the bruises she had.

“That's right, she's really excited”, smiled Fluttershy.

“Speaking of...how have you been feeling?”, asked Twilight, concerned.

“Oh, I'm okay. A little tired, but for the most part its been surprisingly easy”, admitted Fluttershy.

“But what about you, Twilight?”, Fluttershy's eyes turned worried.

“So far...pretty well. I'd be lying if I said it was really easy”, Twilight replied, her ears folding back.

“The nightmares...?”, Fluttershy guessed.

“That's...the only problem. If it wasn't for Cadence's Dreamless sleep spell, I wouldn't be able to sleep at all. It doesn't help that pregnancy gives mares nightmares as it is, no matter how good things are going”, Twilight explained.

“I know that...I had a horrible nightmare the other night. It was Nightmare Night, but my cottage was gone! I had no where to hide from all the scary things!”, Fluttershy said.

“What...what do you dream of?”, she asked then.

“Nothing...much”, Twilight sighed.

“Just the end of all Equestria, King Sombra's return...”, she said then, needing to get it out.

“Oh Twilight...”, Fluttershy's ears folded back, worried.

“I just...worry. What if...it's not over?”, asked Twilight. Fluttershy moved closer to her friend, placing her hoof gently on Twilight's shoulder.

“It's over. Flash Sentry is in Tartarus, and the amulet is heavily guarded by the Princesses. You don't have to worry about it anymore”, Fluttershy comforted her.

Twilight's ears folded back.

“I hope you're right, Fluttershy”, she said softly. They soon got out of the bath, and dried off. They would next be getting hooficures.

Twilight slipped on her comfy, warm white sweater, that she wore at the spa before, she then blinked softly, feeling the foal kicking softly. Her ears folded back, as she smiled gently.

“Twilight?”, asked Fluttershy, worriedly.

“I'm okay, the foal's kicking...”, replied Twilight, blushing. Fluttershy smiled then.

“Oh, really? Is it the first time?”, she asked, excitedly.

“No, but it is only the third time”, admitted Twilight.

“Oh, is it okay if I feel...?”, asked Fluttershy, kindly.

“Of course, Fluttershy”, Twilight smiled.

Fluttershy gently felt Twilight's swollen belly with her hoof. Sure enough, she felt a small kick.

“It's such a wonderful feeling, isn't it?”, smiled Fluttershy. Twilight's ears folded back, smiling softly.

“It really is...”, she agreed.

“When my foal first kicked, I was startled at first, but then I got so excited”, Fluttershy admitted.

Twilight blinked then.

“Fluttershy, have you and GoldenFeathers come up with a name?”, she asked, curiously.

“To be honest, not yet. We don't know if its a filly or a colt. We want it to be a surprise”, replied Fluttershy, sheepishly.

“That's okay...I can't find out until my seventh month”, Twilight said.

“Oh, you want to know?”, asked Fluttershy.

“I am too excited to wait until he or she is born..”, Twilight admitted, blushing.

Back at Fluttershy's cottage, Applejack had the animals outside in the back yard.

“Okay Angel, I got you lettuce, carrots, apples, oranges, berries, and even watermelon! Out of all this, there's gotta be one thing you'll eat!”, she said.

Angel sniffed the food, and sulked.

“Come on, Angel! It won't kill ya!”, Applejack sighed, annoyed. Angel glared, he then suddenly ran off.

“Hey! Angel! Get back here!”, Applejack galloped after the quick rabbit, into the Everfree Forest.

Angel hopped over a log, and turned sharply, deeper into the forest. Applejack was about to leap over the log, when she suddenly skidded to a stop, hearing growling. Timber wolf growling.

“Whoa nelly...”, she froze, and ducked down behind the log. It was eerily silent for a few seconds, when suddenly she heard a violent sound.

Of what sounded like an animal attack. There was growling, snarling, biting...whimpering.

Applejack shut her eyes tightly, shaking, waiting for it to end. She was paralyzed in fear...her parents having been killed by timber wolves.

It got quiet then. She heard the wolf leaving.

“Angel...?”, Applejack peered over the log. She climbed over, holding her head low as she walked slowly around the sharp turn.

“Angel...?”, Applejack looked, and she froze, her heart sinking.

“No...”, she cried, her eyes wide in horror.

It was getting close to late afternoon, the Pegasus were already forming the clouds to get the rain storm started.

Twilight and Fluttershy walked through town, having just left the spa, and headed back to Fluttershy's cottage.

“I feel so relaxed...”, Fluttershy admitted.

“I don't think I've felt this at ease in...a long time”, Twilight said. Fluttershy smiled, glad for her friend.

Twilight then froze. Her heart sunk.

“What's wrong?”, asked Fluttershy, worriedly.

“Oh no...I forgot my book!”, Twilight panicked.

“You mean you left it at the spa?”, asked Fluttershy.

“I can't believe I left it there...!”, just as Twilight went to turn to go back, there was a Unicorn stallion hurrying towards them, carrying Twilight's book with his magic.

Twilight blinked, surprised.

The Unicorn's coat was white, and he had a red and blue striped mane and tail, with red eyes, and fireworks for a Cutie Mark.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle! Found you...”, the stallion said, relieved.

“You found my book...”, Twilight realized.

“I saw you take it in the spa with you, and when you left, it wasn't on you so...”, he explained. He had been eating at the Hayburger, outside, by the spa.

“I see...thank you so much”, Twilight took it with her magic.

“I'm...glad to see you're feeling better”, the stallion commented then. Twilight looked at him, confused.

“I'm sorry, have we meant?”, she asked.

“Not officially...I'm a guard at Canterlot. And well...I saw you, when you were attacked by Flash Sentry. Your brother was carrying you to the hospital”, explained the stallion.

“Oh...”, Twilight's ears folded back, not wanting to be reminded of any of that.

“So...I'm glad you're doing better”, the stallion gave a kind smile. Twilight looked at him, and she felt a sinking feeling in her gut.

Even though, it was clear this pony was kind...it reminded her so much of how Flash was...when they first met.

She held her head low, her ears folding back.

“Thank you again, but we're in a hurry”, she said.

“That's okay”, the stallion said softly, understanding. Twilight trotted away with Fluttershy.

“Are...you okay?”, asked Fluttershy, worried.

“Yes...sorry. I just...that was weird”, was all Twilight could say, not wanting to talk about it.

It started raining, there was a clash of lightening, it lit up the whole sky.

Fluttershy and Twilight just arrived back at the cottage.

“They weren't kidding about a strong storm...!”, Twilight struggled a bit, the wind strong.

The two hurried inside. It took both of them to shut the door, the wind blowing hard.

“GoldenFeathers should be home soon...”, Fluttershy blinked then, while Twilight shook her coat dry.

“Fluttershy...?”, Twilight noticed her friend's silence.

“Where's Applejack?”, Fluttershy noticed she wasn't inside. Neither was Angel.

“Maybe she's upstairs?”, asked Twilight.

“I'll go check”, Fluttershy went up. Twilight then blinked, looking out the back window. She froze, confused at first, but then her heart sunk.

Something was very wrong. Applejack was sitting outside, soaked from the rain. She held her head down, tears in her eyes.

Twilight hurried out back.

“Applejack!”, she cried, hurrying over. Applejack's ear perked, she looked to see Twilight approaching her.

“Applejack, what's wrong? Why are you out here? And where's Angel?”, Twilight asked, urgently.

“It's Angel....”, Applejack's voice cracked, she was unable to look at Twilight, tears filling her eyes.

“What happened?”, asked Twilight, her heart sinking.

Applejack couldn't answer, she simply pointed to something. Twilight followed her friend's direction, and noticed a blanket laying by the bush.

It was light blue, and something seemed to be wrapped inside it. Twilight suddenly felt sick...she saw red spots staining the blanket. Blood.

“Applejack...please don't tell me...”, Twilight walked over to the blanket, while Applejack remained silent.

She lifted her hoof, and unraveled the blanket. Her heart sunk then, as her eyes grew wide in horror.

Angel lay motionless in the blanket, his eyes closed. He was torn to shreds almost, blood everywhere.

One of his ears was bit off, and his stomach was ripped open.

“Oh no....Angel...”, Twilight cried, her heart sunk then. Fluttershy....

“Applejack...what happened?”, cried Twilight. Applejack sat there, the wind breezing through her mane and tail.

“It's all my fault...”, she sobbed then.

Twilight's ears folded back, she gently wrapped Angel's body back up, and carried it over with her magic.

She gently set it down beside them.

“There was a timber wolf...and it got Angel! I...I was too scared to do anything! After what happened to my parents...I...”, Applejack sobbed, shaking.

“Oh Applejack...it's not your fault”, Twilight hugged her friend gently.

“How...?! How can we tell Fluttershy?! Poor thing's expecting a foal, and she has to deal with...this?!”, Applejack cried.

“Applejack? Twilight?”, Fluttershy's voice caught both their ears.

Twilight's heart sunk...how could she tell her?

“Fluttershy....”, she cried.

“What's wrong? Why are you both out here...?”, Fluttershy walked over.

Applejack couldn't face her.

“Fluttershy...there's been a horrible accident...”, Twilight's ears folded back. She didn't have the heart to make Applejack tell her.

“What...? Where's Angel...?”, Fluttershy asked, nervously.

“A...timber wolf was close by. And...”, Twilight gently pushed the blanket towards Fluttershy, with her muzzle.

Fluttershy stood there, she seemed to go numb. Her eyes also seemed to go dark. But she slowly lifted her hoof, and unraveled the blanket.

First she saw the white ear, and then the rest.

Fluttershy's dark eyes suddenly flooded with tears, her pupils growing tiny, in shock and horror.

“A-ANGEL!”, she cried, tears flooding down her face.

She instantly cradled his motionless body in her arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

“I'm so sorry Fluttershy....I...this is all my fault”, Applejack cried, still unable to look at her.

Fluttershy couldn't answer her, sobbing too much, as she held Angel close.

Twilight gently wrapped her arms around Fluttershy, tears in her own eyes. Fluttershy cried in Twilight's arms, nonstop.