Fight or Flee? (Fluttershy's Final Dilemma)

**Fight or Flee? (Fluttershy’s Final Dilemma)

By: Clue Tzes

This fan-fiction is filled with sex, rape, gore, sadness and very disturbing parts. Be prepared for the worst. It will wrench your heart and mind as you read and follow Fluttershy through her days in hell. UPDATE: No more rape/sex! :D I believe…

Good luck…

And enjoy.

Chapter 4:

Zecora**

Fluttershy pressed her back to the hut's wooden door, her eyes shut as she steadied her breathing. She slowly opened her eyes, half-expecting the Ponyville she was thrown out of, and was welcomed with the sight of Zecora's home. The numerous bottles and ingredients, along with the cooking pot in the middle, warmed Fluttershy's heart as she slumped to floor. She was worn out and wanted nothing more than to rest so she let her mind wander and body relax as she drifted away into sleep.

Her dream brought her to a happier time in her life. She was back in the meadow near a river where she had found her love for animals and had earned her Cutie Mark. She trotted around, looking for the creatures she so solemnly wished to see. She heard a quick rustling behind her and spun, happily looking for the cute animal to make the sound. A dark blue flash was all she saw until she was tackled to the ground.

As she lie there in pain she felt herself being shaken and heard Luna's voice shouting with fear, despair and hurry, “You mustn’t come to Canterlot! It's not safe. I will find you. I repeat; do NOT come to Canterlot!”

Suddenly Luna's hooves left Fluttershy's shoulders and the weight of her pinning her down was gone. Fluttershy rolled and got to her hooves, shaking her head, still startled by what had just happened. She resumed looking around, her mind now wondering and worrying for the princess. She walked farther away from the river and trees and spread her search for the animals even more. Suddenly, Equestria violently rocked beneath her hooves and sent her sprawling to the ground again. Next came a loud explosion off in the distance, causing her to remember Rainbow's Sonic Rainboom. She looked to the sky for the giant rainbow ring to spread, but it never came. She looked towards where the explosion had come from and saw a dark wall approaching fast. She scrambled to her hooves and began trying to run and fly away, but it engulfed her. It sent a searing heat through her, destroying everything around her and killing her.

She awoke with a quiet scream, drenched in sweat, and sat straight up. Zecora was nearby brewing something and looked back at Fluttershy.

“Ah. I see you have awoken. In your dreams, you have spoken. You mentioned of the town called Canterlot, and said to go there not!” Zecora said.

Fluttershy immediately remembered Luna's words and nodded, “Y-yes, I was warned to avoid there. Come here Zecora, please...”

Zecora trotted over and smiled, showing Fluttershy her eyes, void of the darkness, “Darkness is one thing I lack, now to my stew I must go back.”

Fluttershy smiled to herself and wiped the sweat off her head. She got herself off of the makeshift bed she assumed Zecora had made for her and trotted over to the other side of the pot. She watched as Zecora began tossing in ingredients and kept stirring the mixture as it became a cool orange.

“What are you making?” Fluttershy asked out of curiosity.

“A simple mix of vegetable stew, but without a pure Ponyville there is little I can brew.”

“S-so you’ve seen... them too?” Fluttershy asked, looking into the stew in front of her.

“Yes... they tried for me, but in the forest only few can see,” Zecora replied gravely.

“Pinkie can... she controls reality it seems...”

“Then now we have some grave fear, so tell me your story and come sit near,” Zecora said, sitting on a cushion and motioning Fluttershy to the one next to her.

Fluttershy trotted over and began telling Zecora everything from the start. She spoke of Rainbow Dash, Applejack, her mysterious saviors and how she still questioned them, then her ordeal with Pinkie. Throughout the story she broke into tears numerous times and stopped speaking. Zecora consoled her with hugs and a hoof on her shoulder, helping her through the story. As she finished, Zecora walked over and filled two bowls with the stew and brought them back, giving one to the teary-eyed pegasus.

“Do not fear, my little pony, for this Ponyville you speak of sounds like one great phony,” Zecora said, beginning to eat the stew.

Fluttershy set her stew down and walked over to her saddle-satchel. She rummaged through its contents and pulled out the record she'd brought back from the destroyed Ponyville and set in front of Zecora. Zecora picked up her stew and walked to a gramophone to play the record. As it ran she stood there, listening to it, her eyes widening as she dropped the soup bowl.

Fluttershy sat there, silently watching her friend with a blank look on her face. “What's phony now?” She whispered to Zecora, a hint of fear in her voice.

“I just cannot understand, for without a horn her magic should be quite bland! Unless she is who I believe, one of the ones who are set to capture and deceive...”

“Are you sure there's nothing else you can tell me? Th-those ponies seemed to know you would be f-fine to find... Do you know how?”

“Worry not about your saviors, for they were the Cutie Mark Crusaders,” Zecora mused.

Fluttershy looked at Zecora confused and astonished, “But... Applebloom was at Applejack's house wh-when... “She looked away, memories began flooding back.

Zecora walked over to Fluttershy and began to pat her back to console her, but Fluttershy brushed her hoof away.

“I can do this... on my own,” she managed to whisper.

Zecora nodded and sat next to Fluttershy, a new bowl of stew in her hooves as she spoke, "Now Fluttershy, there is still more. For now I have a story that will not bore. For before this town there was an empire, and thousands of years ago it did expire."

“What do you mean?”

“Let me tell you the story, of a town with a darker glory...” Zecora said, beginning to tell the story.

She began telling Fluttershy of a town far back in time. The town went by many names... none of which were the true name that had been lost hundreds of years prior. Some called it The Outpost, some called it The Haven, some went as far to call it The Home of Miscreants, but nevertheless, no matter which name was used, ponies knew where was being spoken of... It was a town that was extremely infamous due to the fact that it was a town reserved for the worst ponies there were. Murderers, rapists, thieves, etc. all lived there in a twisted harmony. Overseeing them all was a powerful unicorn that had magical abilities that could rival Starswirl the Bearded. He watched over the town and acted as their king, set their laws and coupled the punishments which were mainly death. The town's architecture was composed of mainly stone bricks, their lighting magical for the most part.

(“So the church...” Fluttershy interjected.)

(“Yes, that place in the Otherworld was from their home. A building lost throughout many a tome,” Zecora answered.)

The town was for outcasts and exiles of society, whether it is by law, choice, or unnatural abilities. Their powerful leader, who went by the name of Rizalder, was the judge, jury, and executioner of anyone who violated what rules the town did hold and he never hesitated to end anypony who dared go against him. He ran his town with 6 others that he held as his most trusted assistants.

They were the vilest the town had to offer. First came the mare known as Warp; she was an earth pony who had the gift of being able to create her own reality and trap others within it, while doing as she pleased within. She never talked much of her past; she was a mystery to even her closest friends, if she even considered them as that. It was a mystery as to how or why she joined the group; they only knew she was third in command.

(“So she's got Pinkie...” Fluttershy said aloud.)

Second and third came the mare and stallion known to others as Kicks and Graubb. Originally actors in the town who'd fallen in love on the stage, they were eventually recruited by Rizalder for the superior skills they showed in CQC and trapping on the stage and behind the scenes. Kicks, a light-red pegasus, had been the star of the plays they did, sticking mainly to action based ones. She trained herself to be more agile and stronger to more accurately play what parts she needed. Graubb, a dark green earth pony, had been the one who set up the special effects and rigged numerous on-stage contraptions.

The fourth, a dark gray unicorn, was a stallion known to most as Slakt. He used his color and magic to silently move about town, listening for any hints of rebellion. He could slip into homes and kill the rebels in their sleep without as much as a peep. He came from a family of homeless ponies and began developing his abilities early to assist in keeping his family alive through whatever means necessary. After managing to steal from one of the ponies second to Rizalder, he was caught by Rizalder himself who brought him in due to his skills.

The fifth was a beige pegasus named Rhode. He was gifted with being able to conceal weapons and goods however he wished. He utilized his wings, outfits, mane, tail, anything and everything he had at his disposal could hold what he needed to take a life. He was a smuggler at a young age; helping with the family "business" gave him most, if not all, of his training. Rizalder saw this after doing a deal with the family and brought the young pegasus in as one of his own when the family had a deal go wrong and ended up with life behind bars.

The sixth specialized in a different kind of magic, one that involved brewing and using sleight of hand mixed with illusion. She was unlike the others and possibly closer to Rizalder than any of them, even Warp.

(“Who was she?” Fluttershy asked.)

Zecora ignored her and kept telling the story. One evening, Rizalder contacted the sixth and asked her to meet him in his chamber. She walked in and asked about his invitation.

“We strike soon, against the Princesses of this world. Celestia and Luna shall be taken down,” he explained.

She nodded, and then proceeded to ask if that was all.

“No. I've been searching through a few books and found a spell... it can send our souls forward in time and allow us to take control of one pony each. I need your magic to open a window to the future,” he said, motioning to the cauldron and the books scattered around it.

She nodded again in agreement, beginning to work her magic.

Rizalder stopped her, “Let me get the others in here first,” he said, calling out to them.

They all walked in and stood around the pot, looking in as the sixth worked. A mist began oozing from the pot, causing all but her to stand back some. She kept working, muttering chants and putting in more ingredients as the mist became mirror-like and soon displayed images.

Celestia appeared in the mist, talking to 6 other ponies. A yellow pegasus, a blue pegasus, an orange and a pink earth pony, along with a purple and a white unicorn. Rizalder smiled, watching the image continue.

“Call which one you want,” Rizalder told them, smiling, “I get Celestia of course... and it looks as if the future lacks Luna... but first... drink from the pot. It's been in the town's water for quite some time now,” he looked at the sixth, “I asked you to make it so I would be sure it worked perfectly, for us especially. For this will ensure we will last eternally.”

And so they all drank, the sixth hesitating at hers. Once done, they all resumed gazing at the screen.

Warp spoke first, her eyes glued to the happy, bouncing pink pony, “I want the pink one,” her voice was soft, gentle in a way.

Kicks and Graubb whispered to each other, then Graubb, with his confident tone, spoke, “Kicks wishes for the blue pegasus. I wish for the orange earth one.”

Slakt locked onto the purple unicorn, “Her. She is mine,” he sternly said, pointing.

Then Rhode spoke up, “Give me the white one, she appeals to me...”

“All your choices are granted... now for you, you get the yellow one,” he said looking at the sixth.

She shook her head no, causing Rizalder to flinch in surprise.

“What do you mean no?!” He demanded angrily.

The sixth punched the misty screen, shattering it, and then began throwing a few other things into the pot, causing a smoke ball to rise up and pop, disappearing. The other five tackled her, pinning her to the ground.

“You're coming with us. Whether you like it or not,” he told her, his horn beginning to glow.

Suddenly, the wall blew apart; Celestia and Luna were on the other side.

“Stop now Rizalder!” Celestia screamed.

The blast caused a chunk of rock to hit Rizalder, knocking him aside. His horn grew brighter and his white magical aura began to grow a grisly dark. Celestia's face held a frightened stare at the growing aura on Rizalder's horn.

“Luna, run away, now!” She screamed to her younger sister.

Luna swooped down and grabbed the sixth, then followed her sister as they fled. The sixth held on for dear life, but began slipping. Behind them, the spell surged and let off, causing a catastrophic explosion. A dark sphere grew behind them, sending a dark wall in all directions. The princesses flew as quick as they could manage, barely keeping ahead of the darkness. As it slowed and began to fade, the sixth fell from Luna's hooves and plummeted to the earth below. Luna began descending to find her, but Celestia stopped her.

“Sister... it may be too late...” she said, a tear falling from her eye as they kept going.

Eventually, the wall stopped growing, and the second it did, they flew back, looking at the now barren wasteland that lie ahead. Everypony in the town had been disintegrated in the blast; all of the ones within the town's limits were gone.

After searching the edge of the destruction for about ten minutes, Luna found the sixth, breathing but unconscious.

“Thank everything she is ok...” she said, wiping a tear from her eye.

Celestia put a hoof around her and looked down at the sixth, “She is hurt though... she cannot travel too far. How she managed to sustain such injuries is beyond me...”

“Wh-what happened?” Luna asked, half on the verge of tears again.

“That was extremely powerful magic... We need to watch over this land, but not until it has naturally repaired itself. We will take this one home, and whenever it is ready, we will return with them and watch. This can never happen again.”

Luna nodded in agreement and hoisted the sixth onto her back, returning with her to their home.

Fluttershy sat there, listening earnestly, “So... what happened... if they all died, why a-are they back?”

“Their bodies did die, but their souls did not. For the spell did work, but right it was not. Ahead in time, they went for a new spot. The whole town went as well, trapped forever in a fate worse than hell. Many a year they lie in wait, unsure who would assume their fate,” Zecora told her.

“So they came eventually... b-but now? And why wasn't L-Luna in the vision?”

“Luna had just returned from being banished away, it was due to luck, Rizalder had seen that day.”

“What about the sixth? Who was she? Maybe sh-she can help more... if she’s still a-alive...”

“Alive she is, but pride she's lost. For if the truth ever came out, her reputation would be lost. But now Flutters you shall see, the sixth is none other than me...”

Fluttershy sat there, stunned, unsure how to react, “Y-you...” she calmed down slightly, “You look good for your age...” she mused, attempting to cover her shock.

Zecora smiled and explained how not only had her life been preserved, as had her appearance. She then went more in-depth explaining that Luna and Celestia had their fears of the colony and needed someone unlike the others to infiltrate and discover any plans against them. She trained in brewing and other rituals, getting to a level to impress Rizalder. She went into the town under the story of someone thrown out for witchcraft, and when a few others asked her to prove it, she did. Rizalder was in the crowd, observing her skills and waiting for her to be finished. That was when he inducted her into his group. From that point on, she worked for the other side, sending info to the princesses when possible.

“Since later on, no Luna was your state; he assumed we shared their fate. So attacking you they will be, assuming you are me! But after with Pinkie you did bout, I think you being me they shall now doubt.” Zecora explained, grabbing a torch from the corner of the room.

“How do we stop them? E-every time I h-hurt them they heal instantly...”

Zecora lit the torch and walked closer to Fluttershy, “By fire you fight so you can end their plight. One ounce of this flicker will end their ticker, but fear not for a way to redeem is soon to be clear. The chance so faint, but also near,” she was wincing as she spoke, almost unnoticed to herself.

Fluttershy nodded, understanding what Zecora meant. It was up to her to decide if she would fight her taken friends and end their misery with fire, or constantly flee and hope to find a way to save them without killing them. Zecora's wincing bothered her, but she pushed it aside as nothing and sat there, looking out the window of the hut.

“Do you think it'll be ok to go back to P-Ponyville anytime soon?”

“Maybe, maybe not. Chance it if you need, just be quick to trot. But staying a while may be best, give you time to get some rest. Also, for me to say, there is a little more, a truth, not just extra lore.”

“O-ok?”

Zecora winced again and nearly fell to the ground. Fluttershy quickly rushed to her side, helping her to a seat.

“Are you ok??” Fluttershy asked in a panic.

“Ever since this began, I've been repressing something of which my body isn't a fan. One of the residents of the town has come for me, holding him back is getting harder as anypony can see,” she winced much more furiously this time. “End me soon you shall do, but keep some things in mind, not one but two. Take me with you, you'll get that quickly, and a chance to redee-“ Zecora cut off and began thrashing violently before freezing and passing out, the torch dropping to the ground next to her.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders had fled from the barn quickly that night, returning to their clubhouse unseen. They'd collapsed immediately and went right to sleep. They awoke later that night, nearer to the morning, around the time Fluttershy had reached Zecora's hut.

“Girls... What do we do now?” Scootaloo asked after half an hour of silence.

“Ah don't know... this entire situations just... uh... what's the word Sweetie?” Applebloom asked.

“Eerie, screwy, unreal? I really can't answer that myself... Zecora explained all she could to us... but it's all still so confusing. I mean, why us? Why Fluttershy? Why couldn't somepony else have to do all this. We ARE just fillies! I mean, I'm all for adventure, but saving all of Ponyville or destroying it? That's not something we should have to worry about!” Sweetie ranted, fuming as she did so.

“Whoa girl, calm down a little. It'll be ok for us, eventually... at least if what Zecora said proves true. I mean, come on, she knows more than anypony around here...” Scootaloo said, putting a hoof around Sweetie Belle.

“I know... it's just... I miss Rarity... and my parents... Now they're just all some possessed monsters...” She rested her head on Scootaloo's shoulder.

Applebloom trotted over, “It'll be ok Sweetie... Ah know how ya feel... Ah miss Applejack and Big Mac and Granny Smith... Ah wonder how every Apple elsewhere is doing...” She rested on Scootaloo's other shoulder.

“Maybe it's only just here... at least for now, right? And... Now we just need to... to...” Scoot sighed, a single tear falling from her eye, “Rainbow Dash would know what to do... I miss her...” Scootaloo lowered her head, wrapping her hooves around the other two for a group hug as they sat there, silently crying.

Luna had flown as fast as she could manage, eventually looking back to see her pursuers giving up on the chase and turning to head back to Canterlot. She felt her body quivering as sweat poured down her face, causing it to glisten in the moonlight. She collapsed on the nearest cloud, panting heavily as she tried to relax and regain herself. She had never flown that hard in years, and it had really gotten to her. She lie there, letting her body rest as tears of fury and despair ran down her face, mixing with the sweat as she realized how lost the kingdom could be if they didn't do something and fast.

Fluttershy stood over Zecora, frantically trying to wake her up. She felt around Zecora's neck and found no pulse. She closed her eyes, tears beginning to form as she stepped back. Zecora had died right in front of her, practically in her hooves. Suddenly she heard shuffling and peeked an eye open.

Zecora was moving, slowly coming to her hooves, her eyes closed in pain. Fluttershy helped her stand and gain her balance, gently stroking her mane in comfort. Zecora opened her eyes and looked directly into hers, the darkness now swirling within. Fluttershy staggered back, now aware that Zecora was gone. She couldn't get to her saddle-satchel in time, but the torch still lit on the hut's floor caught her eye. She knew what she had to do.

Zecora took a step towards her, “Something wrong my flying friend? Finally realizing your time's at its end?”

Fluttershy glared deep into the dark soul that lie within Zecora and made her move. She rammed head first into the zebra, causing her to stagger and fall back against the cooking pot. She let out a ferocious scream as the hot metal made contact with her skin. Fluttershy snagged the torch off the ground and flung it at her friend, tears streaming freely as she threw the flame that would extinguish Zecora's.

Fluttershy wasn't sure how the flame would react to Zecora, but the screaming zebra seemed to as she tried to dive away, but the burns from the pot had left her partially crippled due to pain. The flame made contact with her hoof, and then the torch bounced away. A small flicker appeared on her coat, beginning to spread until it engulfed her.

The fireball of a zebra thrashed about, her screams growing hoarse as she turned into nothing more than a pile of ash. Fluttershy looked down and saw a gray piece sticking out. She grabbed it, clearing her tear-filled eyes the best she could to look it over. It was Zecora's flank, the sun-like marks on it along with some stripes. It was like this on both sides, lacking in blood or muscle. She thought back on Zecora's words and realized this was what she had meant by “take me with you.”

Quickly reorganizing her saddle-satchel, she moved everything to one side, leaving the other empty. She then put the flank in there and relatched it, realizing there were more pieces to come. She blinked away the last of her tears and grabbed the torch once more, extinguishing it then putting it in the satchel. She rewrapped the flashlight onto her wing and extinguished the candles in the hut before walking out the front door and back into the forest. She didn't know where she was going, but her best bet was the library with Twilight. She was one of the strongest friends she had... if anyone could withstand their possession, it'd be her.

End Chapter 4