Claws

The morning sun shone through the window of Fluttershy's cottage. She wanted to sleep in, but she couldn't. She had to keep her promise. She sat up, yawned, and rubbed her eyes with her hooves. She hopped out of bed and ran downstairs, not remembering to brush her mane and tail or even eat breakfast. She had to get going. She had promised her friends she would meet them at Sugarcube Corner at 8:30.

She arrived at Sugarcube Corner right on time: 8:30. She ran right into the shop, almost crashing into the counter. She began to pant and scream.

"MRS.CAKE!" She cried. The blue earth pony walked up to the counter with a perplexed look on her face.

"Yes, deary?" She asked, puzzled at the young pegasus's nervous expression.

"Did you...*Pant* by any chance...*Pant*....see my friends?" Fluttershy said, about to collapse from exhaustion.

Mrs. Cake thought for a moment. "Do you mean, by any chance, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack?" She asked.

"YES!" Fluttershy gasped.

Mrs.Cake gestured over to a table in the corner. "They're right over there. They've been waiting for you."

She instantly galloped over to the corner table. "Sorry I'm late!" She cried as she quickly got into the remaining chair.

Twilight shook her head. "Don't worry. You're actually right on time. Please calm down." Fluttershy breathed in and out until finally she regained her breath.

"What is it that you wished to tell me?" She asked.

The 5 mares exchanged looks with each other. "Who should tell her?" Rarity whispered.

"I will." Twilight replied.

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Rainbow Dash asked. "She might be traumatized."

"Every one else in Equestria know. It is only right for her to know as well." Twilight said. She turned towards the yellow pegasus and sighed.

"What would you like to tell me?" Fluttershy repeated, now feeling rather nervous.

"Well, you see..." Twilight began, "Yesterday, at precisely 8:30 PM, the princesses and I was delivered a message from an anonymous pony."

"What did it say?" Fluttershy asked with a slightly urgent tinge to her voice.

"Well..." Twilight said, clearly reluctant to continue, "It said that last night, two dangerous creatures were spotted. The royal guard took down one of them, but the other one is still out there. Any pony who finds the beast and kills it will be rewarded greatly." Twilight looked up. "The reward is a secret and will not be disclosed until after the beast is captured." Twilight finished. "That is all I wish to say. I told the others last night, but I was too scared you'd scream and run away unless I told you when it was daytime, so I sent you the letter saying to meet us all here at 8:30 to tell you the news."

Fluttershy gave the 5 a perplexed expression. "Are you sure that the news is true? I mean, are you sure that it isn't some foal playing a prank or something?"

Twilight shook her head. "It couldn't be. Nobody excluding respected ponies know how to contact the princesses. It had to be an official figure." Fluttershy opened her mouth to speak but Twilight held up her hoof. "Don't worry. It will be taken care of. Rest assured, you and your animals are completely safe from harm. I shall say no more." And with that, Twilight and her friends all got up and walked away from the table, leaving a perplexed Fluttershy to collect her thoughts.

"What could this creature be? She thought. "I know all the creatures of the wood, and not one is dangerous enough for an announcement like this. A bear, maybe, but everypony knows how to get a bear to leave them alone. She decided to think about this more on her way home. however, when she finally returned to her cottage, she still couldn't understand this phenomenon. She paced back and forth in her cabin, but she couldn't find a valid answer.

After a long while of thinking, she decided that there was only one possible solution. She had to go into the Everfree Forest and find this creature for herself. She was terrified of the idea, but she knew it was the only way to find an answer. She exited her cottage, her legs trembling underneath her. She walked through Ponyville until she finally reached the entrance of the Everfree Forest. She gulped and wanted more than anything to turn and run back to Ponyville, where she would be safe. But she understood she would never know for sure what this creature was unless she took a chance. So, with her body telling her to run and her brain telling her to continue, she stepped into the Everfree and began her journey.