A pain in the neck.

by One with the Shadows

Rating: mature
Tags: Alternate Universe, Sad, Dark, Tragedy, Horror
Length: 1311

Remember that feeling? That pain in the neck, you feel around and feel a liquid pouring from what feels like a wound. That feeling? Remember? Well some ponies may feel that again in time.

Many years have passed since the crystalling and other events that the element bearers have been to, nearly 10 years and three fillies are having fun and helping ponies with their cutie marks, now they are taller, older and have endured many changes physically since getting the mark on their flank, bigger wings and being able to fly, stronger legs or a larger horn with more powerful magic. Scootaloo can fly and Sweetiebelle has more powerful magic, it all seems well, Equestria has been peaceful untill now…

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2016-12-29 23:40:01 UTC

1) A deadly paper cut.

Three ponies trotted down the dirt path that lead to a small cottage on the edge of the dark and gloomy Everfree Forest. A forest full of deadly animals that anypony would fear in any circumstance, although they may say that they are fearless, no-pony would dream of living on the edge of that dangerous place. These three ponies were the 'Cutie Mark Crusaders' yet have their cutie marks and seem a little old to crusade for a mark they already have, but no-pony questions this, a small group of ponies who crusaded when they were younger but stopped a long time ago. Applebloom had a bag with some useful items in it, varying from a simple book to a complex toolkit ready for any situation. Scootaloo had a guide on looking after animals. Sweetiebelle had a small gift for the occupant of this home. They all reached the door and tapped their hooves on it, a familiar yellow pony with a pink mane welcomed them inside, Fluttershy had asked for the fillies to help her with the animals since some new ones needed some special attention. Sweetiebelle gave Fluttershy a book, this book contained the details of every animal in Equestria , the skeletal structure, the diet and more information. Flutershy thanked Sweetiebelle and pointed to the kitchen, clearly indicating that the animals needed food, the three ponies soon got to work at making food and served every animal in the room with the correct food.

A few hours passed and there was a knock at the door, and shortly after that, Fluttershy appeared to open the door. The three ponies heard a creek as the door opened and the a 'Hel...' as Fluttershy was cut off mid-sentence, at this point there was a loud slice and the door closed. The pony figure at the door collapsed and the former Cutie Mark Crusaders rushed over to assist the older mare, a thick red liquid poured from a wound in the mares neck, but the ponies were too late, the body of the kind mare was already looking pale and her eyes were just white. The wound looked just like a large paper cut. The Cutie Mark Crusaders started to cry and this was to continue for several hours...

Several hours later there was a knock on the door and the fillies were careful when they opened the door. A rainbow maned mare was hovering at the door 'Hey Scoots! Is Fluttershy inside?' asked the Wonderbolt.

'She is but I don't think that she can talk' Scootaloo replied.

'Wait, is everything OK in there Scoots? All three of you look like you have been crying.' asked the Pegasus in a concerning voice.

'We have been crying and no, there is a problem, take a look' the group replied as they opened the door to reveal a red puddle around the body of what was a yellow Pegasus. A shocked look appeared on Rainbow Dashes face. There was silence for what felt like an eternity, there was a tense atmosphere around the ponies, waiting for somepony to make a sound, or show any signs of life. Tears could be seen starting to drip down the Wonderbolt as she landed and placed her flank on the ground. The small streams turned into waterfalls as a loud cry became apparent. It was quite a lengthy amount of time before Rainbow Dash asked 'Who did this?' she repeated this many times and each time the question was said louder. Finally the crusaders answered with 'We don't know, a pony knocked on the door and slit her throat then trotted off after closing the door.' Rainbow Dash flew off after hearing this and the crusaders were alone again.

Little did they know, this is not the end, this is only the start...

2) Cold rain

Cold rain fell. All ponies in black. A wooden box. The forever-bed of a friend. "Miss Fluttershy was an extremely kind pony who happened to pass away just yesterday, a terrible fate pulled her in after opening her door. It was unexpected and fast..." The stallion continued the service as Scootaloo asked Rainbow Dash about what the police had found. "I'm sorry kid, they haven't found anything or anypony," the rainbow-maned pegasus told the younger orange pegasus with tears welling up in here eyes. An orange hoof pulled in the cyan pony and gave her a hug as tears spilled down to the floor. Rainbow couldn't stop crying, she just held tight until she could let go. Sweetiebelle used her magic to give Rainbow a box of tissues and soon enough half the box was gone but eventually Rainbow had sat up and let go of the orange friend.

"We wish this lovely mare to rest in peace" The stallion concluded and the service was over. The former Main 6 and the former Cutie Mark Crusaders left as a group to get back to Twilight's castle.

A sad group of ponies entered the crystal castle and spike prepared some food for them as soon as they walked in. The eight ponies sat in the library and shared memories that they had with their recently passed friend, to remember how fun their life had been with her and how it would change in the future without her. In her will it said for all of her animals to be taken care of and gradually released into the wild or taken care of by professionals, it was up to the rest of the element bearers. "I think that they should be looked after by professionals, we don't know how to look after them that well and we couldn't get Zecora to look after them" Applejack said, then the rest nodded in agreement, none of them knew truly how to look after and understand animals. Twilight got in touch with Celestia and asked if she knew anypony who could understand and look after animals, then when the reply came back there was an uneasy atmosphere as the letter was read out. " My dear Student, I am afraid I do not know anypony but all I could recommend is a zoo or just to release the animals into the wild but keep an eye on them to make sure that they will be OK. Celestia." Twilight finished the letter then put it down. She said "We should just release them into the wild then make sure Zecora is on the look out for them if they end up in the forest." The rest then slowly nodded to agree. It was all they could do, the animals do not deserve to be kept in a zoo to be looked at and possibly be treated badly. What else could they do?

Twilight decided to discuss a plan she had made "If we release the large animals that no-pony would ever be able to look after then the smaller animals could be looked after by other ponies, maybe this is the best plan of action that any of us had made."

"Twi, I think this is a really good plan, the larger animals like bears can be released to the wild as they can survive but the smaller bunnies or even birds can be looked after by other ponies! I think even Fluttershy would agree with this I'm sure this is what she would do." Rainbow said in a happy voice. So the plan was accepted and animals were released into the wild, others were given to farmers for produce and then some where given as pets for the ponies. All went well and then the cottage was put up for sale, everypony was pleased with how well everything went. It was getting late by the time everypony was back so they called it for a night in the castle...