It was night in Ponyville.
The shadows loomed in every corner, and disembodied glowing eyes stared through the darkness. No pony was stupid enough to be out on a night like this.
Every pony but one.
Fluttershy stood still. She had no idea why Rainbow Dash had asked her to come over, and at this time, too. But she had to trust her. Be a good friend as she always had been. That was what she should do. She inhaled deeply, and took a step from the safety of her warm, well-lit home.
The first thing to overcome her was the cold. It caused goosebumps to crawl up her legs, and an icy hoof to trail her spine. She winced slightly, but didn't turn around. In fact, as she trotted further and further into the looming blackness.
All she could hear on this silent night were her own hoofsteps. She was alone out here. She chuckled softly to herself - of course she was alone. It didn't reassure her though. No, not even close. If anything, it made her even more afraid to travel through Ponyville. Rainbow had told her specifically in her note to meet her just outside town on the other side. What was waiting for her there?
Curiosity quickened her steps and lengthened her stride. She lifted her nose into the air and ignored the whispers, the whispers that seemed to come from nowhere, somewhere far behind her. Fluttershy hurried on, past houses full of sleeping, vulnerable ponies. Ponies who wouldn't scream if they took their last breath in the dead of the night. Ponies who would have happy thoughts as their last memories. Ponies who-
'Stop it, Fluttershy,' she scolded herself. 'You shouldn't think so dark thoughts. You're expecting the worst out of every pony. Rainbow Dash wouldn't do anything like that. Would she?'
The streets emptied into a long dirt road that went all the way to Appleloosa, she knew. More shadows scarred that path, and she was relieved she wouldn't have to travel that way. Instead, she sat down and waited patiently for Rainbow Dash.
* * *
A whole hour had passed by the time Fluttershy heard a flutter of wings. She glanced up at the dark sky, a blank canvas sprinkled in generous helpings of stars. Rainbow Dash alighted down next to her, her pink eyes already well-accustomed to the dark. They flashed darker colours, however, and when she finally spoke, Fluttershy could hear the anger in her voice.
"Fluttershy! What in the hay are you doing here?" she demanded, pointing her hoof accusingly at the yellow pegasus.
"I, um, you . . . You told me come to the other side of town!" she stammered, cowering under Rainbow's glare.
"My note specifically said to meet me on the other side of Ponyville - your side! Great Celestia, I don't even know how you are my sister." Rainbow Dash sighed, and launched herself into the air, hovering twenty metres or so above the ground.
"Come on, you dumb pony! Let's go!"
Fluttershy glanced up at her friend, nodding slowly. She then rose her wings and flew clumsily into the air, following Rainbow Dash across the darkened streets once again. She ignored the sounds of the night. Indeed, the only thing that really worried her was when Rainbow Dash landed in front of the Everfree forest.
"Yes, this is good."
Fluttershy had no intention or even capability to enter the darkness of the Forest. She stood stock still, hardly daring to breathe in case it woke some scary creature with huge claws and an even huger appetite. She feared her heartbeat would give her away, though, which thrummed faster and faster as Rainbow steered her into the forest. An owl screeched in the distance, but Fluttershy heard a roar. Paws scurried across the leaf-strewn carpet that was the ground, but Fluttershy heard the footsteps of a Minotaur.
